A musical extravaganza that took viewers through a beautiful celebration of music has come to a befitting conclusion as Sony Entertainment Television’s homegrown kids singing reality show, Superstar Singer 2 has finally found this season’s ‘Singing Ka Kal’! With an extraordinary showcase of India’s young singing prodigies, ‘The Grand Finale’ of Superstar Singer 2 has been an exceptional one. As the entire country waited in anticipation to know who from amongst the TOP 6 finalists will be the winner, Mohammad Faiz from Jodhpur was declared the season winner and lifted the coveted Superstar Singer 2 trophy.

Along with the trophy, 14-year-old Mohammad Faiz was also awarded a cheque of Rs. 15 lakhs from Sony Entertainment Television. Also, each one of the top 6 finalists who has charmed their way into the audience’s hearts through the entire season received a one-year subscription from BYJU’s classes followed by a one-year supply of cheese from Go Cheese respectively.

Aptly titled as the ‘Future Voice of Romance’ by Akshay Kumar and other B-town celebrities, Mohammad Faiz brought alive his passion for music on stage through his mesmerizing performances. With his first performance on the song ‘Khamoshiyan’ in the audition round, 14-year-old Faiz found a special place in the hearts of the judges and audience alike. From there on there was no looking back for Faiz has he wowed the judges, audience and all the celebrity guest with his magical voice. He was given the title of ‘India’s young singing sensation’ by judge Himesh Reshammiya who also gave him an opportunity with his first ever singing break - Merre Liye. Not only this, but memorable moments were when eminent personalities expressed their wish of getting Faiz to sing and work for them one day as a playback singer. With so much love and luck coming his way, especially from his fans ‘FAIZians’, Mohd Faiz surely made a special mark with his talent and won hearts! The charmer that he is, Faiz delivered some stupendous performances and emerged to cement his position as the winner of Superstar Singer 2.

Mohammad Faiz, winner of Superstar Singer 2, says, "Being on Superstar Singer 2 is an achievement by itself. When I gave the auditions, never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine that I will not only be in the TOP 6 but also win the coveted trophy. I am unable to describe this feeling in words, it’s so surreal. It still feels like a dream to me. I would like to thank all the viewers and my fans i.e., Faizians who have showered me with so much of love and votes. I also want to extend my gratitude to everyone who has made my journey on Superstar Singer 2 truly special, especially all the judges and my captain Arunita di, who has been my pillar of strength, believed in me and guided me to make this dream of mine come true. The show has been an enriching experience throughout and has given me friendships that I will treasure forever. I am extremely delighted to have received this opportunity to showcase my talent.

Arunita Kanjilal, Captain on Superstar Singer 2, adds, "Superstar Singer 2 has been the most wonderful experience of my life that I will cherish forever. Not only did I get to guide some of the most talented young kids as a captain but also got to learn so much from them. I am truly grateful for this journey. Also, I am extremely elated to see our Rockstar Faiz lift the trophy and be crowned as the winner of Superstar Singer 2. This is a huge honour for both of us. I am also very grateful to everyone who has supported and showered their love on Faiz; making him win the coveted title of this season’s ‘Singing Ka Kal.’ I am super proud of Faiz and all the other contestants who have amazed everybody with their melodious voices. I wish all of them lots of love, luck and prosperity for a brighter future."

Judge Alka Yagnik adds, "Superstar Singer 2 brought forth some of the most bright and young extraordinary singing talent. Seeing them mature, grow and flourish throughout the season has been an experience. Everyone from the top 6 contestants have been outstanding. Faiz is a well-deserved winner, his graph on the show has been so good. He has been one of the best singers the stage has witnessed, and his determination towards music and zeal to win has made him win the coveted title of Superstar Singer. This is just a beautiful beginning of his career and I believe he will go a long way. My wishes and prayers are always with him. May he soar high always in his future endeavors."

Judge Himesh Reshammiya says, "‘Extraordinary’ – this is exactly how I would like to describe Superstar Singer 2! All the contestants on the show have marvelled us with such outstanding performances week on week, making it a tough decision for us and the audience to choose the next ‘Singing Ka Kal’. Faiz has been a complete rockstar right from the beginning and has consistently given his best. I am very proud of Faiz, he has always had this spark in him, and his incredible journey on this show speaks for it. My heartiest congratulations to Faiz who has emerged as the winner of Superstar Singer 2. I personally cannot wait to see the success that will follow his way.

Judge Javed Ali adds, "Superstar Singer 2 has been a show that has made a special place in the hearts of the audience with the extraordinary singing talent of the 'Best Bache Ever'. Watching them perform week after week was so heart-warming; Their magical voices deeply touched all of us. And, I am sure all of them will go a long way. I have personally received so many messages and calls praising the kids of the show. The stage of Superstar Singer 2 has given birth to some of the most impeccable talents and has also given some of the most iconic performances that will forever be cherished in the reality show's hall of fame. I am extremely proud of all the contestants, especially Faiz who is a very well-deserved winner, and I wish him all the luck for a brighter and more successful future. Kudos to the whole team of Superstar Singer 2."

ALSO READ: Alka Yagnik receives a special award at Superstar Singer 2’s Grand Finale; says, ‘I am overwhelmed’

Parineeti Chopra has been a vocal ocean conservationist and she has been roped in to raise awareness of the importance of cleaning up the beaches in Mumbai. Parineeti has, in the past, posted videos of her clearing plastic waste underwater in a bid to raise her voice to keep oceans clean.

In a video posted by her, she says, “I wish you all a very very happy Ganeshotsav and hope that Ganpati Bappa bestows us with wisdom and prosperity. As we celebrate this beautiful auspicious festival, we tend to forget what happens after the festivities are over.”

She adds, “Every year during ‘Ganpati Visarjan’, we leave behind immense litter on our beaches that unfortunately ends up in the water. This not only pollutes the sea but also causes a lot of damage that can cause mass deaths of our marine animals. As we celebrate this festival with full vigour we must also take the responsibility to clean up with the same energy and protect both our marine life as well as our own home planet.”

She has joined hands with Divjay foundation and the Bhamla foundation for this cause and she urges people to join her for this cause. She says, “On the 10th of September 2022 join me to clean up our beaches & make them debris free. I am sure that would make Bappa really happy. So, let us make Cleanotsav 2022 a grand success.”

 

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On the work front, Parineeti Chopra will next star in Sooraj Barjatya's next Uunchai and Capsule Gill with Akshay Kumar.

ALSO READ: “It tells me that I need to focus on picking projects that speak to my heart” – Parineeti Chopra on bagging Best Actress nomination for Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar

Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan starrer Vikram Vedha are all set to release worldwide on September 30, 2022. The teaser of the film gave viewers a glimpse of the characters of Vikram & Vedha while introducing the audience to the intriguing story. Now, the actors are gearing up for the trailer release on September 8, 2022.

Hrithik Roshan on Sunday took to his Twitter account to share new posters along with the announcement that the much-awaited trailer will be out on this Thursday. "इस बार सिर्फ मज़ा ही नहीं, ताज्जुब भी होगा! #VikramVedhaTrailer out on 8th September 2022. #VikramVedha hitting cinemas worldwide on 30th September 2022," he wrote.

इस बार सिर्फ मज़ा ही नहीं, ताज्जुब भी होगा! #VikramVedhaTrailer out on 8th September 2022.#VikramVedha hitting cinemas worldwide on 30th September 2022.#SaifAliKhan @PushkarGayatri pic.twitter.com/PFEAQIIsl4

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) September 4, 2022

Vikram Vedha is an action-thriller written & directed by Pushkar-Gayatri. The story is full of twists and turns, as a tough cop Vikram (Saif Ali Khan) sets out to track and chase a dreaded gangster Vedha (Hrithik Roshan). What unfolds is a cat-and-mouse chase, where Vedha - a master storyteller helps Vikram peel back layers through a series of stories leading to thought-provoking moral ambiguities.

Vikram Vedha is presented by Gulshan Kumar, T-Series and Reliance Entertainment in association with Friday Filmworks & Jio Studios and a YNOT Studios Production. The film is directed by Pushkar & Gayatri and produced by Bhushan Kumar & S. Sashikanth and Reliance Entertainment. Vikram Vedha will hit the big screens globally on 30th September 2022.

ALSO READ: Hrithik Roshan to sport three different looks in Vikram Vedha to showcase backstory of Vedha

In the upcoming episode of ZEE TV’s popular reality show DID Super Moms, actor Ankita Lokhande and Usha Nadkarni will be seen gracing the show. Interestingly, in the episode, Ankita will give a sneak peek into her relationship with her mom while giving a special mention to her “inspiration” Urmila Matondkar.

After contestant Sadhna’s mesmerizing performance to the song ‘Yaadein Yaad Aati Hai’, host Jay Bhanushali asked Ankita about her relationship with her mother, to which she replied saying, “I remember when I was in 3rd standard, I wrote in my diary that I want to become an actress and my mother read it. Since then, my mother has become a constant support system for me. In fact, I danced a lot to Urmila Ji’s song ‘Rangeela Re’. And just because of that particular song I dreamed of becoming an actress.”

Continuing on the same, Lokhande asserts, “I must say, it was her song that became a lucky charm for me because it helped me to win multiple dance competitions in my childhood. I would love to add that I have the best parents in my life as they are the biggest support for me.”

Talking about the dance reality show, Remo D’Souza, Bhagyashree Dassani, and Urmila Matondkar are seated in the judges’ panel to mentor and guide the talented moms through their journey and help them achieve their dancing dreams. The ‘Pavitra Rishta Special Episode’ will be telecasted on September 3, 2022. The channel drops new episodes on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 PM on ZEE TV.

Also Read: Ankita Lokhande and Vicky Jain become the first Smart Jodi; shares video on social media

The uncensored moment of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards made headlines for several weeks. Despite Will apologizing to Chris for the slap, the latter was tight-lipped for a long time. However, it seems like Rock now seems comfortable to speak his mind on the infamous incident.

Revealing Chris Rock’s reaction to the Oscar slap, The Telegraph recently shared the details of the comedian’s most recent stand-up gig during his joint comedy tour in Liverpool, England, with Dave Chappelle.

Chappelle is quoted saying, “Will did the impression of a perfect person for 30 years, and he ripped his mask off and showed us he was as ugly as the rest of us”. Reportedly, Rock also joined the discussion, and told the crowd that Smith "hit me over a bulls**** joke, the nicest joke I ever told."

For the unversed, during the award night, Smith stormed the stage and smacked the comedian for making a bald joke about his alopecia-suffering wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Shortly after the incident Smith won the Oscar for his film King Richard. While giving the acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy for the slap and attempted to explain his actions, saying, "Love will make you do crazy things”. However, he did not mention Rock by name.

In his apology video - which was shared a day after the show – the star called his behavior on Oscar night “unacceptable,” he also told Rock, “I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.” Later, the Chris Rock indirectly talked about the apology during his performance at the Fox Theater Atlanta, Georgia. He said, “Everybody is trying to be a f—ing victim. If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims”.

Also Read: Chris Rock refuses offer from The Academy to host 2023 Oscars after infamous slapgate involving Will Smith

The Grand Finale of Sony Entertainment Television’s show Superstar Singer 2 will honor the judge and singer Alka Yagnik with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’. To add a few more memories to the extravaganza musical night, the reality show will feature special awards. Yagnik will be honored for her immense contribution to the Indian Music Industry and for being a guiding force and inspiration for all the contestants and captains.

Speaking on the same, the 56-year-old singer asserts, “A big thank you to Sony Entertainment Television and the show Superstar Singer 2 for the honor. This is my second season with the show and what really makes me happy is when I see these little kids singing my songs so beautifully in front of me. They perform my songs so well that I am left with tears of joy. I always knew that my songs are popular, but I never imagined that such young kids will be singing those songs that to so effortlessly.

She continued further and added, “Sending all my blessings and love to all the contestants. I am overwhelmed and surprised as I did not expect this. Thank you, Adi, Sony TV and the whole team for all the love. I am touched that everyone with open arms accepted my voice and made me who I am today, I will be forever grateful for the same. And I am elated to be receiving this award from my guru who have played an important role in my journey.  This is really special. Thank you so much and love you all.”

The renowned music maestro - Anand ji will make this moment even more special with his presence for Alka Yagnik as he is a ‘godfather’ to her.

The finale episode of the show will be telecasted on September 3 at 8 PM.  The Top 6 finalists are Mohammad Faiz from Jodhpur, Mani from Dharamkot, Pranjal Biswas from West Bengal, Sayisha Gupta from Mohali, Aryananda R Babu and Rituraj from Kerala. The episode will also see a bunch of celebrity guests such as  Padmini Kolhapure, Poonam Dhillon, Vijay Vikram Singh, Shabbir Kumar, Sonu Kakkar, and Bhoomi Trivedi along with choreographer Puneet Pathak.

Also Read: Superstar Singer to return with season 2 with Himesh Reshammiya, Alka Yagnik and Javed Ali as judges

Veteran actor Brendan Gleeson has joined the ensemble of Joker sequel starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in the much-awaited film Joker: Folie a Deux for Warner Bros. and DC Films.

As reported by Deadline, Zazie Beetz would also be returning to reprise her role as Sophie Dumond who was the neighbor of Arthur Fleck. Phillips is returning to direct and also co-wrote the script with Scott Silver, who penned the original film which was nominated for 11 Oscars including Best Picture and Phillips for Best Director.

The film, which is set to start shooting in December, is set for release on October 4, 2024. Joaquin Phoenix is already set to return as the profoundly troubled Arthur Fleck, aka the eponymous Joker. He'll be joined by his partner in crime to be essayed by Lady Gaga, reportedly as a version of Harley Quinn in the film which is rumored to be a musical.

On the work front, Brendon Gleeson currently features in Banshees of Inisherin from director Martin McDonagh. The film reunites Gleeson with Colin Farrell and Martin McDonagh, who worked together on the dark comedy, In Bruges.

Also Read: Lady Gaga to play Harley Quinn in Todd Phillips’ Joker 2 starring Joaquin Phoenix; film titled Joker: Folie à deux