Priyanka quits 'Bharat' in 'Nick of time', says director

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra is not going to be a part of superstar Salman Khan starrer "Bharat" any more. Director Ali Abbas Zafar broke the news saying the reason for her opting out in the "Nick of time" is "very special".

Zafar took to Twitter on Friday to announce the new development.

"Yes Priyanka Chopra is no more part of 'Bharat' and and the reason is very very special, she told us in the Nick of time about her decision and we are very happy for her... Team 'Bharat' wishes Priyanka Chopra loads of love and happiness for life," he tweeted.

Details about the actress coming in place of Priyanka have not been revealed yet.

The shooting for the film has already begun. The first schedule includes shooting for a grand circus sequence.

Padmavati row: Rajasthan can't afford to be outraged by a fictional film

.

Even as I write this, actress Deepika Padukone and director Sanjay Leela Bhansali have been forced to accept police protection after a fringe group in Rajasthan threatened them with physical harm, as it claimed to be outraged by their soon-to-be-released film Padmavati. One ex-royal has said he would do to Padukone what Lakshman, from Ramayana, did to Surpanakha — that is, cut off her nose and ears. “Rajputs never raise a hand on women,” was the caveat he added, before pronouncing the threat, implying that they did when it was necessary. His organisation has also accused Bhansali’s film — based mostly on a fictional 16th century poem — of inaccuracies, and has called for it to be banned.

Outrage, of course, is the national pastime, with everyone feeling entitled to it and frequently threatening violence if they are not placated. Films are an easy target for this anger. Even as the Padmavati row continues, a group of Brahmins in Maharashtra has called for the banning of National Award winning Marathi film, Dashakriya for allegedly showing the upper caste in a bad light (Really, now?). And, four days ago, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting withdrew Malayalam film S Durga and Marathi film Nude from the 48th International Film Festival in Goa. A bewildered Ravi Jadhav, the director of the second film, was reported as asking: “What do you expect a film on a nude model to be called?”

A look at Rajasthan’s social development statistics reveals, quite starkly, how incongruous it is for Rajput men to pretend to be the defenders of the honour of the women of the state. According to the 2011 Census, the sex ratio in Rajasthan is a dismal 928 women per 1,000 men, earning it a poor 23rd rank among 35 states and Union territories. The child sex ratio is even worse at 888. The literacy rate in Rajasthan is 67.06 per cent, keeping the state among the bottom few. Kerala, which tops the list, has a 93.91 per cent literacy rate. The female literacy rate is even worse 52.66 per cent. According to a 2016 report by Al Jazeera, 674 infants, mostly female, were abandoned in the state between 2007 and 2011, “highest only after Maharashtra”, forcing the state government to create a budget in FY16 to look after these children. Wouldn’t Rajput men be better occupied improving these statistics than defending the honour of a fictional queen?
READ MORE

Rs 325 cr in 3 days: Baahubali 2 is now the highest opening Indian film

It released to perhaps the most hype seen by an Indian movie in a long time, and it did not disappoint. S S Rajmouli's Baahubali 2: The Conclusion opened with Rs 121 crore collection (previous/early estimates were Rs 125 crore) and continued its good run at the cinemas over the weekend, netting Rs 320-325 crore over the first three days of release.
At Rs 320-325 crore, Baahubali 2 is now the highest opening Indian film, beating Bollywood blockbusters and its predecessor Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) by a huge margin. The highest opening weekend collection by a Bollywood film so far is by Sultan (2016) at Rs 180 crore. However, the movie was released mid-week and hence enjoyed a five-day opening weekend. If one were to consider the Fri-Sun opening weekend period, Baahublali 2 has left Sultan far behind as estimates peg the opening weekend collection for the Hindi dub version only at Rs 128 crore (net after tax).

READ MORE - Despite Delhi MCD win, wary BJP allows Kejriwal to settle AAP infighting

In the coming days, the movie is set to break even more records. Already the most widely distributed Indian film ever at 6,500 screens, the film's business seemed to be holding steady on Monday, leading trade pundits to estimate a 30 per cent or less drop in collection on the first day of the week. The fact that Monday, May 1 was a holiday for many office and educational institutions on account of Labour Day and/or Maharashtra Day (in that state) will also work in the favour of the magnum opus.

As things stand, Baahubali 2 is no doubt the most successful Indian movie ever. It is already the highest grossing Hindi dub version of a regional film and by the looks of it, is ready to pull a Jungle Book, by being in the top three movies of the year for the Bollywood genre (Hindi language). Last year, Disney's Jungle Book made a whopping Rs 190 crore at the box office, becoming the most successful Hollywood film to release in India, and also the third highest collector of the year.

There is also almost no doubt now that Baahubali 2 will surpass the first part's lifetime global gross collection of Rs 650 crore. Early reports suggest that the international performance of the film (it was released in 2,500 screens ex-India) is close to Rs 120 crore over the weekend. This takes the worldwide gross for Baahubali 2 in the opening weekend to Rs 540 crore approximately, meaning it is inching closer to the predecessor's lifetime worldwide gross at a fast part. It is currently on number 7 in the list of the highest collecting films from India (gross worldwide).
READ MORE

Veteran Bollywood star Vinod Khanna dies at 70

Vinod Khanna, the yesteryears Bollywood superstar, died at the age of 70 on Thursday. He was battling cancer.

He worked in more than 100 films.

He was an active politician, and a sitting Member of Parliament from Gurdaspur, Punjab. Vinod Khanna was born on 6 October, 1946.

He is survived by his wife Kavita Khanna, sons Rahul, Akshaye and Sakshi, and daughter Shraddha Khanna. Before marrying Kavita, Vinod Khanna was married to Getanjali but they later got divorced.

His polupar movies include Mere Apne, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, Gaddaar (1973 film), Jail Yatra, Imitihaan, Inkaar, Kuchhe Dhaage, Amar Akbar Anthony, Rajput, Qurbani, Kudrat, Dayavan, Kaarnama,Suryaa: An Awakening and Jurm.

Vinod Khanna received the Filmfare award in the best supporting actor category for Haath Ki Safaai, and in 1999 he received the Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award, and again in 2007 he won a lifetime achievement award at the Zee Cine Awards.

In late 2016 and early 2017, news about his detoriating health started coming in, this kept him away from a public eye. In his last days he was surrounded by all his children and wife Kavita.
READ MORE

Dangal wrestles highest grosser title with Rs 345-cr collections

Latest Busienss News - Dangal is now the highest grossing Bollywood film, as the Aamir Khan-starrer finished its third weekend in India at Rs 345.3 crore. 

It has beaten 2014's PK (also starring Aamir Khan), which held the record for the highest grosser at Rs 340 crore. The lifetime collection for Dangal is expected to be in the range of Rs 360-365 crore as it has potentially one more weekend to milk. 

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari and produced by Disney India, the film tracks the journey of the Phogat sisters from their village in Harayana to the Indian wrestling team. Aamir Khan plays the role of Mahavir Singh Phogat, father to Geeta and Babita Phogat (played by Fatima Sana Sheikh and Sanya Malhotra, respectively). It was released on December 23 on 4,300 screens across the country and has been made tax-free in Delhi, Chhattisgarh and Haryana. 

Not only has Dangal become the highest collecting Bollywood film in India, it is also one of the more profitable films this year. Made at approximately Rs 90 crore, the film broke even in the first week even for the producer.(Read More)

Om Puri: Acting giant who traversed both East and West

Latest Bollywood News - A giant of parallel and new wave cinema, Om Puri delivered some stellar performances in Ardh Satya, Aakrosh and Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron while being equally at home with Bollywood potboilers and Hollywood movies — the latter of which included gems like East Is East and City of Joy. 

Puri passed away on January 6, 2017, from a massive heart attack.

With his instantly recognisable rich baritone and chameleon-like ability to transform on-screen, 66-year-old Puri was as at ease playing an angst-laden police officer in Ardh Satya as he was in the comic role of corrupt builder Ahuja in Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro.

He was a major face for the parallel cinema movement alongside his contemporaries Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil; working collectively in some of the biggest Indian classics like Bhumika, Aakrosh, Sparsh, Bhavni Bhavai, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Ata Hai, Mirch Masala, Sadgati, Arohan, Ardh Satya and Mandi.

The actor, who starred in around 300 movies, won the National Film Award for best actor for his role as a police inspector in the 1982 film Ardh Satya. He also received the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award of India in the year 1990.

After the end of the art cinema movement, Puri shifted to mainstream cinema where he did memorable character roles while continuing to give noteworthy performances in films like Vijeta, Ghayal, Droh Kaal, Maachis, Ghatak: Lethal, Chachi 420, Khoobsurat, Pukar, Hera Pheri and Dev.(Read More)

Dangal creates history with highest 2nd Sunday collections

Breaking News - 'Dangal's exceptional performance at the box office led to Bollywood witnessing the biggest 2nd weekend collection ever.

With a phenomenal figure of Rs. 32.04 cr on its 2nd Sunday, the Aamir Khan-starrer marked Indian Film Industry's highest collection on Day 10 taking the cumulative total to Rs. 271.24 cr net.

The film embarked on its 2nd week of release, collecting Rs. 18.59 cr on Friday while Saturday registered Rs. 23.07 cr and went ahead to create history on Sunday.

The sports biopic released to a thunderous performance which set the cash registers buzzing upon its release. The film has minted a whooping Rs 271 cr nett in the Indian market and is soaring high in the International shores too.

Breaking the demonitisation spell, 'Dangal' has gone ahead to break many Box office records, garnering applause from all spheres.(Read More)

2016: Demonetisation, piracy disappoint Bollywood box office result

Breaking News - Only eight out of the approximately 230 Hindi films released in 2016 surpassed the glorified Rs 100 crore ($14.5 million) club in India, giving the industry only an average tally of around Rs 2,700 crore, according to industry insiders.

This, in a year when the central government's demonetisation move in early November disturbed the projected earnings for some movies, when piracy ate into some films' business and when some producers got into a tussle with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

Barring Shah Rukh Khan, whose "Fan" did not prove to be like most of the superstar's box office wonders, Bollywood other A-listers, including Salman Khan, Aamir Khan and Akshay Kumar, had a bright year with their films raking in the moolah and making it to the Rs 100 crore club.

There is no centralised agency to record Bollywood's box office numbers. But going by film trade experts and industry sources, Salman registered good returns with "Sultan", Akshay won the audiences' hearts with "Airlift", "Housefull 3" and "Rustom", and Aamir's "Dangal" Christmas release added to the festive season's celebratory mood.(Read More)

Owing to ill-health, Mithun Chakraborty resigns from Rajya Sabha

Breaking News - Actor-turned politician Mithun Chakraborty who was elected to the Rajya Sabha by Trinamool Congress (TMC), on Monday resigned from the Upper House citing health reasons.

He has submitted his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman, sources in TMC said.

Mithun, whose alleged involvement in Saradha scam made news in 2015, had attended the Upper House for three days only.

He has written to the Chairman that because of his health condition he is not been able to fulfil his duty in Rajya Sabha and that is why he is relinquishing his seat, sources added.

Chakraborty was elected to the Rajya Sabha in April 2014.(Read More)