TEAMS FUN AND FAIR

Actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol is relishing the snowfall in Manali. Sunny has been sharing photos and videos from Manali on his Instagram handle, and they are as lovely and joy-inducing as they come.

On Monday, the actor shared a snow-filled reel. Sunny is seen drinking his hot beverage and playing with snow in the reel. He captioned the video, “If you want to make your heart happy, dance in snow!❄☃#Manali #Snow #gratitude.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)

Sunny Deol recently shared a picture of himself all covered in snow as he posed in front of a huge plant. The actor captioned the photo, “Catching snowflakes ☃#Manali #Mountains #Snow.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)

It seems like Sunny Deol is a snow baby as he is always spotted vacationing in the Himalayas.
He had recently been to the hills with his father Dharmendra as he uploaded a video of them enjoying the wind and the snow together. In the video veteran actor Dharmendra is seen saying ‘enjoying myself at the height of 9000ht. Muaahh. One should live like this.’
The video is captioned- Just the 2 of us.
Building castles in the sky. Just the 2 of us.
#fatherson @aapkadharam

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)

On the work front, Sunny Deol will next star in Gadar 2 with Ameesha Patel. The film is helmed by Anil Sharma.

Also Read: Sunny Deol reaches Manali to ring his New Year celebrations; shares pics

Ahead of the release of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the new images shared by Warner Bros. gives us a look at Gotham's dark underworld and the famous caped crusader's most anticipated villains. The new images show an aesthetic that breaks from previous Batman iterations, combining the camp of Tim Burton's vision and Christopher Nolan's gritty The Dark Knight series while proving to be distinct from either film adaptation of the DC comic series.

According to Collider, the first image shows Riddler, wearing a full face mask and army jacket. This version looks much more subtle take than Burton's spandex get-up Riddler, played by Jim Carrey. The new costume evokes early drawings of the Zodiac Killer.

What do you think of The Riddler look in #TheBatman? pic.twitter.com/1IUQD7F1Vg

— Reel Talk Live ™ (@TheReelTalkLive) January 8, 2022

The second photo shows Colin Farrell in his role as the Penguin. Farrell is shown sitting, quite imposingly, in a leather chair, looking more like a mob boss than an avian-themed villain.

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin. #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/MB0xiTgAKW

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

The next image is of Pattinson’s Batman talking to Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman on a rooftop.

pic.twitter.com/O9ehGtsqs9

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

Another still gives better look at the upside down shot from the chase scene with the Penguin that ended the film’s second trailer at last year's DC FanDome. Seemingly from Penguin’s perspective, the shot’s orange and black color palette presents a chilling image of a shadowy silhouetted Batman beautifully.

Also, one of the images gives another look at Colin Farrell’s unrecognizable turn as The Penguin who looks to be in some sort of moody business meeting with fancy alcohol bottles surrounding him on all sides. He is sporting a checkered suit and bow tie which is very similar to something this villainous crime boss would wear in the comics.

Another new image shows Batman and Jeffrey Wright's Commissioner Gordon working together to solve this puzzling case. They appear to be in a morgue of some kind and are looking intensely at something on the table in front of them.

Updated #TheBatman stills [4K] pic.twitter.com/UMPoQgV2DG

— Battman ???? (@BatmanFiles) January 8, 2022

This brings us to the next pair of images that show Matt Reeves directing Pattinson in the batsuit with Gotham City police officers in the background. These two shots appear to be within the same sequence of the film as Reeves is wearing the same outfit in both images and, given the background, this looks to be at the crime scene where they find the Riddler victim that had their head sealed in duct tape.

Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson on the set of #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/0ACvhtpDZR

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

The final image of this batch is of Pattinson’s Dark Knight in his Bruce Wayne alter ego. He is holding a duffle bag as he walks in front of a police car and is wearing a suit overcoat combo that we have seen before. Particularly in the scene in the trailer where Bruce goes to a memorial of some kind that Riddler literally crashes into.

???? the batman 2022 ???? pic.twitter.com/gQMc87BI2X

— safe place for rob ???? (@safepattinson) January 10, 2022

The film also stars Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jeffrey Wright. In addition to directing, Matt Reeves also co-wrote the film with Peter Craig. The Batman is set to be released in theaters on March 4, 2022.

Also Read: The Batman star Robert Pattinson rides Batcycle in the newly surfaced photo from the set in Chicago 

Ahead of the release of Matt Reeves’ The Batman, the new images shared by Warner Bros. gives us a look at Gotham's dark underworld and the famous caped crusader's most anticipated villains. The new images show an aesthetic that breaks from previous Batman iterations, combining the camp of Tim Burton's vision and Christopher Nolan's gritty The Dark Knight series while proving to be distinct from either film adaptation of the DC comic series.

According to Collider, the first image shows Riddler, wearing a full face mask and army jacket. This version looks much more subtle take than Burton's spandex get-up Riddler, played by Jim Carrey. The new costume evokes early drawings of the Zodiac Killer.

What do you think of The Riddler look in #TheBatman? pic.twitter.com/1IUQD7F1Vg

— Reel Talk Live ™ (@TheReelTalkLive) January 8, 2022

The second photo shows Colin Farrell in his role as the Penguin. Farrell is shown sitting, quite imposingly, in a leather chair, looking more like a mob boss than an avian-themed villain.

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot, also known as the Penguin. #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/MB0xiTgAKW

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

The next image is of Pattinson’s Batman talking to Zoë Kravitz’s Catwoman on a rooftop.

pic.twitter.com/O9ehGtsqs9

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

Another still gives better look at the upside down shot from the chase scene with the Penguin that ended the film’s second trailer at last year's DC FanDome. Seemingly from Penguin’s perspective, the shot’s orange and black color palette presents a chilling image of a shadowy silhouetted Batman beautifully.

Also, one of the images gives another look at Colin Farrell’s unrecognizable turn as The Penguin who looks to be in some sort of moody business meeting with fancy alcohol bottles surrounding him on all sides. He is sporting a checkered suit and bow tie which is very similar to something this villainous crime boss would wear in the comics.

Another new image shows Batman and Jeffrey Wright's Commissioner Gordon working together to solve this puzzling case. They appear to be in a morgue of some kind and are looking intensely at something on the table in front of them.

Updated #TheBatman stills [4K] pic.twitter.com/UMPoQgV2DG

— Battman ???? (@BatmanFiles) January 8, 2022

This brings us to the next pair of images that show Matt Reeves directing Pattinson in the batsuit with Gotham City police officers in the background. These two shots appear to be within the same sequence of the film as Reeves is wearing the same outfit in both images and, given the background, this looks to be at the crime scene where they find the Riddler victim that had their head sealed in duct tape.

Matt Reeves and Robert Pattinson on the set of #TheBatman pic.twitter.com/0ACvhtpDZR

— Films to Films ???????? (@FilmstoFilms_) January 9, 2022

The final image of this batch is of Pattinson’s Dark Knight in his Bruce Wayne alter ego. He is holding a duffle bag as he walks in front of a police car and is wearing a suit overcoat combo that we have seen before. Particularly in the scene in the trailer where Bruce goes to a memorial of some kind that Riddler literally crashes into.

???? the batman 2022 ???? pic.twitter.com/gQMc87BI2X

— safe place for rob ???? (@safepattinson) January 10, 2022

The film also stars Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jeffrey Wright. In addition to directing, Matt Reeves also co-wrote the film with Peter Craig. The Batman is set to be released in theaters on March 4, 2022.

Also Read: The Batman star Robert Pattinson rides Batcycle in the newly surfaced photo from the set in Chicago 

Sara Ali Khan has currently been basking in the success of her recent release, Atrangi Re, directed by Aanand L Rai. For the shoot of the film, the actress traveled to different locations in India, including Uttar Pradesh, Madurai, and Delhi.

She recently took to her social media, to share 'behind-the-scene' stills from the sets of the film in Uttar Pradesh. Continuing with her streak of rhymes, in the caption, Sara wrote, "बकरी चराना
ट्रैक्टर चलाना
Was it just photo ka bahana
Or Sara wishing it was a different zamana"

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sara Ali Khan (@saraalikhan95)

The film also stars Akshay Kumar and Dhanush in the lead roles. Titled as the heart and soul of Atrangi Re, Sara has portrayed the deeply layered character of Rinku with tremendous conviction, for which the audience has been raving about.

ALSO READ: “My grandmother, Sharmila Tagore, will always be the epitome of grace and beauty for me” – Sara Ali Khan

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association handed out Golden Globes 2022 at a muted presentation ceremony on Sunday night, a year after the diversity scandal. Back in February 2021, a few days before the airing of the 78th Golden Globes on NBC network, the Los Angeles Times published an expose revealing that there were no Black members among the 87-member voters at HFPA, amid snubbing of Judas and the Black Messiah. Soon, the HFPA began to receive backlash and many industry bigwigs chose to return their Golden Globes. The network NBC pledged to not air Golden Globes 2022.

On Sunday night, January 9, the private event took place inside Los Angeles' Beverly Hilton hotel. Jamie Lee Curtis made a surprise video appearance, as per HFPA tweet, to "share a message on the importance of the HFPA's philanthropic efforts year round." While there was no celebrity fanfare, many took home big wins. Here's the full list of winners:

BEST MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Belfast
CODA
Dune
King Richard
The Power of the Dog - WINNER

BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Cyrano
Don't Look Up
Licorice Pizza
Tick, Tick... Boom!
West Side Story - WINNER

BEST MOTION PICTURE - NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Compartment No. 6 (Finland, Russia, Germany)
Drive My Car (Japan) - WINNER
The Hand of God (Italy)
A Hero (France, Iran)
Parallel Mothers (Spain)

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog - WINNER
Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter
Steven Spielberg, West Side Story
Denis Villeneuve, Dune

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
Aaron Sorkin, Being the Ricardos
Kenneth Branagh, Belfast - WINNER
Adam McKay, Don't Look Up
Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos - WINNER
Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
Kristen Stewart, Spencer

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA
Mahershala Ali, Swan Song
Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
Will Smith, King Richard - WINNER
Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Marion Cotillard, Annette
Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza
Jennifer Lawrence, Don't Look Up
Emma Stone, Cruella
Rachel Zegler, West Side Story - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Leonardo DiCaprio, Don't Look Up
Peter Dinklage, Cyrano
Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick... Boom! - WINNER
Cooper Hoffman, Licorice Pizza
Anthony Ramos, In the Heights

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Caitríona Balfe, Belfast
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story - WINNER
Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
Ruth Negga, Passing

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
Jamie Dornan, Belfast
Ciarán Hinds, Belfast
Troy Kotsur, CODA
Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog - WINNER

BEST MOTION PICTURE - ANIMATED
Encanto - WINNER
Flee
Luca
My Sunny Maad
Raya and the Last Dragon

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
Hans Zimmer, Dune - WINNER
Germanie Franco, Encanto
Alexandre Desplat, The French Dispatch
Alberto Iglesias, Parallel Mothers
Jonny Greenwood, The Power of the Dog

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE
Van Morrison for "Down to Joy" from Belfast
Lin-Manuel Miranda for "Dos Oruguitas" from Encanto
Beyoncé and Dixson for "Be Alive" from King Richard
Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for "No Time to Die" from No Time to Die - WINNER
Jamie Hartman, Jennifer Hudson, and Carole King for "Here I Am (Singing My Way Home)" from Respect

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
The Great
Hacks - WINNERS
Only Murders in the Building
Reservation Dogs
Ted Lasso

BEST TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Lupin
The Morning Show
Pose
Squid Game
Succession - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Brian Cox, Succession
Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
Billy Porter, Pose
Jeremy Strong, Succession - WINNER
Omar Sy, Lupin

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - DRAMA
Uzo Aduba, In Treatment
Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
Christine Baranski, The Good Fight
Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale
Mj Rodriguez, Pose - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Elle Fanning, The Great
Issa Rae, Insecure
Tracee Ellis Ross, Black-ish
Jean Smart, Hacks - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES - MUSICAL OR COMEDY
Anthony Anderson, Black-ish
Nicholas Hoult, The Great
Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso - WINNER

BEST TELEVISION LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Picture Made for Television
Dopesick
Impeachment
Maid
Mare of Easttown
The Underground Railroad - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Paul Bettany, WandaVision
Oscar Isaac, Scenes From a Marriage
Michael Keaton, Dopesick - WINNER
Ewan McGregor, Halston
Tahar Rahmi, The Serpent

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jessica Chastain, Scenes From a Marriage
Cynthia Erivo, Genius
Elizabeth Olsen, WandaVision
Margaret Qualley, Maid
Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown - WINNER

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
Kaitlyn Dever, Dopesick
Andie MacDowell, Maid
Sarah Snook, Succession - WINNER
Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, LIMITED SERIES OR A MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Kieran Culkin, Succession
Mark Duplass, The Morning Show
Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
O Yeong Su, Squid Game - WINNER

The much-talked-about Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha starring Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, and Radhika Apte has concluded two schedules of the film already. Hrithik had done an extensive shoot in Dubai whereas Saif filmed for 12 days in Lucknow in December 2021. Now, on the occasion of Hrithik Roshan’s birthday today, makers of Vikram Vedha have unveiled his first glimpse as Vedha.

Hrithik Roshan, who turns 48 today, took to his social media on Monday to share the first look. He simply wrote, "Vedha" in the caption.

वेधा
.
VEDHA#vikramvedha pic.twitter.com/4GDkb7BXpl

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) January 10, 2022

A cult film in its own right Vikram Vedha is a neo-noir action crime thriller film. Based on the Indian meta-folktale Vikram aur Betaal, the film tells the story of a tough police officer who sets out to track down and kill an equally tough gangster. This original Tamil blockbuster starred R. Madhavan & Vijay Sethupathi.

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

ALSO READ: Hrithik Roshan drops a shirtless photo flaunting his physique, Shahid Kapoor calls him ‘hard munda’

The much-talked-about Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha starring Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, and Radhika Apte has concluded two schedules of the film already. Hrithik had done an extensive shoot in Dubai whereas Saif filmed for 12 days in Lucknow in December 2021. Now, on the occasion of Hrithik Roshan’s birthday today, makers of Vikram Vedha have unveiled his first glimpse as Vedha.

Hrithik Roshan, who turns 48 today, took to his social media on Monday to share the first look. He simply wrote, "Vedha" in the caption.

वेधा
.
VEDHA#vikramvedha pic.twitter.com/4GDkb7BXpl

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) January 10, 2022

A cult film in its own right Vikram Vedha is a neo-noir action crime thriller film. Based on the Indian meta-folktale Vikram aur Betaal, the film tells the story of a tough police officer who sets out to track down and kill an equally tough gangster. This original Tamil blockbuster starred R. Madhavan & Vijay Sethupathi.

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

ALSO READ: Hrithik Roshan drops a shirtless photo flaunting his physique, Shahid Kapoor calls him ‘hard munda’

Thanks to the Covid-19 induced lockdown, several films, intended for theatrical release, went straight onto digital platforms. While most films were apt for an OTT premiere, some would have done or could have done healthy business had these films been released on the big screen. Bollywood Hungama, in this special feature, lists out 8 such films.

1. The Big Bull

Sure, the film suffered due to the comparisons with Scam 1992. But the word of mouth was positive and it received considerable viewership on Disney+ Hotstar. In addition, the film’s scale and storytelling indicated that it was fit for a big-screen viewing. Its possible theatrical success could have also given a boost to lead actor Abhishek Bachchan’s career.

2. Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai

The Salman Khan did have a theatrical release but in very limited cinemas. And the business in some of these theatres proved that audiences had liked the film. Had Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai not had a pay-per-view and hybrid release and instead would have come in the theatres first, this Salman Khan starrer could have had a huge opening and an impressive weekend. Due to the mixed word of mouth, Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai would have dropped later on, but not before putting up a respectable lifetime.

3. Toofaan

Starring Farhan Akhtar, this sports drama had mass appeal and was a well-packaged entertainer. At the box office, it had a chance thanks to the casting of Farhan, the sports element, the emotional second half and also sadly, due to the controversy.

4. Mimi

This was the biggest surprise of 2021 and touched viewers’ hearts. Many believed that had it released in cinemas, it might have not had a good opening but thanks to the extremely positive word of mouth, it would have attracted viewers in hordes to cinemas. A lifetime total of Rs. 60-70 crore was very much possible.

5. Shershaah

Most movie fans would always have a regret that they never got a chance to watch Shershaah on the big screen. It was arguably the biggest digital success of 2021 and in cinemas, it could have collected Rs. 100 crore plus. Sidharth Malhotra’s track record would have gone to another level, and rightfully so.

6. Bhoot Police

Not much was expected from this horror comedy. However, it turned out to be a fun ride. The film was shot in picturesque locations and the VFX and jump scares were fit for a theatrical viewing. At the box office, this film too would have appealed to the viewers, especially the youngsters, who love watching horror films.

7. Rashmi Rocket

In the past, Taapsee Pannu has emerged as a box office queen as her films Pink (2016) and Badla (2019) were huge hits while Thappad (2020), Mulk (2018), Naam Shabana (2017) etc trended well. Rashmi Rocket had a unique story and had the courtroom drama and sports bit. Moreover, despite such a controversial topic, it was a family entertainer and did not have any disturbing or titillating scenes. As a result, this could have been a box office surprise hit.

8. Sanak

Vidyut Jammwal is the darling of the masses. In the past, several of his films have worked the best in single screens and mass centres. Last year, his film Khuda Haafiz also went on digital. However, it had limited action and hence, one can understand it releasing directly on OTT. Sanak, however, was a complete action entertainer and showcased Vidyut at his best. In the cinema halls, this film could have created a frenzy.

Also Read: #2021Recap: 11 WORST Endings in Bollywood films this year (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Thanks to the Covid-19 induced lockdown, several films, intended for theatrical release, went straight onto digital platforms. While most films were apt for an OTT premiere, some would have done or could have done healthy business had these films been released on the big screen. Bollywood Hungama, in this special feature, lists out 8 such films.

1. The Big Bull

Sure, the film suffered due to the comparisons with Scam 1992. But the word of mouth was positive and it received considerable viewership on Disney+ Hotstar. In addition, the film’s scale and storytelling indicated that it was fit for a big-screen viewing. Its possible theatrical success could have also given a boost to lead actor Abhishek Bachchan’s career.

2. Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai

The Salman Khan did have a theatrical release but in very limited cinemas. And the business in some of these theatres proved that audiences had liked the film. Had Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai not had a pay-per-view and hybrid release and instead would have come in the theatres first, this Salman Khan starrer could have had a huge opening and an impressive weekend. Due to the mixed word of mouth, Radhe – Your Most Wanted Bhai would have dropped later on, but not before putting up a respectable lifetime.

3. Toofaan

Starring Farhan Akhtar, this sports drama had mass appeal and was a well-packaged entertainer. At the box office, it had a chance thanks to the casting of Farhan, the sports element, the emotional second half and also sadly, due to the controversy.

4. Mimi

This was the biggest surprise of 2021 and touched viewers’ hearts. Many believed that had it released in cinemas, it might have not had a good opening but thanks to the extremely positive word of mouth, it would have attracted viewers in hordes to cinemas. A lifetime total of Rs. 60-70 crore was very much possible.

5. Shershaah

Most movie fans would always have a regret that they never got a chance to watch Shershaah on the big screen. It was arguably the biggest digital success of 2021 and in cinemas, it could have collected Rs. 100 crore plus. Sidharth Malhotra’s track record would have gone to another level, and rightfully so.

6. Bhoot Police

Not much was expected from this horror comedy. However, it turned out to be a fun ride. The film was shot in picturesque locations and the VFX and jump scares were fit for a theatrical viewing. At the box office, this film too would have appealed to the viewers, especially the youngsters, who love watching horror films.

7. Rashmi Rocket

In the past, Taapsee Pannu has emerged as a box office queen as her films Pink (2016) and Badla (2019) were huge hits while Thappad (2020), Mulk (2018), Naam Shabana (2017) etc trended well. Rashmi Rocket had a unique story and had the courtroom drama and sports bit. Moreover, despite such a controversial topic, it was a family entertainer and did not have any disturbing or titillating scenes. As a result, this could have been a box office surprise hit.

8. Sanak

Vidyut Jammwal is the darling of the masses. In the past, several of his films have worked the best in single screens and mass centres. Last year, his film Khuda Haafiz also went on digital. However, it had limited action and hence, one can understand it releasing directly on OTT. Sanak, however, was a complete action entertainer and showcased Vidyut at his best. In the cinema halls, this film could have created a frenzy.

Also Read: #2021Recap: 11 WORST Endings in Bollywood films this year (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Bollywood actor Salman Khan recently had a brush with a snake ahead of his birthday in Panvel last month. While the actor is doing well, actress Bhagyashree poked fun at her Maine Pyar Kiya co-star recently.

The actress took to her Instagram stories on Saturday to share a photo from a dhaba that had a spelling error on it. Instead of 'snacks', the error changed the spelling to 'snakes'. Sharing the photo, she wrote, “Saw this today and wondered @beingsalmankhan would you care to go?”

In recent times, Salman Khan and Bhagyashree had a reunion on Bigg Boss 15, last year. The actress debuted opposite Salman in Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989.

A day before his birthday in December, Salman Khan was bitten by a non-venomous snake at his Panvel farmhouse. He was rushed to a hospital and was discharged in a few hours. On his birthday, the actor narrated the incident while interacting with the media. “It wasn’t much, a snake had entered one of the rooms, the farmhouse is quite in the jungle in Panvel. When the snake entered the room, kids got scared so I went in to see and asked for a stick, the stick that came was a small one so I asked for a longer stick, and they got one, with which I picked up the snake with a lot of love and brought it out, and the snake wrapped itself on the stick and then it started climbing upwards. It came quite close to my hand so I caught it with my other hand and dropped the stick to be able to leave the snake (in the jungle),” he said.

On the work front, Salman Khan is currently shooting Tiger 3. He will also star in Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, Kick 2, No Entry 2, Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2 and more.

ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 15: Salman Khan lashes out at Abhijeet Bichukale for abusing, says “Tu bolega, main ghar mein aake tereko maar ke jaunga”

Bollywood actor Salman Khan recently had a brush with a snake ahead of his birthday in Panvel last month. While the actor is doing well, actress Bhagyashree poked fun at her Maine Pyar Kiya co-star recently.

The actress took to her Instagram stories on Saturday to share a photo from a dhaba that had a spelling error on it. Instead of 'snacks', the error changed the spelling to 'snakes'. Sharing the photo, she wrote, “Saw this today and wondered @beingsalmankhan would you care to go?”

In recent times, Salman Khan and Bhagyashree had a reunion on Bigg Boss 15, last year. The actress debuted opposite Salman in Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989.

A day before his birthday in December, Salman Khan was bitten by a non-venomous snake at his Panvel farmhouse. He was rushed to a hospital and was discharged in a few hours. On his birthday, the actor narrated the incident while interacting with the media. “It wasn’t much, a snake had entered one of the rooms, the farmhouse is quite in the jungle in Panvel. When the snake entered the room, kids got scared so I went in to see and asked for a stick, the stick that came was a small one so I asked for a longer stick, and they got one, with which I picked up the snake with a lot of love and brought it out, and the snake wrapped itself on the stick and then it started climbing upwards. It came quite close to my hand so I caught it with my other hand and dropped the stick to be able to leave the snake (in the jungle),” he said.

On the work front, Salman Khan is currently shooting Tiger 3. He will also star in Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, Kick 2, No Entry 2, Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2 and more.

ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 15: Salman Khan lashes out at Abhijeet Bichukale for abusing, says “Tu bolega, main ghar mein aake tereko maar ke jaunga”

Indian actor Yash made his film debut in 2008 with the film Moggina Manasu and made his debut as a solo lead actor with the 2008 film Rocky. From there to playing Rocky in K.G.F- Chapter 1, it has been a long journey for the actor. Now, as the actor who has made a massive contribution to Indian cinema turns 36, he got into a conversation with Bollywood Hungama and spoke about his life, achievements, stardom, his fans, and the years of the pandemic.

The New Year’s and birthdays are when people look back at the time gone by and reminisce. For Yash, his popularity transcended the borders of the Kannada film industry and he amassed a massive fan following with the 2018 release K.G.F- Chapter 1. When asked about what goes on in his head, when he looks back, he said, "It's in process, I can say. It's not about what we have achieved, it's about what we want to achieve. Of course, we enjoy what we have done, there's still a lot more to do. That's life, you have to keep looking at what you have to do. We have to enjoy every bit of life, face every challenge and overcome it, celebrate it, look forward to something new. That's all about it. I'm not someone who will think about what I have done. It's just the beginning is what I always feel. There is still a lot more."

Talking of looking back, one cannot forget the years of the pandemic and the toll it took on humans. "All of us have gone through a lot of things in these two years which we never expected we will face or that we will arrive into a situation where we have to stay at home and do nothing. There are also positive sides, which is I got to spend a lot of quality time with my kids, especially the first lockdown, my daughter was one-and-a-half years old. That's when they start expressing or they start trying to communicate. I had a wonderful time in the second lockdown. My son was one-and-a-half years old. So it's a blessing in disguise," the actor shared.

But the actor also had times when he began questioning everything and admits that it was tough and he was not "calm and composed" through these tough times. "There are a lot of times where you feel frustrated because you don't know other ways to look at life. You associate yourself with your profession or things you want to achieve. All of a sudden, if you take that equation out of your life it becomes very difficult, irrespective of what profession you're in. I think everybody would have gone through that. I think life is like that. It's unpredictable and we have to adapt to the situation. It's not easy. There are moments where I felt very, very low and questioned, 'What am I doing?' A lot of them say that an empty mind is the devil's workshop. I asked, 'what am I doing? Is it enough? Or is it right? Where am I heading? What is life?' Too many questions. When you're busy you don't have time to think about all those things, it just goes on. The momentum is the most important thing in life and when you lose that momentum, big questions arise and some deep thoughts also come into your mind," Yash told Bollywood Hungama.

While fans and the audiences who have seen him on screen in larger than life, the pandemic also took a toll on him. "We can take you to the fantasy world, yet we will live in reality. In my head, yes, I always live in a fantasy world. But by the end of the day, all of us are humans," Yash said.

With the pan-India success of the magnum opus K.G.F- Chapter 1, Yash achieved a massive fan following across the country and came to be known as their dear Rocky bhai. Fans have known to go out of their way to shower love on the star. When asked if there is one fan gesture that had him overwhelmed, he said he cannot choose one as every moment is special. "How do you decide what is overwhelming, everything is overwhelming. Sometimes the thought that they may not celebrate their parents’ birthday or their own birthday but they are thinking about our birthday. God's blessing I should say. I always say that they are my family. So I have a large family and whatever they do in their small little ways is big for me. It's about the space they give in their life. That itself is so important. And I don't want to differentiate between that. Some celebrate my birthday by just cooking for their family and having good food. Those kinds of celebration that in itself is big," he said.

For Yash, his birthdays are all about his big family meaning his fans. In 2020, just before India was hit by the pandemic, fans of Yash created the World record for the largest celebrity birthday cake. His fans celebrated the day with a cake weighing 5000 kgs and 40x70 feet wide. "It's all about their celebration and meeting them but unfortunately for the last two years, we're not able to do that. I miss meeting my fans. They are also going to be disappointed because more than my birthday they also travel and celebrate with their family," he shared.

This year, once again, owing to the pandemic, the actor will be having a quiet birthday with his family and cannot wait for the pandemic to settle so that he can interact with his fans.

ALSO READ: Yash to speak his own lines in Hindi KGF 2?

Indian actor Yash made his film debut in 2008 with the film Moggina Manasu and made his debut as a solo lead actor with the 2008 film Rocky. From there to playing Rocky in K.G.F- Chapter 1, it has been a long journey for the actor. Now, as the actor who has made a massive contribution to Indian cinema turns 36, he got into a conversation with Bollywood Hungama and spoke about his life, achievements, stardom, his fans, and the years of the pandemic.

The New Year’s and birthdays are when people look back at the time gone by and reminisce. For Yash, his popularity transcended the borders of the Kannada film industry and he amassed a massive fan following with the 2018 release K.G.F- Chapter 1. When asked about what goes on in his head, when he looks back, he said, "It's in process, I can say. It's not about what we have achieved, it's about what we want to achieve. Of course, we enjoy what we have done, there's still a lot more to do. That's life, you have to keep looking at what you have to do. We have to enjoy every bit of life, face every challenge and overcome it, celebrate it, look forward to something new. That's all about it. I'm not someone who will think about what I have done. It's just the beginning is what I always feel. There is still a lot more."

Talking of looking back, one cannot forget the years of the pandemic and the toll it took on humans. "All of us have gone through a lot of things in these two years which we never expected we will face or that we will arrive into a situation where we have to stay at home and do nothing. There are also positive sides, which is I got to spend a lot of quality time with my kids, especially the first lockdown, my daughter was one-and-a-half years old. That's when they start expressing or they start trying to communicate. I had a wonderful time in the second lockdown. My son was one-and-a-half years old. So it's a blessing in disguise," the actor shared.

But the actor also had times when he began questioning everything and admits that it was tough and he was not "calm and composed" through these tough times. "There are a lot of times where you feel frustrated because you don't know other ways to look at life. You associate yourself with your profession or things you want to achieve. All of a sudden, if you take that equation out of your life it becomes very difficult, irrespective of what profession you're in. I think everybody would have gone through that. I think life is like that. It's unpredictable and we have to adapt to the situation. It's not easy. There are moments where I felt very, very low and questioned, 'What am I doing?' A lot of them say that an empty mind is the devil's workshop. I asked, 'what am I doing? Is it enough? Or is it right? Where am I heading? What is life?' Too many questions. When you're busy you don't have time to think about all those things, it just goes on. The momentum is the most important thing in life and when you lose that momentum, big questions arise and some deep thoughts also come into your mind," Yash told Bollywood Hungama.

While fans and the audiences who have seen him on screen in larger than life, the pandemic also took a toll on him. "We can take you to the fantasy world, yet we will live in reality. In my head, yes, I always live in a fantasy world. But by the end of the day, all of us are humans," Yash said.

With the pan-India success of the magnum opus K.G.F- Chapter 1, Yash achieved a massive fan following across the country and came to be known as their dear Rocky bhai. Fans have known to go out of their way to shower love on the star. When asked if there is one fan gesture that had him overwhelmed, he said he cannot choose one as every moment is special. "How do you decide what is overwhelming, everything is overwhelming. Sometimes the thought that they may not celebrate their parents’ birthday or their own birthday but they are thinking about our birthday. God's blessing I should say. I always say that they are my family. So I have a large family and whatever they do in their small little ways is big for me. It's about the space they give in their life. That itself is so important. And I don't want to differentiate between that. Some celebrate my birthday by just cooking for their family and having good food. Those kinds of celebration that in itself is big," he said.

For Yash, his birthdays are all about his big family meaning his fans. In 2020, just before India was hit by the pandemic, fans of Yash created the World record for the largest celebrity birthday cake. His fans celebrated the day with a cake weighing 5000 kgs and 40x70 feet wide. "It's all about their celebration and meeting them but unfortunately for the last two years, we're not able to do that. I miss meeting my fans. They are also going to be disappointed because more than my birthday they also travel and celebrate with their family," he shared.

This year, once again, owing to the pandemic, the actor will be having a quiet birthday with his family and cannot wait for the pandemic to settle so that he can interact with his fans.

ALSO READ: Yash to speak his own lines in Hindi KGF 2?

Naseeruddin Shah has rediscovered his funnybone in the forthcoming web-series Kaun Banegi Shikharwati. In an interview with me he admits he is tired of playing serious roles. “I got typecast as a serious actor too damn early in my career and have struggled to shake off that mantle, it was too heavy to lug around but despite my efforts I never got the chance to perform in as many comedies as I would have liked to. But maybe that was also a disguised blessing considering the kind of comedies we make in Mumbai.”

We haven't seen too much of Naseer’s impeccable comic timing since Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron. The maestro of the performing arts feels comedy is a serious business. “Comedy is way more difficult that than the serious stuff, in fact I always tell my students that the easiest thing an actor is asked to do is to cry --and all actors LOVE to cry!--but even some experienced and excellent actors have trouble laughing .Watch Sanjeev Kumar in Shatranj Ke Khiladi, for example.”

Many actors, feels Naseer, don't understand the mechanics of laughter. “What happens to the breath and so on when one laughs. Crying is easy because the actor can just recall a past incident, however disconnected the context may be, and the tears begin to flow. Serious actors are held in higher regard because they are.. well.. serious! Mehmood sahab in my opinion was one of the most gifted actors Hindi cinema has ever had yet he is remembered only as a comedian.”

Naseer has some lovely ladies for company in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati. “Lara Dutta is a delightful surprise since I'd never seen her work but she has a WOW personality and of course she's a gorgeous looker and wonderful actor. Soha Ali Khan has an innate sweetness which I suspect masks a fiery temper-though I didn't see any evidence of it! Kritika Kamra, of the sunny smile has something in her eyes which makes you look at her twice, she's terrifically confident and I think she could play an introvert as well as she has done this part. And Anya Singh radiates a kind of mystery and innocence, though I hope she doesn't begin to take herself too seriously and milk these qualities. What she needs as a breakout role is of a foul mouthed woman of the streets!"

Naseer Saab, who has worked in most of his best works with Shabana Azmi, is all praise for his new co-stars, "All these girls were wonderful and affectionate and caring and sincere about their work and I'd happily work with any or all of them again."

Naseer has lavish praise for his colleague who co-stars with him in Shikharwati. "Raghuvir Yadav, I have been a fan of forty years now ever since I saw him on stage in Delhi and couldn't recognise him the next time I saw him. His performance in Massey Sahab, I consider one of the finest in Hindi cinema.”

Also Read: Lara Dutta shares her experience of working with Naseeruddin Shah in Kaun Banegi Shikharwati- “Was on my wishlist for the longest time ever”

2021 was an exceptional year for Manoj Bajpayee. He was officially crowned the Family Man of India. The Amazon Prime show catapulted Manoj to the position of the topmost OTT star. Characteristically Manoj remains unaffected. “I haven’t changed with success or failure. Either way I’ve always been a very responsible actor. I take neither failure nor success too seriously. They are both part of the same cycle of life, and we have to accept both. I’m taking the compliments and praise coming my way with a lot of humility. At the same time I am never bogged down by expectations and the responsibility. Every assignment of mine is equally important to me. I have never differentiated between big and small projects. To me they are all big. And I will continue to be the same. I will choose the assignments very carefully, not to fulfill expectations but to satisfy the hunger within me as an actor. I’ve told you this before: repetition is death for me.”

At the same time, Manoj admits life has changed after the spectacular success of The Family Man. “I admit I am receiving more praise for this than ever before. I take the compliments and the criticism with equal humility. I never get carried away by success. There are two ladies in my life to make sure I remain grounded: my wife and daughter. If I strut around like a star they will probably laugh so hard my balloon will be punctured.”

Family Man 2 in 2021 took Manoj’s career to another level. But Manoj says he is just as proud of his other OTT releases last year. “Silence…Can You Hear It?, Dial 100 and Hungama Hai Kyon Barpat from the Ray anthology on Netflix for which both Gajraj Rao and I were immensely praised…these are all as precious to me as The Family Man. But let me tell you, 2022 is going to be very different from the content I shot for last year. So I am looking forward to the coming year. June-July onwards in 2022, all my new content will start streaming. They are all my passion projects. So I am eager to see how audiences react to them.”

How does Manoj manage to remain so excited about his work? “Yes I am very excited. I continue to be enthused by my work. It is a renewable process. Every year I make sure I look forward to the following year by doing the work that I haven’t done earlier. Luckily I am never short of options. I am lucky to have worked with such brilliant directors in recent times like Devashish Makhija, Deepesh Jain and Abhishek Chaubey. In fact I am now shooting a project with Abhishek Choubey. He is one of my most favourite directors. He is among the finest filmmakers in the country. It’s a privilege to be directed by him. I learn so much just by being on the set with him The way he treats his actors, the way he helps actors get all the nuances right…I’ve learnt so much from him. I am also very happy for Aban Deohans and Rensil d’Silva whose films with me Silence and Dial 100 have done well.”

Manoj’s other significant achievements during the year? “I got my National award for Bhonsle and also a Filmfare award for Family Man. I have just shot three fantastic films directed by Kanu Behl, Ram Reddy and Abhishek Choubey. Hopefully audiences will like me in these, as I have tried to things that I’ve never done before. I’d say these are significant moves ahead for me.”

Looking ahead, Manoj admits to a feeling of uncertainty because of the continuing Covid crisis. “Uncertainty unpredictability….have become the norm in our lives. Whenever I hear of another lockdown I become really sad, because I want to keep working. I don’t want any of my work to be pending. I don’t want any backlog. I want civilization to be saved. I want all of us to get back to our normal lives. I want the smiles to return on everyone’s life. The road ahead makes me sad. And also a little nervous. So many directors are waiting to start their films. When I look at their anxiety, I get very sad. They don’t deserve this. No one deserves this.”

Also Read: “Please give the superstar tag to someone else,” says Manoj Bajpayee

Brahmastra producer Karan Johar during a recent interview said that Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor gave seven years of their lives to the film. The filmmaker also mentioned that Alia signed the film when she was 21 and she literally grown up in cinema.

In Film Companion’s roundtable discussion with Anupama Chopra, Karan talked about the upcoming star-studded film Brahmastra and Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt’s passion and hard work that went into the film that has been in the making for seven years. He said, “You can just write on the fact that there's a boy (Ayan Mukerji) who's worked for seven years, every day of his life. Literally, I've seen with my own eyes – the blood, sweat and tears, every single day. That boy has relentlessly just worked on this movie, discovered so much. I've just seen his passion. He has had actors that have given him everything. I met Rajamouli sir and he used to say how Prabhas and Rana Daggubati gave five years of their life to Baahubali.”

“Ranbir has given seven years. Alia has given seven years without questioning. Dates have got adjusted, schedules have moved, governments have changed, Brahmastra was still on. It was still on and there was that kid who has grown up. Alia grew up with Brahmastra. When she signed the film, she was 21 years old. I mean, she's 28 today and you know when the film is going to release, she'll be 29. She literally grew up in cinema. She came as a newbie to [become] a veteran actress now. It was not because it was being delayed for any indulgent reason, or something; it was just taking so long to match execution to vision,” he further added.

“I know that I don't regret a single day of giving my support and love, or the studio Disney that put in all the muscle, as well as all the members of the cast. If you ask them, even now when I see, they're so passionate about each and every frame of Brahmastra. We just hope and pray literally every day that it matches, and none of us are in it for the money anymore. Because the Lord knows that even the film is a mega blockbuster. It's not that everyone is taking the fat cheque home, because all the money's in the film. But it's become like a passion project beyond passion,” he continued.

Brahmastra, written and directed by Ayan Mukerji, and produced by Karan Johar, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna Akkineni. The film is intended to serve as the first film in a planned trilogy. The film is scheduled to be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada on 9 September 2022.

Also Read: Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor end the year on a ‘wild’ note; see pics

Brahmastra producer Karan Johar has said that superstars Nagarjuna and Shah Rukh Khan came on board for special appearances in the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt starrer because they believed in the film and its vision. Along with Karan Johar, filmmakers Zoya Akhtar, Reema Kagti, Nikkhil Advani and Sameer Nair came together to talk about the industry, the pandemic, content creation, films, digital medium and obsession with remakes.

In Film Companion’s producer’s roundtable discussion with Anupama Chopra, Karan talked about the upcoming star-studded film Brahmastra and Shah Rukh Khan and Nagarjuna’s cameo appearances. “I've realized that it takes time when you make a film, you’ve got to give it time. You've learned the power of storyboarding; you've learned the power of also working with people who really care about your film. They didn't just sign your film because its money to them or it's a commitment. It's because they really believe in. If you're doing something that large, you've got to have a crew that actually becomes organically embedded in that film's fabric,” Karan Johar said.

“And that's what happened with Brahmastra. Like Nagarjuna, he came on board; Shah Rukh Khan has done a massive cameo for us. We thought it would be five days but he shot for 15 days. And without a question asked, he saw the vision of the sequence. It's like Mr. Bachchan; he came just about like that. This is not just our film; it's everyone's film, you can take ownership on it. Tomorrow, the producers list is large, the actor list is larger. It's like we're all just like part of this one big mega film that just needs the world to watch it. So, we like literally want every center in this country and world to come out and watch because we don't need it just for the money; we need it to kind of validate the seven years,” he added.

Brahmastra, written and directed by AyanMukerji, and produced by Karan Johar, stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy and Nagarjuna Akkineni. The film is intended to serve as the first film in a planned trilogy. Brahmastra is scheduled to be released in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada on 9^thSeptember 2022.

Also Read: Brahmastra couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor hold hands as they visit Bigg Boss Telugu together; watch video

During 2021, Taapsee Pannu had two releases. She says the year was fulfilling for her in unexpected ways. “2021 for me was all about getting through the year somehow. It was just about survival. We were already hammered in 2020 by the sudden pandemic then 2021 was a bigger blow for all of us. I thought if I could just get through the year somehow, I’d be okay. All my energies were channelized into somehow getting through the year. So I had really not set any benchmarks for myself last year.”

Taapsee’s Rashmi Rocket and Haseen Dillruba had their share of supporters and naysayers. And Taapsee is okay with that. “I think every film of mine has had its share of supporters and naysayers. I can’t remember a single film of mine that has been liked or disliked by all. Isn’t that how it is for all films? There will be people who will celebrate its virtues and others who will focus on the flaws. Good or bad, is subjective. What matters is, did they speak about the film? I don’t take the opinion of the trained protestors seriously. The ones who have made it a habit to get offended politically or culturally or habitually.”

What matters to Taapsee Pannu is the real audience. “I don’t ask people’s opinion on my film. I wait for them to tell me what they think. When I go out for a dinner, and people approach me aage se (on their own) to say whether they liked my film. That to me is the real audience response. My first screening of Rashmi Rocket –where I played an athlete—was with the entire cast and crew, and a lot of real athletes. When I saw them clapping and cheering I felt I must have done something right and then girls who played supportive roles in scenes said they were touched by the film. That made me feel good. It made me feel the film had organically impressed the audience.”

For Haseen Dillruba, Taapsee had a more adult audience. “They told me how crazy the film was and how unpredictable it was as a movie experience. These are all people who gave me their opinion without my asking. These are for me more valuable than the opinions of those who get pleasure from criticizing films, or maybe those who genuinely didn’t like the film. I don’t deny the existence of genuine naysayers. No film or for that anything you do in life will get a hundred percent acceptance. And the sooner you accept this, the better.”

Ask Taapsee which of her two 2021 releases were her favourite and she laughs. “It is said that a mother can’t choose between her children. I can’t choose any of my films as my favourite. How can I say which one I preferred between my two 2021 releases? Haseen Dillruba and Rashmi Rocket came during the most challenging year of our lives. My only regret is that they were not released in theatres. They were designed for the large screen. We never thought they would not make it into theatres. We would have shot it differently if we knew it was going on OTT. It would have been shot in a slightly different way for OTT. The shots had a theatre feel to them.”

As a female hero known to do author-backed roles it is difficult for Taapsee to find leading men who are willing to let their co-star take centre stage. She has gotten used to this problem. “This has been a consistent issue for years. And I’ve made peace with the fact that it will continue to be an issue. Without taking names, there are prominent leading men who have said no to projects with me arguing the scripts were women-oriented. They have actually said, ‘This is an out-and-out girl’s film so I don’t want to do it.’ Some really talented leading actors have said no to films where I have a larger part than the male lead. I have never shied away from doing smaller parts in a male-driven film. So I really don’t know how to explain this lack of sportsmanship other than by blaming the male ego. Do they have so little faith in their talent that they feel they won’t get the audiences’ attention and love in a smaller role? I look at the West and I am amazed at how the big male stars do roles in films where the protagonist is a woman. What thought processes makes the male actor in the West more open to women-centric films than their counterparts in these parts? I certainly hope this mind-set changes soon.”

In 2022, Taapsee has four films ready. “Although I don’t know in which order they will release: Loop Lapeta, Shaabaash Mithu, Dobaara and Blurr . I am halfway through another project Woh Ladki Hai Kahaan. All these should be out in 2022.”

With Blurr, Taapsee has turned producer. “It just fell into my lap. Ideally I’d have liked to give my production plans more thought. But like my acting career, my turning producer was also destined to happen. I am enjoying my new role as a producer. Usually when I am on the set I concentrate on getting my lines right. This time I was trying to make sure everything was okay for everyone on the set. I am not sure that was the right thing to do as an actor. I am looking at other things as a producer where I am not an actor, which I will announce soon.”

Taapsee has her fingers crossed for 2022. “I hope it is more organized. Because of the lockdown the last two years have been a little crushed and cluttered for me. I have been literally running in and out of sets trying to find time for myself and my family. This has taken a toll on my physical and mental health. I am hoping 2022 will be more peaceful. I hope there are no shocking sudden lockdowns in 2022. Touch wood.”

Also Read: Taapsee Pannu on her plans for marriage, “I am in no hurry to get married”