Expresso Bollywood News Update at 11:30 am on 9 July 2024

Bollywood update: Karan Johar opens up about childhood body shaming. Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani’s pre-wedding festivities are underway. Producer Ronnie Screwvala plans re-release of Shah Rukh Khan’s Swades.

Let us begin with our top story: Karan Johar has been candid about grappling with body image issues, revealing in a recent interaction that he faced body shaming as early as age three. The filmmaker and producer expressed his lifelong disappointment with himself. Speaking to journalist Faye D’Souza on her YouTube channel, Karan said, “I felt I failed a lot as a child first. I felt I was failing my parents. I was conditioned to believe that because I was effeminate. I was unlike all the other boys in my school. I have body dysmorphia. I am very awkward getting into a pool. I try hard to overcome it. Even in moments of intimacy, I put the lights out."

Moving on, The pre-wedding festivities of Radhika Merchant and Anant Ambani are in full swing. After an extravagant mameru ceremony, followed by dandiya night, sangeet, and grih shanti puja, the couple on Monday, July 8th celebrated their haldi ceremony. Photos and videos of the decked-up residence as well as guests attending the event are being widely shared online. The haldi ceremony was an intimate affair with family members and a few celebrities like Salman Khan, Sara Ali Khan, Janhvi Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, and Ananya Panday in attendance. Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are all set to tie the knot on Friday, July 12 at the Jio World Centre.

With many films being re-released lately, the producer of Shah Rukh Khan starrer Swades, Ronnie Screwvala, thinks it is the right time to bring the 2004 film back to the big screen. The movie will complete 20 years of release in December this year. In an interview with India Today, Screwvala said, "It could re-release. I keep telling everyone that it was a film ahead of its time. Therefore, it needs its second time around. Today, younger generations connect to that. You may go abroad to study, but eventually, you want to return to your country. The film represents the spirit and mood of the nation, and therefore is very relevant.”

Actor Indira Krishna shared information to finally confirm that the Ramayana movie is indeed real and in the making too. She confirmed her association with the project and her role as Kaushalya. In an interview with Hindustan Times, when asked about Ramayana co-star Ranbir Kapoor, she did not hesitate to heap praise. Krishna said, “I hold Ranbir in high regard. I have yet to encounter anyone like him in this industry. He has this magnetic presence. He exudes care, love, and kindness. If you’re seated in a corner, he’ll make his way over to you, greet you, and ask about your day. Who does that these days? He’s a wonderful person.”

Viju Shah recalled composing the title song of the 1998 film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, as well as, other songs such as 'Kisi Disco Mein Jayein' and 'Makhna' for the film. In an interview with Radio Nasha Official, Viju said, “In Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, the characters were such. The characters were total Bhindi bazar type. And of course, I knew David Dhawan. For him song means something that should force him to move his body, then he feels convinced. If you see it, the tunes were a little different. It was Indian only, but heavy. We used all sorts of Indian instruments to compose the songs. Be it ‘Kisi Disco Mein Jayein’, or other songs from the film.”

Meanwhile, Actor Vicky Kaushal’s acting prowess remains unquestionable, with his performance in director Meghna Gulzar’s biographical war drama Sam Bahadur reinforcing his status as one of Bollywood’s most talented actors. Nevertheless, casting director-filmmaker Mukesh Chhabra recently shared that Kaushal’s journey so far has been far from easy. During a chat with Pinkvilla, Chhabra said, " When Kaushal was cast in the lead role in Masaan some people questioned my decision. 'Hey, why did you cast a guy like him as a hero?'. You can’t say such things about anyone with certainty. With his charm and hard work, he eventually proved everyone wrong. His talent, honesty, and sincerity also played a role. But the amount of hard work he has done."

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995) is one of the most celebrated and longest-running films in the history of Bollywood with its shows still screened in Mumbai. Himani Shivpuri, who plays Kajol’s bua in the Aditya Chopra directorial film, recalled how Kajol would entertain everyone on sets and shock everyone with her tomboy attitude. In a recent interview with the Bollywood Hungama, Himani Shivpuri said, "I still remember how Kajol used to come in shorts. She was a tomboy and she used to jump with a plate of curd and apply it all over Aditya Chopra’s hair. And Achala Sachdev used to be like ‘Haaye Rabba’. They used to be so poised’. Kajol was really in that way a tomboy."

Lastly: Director Nag Ashwin’s epic sci-fi film Kalki 2898 AD is breaking one box office record after the other and has already surpassed Rs 900 crore in worldwide gross. Among the cast, Amitabh Bachchan, playing Ashwatthama, has been receiving the most acclaim for his performance. During a chat with IndiaToday.in, Ashwin said, "Amitabh sir was very curious about technology and how we were going to make him 8 feet tall. Despite being a huge star and the usual delays on set, he was incredibly patient and non-intrusive. When I tried to excuse the delay, he simply asked can I use the restroom?. I told him, ‘Sir, you can do whatever you want.’ He’s just that great.”

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