Recently, Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar has been earning accolades for her compelling performance as an investigative journalist in the movie “Bhakshak.” The hard-hitting thriller, based on the 2018 Muzaffarpur shelter home case, has not only showcased Bhumi’s acting prowess but also marked her successful collaboration with director Pulkit and Shah Rukh Khan’s production house, Red Chillies Entertainment. The much-praised partnership is set to continue as Bhumi and Pulkit team up for another project, backed once again by Red Chillies Entertainment.
While details about this new venture remain shrouded in mystery, industry insiders suggest that the production house has already greenlit the subject. “We are at a very nascent stage with this project. The cast and crew are yet to be finalized,” disclosed an industry insider. The anticipation surrounding Bhumi’s next project has been further heightened by her recent candid interaction with fans on social media.
Bhumi expressed her long-held desire to collaborate with Bollywood’s Badshah, Shah Rukh Khan. In a Q&A session, when a fan queried about an actor she aspires to work with, Bhumi didn’t hesitate. She responded via video, expressing her admiration and desire to work with SRK. “Yaar, honestly, an actor… Actor kya.. superstar, childhood dream is SRK. I have come close because he has produced Bhakshak,” she shared enthusiastically. She continued, “Big shout out to Red Chillies. But mera dream hai, Shah Rukh sir. He is just the best.” There is a growing buzz and hope that she might finally get the chance to share screen space with Shah Rukh Khan, fulfilling her long-cherished dream.
In other news from the Indian film industry, actor Suriya is keeping busy with multiple projects. Even as he continues work on his yet-untitled film with director Karthik Subbaraja, Suriya is also in talks for another exciting project with actor-filmmaker RJ Balaji. The two have been actively brainstorming on a subject they are both eager to explore. According to reports, Balaji will finalize the script around the time Suriya wraps up his ongoing movie with Karthik. Interestingly, Dream Warriors, the production house celebrated for films like “Kaashmora” (2016) and “Kaithi” (2019), is rumored to be backing the Suriya-Balaji collaboration.
. Meanwhile, Suriya’s fans eagerly await his pan-India release, “Kanguva,” co-starring Bobby Deol as the antagonist.
Shreya Chaudhary is currently riding high on critical acclaim for her role in Boman Irani’s directorial debut, “The Mehta Boys.” Following a successful premiere at the 15th Chicago South Asian Film Festival, Shreya expressed gratitude for the international recognition, stating, “It is incredibly fulfilling to receive this international recognition.” She called the film special and relished the opportunity to act under the direction of Boman Irani, adding, “It is an honor to act with and be directed by Boman. With him around, every day on set was a masterclass. Collaborating with the Oscar-winning writer Alexander Dinelaris at such an early stage of my career is also something I’m very grateful for.”
In an amusing and nostalgic revelation, Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan, who is currently hosting “Kaun Banega Crorepati” season 16, reminisced about the iconic song “Saara Zamana” from “Yaarana” (1981). During a conversation with contestant Swapn Chaturvedi, Bachchan shared intriguing behind-the-scenes details. He recalled suggesting that the energetic number be shot in a stadium, leading to almost 60,000 attendees at the newly opened Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose stadium in Kolkata, which had a seating capacity of only about 15,000. Reflecting on his iconic, illuminated costume, Bachchan revealed that the lights on his jacket were controlled by a wire connected to electricity. “The moment the electricity flowed, I started dancing—not because I wanted to, but because I was getting electric shocks,” he humorously quipped.
Meanwhile, director Tarun Mansukhani has commenced shooting for “Housefull 5” (HF5) for producer Sajid Nadiadwala. The film, like its predecessors, began filming in London and boasts a star-studded cast that includes Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Nana Patekar, Fardeen Khan, Dino Morea, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chitrangda Singh, Nargis Fakhri, Sonam Bajwa, and Soundarya Sharma. Akshay Kumar recently shared a photo with his co-stars on social media, writing, “Just another day with this incredible cast. Housefull of actors, one cruise, and endless stories to tell!” After the London schedule, the team will shift to a cruise liner for a marathon 45-day shoot, where most of the movie’s action will unfold.
In a nostalgic Instagram post, Zeenat Aman took fans back to the set of “Haré Rama Haré Krishna” (1971) with a photo and an anecdote about the iconic song “Dum Maaro Dum.” She revealed how Dev Anand had gathered genuine hippies from the streets of Nepal to capture authenticity in the sequence. Zeenat shared that they celebrated their good fortune, not only with free food and a feature role in a Bollywood film but also with ample hashish. To add realism to her portrayal of the drug-addled Janice, Zeenat partook in their chillum offerings, resulting in her being “high as a kite” by the end of the shoot.
Lastly, Shahid Kapoor, who went bald for his role in “Haider” (2014), is now sporting a close crop for his role as a cop in “Deva.” Having wrapped up filming, Shahid appears eager for his hair to grow back. He recently posted a video on social media playing with his short hair and captioned it, “Yeh baal aate kyon nahin… Deva re deva!” Directed by Malayalam filmmaker Rosshan Andrrews, this action thriller, which also stars Pooja Hegde and Pavail Gulati, is slated for release during Valentine’s week.
