Bollywood News and Stories From India

Padmaavat recorded a huge extended weekend of 110 crore nett apprx which includes four days plus paid previews. This has been done with 25% of the total market missing over the four days. The real value of this business is around 145 crore nett if you apply the territory figures which would have come if it played all over. The business on Sunday is 30 crore nett apprx which again is huge if we consider Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh missing and some other parts of the country. The film is looking the biggest outright Hindi film South India has seen as the collections started at record levels and have held. Mumbai / Maharashtra has also seen record collections. The key belts of Delhi NCR and East Punjab are not huge but have trended very strong post Republic Day and look set for a good run. This area has never come on for a Bhansali film in a big way like this. Devdas did well enough but not great. The film has done exceptionally well to get this far considering the release a...

Asha Parekh on Padmaavat: I wonder what the Karni Sena is shouting and raging about Hema Malini, Asha Parekh and Waheeda Rehman cannot stop raving about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmaavat and say that this is a film that will be remembered forever. “The nation has gone mad,” said a furious Asha Parekh, the veteran actress who saw Padmaavat a few days back at a special screening organised by the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “Believe me, I haven’t been able to sleep. I am in a trance after watching the film,” said Asha, an unabashed fan of Bhansali’s work. “The work he extracts from his actors… I wish I could become 30 years younger to play a Bhansali heroine. But having said that, I would like to congratulate Deepika Padukone for her performance. “If today I had to make a film on Rani Padmavati, I would cast none other but Deepika,” she said. Asha watched the special screening on Thursday. “Her grace, when she dances or acts is simply commendable. R...

IIM-Ahmedabad to Study Blockbuster Success of Film 'Baahubali' The case study, to be completed in another four months, is part of a course that focusses on the business of the Indian film industry, starting from the selection of scripts to the films hitting the screens. The Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad (IIMA) is working on a case study on blockbuster "Baahubali" to highlight how art, business and technology combined to deliver a hugely successful film franchise. Being authored by IIMA alumnus and visiting faculty Bharathan Kandaswamy, the case study is part of an elective course on movie business offered to the second year students of the institute's flagship programme in management. "Baahubali is a path-breaking Indian movie that combines art, business, and technology in a brilliant way. Most of the time, films are creative and artistic but are not able to do good business. Sometimes the technology is not used effectively enou...

Sushmita Sen Ready To Return, Looking For 'Perfect Script' Sushmita, along with younger daughter Alisah, was present at the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation's Republic Day celebration with kids on Friday. Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen, who was last seen in 2010 film No Problem, says that she has been looking at scripts for the past one and a half years. Sushmita, along with younger daughter Alisah, was present at the Rouble Nagi Art Foundation's Republic Day celebration with kids on Friday. Asked when could the fans expect her return, Sushmita said: "I have been looking at scripts again for the past one and a half year. "I think I am ready to commit six months of my life to a film. But, just because I am ready, doesn't mean the perfect script is ready for me." The 1994 Miss Universe also revealed that her greatest ambition was not to become a star but to remain connected with people. "Like I have always said, I will ...

Swara Bhaskar said she was hopeful that Bhansali would offer "some sort of a critique" of Sati and Jauhar in the film. Actor Swara Bhaskar, who is known for being outspoken about her thoughts and has constantly portrayed characters with great strength, has called out director Sanjay Leela Bhansali for glorifying Sati and Jauhar in his film Padmaavat, in an open letter published in The Wire on Saturday. Extremely disappointed by the film's climax, which features Padmavati (played by Deepika Padukone) walking in immense anger as other women follow her to commit self-immolation, Swara said after watching the particular scene "I felt reduced to a vagina–only" as it made her feel like all the "minor achievements that women and women’s movements have made over the years– like the right to vote, the right to education, equal pay for equal work, maternity leave... all of it was pointless; because we were back to basics." The actor said she unde...

Mira Nair Reveals Why She Turned Down The Offer To Direct Harry Potter 4.  Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the 60-year-old director said despite being a big budget and "completely hot button" film, she always wanted to make it. Critically-acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair has said her 2012 movie The Reluctant Fundamentalist, a post-9/11 political thriller based on an eponymous novel, was the "hardest" film she has ever made. Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the 60-year-old director said despite being a big budget and "completely hot button" film, she always wanted to make it. Nair said she was moved by the narrative of the 2007 best-selling novel by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid. "The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the hardest film I ever made because it took five years to finance that film. I have never had trouble raising money but this was a big film. Many stars, global appetite and many countries, it cost mill...

Deepika On Padmaavat Threats: My Parents Were Confident I Could Handle It, Never Had Once Asked If They Should Come and Live With Me.  The film "Padmaavat" went through a lot of turmoil as Shri Rajput Karni Sena objected to its making and release over alleged misinterpretation of the Rajput community's history. Actor Deepika Padukone, who faced threats over Padmaavat, says she remained confident throughout the row due to the upbringing she got from her parents, who were full of pride after watching the movie. At a select media meet over a Marwari thali here on Saturday, Deepika looked calm, content and relaxed after the release of Padmaavat. She is counting her blessings. "My parents are immensely proud. I saw that pride on their face. Mom and dad made a video call after their screening finished late at night and I was in my pyjama and going to bed. So for them, they just saw the film and then me... So, their expression was like, 'Is she our daughte...

Priyanka Chopra talks about questions on child marriage and rapes in India Actor Priyanka Chopra, who is in the US for her American TV series, Quantico, says questions about child marriage and rapes in India make her feel like coming back and doing something. The videos of actor Priyanka Chopra with underprivileged children from across the globe have touched the hearts of many. Talking about her meetings, she says that the children have changed her “completely”. The actor adds, “Philanthropy was a very big part of my upbringing. My family always believed that no matter where you are, no matter how bad your conditions are, there will always be someone who is worse off than you. So, you have to sort of understand the privilege we come from, and from that privilege comes the social responsibility.” Priyanka, a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador, has often urged people to speak up for children. “I think that from the time when I became Miss World, I became an adult... in a way ...

I’d love to see Alia-Varun cast in Hum Aapke Hain Koun remake: Renuka Shahane Actor Renuka Shahane, the beloved Bhabhi of Hum Aapke Hain Koun, says that if the film is revisited, she would want to see Alia Bhatt and Varun Dhawan play the roles that had Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan. It has been 23 years since actor Renuka Shahane played the role of a doting daughter, loving bahu, and everyone’s favourite bhabhi in Sooraj Barjatya’s romantic comedy Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! Even today, it is her best remembered role. Following the successful remakes of big hits from the past — recent examples are Judwaa 2 and Ittefaq — we ask Renuka about her thoughts on a remake of Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!, which remains one of Bollywood’s milestone movies. Renuka says, “Revisiting Hum Aapke Hain Koun would surely bring something different this time around. If it’s remade for the younger generation, I think they’d like to see the characters in a modern sort of way.” Stating that the film, ...

Deepika Padukone enjoys a Marwari thali in Mumbai as she celebrates Padmaavat’s success. See pics Deepika Padukone celebrated the success of her film Padmaavat by feasting on scrumptious Marwari thali. Deepika Padukone, who faced threats over Padmaavat, says she remained confident throughout the row due to the upbringing she got from her parents, who were full of pride after watching the movie. At a select media meet over a Marwari thali here on Saturday, Deepika looked calm, content and relaxed after the release of Padmaavat. She is counting her blessings. “My parents are immensely proud. I saw that pride on their face. Mom and dad made a video call after their screening finished late at night and I was in my pyjama and going to bed. So for them, they just saw the film and then me... So, their expression was like, ‘Is she our daughter?’ I saw their expression and they were both brimming and glowing with pride,” Deepika said. The film Padmaavat went through a lot of...

Maheck Chahal reveals her marriage plans: Ashmit and I will have a destination wedding by this year end Actors Maheck Chahal and Ashmit Patel are all set to tie the knot this year but they will have a small and intimate ceremony outside the country. Another celebrity couple is ready to say ‘I Do’. After a surprise engagement last year in Spain, actors Maheck Chahal and Ashmit Patel are planning to tie the knot by the end of this year. And in keeping with the current fad of destination wedding, the couple is also set to have a low-key ceremony outside of India, a la Virushka. “It will be a destination wedding. I am born and raised in Norway, so my whole family is in Norway, and half of Ashmit’s family lives in Europe. Our wedding will take place in the second half of this year. We are yet to zero down on the date,” Maheck reveals. The couple have known each other for more than 12 years and started dating few years ago. Maheck says the concept of a grand wedding ceremony ...

Tiger Zinda Hai actor Sajjad Delafrooz: People know that the person playing villain’s role is also an actor.  Actor Sajjad Delafrooz of Tiger Zinda Hai fame says that he never had any inhibitions about making his big Bollywood debut playing a negative role. Actor Sajjad Delafrooz won a million hearts when he played the role of Abu Usman, the terrifying yet suave antagonist in Salman Khan-starrer Tiger Zinda Hai (December, 2017). While many would think twice before making a debut playing a negative character, Sajjad says that he didn’t have any such inhibitions. “I don’t believe feels apprehensive of these things, because the audience is more aware of movies now. They even know how movies are made,” says the 34-year-old, adding that often people have told him about the cameras being used. “So, that means the audience knows that the person who’s playing the villain’s role is also an actor and is just playing a part on-screen. And therefore, it’s not worrying at all. That...

Padmaavat box office day 3: Deepika-Ranveer’s film is on an epic run, crosses Rs 83 crore. After facing so many controversies and death threats, the Padmaavat has taken the box office by storm and raked in Rs 83 crore in three days of its release, including paid previews. After facing so many controversies and death threats, the Padmaavat has taken the box office by storm and raked in Rs 83 crore in three days of its release, including paid previews. The movie had collected Rs 5 crore on January 24 (paid reviews), Rs 19 crore on Day 1 of the release, Rs 32 crore on Friday and Rs 27 crore on Saturday bringing the total collection of the film to Rs 83 crore. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh confirmed the figures on his Twitter. Despite Padmaavat not releasing in some parts of the country, the film has opened to a phenomenal response at the Box Office.   taran adarsh ✔ @taran_adarsh # Padmaavat continues to SPARKLE... Biz on Sat [after a b...

Padmaavat has emerged a huge winner at the box office as it grossed 27.50 crore nett on Saturday to take its three day total to 80.50 crore nett including paid previews. The film did not even drop in Delhi city and East Punjab after the big national holiday as these circuits have come on board in a huge way which is a first for a Bhansali film. The film could now go anywhere as now the content has worked and its getting the numbers whereas initially it was external factors. The film is a universal winner which means the circuits not playing would also have been doing optimum business. It is that first huge blockbuster in the 20 odd career of Sanjay Leela Bhansali but whether the blockbuster numbers come is anoather matter as the film is not being allowed to do its maximum business. Slowly more places are opening up but still a lot of potential business is missing. Normally Sunday growth would be huge for the film but here the big growth areas of Gujarat, Rajasthan and CI...