Showing posts with label Amrita Rao. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amrita Rao. Show all posts
There’s no television or mobile in Veer’s life; We have decided to give only satvik food to him-Amrita Rao
8:33 AM
She was Bollywood’s girl next door. He was one of India’s most loved radio jockeys. Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol got married in 2014 and amassed even more fans when they started sharing their love story and musings on social media. When they are not busy with work — Rao is set to return to the silver screen with Jolly LLB3 — they are even busier at home with their four-year-old son Veer. The couple spoke to Neha Bhayana about their parenting fears, fights and fundas
Neha Bhayana (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 15, 2024)
Acting, RJing or parenting — which is the toughest job you have done?
Anmol: Parenting is the toughest role, not just in comparison to any profession but also in terms of your relationships. Of all relationships, be it with parents, siblings or your partner, the most challenging is the one with your child. But it is also the most rewarding role. The beauty of kids is that they have no experience. It is amazing to see how they perceive and react to things. It is amazing to see them growing in front of your eyes. There are windows in your heart which never open up till the time you have a kid.
Amrita: Before you become a parent, you have absolutely no idea about what it is to be one. And not every human being is inclined towards being a parent. In our country, we succumb to societal norms and pressures and we think that bachcha hona hi hai and that is something that will complete your life. But it can also backfire for many people. It can affect their mental health, their relationship with their spouse or family. You need to be prepared to parent. I think in modern times, the definition of family planning should change. It should not begin with going to your gynaecologist and understanding your cycles and trying for the baby. It should actually begin with sitting down with a pen and pad and writing about your strengths and weaknesses. If you are someone who gets irritated or angry easily, be ready for your child to drive you up the wall. If you have fears, your child will multiply those by 100. If you have unfulfilled desires and you are not happy, you can’t make your child happy. So, you should actually sit with a counsellor and sort out your own mental health issues. Then, do research and understand what issues modern parents face, including postpartum health issues. Figure out your work situation and finances too. Take a year or two and after that decide whether you want to have a baby or not. That is the family planning we need to do.
Your son Veer is four now. How’s the work-parenting juggle going?
Amrita: We always say we have two babies now, one is Veer and one is Couple of Things (their YouTube channel) because they both started around the same time.
Anmol: There’s another baby that Amrita is not mentioning. That’s Amrita herself. So, actually I have to handle three babies.
Who’s the toughest of the three?
Anmol: There’s a good fight among the three of them right now to take the number one spot (laughs).
I am sure Veer keeps both of you quite busy.
Amrita: He does and that’s also because we don’t keep a nanny and we don’t allow screen time. There’s no television or mobile in Veer’s life. So, we have to give him that time. In fact, I had put the phone away the minute I conceived. I stayed away from mobiles for nine months. So, I didn’t have any references of Instagram videos and all the gyan that you get today. I think the only reference and inspiration I had was my cousin brother, a doctor, who stays in the US. I had heard that he had kept his kids off screens and they grew up to be brilliant. I hope to do the same.
Anmol: All these are hard decisions that we have taken as parents. But we feel that this works for him and us.
Does it get difficult for you to keep Veer engaged?
Amrita: No, it doesn’t. In fact, initially it was difficult to convince the entire family to come on the same page. I am glad Anmol supported me otherwise it would not have been possible. As far as keeping him engaged goes, I have always talked to Veer a lot from the time he was in the womb. Even when he was a newborn, I would always tell him ‘Come to Mama’ when I would pick him up. We think that kids don’t understand but actually they hear everything and understand everything.
Anmol: When we are busy, we use audio instead of screens. He has been listening to audio stories and nursery rhymes in Hindi and English from the time he was born. And listening is very powerful. We saw that difference in his vocabulary as compared to, perhaps, kids who are growing up with screens in front of their eyes.
I believe you have decided to keep Veer off junk food too?
Amrita: We have decided to give only satvik food to Veer, so we never feed him from a packet. It is tough. In our country, people are obsessed with giving chocolates or biscuits to kids. People just think if there’s a baby, you have to give him a chocolate. I don’t know how many times I have had to snatch the chocolate, return it and explain that we don’t give chocolates.
Anmol: I went with Veer to a shoe shop recently. The shopkeeper offered him a chocolate bar. Veer said: “I don’t eat chocolate and you should also not eat.” I was so proud of him that day. Of course, there are times when he goes for the offer. I took Veer for a birthday party recently and they had chips, creamy cupcakes and tetra pack juices. The boy had them and went berserk because he’s not used to all this. He had a major sugar rush. He became a rocket. I had to literally run out of the party.
Who’s the stricter parent?
Anmol: Amrita is not just a strict parent, she’s a strict wife too. Can I please pour my heart out here? Veer and I are the bad boys, and we are not even allowed in the house till we literally remove our shoes, wash our hands and even change our clothes. Imagine Veer and I are almost changing clothes at the door and only then we can enter (laughs). Yes, she’s the stricter one and I’m the softer one who tends to break the rules. On a serious note, I think there should be a balance between the parents. I think we have struck that balance very organically.
Are you both always on the same page when it comes to parenting decisions? Any disagreements?
Anmol: We have had a lot of differences. We always tell people that in our journey together — we started dating in 2009 — we were always on the same page when it comes to how we wanted to get married or the way we wanted to live our lives; the differences came into the picture only after we became parents. I think this is very normal and it is okay provided you can sit together and sort them out. The problem arises because both parents think their way is going to work best for the baby. It may be that both their views are the best, but the challenge is to come to a consensus. This is quite difficult, but I think that’s part of the parenting journey.
A lot of to-be-parents ask what they should be prepared for. My only advice to them is to be prepared to fail. You will keep falling and failing. Sometimes the mom will fall. Sometimes the dad will fall. Sometimes they both will fall. You just have to pick each other up and keep moving ahead in the journey. The problem is parents are not ready to fail. They want things to be perfect for the baby. They want their parenting to be perfect. But it can’t be like that.
Amrita: I think the solution lies in discussing whose decision will impact in the most negative manner and then take a call. For example, if I’m against my baby going into the swimming pool till a certain age because of the chlorine, we will have to sit and discuss. I think if it’s going to really bother me and I’m going to feel really bad about it, then I think Anmol should take it easy or bend a little. Anmol: She’s giving you a real example there. I was keen to take him to the pool from the age of two or three years, but Amrita has been against it.
So, who won the argument?
Anmol: Veer has not been in the pool till now, so you have your answer (laughs).
Amrita: I truly believe that the mother knows the child before anybody else in this world. There are so many things that a mother can feel or so many red flags that she can spot that perhaps no other person will even think about. Moms are always in this protective mode, so I think they should have the leverage.
Anmol: (mock serious tone) My lord, whether I win the battle or not, I have full right to at least raise an objection. The judge can always overrule. It is just that I like to be a bit rough with Veer and he’s also rough with me. That’s the way I want it to be. I know that Amrita is taking care of the gentle part and she’s there to keep a check on me if I go overboard. I don’t want to be gentle because the world outside is cruel. Even if he falls, I don’t pick him up.
Amrita: We agree here. Even I don’t rush to pick up Veer when he falls. I am not one of those moms who scream, “Oh, my child fell’. Most parents instinctively react when the child falls but that ‘Oh’ panics the child as they are looking at you. So, if you are calm, they also are calm.
Most couples stay mum about their difficulties in getting pregnant. You were very open about the struggle (they tried for years and even had a failed surrogacy attempt before Amrita conceived). Did you make a conscious decision to talk about it?
Amrita: It was definitely a conscious decision because otherwise I am a very private person. But I felt that if I can help someone who is facing the same mental health issue that I went through, it would be worth it. I had developed anxiety towards the concept of pregnancy. I always knew I would opt for a caesarean because of the fear of going through labour pain. Even before I conceived, I could not sleep at night for almost a month and a half because I used to keep thinking of how the delivery would be or about how I would sleep as I didn’t want to hurt the baby inside. These thoughts would keep me awake and this led to another fear that the sleepless nights would turn into lifetime insomnia. I spoke to a counsellor about my fears and that really helped. Talking to Anmol also made me feel much better; I had been refraining from that as I felt I would put a burden on him. Frankly, I wish we would talk about these things in families. It’s not like people are really giving you the real picture of pregnancy and parenthood.
In most Indian homes, the mother is the primary parent. What’s the situation like in your home?
Amrita: We share the parenting work 50:50. In fact, Anmol sometimes does more than me.
Anmol: I want to be fully involved. If I am not with Veer, I ask myself what is it that I am doing that justifies my time away. I have told Amrita that I am even ok with putting my career on the side and spending all my time with Veer. And this is not because of him; it is because of me. My paternal instinct is very strong.
In case you both are out for work, who is Veer likely to miss more?
Amrita: (singing) Papa, mere papa.
Anmol: This used to be the case. But a few days ago, he cried in class because he was missing mamma.
Parents often rue that love goes out of the window after kids. Do you agree with them on this?
Anmol: Love always keeps changing. The definition of love changes. We can’t stay in la la land and expect things to remain the way they were when we were dating. Of course, the relationship does get hit when you become parents. You get less time with each other.
Amrita: You simply have to make time for each other and prioritize each other just the way you prioritize the child.
Amrita Rao joins Akshay Kumar, Arshad Warsi in Jolly LLB 3
8:24 AM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 9, 2024)
Jolly LLB 3 is proving to be a reunion of the cast of the first and second films in the franchise. In the latest development, we’ve exclusively learnt that actor Amrita Rao will reprise her role from the first film. Recently, Arshad Warsi, the eponymous lead of the first film from 2013, joined the cast of the third part, which stars the leads of the second instalment, Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi. Actor Saurabh Shukla, who played Justice Tripathi in both films, is also returning.
“Amrita is returning as Arshad’s wife (Sandhya) in Jolly LLB 3, continuing their story from the first part. With her entry, it’s a complete unification of the franchise’s cast,” says a source. The shoot of the third instalment started in May in Rajasthan, and Rao was a part of that schedule, reveals the source.
“The location was such that everyone had to walk to reach there as no vehicle could go on those roads,” shares the insider, adding that the team is shooting in Mumbai for the next leg of the film. “The next schedule of Jolly LLB 3 will be in Delhi in June-end, with the entire team,” the source shares.
Hrithik or Rajesh never asked me to consider Pashmina Roshan for Ishq Vishk Rebound-Ramesh Taurani
8:49 AM
Ishq Vishk Rebound maker asserts he chose star kid Pashmina Roshan and three fresh faces on their merit; hopes they become stars like Shahid did after original
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; May 31, 2024)
Ishq Vishk (2003) gave us not only a fun college rom-com, but also a star in Shahid Kapoor. Almost 21 years on, its reboot Ishq Vishk Rebound is gearing up for release. For producer Ramesh Taurani, the Nipun Dharmadhikari-directed college caper is a means to bring romance back on the big screen. “Action, drama and [films on] the army have taken over. A young love story with good music has gone missing,” he says. Two decades is a long time between an original and its reboot. What took him so long to create the second instalment?
“It’s a ground rule at my studio—no reboots until the script convinces everyone. This film looks at this generation’s challenges in romance, the fragility of love, quick break-ups, and their behavioural patterns in the time of social media.”
Young love isn’t the only constant in Ishq Vishk Rebound. Like with the original, Taurani hopes to make stars out of leads Rohit Saraf, Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan and Naila Grrewal.
“We wanted newcomers. Rohit Saraf has tasted fame, but this will launch him as a mainstream hero. We had five rounds of auditions and chose them. Pashmina was one of the 15 girls we shortlisted, we had no idea who she was. When we started doing her contracts, we found out she is a Roshan. I had worked extensively with her father Rajesh Roshan, but he never called, asking me to consider her. Neither did Hrithik [Roshan, Pashmina’s cousin], who has a rapport with me. Merit matters more than anything in this industry, whether you’re an outsider or a nepo kid. If you see from the ’80s to now, there are some actors who haven’t [succeeded] despite their lineage. With the original Ishq Vishk, we launched Shahid, Amrita Rao and Shenaz [Treasury]. Shahid is a superstar today! Shenaz was also flooded with offers after the film. We are keen to do more movies with these kids too.”
The producer’s team is currently working on a sequel to Bobby Deol and Preity Zinta’s Soldier (1998). “We’re trying to lock its script. Writing is a key element of our movie-making style. I’ve never gone to an actor without a script. Never have I gone to an actor with a DVD, suggesting a rip-off job.”
Amrita Rao would come to meet me clad in a burqa! Isse zyada crazy aur kya hoga?-RJ Anmol
8:27 AM
On V-Day, RJ Anmol and actor Amrita Rao tell us how hiding their love life was like an undercover mission
Shara Ashraf Prayag (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 14, 2023)
A ‘Dilli ka launda’ goes to Mumbai chasing his dreams, runs into his crush, a heroine, during a movie promotion, sweeps her off her feet with his simplicity and marries her in a secret ceremony, lest the news hampers her career. If you have ever dismissed love as overrated, this couple will put your faith in the word again. Actor Amrita Rao and Anmol Sood aka RJ Anmol’s love story has hit the stands in the form of a book, titled Couple of Things.
The two met for the first time in 2007, during Rao’s movie promotion at a radio station in Delhi. They soon figured out that they were unbelievably similar despite contrasting backgrounds. “We clicked like anything! We were so similar in our tastes, our thoughts. We would end up matching clothes without even planning it,” says the Thackeray (2019) actor.
Anmol, 43, gradually moved from the “dreaded friend zone” to “boyfriend” status. But they had to keep their “love a secret, which added thrill to our lives”. Anmol says, “Amrita would come to meet me clad in a burqa! Isse zyada crazy aur kya hoga?”
They got married in a hush-hush ceremony in Pune in 2014 after dating for five years. But they didn’t reveal it to the world. “No bookings or payments were done in our names. We also hired a French photographer who knew nothing about Bollywood and was just fascinated to shoot an Indian wedding,” recalls Anmol.
When they moved in together, Rao, 41, hid her identity from the house help. “Once, when she became suspicious that I was indeed Amrita Rao, the heroine. I told her, ‘Oh! I just resemble her’,” laughs the actor. When the woman looked unconvinced, they pleaded: “Behen, please kisi ko batana mat.”
The couple, who has a two-year-old son, Veer, adds that their wedding announcement two years later was no less thrilling. Anmol says, “We pulled off our nakli shaadi pretty well. Chilling in pyjamas, we read the news: ‘Amrita Rao weds RJ Anmol’, while we were already married for two years.”
An unlikely romance between a Bollywood star and a radio jockey, ‘burqa dates’ to keep the relationship under wraps, the guy driving all the way from Lower Parel to Versova to get a glimpse of his lady love from the balcony, a clandestine wedding that they could announce only after two years! This celebrity couple has one of the most incredible love stories to tell.
Whether it’s the way their eyes beam at each other’s sight, the mushy giggles they share or the way they address each other with cute nicknames, (Chips for Amrita, Moli for Anmol), one can tell their bond is unique.
Their book, Couple Of Things, brings you compelling nuggets from their totally contrasting lives and their roller-coaster journeys that made them cross each other’s path. “We finished it in a record time of two months! While writing it, we realized that this was the best decision, considering the story we have to tell. It flew effortlessly in words as we knew it so well,” says Amrita.
Their first meeting happened during Amrita’s movie promotion at the Delhi office of the radio station where Anmol worked. And his genuineness made way into Amrita’s heart.
Anmol recalls seeing Amrita in a film and being swept off by her “old-fashioned innocence.” When he met her in person, her looks struck him like a thunderbolt but it was her unassuming nature that left a deeper impression.
A few months later, Anmol couldn’t believe when the Bollywood star turned up at his radio station in Mumbai for an interview, wearing no makeup, dressed down in a pair of jeans. He was more surprised when she asked for a simple khichdi for dinner, debunking all his notions about stars.
Their meetings didn’t stop. The camaraderie they shared changed Amrita’s perception of men. She could trust him and feel at ease with him. She gradually realised it was love.
Amrita also turned down a dream offer from one of India’s biggest production houses who were keen to sign her as an in-house artist as it demanded scenes she was not willing to do. This made her feel low. But she had found someone who could sense her despair and cry for her. She knew how precious that love was and she wanted to cherish it. Amrita and Anmol married in a secret ceremony in Pune after dating for five years.
So, is love sheer luck, is it hard work or a mix of both? We ask them. “I think love and luck go together in this world. And if you find luck, you ought to put in the hard work. You can’t leave it (the relationship) on automation mode,” says Amrita. “Yes, you have to keep fuelling the relationship. It’s a journey,” agrees Anmol.
And did the journey change after their bundle of joy, Veer made it to their world? “We have our differences over bringing up Veer and it’s all right. When you are working on the same project, whether it’s a professional one or the baby, you can have differences,” says Amrita.
And how do they handle all the attention they get from the opposite sex? Is there ever a twinge of jealousy? “Jealousy isn’t good for a relationship and the onus is on your partner, how your partner makes you feel secure with their actions,” says Amrita. “And I give 100% credit to Amrita for making me feel completely secure for the last 13 years,” says Anmol.
But there was one incident that triggered insecurity in Anmol years ago and he had to channel his inner “Dilli ka launda” to deal with a situation. “We gate-crashed a party and there was a friend’s friend who came and met Amrita, hugged her really tight and gave a peck on her cheek. I was like, ‘Teri aisi ki taisi! Tu hain kaun? Teri girlfriend kahan hai? Main bhi usse aise hi milunga!’ So, it’s okay, chalta hai. Feeling like this once in 13 years is okay,” he cracks up.
Replete with interesting anecdotes like this one, they hope their book brings a smile on the faces of those reading it. “If we can make people trust love again, it will be an accomplishment,” says Anmol.
We wish them luck!
Pictures: Mayur Chhabria
Outfits: Rahul Mishra, Khanijo, Shruti Sancheti
Makeup & Hair: Geetanjali Salon
Location: Planet Hollywood, Thane
Production: Zehara Kaynat, Shruti Shende, Prerna Gauba Sibbal
Anmol came up with an idea to have a secret marriage and I jumped with excitement at the very thought-Amrita Rao
8:13 AM
Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; March 15, 2022)
Amrita Rao has always liked to keep her personal life private. Whether it was her longstanding relationship with RJ Anmol or their wedding later, it was all under wraps. But the couple seems to have changed now. They talk about their lives, right from their dating days till now, in different videos that they put up on their social media handles. Soon they will be revealing details about their secret marriage, too! We spoke to Amrita about this and matters close to her heart. Excerpts from our conversation...
Anmol and you are known to be very private. In fact, you have always been quite secretive about your personal lives. So what prompted you to open up about your life on social media and how tough was it?
It was during the lockdown in 2020 that Anmol and I decided to do our first ever Insta Live chat together because the world had changed and there was so much grimness in the air that we thought let’s change some rules and spread some love. The response to that chat was the trigger point and we decided to document our love story and recreate those special moments in those very locations where they happened for our social media followers. Now that we have opened the doors, we are not keeping any secrets (laughs!).
You had a secret marriage two years before you announced it to the world...which means you got married in 2014 and spoke about it only in 2016. Why did you keep it under wraps?
Yes, we had a secret wedding in 2014 where we only had immediate family members present. At that point with no social media, the world was different. The news of my wedding could have hampered my career prospects which, luckily, Anmol understood. However, getting married at the right time was also important and hence, Anmol came up with an idea to have a secret marriage and I jumped with excitement at the very thought!
So,the Vivah actress didn’t want to make her own wedding an ostentatious affair...
As the Vivah heroine, I could have got huge mileage out of my own wedding. However, Anmol and I both believe that a wedding is something very personal. Even if it was not a secret vivah, we would have planned a close-knit affair because the fact is that it’s basically your immediate family members, close relatives and friends who are the happiest for you, and are completely in sync with your emotions during such a personal ceremony. We like to keep it simple.
In one of your recent revelations, you said Anmol wanted to get married in 2012 and asked you to quit your career at that time. How did you both work around that?
That’s true. At that point, Anmol could see I was declining some huge movie offers only because I wasn’t comfortable doing kissing scenes and lovemaking sequences on screen. Hence, he thought it was the right time to focus on exploring a beautiful personal life and tying the knot. He did ask me to quit my career and I was completely shattered. However, in a day or two, he told me that in hindsight, he realized that demand was unreasonable and that he was sorry about it.
Your son Veer is over a year old now. Are you looking at returning to acting sometime soon?
Yes, this is just the perfect time. I don’t have those night duties anymore. I am going through many scripts and offers.
Earlier, for an actress, having a child or even being married would impact her career choices. That’s totally changed now. How do you feel about that?
It is social media which has truly turned around things for everyone today. We have validation of our popularity and a following to shut gossip mongers in the industry, who are always waiting to spread the rumour of your downfall! Your army of followers proves to all that you are loved and relevant despite the beautiful engagements that carry on parallelly in life.
You have done movies, some of which were big hits. But when you look back at your career, do you feel you could have added more films to your kitty, by doing things differently?
I regret not doing some movies, but I had no one experienced to advise me back then. However, by and large, the movies that I chose to do have been successful, fresh and relevant.
Where do you see yourself today as an actress, with a variety of content being created for different mediums?
The best part about today’s technology is that we can connect with the audience on our own platforms... isn’t that such a gift? With our love story, we are doing that and this is just the beginning.
I’m blessed and privileged to be the only actress to essay a character inspired by Lata Mangeshkar-Amrita Rao
8:19 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 8, 2022)
Many lined up in front of the iconic Lata Mangeshkar to make a biopic, but the late singer never agreed. However, there was one TV show that took inspiration from her life and was loosely based on Mangeshkar and her sister, singer Asha Bhosle. And in this show, Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai, it was actor Amrita Rao who played the character based on Mangeshkar’s life.
“I’m blessed and privileged to be the only actress to essay a character inspired by Lata ji,” gushes Rao, and is quick to add, “With that came a lot of responsibility and hard work. I had to look at her pictures and videos to understand her body language. We were given a lot of information on her journey, how her father inspired her, etc. I was living Lata ji’s life, and it was incredible.”
In fact, Rao was so tuned into Mangeshkar’s life that she reveals the day the Lag Jaa Gale (Woh Kaun Thi?; 1964) singer died (February 6), she had a rather eerie experience: “I woke up that morning and the first image that came to my mind was Lata ji’s. Something told me she has moved on. (This was) Before even reading or knowing anything. I kind of knew... I don’t know what to call it. It was an intuition, maybe.”
The actor, who enjoys singing herself, reveals she was inspired by India’s nightingale. “I’ve grown up listening to Lata ji’s songs. She was my first teacher and through her songs, we learned rhythm,” she shares.
However, Rao never had the “privilege” of interacting with the legend, and says one of her dreams will now remain unfulfilled. “It was always a dream for me, since the time I entered the industry, that Lata ji will playback for me,” she shares.
Kareena Kapoor’s help tests positive; Karan Johar says his home is not a COVID hotspot
12:25 PM
Richa Pinto (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 16, 2021)
Mumbai: Two days after actor Kareena Kapoor tested positive for Coronavirus, her house help has got a positive report. Meanwhile, after actor Sanjay Kapoor’s wife Maheep, her daughter Shanaya too has tested positive. Shanaya took to social media on Wednesday to post her symptoms are mild.
Kareena Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor and a few others had attended a gathering at filmmaker Karan Johar’s residence last week. Meanwhile, civic officials who had collected more than 100 swabs from residents of the buildings where Kareena Kapoor, Johar, actor Amrita Arora and actor Sohail Khan’s wife Seema Khan live, unsealed the societies on Wednesday after all the samples tested negative.
A senior civic official said they received the positive report of Kareena Kapoor’s house help on Wednesday. “We will be checking on their health till the time they are in isolation. Apart from these high-risk contacts, we also tested 108 people from four buildings of actor Kareena Kapoor, Amrita Arora, filmmaker Karan Johar and Seema Khan and all tested negative,” said the official, adding actors Alia Bhatt and Malaika Arora who were at Johar’s home tested negative. Officials are trying to reach designer Manish Malhotra who was at Johar’s home too for his health status.
When contacted, Vinayak Vispute, BMC assistant municipal commissioner, H-West Ward, confirmed the BMC has unsealed the buildings.
Johar took to social media on Wednesday where he put out a note which read: “My family and I and everyone at home have done their RTPCR tests and with the grace of God we are all negative. In fact, I tested twice just to be safe and am negative. I truly appreciate the grandest efforts of the BMC to ensure the safety of our city. Salute to them. To some members of the media, I would like to clarify that an 8 person intimate gathering is not a ‘party.’ And my home which we maintain strict protocols in is certainly no ‘hotspot’ of covid. All of us are responsible and masked at all times and no one would treat this pandemic lightly. My request to certain members of the media is to exercise some restraint in their extreme reportage without the assessment of facts! Lots of love and safety to all. Karan Johar.”
“Shanaya and her mother are in home quarantine at a building in JVPD,” said Prithviraj Chavan, assistant BMC commissioner, K-West Ward.
After party: Karan Johar and Kareena Kapoor's building sealed; more cases found
8:10 AM
Richa Pinto (THE TIMES OF INDIA; December 15, 2021)
Mumbai: The Mumbai civic corporation’s H-West ward on Tuesday sealed four buildings in Bandra including those of actor Kareena Kapoor and filmmaker Karan Johar after Kapoor tested positive for Coronavirus.
Johar’s building in Union Park at Bandra was sealed as a precautionary measure, said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, as a party is believed to have been held in Johar’s home on December 8 where one of the guests was carrying the infection. Some of the others present at the party, in turn, caught the infection.
The civic ward also sealed actor Amrita Arora’s building on Kane Road in Bandra and star wife Seema Khan’s home in Pali Hill. Seema Khan is actor Sohail Khan’s wife. Along with her, two more persons from her residence including her son have tested positive for the virus. Another star wife who tested positive on Tuesday was Maheep Kapoor, the wife of actor Sanjay Kapoor. Maheep Kapoor is currently in home isolation.
Vinayak Vispute, BMC assistant municipal commissioner for the H-West, said four buildings have been sealed in the area which are private residences of these celebrities.
“We held an RT-PCR testing camp on Tuesday at each of these buildings all through the day where, apart from residents, the staff including drivers and maids were also tested. We don’t want to take any chances, so till the time the results of the tests are out we will continue to keep the building sealed,” said Vispute.
While BMC guidelines require over five persons to test positive for a building to be sealed, officials said they were sealing the buildings in this case as a precautionary measure.
K-West ward assistant municipal commissioner Prithviraj Chavan confirmed to TOI that Maheep Kapoor had tested positive in the Covid list on Tuesday morning and that the BMC will following further course of action by getting names of her close contacts to get them tracked and tested to contain the spread.
Madhu Poplai, a resident of the area and member of the Pali Hill Association (PHRA) said that in order to avoid any panic among residents of the area where the buildings were located, a message was sent out by PHRA.
The message read, “Dear members, just to keep everyone updated that Kiran Towers on Pali Hill has been completely sealed. This is due to 3 cases of Covid 19. All members, service staff are currently going through RTPCR to be doubly sure that there are no cases. There is no need of any panic as BMC medical staff are just doing their duty.”
------------------------
Don’t blame Kareena, says spokesperson
HINDUSTAN TIMES (December 15, 2021)
After BMC officials confirmed actors Kareena Kapoor Khan and Amrita Arora tested positive for Covid-19 and that they flouted norms by attending parties, Khan’s spokesperson told IndiaToday.in they contracted the virus at a private dinner. “Among that group, there was one person who seemed unwell. This person should have been responsible enough to not attend the dinner and put others at risk…It is not fair to put the blame on Kareena,” said the spokesperson. Her father, Randhir Kapoor, shared her health update, saying she had fever and body ache. Khan is currently on home quarantine. Meanwhile, actor Sanjay Kapoor’s wife, Maheep Kapoor, and actor Sohail Khan’s wife, Seema Khan, have also tested Covid-19 positive.
Motherhood is about surprising yourself with the strength you never knew you had-Amrita Rao
7:57 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 1, 2021)
As she prepares to celebrate her son Veer’s first birthday today, Amrita Rao is glad to have her husband, RJ Anmol, by her side to share parenting duties with. In a quick chat, the actress talks to BT about their special gift for Veer and the many firsts he had in the last one year. Excerpts:
Your son, Veer, turns one today. How do you look back at the last one year? Has life changed drastically?
It surely has. Your schedule is never yours because the baby is now your boss! I haven’t slept for eight hours at a stretch in the last 18 months. I haven’t had coffee or eaten many yummy things that won’t suit his stomach. Along with my work schedule, I balance his schedule and prepare all his baby food. Now, seeing a new place or eating something nice doesn’t feel complete without him. It’s amazing that now I know exactly what Veer wants every time he cries. Motherhood is about surprising yourself with the strength you never knew you had.
How do you plan to celebrate Veer’s first birthday?
Veer turns one, and the mommy in me will be one as well, thanks to my child. We will celebrate at home with immediate family members owing to the pandemic. There will be a lovely animal-themed cake for him. We are decorating the house with balloons. Our gift to Veer will be a contribution on his behalf to a non-profit organisation for cataract surgeries for senior citizens and children.
The last year must have marked many firsts for you and Veer. What were the most memorable moments for you?
During the first month of his arrival, Anmol and I gave him so many nicknames. For a parent, the greatest joy is to see your baby enjoy having food! We were thrilled when Veer had solid food for the first time, which was khichdi. Veer calls me ‘Amma’, and in Konkani, that’s the word for mom. Anmol and Veer call each other ‘Bhai’, as obviously trained by Anmol. Veer is mostly quiet around elders, but very boisterous with his dad. He could be doing anything but the minute he sees me, he cries for my attention. There are times when he fake cries for attention and laughs when we catch him doing that. For the first eight-nine months, we were extremely hands-on parents. Now, we have a babysitter only to play with him all day. Anmol takes care of his vitamins and sunbathing, while I cook all his meals. Veer listens to Anmol on the radio and has a quizzical expression as he can hear his father, but not see him.
This is your first Diwali with Veer. Do you have anything special planned for the festival?
Firsts are always special. I wish I could take him to the temple, as I ideally love to start my Diwali day that way. Veer’s maasi has purchased a Diwali suit for him. There will be some amazing food, music, dancing and a lot of family bonding.
I had tears in my eyes when M F Husain gifted me his paintbrush-Amrita Rao
8:17 AM
The actress says that she is among the only three people in the world to possess his paintbrush
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 18, 2021)
On internationally-acclaimed painter M F Husain’s 106th birth anniversary yesterday, Amrita Rao revisited a special memory of the artist that is close to her heart. The duo shared a special bond. Husain considered Amrita his muse and even painted her live, inspired by her role as Poonam in Vivah (2006), which also featured Shahid Kapoor.
On his birth anniversary, Amrita revealed that she received a gift from the painter that she considers her prized possession. “Husain sahab had invited my mother and me to Dubai as his guests as he wanted to paint me live. On the last day of our visit, he confessed to my mom that he was initially hesitant to meet me in person, as he was apprehensive that if the ‘real’ Amrita is not true to her on-screen persona in Vivah, then he would be disillusioned. However, on the last day, he told me, ‘You have surpassed my expectations. You are far more beautiful as a person in real life than I expected.’ Then, he presented me with his signature brush. He said, ‘Remember, only three people in the world own it.’ And then he started walking away briskly. We had to catch pace with him, nevertheless, he was far ahead of our times,” says Amrita.
The entire episode left the actress teary-eyed. She shares, “I recall the first time I met Husain sahab, he had come to receive us at the Dubai airport. I noticed him walking barefoot holding a long black paintbrush, which he used as his walking stick. I thought it was such a unique style statement. On the last day, when he gave me that brush as a parting gift along with such a lovely compliment, I was so moved that I had tears in my eyes.”
A big fan of his artwork, Amrita is planning to create a corner dedicated to M F Husain in her house where she can put the paintbrush on display. “Along with the brush and his paintings, I shall also frame his handwritten letters in memory of my most colourful brush with the maestro,” she says.
Amrita confesses to being a bigger fan of Husain as a person than his paintings. “I am a bigger fan of him as the person I know more than his marvellous paintings. There was a happy, excited child in Husain sahab, which he never let go of. His passion for art and cinema continues to inspire me,” she signs off.
This year we were excited to introduce Veer to Ganpati Bappa-Amrita Rao
8:20 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; September 12, 2021)
This Ganesh Chaturthi was very special for Amrita Rao and husband, RJ Anmol as they introduced their son Veer to Bappa. Like every year, the actress and her family got together to host Lord Ganesha at their abode in Mumbai. In an exclusive chat with Bombay Times, Amrita took us through all that went into making the one-and-a-half days of celebrations a memorable one.
Since the time you got married, Anmol and you have been bringing Bappa home during the festival. Who takes the lead in prepping for the festival and planning the other details?
Even before we got married, we would talk about bringing Ganesha home. It was a mutual desire that came true in 2016 and since then, it’s been a one-and-a-half days of celebration that we look forward to annually. Between the two of us, I am the one who organises the decorations and prasad. Anmol does his bit by getting fresh flowers early in the morning, preparing the diya baatis for the aarti thali and doing all the puja rituals with me.
This was your son Veer’s first Ganpati celebrations. How did he react to the festive atmosphere at home?
This year we were excited to introduce Veer to Ganu Bappa. His little eyes were very excited looking at all the decorative distractions around the idol. Veer was already familiar with the concept of praying as we have been taking him to the altar every morning and evening for lighting the lamp and doing a small prayer.
Tell us more about how the festivities at home unfolded.
Like every other festival, I look at this one as a reason to express gratitude to the Lord and celebrate not just the divine, but also family, food, coming together and an overall bonhomie in the society. I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, getting busy preparing the bhog myself. I make gajar ka halwa and sheera for sweets. But the ukadiche modak that my mom cooks makes every Ganesh Chaturthi special. When we bring Bappa home, we enter the house with the high energy song Deva Shree Ganesha (Agneepath, 2012) playing in the background. We then bring him into the puja room and start the puja with my parents and relatives in attendance, followed by a homely lunch. Everything we eat, including the tea and snacks, are offered to Ganpati Bappa. The farewell is the most emotional part of the celebrations. This year I prayed to God for riddance from the pandemic and the freedom to live normally again. The COVID times have taught us the importance of good health and to value family like never before.
What are your childhood memories of Ganpati celebrations? Did you ever go pandal hopping across Mumbai?
I have very special childhood memories of celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at my grandparents’ house. Alongside the community pujas, the community centre used to organise a variety of entertainment programs and we actively participated in putting up dance performances, dramas and even fancy dress competitions. Going to visit the community GSB Pandal in Matunga has been a continued childhood tradition. I’m so proud that the murti is eco-friendly!
You have always been vocal about celebrating the festival in an eco-friendly way. Personally, what measures do you and your family take during these days?
To begin with, we keep the decorations simple and organic, mostly flowers, fruits and puja items only. Our Ganpati idol is a silver murti which we have been using every year. The idol was a gift to me from the owners of a school I visited in Delhi. What makes it special is the timing of the year I received it, coinciding with the year of my marriage and our first Ganpati puja. We do the visarjan in a bucket of water at our home and the water is offered to plants. The statue is then wiped dry and kept back in a secluded area of the altar only to come out next year.
I am a stickler for celebrating festivals in an eco-friendly way. In 2019, I worked on an initiative, Eco Bappa Morya. I made a pre-awareness five-minute film, wherein I interacted with murtikars, beach activists and an oceanography scientist to understand the flipside of certain negligence observed during the celebration. I think festivals should be sensitive and kind towards infants, senior citizens, animals, birds and the environment at large. I hope to continue with every possible effort in the future to promote an environmentally friendly Ganesh Chaturthi celebration.
Why Amrita Rao's sister Preetika Rao skipped Hindi films
8:08 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 25, 2021)
Though she began her career in South Indian films, language was a creative barrier for Preetika Rao, who “decided to quit them for good in 2012”. The actor then shifted to Mumbai and chose to work in TV shows rather than films.
She says, “People are surprised that I gave Bollywood a skip for television! I had plum offers like Aashiqui 2, and from director Pradeep Sarkar, producers Vashu Bhagnani and Kumar Taurani, but due to my sister Amrita (Rao; actor), I had first-hand insight into Bollywood. Donning a bikini and kissing were mandatory in most A-list projects, and I chose not to compromise on my comfort. Television shows are not only family-friendly but also have a much wider reach than a theatrical release. Fortunately, my first show, Beintehaa, had international success. Even today, it gets me the adulation that only Bollywood movies can get.”
However, life seems to have come full circle for Rao, as she recently signed a Kannada film. “When my director friend Shreyas Sudhindra narrated the script, I couldn’t refuse. My Konkani grandparents spoke fluent Kannada as our roots are from Karwar (Karnataka).”
Content with her career graph, she shares, “I can afford to choose my work. It no longer matters which platform you work on, as long as the content is interesting, as everything eventually lands up on the web. I am looking forward to the release of my web series, Love Sorries, and my single as a vocalist very soon.”
I think every woman looks hotter after she has had a baby-Amrita Rao
7:59 AM
Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; February 20, 2021)
In a candid chat, the actress talks about how life has changed and her plans of getting back to work; she also shares that her husband RJ Anmol tells her that after turning mommy she has gone from being cute to hot. Excerpts:
It's been a few months now, how has motherhood been so far?
Firstly, I still cannot fathom the phenomena. I look at Veer every day and feel, 'Is he for real?' The first thing a baby teaches you is time management and discipline. Motherhood is like a mix of emotions. Each day there is wonderment, excitement, exhaustion, love, frustration, joy, entertainment and so many emotions in one jar.
What is the one change that you can see in yourself now?
I never thought I would be such a hands-on mom. I could have an entourage around him if I wanted, but I don’t even have a nanny. Thanks to our profession’s flexibility, Anmol and I are doing everything ourselves, right from bathing the baby, massaging to nappy changing, and playing with him. And, yes, in the mirror I still look like that girl who’s come back home from college (laughs!), just a bit fuller though. Anmol tells me from cute I’ve become hot after I’ve had the baby. I think every woman looks hotter after she has had a baby!
You say you are proud to be a 2020 mom. How different would you say was the pregnancy experience for 2020 moms?
If someone told me I would be pregnant and at the same time, I would be learning to cook and do it for 21 days at a stretch, I’d have laughed it off. I never believed I could be good at cooking until last year. All 2020 mommies would have some unique story to tell their kids. Also, 2020 pregnancy was the healthiest because it meant zero junk food and pure maa ke haath ka khana. The phones were away and I was mentally more relaxed with no regret of losing out on any work during the Coronavirus lockdown. Having your husband around throughout your pregnancy was a fringe benefit for some of us and am sure it was thoroughly enjoyed. Shopping purely online for the baby was another super cool experience.
In terms of work, are you hoping to return sometime soon?
I already returned with Thackeray in 2019, and now, there will be no more breaks. Currently, I’m looking at a movie script along with one for the OTT space. Also, I’m super excited about associating with some brands that have approached both me and Anmol together.
As an actor, where do you see yourself today?
I want to explore roles like what Tabu did in Maqbool, Cheeni Kum or Astitva. I have always had a taste for her choice of cinema, even though those kind of films were considered different then. Overall, cinema content has evolved and that gives us many more choices.
Yes, things have changed in many ways. Marriage and motherhood is no longer an impediment for actresses as it used to be earlier. What do you have to say about that?
Interestingly, many actresses in the 50s, 60s and 70s were married, they became mothers and continued romancing on screen. Nutan ji and Sharmila Tagore ji are the biggest examples. Sadly, it changed somewhere in the 80s, 90s and early 2000s, but thanks to many actresses of my generation who set the right precedent by marrying in the sunshine of their careers, now things are far better.
You did some good films in your career, but looking back, do you think you could have done a lot more?
I have done some unforgettable films that I believe will hold relevance for a very long time. Perhaps many newcomers today haven’t even seen the back-to-back success that I have seen from right from the start of my career. My popularity and acceptance was genuine and was not planned through PR and marketing strategies, yet, there were many deserving opportunities denied that were beyond my control because I don’t have a Godfather here. However, I cannot deny the fact that I have never had to ask directors for work. I’ve always been approached by the biggest of banners and I had the privilege of refusing offers because I was not comfortable with doing certain intimate scenes. My journey has been easy, yet difficult, because I had to carve my own path by trial and error. But the taste of being self-made is the sweetest.
This baby was meant to come this year, so yay… I’m a 2020 mom-Amrita Rao
8:07 AM
The actress, who delivered a baby boy on Sunday, talks about her pregnancy during the pandemic and what she thinks is the silver lining
Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; November 3, 2020)
How would you describe the feeling of holding your baby in your arms?
I can’t stop staring at my baby’s face and my husband Anmol’s priceless expression of joy. I’m still in a state of wonderment. The phenomenon of giving birth to another human being is unfathomable and divine. There is a God realisation that nothing is in your hands and control. This baby was meant to come this year, so yay… I’m a 2020 mom!
So, you are all geared up for your new role...
That I have to play the role of a mother is yet to sink in because I’m such a mumma’s girl myself. If I begin to compare myself with my mom, then it’s too big shoes to fill in, so I’d rather just enjoy the feeling of having a little wonder in my life to keep me on my toes.
Have Anmol and you decided on a name for your baby?
Not yet. We have shortlisted a few names, but are still in the process of finalising one.
A pregnancy in 2020 given the pandemic situation might not have been easy. How did you manage?
Yes, 2020 is a difficult year. However, if I look at the silver lining, then I think there were many fringe benefits of conceiving in 2020. My baby got only pure home-cooked food, as both the grandmothers pitched in and took turns to stay with us. A nuclear family suddenly became a joint family. The bonding, spending quality time, having family conversations, eating together, praying together and enjoying planning the ‘little things’ together will surely inculcate such sanskars in my baby, too.
Not many people knew you were expecting until a few weeks ago when we spotted you with a bump at a clinic. How did you keep your pregnancy a secret?
(Laughs!) My body showed no signs of pregnancy weight except for the baby bump. I’ve got to thank my genes for that. And guess what? When my ninth month pregnancy pictures came out, a lot of my friends didn’t call to wish me thinking it was just a rumour and that I was sporting a baby bump for a shoot!
Talking about shooting, when do you plan to resume work?
On the work front, the lockdown came as a boon. I didn’t miss out on any work due to pregnancy. In fact, there have been some very interesting offers post August that I’m looking forward to taking up January onwards.
It’s a baby boy for Amrita Rao & RJ Anmol
7:52 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (November 2, 2020)
Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol became proud parents to a baby boy yesterday. A source said, “She delivered in the morning. Anmol was by her side throughout in the operation theatre. Both Amrita and the baby are doing well.”
Bombay Times first wrote about Amrita being pregnant a few weeks ago after we spotted her with Anmol outside a clinic in Khar. Later during Navratri, the actress shared a social media post in which, along with a video sporting her baby bump, she wrote, “I feel blessed to witness my ninth month of pregnancy in the auspicious month of Navratri.”
------------------
HINDUSTAN TIMES (November 2, 2020)
Amrita Rao and Anmol Sood had taken to their respective social media accounts to announce that they are all set to embrace parenthood. And now, good news is that they have become proud parents of a baby boy.
The couple has released a statement and said, "Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol welcomed a baby boy this morning. Both the mother and baby are healthy and doing well. The family is ecstatic and both Amrita and RJ Anmol thank everyone for their wishes and blessings."
And talking about Rao in an interview with Hindustan Times, Sood said, "I am feeling on top of the world right now. Look at the luck and the destiny in which I completely believe in. These are things which we do not plan..."
Speaking about pampering his wife during pregnancy, Anmol said "Amrita is a princess so she deserves to be treated like that. There's nothing new, that's the way I have been treating her from day one."
For Anmol and Amrita, the lockdown has been a blessing in disguise. "Who gets the opportunity to be together 24 hours a day at such a time! Talking about dealing with the pandemic, we didn't move out at all and were very strict and particular about that aspect," he said.
And when Rao was asked about her pregnancy, this is what she had to say while talking to Mumbai Mirror, "It's like reliving our childhood. I guess it takes your child to be in front of you to believe what nature can do."
Amrita also admitted that Anmol has been pampering her a lot. "Anmol reads a chapter from the Bhagvad Gita to baby and me every night." The duo has also found their perfect song, "Jeevan Ki Bagiya Mehkegi", with one line in particular, "Thoda Hamara, Thoda Tumhara, Aayega Firse Bachpan Hamara."
RJ Anmol reads from the Gita to baby and me every night-Amrita Rao
7:52 AM
Amrita Rao opens up about her pregnancy; says it’s like reliving your childhood
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; October 14, 2020)
On Tuesday, a picture of Amrita Rao and her husband, RJ Anmol, standing outside a doctor’s office, her baby bump very evident, broke on the social media. When Mirror reached out to the actress, she confirmed the happy news, saying “It’s like reliving our childhood.” However, she admitted that the feeling that she will be a mother soon is yet to sink in. “I guess it takes your child to be in front of you to believe what nature can do,” she muses.
Amrita goes on to share that it was Anmol who got to see the report first and broke the news of the pregnancy to her. The couple had tied the knot on May 15, 2016, after dating for seven years. Ask the 34-year-old actress what made them decide that 2020 was the year to take their family forward and she quips, “One can’t plan these things, they just happen.”
Given that the Coronavirus-triggered pandemic is still on, Amrita believes that physical and mental health is her utmost priority. “Even the baby realises it and is not very demanding. There are no special cravings, I eat whatever I want and the baby seems to be happy with it,” she laughs, admitting that Anmol has been pampering her a lot.
Since he’s working from home, they are spending a lot of quality time together. “Anmol reads a chapter from the Bhagvad Gita to baby and me every night,” she reveals, adding that since they’re both retro fans, they’ve found their perfect song, “Jeevan Ki Bagiya Mehkegi”, with one line in particular, “Thoda Hamara, Thoda Tumhara, Aayega Firse Bachpan Hamara” encapsulating what they’re feeling at this phase.
Early in the lockdown, the couple had done a ‘live’ session on Instagram, and when requested by a fan to christen his new-born daughter, had named her Devika. Bring that up and Amrita says that maybe that was a sign from the universe to extend their own family. “It was our first live video together and a random request,” she points out, saying they haven’t zeroed in on any names for their child yet.
The actress had committed to two projects during the lockdown, but they’ve been delayed. “I guess the timing worked in my favour. The work will continue, when and how, we will figure,” she asserts.
BT Exclusive: Amrita Rao spotted with a baby bump
8:25 AM
Roshni Olivera (BOMBAY TIMES; October 13, 2020)
Actress Amrita Rao has always kept a low profile when it comes to her personal life. We recently spotted the pretty actress outside a clinic in Khar and the secret is out! Amrita and RJ Anmol are expecting their first baby and the glowing mommy-to-be was seen with her hubby outside her doctor’s clinic.
Amrita and Anmol tied the knot in 2016 after seven years of dating. Incidentally, even the wedding was an intimate affair attended by just family and close friends.
A source close to the actress said, “She is loving this phase of her life. While people may not be aware of her pregnancy, those close to the couple are in the know. They conceived just before the lockdown and this phase came as a blessing in disguise as the couple could spend quality time together. Anmol and she are both private people and they like to keep things low-key.”
Anmol plays the saxophone while I am cooking-Amrita Rao
8:35 AM
It’s retro music, Konkani dishes and live chats for Amrita Rao and her RJ-husband
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 3, 2020)
Amrita Rao has always been shy about discussing her personal life. But the 21-day Coronavirus lockdown seems to have changed that. Recently, the actress went live on Instagram with RJ-husband Anmol for the first time to interact with fans. To her surprise, one of the participants wanted their daughter to be christened by the couple. “It was a goosebumps-inducing moment for me. Luckily, I came up with the name Devika which coincidentally, started with the same alphabet that the father had in mind,” she shares. Was it a name she’d been keeping for her own daughter? “Let’s think of that when I have one, for which we’d like to wait a bit,” she laughs.Meanwhile, she’s taken on a new role, a chef in real life. “I still can’t believe I’m making aloo-bhindi fry, daal, pulao and Konkani dishes daily. I am on call with my mom all the time, exchanging recipes and shocking my hubby,” she chuckles.
The couple start their day with retro songs by Hemant Kumar, Talat Mahmood and Asha Bhosle. “Anmol plays the saxophone while I am cooking,” she informs, adding that sharing household chores has brought them closer at the time of ‘zero touching’ which, she believes, should continue even after 21 days.
Recently, Amrita’s Vivah leading man, Shahid Kapoor, during a Q&A session on the ’gram, described her as a “special co-star”. Returning the compliment, she acknowledges that fans beseech her to reunite with her reel-life Prem. “I’m touched, it would be wonderful to work with Shahid again and relive that magical bond,” she avers.
For now, the actress wants to explore Marathi cinema and is gearing up for a digital debut. “I was also in talks for a Hindi film, Satsang, but that has been delayed following the coronavirus outbreak,” says the actress, who has always been very choosy, turning down ‘filler’ films. “I have to be careful because I don’t have a godfather in the industry to back me. And since I come from a financially secure family background, I can decline some offers,” Amrita concludes.
Amrita Rao’s social media account hacked
9:13 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; July 13, 2019)
As you read this, Amrita Rao and her social media team are writing to Twitter India. The actress’ social media account was hacked into a few days ago, while she was recovering from a viral infection. When we reached out to her, she told us. “It all happened last week. I got a DM (direct message) from a leading TV channel’s account, stating that they want to publish an article about me, but they need my approval for it. My social media team opened the link. It asked for the password of my account, and then it didn’t lead anywhere. Eventually, I was locked out of my own Twitter account, and despite all our efforts to log in again, we couldn’t access it. Nothing worked, although we had followed the procedure that’s mentioned on the website.”Amrita’s team has now decided to report the activity to Twitter officials. If the company suggests, she will reach out to the cyber crime cell. The actress added, “I get messages every day about some suspicious activity on my account, but I can’t log in. We waited to reach out to Twitter officials because I wasn’t well. It also took us a little bit of time to realise that this is a serious problem. A few months ago, I got a similar link from Tusshar’s account. He’s an actor and a buddy. My team didn’t open the link, and when we asked him, he told us he hadn’t sent anything and that his account had been hacked into as well. My worry right now is that people who I follow or who follow me may get unexplained messages from my account, which can lead to their accounts getting hacked. It’s detrimental to all of us and an intrusion of privacy.”
Amrita Rao's husband gifts her a diamond ring on Valentine's Day eve
8:15 AM
Hiren Kotwani (DNA; February 14, 2019)
Amrita Rao had a huge surprise in store for her yesterday. Her husband RJ Anmol gifted her a big diamond ring on the eve of Valentine’s Day. The actress, who was seen in last month’s release, Thackeray, is planning to present him something equally special. “Usually, I give him the ‘regular’ gifts like a nice watch or something, but this time I’m thinking something different,” she says.
Quiz her why did they ring in the celebrations a day earlier and Amrita replies, “I had to fly to Delhi for a prior work commitment today morning. If I would have been in town, then Anmol would have probably taken a day off from work. But we don’t mix our personal and professional lives, so we decided to commemorate it in advance.” The couple, who will complete three years of marriage on May 15, ended the day with dinner at a suburban five-star.
Interestingly, Anmol got his sister, who lives in Europe, to call his wife and find out what kind of a ring would the latter prefer. While this is the biggest diamond ring he has gifted her, Amrita tells us, “All his gifts are unique. He puts in a lot of thought and effort in gifting, and it’s not just for Valentine’s Day only. Last year, he captured all our moments together in an animation video. We had no photographs, so it was a huge surprise for me to see that he remembered everything so vividly,” she recalls.
The actress also reveals that she has been celebrating the day since 2011, after she met Anmol a year before and he is a ‘hardcore romantic’. Another thing that impressed the petite beauty was that though he was cool and contemporary, he also respected family values and traditions. “He’s a perfect blend of Sooraj Barjatya’s Prem and Aditya Chopra’s Raj,” she signs off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)