Showing posts with label Amritsar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amritsar. Show all posts
Priyanka Chopra films cameo in Mira Nair's biopic on Amrita Sher-Gil, Amri
11:32 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 27, 2026)
Three months after mid-day reported that filmmaker Mira Nair conducted a recce in Amritsar for ‘Amri’, we have more news on the biopic about the renowned Hungarian-Indian painter, Amrita Sher-Gil. Sources have told us that Priyanka Chopra will be seen in a special appearance and has shot her portions.
Nair has kept details about the project under wraps, including the principal cast. Little then is known about Chopra’s role in her first outing with Nair. However, industry chatter suggests that it’s not fleeting.
A source revealed, “The film aims to present the painter’s life across Hungary, India, and France. There was a specific part for which Mira had approached Priyanka last year, and she shot for it last week. The actor was in Hyderabad to finish some work on ‘Varanasi’. After that, she flew down to Amritsar and filmed for two days.”
mid-day reached out to Chopra’s team and Nair’s production team. Both didn’t respond till press time.
I hope someday I get to photograph Ganesh Chaturthi in all its emotion and glory-Sharvari
10:22 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; January 30, 2026)
Sharvari’s love for photography, which began years ago with an old-school broken camera that needed a film roll, has now blossomed into a full-fledged passion.
She remembers, “My friend’s mom had a camera that wasn’t working. We somehow fixed it, and she let us use it. With that camera, you couldn’t take 10 photos and decide later. You were in the moment completely. I would click pictures and then develop the film. The process felt exciting and magical.”
Later, a second-hand Nikon FM10 from a Churchgate store became her loyal travel companion.
“The light meter, loading the roll, everything felt like entering a whole new world. Photography is all about the way you see the world. Which moments feel enduring, what emotions pull me in… whether it’s people, architecture or the spirit of a city, a film camera forces you to pick the moment. And that makes every frame special.”
‘Punjab has this peace and positivity that you can feel in the air’
When she travelled to Amritsar recently to shoot for Imtiaz Ali’s next film, Sharvari packed her camera. This was her first shoot in Punjab, and she loved the experience. “I’ve absolutely fallen in love — with the food, the people, the culture. Punjab has this peace and positivity that you can feel in the air.”
During the shoot, whenever time allowed, she would set out with her camera, documenting the landscapes, the bustle of the streets and the quiet of dawn.
The Munjya actress says, “I captured a series there. It reflects Punjab for me - full of warmth, kindness and serenity. I also love clicking pictures of every person I work with. I’m also creating a series for each film — capturing the crew and the people who actually make cinema happen. These behind-the-scenes moments feel so alive.”
‘I now notice architecture more’
Photography, she says, has changed the way she travels. “I notice architecture more, the way cities are built for their weather, how roads and buildings are maintained. I pay more attention to people — their moments and moods.”
Her dream is to capture the vibrant mood in the city during Ganesh Chaturthi. “It’s my favourite festival. I’ve seen stunning visarjan pictures on Instagram. I hope someday I get to photograph it in all its emotion and glory.”
Mira Nair to kick off with a recce in Punjab to prepare for her next biopic on Amrita Sher-Gil
11:15 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; January 8, 2026)
It has been more than six years since Mira Nair’s last outing, A Suitable Boy (2020); and the filmmaker is finally gearing up for her next — a biopic on modernist painter Amrita Sher-Gil. The large-scale international production will kick off in Amritsar this week with a recce. Nair will base her unit in the city to shoot key portions for two months, until March, before the project moves to Europe for its second schedule.
Sources close to the production reveal that the international cast and crew will soon arrive in Punjab, while extensive logistical preparations are underway to recreate early 20th-century settings integral to Sher-Gil’s life.
“Right now it’s just recce. The shoot begins a bit later. Punjab is central to Amrita Sher-Gil’s story, and Mira wanted to begin the film on that note,” explains a source, adding that the director has been closely involved in scouting locations and detailing the period.
While casting details remain under wraps, industry buzz suggests the ensemble includes a mix of Indian and European actors.
Our source shares, “The casting has been locked after months of research and auditions, but Mira is deliberately keeping it quiet until filming is well underway.”
The film’s European schedule — expected to cover Hungary and France — will focus on Sher-Gil’s formative artistic years. An official announcement regarding the cast is expected later this year, once principal photography progresses.
Who was Amrita Sher-Gil?
Amrita Sher-Gil is often referred to as the ‘Indian Frida Kahlo’. Born in Budapest to a Punjabi Sikh father and a Hungarian mother, she spent her early years in Hungary and India before moving to Paris at 16 to study at the École des Beaux-Arts. She revolutionised Indian art by choosing to paint the everyday reality of the Indian poor and the internal lives of women with deep empathy.
Kahin bhi chale jao, Golden Temple ki Diwali ka koi mukabala nahin hai-Shehnaaz Gill
9:55 AM
For Shehnaaz Gill, Diwali shines brightest when spent with family, faith and the warmth of lighting a diya both around and within
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 17, 2025)
Actor-singer Shehnaaz Gill believes that Diwali feels truly special only when spent at home, surrounded by family, laughter, and festive cheer. “It’s going to be a working Diwali, but the best part is that I will be home in Punjab this year,” she tells us. She is missing her brother, singer Shehbaz Badesha, who is currently a contestant on Bigg Boss 19. “Although I’m sad he won’t be with us in person, he’ll be there virtually through our TV,” she shares.
“Kahin bhi chale jao, Golden Temple ki Diwali ka koi mukabala nahin hai. The peace that you will feel there is something else,” she insists, adding, “Chhote hote sab saath mil kar gurudwara jaya karte the. Itne saalon baad, we have kept the tradition intact.”
As a youngster, Diwali was “all about crackers, dher sari mithai, playing around, and darshan”. But having “matured and understood life better”, the 31-year-old feels, “Now, Diwali is about light; we should light a diya inside us so we can get rid of the darkness within.”
Celebrations include giving back to the community. The actor shares, “Whether it’s donating to an orphanage or visiting an old-age home, these small gestures can bring so much joy... Diwali is about bringing light into someone else’s life, too. And if we can do that even in a small way, then that’s the real celebration.”
With the festival also marking a season of indulgence, Shehnaaz admits that maintaining fitness can be challenging: “I love Kaju Katli. Bahut mushkil hai usko resist karna! Fitness zaruri hai, par Diwali par mithai toh banti hai.”
And while celebrations are important, Shehnaaz is mindful of the environmental impact. “Diwali hai toh pataake toh bajenge, but it’s important to celebrate responsibly... I’ll burst crackers but just a few, for shagun, which is more than enough.”
Gurucharan Singh returns home after 24 days; planned disappearance, say cops
10:01 AM
THE TIMES OF INDIA (May 19, 2024)
New Delhi: Nearly a month long search for Gurucharan Singh, who played Sodhi in “Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah”, came to an end on Friday morning when the 50-year-old television actor appeared before his family at their residence in southwest Delhi's Palam.
Singh had gone missing on April 22 and a kidnapping case was registered based on his father’s complaint, a senior police officer said. According to the police, Singh disclosed that he had embarked on a journey to various spiritual destinations across different states.
“He travelled to different states and visited religious places. He was seeking peace in his life. He also claimed to have slept near the roadside,” the officer added.
The missing complaint was filed by Singh’s father at Palam police station on April 25. He reported that the actor had left his residence on April 22 at 8.30 am. “Singh has not reached Mumbai, and both his mobile phones are switched off. He has not returned home either,” the complainant said.
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Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 18, 2024)
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Gurucharan Singh is back home after almost a month. He has been missing since April 22 and the Delhi police have been searching for him ever since. Expectedly, his parents are extremely happy to see his son back home.
Speaking to Bombay Times, Gurucharan’s father Hargit Singh said, “My wife and I both very happy to see him back home. We were very worried for him and now one can see how relaxed and happy we are. On Thursday night he rang our door bell. I told my wife that this is how our son rings the bell and I have a feeling it is him. When I opened the door I saw him standing there and I can't explain what I felt. How happy I was to see him safe and sound.”
He added, "We wanted him to just relax, so we told him to go and sleep. The next morning we spoke."
According to police, Gurcharan told the officials that he had left this worldly life and was on a religious journey. In the past few days, he stopped at Gurudwaras in many cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana, but later realised that he should return home.
Gurcharan's father said his son had come back home to check on them. "He didn't realize there was a massive search for him. We informed the police that he is back home. We went to the police station on Friday to give the details that the police required. Gurcharan ke wapas aane se hum bohot hi jyada khush hain. We spoke about what happened and now we have put it behind us. All we wanted was for him to be safe and come home.... God is with us."
We tried reaching out to Gurucharan as well but he was unavailable to speak at the moment.
Gurcharan was popular as Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah's Roshan Singh Sodhi. He quit the show in 2013 and joined back a year later. Finally he quit the show again in 2020.
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Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 19, 2024)
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Gurucharan Singh who was missing since April 22, has returned home. The Delhi Police had filed a case of kidnapping and a probe was underway to find the actor.
According to police, Gurcharan told the officials that he had left this worldly life and was on a religious journey. In the past few days, he stopped at Gurudwaras in many cities like Amritsar and Ludhiana, but later realised that he should return home.
His co-actor from Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Jennifer Mistry is happy that he is home.
She said, “I woke up this morning and read about him returning home. I am really happy for him. I did have a feeling that he could have gone somewhere on a spiritual journey because because he is very spiritually inclined. It’s just that he should have informed his parents so that they were not troubled. But I am happy that he has come back home.”
Gurucharan’s friend from Mumbai Bhakti Soni who was supposed to pick him up at the Mumbai airport was also in touch with his family and the police. When she learnt about his return, she said, “I got a call from the police on Friday afternoon that Gurucharan is found and is back home. I haven’t spoken to him yet.. only he will be able to tell us what happened. But I am happy that he is home safe and sound. All our prayers have been answered.”
Reportedly, Gurucharan Singh was a frequent user of credit cards and had many bank accounts for his financial activities. Police found that he operated more than 10 bank accounts. He used his credit cards to settle the balance on one card with another.
Gurucharan became a household name as Roshan Singh Sodhi in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. He quit the show in 2013 but returned the next year. He finally exited the show in 2020.
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Rohit Meena, DCP South West, Delhi Police, told us, “After leaving Delhi (on April 22), Gurucharan kept roaming in cities like Amritsar and Jalandhar, and visited various gurdwaras in these cities. He would eat at langars and even slept on the roadside or inside gurdwaras. He said he wanted to go on this spiritual journey. Two days back it was his birthday, and that was when he realized that he should return home. We sent our teams to Mumbai, Amritsar, and Hemkund Sahib. We also got in touch with his spiritual guru to ask about his whereabouts, and that’s how we came to the conclusion that he had planned his own disappearance.”
— Niharika Lal
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 19, 2024)
Actor Gurucharan Singh, of Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah fame, had been missing since April 22. He finally returned home on Friday.
Singh, who had been visiting his parents in Delhi earlier this year, was expected to be back in Mumbai. When he didn’t, his family filed a missing persons complaint on April 22. Upon his return, when he was questioned by Delhi Police, Singh stated he had “embarked on a religious journey”.
During interrogation, the actor informed the police that he had stopped at gurdwaras in various cities, including Amritsar and Ludhiana (Punjab). Later, he realized that he must return home. The investigation also revealed that he was a follower of a sect that practices meditation and had an interest in Himalayan meditation retreats.
Reportedly, Gurucharan Singh maintained multiple bank accounts and frequently used credit cards despite not being in good financial condition. However, his father, Hargit Singh, was unaware of his financial woes and was worried about his son.
We are in such a great time in Indian cinema when films are being led by women-Kubbra Sait
8:19 AM
Jaspreet Nijher (BOMBAY TIMES; April 17, 2024)
Kubbra Sait has a professional rule, she doesn’t limit herself to projects based on their platform or commercial standing. “I allow life and profession to surprise me,” says the actress.
In Amritsar some time back, speaking to us Kubbra said, “For 14 years I have been visiting The Golden Temple, Amritsar with the same friend.” She added, “When I moved to Mumbai in 2010, I had heard about a friend’s experience of The Golden Temple, and how humbling it is. I also queue up with the others for darshan. It is that part of the year when I give time to my faith. Of course, the food in Amritsar is great! I return with my stomach and heart full.”
Reflecting on her acting journey, Kubbra, who has done Sacred Games and films like Sultan and Gully Boy, says she is not tied to the platform. “Though when you get a good script platform doesn’t matter, the thing with OTT is that in one shot it delivers in 190 countries.”
She added, “In the five years since I became an actor, I’m getting the kind of work I’ve been hungry for. Whether it was my role as Phara Keaen in the Hollywood sci-fi show Foundation, or my next film Deva, an action thriller. As an actor, you keep waiting for good scripts and when you get them, you don’t shy away, no matter if it’s a digital or theatrical release.”
However, Kubbra wishes theatrical films could adapt and borrow from OTT. “In a two-hour theatrical film, the characters will be smaller compared to an 8-hour project on OTT long format,” she said, adding, “If films followed OTT, they could add more contemporary value, but unfortunately the process of filmmaking has remained unchanged.”
Commenting on her body of work she said, “I keep my eyes open and don’t let anyone else run my career. I am very proud of my roles, and accept everything, including criticism. After all, we are in such a great time in Indian cinema when films are being led by women. Kudos to the filmmakers who have the courage to give such films a chance, without underestimating the intellect of our audiences.”
Coming from the space constraints in Mumbai, Delhi’s wide roads and lush greenery are refreshing-Delnaaz Irani
8:14 AM
Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 14, 2024)
Delnaaz Irani’s Delhi trips have usually been brief and centred around work commitments. But this time, when the actress was in the city for a few days, she made it a point to explore her favourite hotspots here.
“While I was primarily here for work, this trip was special as I had a few days to myself between engagements. I got to visit my favourite hangout addas here. Even the weather was fantastic this time,” she says, adding, “I was here with Percy (her beau, Percy Karkaria), and we even visited Amritsar during this trip. The Golden Temple had always been on our bucket list.”
‘Dilli Haat is beautiful’
During her visit, the Kabhi Kabhie Ittefaq Sey actress explored Dilli Haat, one of her favourite spots in the city. “I visited Dilli Haat after a long time. It is beautiful! While I wanted to shop a lot, Percy kept reminding me of our excess baggage from our Amritsar trip (laughs). But how can you not buy things from Dilli Haat? I splurged on home decor items, dupattas and bags, and everything was later delivered to me. The food at Dilli Haat was great, too. I had momos, chowmein and masala tea, and it was wonderful. Khan Market used to be my initial go-to spot, but now I believe Dilli Haat has claimed the top spot in my itinerary.”
She also said, “Delhi is my second home. I am always here for work. I love the vibe of the city. The food and the markets here are just amazing. Coming from the space constraints in Mumbai, Delhi’s wide roads and lush greenery are refreshing.”
‘Percy and I are happy as a live-in couple’
Delnaaz and Percy have been together for 11 years. Percy proposed to her on her 50th birthday. Is wedding on the cards? “Percy and I are happy as a live-in couple. Our relationship has flourished over the years, and we cherish the way it’s evolving. We have decided that our current status is perfect for us. However, as they say, ‘never say never.’ I might surprise everyone and decide to tie the knot at 60, mera dimaag aise hi chalta hai (laughs). Right now, my focus is on enjoying life with my partner.”
Delnaaz’s favourite shopping spots in Delhi
- Dilli Haat
- Khan Market
- M-Block Market, Greater Kailash
- Sarojini Nagar
- Janpath
Actor Kavita Choudhry of Udaan fame passes away
9:51 AM
Avijit Ghosh & Yudhvir Rana (THE TIMES OF INDIA; February 17, 2024)
New Delhi/Amritsar: In the summer of 1984, evenings changed in India. Hum Log, India’s first television soap, had arrived. Within weeks the lives of Basesar Ram’s family became a conversation point in drawing rooms. Over the next few years, as the number of sponsored TV shows mushroomed, the idea of a well-spent evening got redefined.
Udaan (Flight) arrived in 1989, the heyday of monopoly Doordarshan. The long-running serial was about a spirited girl who overcomes financial worries and gender barriers to become an upright police officer. Kavita Choudhry, who not only played the protagonist but also wrote and directed the show, passed away following a heart attack in Amritsar on Thursday night. Battling cancer at the city’s Parvati Devi Hospital, she was 67.
Udaan, which ran till 1991, was inspired by the life of Kavita’s sister, Kanchan Choudhry-Bhattacharya, India’s second woman IPS officer and the first woman director-general of police. Judging by the social media posts on Friday, the serial inspired many young women of the time.
Actor-director Shekhar Kapur wrote on X, “So many women now in high positions in Indian Civil Services come to me and say they were inspired by Udaan.” Added Kapur, who played the role of an IAS officer and the central character’s love interest in the series, “She was an amazing director”.
Amritsar-born Kavita had earlier become a familiar face modelling for Surf as the fictional character Lalita-ji. The Lintas campaign was constructed when Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL)’s lucrative washing powder came under pressure from the less expensive brand, Nirma. Kavita, who belonged to National School of Drama’s acting class of 1978, was selected to deliver the part of a housewife who had to convince the customer to buy a more expensive product.
“Lalita-ji represented the archetype of a woman totally in control, someone who could argue persuasively in the face of male questioning. And Kavita was utterly convincing in that role. Which is why the ad as well as the character became iconic,” says brand consultant Santosh Desai. The ad’s punchline, “Surf ki kharidari mein hi samajdari hai”, became as popular as a Salim-Javed dialogue.
Kavita was introduced to the big screen by producer-director Bhimsain (Gharaonda, Dooriyan) in Tum Laut Aao (1983). The film was based on notable Hindi writer Mridula Garg’s progressive novel, Mera; the protagonist’s husband doesn’t want her to get pregnant because he intends to migrate to the US. “Kavita portrayed the determined, lower middle-class woman quite well,” recalls Garg. But the film was little seen; it was the small screen that earned her fame.
In later years Kavita acted in several other television serials, such as Your Honour and IPS Diaries. She also wrote Satish Kaushik’s Badhaai Ho Badhaai (2002). Kaushik, along with Anupam Kher, was a batchmate at NSD.
The actor-director lived in Amritsar’s Garden Enclave neighbourhood with her nephew Ajay Sayal, an advocate, after the death of her elder sister, Kanchan, in 2019.
Dr Rajnish Salwan of Parvati Devi Hospital, under whose care she was being treated, said Kavita was admitted in critical condition, with multiple organ failure, last Sunday. She was cremated on Friday.
People who were with us kept saying to me, ‘No dieting in Amritsar’-Raashii Khanna
8:37 AM
Raashii Khanna, who celebrated her birthday on November 30, ticked ‘a visit to the Golden Temple’ off her bucket list
Navya Kharbanda (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 4, 2023)
It was Raashii Khanna’s 33rd birthday on November 30, and she got to fulfil a long-pending wish of hers — to pay a visit to Sri Harmandir Sahib or the Golden Temple in Amritsar. Now back in Mumbai after the two-day trip, the actor gets candid on the “serene” experience.
“I have been wanting to visit the Golden temple for a very long time now. I went there when I was younger, but I always wanted to do it properly — take a snaan (dip) in the sarovar (holy water) and do the Amrit Vela (early morning meditation), which is usually [done from] 2 am to 4 am,” she tells us, adding, “On my birthday eve (November 29), I reached Amritsar with my family and friends. We went to the Golden Temple and took a dip. On my birthday morning, we did the Amrit Vela.”
The Farzi actor goes on to add that everything felt complete in that moment. “My birthday was so peaceful this year. When I got out of the temple, I thought to myself, ‘This is what I wanted’. I wanted to do this with my family and I was very happy to be able to do it this year. The feeling is out of the world.”
When in Amritsar, Khanna didn’t miss a chance to explore the city’s markets as well as the culinary delicacies available there. “We bought some beautiful dupattas and suits. Also, I had heard so much about the food. I had the Amritsari kulcha, which was amazing. People who were with us kept saying to me, ‘No dieting in Amritsar’. I ate a lot. I was okay with all the butter and ghee they put because I work out a lot,” she quips.
Though she rang in her special day in Amritsar, Khanna did not miss out on her tradition of planting saplings on her birthday. She reveals that she had never intended on going public about her initiative, but it was her team that persuaded her. “I am a private person,” she continues, “My team noticed that I am an environmentalist at heart. They said that I should post about it. I plant saplings every now and then, but it has become a tradition on my birthday.” She goes on to talk about the impact of her posting about planting trees, saying: “A fan club recently told me that they also started planting because I do it. At that time, I felt I do have an impact. I am happy that I made this a tradition.”
In terms of work, the actor is awaiting the release of her film Yodha, co-starring Sidharth Malhotra and Disha Patani. “I think the film has been postponed again because the makers want to avoid clashes as there are so many big films releasing in December. I think we will come out with it in March next year. I am really excited for it,” she signs off.
I’m not a sweet and simple middle-class girl I played in movies-Deepti Naval
7:57 AM
In her conversation at the Times Litfest in Delhi, Deepti Naval spoke about how films have wrongly represented the middle-class girls
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2023)
As soon as Deepti Naval came on the stage at Times Litfest in Delhi, someone from the audience screamed ‘Chamko!’ The actress, who was called Miss Chamko in 1981’s Chashme Buddoor, laughed and said, “This is the last thing I wanted to hear today.”
Deepti, who was at the fest to talk about her latest book, A Country Called Childhood, which is about her childhood memories, told the audience to read it like a literary work. She said, “I was not writing as a celebrity. This is the work of a writer.”
The actress, who has played the role of a “sweet and simple” middle-class girl in films like Chashme Buddoor and Saath Saath, told the audience that her off-screen personality is different from her onscreen image. “Meri jo screen image hai, main usse kaafi opposite hoon. Yeh jo formula hai humare yahan that ‘she is so sweet and simple’, yeh mere par toh nahi baithta. I’m neither simple nor sweet,” she said, adding, “Middle class girls have big dreams. They are determined and are ready to fight it out with society, starting with their parents. They are not going to sit back and accept that whatever I will get in life, I will live with that. That’s a false representation of how middle-class girls are. They are feisty, they know what they want and are out there to achieve what they want.”
Author Yasser Usman, who interacted with her, told the audience that even though the book is not about films, it does mention how she gravitated towards films from an early age. He also shared that Deepti had phases when she was smitten by Meena Kumari, Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore while growing up, and she ran away from her home because she didn’t want to live in the walled city of Amritsar. After watching films like Kashmir Ki Kali and Arzoo, she felt that Kashmir is the place to be, so at the age of 13, she ran away on a train, but fortunately was found at Pathankot and returned home.
Lohri, for me, is all about kites-Sukhwinder Singh
8:32 AM
Sukhwinder Singh recalls celebrating the festival in Amritsar and what the day means to him
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 13, 2023)
“I hail from Amritsar (Punjab) and as a kid, I fondly remember waking up to a sky full of kites on Lohri,” says Sukhwinder Singh, as he recalls his childhood memories of the festival. The singer would look forward to a day full of festivity, food, music and kites!
“Lohri, for me, is all about kites. Back in the day, we never had the harmful manjhas. We would use simple strings and manjhas. I remember, there would be lakhs of kites in the sky. I would be on the terrace, flying kites for hours. I still do that, no matter where I am. It’s my Lohri ritual. In fact, I was in San Francisco (USA) on Lohri once and I spent four hours flying kites there as well,” recalls the Rabba (Cuttputlli; 2022) singer.
Singh feels that Lohri “unites people”. He adds, “I feel that is the beauty of this festival. People from different religions and cultures come together for the evening celebration. Everyone offers rewari, gur and chana to the bonfire. In fact, in Punjab, you would find people singing Sundar Mundariye Ho, the traditional Lohri song, at every nook and corner.”
Ask about his favourite Lohri number and he goes on to sing Sundar Mundariye Ho for us. But now that he resides in Mumbai, does he miss Punjab on the day of the festival? “Nahin, main jahan bhi hota hoon, wahan Lohri utne hi utsaah se manaata hoon jaise Amritsar mein manaata tha. Main kahin bhi hoon, aag jalaa kar usmein rewari, gur, chana zaroor daalta hoon,” says the Lohri Waale Din Sab singer, as he goes on to share how the festival inspires him as an artiste and human being.
“The atmosphere on the day of Lohri is so energetic. The happiness you see on people’s faces when they dress up, sing and dance is infectious. I love the energy that I experience by being near the bonfire and praying there. It instils me with a lot of confidence and self-belief,” Singh signs off.
My mother dreamt of becoming an actress and called herself the Beauty Queen of Bengal-Deepti Naval
8:36 AM
Deepti Naval, 18, at her home in Amritsar. Pic Courtesy/A Country Called Childhood: A Memoir, Aleph Book Company
In a just-launched memoir, quintessential girl-next-door Deepti Naval recalls how her mother’s love for dramas and star-struck cousins inspired her to be an actor
MID-DAY (July 3, 2022)
My family loved cinema but if there was one member of the family who actually loved to sing and dance, it was my mother. I have with me old black and white photos that are a visual record of this aspect in my Mama’s life. She was especially fond of doing dramas; she would direct plays, and also act in them along with other young women. I have one distinct memory of a scene being enacted in our house. I’m standing beside the dark blue curtain in the hall kamra and watching Mama rehearse with other women. She is in a saree and her hair is tied in a loose bun. She is wearing high heels and is holding a purse. I recall her entering the room, dangling the batua in her hand. She walks in and there’s some dialogue with the other two women, words that I no longer remember. I watch the scene being performed in front of me with fascination. The door opens and shuts as Mama walks in repeatedly from the thhada entrance, revealing street activity behind her. Light filters in as she stands backlit at the entrance, looking like a veritable star. I wish I could recollect details of the scene being enacted but that’s as far as it goes, my memory of that rehearsal.
Once, some cine stars from Bombay came to our city for a cricket match. Among them were Shyama, Nirupa Roy, and Bhagwan Dada. They performed a show at the Chitra Talkies. That’s the time my mother also performed along with them. When she made her entry on stage, Didi, sitting next to me in the hall started to shout, “Mama! . . . That’s my Mama!” All heads turned to look at us. It was a moment that embarrassed my mother but she’d recall it always with a lot of love. I assume that my mother did some more plays during my baby years, but by the time I was old enough to properly appreciate her talents as an actress she had stopped. Years later, she told me that Bibiji had once said to her, ‘The women at the Women’s Conference say that your daughter-in-law does dramas!’
“After that day,” said Mama, “I stopped. I never did another play. Never uttered a word to my mother-in-law. I just silently gave up everything.”
I was not aware of the impact of that finale in my mother’s life, for she never showed any bitterness. But I know what that sacrifice must have meant to her. This was the woman who dreamt of becoming an actress and called herself the Beauty Queen of Bengal. Today, as I live my life as an artiste, I realize the gravity of those words. “I silently gave up everything...”
It also made me think of Mama’s cousin in Burma, Sunny Bowrie, who had run away from Rangoon to become a dancer in Bombay Talkies. Brian Uncle once told me that Sunny was seen among the group dancers in the song Ramaiya Vasta Vaiya in Raj Kapoor’s film Shree 420. I have since been looking hard at the screen, peering crazily at the dancers in the back rows, looking for Sunny Bowrie, the face in Mama’s box of photographs, to somehow be able to spot him dancing in a movie, a dream that he’d left his home for. But according to Mama, Sunny Bowrie was lost to the family a long time ago.
Besides my mother, others in the family who loved the world of acting, or more properly Hindi movies, were my buas, my father’s sisters. Once a year, my buas would come down from Delhi to Amritsar along with their children. All of us cousins—Manju, Babbu, Indu, Ashu, Alok, Cheenu, Bunny, Didi, and me—would be quite a handful for the elders. In the afternoon, the women would put us kids to sleep and sneak out of the house, to go and see the matinee show at Chitra Talkies.
On hot summer afternoons, all of us kids would lay down for an hour on the terrazzo floor, its touch cool against the skin. The chicks would be drawn in the veranda to keep the sun out as we were all required to take our afternoon nap. That’s when my buas would get up from the floor, one by one, stand before the hat stand mirror, brush their hair, put on various shades of red lipstick, and one by one, slip out of the house. That was their ultimate getting-ready-real-fast trick—comb your hair, apply red lipstick, and off you go!
All the kids knew exactly what was happening, but almost all the time we pretended to be asleep. Occasionally, we’d open our eyes, glance at each other, and suppress giggles.
The biggest influence in my life as an actress perhaps was Indu Bhaiya, my older cousin. Indu Bhaiya, Santosh Bua’s older son, first came to live with us in the year 1958. I was six years old at the time and Bhaiya was probably in eighth class. He had not been doing well in school, so Pitaji suggested that Indu be sent to Amritsar so he could personally supervise his studies. I remember Didi, Indu Bhaiya, and me, playing with white plasticine balls, turning them into pigeons and buffaloes.
The second time that Indu Bhaiya came to Amritsar was in 1962. Bhaiya was by now eighteen, and I was ten. I sported the, then famous, Sadhana Cut, the much in vogue fringe those days, after the look in Love In Simla, and roamed around in my pinafore. Indu Bhaiya would every now and then tease me about looking like Sadhana, the star of those days. This was also the time I was just starting to become self-conscious as a girl. Indu Bhaiya had told his family that he wanted to go to Bombay to become an actor. He would tell us all about Dev Anand; he seemed to be obsessed with the film star.
• • •
Some years down the line, Indu Bhaiya went to Bombay nevertheless and joined films. I was ecstatic—my Bhaiya was so handsome, he looked like Dev Anand, he’ll surely make it. We heard that he’d already got work in a film produced by Rajshri Productions called Dosti. Though Bhaiya was in the supporting cast, for me this was exciting enough.
After his three-year stint in the film industry, and a few more roles, we were told that Bhaiya had given up on Bombay and come back home. When I saw him at Manju Didi’s wedding after his return, I was a bit taken aback. Bhaiya seemed to be in a disturbed state of mind. He later confided in me and told me how he’d fallen in love with an actress in Bombay, but was left heartbroken. He’d lost his mental balance and had briefly undergone treatment as well. Luckily, for him and the family, things would later fall in place for Bhaiya as he put his dream behind, and decided to move on with his life.
But for me, Indu Bhaiya was and has always remained a hero.
Excerpted with permission from A Country Called Childhood: A Memoir by Deepti Naval, published by Aleph Book Company
Naval’s buas
With Indu Bhaiya, Bunny, and Ashu
Deepti Naval’s mother Winnie, born Himadri Gangahar. Pics Courtesy/A Country Called Childhood: A Memoir
Sunny Bowrie
Yash Chopra ji had asked me to visit Amritsar before we began working on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi-Salim Merchant
8:26 AM
Merchant with Ali on set
Inundated with requests to recreate the magic of Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’s music, Salim Merchant ropes in Salman Ali for a love track set in Amritsar
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; February 14, 2022)
Within a matter of a few minutes, Salim Merchant paints for us a picture of Amrtisar’s Darbar Sahib, its residential properties, the Attari border situated kilometres way, and its people’s love for food. “Whenever you meet anyone, the first thing they ask is, ‘Kya khaoge?’” says the composer, having evidently romanced the world that his latest song is set in.
Merchant developed a fondness for Amrtisar when he first visited the Northern city to “soak in the vibe” ahead of his work on Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. “The late Yash Chopra ji had asked me to visit the place before we began working on the film. It is devotional, and simplistic. The people’s love for food is unmatched. We shot a love song called Rab di sau in Attari for Valentine’s Day,” says the composer of the song that has been penned by Kumaar, and rendered by Indian Idol singer Salman Ali.
The conspicuous terraces of the city’s smaller towns flashed through his mind as he composed the track and weaved the narrative. “I needed [to locate] the buildings with those terraces where we could showcase the boy and girl looking at each other. This is how small town love stories actually begin. I wanted to showcase the open fields, and include simple elements like bicycles to recreate the old-world charm. The song showcases a boy who is [returning home], thinking about his lover, and looking at her pictures on his phone. Creating the story while composing the song helps me arrange it better, and select the right instrumentation.”
The assorted array of tracks coming out of the Merchant Brothers’ stable is rather noteworthy. Apart from their annual passion project, Bhoomi, the third edition of which is underway, the musicians have collaborated with the who’s who of the industry for their two-year old music label. “Our next is a Maha Shivratri song with Indian Idol singer Pawandeep Rajan. We follow it up with a playful Holi track, and near Diwali, we bring out Bhoomi again. So, we do follow the calendar and cater [to the important days]. There is an indie single, a beautiful song with a new singer named Muheet Bharti, a dance track with Raj Pandit, and a few Punjabi tracks to cater to current tastes.”
In a bid to back female singers in need of a worthy platform, the brothers are also finalising a few names to associate with. “It is so nice to be part of the musical journeys of all these artistes who we are involved with.”
A simple parameter helps Merchant sieve a song that should make it to the Bhoomi album from one that should not. “Bhoomi is a specific project — a reflection of India’s culture, our folk roots, and traditional [practices]. It is a reflection of our country.”
Sonu Sood launches a drive in Amritsar to encourage people to get vaccinated
8:09 AM
On World Health Day, the actor sparks this initiative, which begins at the iconic Attari-Wagah Border in Amritsar
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; April 7, 2021)
Last year he turned saviour for thousands of migrant workers and helped them reach their villages when the lockdown was implemented during the pandemic. Come 2021, Sonu Sood is back on the streets, and this time, he is spreading awareness about the importance of getting vaccinated to fight Coronavirus. The actor started a vaccination drive today in Amritsar, on the occasion of World Health Day.
Talking about his initiative, Sonu says, “I think there is too much confusion among people regarding the vaccine. They are still wondering ki vaccine lena chahiye ya nahi lena chahiye. So, I thought it was time I get down to spreading awareness about the importance of everyone getting vaccinated. I have planned a country-wide drive beginning from Amritsar. While I am encouraging people to get vaccinated, even I am getting vaccinated today to motivate them.”
Considering he hails from Punjab, Sonu picked his home state to begin the drive. In fact, he will be initiating the campaign from an iconic location — the Attari-Wagah Border near Amritsar. He says, “I wanted to start from a place where my roots lie. Also, I realised that many people from Punjab have not been taking the vaccine or are in two minds. The Attari-Wagah Border is quite special. It is a place of national pride that symbolises unity. That apart, I would also be focusing upon Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and other parts of India. The idea is to get maximum people educated about the vaccine.”
Through this drive, Sonu is also looking at making vaccines available to people for free at private hospitals in six cities. He says, “We are tying up with NGOs at places like Nashik and Indore, among others, where we will make free vaccines available for people.”
With COVID-19 cases on the rise in several parts of India, Sonu is also back to doing something he did last year. “Back in 2020, when the cases were high, I used to get a lot of calls from people saying that beds nahi mil rahe hospitals mein. Today, I am receiving the same number of calls asking me to help them get a bed at a medical facility. I hope this time around, just like last year, a lot of people come forward and help others. The key is in showing unity and humanity,” he signs off.
My mother has not started to push me for marriage until now-Varun Sharma
8:13 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 4, 2021)
“I hope there are some surprises planned on the sets,” says actor Varun Sharma, who turns 31 today, adding he is going to be working on his birthday as that’s the way he likes it. “Being on the sets, filming this beautiful film, Cirkus, celebrating it with the crew will be fun. I wish to be with my family in the evening, cut a cake with them and get back again to face the camera, doing something that I love to do,” says Sharma.
Being a Punjabi, he admits he gets excited for birthdays but adds he likes to be a bit low-key. “Every birthday celebration is special and every year it’s a different vibe. I remember, two years ago, I was shooting in Amritsar and had celebrated my birthday in my home town, Jalandhar with my childhood friends. They came to surprise me, it was so sweet,” he reminisces.
Often people have goals and try to tick them off – be it buying a home, travelling, work or even marriage. So, what goals has he ticked off at 31? “I think I’m very content with the way my life is going. The biggest thing I think I’ve ticked off is my dream of becoming an actor. I got chances to play amazing characters which embedded me in people’s hearts. People smile when they look at me, I think that’s the biggest goal tick-off,” he shares.
Ask if marriage is a goal in the near future and he says, “With the grace of all, my mother has not started to push me for marriage until now.”
Never in my life have I had so many multi vitamins or worked out so much as I have in this year-Kapil Sharma
8:03 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; November 13, 2020)
Though he has been shooting back-to-back for his comedy show, this year, Kapil Sharma is looking forward to celebrating Diwali at his Mumbai home with his mother, wife Ginni and daughter Anayra. “There won’t be any get together this Diwali. It’s pleasant to see the decorations done in the house by Ginni as it’s my daughter’s first Diwali. We will listen to some good songs, have good food, and celebrate with family,” he says.
Sharma recalls that before marriage, he would go to Amritsar for Diwali and says celebrations there are “jag zahir”. “There is a saying which goes dal roti ghar di, Diwali Amritsar di. We would meet friends and family and have a lot of fun. But this year, I got mum here, so that we could all celebrate Diwali together as I have shootings lined up. I will get a two-day break for Diwali and I plan to relax at home,” he shares.
Sharma admits that though he has been shooting for four months now, it still feels like something’s missing thanks to the Coronavirus pandemic. While he doesn’t know when things will be normal, he is glad that in the past few months, he has been working out and has lost some weight. Talking about the year, he says, “I will not remember 2020 at all (laughs). On a serious note, one learns when one goes through a tough phase. This year has been tough and taught us all a lot. People who ignore their health have now understood that health is everything. Eating right, working out and taking care of yourself is of prime importance. People also realised that to live a comfortable life, le de ke roti, kapda, makaan aur sehat important hai. Never in my life have I had so many multi vitamins or worked out so much as I have in this year.”
The comedian-actor also welcomes the ban on crackers as it will reduce pollution. “We should all be responsible citizens and not just wait for a ban. We should try to reduce pollution on a personal level. I used to burst crackers years ago, too, but now I know that it’s not important. We can do without it. Festivals are about reconnecting with friends and family whom we haven’t met in a year, maybe. It’s about bonding and celebrations with loved ones and appreciating each other,” says Sharma.
It’s okay to want to look cool, but there has to be a line-Amyra Dastur
8:29 AM
Titas Chowdhury (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2020)
The busting of the controversial Boys Locker Room, a chat room run by a bunch of Delhi boys on Instagram, has sent social media into a tizzy. Among many celebrities who have raised their voice against the content of the conversation is Amyra Dastur, who took to social media to express her opinions. Talking about it, she says, “I understand the need to look cool when you’re young. I believe we do say really stupid things when we’re growing up but there’s a line, and it scares me that they’ve crossed it. Rape is not a joke. And it’s this mentality that gives birth to criminals.”
She believes that a dialogue on gender-based violence among youngsters is the need of the hour. “People say sex education should be provided in schools but more than that, boys should be spoken to about domestic abuse, molestation and rape. They should be made to meet female victims and survivors, and hear their stories. One has to empathise with the situation to change a mind-set,” she says.
Due to the Coronavirus lockdown, the actor had to celebrate a quiet birthday with her parents a day ago. “I was supposed to be shooting in Chandigarh for a project and I requested my director to give me the day off so that I could travel to Amritsar and visit the Golden Temple,” she shares.
This year, Dastur aims to put her social responsibility to practice apart from hoping that everyone will continue to be kind to Mother Nature. “I’ve already donated to an NGO called Samarpan. I’ve put money in the accounts of a few workers from the industry and now I’m looking to donate money to the migrant workers in person or through their bank accounts so that I know it has reached them,” she signs off.
Now that I’m home, my baby has started recognizing me-Kapil Sharma
9:00 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; April 5, 2020)
At a time when the country is practising social distancing to keep Coronavirus at bay, celebrities are making the most of their free time by pursuing their hobbies and spending quality time with their family.
A case in point is ace comedian Kapil Sharma, who is enjoying every minute of this stay-at-home phase with his three-monthold daughter, Anayra. He shares, “Aaj kal saara din baby ke saath khelta rehta hoon, and khaata aur sota hoon, bas. Badi mushkil se routine sahi hui thi. Usko settle aur hamein time par sote hue 10 din hi hue the ki phir se routine change ho gaya. Abhi baby bhi bore ho gayi hai dekh dekh ke mujhe saara din. Usko lagta hai, ‘Mera baap kuchh karta hi nahi hai’ (laughs!).”
Kapil has mostly been at home ever since his bundle of joy arrived. “In a way, I have been in a lockdown state since December 10, the day Anayra was born. I would step out only for two days a week to shoot for the show,” he says.
The comedian, who has barely spoken to the media about his daughter so far, tells us that he can’t keep his eyes off his baby. He says, “I don’t even realise when the day goes by. Abhi uska mere saath thoda zyada attachment ho gaya hai. Pehle Ginni (wife) ko hi dekh kar hasti thi. Since the past few days, she has started recognising me and even smiles. That feeling is out of the world. She totally justifies her name — Anayra, which means happiness. She smiles like my mother and me. Hum teeno ki aankhein band ho jaati hain haste time. Khoobsurat apni mummy jaisi hai woh, and thank God for that (laughs!).”
This phase has also led to a lot of introspection and realisation. Kapil shares, “We take a lot of things for granted. The lockdown has made us realise the value of people who work for us relentlessly. I have also realised that my mother has started behaving like a child, now that she has crossed a certain age. Jaise gajak (sweet) aayi thi Punjab se toh mummy ne bahut sari gajak dabbe mein daal kar apne room mein rakh lee. When I asked for it, I was told that it’s not in the kitchen and that I needed to ask my mother.”
He adds, “It’s been 14 years since I moved to Mumbai, but it’s for the first time maine koyal ki awaaz suni aur sparrows dekhe; something that I would see in my hometown, Amritsar. It feels like nature is in detox mode. Having said that, I want normalcy back in our lives again. Sadkon par raunak rahe toh achha lagta hai. Kisko achha lagta hai soonsaan pada hua hain sheher saara.”
Coronavirus scare: Aamir Khan delays next schedule of Laal Singh Chaddha
8:23 AM
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 16, 2020)
Aamir Khan, who turned 55 on Saturday, has called off the next schedule of his upcoming film, Laal Singh Chaddha. The actor wrapped up the Amritsar schedule on Sunday and decided to put the next on hold, keeping the safety of his team in mind. “Since a major chunk of the film is being shot at real locations, the next schedule will be decided on a later date, after analysing the situation on-ground,” informed a source.
The shoot was put on hold hours after film bodies decided to halt all shooting for 12 days, starting March 19. “Aamir was discussing cancelling the shoot much before that,” the source added. While his leading lady, Kareena Kapoor, was back in the city on Saturday, Aamir is expected to return today.
Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh will head to Punjab for next schedule of their cross border film
7:54 AM
Duo will be joined by Neena Gupta, Soni Razdan, Kumud Mishra, Kanwaljit Singh for a schedule that kicks off on Dec 10
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; December 4, 2019)
Mirror was the first to report (November 6) that Arjun Kapoor and Rakul Preet Singh are teaming up for a yet-untitled family dramedy produced by Bhushan Kumar, Nikkhil Advani and John Abraham. The film went on floors in mid-November with Arjun shooting for his solo portions in Mumbai. “I’ve shot for five days and it was all interior stuff which we filmed,” Arjun reveals, adding that he is yet to shoot with his leading lady, with whom he interacted at length during acting and character-building workshops.Now, we have learnt that the film’s leads are headed to Punjab to kick off the second schedule on December 10. “It’s a coming-of-age story, a family comedy-drama which has a nice, feel-good vibe to it. I haven’t done something in this space before. We have a nice ensemble cast,” Arjun informs. The actor and Rakul will be joined by co-stars Neena Gupta, Soni Razdan, Kumud Mishra and Kanwaljit Singh in the Punjab schedule.
The cast of the film, which is written by Kaashvie Nair, who makes her directorial debut with the film, along with Anuja Chauhan and Amitosh Nagpal, is scheduled to shoot at real locations in and around Punjab. “We have an exciting schedule coming up across locations in Chandigarh, Patiala, Amritsar and the Attari border. The entire cast will be in Punjab for a better part of the month,” says Madhu Bhojwani, who is also producing the film. Bhushan goes on to add that the shooting spots play a major role in taking the story forward. “We will be treating Punjab as another character in the film, which is a cross-border love story. It’s a unique take on relationships within a family,” he informs.
According to a source close to the development, Arjun, Rakul and the team will fly to Los Angeles for the final shoot after the second schedule. “Filming will be wrapped up by January-end, following which the team moves on to post production. The film will release next year,” the source shares, adding that Neena’s getup in the film is prosthetic-heavy. “There were several look tests that she underwent with the team in October. Her look, once unveiled, will surprise many.”
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