Sidharth Shukla’s last rites took place at a crematorium in Mumbai yesterday afternoon. His mortal remains were taken from Cooper Hospital to the crematorium yesterday afternoon for the last rites. Asim Riaz, Arjun Bijlani, Rashami Desai, Arti Singh and Rakhi Sawant were among those who bid the actor a tearful farewell. Aly Goni, who was seen visiting Sidharth’s family with girlfriend Jasmin Bhasin on Thursday evening soon after they returned from Ladakh, was among those seen at his residence yesterday morning. Nikki Tamboli was accompanied by Vikas Gupta, while Prince Narula came with his wife Yuvika Chaudhary.

The actor’s autopsy was completed on Thursday night and according to reports, “no external or internal injuries were found”. The viscera report, which determines the cause of death when autopsies are unconvincing, is still on hold. The doctors have reserved their opinion on the post-mortem, as per reports.

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Some unverified reports have quoted Shehnaaz Gill’s father Santokh Singh Sukh as saying that she is inconsolable and that she told him Sidharth “died in my arms”. However neither Shehnaaz nor the family have confirmed the same.

Industry friends posted messages on social media, urging Shehnaaz to stay strong. Aly wrote “Chehra jo hamesha haste hue dekha.. khush dekha… lekin aaj jaisa dekha bass dil toot gaya stay strong sana,” while Jaan Kumar Sanu said, “Aaj jo dekha, yakeen karne mein waqt lagega. Stay strong Shehnaaz.” Rahul Mahajan, who visited Sidharth’s residence to pay his last respects, was quoted as saying that Shehnaaz has gone “completely pale as if a storm had just passed by and washed away everything.”

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Initial reports stated that Sidharth told his mother that he was feeling uneasy at around 3 am on Thursday, as per a source close to the family. “His mother gave him some water and he went back to sleep. However, in the morning Sidharth did not get up. His mother tried to wake him up, but he did not respond. His mother called his sister, who called the doctor, who declared him dead and asked them to take the body to the hospital immediately,” said the source.

Celebfie, a new-age platform that promises to bridge the gap between celebrities and their fans, is set to ship across international waters with celebrities on a cruise. The event ‘Celebfie – Cruise with the Stars’ will have Sonakshi Sinha and Nora Fatehi flagging off the cruise to its course after a fun meet and greet session. Kailash Kher, Sukhwinder Singh, Sunil Grover, Kiku Sharda, Sudhanshu Pandey and Mandira Bedi will be on board. Asim Riaz, Himanshi Khurana, Chunky Panday, Rahul Dev, Mugdha Godse, DJ Aqeel, Flora Saini and many other popular personalities will also be going on this cruise from Mumbai, on September 16.

With this, the brand aims to be one of the world’s first FX (fan experience) platforms that gives people an opportunity to directly interact with well-known personalities. For the upcoming event, the platform has partnered with Cordelia Cruises, with the luxurious ship ‘The Princess’ offering a plethora of entertainment options. You can spend the evening at the bars and lounges or even visit the casino. You will also get to watch Sukhwinder Singh and Kailash Kher’s live music show. Not just that, there will be an entertainment show by Kiku Sharda and Sunil Grover, who will come together after four years.

“We’ll be connecting fans and brands with their choicest celebrities to create unforgettable memories. With this experience, we aim to break the limits of the online space and enter the physical realm with its core message headstrong. Guests on board will experience the time of their lives, partying alongside their favourite celebrities. The cruise will follow all required COVID-19 protocols as per the government’s guidelines, and 100 per cent staff and cruise members will be vaccinated,” said Raminder Singh, Founder and CEO, Celebfie.

The brand has collaborated with BookMyShow as their exclusive ticketing partner for this and other upcoming events. They are also coming up with more staycation concepts that will take people to places at regular intervals. “We intend to offer many such opportunities for fans to experience different destinations and connect with celebrities and artists across platforms and spaces in the near future,” Singh added.

After cinematographer displays symptoms during Jubin Nautiyal's music video shoot in Udaipur, three more test positive for virus; unit home-quarantined upon return to Mumbai
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; September 7, 2020)

On September 1, singer Jubin Nautiyal, actors Asim Riaz and Sakshi Malik, and a team of 10 technicians returned to Mumbai after a music video shoot. The yet-untitled single, sung by Nautiyal, was filmed over a week in Udaipur with a unit comprising the 13-member crew from Mumbai and 15 local technicians.

While the proceedings kicked off smoothly in the last week of August, director of photography (DoP) Sameer Arya complained of dry cough and fever on the fourth day of the shoot. The cinematographer immediately alerted the unit that he had developed Coronavirus symptoms, and resorted to self-quarantine at the hotel.

A source from the local unit says, "It was a lean team of less than 30 people. We underwent a COVID test before we started shooting. Sameer displayed symptoms in the last leg of the shoot. So, the assistant cinematographer took over his duties for the remaining three days. Meanwhile, Sameer consulted a doctor to keep the fever in check and stayed in isolation. As soon as the shoot was wrapped up, the Mumbai team left for the city on Monday night."

Since travelling by air would risk other passengers to exposure, T-Series, the production house backing the single, promptly arranged for the team to travel by road. On reaching Mumbai, three more unit hands tested positive in the next few days. "Director Ashish Panda, production head Ravi Chaturvedi and the director's first assistant Tushar Thalipayal showed mild symptoms. They are all quarantining at home now," says the source. It is heard that two members of the local crew complained of fever and cough, but were found to be negative. "As a precautionary measure, the production house has asked the entire unit to home-quarantine for 14 days," adds the source. Nautiyal, Riaz and Malik, who feature in the song, have tested negative.

mid-day reached out to the studio, which declined to comment.

Unnati Joshi (BOMBAY TIMES; March 12, 2020)

Bigg Boss 13 winner Sidharth Shukla went MIA after the show. He barely gave any interviews, and we didn’t see him hanging out with his co-contestants either. Unlike others, Sidharth wasn’t even very active on social media. But when we managed to catch up with the actor, here’s what he said: “I was occupied with meetings. Also, I am slightly media shy. I had a round of media interactions right after the show and post that, I didn’t have anything to say. Honestly, I felt a bit awkward answering the same questions, again and again.”

Ask Sidharth about life after Bigg Boss and he says, “My life hasn’t changed much. It’s the same. I mean, I had this kind of audience even before, but it was for the roles that I would play. Now it’s for Sidharth Shukla. It feels so much better.” So, has he watched any of the episodes of Bigg Boss yet? “No, I haven’t,” he says, adding, “It’s a boon that I don’t have to wake up to songs anymore (as was the case inside the house). Now, I can sleep for extended hours, I can eat whatever I want to, I can eat as much as I want to, sleep whenever I want to, go out whenever I feel like. It feels a lot more free and relaxing.”

‘MY BOND WITH RASHAMI AND ASIM IS MUCH COOLER NOW’
While #Sidhearts (Sidharth’s fans) shower him with love on social media, other fandoms belonging to Asim Riaz and Rashami Desai have criticised him.

Sidharth says, “All the hate that has come after the show doesn’t really make a difference because I don’t think about that. If they (people who are criticising) happen to say something that’s constructive, something that I feel I need to work on, I do read about that.” Talking about the tiffs, he says, “When I sit back and think sometimes, I laugh at those fights. My bond with Rashami and Asim is much cooler now, I hope (smiles). Whenever I meet either of them, I am sure we will have the same equation that we had towards the end of the show. I am somebody who likes to move forward and I like to have a very cordial and peaceful relationship with everybody around me. Now, everything is fine between us, and whenever we meet, I am sure we will have fun.”

His bond with co-contestant Shehnaz Gill, who is now on Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, a reality show which is about finding a life partner, had become the talk of the town. So, are they in touch? “I am in touch with her, she is the only person I met after the show. But, to be honest, I am not following her show,” he replies.

‘ALL THE CONTROVERSIES ABOUT EX-GIRLFRIENDS DON’T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME’
Sidharth’s entry in the Bigg Boss house was immediately followed by multiple rumours. Bigg Boss 11 winner Shilpa Shinde claimed that they were a couple a decade ago, and accused him of abusive behaviour. And, in an another case, a production team member from a previous show alleged that he was rude on the sets. Sidharth says, “All these rumours don’t make a difference to me. If you are trying to throw stones at others, it only shows how insecure you are. I only feel sorry for all of them and hope that they don’t do such things in the future. All these comments are so weird.”

He adds, “Imagine, out of the blue, someone comes forth and says that ‘I was in a relationship with you.’ That is crazy! Maybe, you were dating that person or maybe you were not, but why would you want to talk about the relationship now? I wonder why people do that.”

‘YOU WILL SOON SEE ME ON SCREEN’
When the conversation moves to his female fan following, Sidharth blushes and jokes, “This makes me feel wonderful, but where are these girls? Do they only exist on the internet?” Sidharth’s female fans might be pleased to know that the actor has no plans of marrying soon. “I am not getting married anytime soon, I don’t see that happening in the near future. Also, I am not dating anybody. I am as single as I can be,” he laughs.

And will we see him on the screen anytime soon? “I am in talks with a few people, you will soon see me on screen,” he says, adding, “Although, I don’t believe in planning for the future. I like to stay more rooted in the present and give it my best.”

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 27, 2020)

After featuring in the 2016 song, “GF BF”, for which she even lent her voice, Jacqueline Fernandez is returning to the singles club with a folk song which, decades ago, had found its way into a Bollywood film. It is sung by Neha Kakkar and the music video, to be directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, will be shot in Mumbai next month. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, it also features Bigg Boss fame actor-model Asim Riaz, and releases on March 7.

“It has been turned into a peppy track through which we will be narrating an engaging story. Shabina Khan, who is choreographing it, has given me some desi steps and traditional moves but at the same time it will be modern, too,” promises Jacqueline, admitting that the song is a little out of her comfort zone, but the concept was too enticing for her to pass up. “Shabina has been helping me perfect my moves and expressions. We have been rehearsing diligently to get every nuance right and I’m really looking forward to working with Asim for the first time. It’s a passion project for me,” exults the actress, who will sport a Boho-chic look in the song.

Excited to collaborate with Jackie again, whom Bhushan describes as a “fabulous dancer”, he promises another chart-topper. “It is a traditional folk song but Tanishk (Bagchi, composer) has modernised it, giving it his own unique twist. I have always enjoyed folk songs and want the younger generations to get familiar with them,” the filmmaker informs.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 27, 2020)

By her own admission, her journey on Bigg Boss 13 was nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. Rashami Desai, who took a while to understand the game and come into her own, had a rather tough stay inside the house, when she learnt about her beau Arhaan Khan’s marriage and also the fact that he has a child with his former wife. Days after the reality show concluded, BT caught up with Rashami to know about the status of her relationship with Arhaan, her equation with other inmates on the show — friend-turned-foe-turned-friend Sidharth Shukla and Asim Riaz. Excerpts...

You had a rather tumultuous journey on Bigg Boss, laced with several ups and downs. You learnt about Arhaan’s marriage and fatherhood on national television. However, the way you handled the situation was appreciated by the audience...
Many people judged me inside the house, but I didn’t care as I was being true to myself. I am the only one who had such a tough journey on the show. I got time to take stock of the situation and also learnt about what was happening in the outside world through people who visited the house. I got to know what he (Arhaan) was talking about me and our relationship. On the show, he once said that unhone mujhe sadak par se uthaya hai. It was quite funny. Yes, there was a time when I didn’t have a house and was going through financial troubles, but I was never at his mercy. Those things hurt me, but I stood like a wall for him inside the house so that nobody could say anything to him. I have never spoken badly about him even after his exit from the show. I won’t say anything bad about him even now, because he is a closed chapter for me.

It was reported that you took up the show so that Arhaan could get a chance to be a part of it, too. Is that true?
Yes, that was one of the reasons. I thought main agar yeh show karti hoon toh usko ek opportunity mil jaayegi, but I had no idea that the situation would backfire.

Did he try to get in touch with you after the show ended?
He tried to reach out to me via text messages. I, too, need some answers and will meet him. I didn’t know about his marriage and child. I haven’t even met his parents. I just know that he has three sisters and one brother. I am not aware of his two houses in Mumbai either. The gem business he talks about is owned by his dad. I didn’t expect him to hide such a big aspect of his life from me. It came as a shock; at one point, I contemplated leaving the show, as I wasn’t able to handle it. I realised that after one point, the game wasn’t about how I was dealing with other inmates, it was more about how I was tackling the situation at hand with him. I think it was a good decision to not leave the house, kyunki main baahar aati toh mujh par questions uthte ki I used him for the show. I don’t harbour any ill feeling for him even today.

Looking back, do you think that Arhaan used you emotionally and your popularity to his benefit?
I believe that he used me emotionally. I don’t want to comment on other things at this moment.

When your relationship with Arhaan started out, were you hoping to get second time lucky in love? (Rashami got married to actor Nandish Sandhu in 2012, and the duo got divorced in 2016). In such a scenario, when you are hoping against hope, taking the ultimate call to end this relationship must have been heartbreaking and really tough?
It was difficult because I couldn’t detach myself. You always wish for a relationship to culminate in a life-long commitment, but it was not meant to be. I have realised that I don’t need a man to take care of me, but someone who can understand and respect me as a partner. You learn from your mistakes. Failing in one aspect doesn’t mean you have failed in life. I made a decision and have moved on beautifully. I lost my father at a very young age and maybe, that’s why mujhe aadmiyon ki pehchaan nahi hai.

Have you developed trust issues because of these bitter experiences?
I had trust issues earlier, too, but I don’t see anything wrong in it. Transparency makes a relationship stronger, but if the person isn’t ready to give you answers, there is trouble. There should be no reason to lie in a relationship. I have been an independent woman all my life, and I have taken care of people associated with me. I can’t trust everyone and it’s natural.

On a lighter note, ab ghar ki chabi kiske paas hain?
Abhi, aapke aur mere beech mein jo mera bag hai usme hai mere ghar ki chabi (laughs!)

While your journey on Bigg Boss was a roller-coaster ride, you also made some friends on the show. In fact, you forged a strong friendship with Asim Riaz, which has been liked by everyone...
Asim and I started talking in December. Before that, we would fight a lot. He took his time to come around and maybe, that made our friendship stronger. We understood each other well and he did things for me without making a noise about it. He is genuine. We became closer because of the situations we faced inside the house. We don’t expect anything from each other. I am just thankful to him for standing by my side.

Your equation with Sidharth Shukla also became a talking point on the show. In the past, your friendship with him had turned sour while both of you were working together on the TV show, Dil Se Dil Tak (DSDT). Recently, you were also seen on a couple of episodes of the reality show, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, with him. Do you two still fight?
I am sure that four-and-a-half months ke baad usko meri aadat ho chuki hogi, aur mujhe uski (laughs!). Sidharth and I had contrasting points of view and differences of opinion, because of which, we would often fight on the set of DSDT. As I always say, he is like a 10-year-old boy trapped in a big body. Keeping aside our differences, we were extremely professional; he was cordial and cooperative on the show we had worked on. We just couldn’t stop fighting even after becoming friends during the course of the show (laughs!). Later, when the fights became intense, I decided to end our friendship. Aisi dosti ka kya faayda jisme aap apne dost ko nahi samajh paa rahe ho.

There were rumours of Sidharth and you being a couple during DSDT, though briefly. Were the two of you in a relationship then and how would you describe your equation today?
No, we were not in a relationship then. Hamaare bohut jhagde hue hain Bigg Boss mein, but towards the end of the show, hamaare beech mein ek achhi understanding bann gayi thi.

What are your future plans?
I have been working for years and work will always be my priority. I will take up a TV show if I like the concept. I would also like to dabble in theatre to hone my acting skills and upgrade myself.

Are you willing to give love and marriage another chance?
It’s very difficult for me to answer this question, because I have gone through so much. I am not thinking about either at this point and am focusing solely on work. If it has to happen, it will.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; February 17, 2020)

He may not have walked away with the trophy, but Asim Riaz, who was declared first runner-up of Bigg Boss 13, has won hearts. Minutes after the results were announced, BT caught up with him for a candid chat. Excerpts...

You were called names, including nalla inside the house, but you defeated all of them except Sidharth Shukla. Given that you were relatively unknown, you have come a long way, today. How would you sum up your journey?
I feel blessed. I believe that the audience empathised with me because I showed every emotion — good or bad — uncut and raw. All of it was real. Whatever I am today is because of the audience and they have made me reach so far. I am happy for Sidharth. Mujh mein bhi wohi junoon tha. For someone who has come from nowhere, becoming the first runner-up is a big deal. If you ask me, I haven’t lost. Main jeeta hi hoon. It’s the format of the show that only one person emerges as the winner. As far as calling me names, log kuchh bhi bole, but I am standing here today. Log bolte hain aur maine karke dikhaaya (smiles).

Would you give at least some credit for reaching so far on the show to Sidharth, as it was your fight with him that put you in focus for most part? As Salman Khan, the host of the show, once said, ‘Sabka mudda Sidharth Shukla se hi hai. Lagta hai wohi show chala raha hai...’
The same goes for him, too. Unka bhi nahi dikhta. Woh logon ka nazariya hoga ki main unke saath ladta tha. Main jahaan se dekhta hoon toh mujhe hamesha hi neeche dikhaane mein sab lage the. I felt that I was being targeted every time from my accent to the fact that I wore perfume worth Rs 150. I didn’t know English when I moved to Mumbai. Tab sab bolte the ki chhote sheher se hai toh baat kahaan karega. Jab English seekhi, tab bola accent aa gaya. They don’t see the positive side... when they mock me, it reflects their, personality not mine.

Sidharth and you started off as great friends, but turned foes, eventually. Do you regret that the friendship went south with him?
I didn’t know anyone inside the house, as I come from the world of modelling. My friendship with Sidharth happened organically. However later, misunderstandings seeped in and I had to take a stand because it was about my self respect. I don’t regret anything, apart from the extra ladaai. Everything is fine between us as of now.

Is aggression your strongest emotion, which can also be your weakness? Is the real Asim aggressive?
You are in the house for so many weeks, toh aapko nahi pata chalta aapne kitna aur kya kiya. In the real world, I can control my aggression.

For many, it looked as if you forged friendship on the basis of convenience. From Sidharth to Shefali Jariwala and eventually to Rashami Desai, it seemed you made friends for your game...
It’s their point of view that my friendships were based on convenience, but mere end se main real tha. Maine apni dosti nibhayi, but beech mein aisi harkatein hui ki mujhe unki dosti fake lagi. I didn’t appreciate it and so, moved on.

In an interview with BT, Shefali mentioned that you had initially hit on her and she told you that she is married and much older. What do you have to say about it?
I never hit on her. Dosti thi aur bahut comfortable zone mein the. I knew she was married. Neither of us hit on the other. It won’t make any sense if I react to it because I haven’t said anything of that sort.

Talking about being real, many felt that your marriage proposal to Himanshi Khurana was fake...
I was excited to see her. I would talk to the imaginary her when she wasn’t inside the house for two months. I fell in love with her. Baaki logo ko lagta tha ki main baahar aa kar badal jaunga. I told her that what mattered to me was her opinion and our love for each other. It wasn’t for the cameras. We are in a relationship and want to know each other more in the outside world.

So, what about the girl who was rumoured to be your girlfriend (Shruti Tuli) outside and the rumours that you were engaged to her?
There was no engagement. I was in a relationship. I didn’t shy away from admitting to my past, sab ka hota hai. The relationship ended long before I entered the BB house. What I feel for Himanshi is real.

What next?
I want to do films and rap as well. My attitude is positive and I am certain that my future is bright. I will take up every opportunity that comes my way. I have always dreamt of doing films and I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; January 28, 2020)

Shefali Jariwala joined Bigg Boss 13 midway and in no time emerged as one of the strongest contestants on the reality show. However, towards the end, it seemed like she was losing her sheen and was voted out over the weekend. Soon after her exit, Shefali spoke to BT about her journey on the show, proximity with friend-turned-foe Asim Riaz and her equation with Sidharth Shukla. Read on...

You were inside the house for three months. How would you sum up your journey?
It’s been a wonderful experience. There are many good players and the stress level is high this season. I am happy that I lasted for three months, I think that I am a better version of myself today. There is so much to learn in the house — it’s a game of patience, willpower and courage. There were times when I was down and out, and I didn’t know I had so much patience and courage to fight back, because in the real world, if you don’t like something, you walk away from it. Living in the house, I also realised that I am logical and sensible compared to a lot of others (laughs!). I also got in touch with my emotional side; I am happy to know that I could be this emotional. I am proud that I played with a lot of dignity and tried my best not to stoop low even when people provoked or instigated me.

You seemed quite strong in the first half, voicing your opinions and standing up for what you believed was right. However, towards the second half, many people felt that you ended up being under the shadow of Sidharth Shukla, Paras Chhabra and Mahira Sharma...
Inside the house, if you show a sign of weakness, the others pounce on you, they use and abuse it. Being a wild-card entrant, my biggest challenge was to forge an alliance; I needed it. I bonded with Hindustani Bhau (Vikas Fhatak), Himanshi Khurana and Asim Riaz. After Bhau and Himanshi were eliminated, it was just Asim and me in the group. We were going strong; I trusted him completely and thought that it was mutual. However, his behaviour changed overnight, and he became rude towards me. Actually, he played a game with me, just like he played with Sidharth Shukla. The moment he found Himanshi and me, he walked out on Sidharth. And the moment he found Rashami Desai, he walked out on me. If you lose a strong alliance at that point in the game, you become directionless. It happened with me right in the middle of the game, when I was going strong. Around that time, Sidharth and Paras exited the house (temporarily) because of health reasons. When they returned, their attitude towards me had changed. I am very organic with my relationships. I didn’t befriend anyone as part of a strategy or game. I befriended them because I truly liked them. And just when we were about to become a team, I was eliminated. I am always pro-Sidharth. There were issues with him in between, but I have known him for a long time, and I will vote for him. I want him to win the show. At the moment, Asim is the most negative and toxic person inside the house.

Many of your supporters felt that you looked stronger with Asim and comparatively weaker when you joined Sidharth, Paras and Mahira’s team...
I must have looked strong when I was with Asim, because he doesn’t have a mind of his own. On the other hand, Paras, Mahira and Sidharth have very strong opinions. It wouldn’t have been possible for me to jump in and share my opinions with them right away. At that time, winning their trust was most important for me; I had to be mellow, show them who I really was, and didn’t want them to feel threatened. In that process, it might have come across that I was losing my mojo, which wasn’t the case.

When Asim and you were good friends, a section of the audience also felt that there was something more between the two of you. What do you have to say about that?
Oh no, not at all. In fact, Asim did hit on me initially. It wasn’t direct, but everyone in the house had sensed it. However, I made it clear to him that I am a much older, married woman, and I am not interested. That’s when he shifted his focus to Himanshi, who, too, didn’t give him any attention back then. So, he used my friendship and me to get close to her. I have never taken a fancy for Asim. Yes, I did love him as a friend; I always called him my little kiddo in the house.

You said that this season features a lot of good players. Who is your pick?
Irrespective of the kind of game they play — negative or positive — Sidharth and Asim are good. Paras is also a very good player, he knows how to manipulate and play with your psyche. Shehnaz Gill (left), too, is a player. She knows exactly what she is doing, she is not a child. I don’t think Rashami is a good player, I don’t know what she is doing in the house.

You said that unlike the outside world, you can’t walk away from people inside the house. Given a choice, who would you have walked away from?
Definitely, Asim and Shehnaz. She had started getting on my nerves towards the end. In fact, her pretence of being a stupid, little child was getting to everyone in the house. Sidharth, too, is done with Shehnaz now. It’s sad, as they looked great together for the audience.

While you had the support of Sidharth, Paras and Mahira inside the house, your husband Parag Tyagi was your biggest supporter outside. The two of you come across as contrasting personalities. While he seems to be the emotional one, you are quite practical. What’s the secret to your happy marriage?
I don’t know... I think it’s all him. I am not an easy person to live with. Yes, I am very practical. It’s not that I am not at all emotional, but I am not very expressive. It happens when you start working at a very young age. Being a woman in a man’s world, it’s more of a self-preservation tactic. But Parag understands me and knows how much I love him. I think his understanding has kept us together and also, the immense trust he has in me. But I have to say that after three months in the Bigg Boss house, I do want to show that man some more love now. That’s something I realised for the first time in my life. You understand the true value of something when you are away from it. I can’t live without Parag now.