Pooja Sharma (HINDUSTAN TIMES; October 14, 2019)

Women empowerment is a cause close to Jacqueline Fernandez’s heart. In her previous interview with HT, the actor shared how she would like to see women across the world take gender prejudice head on. Jacqueline has now become one of the faces of the women’s liberation movement in Saudi Arabia. She features in an advertisement at KSA airport. Jacqueline says that it’s important for nations to promote equality for their people. She is also gung ho about her upcoming work on the digital platform. Excerpts:

You are the first Bollywood actor to become one of the faces of women’s liberation movement in Saudi Arabia. In what ways has the country progressed?
I don’t consider myself to be the face of women’s liberation movement in Saudi Arabia. There are many great women who I think are more deserving of that title. It’s an honour to have my picture at KSA airport! Saudi Arabia has progressed in many ways in recent times. It’s important for countries to retain their cultural identity, but I do think Saudi Arabia is consciously moving towards greater freedom for all its citizens. In the times of economic and technological advancement, every country could do more to promote equality for their people.

Have you also received film offers or dance show offers in Saudi Arabia?
I was invited to perform in Saudi Arabia as a part of the Da-Bangg The Tour. I would love to bring the show to this remarkable country.

With two of your upcoming movies releasing on an OTT platform, do you want to focus on the digital medium now?
I love the digital platform. It has such exceptional content to offer. It’s more accessible for people and I think everyone should have access to art and entertainment. I will always love films, so it would be great to maintain a balance between both the mediums.

Are you ready to go for a non-glamorous look for a role or even physical transformation?
It would depend on the role. I am not against doing something gritty and less glamorous. If it’s the right opportunity, I would absolutely consider doing something different and unexpected.

Would you, at any point, also want to do a sports centric movie? Do you also follow any sport?
The achievements of sportswomen are under-recognised. I would love to celebrate them on screen. I grew up in Bahrain where Formula 1 racing is huge. I have a soft spot for it. However, I love all things athletic and have a lot of respect for professional athletes.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; September 1, 2019)

Last time Sonakshi Sinha and Maniesh Paul came together for a reality show, Indian Idol 10, which the latter hosted, they had the crowd in splits with their shenanigans. The actress helped the popular host drape a sari and they danced to her song Saree Ke Fall Sa (R... Rajkumar, 2013). The duo has also shared the stage on Salman Khan’s Da-Bangg The Tour. Maniesh with his wit and Sona with her effervescence are a riot together. Now, the pair is reuniting to endorse a cellphone brand.

Currently, the popular TV host is anchoring Nach Baliye 9, while the actress is shooting for Dabangg 3, but they have already filmed two ads for the brand. While the concept is under wraps, sources say the first ad film was shot in a jungle in the rain.

“It was pouring on the day of the shoot, and we shot for nearly 12 hours at a stretch. Maniesh and Sonakshi share a warm camaraderie and it was a pleasure working with them. Not only were they thorough professionals but they also lightened up the mood on the sets,” said a source from the sets.

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; July 23, 2019)

It’s been a couple of firsts for television’s popular host, Maniesh Paul, this year. Not only is this the first time that he is anchoring the dance reality show Nach Baliye but for the inaugural three episodes, he also had none other than superstar Salman Khan giving him company as his co-host! That the two share a great equation came across when the pictures of them laughing and hugging went viral.

“We have worked a lot together as I have been hosting his Da-Bangg The Tour, but this is the first time we anchored a show together on TV. There is a great comfort level with him and we are like family,” says Maniesh.

Since he was co-hosting with Salman, did he have to do it differently, keeping in mind Dabangg Khan’s stature? “Not really. I didn’t have to take care of a lot of things nor was I conscious about it. But, yes, we didn’t go below-the-belt or crack dirty jokes, which otherwise also I don’t, but with Salman sir, I have to take care of his stardom. The good part is he always gives me a lot of leeway. He tells me this is your space, you play along and I will follow you. He enjoys my jokes and that becomes the USP of hosting with him,” Maniesh elaborates.

While Maniesh is known for his witty repartees, the Bharat star, too, is popular for his wisecracks and one-liners. So, how did they balance it out? “Yes, Salman sir has a great sense of humour, but when I am on the stage with him, he makes sure that he gives me that space. He will never crack a joke jahan pe mujhe chhota dikhaya jaaye. Even if he has a comeback, he will just smile or laugh. Yeh unka badappan hai that he doesn’t demean anybody. A superstar with a big heart, he just enjoys the stage. It was fantastic hosting with him even if we had long hours of shoot,”  Maniesh, signs off.

As Bharat earns praise in overseas markets, Salman Khan takes Dabangg tour to new territories
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; June 13, 2019)

Banking on the success of his last Da-Bangg The Tour Reloaded, and the subsequent acclaim that recent release Bharat continues to earn, Salman Khan is set to embark on a longer tour this year. With Ali Abbas Zafar's directorial venture performing well in East Africa, Indonesia, Fiji Islands and Malaysia, Khan will apparently enthral his new fan-base at these venues.

A source tells mid-day, "His fans in Africa and Fiji have been requesting that his shows be conducted there and Salman is keen to oblige them. The success of his previous gigs in the US, Canada and New Zealand implies more performances will be conducted. Apart from Salman, frequent collaborators Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Katrina Kaif, Prabhudheva, Maniesh Paul, Daisy Shah and Guru Randhawa are expected to join him this year as well. There may be some new faces too."

Tour managers Sohail Khan Official Entertainment and JA Events are considering places like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, South Africa, Singapore, Nepal and Malaysia. "The team is also working on a Europe tour. Dates are being chalked around the shoot of Bigg Boss 13, which is hosted by Salman. The tours are expected to begin in August."

Chaya Unnikrishnan (DNA; August 17, 2018)

Maniesh Paul will be seen in a short film titled Black Briefcase, for the first time. The popular TV host, known for his gift of the gab, has absolutely no dialogues in it. Moreover, he essays the role of a man, who faces a moral dilemma when entrusted with a mission to carry out blasts in the city. Maniesh shares his experience of attempting such an intense role.

What prompted you to do Black Briefcase?
I was looking for something to try and reinvent myself. Actually, whatever films I have done till now, I have tried to be different. Even on TV, though I have been hosting shows, I always try to create variety and that’s the reason I’ve been anchoring for so long. My brother Vevek Paul and I have produced Black Briefcase under our banner Cinemaddicts9. We decided ki hum kuchh alag film banayenge where I play a grey character. That’s when my brother met director Kartik Singh on a flight. The latter was the one who came up with the idea of this short.

You are known for your one-liners, but in this film you have no dialogues!
(Laughs) Initially, my character was supposed to have some dialogues, but we decided against that. We thought that I should just emote without any lines. Frankly, I love to talk, but while shooting, I told people on the sets not to converse with me. If I did, then punches nikal aate and I didn’t want to do that, I wanted to be in character. I didn’t even talk to my wife while filming. I told her I won’t be calling her from the sets. She is always a huge support for me. So, she would just message me asking if all was fine and tell me to focus on my work.

You play a grey character for the first time in this film. Was it difficult?
Obviously, it wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t difficult either. I did not prep for four or five months. But, yes, so far, the films that I’ve done have been light and funny. This was in a different zone. First, I had to work on my look. I like to dress dapper and wear suits, etc. And my hair is always in place. But for Black Briefcase, I had to sport a grungy, unkempt look. I shopped for clothes from places like Sadar Bazaar in Delhi. Also, I didn’t take a bath for a few days. My character had to look tired and haggard. I know one can achieve that look with make-up, but I wanted it to be realistic. Even the body language of a person who hasn’t slept is different. So, I napped only for an hour or so for four days. I didn’t use my vanity van and did not want any luxury on the sets. So, I sat on the stairs of shops in the lanes of Delhi where we shot. I just wanted to be in character. And as an actor, I enjoyed the process.

You are also hosting Indian Idol for the first time. How is the experience?
I’m having a really good time and even the show is getting good feedback. Judges ke saath, I’m having a lot of fun. But the show is all about singing and this time, we have got brilliant singers. They are on another level. What’s more, I sometimes join the participants in singing, too. In fact, recently, Gurdas Maan had visited the sets. I’m his huge fan. I have grown up on his songs and my mom is also a big fan. On the show, he was going to sing Ki Banu Duniya Da. When I told him it’s my favourite song, he said ‘Aap bhi gaao mere saath’. No one in the team knew about it and when I joined him, it was a big surprise for everybody on the sets.

You have become the official host of Salman Khan’s Da-Bangg The Tour...
(Cuts in) Yes, all of us on the tour have become like a family. I shared a great rapport with everyone, be it Katrina (Kaif) or Jacqueline (Fernandez). The videos have gone viral. Bhai, of course, has always been a huge support and I’ve learnt a lot from him. I got a call to host his Da-Bangg show when I was anchoring Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. At that time, I had fractured my hand and was using a sling. Naturally, I panicked and told the team about my condition. They said, ‘Don’t worry, this will happen next year, too’. I was overjoyed and decided that if I’ve to go with Salman sir, I’ve to not only be as fit as him but also build my physique in such a way that I’m able to go on the stage shirtless like him! Touch wood, he loves my work and is a major inspiration for me to be fit.

Attendees of Salman's Vancouver show cry foul, claim USD 5,000 tickets double-sold; organisers hint local promoter may have "over-committed"
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; July 7, 2018)

Considering Salman Khan's Da-Bangg: The Tour Reloaded was touted as one of the grandest Bollywood shows across the US and Canada, it wasn't surprising that tickets for the Vancouver leg sold like hot cakes. But many of the superstar's fans returned home disgruntled; from the tickets being double-sold to many audience members being shown the door — it has been learnt that the July 1 gig was mismanaged.

While the tour — that also features Katrina Kaif and Sonakshi Sinha, among others — has been managed by Sohail Khan Official Entertainment and JA Events, the Vancouver leg was organised by Gold Spade Entertainment. Bhavesh Patel of Sahil Promotions is the international promoter in the US and Canada. Patron Perminder Chohan said he had bought two seats in the VVIP section, only to find another couple occupying his place. "When we asked the couple to vacate our seats, the security guards pushed me out of the auditorium. My friend Rahul Gill, who had another seat in the section, questioned the security's actions. Next thing you know, they kicked him out too. The organisers were present there, but they didn't defend us."

Chohan's friend Rahul Gill alleges that the VVIP passes were double sold. "Many people couldn't find their seats as the tickets were sold twice over. A couple had occupied my seats too, but they were polite enough to move when I showed them my tickets. You don't expect such mismanagement when you have bought tickets worth $5,000 each." He adds that several attendess, who faced a similar situation, put up their grievances on the organiser's site. "A lot of people started complaining on Gold Spade's site. Instead of addressing the concerns, they pulled the site down yesterday."

Another audience member, Avtar S Virdi, claimed that apart from shelling out $10,000 for two VVIP passes, he spent another $2,000 for the meet-and-greet event. However, he was told at the last minute that the post-gig event was cancelled. Virdi added that he is still awaiting the refund.

When mid-day reached out to Jordy Patel of JA Events, he claimed that Khan and other stars had honoured the meet-and-greet commitment. "Although they were supposed to meet 50 fans, the stars obliged many others with pictures. But, sometimes the local promoter overcommits to get more footfalls. It may have happened this time too. However, we honoured our commitment." Bhavesh Patel from Sahil Promotions remained unavailable for comment, but his father Babulal Patel said, "The meet-and-greet happened, and I have photos to prove that. Gold Spade Entertainment mismanaged the event. But, if people were asked to leave, there must be another reason." Despite repeated attempts, Gold Spade Entertainment remained unavailable for comment.


(From left): Guru Randhawa, Daisy Shah, Sonakshi Sinha, Jacqueline Fernandez, Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif and Maniesh Paul at the San Jose edition of Da-Bangg Tour

The actress has rewritten a Honey Singh track and will be singing it during her concert tour in the US and Canada
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 22, 2018)

Actress-singer Sonakshi Sinha has rewritten the lyrics of Honey Singh’s 2014 chartbuster, “Love Dose”, from his album Desi Kalakar, and will sing it solo during the Da-Bangg The Tour. And that’s not all. She has given the song a twist as well. It is now from the girl’s point of view.

The tour which also features Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah among others kicks off today in Atlanta. “I’m really excited because this time, I’ll not just be dancing on stage, but also singing something new and special. I’ve changed the lyrics to suit my sensibilities and represent women. I worked on the song and dance right in the middle of my Kalank schedule. It’s been a blast,” informs the actress, adding that the “Love Dose” rendition has come together really well and she hopes that the audience across US and Canada will enjoy it as much as she does.

The 31-year-oldactress also recorded a special track, “O Mere Sona Re”, as part of a medley composed by Vishal Mishra, for Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se. The duo has also teamed up on a couple of Punjabi pop numbers. In 2015, Sonakshi also recorded a single “Aaj Mood Ishqoholic Hai” with composer-singer duo Meet Bros.

Nayandeep Rakshit (DNA; June 8, 2018)

Right after Race 3 releases, Salman Khan will zoom off to the US with his team for Da-Bangg: The Tour Reloaded, for over two weeks. Joining the superstar for the world tour this time will be his four leading ladies — Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonakshi Sinha and Daisy Shah. Along with the girls, there will also be Prabhudheva, Maniesh Paul and Guru Randhawa performing for the audience.

Says a source, “Rehearsals are on in full swing. There will be special performances where Katrina will do an aerial act and Jacqueline will enthrall the audience with her pole dancing. Salman, too, will perform on a few of his chartbusters and join Kat and Jackie on songs like Swag Se Swagat as well as Heeriye.”

Among the ladies, it’s Kat who’s taking home the fattest paycheck. Our source adds, “Katrina is obviously the biggest star from the lot, after Salman. Plus, she’s a terrific dancer. Her final solo act will surprise everyone. She’s being paid around Rs 12 cr for the whole tour (eight shows) whereas Jacqueline and Sonakshi are both getting somewhere between Rs 6 cr to Rs 8 cr. But Jackie’s remuneration is a little higher than that of Sona.”

Kat getting paid more money makes sense because she has many songs that are a huge hit with the masses. From Kamli to Kala Chashma, Sheila Ki Jawani and Swag Se Swagat, she has an array of popular tracks to her credit.

In a first for Bollywood concerts, Katrina Kaif to perform acrobatic dance at the upcoming Da-Bangg Tour; three-week prep on the cards for actor
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; June 5, 2018)

Arguably one of the finest dancers in Bollywood, Katrina Kaif is ready to up her game for the upcoming US edition of the Da-Bangg Tour. In a departure from Bollywood style dance, the actor, we hear, is set to perform live acrobatics as part of her act for the concerts.

A source close to Kaif tells mid-day, "Katrina is always game for experimentation. It was her idea to do a live acrobatic dance performance at the US shows. She will perform on her chartbusters, including Kamli, Kala Chashma, Swag Se Swagat and many others. Besides her regular dance routine, a set of her act will see her attempting aerial aerobics and acrobatics — something that no Bollywood actor has attempted on a live show till date."

Needless to say, Katrina Kaif has dived headlong into the prep for the routine. Ahead of the concert that kicks off in Minnesota on June 22, the actor, along with her trainer Yasmin Karachiwala, has devised a special workout regimen to build her core strength. "I have designed a special Pilates workout for her, which is specific to her dance moves. It is essential to build her muscle strength so that she can pull off acrobatic dance moves effortlessly," says Karachiwala.

That Kaif has attempted the art previously for her 2013 release, Dhoom 3, might make matters slightly easier for the actor. Well aware that such an act will test her endurance as much as her dancing skills, she has been juggling her dance rehearsals with two hours of Pilates.

"It's difficult for her to give me too long a window as the dance sessions are taking up most of her time. But we religiously slot two hours for her workout every day," says Karachiwala. Apart from Kaif, the tour includes Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Jacqueline Fernandez among others.

Harshada Rege (DNA; June 3, 2018)

Salman Khan’s Da-Bangg Tour has been a huge success. The team headlined by the superstar along with Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Daisy Shah along with Prabhu Dheva, Maniesh Paul and Guru Randhawa has performed in various parts of the world including London, Hong Kong, Auckland and Melbourne, while on the home front, they had a show in Pune, too.

Enthused by the response to their shows, they are now back with Da-Bangg The Tour-Reloaded for which they will head to the US and Canada. The team will participate in nine shows between June 22 to July 8 in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Jose, Vancouver, Washington DC, New Jersey and Toronto.

Salman recently tweeted about the tour saying, “Itni saare filmein, aur kitni saare yaadein. Aa raha hoon big screen se seedhe big stage par! (sic)” He also posted a link to the website where fans can buy their tickets. While Bipasha Basu was part of the earlier team, this time around Salman’s Kick and Race 3 co-star Jacqueline Fernandez will step on the stage. Says a source, “A few new songs will be added to the show to give it a fresh twist.”

As she turns a year older today, Sonakshi Sinha says she has vowed to not celebrate her big day amid hustle-bustle of Mumbai
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; June 2, 2018)

Sonakshi Sinha, who turns a year older today, claims she is done hosting lavish birthday bashes or ringing in her big day at popular nightspots with the industry folk. That is not to say that she doesn't intend to celebrate her big day - she'll do it in her Shotgun Jr style.

"I don't want to celebrate my birthdays in Mumbai anymore. It's a call I have taken. I would like to keep it low-key from now on. Every year, I hope to head to a new destination," said Sonakshi Sinha, hours before her birthday blowout. Refusing to divulge where her wanderlust is taking her this year, the social media-savvy star said that she will be posting snapshots of her travels on Instagram and followers can keep guessing.

For her 30th birthday last year, the actor had jetted off to Goa with close friends. So satisfied was she with the all-girls' trip that she resolved to celebrate each birthday away from the hustle-bustle of the city. "It was the best birthday ever. It also made me realise that being away from the city on your special days is better," said Sinha.

On the work front, the actor recently wrapped up the shoot of Happy Phirr Bhag Jayegi (pictured, below), the sequel to the 2016 sleeper hit. "The subject of the film is such that having a blast was inevitable. We did face a few hiccups due to the weather conditions [in Malaysia], but we pulled through as one strong unit."

It's all work for the next few months as Sinha kicks off Abhishek Varman's Kalank, followed by the Da-Bangg tour in the US and Canada slated for the last week of June. "We begin shooting for Dabangg 3 after the shows. I'm also on the verge of finalising something else, which I will announce soon."

Even before their first collaboration Race 3 hits the marquee, Salman Khan is on-board another project by the choreographer-turned-filmmaker, which will precede the Kick sequel
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 1, 2018)

Even before his upcoming action-franchise, Race 3, hits screens this Eid, Salman Khan is gearing up for his next with choreographer-turned-filmmaker Remo D’souza. Mirror has learnt that the duo will roll with a “full-fledged dancing film” after the actor wraps up Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat and Prabhu Dheva’s Dabbang 3, which will be shot simultaneously.

While rumours are rife that Remo’s dance-drama, which was earlier titled Dancing Dad and revolved around a father-daughter relationship, has been shelved, Salman informs Mirror that he has signed up to play the leading man in the film. “Remo and I were supposed to do another dance film last year but, unlike what he’d like to believe, everybody can’t dance, and I messed up my shoulder while training for the sequences. So that film was put on hold. Then, Race 3 came along. Now, this dance film is happening, and I will be training extensively for it,” says Salman.

On Wednesday, the 52-year-old actor was shooting for a brand with his Race 3 co-stars Saqib Saleem and Bobby Deol at Mehboob Studio, when Mirror caught up with him. “I take off on the Da-Bangg Reloaded world tour next month-end, then there’s Bharat and Dabbang. Since the script of Kick 2 isn’t ready yet, I’ll start Remo’s film first,” he points out, adding that his Race 3 co-stars Jacqueline Fernandez and Daisy Shah were the first ones to come on-board this new film and that shooting commences next year.

Meanwhile, Race 3 marks Salman’s debut as a lyricist and worldwide distributor, and he is seemingly pleased with the end-product. “Jacqueline and Daisy dance well,” he raves, adding, “Remo has taken everyone’s dance skills to a higher level. There’s Jacqueline’s pole-dancing and Daisy’s aerial act, which she filmed in Ladakh. While people were fainting due to low air pressure and biting cold, she was performing acrobatics. A lot of hard-work went into this film and I want everyone to benefit from its release. You will be blown away by Jackie and Daisy’s fight scene as well. It’s crisply shot.”

The actor, who plays the protagonist Sikander in the Ramesh Taurani production, reveals that the ensemble cast, which also includes franchise regular Anil Kapoor, and new entrants Bobby Deol, Saqib Salim, underwent extensive training. “There are three-four rehearsals before each sequence. With Race 3, there were super cars, bikes and choppers exploding. We were shooting in Abu Dhabi and our action director (Tom Struthers) ensured that we didn’t get even one car back. They were all blown up in as many as 200 parts,” he informs, clarifying that even the stunt-doubles on the sets were insured. “Safety is most important,” he says, quipping, “Even then, Daisy managed to fracture her leg.”

Between the upcoming musical tour and three backto- back films, Salman is also trying to squeeze in a Nepal tour, which has been cancelled twice since last year. “It has been delayed since the Nepal Government changed and we had to rework our plan. The team wanted to go there this week, but it was too close to Race 3’s release. We’re working on it and will visit soon,” he says, recalling that he had filmed in the picturesque country in the late ’90s for his drama, Buland, that never saw the light of day. But he admits that he is eager to go back and interact with the locals.

Charity begins at the movies
Salman Khan has decided to slash the marketing budget of Race 3 by 40 per cent, suggesting that the actors “do some good” with the money. “We waste so much on promoting films, so I suggested that we reduce it and start a movement instead. Our girls — Jackie and Daisy — are visiting NGOs of their choice to make a difference,” Salman says. According to the actor, producer Ramesh Taurani was immediately on-board the idea, but Remo had reservations — What if people assume it to be a promotional gimmick? “If that’s what people think, so be it. In fact, I dare others to do the same during their film’s release,” Salman says.

Busy with concert prep, rumours suggest Salman Khan has opted out of special track for Katrina Kaif's sister's debut film
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 3, 2018)

Salman Khan was rumoured to feature in a special dance number for Isabelle Kaif's debut film, Time To Dance. However, it has been learnt that the superstar has decided to sit it out.

The Stanley D'Costa-directed movie will see Kaif as a ballroom dancer to Sooraj Pancholi's street dancer. A source reveals, "The protagonists will be seen performing various dance styles including waltz and Tango."

"Salman is not comfortable with these dance forms. Also, he wants to focus on his Da-Bangg Tour, and then, Bharat. Since the movie will demand most of his time, Salman decided to bow out of the commitment." Khan's team remained unavailable for comment.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 21, 2018)

After Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand, Salman Khan concluded his Da-Bangg tour on home ground in Delhi and Pune in March. Now, the 52-year-old actor and his squad are going international again, with the musical concert headed to the US and Canada in June. The eight-city tour commences with Atlanta on June 22 and concludes with Toronto on July 8, passing through Chicago, Dallas, San Jose, Vancouver, Washington DC and New Jersey. Joining the actor will be his leading ladies — Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonakshi Sinha, Daisy Shah — and Prabhu Dheva, among others.

Katrina, who will be seen grooving with Salman to their recent hits, including “Swag Se Swagat” told Mirror, “It is going to be great fun. I am looking forward to it.”

The actress who is currently busy shooting for Aanand L Rai’s Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma co-starrer Zero, will soon start rehearsals for the upcoming show. “Being on stage in the US and interacting with the audience is great fun. This time, the team is putting up an entirely new act with unique ideas and new concepts,” Katrina signed off.