Showing posts with label Jammu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jammu. Show all posts
If we stop tourism to Kashmir, we will let the haters win-Huma Qureshi
8:39 AM
Vinay MR Mishra (BOMBAY TIMES; May 30, 2025)
On Wednesday, the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department, in partnership with the Border Security Force (BSF), hosted a special event at the Octroi general area in Suchetgarh to promote border tourism in Jammu. Huma Qureshi, who attended the event, met the families affected by the crossborder firing, interacted with the troops and appealed for tourists to return to the region and not let hate win. Speaking to us, Huma reflected on her experience of meeting the soldiers and their families.
The invitation to visit Jammu and meet BSF personnel came at a crucial time, and Huma was quick to accept. “When the officials reached out to me and said that they wanted me to come to Jammu, especially to Suchetgarh post, to meet with the BSF jawans, I immediately said yes,”
Huma shares. “It is an important time – we need to let them know that what they have done for this country, for the safety and security of India, has not gone unnoticed. We salute their valour and bravery.”
‘If we stop tourism, we let haters win’
Stressing on the importance of not letting hate win, Huma says, “The whole idea of this exercise was that we should not let fear become our identity. We should not let hate become our identity as Indians. They are trying to divide us, instil fear and hatred, and we will not let hate win. This is a time for all of us to come together as Indians and keep up the morale of our soldiers. We should just remove hate right at the root.”
Supporting tourism to the region, Huma adds, “I urge every single Indian to just come and meet the armed forces and interact with them. If we stop tourism to Jammu, if we stop tourism to Kashmir, we will let the haters win. We will let the bad guys win. The idea is that we have to come together as one India, one voice and say that we will not be afraid. We will dance, sing and perform together, and you will not take away from our shine.”
‘It was heartwarming meeting the families of BSF soldiers’
Upon reaching the Suchetgarh border post, Huma says she was struck by the atmosphere and the courage of those stationed there. “The Suchetgarh border post is literally ground zero – it is India and Pakistan border. There was no sense of fear. I have never felt safer in my life. They were so warm, especially the female soldiers,” she shares.
Huma also met the families of the jawans. “I met so many mothers, wives and children. It was heartwarming. When you meet the families of the BSF soldiers, you really realise that their sacrifice is something that we can never even think about. They do it with just a shrug and a smile,” she says softly, adding, “I also visited the family of one of the martyrs – Raj Kumar Thapa (Additional District Development Commissioner of Rajouri, who was killed by Pakistan's shelling earlier this month). I met his family and it was really heartbreaking. There’s not much I could say but just to sit there, share their grief, and let them know that the son, the father, the husband that they love so much – we will always remember his sacrifice.”
‘Being an Indian is a much larger part of who I am than being an actor’
The Maharani actress also acknowledged the difficulty of expressing opinions today, but stood firm in her resolve to support the nation. “It is difficult to be anyone today and have an opinion. Sometimes, even if you’re trying to say something with the most honest intentions, social media or people or just this mindless chatter has a way of twisting your words around and putting it in a different light which is not how you meant it. Of course, I totally understand why people are very reluctant to voice their opinions. However, showing solidarity with the soldiers of our country doesn’t require me to think twice. I think it’s the most natural thing to do. Being an actor is a very small part of my identity. Being an Indian is a much larger part of who I am,” she shares.
How cops nabbed music composer Pritam Chakraborty's robber in 8 days before he burned all the cash
9:10 AM
Elaborate manhunt takes police from Versova to Jammu as they crack tactics of man who had made off with Rs 40 lakh from music composer’s office
Samiullah Khan (MID-DAY; February 22, 2025)
The Malad police have arrested the office boy of music director, composer and musician Pritam Chakraborty who allegedly absconded with Rs 40 lakh in cash from the artiste’s studio on February 4. The accused, Ashish Sayal, 32, was traced to Samba district in Jammu, where he was nabbed on Wednesday. Sayal was brought to Mumbai early on Friday on transit remand.
The cops have recovered 95 per cent of the stolen cash.
On the day of the alleged theft, producer Madhu Mantena had sent the bag to the studio, located on the Goregaon-Mulund Link Road, as part of a business transaction.
Pritam’s manager, Vinit Chheda, placed the bag in the studio office in the presence of Sayal and other staff members. Later, he found the bag missing and was informed that Sayal had taken it, claiming he was going to deliver it to Pritam’s residence. Chheda immediately informed Pritam about the situation. However, the music director initially believed that Sayal would return, as he had been working for him for nine years. After waiting overnight and seeing no sign of Sayal, Pritam instructed his manager to file a police complaint. A manhunt was then launched. A team led by PSI Tushar Sukhdeve, along with his detection team, under the guidance of Anand Bhoite, DCP, Zone XI; Senior Inspector Vijaykumar Panhale; and Police Inspector Sanjay Bedwal, made multiple attempts to track him down.
On the run
According to the police after committing the crime, the accused roamed around the suburbs for seven hours to throw authorities off his scent and eventually boarded a flight to Amritsar.
A police officer said, “He travelled through Malad, Kandivali, Charkop and other areas, eventually reaching a friend’s home in Versova carrying the bag full of cash.” Tracking the accused’s movements proved challenging for the police. It took them eight days to uncover his escape route as his mobile phone was switched off.
“Eventually, a breakthrough came after we learnt Sayal had travelled to Versova. It was there where he took help to transfer the cash via an angadia [traditional courier] to Chandigarh. He reached Amritsar via flight a day after the theft. From, there travelled via cab to Chandigarh, collected the money and boarded a bus to Kashmir,” said an officer.
According to the police, the accused, originally from Kashmir, did not immediately return home. Instead, he stayed at various hotels in Jammu and Kashmir to avoid detection. He spent approximately Rs. 3 lakh purchasing the latest iPhone and a laptop.
Samba situation
According to the police, Sayal’s wife resided in Samba district near the Indo-Pakistan border and her father is a sub-inspector in the Jammu police.
“After absconding from Mumbai, the accused travelled to Jammu to attend the wedding of his sister-in-law, which took place on February 21. However, just two days before the wedding, the police arrested him while he was shopping with his wife in a market in Samba,” said a police officer.
Although locals initially created a commotion, they stopped protesting and cooperated with the police after being informed about the accused’s crime. The Malad police team then raided the accused’s in-laws’ house in Samba, where they recovered the stolen bag during a search and recovered approximately Rs 34 lakh in cash as well as the iPhone and laptop. According to the police, if Sayal had managed to evade arrest for another ten days, a significant portion of the money would have been spent on the wedding expenses.
‘Sayal was insecure’
A police officer said, “Pritam was not happy with Sayal’s work. Therefore, he asked the accused to work in another production house and even promised to help him find a job. Sayal felt that he was about to get the boot.”
“He is expressing shame, telling us, ‘I made this mistake out of ignorance’,” the officer added. Pritam’s manager, Chheda, declined to comment on the matter.
Sayal took care of Pritam’s parents during pandemic
- Pritam first met Sayal about nine years ago during a visit to Vaishno Devi.
- The accused introduced himself as a singer who had a deep interest in performing.
- Impressed by Sayal’s rendition of bhajans and kirtans, the music director decided to hire him.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sayal took care of Pritam’s parents and looked after the composer’s well-being, earning his trust.
CCTV footage of Ashish Sayal lugging around the bag on the day of the theft
For a while, I didn’t know what I was doing as an actor. You can lose faith in Mumbai-Sidhant Gupta
8:53 AM
Star-maker Vikramaditya Motwane’s latest find is television’s blue-eyed boy Sidhant Gupta, whose intense role as Jay in Jubilee has helped the actor get back on track
Aastha Atray Banan (MID-DAY; April 23, 2023)
In the web series Jubilee, the character of Jamshed Khan, an upcoming actor, is touted as the next big thing. Everyone wants to get a piece of him, because talent like this doesn’t come by too often. In real life, actor Sidhant Gupta who plays theatre director Jay Khanna in the show, is drawing similar curiosity ever since the show released on Amazon Prime last week.
Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane, Jubilee is set in the Hindi film industry of the 1940s and ’50s (it starts in 1947), and is about a bunch of people trying to find their destiny in tinsel town. It also stars Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee as big-shot producer Srikant Roy, Aparshakti Khurana as his Man Friday, and Aditi Rao Hydari as Roy’s wife and a top actress.
At a time where loud crime dramas are getting eyeballs, Jubilee is quiet, but charming. Especially Gupta as the intense, yet light-in-manner Jay. Gupta last grabbed eyeballs as Kunj Sarna from Zee TV’s romantic-drama Tashan-e-Ishq. The director has a knack for giving young actors a role that sheds a completely new light on what they could do with their craft—think Abhay Deol in Dev D, Rajat Barmecha in Udaan, Harshvardhan Kapoor in Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and Ranveer Singh in Lootera. As Jubilee gathers steam, Motwane and Gupta speak to us about process and progress.
Edited excerpts from the interview.
Vikram, when did you first see Siddhant in action—was it his show or an audition?
Vikramaditya Motwane: It was an audition! I haven’t seen this show.
Sidhant Gupta: Don’t see it!
VM: Is it bad? Anyway, now, it’s too late. I saw him audition with my casting director. Jay was a very crucial bit of the puzzle. He had to be likeable, and intense. He had to be a good dancer, and very charming. I think Siddhant kind of grew into it. We could see the intensity, and he did serious scenes very well. The rest of it was a tossup—we had faith and went ahead. We knew he was a good actor and that he would pull it off... he has done better than I thought.
Siddhant, you grew up in Jammu where you played basketball and did professional swimming. How did Bollywood happen?
SG: All I wanted to do was play. I wanted to be outside, not be contained. I think I became an actor because it allowed me to do everything. I had no plans—I just landed up in Mumbai. I sailed through life, and it brought me here.
What kind of research went into the show. Was Jay’s character inspired from things you had heard all these years, Vikram?
VM: It’s a mix of many things. The research was in stages—the emotional stage, which was hearing about these stories for 20 years, more like urban legends. Then it was about the geopolitics—independence, refugee camps, etc. The last bit was production research—art, costumes, set, newspapers. With the actors, there wasn’t much research really. We worked out the style we wanted to give each one, and then started shooting. We did work on their language. There were no specific instruction. For Sidhant, it was all in the page, and he had to get it. We sort of found the character, and we both worked on it.
Is Jay an intense guy who hides his emotions by being extremely charming and happy?
VM: That’s Sidhant you are talking about, not Jay!
SG: (Laughs) Jay likes to share, because he values emotions a lot—that’s all there is! For a while, I didn’t know what I was doing as an actor. You can lose faith in this city, because there is so much insecurity. It’s like a chase. This script made me believe again. I had decided I won’t do any more of this, till I know why I am doing this. And the answer came to me with Jubilee. This work chose me, and I chose it. I didn’t give up, and I got this character, who doesn’t know how to give up.
Vikram, all your work has been very different from each other. What has making this show taught you?
VM: I had reached a turning point before Jubilee, maybe with AK vs AK (2020). I started enjoying the material. I had a great time doing Jubilee too. Every film you do, becomes a new challenge, and I like that... it’s like enjoying going from one relationship to another. And you find yourself in that journey.
Sidhant, has this role changed your life?
SG: It changed my life right from the moment I became part of it. It’s given me a lot... that’s the kind of give and take you have with a role like this. Right now, I like this feeling of putting your heart into something, and it’s connecting with others. This is the magic of cinema!
BT Exclusive: Jasmin Bhasin and Aly Goni beat COVID-19 together
8:00 AM
The couple, who was in home isolation at Aly’s residence in Jammu, has recovered I now
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; May 24, 2021)
While it seemed that Jasmin Bhasin had extended her stay in beau Aly Goni’s hometown, Jammu, and was spending some more quality time with him, the couple was actually in home isolation after they tested positive for Coronavirus.
Jasmin says, “We tested positive a few days apart. That’s also the reason why I had to extend my stay in Jammu. We tried to stay happy, eat healthy and didn’t let the negativity creep in. That’s how we dealt with it. Within a week, we tested negative. But yes, the virus makes you weak, and recovering from it is another process altogether.”
Aly’s family members, too, were infected by the virus. “We all were in home isolation and fought the virus with the right attitude that this too shall pass,” he says. The duo, who was seen in Bigg Boss 14 together, chose not to announce it on social media.
Jasmin shares, “Too many people say too many things and that’s the primary reason I didn’t share the news on social media. The only person we need to listen to is our doctor and not others because the virus affects people differently. The first thing my doctor told me was, ‘Jasmin, don’t take undue stress.’ I listened to him, was on medication, and tried to stay positive during the lows.”
The phase was even more difficult for the actress, as her mother, too, tested positive around the same time. Miles apart from each other, all Jasmin hoped for was a speedy recovery for her mother, who was in her hometown, Kota. She shares, “I felt so helpless, as both of us were far from each other. One day, I felt angry because my mother couldn’t find a hospital bed and posted about it on social media hoping to get some leads. Some people messaged me that I was a selfish child for being away from my mom at this time. I couldn’t tell them to not judge me, as even if I wanted to, I couldn’t be with her.”
Aly feels the pandemic has further strengthened his strong bond with Jasmin. He says, “My bond with Jasmin was and is strong. We are caring towards each other and that is the basic premise of any relationship. I am a sensitive person and have always valued relationships. But I would admit that COVID-19 has taught me to value them even more.” While Jasmin returned to Mumbai a couple of days ago, Aly intends to spend some more time with his family in Jammu.
It is a tough competition within our family group when it comes to humour and wit-Kunal Kemmu
8:20 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; October 16, 2020)
Earlier this week when Mumbai faced a power outage, Kunal Kemmu showcased his funny side with a hilarious video, which he put up on social media. The creative post depicted how people from Mumbai react to a power cut as compared to people from smaller towns in the country. In a chat with BT, Kunal reveals that he drew inspiration for the concept of the video from his personal life experiences.
“While growing up, I spent a lot of time in Delhi, and also with my daada and daadi in Jammu. Power cuts were a regular occurrence there, and people used to be prepared for it. They would have the hand fans. Even now in Jammu, when my dad was there, he would often say, ‘Yahan bijli gayi hai’. This situation made me think and realise that even though we stay in the same country, electricity and water is such a privilege for many. In Mumbai, when there was a power failure, many people freaked out! I had gone downstairs, and when the power cut happened, I climbed up nine floors. When I reached home, I was panting, and my househelp asked me if he should get something for me to drink. I asked for a banana milkshake, to which he asked, ‘Par kaise? Blender nahi chal raha’ (laughs!). That’s where I got my reference from. So, the video was quite impromptu,” he elaborates.
Among his multiple followers, the video also caught the attention of his sister-in-law Kareena Kapoor Khan, who replied with a post that went viral. “We always have such funny moments within the family. Kareena, too, has an amazing sense of humour, likewise, Saif. It is a tough competition within our family group when it comes to humour and wit,” he says.
If I were to cast artistes from Mumbai to play the refugees, Shikara would lose its authenticity-Vidhu Vinod Chopra
8:34 AM
Shikara director Vidhu Vinod Chopra ropes in Kashmiri Pandits to lend authenticity to film revolving around 1990s exodus from the Valley
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 11, 2020)
For his return to direction after 13 years with Shikara, filmmaker Vidhu Vinod Chopra has chosen a subject that stems from a chapter of his life — the movie revolves around the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in the 1990s. To lend authenticity to the real-life episode, the director decided to rope in Kashmir-born Aadil Khan and Sadia as the leads, while zeroing in on several Kashmiri Pandits for the principal cast.Explaining his decision, Chopra says, "If I were to cast artistes from Mumbai to play the refugees, the film would lose its authenticity. It was generous of the inhabitants of the Jagti refugee camp [in Jammu] to agree to be part of this movie. We held auditions in Jammu, following which those shortlisted were flown down to Mumbai. Here, they had to undergo several rounds of auditions."
Interestingly, Sadia, who was studying in Jammu, was helping casting director Indu Sharma in roping in locals for the ensemble cast. "Indu felt that Sadia would be the perfect fit [for the female lead]. However, her family had their own set of inhibitions [about her being part of a movie]. I had to make long video calls to convince her family. It helped immensely that I spoke in Kashmiri," laughs the filmmaker. Since the cast primarily included real-life people who had no acting background, Chopra reveals they were made to undertake several workshops over two years to hone their skills.
Though he has written the story with Rahul Pandita and Abhijat Joshi, the filmmaker describes the project as a "recreation of his life". "It is inspired by my mother's story — she had come to Mumbai, with only one suitcase, for Parinda's [his film] premiere in 1990. But she could not return to Kashmir until almost a decade later."
Low-income category people are bulk of Chhattisgarhi film viewers; they too have changed-Anuj Sharma
2:41 PM
Against odds, films in regional Indian languages keep getting made. Anuj Sharma , a former salesman, is a major star in films made in Chhattisgarhi language. He has delivered several boxoffice hits such as Mor Chhaiya Bhuinya (My shadow and earth) and Raja Chhattisgarhiya over the past two decades. The actor-singer, a Padma Shri recipient, talks to Avijit Ghosh about the state of Chhattisgarhi cinema
Avijit Ghosh (THE TIMES OF INDIA; March 15, 2019)
How’s the Chhattisgarh film industry doing these days?
We have been struggling since the industry came to life with Kahi Debe Sandesh (Convey the Message), an intercaste love story, in 1965. There are many reasons for that. No television channel buys a film’s satellite rights, a major source of revenue these days. In some cases, the companies which have bought the video rights also exploit the digital rights. Call it innocence or ignorance, many producers were initially not aware of these differences. It took time for them to realise that home video rights, satellite rights, digital rights are different things.
Who are the core audience of your films? How much does an average Chhattisgarhi film cost?
The low income category people are the bulk of our viewers. Rickshaw pullers, daily wagers, marginal farmers – these are the people who spend their hard earned money on our films. A film’s cost depends on its cast and production values. A low budget film would roughly cost Rs 25 lakh while a high budget film can be made for anywhere between Rs 50 to Rs 75 lakh. The number of films produced each year varies from 7 to 14.
Where are these films shown?
They are shown in about 50 single screen theatres in 40 centres across the state. There are several multiplexes in Chhattisgarh but they don’t give any priority to local films. Some of them are also shown in Nagpur. Towns with Chhattisgarh migrant labour, such as Jammu and Jamshedpur, also run our films. In Odisha, hit films are shown in places like Khariar Road. Many Chhattisgarhi feature films are available for free viewing on YouTube. Some have over 6 million views. The video companies are making money. But they don’t want to share the revenue with the producers. Melas are another good source of revenue for our films, especially during festivals. In these melas, touring talkies organise ticketed shows of Chhattisgarhi films.
On video broadcasting sites, several people have made and posted their own short feature films. Some have got a million views.
People are expressing their creative energy in several ways, rather than allow it to die for lack of opportunity or shortage of finance. Profit or loss, people have a passion for making films in our parts. Twenty years ago, when I said that I want to earn a livelihood by acting in Chhattisgarhi films, I was told you are crazy. Chhattisgarh doesn’t have a proper professional film training institute. Earlier we got technicians from Odisha or Mumbai. They still work here but we are not entirely dependent on them anymore. By working in films over the years, a self-taught generation has emerged. Today we have hundreds of technicians in every department of filmmaking.
It is said that like most Bhojpuri films, Chhattisgarhi films have lost their regional flavour.
Like everywhere else, people in Chhattisgarh too have changed. Our language also has changed with the passage of time. New films should reflect these changes. New experiments keep happening. You must evolve.
Why are mainstream films not made on sensitive topics such as Maoism or exploitation of Adivasis?
Our audience is made of people who must save money from their meagre wages to watch a film. They are the ones who help us put up a “House full” board. They are the ones who clap and whistle during a movie show. We have to fully entertain them. Our films are loud. The actors speak their dialogues loudly, they laugh with gusto. Refined, upper-class people don’t weep loudly; common people do. We make films in tune with their taste. But if we start showing films in multiplexes, films could change stylistically because we would have to keep their tastes in mind too.
How can the state government help the industry?
Last year, the Raman Singh government announced Chhattisgarh Film Vikas Nigam (Chhattisgarh Film Development Corporation) for the state. It would be nice if the new state government comes out with a policy which ensures that Chhattisgarhi films get preferential treatment in multiplexes and on prime time in local TV channels.
You are also a musician. What is your take on popular Chhattisgarhi music?
Our music has a distinctive flavour which people love. I have also started a band called Aarug, which means untouched in Chhattisgarhi. We use traditional instruments such as tabla, dholak, shehnai, bansuri and gudum, an instrument popular among tribals. The most modern instrument used by our band is banjo. Last year we performed in Fiji. Everyone loved the shows.
Images: Maniesh Paul spends a day with BSF jawans in Jammu
2:23 PM
Maniesh Paul shares a day - and umpteen selfies - with BSF jawans in Jammu as part of a channel's Spread The Cheer campaign
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; January 20, 2019)
No sooner does Maniesh Paul set foot at the Border Security Force (BSF) base camp in Jammu than the news is broken to him - a sniper has been planted on location, and his aim is the coveted television show host, who has turned up at the cold climes of the city to 'Spread The Cheer' amidst Army men as part of Comedy Central India's annual event. Paul, animated as he is when donning his hat as a performer, lends a suspicious cursory glance before the proceedings serve as a distraction. He has a feat at hand - to give a go at the military drills that are part of the soldiers' daily routine.
A background in crossfit serves as his saving grace as he is tested against the fittest. He follows a BSF jawan as the latter navigates a rope to travel a few meters. Paul replicates the task, albeit failing to get past a few feet. Appreciable, one would say. Yet, much like the host with celebrated comic timing, the Army men too have a joke or two that they can humour with. Another jawan comes in to repeat the feat again, this time, donning artillery worth several kilos on his back. Is Paul up for the challenge? He lets it pass with a smile.
If there's any aspect of India that abides by the notion of the guest being God, it is the Indian Army. And whether or not they may have followed Paul's work - given that some of the jawans claimed to have watched their last Bollywood film decades ago - for them, he is a superstar. Amidst smoke bombs employed to set the scene of a war front, Paul is introduced to drills like battle rope, and those involving callisthenics, and puts up a miserable attempt at bringing home a point in a match of kabaddi. He joins the jawans at approximately the 12th round of an endurance run, and bows out at the 17th, while they continue to put their athletic ability on display.
However, when the tables turn, and it's time for Paul to turn entertainer, he doesn't disappoint. Even before he spells it out for us during an interview later, he makes evident why he is immensely adored. "Whoever I'm talking to, I try to make him/her the hero," he says. Entertaining a packed audience of men in uniforms, Paul decides to play to their strengths. Having been applauded for his work as host of the recently concluded Indian Idol 10, he recreates the scene here, well abreast of the melodious voices hidden within the men in uniform. In little time, he has found his top three contenders. Sprinkling their attention-grabbing renditions with mimicry that brings Bollywood to Jammu, the jawans back Paul in his claim that there's no lack of talent here. And just when we're about to wrap up, the Army pulls out its most powerful weapon.
Avinash Poon, a former aspirant of the dance reality show, Dance India Dance, now serving as a BSF jawan, puts his popping skills on display. "I learnt only last night that I have an act to put up. I created the track on an app, and then choreographed the dance accordingly. They say music means life, and for me it's a beat. If anyone plays a beat, I can dance." The Shillong resident turns teacher when he is in his hometown, where he runs classes with the help of his brother. "But I haven't had a chance to go back and teach ever since I've enrolled here."
Overseeing the proceedings, a BSF spokesperson shrugs his shoulders when asked about the impact that cultural activities of this nature have within the unit. "You can see its effect. These jawans are deployed at the border throughout the year. We do some activities to entertain ourselves. But, when someone from the cine world comes and entertains us, it's very soothing for people and they feel jubilant. The jawans look forward to the next day when they know someone is coming. Despite being a disciplined force, you may have seen how they jumbled for photographs [with him]."
In a bid to encourage those with a knack for the arts, the team, the spokesperson says, gives them a platform at gatherings. "It's called bada khaana, where we have a common kitchen for the entire unit. We hold it once in 15 to 30 days and on other important occasions. Rank structures are not maintained here. Everyone comes together, and whoever is willing to perform, does so for himself and others. When talent is spotted, we nurture it and give them a chance to perform. We send them to other locations when they are needed to entertain [others]."
Evidently relieved that he could be one among the lot who've turned up at the venue to gift the jawans "a beautiful day", Paul says, "I can't do what they do at the border, but they will shine if brought to a talent show. I feel happy that I could share a smile with them." As for the sniper, despite a fair amount of cajoling - and an offer to interact with Katrina Kaif - he doesn't relent. Plopped atop a tree a mere few feet away from us, and seated motionless for six hour, he deceives us with his disguise. When put to test at the war front, a sniper, we're told, can maintain his position for four days.
The sniper situated at the location
Sumeet Vyas di wedding: Actor finds his permanent roommate in Jammu girl Ekta Kaul
8:18 AM
The actor has found his permanent roommate in Jammu girl Ekta Kaul; couple got hitched in a 3-day ceremony
Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 17, 2018)
Actor Sumeet Vyas who was seen opposite Kareena Kapoor in Veere Di Wedding earlier this year, tied the knot with girlfriend Ekta Kaul over the weekend. Ekta’s family is from Jammu and the couple got married in the Valley in a traditional Hindu ceremony.
Speaking to Mirror on Sunday, the just-married Sumeet informed that the ceremony had gone on for three days. “First the mehendi, followed by the sangeet and then the shaadi at a newly-opened venue. The locals were really nice and made it special for us. I like working with people who are good at heart,” the groom beamed, saying he was keen to see his bride have a good time because weddings can get hectic. “And she’s someone who likes to do everything on her own.”
He admits that the only problem they faced was that the pandit wanted to explain every ritual in detail so the ceremony took longer than expected. “It went on till 4.30 am and I’m not very good with havans,” he laughs.
The wedding invite, penned by Sumeet, was a quirky one (image above). “Ekta was going through various invitation ideas and we were struggling to finalise one, when I confided that I didn’t understand design and had always failed at craft. So, I told her I will figure out the content and she can focus on the design and we got away with that,” he chuckles.
And how is life after marriage? “It feels very different today because Ekta is dressed up like a new bride. This morning she told me it didn’t feel like we have spent much time together. I hope she meant that in a good way,” he quips.
Sumeet had informed Mirror in an earlier interview (April 28) that the couple met years ago while shooting for a promo of a show which never took off. “Then, both of us got busy with our respective lives. Last year, we bumped into each other at a friend’s party and then again when I was hosting a reality show in which she was one of the players.”
He reveals that they aren’t leaving for a honeymoon immediately. “We return to Mumbai on Monday and start on our respective shoots immediately,” he sighs.
Image: Sumeet Vyas gives a quirky touch to his wedding invite
8:07 AM
The actor will tie the knot with girlfriend Ekta Kaul, today
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; September 15, 2018)
Celebrity weddings have been the flavour of 2018, and now, another couple is all set to join the bandwagon. The Veere Di Wedding actor, Sumeet Vyas, is tying the knot with his ladylove, Ekta Kaul, today. Though the marriage, being held in Jammu, is a traditional ceremony, there is a quirky twist in the wedding invite.
We caught up with Sumeet to find out more about the invitation card and whether it is a reflection of their love story. He shares, “It is a reflection of me, actually. I didn’t want it to be a regular, boring card with a lot of details, but a quirky, yet simple one. Ekta ideated, the designers sent us a few designs and we jointly decided to go ahead with this. Being the writer, I came up with the content.”
With such an unconventional start to the celebrations, can we expect more quirk coming up during the actual ceremony? The actor replies, “It is a very simple wedding with Hindu rituals. In fact, it is as traditional as a traditional wedding can get. The pre-wedding functions include the mehendi and sangeet.”
I slipped a ring on Ekta's finger before she could change her mind-Sumeet Vyas
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Sumeet Vyas and Ekta Kaul will tie the knot in Jammu on September 15
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 6, 2018)
Actor Sumeet Vyas’ reel bride played by Kareena Kapoor Khan in Veere Di Wedding may have taken longer to take the plunge, but his real bride, TV actress Ekta Kaul has said ‘yes’ to his proposal and the two are getting married on September 15. The wedding will take place in Jammu and will be a traditional celebration with only family and close friends in attendance.
Sumeet, who was shooting in Bengaluru, confirmed the news with BT. “Ekta is a beautiful person. I decided to pop the question a few days ago and slipped a ring on her finger before she could change her mind! I am glad she loved it and has accepted my proposal. Unfortunately, I got the size of the ring wrong, which can be expected from a guy like me,” he quipped and added, “My family really adores Ekta. When we met her folks in Jammu, we were floored by their love and hospitality. We were like, let’s not try to compete with them. We are planning a warm and intimate wedding ceremony.”
When we spoke to Ekta, she sounded ecstatic about having found her soulmate. She said, “Marrying the man you love is a great feeling, but tying the knot with your crush is an achievement. I am happy that I am marrying Sumeet. Actually, before slipping the ring, he had come to Jammu to speak to my parents and then he proposed marriage to me. I don’t know why he felt I would not say ‘yes’ immediately. I will never say no to him.”
Says Ekta, “Sumeet is a good human being. He never loses his temper and never gives up. He is a hard-working guy and that is also one of the things that attracted me to him.”
Sumeet had earlier spoken about how he plans to take the relationship forward, one step at a time. He shares, “Ekta is not pretentious and she speaks her mind. She is honest and that is good and sometimes a bit taxing (smiles), but for most part, it is the best. I have never been so poetically in love before. We really care about each other and she has a lot of love to give. At first, I didn’t know how to receive it… I couldn’t believe that I was worthy of so much love. It’s only with time that I have realised that it’s for real and one day, I might be able to convince myself that I genuinely deserve all this love and care. Ekta has this innocence and that’s the most endearing part about her. I can’t believe when she says she has a crush on me because she is herself so pretty.”
Since both Ekta and Sumeet are actors, they are looking forward to working with each other soon. Sumeet says, “I would love to work with her if there is a good script.” Ekta adds, “I will continue to work after marriage. Now, I have a partner who is well-versed with the craft, so it would be even better to work with him in the future.”
On a parting note, Ekta says, “Marriage is a partnership. Both partners have to work hard to sustain it. You are not doing things just for yourself. You are doing thing for the other person and your marriage.
Wedding bells for Sumeet Vyas and Ekta Kaul?
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The actor-couple, who has been dating for over a year now, is set to get hitched in the Valley with friends and family in attendance
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 21, 2018)
After his Bollywood breakthrough with Veere Di Wedding earlier this month, opposite Kareena Kapoor, Sumeet Vyas is ready to tie the knot with TV actress-girlfriend Ekta Kaul in Jammu in September. Both their families met earlier this year and approved of the match. Sumeet’s mother accompanied the couple for the Veere Di Wedding premiere and the trio posed happily for the cameras.
“Ekta’s family, many of whom are based in Jammu, are preparing for a traditional Kashmiri ceremony. The final details of the wedding are being currently locked. The bride-to-be has been calling friends from the industry asking them to lock their dates for the mid-September nuptials,” a source close to the couple told Mirror. The location for the reception is yet to be decided.
Sumeet, best known for his portrayal as the naive Mikesh on the series Permanent Roommates, has been dating Ekta, who has featured in the TV show Mere Angne Mein, since a year now.
“We first met years ago while shooting for a promo of a show which never took off. Then, both of us got busy with our respective lives. Last year, we bumped into each other at a friend’s party and then again when I was hosting a cricket-based reality show in which she was one of the players,” Sumeet had informed Mirror in an earlier interview (April 28). He admitted that what he finds extremely attractive about his fiancee is that she is a regular girl and he can have normal, non-filmi conversations with her.
John Abraham to shoot for Romeo Akbar Walter in Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Nepal, Mumbai
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Actor kicks off his next, an espionage-thriller directed by Robbie Grewal, on June 10 and will also shoot in Jammu and Kashmir, Nepal, Mumbai
Sanyukta Iyer (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 31, 2018)
John Abraham’s next film, the Robbie Grewal directed espionage-thriller Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW) which is set in the 1970s, sees him share screen space with Jackie Shroff for the first time. The duo is set to kick off the film’s first schedule in Gujarat on June 10.
Joining them will be Sikandar Kher, who was last seen as the terrorist Haroon Sherchand in the Anil Kapoor-starrer Hindi version of the TV show 24. In the film, Sikandar plays John’s nemesis and the two actors will feature in several rounds of “war of words”. After wrapping up his portions as the baddie of Tigmanshu Dhulia’s Milan Talkies in Lucknow, Sikandar is now prepping to play the villain once again, this time inspired by a real-life man-on-a-mission with shades of grey. “I am undergoing readings and workshops,” Sikandar says, while writer-director Robbie adds, “There will be several sequences where John and Sikandar are pitted against each other. During the readings I’ve noticed that the timing is going to be crucial. Sikandar makes a great nemesis.”
The film will be shot in a start-to-finish, threemonth schedule, which involves 60 days of rigorous shooting. “We begin in Gujarat; filming continues through Jammu and Kashmir, Nepal, and the schedule ends with some portions being filmed in Mumbai. A leading lady, who will join the cast in Kashmir, will be announced shortly,” informs Bunty Walia, who is co-producing the film with wife Vanessa, Ajay Kapoor, Dheeraj Wadhwan and Gary Grewal.
Robbie is presently in Gulmarg on a recce. The film will also be shot in Srinagar and Jammu. “I’ve been to Kashmir several times to shoot for commercials in the past. My father was in the armed forces and was posted there. I was very young when I first visited the Valley and I wish I could shoot there again and again. The people, the scenery, the food, everything is splendid,” Robbie told Mirror from Kashmir.
The film’s highlight is expected to be the actors’ unique looks as the makers have roped in National Award-winning makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad and famous costume designer Amera Pulwani for the film. John and Jackie’s characters are based on real people, with the latter playing a stylish Chief of RAW.
Meanwhile, John has wrapped up Satyameva Jayate, a Bhushan Kumar and Nikkhil Advani co-production. Directed by Milap Zaveri, the action-packed thriller is set in Mumbai and revolves around a cop and a murderer. It also features Manoj Bajpayee and Aisha Sharma.
Sikander Kher plays nemesis to John in the film; Robbie Grewal in Gulmarg (right)
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Meanwhile: Bollywood returns to the Valley
While Jammu and Kashmir has been a Bollywood favourite for decades, filming had come to a standstill in the Valley after the Uri attacks of 2016. However, since January this year, several film personalities have been spotted in Kashmir and in the last six months, three big-budget Bollywood films featuring A-listers, and two Tamil films have been shot in the Valley with as many as 200 unit members. A TV show, produced by Zee, was also filmed there recently. The J&K Government has also reopened its doors for photoshoots with the onset of summer and this week, Neha Dhupia and Prachi Desai are getting photographed against snow-capped landscapes. With Romeo Akbar Walter as the latest entrant in the list, here’s looking at films that were in the Valley recently:
RAAZI: Dodhpatri
Meghna Gulzar’s Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal-starrer became the first film ever to be shot in the remote Dodhpatri – Valley of Milk – in Kashmir’s Budgam district. Dodhpatri is inaccessible for five–six months every year because of heavy snowfall. There was no way to get to the region till a road was built five years ago. The film was shot in a lush meadow where wild horses and sheep graze, with picturesque hills and waterfalls in the background. The unit also stayed in Srinagar for a week, enjoying Kashmiri delicacies.
RACE 3: Sonamarg
Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez wrapped up the Sonamarg schedule of their action-thriller, Race 3, and left for Leh by road on April 27. After reaching Kargil, Salman, with Jackie behind him, rode to Leh on a motorcycle — a six to eight-hour ride — along with a dozen bikes and jeeps carrying the unit. This was Jacqueline’s first visit to the Valley and before leaving for Leh, she took a ride on a snow bike to Zero Point, which is beyond the Zojila Pass, and promises a breath-taking view of the mountains.
MANMARZIYAAN: Thajiwas
The last schedule of Anurag Kashyap’s Manmarziyan took off in Sonamarg mid-April. The arrival of Abhishek Bachchan, who plays the lead alongside Taapsee Pannu and Vicky Kaushal in the film, coincided with a call for a two-day shutdown. And while the actor was stopped at Srinagar airport, he reportedly had a good time during the rest of his stay. The team filmed in the Thajiwas area amidst wildlife huts and Taapsee, who visited the Valley for the first time, said that she’d love to return to ski.
Kashmiri kickboxer Tajamul Islam inspires a film
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Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; March 15, 2017)
Shibani Bathija who has
earlier written films like Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and My
Name Is Khan, as also Kunal Kohli's Fanaa, is now penning a biopic on
Tajamul Islam, the eight-year old Kashmiri girl who had made history
last November by winning the gold medal in the sub-junior category at
the World Kickboxing Championship held in Italy. The screenwriter met
the young athlete and her father, Ghulam Mohammed, in Jammu in February
and bought the rights to Tajamul's story.“I had read about her victory online and was really inspired. The story spans her life from the age of six to eight and will focus on how despite living in the Valley, she trained herself and her family arranged funds to send her to the international competition. I took a ready contract and a cheque along with my dictaphone when I went to meet them,“ informs Shibani, who is in talks with some producers.
Insisting that it's a universal story, she wouldn't like to be pressured into casting an established actor as the father with the producer arguing that it worked for Aamir Khan in Dangal. “I want to collaborate with someone who understands the story and will present it right,“ asserts the scriptwriter, who is scouting for a director as well. She promises that the script will be locked, a partner found and a recce of Tajamul's hometown will be done in the next six months.
Will Tajamul play herself? “She is wonderful but the role spans from six to eight years and the child is already eight. So it would be better to have someone who can justify the age projection,“ reasons Shibani.
Has she reached out to Karan Johar? “I haven't discussed this one with him as yet as he has been busy with other commitments. But I will definitely meet him soon to take his advice and guidance regardless of whether it works out with him or not,“ she says.
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