Showing posts with label Kajal Aggarwal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kajal Aggarwal. Show all posts
It’s high time we told our superhero stories to the world-Kajal Aggarwal
4:23 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 6, 2026)
The recently released trailer of director Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana has garnered massive buzz. Actor Kajal A Kitchlu, who portrays Mandodari in the upcoming film, is glad that the epic is being positioned for the global audience.
“I really believe that it’s high time we told our superhero stories to the world. We want to talk about Lord Ram, Lakshman, Hanuman ji and all the wonderful characters that we’ve grown up reading, studying and learning about. This is a great time for Indian cinema to have that sort of global appeal,” she shares, adding that the Ramayana is a great place to start.
The 41-year-old adds, “What better story than Lord Ram to do that! I feel this is just the perfect narrative to give of our country. He’s the Maryada Purushottam, and there’s no one more heroic than him. And having (actor) Ranbir Kapoor play his role is a great representation.”
Having been away from Hindi cinema for some time, Kajal is delighted to be a part of such a major project. “It is satisfying as an actor to be associated with a magnanimous project like Ramayana. The kind of scale that you get to witness when you’re on set, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I’m really grateful to be a part of it,” she ends.
My son's favourite Ramayana character is Ravana, and I am playing his wife Mandodari-Kajal Aggarwal
2:59 PM
Akash Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 7, 2026)
With two upcoming releases, The India Story and Ramayana: Part 1, Kajal A Kitchlu has quite a busy year ahead. While she remains focused on work, the actor shares that her choice of films has evolved since becoming a mother to her son, Neil Kitchlu, with husband, entrepreneur Gautam Kitchlu.
“After getting married and having a kid, the responsibility upon my shoulders is a lot more. Now, when I’m thinking about a project, I think of it from my child’s point of view. He should be proud of mama. I want him to see a film and say that this was a great piece of work that my mother was a part of,” she says.
Her four-year-old is the reason her excitement for Ramayana: Part 1 is particularly high. She shares, “My son is obsessed with Ramayana. He enacts it and does the whole Ramleela at home in front of me every day. When I told him about the film, he was very excited. Interestingly, his favourite character is Ravana, and I am playing his wife Mandodari.”
Being a mother, working on The India Story has left a lasting impact on her. Dealing with food adulteration, the 41-year-old shares that the film has made her more aware about the food that comes to her home. “We all know about these things, but we don’t really go to the depth of understanding what we are eating and what goes into it. The film is backed by relevant research, and I was shell-shocked. It was an eye-opener for me. Right there and then, I decided what I’m okay giving my child and what absolutely not,” she ends.
Experts speak up after incidents of female celebrities getting mobbed expose glaring gaps in security
2:34 PM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; December 24, 2025)
On Sunday, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu’s security were forced to create a human chain around her, after fans broke barricades to click a selfie with her at a store inauguration in Hyderabad. Last Wednesday, Hyderabad Police booked a mall and the event’s organizers after actor Nidhhi Agerwal was mobbed and manhandled by fans while trying to leave the venue. On November 30, actor Dhanush had to step in to save his co-star Kriti Sanon from being mobbed by an overenthusiastic crowd at a screening of their film in Mumbai.
The list of celebrities being mobbed seems to keep growing, with negligence being highlighted.
So, why do such lapses happen, despite the organizers having prior knowledge about the presence of public figures and anticipation of a large crowd? Security experts and industry insiders weigh in on the concerning issue.
SHAILESH GIRI, FILM PUBLICIST
At events like in colleges, we employ 20 bouncers, but the numbers don’t matter as much as smartness. Once the celeb is on stage, we never disclose their exit venue, or else people start crowding the gates. That seems to be what happened in recent cases.
YUSUF IBRAHIM, Security consultant (Worked with Sunny Leone, Alia Bhatt)
I visit the event location to figure out security and do recce myself. There’s always plan A and a secret plan B for situations like mobbing. With female celebs especially, zyaada dhyaan rakhna padta hai.
RONIT ROY, Actor-security firm owner (Worked with Amitabh Bachchan, Saif Ali Khan)
The only issue here is that people try to save a little money. And security is about brains more than brawn. With female celebs, it is trickier, not just in India but worldwide. The negative intentions of some people towards a female star is more.
NEETU CHANDRA, Actor
In 2013 in Gurugram, I had to literally run away with hundreds chasing me. Such incidents are traumatising. It comes as a part of the profession, but it is scary and affects you for years. I am not saying organisers don’t do their bit, but then things go out of hand.
CROWD CONTROL FAILURES
Janhvi Kapoor (2025): At a dahi handi event in Mumbai, she was pushed by fans while promoting her film and struggled to reach her car.
Kajal Aggarwal (2017): Overcrowding at a Hyderabad mall event forced organisers to cut her appearance short.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu (2016): A fan reportedly tried to puncture her car tyre to stop her from leaving an event.
Katrina Kaif (2010): Crowds turned unruly during Tees Maar Khan promotions at a Mumbai mall and her co-star Akshay Kumar stepped in to help her exit safely.
Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, Vivek Oberoi are also a part of Ramayana
9:17 AM
Kajal Aggarwal, Anil Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Vikrant Massey, Vivek Oberoi, Mohit Raina feature in the film. Pics/AFP, Instagram
As Ramayana’s teaser is unveiled, here is a lowdown on how filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari has roped in multiple talented and big actors, including Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Vikrant Massey, for crucial roles
Komal RJ Panchal, Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; July 5, 2025)
The curtain has officially risen on Ramayana. On July 3, Nitesh Tiwari unveiled the teaser of the two-part magnum opus, and it confirmed that the Indian audience’s optimism was well-placed. The three-minute teaser may have offered shielded glimpses of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Yash as Ravana, but it signalled that the filmmaker was bringing a world grand in vision, rich in imagery, and most importantly, honest in its retelling of the epic.
While it’s known that Sai Pallavi, Sunny Deol, and Ravie Dubey play Sita, Hanuman, and Lakshman respectively, mid-day has learnt that Tiwari has put together a cast of over 25 actors across India for his ambitious project. It is heard that megastar Amitabh Bachchan will voice the character of Jatayu, the divine vulture that not only unsuccessfully fought Ravana, but also aided Lord Rama and Lakshman before breathing its last. While Kunal Kapoor will play Lord Indra, Indira Krishnan portrays Ram’s mother Kaushalya.
A source reveals, “Nitesh has carefully curated the cast, based on visual resemblance, the actors’ ability to transform into their respective characters, and the gravitas they bring. The cast includes Anil Kapoor, Kajal Aggarwal, Vikrant Massey, Vivek Oberoi, Mohit Raina, and Adinath Kothare. Actors across mediums have been chosen as the makers wanted to get whoever was best for the role.”
Only Salman Khan, Rashmika Mandanna have full access to Sikandar's script
9:11 AM
In a bid to keep the film’s narrative confidential, supporting actors of Salman Khan’s Sikandar are being given access to only bit-sized portions of the entire script
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; January 10, 2025)
When the cast of the Avengers franchise participated in a mammoth promotional world tour for the 2019 actioner, a story that greatly amused fans was that only a handful of actors of the American multi-starrer were given access to the entire script. In a bid to ensure that the film’s contents did not make their way to the public domain before it hit screens, the makers had allowed most of the cast members access to only those scenes that featured them. Back home in India, matters are no different.
mid-day has it that while Salman Khan and Rashmika Mandanna, the lead actors of A R Murugadoss’ Sikandar, were kept abreast of the storyline, the film’s supporting stars, Kajal Aggarwal, Sathyaraj, Ananth Narayan Mahadevan, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, Nawab Shah, and Anjini Dhawan, were given limited access to the script.
Confirming the development to mid-day, an insider adds that the supporting actors have also been made to sign a non-disclosure agreement. “They are only being told about their scenes a few days before the filming leg begins. The makers are being secretive about the story and script as they want to keep everything relating to it confidential. Each aspect will be unveiled as a surprise, and fans will learn about the characters only when the first trailer is released,” says the source.
At a time when behind-the-scenes set images are making their way to social media without the knowledge of filmmakers, the measures being taken by Murugadoss and producer Sajid Nadiadwala seem appropriate.
“There has been speculation that the film is an adaptation of Murugadoss’s Tamil movie, Sarkar [2018], but it is not true. If audiences believe this film is a remake, they may create comparison videos on YouTube which may lead to unnecessary criticism. The makers have maintained that this is an original story, and the script has been put together by Sajid and Murugadoss.”
Given that the film features an array of actors across film industries, the makers are also taking measures to ensure that the crew adheres to a structured shooting schedule.
“Everything is being done in an organized manner so that nobody needs to [return to] reshoot any portion. The dubbing is also being done in the same way—once an actor shoots a scene, they complete the dubbing immediately. Currently, the last schedule is being filmed in Mumbai and will be completed in February, when crucial scenes with Salman and the antagonists will be shot.”
mid-day reached out to Murugadoss, but did not hear from him till press time.
Patisserie chefs reveal how they tweak their celebrity clients’ favourite desserts to make them healthier
8:33 AM
Festive months are all about indulgences. But two patisserie chefs tell us how they tweak their celebrity clients’ favourite desserts to make them healthier. Are you taking notes?
MID-DAY (September 7, 2022)
Katrina Kaif
What she orders: Pancakes
How is it customized: Katrina has pancakes during every festival. These are hot-chocolate pancakes made with cinnamon, Belgian chocolate, and buckwheat flour. There is no added sugar, and we don’t use sweeteners either. The cinnamon lends some sweetness, and she has it with a cookie butter spread. Again, we make a healthier version using buckwheat and almond butter. Since the spread has coconut, it also lends a sweet taste.
Tips to make pancakes healthier: If you plan to make pancakes, use yogurt instead of butter. Yogurt will lend the pancake the same kind of fluffiness and softness that butter can. If you are vegan, you can also use coconut yogurt.
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa
What do they order: Vanilla cakes
How do you customize it: They don’t like chocolate, and [prefer cakes] with yogurt frosting, fresh vanilla and berries. The texture resembles whipped cream, but it is made of yogurt. We may add maple syrup.
Tips to make cakes healthier: We need to remember that it’s not only about calories. The substitutes may have the same amount of calories, but they will have more nutritional value. So, celebrities prefer the alternatives. For example, coconut has the lowest glycemic index, so, it will give you the lowest sugar spike. Also complex carbs like jowar will make your body burn more calories to [break them down].
For those who count their calories, we also serve subscription boxes. For example, Bhavna Panday has our 85-calorie cupcake subscription. So, anyone consuming it can keep track of how many calories they’ve had.
Jacqueline Fernandez
What she orders: Jowar nutty cake
How is it customized: It is made of Belgian chocolate, and has a molten centre.
Tips to make cakes healthier: Gluten-free versions that are made of oats or jowar flour are better than maida, which has no nutrients.
Substituting the flour will not hamper the taste of the cakes. In 2022, let’s get rid of the notion that healthier options are not equally tasty. Instead of processed oil, use olive oil or avocado oil. The latter has a high smoking point, so the nutrients are retained. Refined oil is only fat, and is thus best avoided.
Kajal Aggarwal
What does she order: She orders our box of cupcakes. Out of six cupcakes, five will be different varieties of chocolate cupcakes.
How do you customize it for her: She doesn’t have maida or sugar. We make the vegan cupcakes gluten-free.
Tips to make cupcakes healthier: For regular cupcakes, choose yogurt frosting. I use jaggery, dates or honey. If you are only starting to make healthier choices now, take small steps. For example, instead of one portion of maida, use half portion of maida, and half portion of a multi-grain flour. Replace sugar with jaggery or coconut sugar. If you need a binder, dates are a great option. Avocado oil is a great replacement for butter. Both of them lend the final product a lot of moisture. Avocado oil is neutral-tasting too, so, the taste [won’t bother] anyone.
Armaan Malik
What he orders: Indian sweets
How do you customize it: Armaan wants everything to be sugar-free and vegan. If it is gluten-free, it is a bonus. It is tough to get vegan options in Indian sweets, because everything normally has ghee. I make vegan besan ka ladoo, chikki, and nankhatai for him.
Tips to make Indian sweets healthier: Use Indian flavour appropriately. I use jaggery and saffron to mask the taste of the gluten-free flour. Jaggery and nutmeg complement Indian flavours very well, and it is easier to achieve a taste that’s closer to regular Indian Mithai.
Erica Fernandes
What does she order: Fruit cakes
How do you customize it: Erica is very strict [with her diet]. She has gluten-free and sugar-free desserts. She likes to avoid butter and milk. She likes the mango and strawberry fruit cakes we prepare during the respective seasons. She prefers a Greek yogurt [frosting] and doesn’t mind a jaggery base.
Tips to make fruit cakes healthier: Apple purée is a replacement for eggs, and a natural sweetener as well. Berries are great for one’s health, and so are seasonal fruits, which can be added atop the frosting.
Juhi Pahwa caters to Katrina Kaif, Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa, and Jacqueline Fernandez
Natasha Gandhi caters to Kajal Aggarwal, Armaan Malik, and Erica Fernandes
Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2 back on floors after being stuck in production limbo for two years
8:39 AM
M Suganth (BOMBAY TIMES; August 27, 2022)
The shoot of director Shankar’s Indian 2, starring Kamal Haasan in the lead role, was halted in March 2020, following a fatal accident on the set, and the lockdown imposed due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Later, disagreements over the budget of the sequel to the 1996 blockbuster between Shankar and the producers resulted in the film getting stuck in production limbo, with some even wondering if the project had been dropped.
Earlier this June, following the success of Haasan’s Vikram, actor, producer and politician Udhayanidhi Stalin had announced that he and the producers of Indian 2 had discussed the possibility of restarting the film. Shankar has resumed the shoot of the film on Wednesday.
“Good morning Indians, we are glad to announce that the remaining shoot for Indian 2 is commencing today! Need all of your support and wishes (sic),” tweeted the Endhiran filmmaker.
“While Haasan will be joining the team in September, some of the other stars, including Kajal Aggarwal (who is returning to films after the birth of her child in May), Siddharth and Priya Bhavani Shankar, will resume work in the next four days,” reveals a production source.
I never imagined motherhood to be so beautiful. It’s literally like having your soul walk outside your body-Kajal Aggarwal
8:26 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 8, 2022)
Usually busy with three films per year, Kajal A Kitchlu is currently on a maternity break. The Singham actress gave birth to a baby boy, on April 19, who she and her husband Gautam Kitchlu named Neil. The new mom is excited to celebrate her first Mother's Day today. Kajal opens up about motherhood, working through her pregnancy and how she plans to find her way through all the stress that comes with being a new mother. Excerpts:
This Mother’s Day must be special for you. What are your plans for the occasion?
This Mother’s Day is definitely special for obvious reasons. I plan to spend the day with all the mothers in my life, like my mom, sister, sister-in-law and mother-in-law. It is going to be a lovely family dinner. I will take the opportunity to express my undying love profusely to my mother. I hope to be a mother like my mom. My sister and I bond with her like her best friends.
In an earlier interview with BT, you had spoken about how you were inspired by your sister and sister-in-law to become a mother. Now that you are one, is it what you perceived it to be?
I have always seen my sister, who has one son and my sister-in-law, who has a son and a daughter, be hands-on mothers. They have inspired me, but experiencing it yourself is a different ball game. It is amazing to spend time with your nephews and nieces because you hang out with them, and then they are their parents’ responsibility (laughs!). But as a mother, you have to take responsibility of your baby. On a serious note, I never imagined motherhood to be so beautiful. It’s literally like having your soul walk outside your body. It’s like a part of your soul and the biggest part of your heart in a physical form. From here on, I only want to be the best version of myself in every aspect possible to take care of my child.
How would you describe the moment when you first held your baby boy in your arms?
My due date was May 5, but I started experiencing contractions on April 18. I was about to go for my routine stroll in the park and do cardio. I didn’t realise that I was getting into labour… it felt like regular pain, which would pass off. But soon, I was rushed to the hospital. You are so prepared for this day as you read and watch a lot about it. Through the nine hours of labour, I was chanting and taking mini naps. Then, the minute the baby was born, it felt surreal. They kept him on my chest. I was extremely overwhelmed. I am happy that it was a normal delivery. I was aiming and hoping for that as I had worked towards it quite a bit.
The post-delivery phase can be challenging for women. Many women are coming forward and talking about the postdelivery phase, where they battle postpartum depression and other emotional as well as physical changes. It’s been a little less than a month since you became a mother, how has this period been for you?
Physically, as we all know, giving birth is a painful process. Healing does take time. But then, women are very resilient. When you are in that situation, you understand what you and your body are capable of. So, regardless of the difficulties, it happens in a natural flow, and nature takes over. I am at my mom’s home now, and I have been indulging in all the traditional therapies, including massages, sauna, and eating healthy food. Mentally, the whole process has just made me stronger, more compassionate, selfless and a more loving human being. It also makes you more responsible. It’s an instant switch as you develop a natural maternal instinct. You change as a person and are far more mindful and careful and far more selfless in a way. About postpartum depression, thankfully, I haven’t experienced that so far. Thoughts about how you will bounce back crop up only when you are feeding your child alone at night or when you are alone in your room. So, every time I start thinking about how I can lose my extra weight or get back to work, I turn to my family. Every new mom is bound to be anxious about whether she is taking care of her child in the right manner. The only way to fight this stress is to have a strong core community around you to support you. And it does take a village to raise a child. Just find your strength in your village. That’s the only way to do it.
You worked through your pregnancy. How did you manage that, and how long do you plan to be on maternity leave?
I was working till two days before my delivery. The last thing I shot for was a TV commercial. Whether you think it’s easy or difficult depends on how you perceive it. Yes, physically, it was challenging to work through the pregnancy. So, I participated in certain classes, and I did an entire parenting workshop with a renowned counsellor. I was also doing Iyengar yoga and cardio. I wanted to be ready in a way where I felt I was prepared to become a mom and, at the same time, work as an artiste. Nothing is simple and you have to work towards what you want to do. I hope to start working again in August. But if it takes longer, I will extend my maternity break, as my child is my number one priority.
You have named your baby boy Neil. Who chose the name and what was the idea behind it?
My husband and I shortlisted a lot of names over several months. We wanted a name that would be short and easy to pronounce. I always wanted a name based on either Lord Shiva or Lord Krishna. Neil is derived from Neelkanth, which is one of Lord Shiva’s names. We loved it and decided to go ahead with it.
Kajal Aggarwal, Gautam Kitchlu name their baby boy Neil
8:26 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (April 21, 2022)
Kajal Aggarwal and her husband Gautam Kitchlu were blessed with a baby boy on Tuesday morning. Gautam took to social media to announce the addition to their family and that they have named newborn son Neil. “Our hearts are full and we are full of gratitude. Thank you, everyone, for your love and blessings,” he wrote on social media with the post.
Kajal’s sister Nisha Aggarwal, too, shared the post on her Instagram handle and wrote, “Yesterday morning was the most perfect! We welcomed our precious munchkin, who makes our world so much more beautiful. The most beautiful smile. . . his twinkling eyes brightened up our day. His tiny little feet and hands, the most perfect nails if you please. We are so thrilled to have you in our world Neil Kitchlu Well done @kajalaggarwalofficial and @kitchlug and thank you for this sweetest bundle (sic),” she wrote.
On New Year’s, Gautam Kitchlu and Kajal Aggarwal, who had tied the knot in October 2020, shared that they are expecting their first child. Kajal, who has been working through her pregnancy, has been sharing updates with her fans and followers on social media. She recently wrote a long post for her husband, thanking him for his support through this phase.
Kajal Aggarwal’s husband Gautam Kitchlu confirms her pregnancy
7:47 AM
BOMBAY TIMES (January 3, 2022)
Actress Kajal Aggarwal is probably expecting her first child as hinted by her husband, businessman Gautam Kitchlu on social media. While news about the pregnancy has been doing the rounds for a while now, on Saturday, Gautam put out a post on Instagram with a picture of Kajal and captioned it, “Here’s looking at you 2022.” He also put an expecting mother emoji next to it.
Kajal and Gautam got married in October 2020 in Mumbai. On the work front, Kajal will be seen in Chiranjeevi’s Acharya, co-starring Telugu star Ram Charan. She also has south films such as Ghosty, Uma and Hey Sinamika in her kitty. In Bollywood, Kajal was last seen in the gangster drama Mumbai Saga.
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HINDUSTAN TIMES (January 3, 2022)
Actor Kajal Aggarwal and her husband, businessman Gautam Kitchlu are going to be parents soon! Taking to Instagram, Gautam shared a picture of Kajal on Saturday with the caption “Here’s looking at you 2022”. But what caught fans’ attention was an emoji of a pregnant woman in the caption.
Soon, fans flooded the comments section of the post, sharing a slew of congratulatory messages for the couple. “The most beautiful moment of both of your lives,” wrote one fan. “Junior Gautam or Junior Kajal is coming,” said another.
Earlier, Kajal had posted a picture with Gautam on New Year’s Eve. She captioned it, “So, I close my eyes to old ends. Open my eyes to new beginnings! Happy new year fam. Immensely grateful for 2021. Look forward to entering 22 with wisdom, kindness and love in our hearts.”
Kajal and Gautam tied the knot on October 30, 2020. They celebrated their first wedding anniversary last year, sharing adorable pictures together. “Happy 1st anniversary my love. I don’t know how this year has flown by, but it’s been the most amazing new chapter of my life. Life’s easier when your BFF, 4 AM friend, workout buddy and travel partner is ONE. Super excited for what lies ahead,” Gautam had written for his wife.
I am glad that people in our industry are not stereotyping anymore-Kajal Aggarwal
7:47 AM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; November 9, 2021)
Recently, there was a strong buzz that Kajal Aggarwal aka Kajal A Kitchlu was expecting her first child. However, the actress, who tied the knot with businessman Gautam Kitchlu in a low-key ceremony last year, says, “I would not like to talk about it right now. I will talk about it when the time is right.”
Kajal does, however, add that seeing her sister, Nisha, who manages being a mother very well, encourages her to become a mother soon. “It gets me excited, but at the same time, it makes me nervous, too. I have seen how her life has changed and how complete she feels now. I think motherhood is a wonderful feeling. I feel one goes through self-realisation in that phase of life. Having said that, I must say I already feel like a mother in the company of my two nephews, Ishaan and Kabir. And now with Mia (their pet dog) entering in our life, Gautam and I already feel like parents. I just feel that there’s this whole new part of my heart that I never discovered before these babies entered my life. I am sure that when I have my own child, it is going to increase that emotion a lot more.”
Last month, Kajal and Gautam celebrated their first wedding anniversary. Talking about how life has changed post marriage, she says, “It’s strange that I am far busier now than I earlier was (laughs!). Well, it’s a great thing and I am happy about it. I am glad that people in our industry are not stereotyping anymore and are accommodating of one’s personal choices. I am thankful to Gautam who’s very supportive of me and my work. He is extremely encouraging. Usually, we two focus on our respective careers. It is only during dinner table conversations that we discuss work. He gives me honest feedback. When he doesn’t like something, he just lets me know.”
Meanwhile, on the professional front, after being seen in films like Singham and Special 26, Kajal is all set to play a protagonist in her next Bollywood venture, Uma. Interestingly, her look in the film resembles the iconic character Mary Poppins. Talking about the project, Kajal says, “It is a story about this mysterious girl. No one knows where she came from and where she goes. One fine day, she comes home to a family and changes their lives. It is a feel-good happy family drama. The look does remind one of Mary Poppins, but it is not similar to it. The story is quite different.”
Shedding more light on her character, Kajal says, “I play the role of a nurse. She is more of a caregiver than a typical nurse in a uniform. My director, Tathagata Singha, and I had several brainstorming sessions to make the character look different, be it in terms of the appearance, her mannerisms and even style of talking. We wanted her to look unique, but relatable to the audience. Since the film is set in Kolkata, she has a streak of Bengali culture in her.”
While this is the first time she plays a protagonist in a Hindi film, Kajal says that she has done many such projects down south. “But I am glad to be diversifying in other languages, too. We have seen women oriented films that are dark or serious, but this one is set in a happy zone,” she ends.
Bollywood biggies open their purses for pandemic relief
8:35 AM
Actor Sunny Leone distributes food to the needy at Behrampada, Bandra, on Sunday. Pic/Shadab Khan
Thanks to help from the likes of Sunny Leone, Genelia, and Raj Kundra, outreach expands to cover 2,000 meal packets in city slums; dance group that feeds the blind, handicapped and homeless gets donations and food grains from readers
Diwakar Sharma (MID-DAY; June 7, 2021)
Two warm initiatives started last month to feed the needy and the elderly who are stuck alone at their homes during the lockdown have got a massive boost. The owner of Earth Cafe at Waterfield Road, who distributes meals to the elderly who are incapacitated, or bed-ridden, or living alone in the suburbs, got support of Bollywood bigwigs, including actors Sunny Leone, Genelia Deshmukh and businessman Raj Kundra. A group of seven young friends, who used their own income to provide free meals to beggars and footpath dwellers in Bandra, are now getting help from Mumbaikars.
After mid-day published, on May 7, about the efforts of the friends, now known as The Bandra Youth, they received help from the general public, Marathi actress Sanika Gadgil and an NGO. Yusuf Shaikh, a struggling artiste and a Bandra resident, and his friends have been distributing meals to beggars, footpath dwellers and blind and deaf people who are struggling due to the lockdown-like curbs.
On Sunday, ‘The Bandra Youth’ distributed 22 packets of dry rations among blind and deaf people alone. “An NGO, Community Outreach Programme, helped us distribute dry ration on Sunday,” Shaikh said. “Each ration kit contained 10 kg rice, 5 kg sugar, 1 litre cooking oil, 5 pieces bathing soap, and pulses — 2 kg masoor and 2 kg arhar, 500 gm jaggery and 5 kg wheat,” he said.
“The story published in mid-day helped us a lot. Many people contacted us and gave us dry ration, while others gave cash so that we could arrange food for the needy people in Bandra and nearby areas,” said Shaikh, who is heading the group.
Vik Khatwani of Earth Cafe in Bandra got the help of an international NGO, Million Dollar Vegan, through which the Bollywood biggies extended help. “We initially distributed free food packets to elderly people in Bandra and Khar. The initiative has been taken to another level after Bollywood bigwigs joined hands together to support our campaign,” Khatwani told mid-day.
“On Sunday, we distributed 2,000 food packets in slum pockets of Bandra East, Dharavi and Kurla. Today, Sunny Leone and her husband visited our cafe where the food was prepared and distributed among the needy,” he added.
“The initiative is supported by Leone, the key ambassador, who is fronting the campaign, alongside Kajal Aggarwal, Genelia Deshmukh, Raj Kundra, Neha Bhasin, Joanna Lumley OBE, Bryan Adams, Digangana Suryavanshi, Sadha Sayed, Anushka Manchanda,” said Amy Aela, the outreach manager for Million Dollar Vegan in India. “The report published in mid-day helped us take the initiative to another level,” Aela added.
“In difficult times like this one of the biggest worries is, ‘how am I going to feed my family or children?’ We are doing the best we can with regards to the current situation so helping people feel the warmth of a full belly, love, and compassion goes a long way. Let’s heal together with one love for humanity,” said Leone.
Actress Genelia Deshmukh said, “India has been severely affected by the Coronavirus pandemic and it is up to us to do whatever we can to help.” She added that they plan to serve 1,00,000 meals over the coming weeks.
Khatwani said, “The food packets will be distributed in slum pockets every Sunday. Next week, Raj Kundra is expected to join us.”
“Our goal is to feed 1 million people by 2022,” said Aela, adding, “Last month 5,000 meals were distributed among homeless people in Mumbai alongside Neha Bhasin.”
Every festival is special especially when it’s the first after marriage-Kajal Aggarwal
7:52 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; March 28, 2021)
Kajal Aggarwal has a lot of “messy” childhood memories of Holi. But now, the actor is looking forward to creating some new ones with her husband Gautam Kitchlu as she gets ready to celebrate her first Holi after marriage.
The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic might have taken the fun out of celebrations, but not the essence. Aggarwal says they will be making the most of the day with their family and close friends, while taking all the precautions.
“This year, it is going to be a rather quiet Holi. We will do lunch with the family, a puja and then apply some organic colour on each other, and enjoy thandai and kachoris,” Aggarwal says.
It was amid the Coronavirus pandemic last year when Aggarwal started a new chapter of her life by getting married to her long-time boyfriend Kitchlu in a lavish wedding ceremony on October 30. And the actor says being together on special occasions makes them memorable.
“Every festival is special especially when it’s the first after marriage. We are excited to be celebrating it together and will be hosting some friends as well, after everyone’s tested, including us,” says the actor.
Ask her about the Holi traditions, and she says, “The burning of the Holika and playing messy Holi are our childhood memories and traditions, and I hope to do this soon. My special memories have to be the rain dance Holi parties with my friends and eating yummy food with my family. And, also, waking my cousins up early in the morning by throwing colour and water balloons when they are in bed,” she says, adding that it was all about “who does it first”, which many times meant waking up early to outwit the others.
“We used to happily wake up at 5am, on a holiday, just to do this. These are some of my favourite memories for sure,” says the actor, known for featuring in Live Telecast, Magadheera (2009) and Singham (2011).
While this year, she has an intimate celebration planned, she hopes to unite with her loved ones to enjoy the festival of colours next year.
“This pandemic has made it difficult to meet family and friends and we will miss celebrating with everyone we love but hopefully, next year everything will get normal,” she ends on a hopeful note.
The journey from being Ms Aggarwal to Mrs Kitchlu has been incredible-Kajal Aggarwal
8:08 AM
Suhas Yellapantula (BOMBAY TIMES; November 22, 2020)
Marriage changes everything, they say. It’s certainly turned Kajal Aggarwal’s social media feed on its head. From being someone who has been extremely reserved about her personal life, Kajal seems to have turned a corner ever since she tied the knot with Gautam Kitchlu in a traditional wedding in Mumbai on October 30. The pictures that she’s been sharing — be it from their wedding festivities, housewarming party, Diwali celebrations or their honeymoon in Maldives — have been a rage on social media. We wonder if the actress is enjoying not having to worry about keeping things under wraps any more? “Well, it feels great to go from Ms Aggarwal to Mrs Kitchlu,” says Kajal, laughing.
The actress, however is quick to add that unlike their fairytale-like photoshoots, her relationship with Gautam was serious and stable. “We’ve known each other for a long time and have been friends for the past eight years. More than the movies-like romance, our relationship has been stable, mature and healthy and we have grown together consistently over the years. In the end, getting married to each other just felt like the most natural progression,” she says.
Although Kajal and Gautam discussed the idea of settling down together, the actress admits that the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown sped things up. “We’ve known it for a while that we wanted to spend the rest of our life together, but the lockdown speeded up the process exponentially,” says Kajal, adding, “We got together and had a very earnest, heart-to-heart conversation envisaging a future together and decided to take it forward. Gautam was very conventional — he first took the permission of my parents. Then he went down on one knee and popped the question. It was so authentic, real and sincere. I found it adorable and unforgettable.”
Kajal’s real life romance may not be like the way it is in her movies, but the actress says her husband does enjoy watching her films. “He’s seen a few of my Tollywood films. Magadheera, Sita, Vivegam and Nene Raju Nene Mantri are his current favourites,” she says, with a laugh.
While the lockdown may have helped them get married sooner than expected, planning a wedding during the lockdown was a pretty huge task, shares Kajal. “It wasn’t easy for sure. We got everyone tested for COVID-19 and all the outstation guests were quarantined. Each and every vendor got tested. Every step and every decision took way longer than it would have normally. Thankfully, the wedding went by smoothly and it was a truly special day,” she says, adding that she hopes to have a reception for friends and family who they couldn’t host during the wedding.
Post her wedding, Kajal and Gautam moved into their new home in Mumbai, where they celebrated their first Diwali as a married couple recently. “It was very special indeed. We spent it with family. We had a puja at office and then a puja at home. We visited cousins and hosted a fabulous dinner at our place. Although Gautam and I had celebrated Diwali as friends before, this was the first time we were together the whole time. It was also our Diwali party at our new home. We played cards and made merry, it was perfect,” she recalls.
After the wedding of her dreams, Kajal had a lovely honeymoon soaking up the sun and admiring the blue ocean waters in Maldives. “We got ourselves tested upon departure and arrival both ways. We spent our honeymoon at a lovely resort island in Maldives. It was magical,” she says.
Kajal, who is all set to commence shoot for megastar Chiranjeevi-starrer Acharya next week, signs off saying, “As I enter a new phase in my life, I wish for health, love, the ability to hang in there and mental hygiene for our loved ones and those all around us.”
Bollywood finds love again this Diwali
8:05 AM
Here’s how B-town couples brought in the festivities while maintaining social distancing with the world but not their own
MUMBAI MIRROR (November 18, 2020)
The year 2020 will long be remembered by couples across the world as the year when a virus put love on the back seat. The joy of togetherness became but a memory and the thrill of travel, a distant dream as Corona locked twosomes in. For eight months they waited and wondered if life would ever be normal again, yearning for the simple pleasures of a late-night stroll, candlelit dinner, and a dip in the ocean. For a while, it seemed they were lost to us forever, but as the weeks limped by, for many in solitary confinement, the fear of illness was overpowered by the need to live. And this Diwali, as light shone through the darkness, many of B-town’s love birds flew out of their nests to make some Insta magic.
Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani left together but preferred to post solo from the same destination. But his family and their own heart and flame emojis gave them away. Ah well, you can choose to stay mum while wearing your hearts on sexy beachwear, but the world would know and smile.
Farhan Akhtar also headed the Maldives way, with daughter Akira and partner Shibani Dandekar, and his wonder at being one with the sea was there for all to see. His ladylove was more monochromatic in her introspections. “We rise, we heal, we overcome,” she pronounced, and one can imagine him strumming the guitar.
Newlyweds Kajal Aggarwal and Gautam Kitchlu also chose to spend their honeymoon in the South Asian island country. Holding hands with her man in the deep sea, the bride quoted Charbel Tadros, “The universe is an ocean upon which we are the waves. While some decide to surf, others venture to dive.” Instead of diving into the blues, Neha Kakkar and Rohanpreet Singh imprinted hearts on the Jumeirah beach in Dubai.
After gracing the red carpet at the El Gauna Film Festival in Egypt and a tour of the pyramids, Richa Chadha returned to box up her old life as she readied for a new chapter with Ali Fazal. Guess now they will set a new date for the wedding that has already been long delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Cheers to new beginnings!
With mom Neetu bringing in Diwali in Chandigarh with JugJugg Jeeyo co-stars Anil Kapoor and Varun Dhawan, and Anil’s wife Sunita, Ranbir Kapoor chose to celebrate his at home with staff and steady date Alia Bhatt. The fashionista went ethnic to compliment RK’s kurtapyjama look, while back in London, sister Shaheen cuddled up in woolies and tried to hide her “lockdown chin”. When will the bells chime for these two?
It was party time for Ananya Panday. Gorgeous in red, she stepped out to step into co-star Siddhant Chaturvedi’s home for a Diwali bash. And the papz went wild as Ishaan Khatter, recognisable even with the mask, joined her to pose for them. Since the Khaali Peeli promotions have long ended and Ishaan does not feature in her next, them cruising together has the angoorvine buzzing. Brother Shahid Kapoor had all he needed in his better half Mira who joined him in Dehradun to warm up a rainy winter evening.
After being separated by Corona for weeks—remember they contracted the virus simultaneously?—Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora can’t wait to spend as much time together as is possible. When he took off to Dharamshala to shoot for Bhoot Police, with Saif Ali Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez, she also packed a bag and followed bestie Kareena Kapoor to the hills of Himachal, so they could bring in Diwali together by a bonfire. Meanwhile, Saif, Kareena and li’l Taimur presented a happy family picture, singing the birthday song for a friend.
Less than a week ago, Avika Gor opened her heart to the world, saying she had found the love of her life in Milind Chandwani and that she was his forever. However, the Balika Vadhu was quick to add that there were no plans of getting married anytime soon. Shrugging off the “log kya kahenge” misgivings and her habit of overthinking, she said she’s ready to live in the moment and bask in this heady experience. And so, Avika brought in a lovevaali Deepavali, goofing around with actress Tajaswi Madivada, her husband and child, and of course Milind, while Zaid Darbar and Gauahar Khan were in perfect sync as they grooved to Yo Yo Honey Singh’s “Care Ni Karda”. The video had Gauahar revealing that Zaid “pyaar mein gir giya” and her fiancé self-censoring the rest with a snip of his fingers and a “Cut it!” Aaoooo!
Kajal Aggarwal and Gautam Kitchlu move into new home post wedding
7:54 AM
Neeshita Nyayapati (BOMBAY TIMES; November 2, 2020)
After a whirlwind wedding on Friday, Kajal Aggarwal and Gautam Kitchlu began a new chapter in their lives with a housewarming ceremony at their beautiful new home in Mumbai on Saturday. The newlyweds, accompanied by Kajal’s parents Vinay and Suman Aggarwal, sister Nisha with her family, and the entire Kitchlu khaandaan from Gautam’s side, made way to the dream home set up by the couple themselves. “Yes, the morning after the wedding began with a gruha-pravesh at their dream home. It was a beautiful, traditional ceremony. The duo were beaming with joy and we are all so proud of them. Next up, will be a puja for the newly-weds, which will be planned soon,” says Nisha.
The home has been a dream project for the duo, and has personal touches by both Kajal as well as Gautam, who is the founder of a home decor and interior design venture, himself. “It’s something they’ve both been working on personally, with so much passion. They’ve done it up with a lot of love, and it’s stunning,” says Nisha, adding that she wants the couple to have the pleasure of revealing more about their dream home themselves.
DREAMY DECOR IN PASTEL PINK AT THE WEDDING
Kajal and Gautam ditched the usual loud colours and showy mandaps, and chose a geometric pink and rose-gold coloured dome instead. A wall of fresh flowers in pink and white made for a dreamy backdrop forthe mandap. Accents of fresh greenfoliage and frothy white blossoms dotted the venue — the ball-room of a plush Mumbai hotel. Guests, comprising close family and friends from both sides, were seated on traditional wooden chairs with white cushions.
KAJAL’S BRIDAL LOOK WAS A MIX OF MANY STYLES; GAUTAM MADE A DAPPER GROOM IN IVORY AND GOLD
The couple had a unique ceremony to mark their union with a perfect mix of Punjabi and Kashmiri wedding rituals. While Kajal kept her attire traditional with a red, heavily embroidered designer lehenga, she gave it a quirky twist by pairing it with a gold vaddanam (waist belt) and a temple jewellery style matha patti —a perfect ode to her South Indian connection. A pastel dupatta, fresh roses on the hair, custom made kaleeras dangling from her chooda, chandelier earrings and a kundan choker completed the look. Gautam looked dapper in an ivory sherwani that he paired with a nude coloured turban and a soft pink dupatta to match his bride.
Kajal and Gautam Kitchlu's wedding will be low key but special, says sister Nisha Aggarwal
8:36 AM
Kajal to have haldi and mehendi ceremonies at her residence on October 29, one day ahead of her wedding to Gautam Kitchlu on Friday
Suhas Yellapantula (BOMBAY TIMES; October 28, 2020)
Even as wedding preparations take place for Kajal’s big day, Nisha says it’s also an emotional time for the family. “My father has been looking forward to Kajal’s wedding day for so long, so it’s a special time for all of us. We’re also a bit emotional as Kajal will be getting married and leaving home. So at the moment, we’re trying to spend as much time as we can with her. But everyone wants a piece of the bride during this time, so I haven’t gotten to spend much time with her,” she sighs.
While Nisha is tight-lipped about the wedding venue, she says it will be a small ceremony with only close family members and friends in attendance. “Although low-key, the wedding will be a special one, that’s for sure. We have planned a little sangeet on the wedding day itself, so there’s going to be singing, dancing, love and laughter all around,” she says, adding, “Gautam is a great guy and I’m delighted to welcome him into the family. As for their love story, I’ll let Kajal be the one to share it with the world.”
Kajal Aggarwal to tie the knot with a Mumbai-based businessman next month
7:53 AM
Suhas Yellapantula (BOMBAY TIMES; October 6, 2020)
Actress Kajal Aggarwal is all set to tie the knot with a Mumbai-based entrepreneur in a close-knit affair next month. The actress, who is known for a host of films down South and Bollywood movies like Singham (2011) and Special 26 (2013), is believed to have got engaged in August in a private ceremony at her Mumbai residence. Last week, Kajal posted some pictures on soical media in which a large diamond ring could be seen on her finger.
A source close to the actress confirms, “Kajal has been dating a Mumbai-based businessman for quite some time and during the lockdown, they decided to take their relationship to the next level. Only immediate family members were present at the engagement ceremony that took place at Kajal’s home. The wedding will take place in the first week of November.”
Due to the pandemic, the marriage, too, will be a close-knit affair. “Kajal wants it to be an outdoor wedding, in or around Mumbai. One of the venues on the list is a vineyard in Maharashtra, but if that doesn’t work out, they may opt for a hotel in Mumbai. The guest list will include around 50 people,” shares the source, adding, “Since Kajal won’t be able to invite many of her friends from the film industry, she plans to host a reception in Mumbai next year when things get better.”
The actress is yet to make an official announcement about her wedding. Vinay Aggarwal, Kajal’s father, says, “Nothing has been finalised right now. At this point of time, I cannot speak about this. Jiss din confirm ho jaayega, I will be happy to announce it.”
After Hrithik Roshan, John Abraham is the most secure co star I’ve worked with-Rohit Roy
8:20 AM
Rohit Roy is gearing up to resume work on his upcoming gangster film next month
Ankita Chaurasia (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 18, 2020)
While working out at home to stay fit has become the new normal during the pandemic, Rohit Roy has a more compelling reason to pump iron. The actor, who is part of John Abraham’s gangster troupe as the hefty Jaykar Shinde aka Baba in Mumbai Saga, is yet to shoot a few scenes and songs, and will be flying down to the Ramoji Rao Film City with the rest of the team next month. “Unlike Shootout At Lokhandwala’s Fattu, this time I play a 80-kilo, street-smart ruffian and had to beef up to maintain continuity,” he informs.
Having grown up in a chawl together, Baba is the closest aide of John’s Ganpat Ram Bhonsle in the Sanjay Gupta directorial and Rohit was surprised to find that the actor, who has earlier played a gangster in Shootout At Wadala, is nothing like the brooding macho man one sees on screen. “John has a great sense of humour, delivered poker-faced. Once, after a particularly intense stunt, he quipped, ‘Ismein toh sirf Rohit ka tricep dikh raha hai.’ After working with Hrithik (Roshan) in Kaabil, I was sure I’d never find another co-star who’s just as secure, but he and John are cut from the same cloth,” Rohit raves, adding that the set of the all-boys film was a riot. “By the end of it, Kajal Aggarwal was one of the boys too!” he guffaws.
Set in the 1980s-90s, the story chronicles how Bombay became Mumbai. Wasn’t that a political decision though? “A lot of factors led up to the change, which is what the story, inspired by real events, is about. There’s no shootout here, but a direct faceoff between cops and gangsters,” reveals the actor, who himself had a brush with the underworld when he was just starting out. “I was called for a narration and told to do the film with a gun casually pointed at me from the table. I had no choice but to give my nod. Thankfully, it was shelved,” he shudders at the memory.
Rohit is currently busy directing and acting in a series of inhouse shorts with wife, Manasi Joshi. Daughter Kiara is the DoP. “I have also adapted a book into a screenplay for my first directorial. I’m not doing it with Sanjay Leela Bhansali anymore. I moved on from that because it was taking a lot of time,” he clarifies.
Had the crane fallen inches away, I would have been in the mortuary-Kamal Haasan
8:48 PM
Gladwin Emmanuel (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 21, 2020)
Three crew members died and several others sustained severe injuries when a crane came crashing down on the sets of the Kamal Haasan-starrer Indian 2 at a private studio at Nazarathpet in Tamil Nadu, late on Wednesday night. The deceased have been identified as Krishna, 34, an assistant director, Madhu, 29 and Chandran, 50. The injured were immediately rushed to a nearby private hospital.
The victims were in a box-like structure on top of the crane to rig the light setup for a scene, when the arm of the vehicle crashed. Kamal helped transport the injured to a nearby hospital, even visiting late at night to check on them. The following day, he visited the family of the deceased at the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital. The actor, who was only inches away from the location of the crash, termed the accident “cruel” and admitted he was lucky to survive. “If the crane had fallen a few inches away, I’d have been in the mortuary and somebody would have been here to speak,” he stated, announcing a financial aid of Rs 1 crore to the families of those killed in the mishap. Kamal’s co-star, Kajal Aggarwal, who was also present on the set, tweeted, “Words cannot describe the heartache I feel at the unexpected, untimely loss of my colleagues from last night.”
Kamal rued that it was shameful to see that the industry was not able to provide safe working conditions or insurance to its technicians. “I have been in this industry since my childhood, and this incident has once again proved that there is no safety compliance,” he lashed out, saying, “We boast about big budget films... without providing safety to people working for the movies.”
Lyca Productions, who are backing the project, announced a compensation of Rs 2 crore to the families of the deceased and the injured.
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