The biggest name to have come out of the PKP cast is Kartik, who is currently one of the most sought-after leading men in Bollywood. It took a while for him to find that footing, and it happened with another of his collaborations with director Luv Ranjan in Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety (2018). After that, he built it up with hits like Luka Chuppi, Pati Patni Aur Woh (both 2019) and then solidified that place with Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024). He also gave critically acclaimed performances in Satyaprem Ki Katha (2023) and Chandu Champion (2024). Now, Kartik has Captain India, Naagzilla and director Anurag Basu’s romantic drama in the pipeline.

The after effects of PKP and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety success worked for Nushrratt too, who went on to be part of films like Dream Girl (2019), Chhalaang (2020) and Akelli (2023). The actor also headlined the horror franchise Chhorii with its two films released in 2021 and 2025, respectively. Last seen in the silent comedy film Ufff Yeh Siyapaa last year, Nushrratt has Ghooskhor Pandat and Bun Tikki in her kitty next.

Divyenndu wasn’t a part of the PKP sequel (2015), but embarked on a solo career on his own. He did films like Chashme Baddoor (2015), Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (2017) and Madgaon Express (2024). But his breakthrough role came as Munna Tripathi in the web series Mirzapur. While his character was killed in the show after two seasons, he will return to the franchise in its big-screen outing, Mirzapur: The Movie, this year. Divyenndu will also appear in Ram Charanstarrer pan-India film Peddi next month.

After PKP, Sonnalli went on to star in films such as PKP 2, Jai Mummy Di (2020) and Aseq (2023), but none managed to work out well. She appeared in the web series Illegal Justice, Out Of Order and Anamika, but found little success. Sonnalli has several unreleased projects, including Noorani Chehra and Boondi Raita, which have been on the back burner for years. On the personal front, she got married to hotelier Ashesh L Sajnani, and the couple welcomed their first child, daughter Shukar in 2024.

Post the success of PKP, Raayo was the face that didn’t come out as often. He did a film, Ishk Actually (2013), but it disappeared without a trace. The actor did a few offbeat projects including 706 (2019), short film Guzara (2019) and the music video Hoon Main Alag (2024). He ventured into theatre last year with Kaneez: A Musical Love Story and was last seen in the micro drama Mera P A Don in March this year.

Ishita went on to star in Meeruthiya Gangsters (2015), PKP 2, Yaaram (2019) and Wild Wild Punjab (2024), but found little success. She also did special appearances in dance numbers in Prassthanam (2019), Chatrapathi (2023) and Kapkapii (2025). Her last work on screen was this year’s release, action crime thriller Human Cocaine, but the film didn’t get much exposure.

Rohit Shetty’s films are synonymous with flying cars, gravity-defying stunts, and a generous dose of comedy. However, the filmmaker now plans to shift gears and explore a new genre—horror. Sources reveal he is set to produce a horror film with Nushrratt Bharuccha in the lead. Following the Singham franchise, Simmba (2018), and Sooryavanshi (2021), this move marks a significant departure from the high-octane universe Shetty has crafted over the past decade.

An industry insider close to the project shared that Shetty has been toying with the idea of making a horror film for over a year. “He’s always been drawn to stories that evoke strong emotional reactions, and horror can be just as visceral as action. Nushrratt was his first choice. Her performance in Chhorii showed she can carry a horror plot with both vulnerability and strength,” the source added.

Shetty has roped in E Niwas to helm the yet-untitled project. “E Niwas brings a gritty lens that will keep the horror raw and unsettling, which is exactly what Rohit wants,” said the insider.

Currently in pre-production, the film centres on a woman grappling with supernatural forces tied to a long-buried secret. The source further informed that script revisions and casting are still underway. The film is expected to go on floors later this year, once the actors and the filmmaker align their schedules and sign on the dotted line.

In a recent interview, Nushrratt Bharrucha spoke about being replaced by Ananya Panday in Dream Girl 2 (2023) and admitted that she was hurt by the move.

The actress, who had featured in Dream Girl (2019), said, “It hurt me even more when I was not a part of my own sequel. Every other actor was the same, except the girl, which I felt was not cool na, guys? Theek hai, no problem. I can’t fight something I know is not going to change. What do I fight? They’ll say, ‘We don’t want you.’ That’s the truth of it. Eventually, it’s a choice somebody’s making. I cannot question your choice.”

When we reached out to the director, Raaj Shaandilyaa, he presented his explanation for choosing Ananya for the film.

Talking about why certain cast members, including Ayushmann Khurrana, Manjot Singh and Annu Kapoor, were repeated in Dream Girl 2, Raaj Shaandilyaa said, “Dream Girl 2 was not a sequel, but a franchise film. If it were a sequel, then Nushrratt would have been cast in the film. Dream Girl’s story ended when Ayushmann and Nushrratt’s characters united. We wanted to narrate a different story, and so we took the plot ahead with the core characters played by Ayushmann, Manjot and Annu Kapoor, and we cast Ananya in it.”

Ask him if Nushrratt ever expressed her disappointment, and he said, “Nushrratt once asked me why she wasn’t a part of Dream Girl 2, and I gave her the same explanation. I told her that according to the story, we wanted a new girl.”

He added, “There’s no room for disappointment because jab hum third part banayenge, we’ll cast a new girl in it. Usme Ananya nahi hogi, koi aur hogi.”

Raaj also says that he wishes to do more films with Nushrratt, who is a “dear friend,” and so, they should put all of this behind them and move on. “I am producing a new film and approaching Nushrratt for it. I enjoy working with her. I would just like to tell her that purani baatein chhodo, next film ki taiyyari karte hai. I think an actor should be prepared to deal with all this because our industry is like this, where stories and characters keep changing. You won’t know ki end moment tak kya hoga… sometimes we face date issues, sometimes the commercials don’t work out. Ab purani baatein chhodo, aage badhte hai.”

While he has set boundaries on screen over the years, Rajkummar did bare it all in his first film. “In LSD, I was butt naked in a scene. Of course, it wasn’t cleared by the censor board; it was blurred, but I was scared to do it,” he told India Today, adding, “I also knew that it was my first film and big break, and I couldn’t turn around and say that I’m not comfortable doing it. I didn’t know when I’d get my first film again.”

He was also glad about his parents’ reaction to it: “My mum said, ‘You’re an actor. If your role demands it, then go ahead and do it.’”

While Rajkummar was paid Rs. 11,000 for LSD, Nushrratt didn’t get any money for it. “I always wanted to work with (director) Dibakar Banerjee. When I watched Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! (2008), I said that I would work for free with Dibakar and that’s what happened. I didn’t get paid for the film, not a single penny,” she told Zee News in an interview.

LSD marked the entry of many new faces in Bollywood, including Rajkummar Rao. “For my first audition, I wore atrangi clothes, as per the brief. I was asked, ‘What are you wearing? Do you have anything else?’ I said, ‘No’. I was like, ‘S***, I’m gone, he doesn’t like it’,” the actor recalled on the podcast with Raj Shamani.

However, he got a call back and was asked to shed weight from his face. “In one week, I lost a lot of weight. I ran a lot,” he said. While his performance was loved, it left his now wife, actor Patralekhaa “creeped out”. After seeing LSD, she refused to do a music video with him.

Director Dibakar Banerjee had revealed that producer Ektaa R Kapoor was shocked after seeing the film for the first time. And interestingly, it wasn’t because of the content on voyeurism and free-for-all invasion of privacy, but due to the treatment and format of it. The film was shot in a digital format with a hand-held camera, and thus Ektaa asked Dibakar why the camera was shaking so much? She even doubted who will watch the film. Reportedly, the director shared that his producer initially didn’t believe that such an unusual and shocking film would be viable. She also got so paranoid after watching the film that after coming out of the theatre after watching the movie, she was looking for bugs and cameras everywhere around her.

A sequel to the film, LSD 2, was released last year, but it’s journey started on Bigg Boss 16. Ektaa went to the house to cast the female lead, actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia. But, she didn’t do the film. Dibakar had said during LSD 2 promotions that the casting on Bigg Boss was just a “PR stunt”.

This Dhanteras is extra special for actor Nushrratt Bharuccha as it has coincided with the fulfilment of a long-cherished dream — owning a Range Rover. She tells us, “I think the universe aligned its arrival around Diwali; I had booked the car around eight months ago and had no idea how long the waiting period would be.”

Filmmaker Raaj Shaandilyaa shot Vicky Aur Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video with Rajkummar Rao and Triptii Dimri in January, and come October, he is set to release it on the big screen. But the journey on the comedy began seven years ago when the director-writer wrote a script about a couple’s private video going viral.

“While doing Dream Girl [2019], I started thinking about my next. Since Rajkummar was busy, I thought about finishing Dream Girl 2 first. In the meantime, I kept updating the script, and finally, we were ready to roll with it,” shares Shaandilyaa, who had gotten his leading man’s approval even before he fleshed out the material.

To the filmmaker, the idea of people’s personal lives going public spelled both comedy and tragedy. He says, “The idea was that a huge population of our country is coy, yet children are born every second. We are living in a world where any video can go viral within seconds. So, we decided to make a film for the middle class that has a message with a lot of humour and romance. I also wanted to explore the plight of the people at whose expense we laugh. [At the same time], we wanted to explore how people from small towns facing this dilemma would feel.”

Shaandilyaa wanted a fresh face opposite Rao. “We considered Nushrratt [Bharuccha], Janhvi [Kapoor], and Bhumi [Pednekar], but Raj had worked with all of them. We had also thought of Shraddha [Kapoor] but Raj was doing Stree 2 with her. Then we thought of trying Tripti. I had watched her previous work and knew she was a good actor.”

While Dimri was locked for the role, the director wrote another, keeping Mallika Sherawat in mind. “Mallika was surprised that I had thought of her. She loved the narration and said that she was waiting for someone to offer her a [strong and fun] character like that,” he adds.

Comedy is a tough genre not only because it’s difficult to make people laugh but also because filmmakers run the risk of upsetting people. The director, however, is clear that there is a difference between “mazak karna aur udana [to joke and make fun of]”.

“When I am writing, I am conscious that it should be something that the majority enjoys and no one should get hurt.” Having said that, he is also aware that in his line of work, he cannot please everyone.

An uneducated woman from Patha near Chitrakoot border in Uttar Pradesh fights against a dreaded dacoit and inspires her village’s womenfolk to stand up against the violence. In a way, it’s a story waiting to be told on the big screen. Hardly surprising then that director Omung Kumar has based his next on Ramlali, the woman who stood up against dacoit Dadua, whose reign of terror dominated the ravines of Uttar Pradesh.

The producers of the movie, Raaj Shandilya and Vimal Lahoti have bought the rights to Ramlali's life story. Omung has previously directed Mary Kom (2014), Sarbjit (2016) and PM Narendra Modi (2019).

In 2001, when Dadua’s grip over Chitrakoot was at its strongest, he had abducted a bank manager’s son. However, the boy managed to escape and sought refuge in Ramlali’s house in Harijanpur, pleading with her to save him. When Dadua and his bandits came knocking at her door, Ramlali flatly refused to give the boy up. This episode of her bravery became widely known. A source from the creative team reveals that this incident will be the turning point in the movie’s narrative, which will then chronicle her rise as a strong voice.

“Titled Ramlali, the biopic will trace how she became known as the Phoolan of Chitrakoot and Patha ki sherni, who took up arms to fight the dacoits. District Magistrate Jagannath Singh, in 2001, recognized her contribution by giving her a licensed rifle. In 2002, the then-Governor Vishnukant Shastri invited her to Raj Bhavan and honoured her. In the subsequent years, she started teaching self-defence to the girls and women in her village. After Ramlali started empowering the other women, Dadua and his dacoits avoided attacking her village.”

While the film’s screenplay is currently being written by Yusuf Khan, we hear Bhumi Pednekar, Kriti Sanon and Nushrratt Bharuccha are on the makers’ wish-list for the titular role. The source adds, 

“Director-production designer Omung was busy over the past many weeks doing the décor for Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding festivities. Now, he will lock the script’s final draft, after which the casting will begin. Randeep Hooda is the top choice to play Dadua. For Ramlali, the makers are thinking of approaching Bhumi, Kriti or Nushrratt.”

If things go as planned, Kumar will take the project on floors by the year-end.

Mumbai girl Nushrratt Bharuccha just can’t get enough of the city. The actress, who has lived most of her life in Juhu, says, “I am a true Mumbaikar!” Ahead of Valentine’s Day, the Chhorii actress who loves to spend time by the sea and hop on to Mumbai’s local rides (metro and auto-rickshaws) talks about her love for the city that “made her who she is today.”

Sharing some of the best memories of growing up in a bustling city like Mumbai, Nushrratt says, “I studied at Jai Hind College, and I have always enjoyed sitting by the seaside promenade and watching the waves crash into the rocks.”

Nushrratt says, “I guess my love affair with Mumbai started there. I live in Juhu, and I remember watching my dad dipping into the waters of the beach when I was a kid. I also love going to Mount Mary Church (in Bandra) to light a candle and pray. One of my fun activities is to ride horses at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse, which I have done a few times.”

Mumbai is known for its local trains, which keep Mumbaikars connected across the length and breadth of the city. Nushrratt, too, has a special connect with Mumbai locals. “I like the sounds of trains. While growing up, whenever I was upset, I’d just go to the Santacruz railway station, hop on to a Churchgate-bound train, and take the same train back to Santacruz. In the two-hour ride, I’d think about things and calm myself down,” she shares.

Another place that holds a special place in her heart is Navy Nagar, Colaba. “Whenever my friend and I felt that things were not going right in life, we would visit R C Church in Colaba. We’d take the BEST bus till there, then sit at the church peacefully without talking to each other.”

Actress Nushrratt Bharuccha, who was the showstopper for one of the designers at the Bombay Times Fashion Week recently, says that her experience was ‘fun, dreamy and stylish.”

Talking about what she fears while walking the ramp, the Sonu Ki Titu Ki Sweety actress shares, “Every time I walk the ramp, I only pray that there is no malfunction, no outfit should get stuck anywhere, and I don’t trip or fall while walking.”

Lately, Nushrratt has been exploring different facets of her acting talent in various projects.

However, she enjoys being a part of a fashion show and walking the ramp, too. “If I don’t walk the ramp for a year, I feel bad,” she says, adding, “I love chaos. When I was standing backstage (at BTFW), I was seeing all the last-minute chaos going on. Models were getting their makeup done, one model was late, and so the model coordinator asked him not to walk the ramp. And I was amused. But for me, it’s those 30 seconds. When the music cues in, you know it’s your moment and time for your walk. It is all about our personality. So, it is more fun than stress. I just need to be happy with what I am wearing, and I need to have good music.”

Despite being a popular actor, the actress has no qualms walking for a newer designer. “Fashion shows are the only time I get to experiment. That is the only time when I am not wearing clothes for a movie, or an event. It is someone else’s vision. I like trying new designers if you see I always wear new designers. I am happy with new people who come to me as I don’t have a bucket list of designers I want to work it. The idea is to bring new talent in,” she elaborates.

Talking about new and upcoming designers she talks about taking inspiration from the GenZ. “I am going to start looking up to the Genz because they are doing some good stuff. They are taking risks. I didn’t take those risks when I was their age. I was conscious then. They are inspiring us these days,” she signs off.

Nushrratt Bharuccha was stranded in Israel amid the ongoing conflict. The actor was attending a film festival when the Palestinian terror group Hamas attacked. Her team was ‘unable to connect’ with Bharuccha for a while, but she is safe and landed in Mumbai on Sunday afternoon. In a video, she is seen asking the media to give her sometime to process the situation before she comments on the same.

Earlier, her publicist said in a statement, “We have managed to get in touch with Nushrratt and with the help of the Embassy, she is being safely brought back... We are relieved and thank god that she is safe.”

The 38-year-old was in Israel for the 39th Haifa International Film Festival, where her film Akelli was being screened. Incidentally, in the film, Bharuccha plays the role of a woman trapped in a combat zone, who battles for her life to reach home safely.

Over the weekend, Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel by firing rockets and infiltrating its borders. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the country was “at war”.

While it has been 17 years since Nushrratt Bharuccha made her debut in films and been a part of movies like Love Sex Aur Dhokha, Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Dream Girl, Janhit Mein Jaari, Ram Setuand the more recent Akelli, the actress feels that she is “still struggling as an actor”.

Nushrratt, who was in Ahmedabad recently, says, “I don’t mind playing any role if the director can visualize me in his/her film. Tweaking the character is an actor’s job, but I must be given that chance.” 

The actress, who has roots in Bharuch and Ahmedabad, adds, “I have cousins in Gujarat and whenever I come here, I have a list of places to visit. One thing I eagerly look forward to is having a Gujarati thali.”

Nushrratt, who has played unconventional roles in her career, says, “I am still struggling as an actor. I don’t think I have made a mark yet. I am still fighting for the same roles, attention, and space. I am somebody who can call up the director and ask, 'Why not me?' I am very practical and level-headed and if you give me a reason why I won’t be cast in a role, I can accept that. But I have a problem when they don’t have a reason. If the director is very sure about another actress, I can understand that because they have the freedom to choose whoever they want to cast. I have a problem when a director says he/she would love to work with me, but never offers me a role.”

She adds, “When I interact with the audience, I know that they love me. So, maybe I have left a mark there, but not in the trade. If you see my filmography, I have either worked with the same directors or new directors. I am still waiting to be offered a role by a big banner.”

During the lockdown, the only thing that kept us sane was OTT. It offered jobs to people and I’ll forever be indebted for that. However, you can’t take away the magic of cinema. I want a world where the audiences do not have to pick between the two mediums.

If I am offered a Gujarati film, it won’t be too long before you see me in one. I was offered a role in the remake of Chhello Divas but somehow, things didn’t work out. But I have not been offered a full-fledged Gujarati film yet.

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When Raj Mehta cast me for Khilauna (from Ajeeb Daastaans), he asked me if I could do the role of a maid. He couldn’t believe that I had washed utensils at home. I sent him a video of me doing that to make him believe that I could do it!

News of the passing of German fitness influencer Jo Lindner at the age of 30 was tough for fitness enthusiasts to come to terms with. As soon as reports of his death hit headlines, his followers jumped to the conclusion that steroid-abuse was the cause of his demise. Of course, a direct link hasn’t been established, but this isn’t the first time that unverified claims relating to wellness have been hurled at the masses for contemplation.

Closer home, Bollywood stars have often left their fans scratching their heads with their assertions. How accurate are some of them, you ask? We get two experts to weigh in.

When commenting on the spate of celebrity deaths in the gym, Shetty said: “The problem lies in the supplements they take, and the steroids they consume.”

Dr Aashish Contractor: In parts, this is true. Abusing steroids can lead to several issues. Steroids mess with your sugar levels. Sugars, we know, are related to diabetes, which is a risk factor for heart disease. People who consume steroids are associated with roid rage, which means they seem agitated and angry. It can also lead to osteoporosis, and cause issues with kidney functioning. Unwarranted weight gain is also a concern. 

It could lead to heart problems, if abused for a long period of time. Having said that, it may not be statistically accurate to say that you will die if you consume steroids. When it comes to discussing death, there are too many factors that come into play.

Bharuccha had said: “Replace sugar with jaggery.”

Chheda: It is better to have jaggery than refined sugar. Jaggery has some amount of fibre, calcium and iron, but, both of them have an insulin effect. Jaggery may not cause your blood sugar levels to fluctuate as much as sugar does, but it will still have an effect. However, to those who want to lose fat, I recommend staying away from refined sugar, honey and jaggery. You may put one teaspoon of honey in a cup of tea, but when you do that for two cups a day, and for 30 days in a month, that turns out to be a lot. Once your body gets used to a no-sugar [diet], it adapts. Occasionally, five grams is alright to consume. 

Ayushmann Khurrana; (right) Dr Aashish Contractor is a preventive cardiology & rehabilitation specialist

While discussing his aversion to protein shakes, Khurrana said: “It takes three years to digest one scoop of whey protein.”

Chheda: It does not. People dislike supplements because they are processed. Natural protein sources are the best. The whole system of supplements came about for people with added requirements. But, for the general public, that perhaps pulls off [low-intensity] body-weight exercises or heads for walks, it may not be needed. And, if you don’t need it, and still consume it, it will be converted into fats.

Also, people believe only dals and certain foods have protein. But, even chapati and bread have some amount of protein in them. You need additional protein, if you exercise to a certain degree. Also, you may not need it throughout the year. There are world-renowned athletes who take no supplementation, just as there are others who do.

Founder of Core, Krushmi Chheda is a celebrity sports scientist and nutritionist; (right) Varun Dhawan

When speaking about a protein shake, he said: “This is an iso-pure protein shake, so it has zero carbs in it. So, basically, you’re taking in zero calories, and you’re getting 25 grams of protein in that.”

Chheda: Zero carbs is linked to low calories, but, everything, including a protein shake, has calories. Protein [is important] because it is slower to digest, and doesn’t let your sugar levels fluctuate too much. That is why, high-protein and low-carb [diets] help people lose weight. But, carbs provide fibre and good energy. We should consume complex carbs with high fibre. [Also, for protein] you shouldn’t consume chicken thrice a day, because you should try to get your protein from different sources. You should have lentils, chicken, eggs, and dairy. Good fats also play an important part. On a film set, an actor has a role that he plays, and so does a stylist. Each one is important, and one cannot do the other person’s job. That’s also the case with food groups.

Speaking of the detox diet she adopts after filming a reality cookery show, she said: “I give up a lot — no wheat, no red meat, no sugar, no dairy.”

Dr Contractor: There is no medical word like detox. Yes, if you generally consume a lot of sugar, or anything harmful, and then reduce it, you could call it a ‘detox’. But, if you eat healthy in general, restricting the consumption of a particular ingredient is not going to make you healthier, if your [blood] parameters, and weight are fine. Stopping wheat is only necessary if you have celiac disease. Going on liquid diets under the pretext of calling them detox diets is not required. These are “backend” ways of losing weight. If you have 2,000 calories daily, and only have 800 calories one day while on a liquid diet, it will help you lose weight. But, that’s not recommended, except under medical supervision, if needed.

After making his debut with the 2014 film Alludu Seenu and enjoying a successful career down south, actor Sreenivas Bellamkonda is excited about his foray in Bollywood, with Chatrapathi which hits the theatres on May 12. “The film offers the audience everything they have been longing for, including a good theatrical experience. I can’t wait for them to watch it,” says the actor in a candid chat with us. Excerpts:

I’m happy we could show a glimpse of all the blood, sweat, tears and most importantly, all the love that we put in to make this film. It’s a great feeling to see the audience react the way they did to what we have to offer. I was confident before, but now I’m really pumped up to see how the audience will react to the film. They’re in for a ride!

I’ve made my mark in Telugu cinema and was ready for something new. When I saw how my films, like Jaya Janaki Nayaka and Kavacham that were dubbed in Hindi had received a huge number of views on YouTube, it excited me. This film is my way of thanking everyone who loved my work because when the perfect script came my way, I just couldn’t say no.

More than a remake I’d call it an adaptation of the story penned by K V Vijayendra Prasad. I play a refugee who comes to Gujarat after losing touch with his mother and stepbrother. The film delves into how local politicians tend to take advantage of displaced immigrants, apart from showcasing how my character revolts for the people, becoming their ‘chatrapathi.’ The bond my character shares with his mother is also very relatable.

Honestly, I’m not. Mujhe sirf pahad chadna, girna, aur phir chadna hi malum hai. I love challenges and that’s exactly what this film offered me. My character is intense, and I loved playing it. The story written in 2005 has been adapted to suit today’s generation, as today’s cinema space is completely different. I believe the audience will see this as a straight-out Hindi film, and not a remake, because that’s how we have treated it.

My first film ever was with director V V Vinayak, he’s my guru. So, I’m glad my ninth film is with him too and I believe it’s my lucky number (laughs!). Nushrratt Bharuccha is a fantastic co-star, she brought such great energy to the set. In fact, the entire cast did, including Bhagyashree and Sharad Kelkar. Ravi Basrur’s background score and Tanishk Bagchi’s OST will be something to watch out for, so will the VFX in some exciting scenes that I can’t reveal now. I feel grateful that I’m working at a time when the lines between north or south cinema have blurred – a good film is all that matters now. And this one will be a visual spectacle for sure.

Drishyam 2 director Abhishek Pathak and actress Shivaleeka Oberoi got married in Goa on February 9. The traditional wedding ceremony had a modern touch to it. Sharing some pictures of their big day on social media, the couple wrote, “‘You don’t find love, it finds you. It’s got a lot to do with destiny, fate and what’s written in the stars.’ Last evening, 9th Feb 2023, surrounded by our loved ones, we got married in a place where our relationship bloomed. This will forever be the most magical moment of our life! With our hearts full of love and so many memories, we can’t wait to build even more special ones and begin this new journey together (sic).”

The wedding was an intimate affair, attended by their close friends, family members and colleagues from the industry.

Ajay Devgn and nephew Aaman Devgan, Kartik Aaryan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sunny Singh and filmmaker Luv Ranjan were among the guests present there. The pre-wedding festivities were held on February 8, while the pheras took place on February 9 and was followed by an after-party.

Mumbai recently saw the launch of two new metro lines — line 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar, Andheri West) and line 7 (Dahisar East to Andheri East). While Mumbaikars are excited about riding in it, actress Nushrratt Bharuccha did an exclusive shoot with Bombay Times, and during that, she spoke about her love for train rides and how hopping on a metro is a great way to save time in a city like Mumbai that’s known for its traffic jams.

“It must be more than 10 years since I have travelled by public transport. While studying at Jai Hind College, I travelled from Santacruz to Churchgate. I remember I would have to let a few trains go by as getting in would be a struggle because of the crowd,” she said.

Talking about her first ride in the metro, Nushrratt shared, “This seems like a fun ride. The metro is so well-kept, clean and hygienic… travelling in it is an absolute pleasure. Also, this will help reduce crowd on the road as well as local trains, so taking the metro is a big plus. I would travel by trains while staying in Australia with my brother, and back then, I used to wonder why we didn’t have something like that. I am thrilled that our metro is of international standard.”

Going into flashback mode, Nushrratt says that despite the crowded journeys on local trains, she would love her travel time, something she doesn’t get to enjoy anymore. “I can’t really travel by public transport or trains anymore,” she says, adding, “But I have to admit that I have always loved travelling by trains. I feel a sense of sukoon in train travel. I can sit in a train and travel for hours. Those five years when I travelled from Santacruz to Churchgate, my parents would be worried. I would be so much at peace that sometimes I would doze off. My mother would keep calling me as she would be worried that I would miss my stop. Also, whenever I would fight with anyone, I would take a rickshaw to the station, hop into a train and go on a ride till I calmed down. So, train rides were like a stressbuster for me.”

Ask her whether she would consider hopping on the metro if she was running late for work, and she says, “Absolutely! I hate being late. But I feel that people don’t realize that being late isn’t a choice anymore. It’s now a by-product of living in Mumbai, as our roads are always jammed. So, if the solution is to take a metro to reach on time, I would mask up and hop on the metro.”

After playing glamorous parts in quintessential commercial films, Nushrratt Bharuccha gradually moved towards content-driven movies that revolved around social issues. In Janhit Mein Jaari, which released yesterday, the actress is seen in a similar light, but this time around, she goes that extra mile as she takes on an unconventional subject that has her playing a condom saleswoman. In a conversation with BT, Nushrratt talks about taking on hatke characters and the new turn in her career. Excerpts:

When I was offered this role, not once did I feel awkward or wonder whether or not I should do this film. Ek phase tha, jab bolte the ki ladki filmon mein kaam nahi kar sakti, phir bolne lage ladki late-night call centre mein kaam nahi kar sakti… see, women here have always faced these hurdles, but we overcame them. I did the same with this project. Also, I was confident about it as Raaj Shaandilyaa (writer/producer of the film), who is known to make clean comedies and had directed me in Dream Girl, was associated with it. Had it come from someone else, I would be cautious, but here I was sure ke subject bhale yeh ho, yeh log kuch crass nahi banayenge and that the film will cater to a family audience.

I think I was in 7th grade when I heard about condoms for the first time during the sex education session in school. The learning from that period was further inculcated and cemented in my mind when I returned home. My parents learnt that I had a sex education class, and so they sat me down and reiterated it to me from a different perspective. I feel information about topics as sensitive as these should be imparted by schools and parents in tandem. Also, it is important that parents talk about sex to their children because kids trust their parents. What if they learn about it from the wrong person and develop a wrong perspective about it?

It is all thanks to the audience. As actresses, there has been a point in our careers where we were fighting for one scene or dialogue in films. There was a time when we wondered what were we doing in this film? And why were we standing in the background? So, actresses have always carved for powerful parts. However, the audience, maybe, was somewhere not ready to see us like that. I think this shift happened over a period of time. Today, there are women who are striding ahead in their careers without any support. They are running their own house. Also, there are men who have seen women in their families rise and be the frontrunners of the house. And so, their stories have become inspirational. My father has seen me struggle and reach where I am. So, a subject that is driven by a woman will interest him, and that holds true for other men as well. Woh connection aur relatability aa gayi hai. So, the more extraordinary the story is (about a woman), the keener the audience is to watch it.

Personally, as an actor, I am extremely happy with the kind of space I have created for myself. At the time of Pyaar Ka Punchnama, Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2 and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, my aunt would say, “Agli baar tu kuch aisi picture kyun nahi karti jahan par tu actually kuch kar rahi ho.” Then, when films like Chhalaang, Chhorii or a web project like Ajeeb Daastaans happened, I started feeling satisfied as an actor. Even my family was happy about this change. It has been a fun, fruitful and rewarding journey. It wasn’t easy though, and yes, there were emotional setbacks along the way too. If you are considered for a movie, but things don’t work out, then it’s fine, but what hurts the most is when you are not even considered for a particular project. In that phase, your mind can either drown you or lead you. I chose the latter by focusing on my work and celebrating the work that came my way. Personally, I would like to balance out my choices. However, post Chhorii there has been an influx of female-oriented scripts coming my way. Filmmakers tell me that when I started out, they could not imagine me beyond my glam avatar, but that has changed now.

My personal life has gone into some black hole (laughs!) Honestly, you need two things to have a healthy romantic life time and a person. Chalo, ek koi ladka bhi ho mere paas as an option toh main time nikaal bhi lu. Par koi hain hi nahi aas pass. I am constantly shooting. I don’t want to date somebody from the same field as me. Otherwise, the conversations tend to revolve around work. I would prefer to hang out with somebody who comes from another background and a different school of thought. But where do I find a human like this? I have been advised to get on dating apps, which I am not into! So, let’s see…

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Nushrratt Bharuccha is gearing up for the June release of Janhit Mein Jaari, a comedy that sees her as a small-town woman who sells condoms for a living despite societal resistance. Jai Basantu Singh’s directorial venture has an interesting premise, but may face a hurdle — incidentally, Rakul Preet Singh’s Chhatriwali is centred on a similar theme. In the Tejas Prabha Vijay Deoskar-directed film, Singh plays a condom tester.

Many would argue that Bharuccha’s comedy has the advantage of releasing first, but Singh is unperturbed. “I don’t look at it like that,” she says. “There are only seven kinds of stories and nine emotions in the school of filmmaking. How you do permutations and combinations [to tell a story] is up to you.”

It’s not unusual for two films to explore the same subject. About 20 years ago, five films were made on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh, including Ajay Devgn’s The Legend Of Bhagat Singh (2002). Not too long ago, Devgn starred in Drishyam (2015), which was a remake of the Malayalam film of the same name, and had glaring similarities with Keigo Higashino’s celebrated novel The Devotion Of Suspect X. That hasn’t deterred Sujoy Ghosh from attempting an adaptation of the novel with Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Singh has complete faith in Chhatriwali, which also stars Sumeet Vyas. Asserting that the treatment counts, she says, “We have been watching action for decades. It’s kicking, punching, hitting and so on, but in every film, it is treated differently. It ultimately boils down to whether the film is good or not.”

Filmmaker Luv Ranjan exchanged wedding vows with his girlfriend Alisha Vaid at a private ceremony, at a plush hotel in Agra overseeing the Taj Mahal yesterday. The wedding was attended by the couple’s family and close friends. From the Bollywood brigade, Arjun Kapoor, Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Varun Sharma, filmmakers Dinesh Vijan and Bhushan Kumar, composer Pritam apart from Luv and Alisha’s other friends were in attendance.

Rakul Preet Singh and beau Jackky Bhagnani also attended the wedding, but only after a quick detour at the Taj Mahal. Kartik Aaryan, Sunny Singh and Nushrratt Bharuccha, three of Luv’s oldest actor-collaborators were at the ceremony, participating in the revelry. The wedding functions kicked off two days ago with mehndi, sangeet and haldi ceremonies.

The overall decor for the wedding rituals was created keeping the couple’s taste with every ritual designed thematically. The celebrity guests started trickling in from Saturday noon for the nuptials that took place yesterday. The couple apparently wore outfits from designers like Manish Malhotra and Sabyasachi for the various functions. It was a simple wedding ceremony, replete with followed by the reception in the evening.

On the work front, Luv, known for films like Punchnama series, has an impending schedule of his romantic drama with Ranbir and Shraddha left to be shot in Spain. He’s expected to resume work in a few days.

A source close to the filmmaker says, “Luv and Alisha wanted to keep their wedding extremely private and away from the media glare. Luv is fiercely guarded about his personal space. That’s the reason he has never uttered a word about anything except his work. ”