It is still difficult for filmmaker Ananth Narayan Mahadevan to believe that Nana Patekar is no more. The two shared a long-standing creative association, having first worked together on Hum Dono, and then reuniting for The Confession Of Mary — a film that would become among Patekar’s last few projects.

The film had recently had a market screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and is now nearing completion of post-production. Patekar was also expected to complete the remaining dubbing work for the film before his untimely death.

“I was in the middle of my yoga when the news hit me. It was numbing and I am still processing the truth,” Mahadevan says.

“I had spoken to him a few days back, prompting him to go to the Toronto Film Festival for a screening of our film, but he revealed how long haul flights made him claustrophobic. He admitted that he had once returned from the airport, blowing up 7 lakhs on a ticket to Melbourne because the flight was too long.”

Mahadevan says the two remained in regular touch, even after Patekar moved to Pune. “We spoke at regular intervals. He had ideas to make another film with me and we ended up having exploratory conversations. Since he had shifted to Pune he would visit Mumbai only for work. The exchange deal would be filter coffee packets from my side and mangoes on his part. But the sessions would be educative for me and the energy invigorating.”

He adds, “The Confession Of Mary was close to his heart. In our first meeting for the film he was clear that he wanted a character he hadn’t played before. The character of the Kerala priest who was accused in a scandal touched him so much that he delved into it with childlike enthusiasm.”

Patekar, Mahadevan recalls, also gave him a compliment that has stayed with him. He told me, “I normally comb through scripts to modify the rough patches but The Confession Of Mary was near perfect and I jumped straight into the shoot.”

Now, with Patekar’s death, the film has taken on a meaning that neither the actor nor the filmmaker could have anticipated while making it.

What was meant to be a high-energy promotional stop for Cocktail 2 in Pune reportedly descended into chaos after an overwhelming crowd forced organisers to cut the event short.

Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna were scheduled to spend nearly 40 minutes at Phoenix Market City in Viman Nagar on Friday (June 12), but the appearance reportedly lasted barely 10 minutes after fans broke through barricades and surged towards the stars.

“It became impossible to control the crowd within minutes. People started pushing from all sides and barricades gave way,” an eyewitness told mid-day.

Another witness added, “The actors could barely spend any time on stage. Security immediately stepped in and to move them out once the crowd surged forward.”

Sources claim Shahid’s clothes were torn in the commotion as security personnel rushed the trio to safety. “There was a lot of screaming and pushing. Fans were trying to get as close as possible to the stars. The security team looked overwhelmed for a few moments,” said another eyewitness.

The frenzy reportedly led to traffic snarls around Viman Nagar and Nagar Road, with crowds continuing to gather even after the actors had left. Insiders say the team has since increased security for upcoming public appearances.

“More security personnel are expected to be present with the actors during future promotional events,” a source said.

Amid the chaos, a video that surfaced online showed Kriti Sanon holding on to Rashmika Mandanna and guiding her through the crowd as security struggled to create a passage. Netizens praised Kriti’s protective gesture, with many likening her to an “elder sister” looking out for her co-star.

Sonali Kulkarni has opened up about painful childhood memories while speaking about her new podcast Half Ticket Full Nagrik, a show aimed at giving children and young adults a platform to express themselves and be heard with dignity.

The actress, who recently went viral after criticising massive traffic congestion on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, also reacted to the opening of the long-awaited Missing Link route, saying commuters are finally getting some relief after years of delays and bottlenecks.

Although she has not yet travelled on the newly opened stretch, Sonali said people who have used the route are stunned by the reduced travel time between Mumbai and Pune. “People are reacting with disbelief — ‘Aise kaise ho sakta hai? Itni jaldi hum kaise pahunch sakte hain Mumbai ya Pune?’” she said.

While discussing Half Ticket Full Nagrik, the actress got emotional. Speaking about why the podcast matters to her, she recalled incidents from her childhood that left a lasting impact. One memory involved being humiliated at a birthday party after innocently complimenting the food. “Please be gentle — I was just a child,” she said, recalling how an adult assumed she was indirectly asking for more food when she was simply expressing appreciation.

She also remembered accompanying her father to collect his salary from a business associate’s home — an experience she says shaped her understanding of dignity and self-worth from a young age. “I was not a beggar,” Sonali said, remembering how she would stand outside for hours while adults ignored her. “No child should ever have to ask for something they rightfully deserve and then be treated like a beggar.”

Through her podcast, she hopes to create conversations where children are treated with empathy instead of being dismissed as too young to have opinions. “I am extremely fond of young people. They have original ideas, they think out of the box, they are fearless and innocent,” she said.

“But many adults are quick to dismiss children when it comes to family decisions, finances, travel plans, or even everyday conversations. They bring peace, joy and harmony into the world. We must protect their innocence, but also give them a seat at the table,” shared Sonali.

Sonali Kulkarni was stranded in traffic for nearly five hours on Mumbai’s Mankhurd bridge on Wednesday night while travelling to Pune, as severe congestion on roads leading to Navi Mumbai brought vehicles to a standstill. The Dil Chahta Hai actor took to social media to describe the ordeal, calling the situation “scary.” Now in Pune, Sonali speaks to Bombay Times about the experience.

Opening up about why she chose to speak out on social media, Sonali says, “It was genuinely out of concern and fear. I felt like reaching out on social media because there were many people who were stuck. Some people who were going home chose to walk down the bridge. I took a walk for a kilometre, back-and-forth and saw that there were kids crying and people were hungry. There was no food or water. I can’t even tell you what women did because there were no washrooms on the bridge. The only positive point was that the traffic control room where I called was responding. The officer there was patiently answering all questions. The engineering team and the traffic team could not reach due to the situation, they were helpless. It was an extremely painful experience.”

Clarifying her intent, Sonali emphasised that her voice came from conviction rather than confrontation. “So far, I feel that whenever I have raised a voice, I was convinced about it. I was convinced about the need to do it. I was not protesting, neither was I vehemently fighting with the government. I was stating facts about our harrowing experience”.

Concluding with a broader reflection—something she has often articulated through her public interactions, the actor called for accountability and better planning in a growing metropolis.

“I think as a metro, we need to think about civic planning and what we lack. What if someone had a medical emergency, what would they do? We need to address this. What do we do about this and who do we ask? I think as a citizen who is sincerely paying taxes and showing trust in the government, we deserve these answers. The public emotion was amazing, there was nobody shouting, screaming and there were no quarrels. Many people had shut down their vehicle because there was fuel limitation. I feel resilience is not a virtue, but it is helplessness.”

Mumbai: A farmer from Pune district has filed a civil lawsuit against Bollywood actor Sonali Bendre and her filmmaker husband Goldie Behl, accusing them of encroaching on their land and indulging in "mafia-style" intimidation.

Bendre, however, denied the allegation, saying it was an attempt to extort money as her name was not mentioned on any of the land purchase documents.

The complainants - Chandrakant Balu Shinde (50) and his mother Kamalbai (75) - claim that the celebrity couple was using their social influence and taking help of the local police to forcibly take possession of their 30 'guntha' (over 32,000 square feet) of land in Uksan village in Maval taluka of the district.

The suit was filed against the celebrity couple and two others through advocate Vanraj Shinde last month before a civil court at Vadgaon Maval. The matter will next be heard on April 24.

As per the suit, the Shinde family has been cultivating the land as "protected tenants" since the 1940s.

The family alleged that their names were illegally removed from revenue records in the 1980s without a notice.

The dispute began when the original owners allegedly sold the land to a local individual in 2012, who subsequently sold a portion of it to Goldie Behl in March 2021.

The aggrieved mother-son duo claimed these sales were "illegal and void" because their pre-existing tenancy rights were never legally terminated.

The plaintiffs have also made claims of intimidation and police bias. The Shinde family alleged that on December 14, 2025, Sonali Bendre and Goldie Behl arrived at the site with workers and heavy machinery to begin unauthorized construction.

When Kamalbai tried to stop the work, she was allegedly met with threats. The police officers at the site also threatened to frame the mother-son duo in false theft cases if they continued to "harass" the celebrity couple, the lawsuit claimed.

Bendre, however, said her name is not there on any documents related to the Maval land purchase.

This is a false case orchestrated solely to extort money, her lawyer Raju Shinde said.

Mumbai: Filmmaker-director Vikram Bhatt, who was arrested by Rajasthan Police last month in an alleged Rs 30 crore cheating case, has landed in fresh legal trouble after Mumbai Police registered another case of fraud against him. A new FIR has been filed accusing Bhatt and his daughter, Krishna Bhatt, of cheating a Pune-based film investor of Rs 13.5 crore.

The case stems from a complaint lodged by Pune based film financier Shivraj Prithviraj Khawade, who alleged that Bhatt induced him to invest a substantial amount in upcoming film projects by promising high returns. According to the complaint, Bhatt accepted Rs 13.50 crore from Khawade in 2021, assuring him of profits within a stipulated period. However, despite repeated follow-ups, neither the principal amount nor any profit was returned.

Police sources said the accused allegedly continued to mislead the complainant over the years, citing delays in film production and financial constraints. The complainant further alleged that the amount was neither invested as promised nor refunded even after four years. A senior police official confirmed that an FIR has been registered under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code against Vikram Bhatt and Krishna Bhatt at Versova police station. Considering the magnitude of the alleged fraud, the investigation has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police.

Last month, Rajasthan Police arrested Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, in connection with a separate Rs 30 crore cheating case, further compounding his legal troubles. Investigators are now examining whether multiple investors were similarly duped using promises of high returns from film projects. Further investigation is underway.

When Ikkis opens on January 1, it will, among other things, remind us of what Hindi cinema lost in 2025. Sriram Raghavan’s directorial venture, led by Agastya Nanda, will mark the final on-screen appearance of Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24. In the swansong, we’ll also see the superstar’s last dance, in a qawwali track.

Featuring Dharmendra and Jaideep Ahlawat, the song was shot in Pune in May 2024. It apparently sees the veteran actor’s character going to his college reunion.

A source from the unit said, “Initially, it plays in the background as Dharmendra’s character catches up with his friends. Then it moves to the foreground as his friends get him to the dance floor and he shakes a leg. It’s a fantastic moment! While the college is shown to be in Lahore in the narrative, producer Dinesh Vijan and Sriram filmed it in a Pune college.”

In Ikkis, Dharmendra portrayed the father of Nanda’s character, Param Vir Chakra awardee Arun Khetarpal. Working with him on the number was a moment of pride for choreographer Vijay Ganguly. Remembering the 89-year-old actor as being “full of life”,

Ganguly told mid-day, “Shooting with Dharmendra was amazing as he was vibrant and full of life. He was awake till we completed the song at 4 am.”

What made the collaboration sweeter was the fact that their association went way back. The choreographer, who has designed two songs in the biopic, added, “It was a moment of nostalgia for both of us. Dharam ji had done a film earlier with my father [filmmaker Anil Ganguly] called Dushman Devta [1991]. During the shoot, he remembered my father fondly. He told me he was a kind man and that he enjoyed working with him.”

As the conversation around maternity and professional flexibility continues to gain ground in the entertainment industry, actor Gauahar Khan is the latest to add her voice to the dialogue. In a candid exchange with actor Debina Bonnerjee on her podcast, Gauahar opened up about navigating motherhood at the age of 39, sharing her experience of a miscarriage, the emotional aftermath, and what it means to work through physically demanding roles while pregnant.

Her comments come shortly after reports emerged of actor Deepika Padukone stepping away from filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Spirit, allegedly due to unfulfilled requests for eight-hour shifts and time off — putting renewed spotlight on how working women, particularly in showbiz, balance personal commitments with public-facing careers.

Gauahar, who welcomed her son Zehaan in 2023, is now expecting her second child. She reflected on how the journey to motherhood wasn’t without setbacks. “I was 36 when I got married, and we knew we wanted to try for a child within a year,” she said, adding, “But I had a miscarriage before Zehaan, and it took me a year and a half to even gather the courage to try again. When I finally conceived him, everything went smoothly.”

Recounting the emotional toll, she said, “At that point, you assume everything will go as planned. No one expected me to lose the child. It was extremely difficult. By the time I gave birth to Zehaan, I was already 39. And if I wanted another child, it was now or never.”

Yet even through both pregnancies, Gauahar never took a prolonged break from work. In fact, she continued filming — often during her first trimester — and was seen performing high-octane action sequences. “I was shooting throughout my first pregnancy, and this time around, I’ve been doing action scenes again. While filming the finale of Fauji 2 in Pune, I was literally blasting bombs on screen,” she said, adding, “If I’m committed to a project, I can’t be unprofessional. Thankfully, the action directors have been extremely understanding and shoot the scenes accordingly.”

With a recurring role in three seasons of Panchayat, actor Pankaj Jha aka the sharp-tongued Vidhayakji has become a recognised face. But the actor is refreshingly detached from the fame the popular dramedy has brought him. “I don’t belong to any industry,” he says, before adding, “I live in Pune. I paint, I write poetry; acting is just a part of my life. I recently had a successful solo art show at Jehangir Art Gallery. That is also part of my expression.”

The actor views Panchayat — led by Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, and Raghubir Yadav — as another avenue of creative expression. The fame is a byproduct. “People on the street may recognize me, but that doesn’t mean I feel famous. For me, success is being in the moment. Most people keep recycling their past achievements to feel worthy,” he shares.

Jha has over 50 films to his credit, including Monsoon Wedding (2001), Company (2002), Black Friday (2005), and Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi (2005). But acting, to him, has never been about visibility or strategizing to build a robust career. “I don’t manage projects. I simply respond to energy,” he says. 

That’s how he chose his latest film, Sarpanch Sahab. He shares, “When I met Shahid Khan, the director, his sincerity and honesty drew me in.”

In an industry where advertising one’s work comes a close second to the craft, he doesn’t believe in promoting his work. “If your work speaks, why should you? If it doesn’t, then no amount of talking will help,” he smiles.

Divya Dutta’s portrayal of Soyarabai in Chhaava has won her widespread acclaim, adding yet another powerful performance to her impressive filmography. With the film setting new box office records, does she see it as a much-needed win for an industry struggling with multiple flops?

“I’ve always believed that as an actor, you do your job, and when a film does exceptionally well, it becomes a part of history,” she says, adding, “I’ve been fortunate to be in Veer-Zaara (2004), Bhaag Milkha Bhaag (2013), Badlapur (2015), and now Chhaava. These are films people remember — they become ingrained in their psyche.”

One question that has repeatedly come her way is about her limited screen time in the epic drama: “Some portions were removed, and I’m sure the makers had their reasons. There was a beautiful scene that got deleted, and to my surprise, it leaked online. But what truly matters is the presence of a role. If people felt, ‘aur thoda hona chahiye tha’, that’s because woh actually tha film mein.”

Despite this, she remains unfazed: “The audience didn’t know about the deleted portions, yet they loved the character. I was in Pune recently when someone came up to hug me and said, ‘I hated you in the film, but you’re such a gem in real life!’ Credit to the makers — the character had a towering presence that lingered. And that’s the best part.”

Almost six years after making her Bollywood debut with Student Of The Year 2 (2019), Ananya Panday is college-bound again thanks to producer Karan Johar. Last November, the filmmaker announced Chand Mera Dil, featuring Panday and Lakshya. After a bit of digging, we have learnt that Vivek Soni’s directorial venture is a college romance centred on engineering students. The director will call action on the project later this week.

A source tells us, “For the past three months, the film, which sees Ananya and Lakshya play engineering students, was in pre-production. Vivek will take it on floors on March 15. The first schedule will take place in Pune, where the team has zeroed in on a leading college where most of the campus portions will be shot.”

This marks Soni’s third collaboration with Johar’s banner, after Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021) and the upcoming Aap Jaisa Koi.

Another source says, “Vivek brings a fresh voice to relationship dramas. With Meenakshi Sundareshwar, he explored a long-distance marriage, and Aap Jaisa Koi will be a take on age-gap romance. With Chand Mera Dil, he attempts to understand what loves means to today’s youth.”

Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has leased out an office property in a commercial complex EON Kharadi in Pune’s Kharadi locality to Regus Ruby Business Centre for a total term of 36 months.

The property spread over 9,209 sq ft on the 8th floor of the World Trade Centre has been let out at monthly rentals of Rs 6.08 lakh sq ft, showed the documents accessed through CRE Matrix, a real estate data analytics firm.

The tenant has paid a security deposit of nearly Rs 11.88 lakh and the agreement includes a clause to escalate rentals by 5% every year.

In addition to the base rent, the tenant will also be paying Rs 13 per sq ft of super built-up area every month towards maintenance charges and this will also escalate by 5% every year.

Real estate continues to be a preferred investment choice for high net-worth individuals. Bollywood celebrities and sports personalities have been actively acquiring properties, recognizing the value of these assets not just for personal use but also as an attractive investment opportunity that can contribute to their growing wealth portfolios.

Gauahar Khan and Zaid Darbar’s love story is straight out of a Bollywood movie. It started with Zaid sliding into Gauahar’s DMs on Insta. “I knew if I started a conversation, it would go to another level, as I was looking for something more permanent. I had just come out of a weird relationship and was not looking to date anymore. I took three days to message Gauahar,” Zaid reveals.

Gauahar adds, “For the first 20 days of knowing each other, we didn’t even meet, as I was in Pune. And then, in the next few days, he asked me for marriage. We started talking on July 17, and he proposed to me on August 23.”

Gauahar says she never doubted her decision: “It’s surreal that even after saying yes, I never thought, ‘What did I do?’ Maybe it was divine intervention.”

Sharing how the proposal happened, she adds, “It was my birthday (August 23) and he had planned a surprise at home with both our families. We played dumb charades. We were on the same team, and he was given the movie title Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004) to enact. As soon as I guessed the name, suddenly the song Mujhse Shaadi Karogi started playing. I thought people were teasing me, so I got embarrassed and shut my eyes. And when I opened my eyes, Zaid was on his knees with the ring. And I said, ‘yes’.”

Zaid goes on to narrate another incident he cherishes — their first meeting. “She refused to sit in my car. She said, ‘I am not sitting with you in your car’,” he laughs.

Sharing the reason behind doing so, Gauahar adds, “I was thinking what kind of a woman would he think I was if I was ready to sit in his car in our first meeting.”

This may be the year of collaborations across the film and music industries, but for Shalmali Kholgade, collaborations are about artistic pursuits rather than any possible business strategies. With a career that spans several Bollywood hits and deeply personal independent music, the Balam Pichkari and Pareshaan singer talks about exploring new music and cultures while staying true to her artistic identity. Excerpts from a chat:

While Bollywood shaped Shalmali’s career as a playback singer, she believes that her true passion lies in independent music. “I started with the intention of creating music that I identify with, but Bollywood just happened. It did help me understand essential lessons of delivering a song and learning rhythms but, in the last 10 years of doing Bollywood, I always felt like I had to be at my optimal level at all times,” says the Lat Lag Gayee hitmaker.

However, during the lockdown, Shalmali took a step back to see if she had something personal to express through music. “That marked the beginning of my independent music journey. People realized I had a mind of my own and directors let me arrange songs and experiment. In a way, playback and independent music have complemented each other throughout my journey,” she shares.

Shalmali talks about the need to provide more support to independent musicians who operate without the backing of major labels and says, “Not all songs can have the mammoth budget of a Bollywood release. I also don’t know how much I appreciate the reel audio culture, yet. You get to hear the same song repeatedly, whether you like it or not, but there’s so much more than those 30 seconds of music that we want you to listen to.”

Despite having hit songs to her credit, Shalmali values the personal connection with fans more than viral success. “Even if one person tells me they discovered me through a lesser-known track like Regular, it makes me happier than seeing millions of views on Bollywood hits,” she adds.

Shalmali’s Maharashtrian roots play a vital role in shaping her music. Talking about her song Follow along with Bebhumika and pixl, which has a blend of Afrobeats along with Tamil and Marathi music, she says, “Singing in Marathi wasn’t planned—it just felt right because I am a Maharashtrian.”

Working on the music for the Marathi film June also made her gravitate more to her roots. “After the songs for June, I realized Marathi music can have a modern, youth-centric approach,” she says. 

However, as much as music is an essential part of her life, she also believes in taking breaks from it to stay creative. “I need mental space to let the music come back to me. Not doing music can be very refreshing—it lets me reset and approach work with a fresh perspective,” says Shalmali.

“Collaborations have taken precedence over many decisions for people. These mostly come from a business perspective. Since I am an independent artiste, I’ve never felt the need to collaborate with someone just because it would benefit my career,” says Shalmali, adding, “I have done it purely out of wanting to work with someone for what they bring to the table.”

Shalmali has fond memories of Pune. “I was part of a Latvian cabaret, and we rehearsed in Pune while staying in Koregaon Park. I spent a lot of time in Vimannagar too,” she shares. About her experience of working in the Marathi industry, Shalmali says, “I think Marathi artists are the most intelligent and passionate in India. Take that!”

It’s been 16 years since Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na released but Manjari Fadnnis’ role of Meghna in the film remains among her most-remembered ones. The actress feels it's the film’s universal feel-good appeal that has immortalized it in the minds of so many people. In a chat with us, Manjari speaks about work, the uncertainty of the showbiz industry and her love for Pune.

Manjari feels that Jaane Tu... took a fresh approach to a classic love story and that’s one of the reasons it remains relevant even today. “I guess the dream of finding romantic love in a best friend will never lose relevance. To top that, the film has such fresh, unconventional, brilliantly written and relatable characters in Jai, Aditi, Meghna and the others that it will always find a connect with people,” she says, adding, “Everyone will find themselves or some of their friends, and see their dreams, emotions or confusions reflected in the characters in the film. I believe the film will be relevant not just now but in whichever era it is watched in."

Her Jaane Tu... co-star Imran Khan took a break from showbiz and has been vocal about the ups and downs an actor faces in the industry as well as the mental toll it takes on a person.

Ask Manjari if she has faced similar issues and she replies, “Of course, I have had my share of ups and downs, and emotional breakdowns. Along with its dreamy, beautiful aspects, showbiz is a very difficult industry to be in. No one deals with the number of rejections that people in our industry deal with on a daily basis. It can be very difficult on one’s mental health, especially if you’re a creative person because creative souls are generally vulnerable and very sensitive.”

The Grand Masti actress adds that her spiritual approach helps her stay on track throughout her career. "I chose not to be a part of the rat race as I believe everyone has their own journey. Sometimes you will be ahead and sometimes others will be ahead of you. It's a long road and we have to move at our own pace to grow in life. On days that I am not working, I keep myself creatively occupied with singing, reading, painting or by meeting people that inspire me.”

In The Freelancer, Manjari played the role of a woman battling mental trauma. The actress agrees that it is extremely crucial to address mental health just like any other discomfort we feel in our body. 

"Emotional wellbeing is important for every individual. We all go through so much in life and resiliently keep going on. But why let things pile up before we address them? I think everyone should consider seeking psychological counselling for emotional cleansing. There’s nothing wrong with it. I visit a counsellor and trust me, it feels absolutely liberating. I think if everyone starts taking this important step we’d be a country of free-spirited, happier and healthier souls,” says Manjari.

Manjari took a trip down memory lane during her recent visit to Pune, and made a pit stop at her alma mater, Fergusson College. It brought back a lot of memories for her.

“I can’t even describe the feeling of going to Fergusson College after so many years. It felt surreal. I went to junior college there and this visit was nostalgic. It was lovely to see so many dogs on campus who were well-fed and looked after by students. If this was the case when I was studying here, I would never have bunked college,” she laughs.

“It's alarming how certain men feel they can rape a woman and get away with it,” says Manjari, citing the rape and murder case of a female doctor in Kolkata, adding, “Apart from their upbringing, it speaks a lot about the system. I strongly believe that strong action needs to be taken to deter men from even thinking about such heinous crimes. With that it’s important for parents to teach boys to respect women and sensitize them about behaving with women, from a very young age.”

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Anupria Goenka has tried her hand at different roles over the years but wants to try her hand at comedy too. “I haven’t done comedy properly so far,” she tells us, adding, "I also want to revisit period dramas, and do a very grungy, rural character. There is so much more out there to try and work around with.” In a chat, the Padmaavat actress speaks about her choice of roles, the changing landscape of showbiz and more. Excerpts:

Factors influencing Anupria's choice of roles include the character's depth, the storyline's complexity, and the potential for personal and professional growth. “My focus is on doing variety of roles and pushing the envelope each time with different characters,” she says.

In the show Sultan Of Delhi, the actress portrayed a seductress and a negative character, something she says gave her a lot of material to work with. "I am looking for those kinds of roles which help me grow as an actor,” she adds.

Ask her which yesteryear film she would love to be a part of if it’s remade and she replies, “Umrao Jaan! I would like to be in its remake, if that ever happens.”

Anupria also feels the work environment plays a crucial role in any project and says she looks forward to working with a team that her thoughts and ideas can align with. However, she also acknowledges the importance of taking calculated risks. “Sometimes you just take a leap of faith and leave the rest to God," she says, adding, “There is a lot of hustling in the entertainment world. It's just the way we work, which, I feel, sometimes needs a little bit of reassessing.”

And does she manage to strike a work-life balance? “I do a bad job of balancing my personal and professional life. But I'm constantly learning. We are all a work in progress,” she says.

"Pune is a perfect blend of a big city and a smaller town. The weather is amazing. It feels pretty and pleasant. While attending a wedding last year in Pune, my friends and I were wondering if we should move here.”

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has allegedly attached properties belonging to Raj Kundra and his wife, actress Shilpa Shetty, worth about Rs 97.79 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a Bitcoin investment fraud case. According to ED sources, the attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu, currently registered under Shilpa’s name, a residential bungalow in Pune, and equity shares in Kundra’s name all worth about Rs 97.79 crore.

Kundra, who spent two months in jail in connection with a pornography case, was granted bail in September 2021. The latest action by the ED is part of a money laundering case filed against Kundra based on multiple FIRs registered by Maharashtra and Delhi Police against M/s Variable Tech Pvt Ltd, including Amit Bhardwaj, Ajay Bhardwaj, Vivek Bhardwaj, Simp Bhardwaj, Mahender Bhardwaj, and several multi-level marketing agents.

The FIRs allege that the accused collected significant funds in Bitcoins, approximately worth Rs 6,600 crore, from the public with false promises of a 10 per cent monthly return in Bitcoins.

According to ED sources, Kundra received 285 Bitcoin from Amit, the mastermind and promoter of the Gain Bitcoin Ponzi scam, for setting up a Bitcoin mining farm in Ukraine. These Bitcoins were sourced from proceeds of crime collected by Amit from unsuspecting investors.

Despite the deal falling through, Kundra did not return the 285 Bitcoins, presently valued at over Rs. 150 crores. Earlier search operations led to the arrest of three individuals—Simpy Bhardwaj, Nitin Gaur, and Nikhil Mahajan—who are currently in judicial custody. The main accused, Ajay and Mahendra, are still evading law enforcement. This marks the second attachment in the case, with earlier properties worth Rs. 69 crores being attached by the ED.

For Amit Sadh, who grew up in Mukteshwar, the mountains have always had a special place in his heart. So, every time the actor gets a breather from work, he heads to his family home there and goes trekking and exploring. On the occasion of International Mountain Day (December 11), the Kai Po Che! actor spoke to us about growing up in the hills.

Talking about his childhood, Amit said, “I feel blessed I got to grow up so close to the Himalayas. You can see the Annapurna mountain range (in Nepal) from my house and when you go higher up towards Mukteshwar, you can see the Himalayan peaks — Trishul and Panchachuli. I have seen all this since childhood, but it’s still not enough for me. There is always that sense of awe.”

Remembering one of his first treks with his father, the Sukhee actor says, “We were heading to the glaciers and after a point, I felt tired. My father told me, ‘Change the focus and see the mountains, pay attention to the sounds of the river and look at the clouds. If you want to go to the summit, it won’t come easy.’ These words have always stayed with me and encouraged me. From Spiti, Kinnaur to Zanskar, I enjoy exploring India’s majestic mountains.”

Spending time in the mountains has been therapeutic for Amit. “Even after I shifted to Mumbai to become an actor, the mountains kept calling me back. There’s a lot of anxiety in our lives, especially in this business. From the mountains, I learnt how to be still and today, everyone around me sees this calmness in me. I think the closer we come to nature, the more we can understand humanity,” says the actor. “If I’m caught up with work, I make short trips to Matheran, Mulshi and Pune. I love the Sahyadri mountain range,” he adds.

Pointing out the importance of mountains, Amit says, “Mountains provide valuable resources like minerals, timber and fresh water. Today, they are facing a huge environmental challenge. There’s climate change, deforestation, unsustainable development and population explosion. We all saw what happened in Himachal Pradesh this year. There’s a threat to the mountains and the need of the hour is to create awareness.”