Showing posts with label Ramya Krishnan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ramya Krishnan. Show all posts
Sonali Kulkarni shuts down rumours about Nani's The Paradise getting delayed
10:31 AM
Nishad Neelambaran (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 10, 2026)
Telugu superstar Nani’s much-awaited film, The Paradise, recently made headlines with reports that the release might be pushed due to pending work on the climax and in post-production. However, Nani’s co-star Sonali Kulkarni, exclusively spoke to HT City and clarified that the film will release as per schedule on September 24, 2026: “Yes, it is our promise. We have also announced it on our social media. We are not delaying the release, and we are releasing on the 24th.”
About what caused the delay, the National Award-winning actor is quick to mention that the delay was only because the director wanted to put the best version out there for the audience to watch.
“All I can say is credit to my director’s vision. Srikanth is very particular about the details. The delay was because he wanted to entertain the audience with complete conviction. He didn’t want to compromise on anything. But we are releasing on the 24th, finally,” she explained.
Sharing the screen space with Nani, Kulkarni, 51, is in awe of how humble the actor is. “It was a joy working with Nani. He is a team member. He never treated himself like a superstar. He is not from a filmy background, but he has been an assistant director, and I felt that I was seeing a replica. I am a unit person on set. We bonded on many things. He is a director’s actor. He is humble and carries no weight about his stardom,” said an elated Kulkarni.
The growing anticipation for the film has fans and netizens drawing many parallels between Kulkarni’s character and Ramya Krishnan’s character as Sivagami in S S Rajamouli’s Baahubali series. Dismissing any commonality, Kulkarni mentioned that this is an absolutely fresh character.
“I wish I could tell you a lot more, but you will not be able to compare my character with anybody. This is something you have never seen before... Not necessarily a mother, because nobody called me a mother on the set,” shared the Dil Chahta Hai (2001) actor.
Besides, the actor also exclusively shared an update on yet another Bollywood release. Directed by Madhur Bhandarkar, Kulkarni will also be seen in The Wives Of Bollywood. There have been no formal updates on the film’s release yet; however, Kulkarni shared that the Madhur Bhandarkar directorial will hit the theatres this year. “A fortnight back I saw the trailer, and in their language, it is kick-ass (laughs). It should come in 2026 for sure,” she ended.
My actor friend Ramya Krishnan is still my best friend. I call her my soulmate-Madhoo
8:29 AM
The actor talks her foray into the web space and the opportunities it has opened up for actors today
Titas Chowdhury (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 5, 2022)
After dabbling in the Hindi and the south film industries and television, actor Madhoo Shah is now all set to mark her foray into the web space with an anthology film and a web series for which she has already signed up three seasons.
Happy that she is now able to play the parts that she couldn’t during her prime days in the film industry, she says, “With the onset of OTT today, I feel liberated. I took a hiatus of 15 years and then returned to the industry. Everything changes so quickly here. Now, I’m busy doing some amazing characters.”
Lack of restrictions pertaining to a woman’s marital status and age is what excites Shah today. She shares, “You can be of any age or shape but if you’re a good actor, you’ve a place here. Web shows have allowed me that space. You don’t have to be single or in your 20s to be a part of them, and you’ve the freedom to just be an actor.”
Quiz her if she wished that the digital invasion had happened back in the 90s when she had started her career, and the Thalaivi (2021) actor says, “There’s nothing about the 90s that I want to change or do differently. It was the golden period. I’m happy that the influx of OTT has happened today because this is the right time for me to jump into it.”
Shah continues, “I got to work with (actors) Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Saif Ali Khan and my friends like Shilpa Shetty, Urmila Matondkar, Shilpa Shirodkar, Tabu, Manisha Koirala and Raveena Tandon in different capacities. I made some good friends, even in the south. My actor friend Ramya Krishnan is still my best friend. I call her my soulmate. Those were beautiful days!”
Political plots rule OTT, woo audience
8:19 AM
Many shows themed around political incidents or real-life political figures have been popping up on digital platforms
Juhi Chakraborty (HINDUSTAN TIMES; June 19, 2021)
Variety is the spice on the OTT platforms and there is no dearth of content from all possible genres. However, lately the digital space is increasingly exploring plots and stories around the political spectrum, some of which seem inspired by real-life political figures and incidents too.
Most recently, shows such as Maharani, which loosely resembles the real-life political drama of Bihar in 1990s, is garnering much praise from the audience and critics alike. Actor Huma S Qureshi, who plays the titular role in the series, tells us, “Maharani is a political show for sure, but also a very hopeful show. It’s not something that leaves you without hope... It’s almost like a fantasy that everybody harbours that if, ‘I’d be the chief minister or Prime Minister, I’d do this and that’. It’s a common man’s dream.”
Qureshi cites an example of Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak (2001). “It plays into that fantasy. But when done in a realistic political setting, most people connect with that,” she adds.
Even Ramya Krishnan-starrer Queen, which chronicles the life of Shakti Seshadri — a character that bears an uncanny resemblance to late Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa — has been loved by audiences.
There are multiple reasons that make political dramas an audience favourite, feels Gautam Talwar, chief content officer of the OTT platform that screens Queen. “Firstly, these larger than life personalities who’re tasked with running the government, tend to garner heightened attention and curiosity from viewers. Secondly, their personal lives — be it what motivated them to join politics, their childhood, their lives as young adults, among others, make for compelling storytelling, and the common man loves to know the back story about the leaders,” he explains.
Among other web shows based on political themes is the Telugu web series Chadarangam, which revolves around the life of Sr NTR, Modi - Journey Of A Common Man based on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s life, and City Of Dreams, that explores themes of crime, politics and family conflicts. There’s also a biopic series planned on the life of actor-turned-politician, Sumalatha.
Talwar says that as a storyteller, what interests him the most about political genre is the fact that they’re able to recreate certain parts of history with a nuanced POV, that makes for an interesting watch. “What really appeals is the journey of these characters from very humble, modest beginnings, to them achieving the epitome of power in their respective field,” he adds.
Amit Sial, who stars in Maharani, opines that the shows based on, or inspired by, political figures give the audience a deep sense of satisfaction, as well as a hope. Talking about the show, he shares, “It’s a well etched out script, so I mostly relied on what was written. Subhash Kapoor (creator of the show) is an ex political journalist, so he has deep knowledge and good understanding of the subject. I think the audiences really like complex, political stories, and politics is the in thing right now.”
Actor Rajeev Siddhartha, who stars in Aashram, that has a plotline exposing godmen-politican nexus, feels that such stories can be explored in a bigger way on OTT platforms. “Web space allows to add more complexities, more layers and more information about the incident and characters. I feel that even the audiences like that. In the coming time, we’ll see more of these,” he concludes.
After Sivagami, Ramya Krishnan to now play Liger’s mummy
8:14 AM
After playing Queen Mother in Baahubali, Ramya slips into role of Vijay’s mom in Liger
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; February 27, 2021)
We have all seen her as Queen Mother Sivagami, the fierce ruler of Mahishmati and Bhallaladeva’s mother in the Baahubali franchise. Now, Ramya Krishnan will be the force behind another braveheart - she essays the role of Vijay Deverakonda’s mother in Liger. Shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu, the Karan Johar-backed actioner sees Deverakonda play a boxer who rises to success.
Krishnan, who has a knack for essaying author-backed roles, apparently gave her nod to the Puri Jagannadh-directed project as her character is pivotal to the proceedings. “After playing Sivagami, Ramya has been choosy about her roles. Her character in Liger is fierce and strong-minded. Undeterred by their modest background, she plays an integral role in her son’s success in the field of Mixed Martial Arts, helping him understand the right from the wrong, and encouraging him to achieve success by the right means,” reveals a trade source.
The senior actor was shooting with Deverakonda and leading lady Ananya Panday in Mumbai over the past few weeks even as the production house remained tight-lipped about her addition to the cast. “Her look in the movie is starkly opposite to her Baahubali avatar. Here, she will be seen in plain cotton sarees and minimal jewellery. She recently headed back to Chennai while Vijay is rehearsing for the title track in Mumbai.”
mid-day reached out to Krishnan and Johar, who remained unavailable for comment.
Vijay Deverakonda to storm Bollywood with multi-lingual action film titled Fighter
8:18 AM
Vijay Deverakonda’s multilingual actioner goes on floors in Mumbai, to be shot in the next six months and also features Ronit Roy and Ramya Krishnan
Akash Bhatnagar (MUMBAI MIRROR; January 21, 2020)
Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda made an instant impact as the leading man of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s 2017 directorial, Arjun Reddy, which was adapted last year in Hindi as Kabir Singh. With Shahid Kapoor stepping into his shoes, the film was one of the year’s biggest hits and made Vijay a household name. A month later, Karan Johar shared a picture with him and announced that he had acquired the Hindi remake rights of the South actor’s Dear Comrade, opening in theatres three days later. This fanned speculations that he would launch Vijay in Bollywood with the Hindi remake.On Monday, KJo finally announced that a film directed and produced by Puri Jagannadh has gone on the floors with the actor as the lead and him as a presenter and production partner. The film also features Baahubali actress Ramya Krishnan and Ronit Roy.
Last September, Vijay and Karan were snapped outside Manish Malhotra’s residence along with Kiara Advani, the female lead of Kabir Singh. Two months later, the actor was present at the filmmaker’s house party for American pop star Katy Perry during her India visit. Soon after, Vijay had announced at the International Film Festival of India in Goa that he will be making his Bollywood debut, preferably with an action or romance film. More recently, he flew into Mumbai for a look test.
Speaking to Mirror, Ronit revealed that the project which has just rolled is titled Fighter. “It is a pan-India action film that will feature a lot of mixed martial arts and will be shot extensively in the next six months,” the actor informed, adding that besides Mumbai, they will also be shooting in some foreign locations and the movie will be released in all the South languages.Vijay, whose character stutters and sports a six-pack, underwent rigorous training and followed a strict diet as part of his prep. He also flew to Thailand to learn mixed martial arts and other fight forms.
Female actors are no longer subordinates in films-Ramya Krishnan
8:04 AM
Rishabh Suri (HINDUSTAN TIMES; January 14, 2020)
One of the most popular names in south cinema, actor Ramya Krishnan has to her credit films spanning five languages — Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Hindi and Malayalam. Her biggest project till date happens to be the one which broke the barriers between regional and Hindi cinema — Baahubali.
However, after Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in 1998, Ramya wasn’t seen in any Hindi film. “I didn’t work in Hindi films because the ones I had done previously didn’t do well. I worked with the best of directors, but the films didn’t do as well as we expected them to. I didn’t get my success. But Baahubali did what Bollywood couldn’t do for me,” says the 49-year old, who was seen in the web series Queen recently.
What surprised everyone is the fact that she was cast as Prabhas’ mother in the franchise, who is just nine years younger to her. Ramya says that this did not bother her at all after going through the script. “There were no apprehensions after I heard the script,” says the actor. As for age discrimination against women in Bollywood, Ramya believes that things are not the same anymore. “I think times are changing, and all that doesn’t exist anymore. It also depends on the roles you get and the kind of films you do. That extends your shelf life,” she says. The actor says that female actors get more screen time now. “Earlier, women just had to be a subordinate, the love interest, running around trees, singing songs. It has actually grown beyond that,” says Ramya whose film choices have been very surprising. She decided to follow up a blockbuster like Baahubali with Super Deluxe (2019), a critically-acclaimed non-masala film. “I choose from what comes to me. Luckily, I get diverse roles, thank God for that,” she says.
Her web series went on air recently, in which she plays a politician. Some believe the character is inspired by the late politician Jayalalithaa. Ramya clarifies, “It is actually not so. It’s inspired by a book called Queen by Anita Sivakumaran. If you find similarities, that’s just incidental. I won’t deny that, but it is not a biopic for sure,” says the actor.
I know there will be comparisons, but our show will release first-Ramya Krishnan
10:28 AM
As she plays Jayalalithaa in web series, South star Ramya Krishnan unfazed about comparisons with Kangana Ranaut's Thalaivi
Shaheen Parkar (MID-DAY; December 9, 2019)
While Kangana Ranaut is busy giving shape to Thalaivi — the biopic on the late J Jayalalithaa, South star Ramya Krishnan appears to have beaten her to the finish line. The senior actor, who played Sivagami in the Baahubali franchise, has slipped into the role of the former Tamil Nadu chief minister for Gautham Menon's multilingual web series. Coincidentally, the show is titled Queen — a moniker bestowed upon Ranaut after the success of her 2014 film by the same name.Krishnan is unperturbed about the inevitable comparisons with Ranaut's multi-lingual film. "I know there will be comparisons, but our show will release first," she states of the show that is scheduled to drop online this weekend. Though the offering — inspired by Anita Sivakumaran's book, The Queen — claims to have fictitious characters, Krishnan's part of Shakthi Seshadri bears several similarities to Jayalalithaa, including her rise in filmdom and subsequent dominance in politics.
"My first reaction was, what else, but a yes! Jayalalithaa was such a strong woman. It is not easy for a woman to emerge powerful in a man's world. She went through hurdles and came up triumphs with grace. I have been her fan all my life, but unfortunately never met her."
Krishnan had given a shot at Bollywood in the late '90s. Ask her if a return to Hindi cinema is on the cards, and she says, "There is nothing that has excited me to return to the Hindi film scene."
Check out Amitabh Bachchan shooting for Hindi-Tamil bilungual film Tera Yaar Hoon Main
10:01 PM
Their Hindi-Tamil bilingual also featuring Ramya Krishnan revolves around a cosmic connection between two strangers
Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 8, 2019)
After his acclaimed turn in Sujoy Ghosh’s revenge-drama, Badla, Amitabh Bachchan has started shooting for his first Hindi-Tamil bilingual in Film City. Keeping him company are South actors S J Suryah and Ramya Krishnan, the latter is popularly known as Sivagami after the Bahubali series. Revolving largely around the two male leads, the film’s title, Tera Yaar Hoon Main, is inspired by the eponymous song from Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, which was filmed on Kartik Aaryan and Sunny Singh.
“When the title was suggested to us, we all agreed that it was apt for our film that revolves around a cosmic connection that brings two strangers together and their resultant equation,” informs director T Tamilvanan.
He goes on to add that when he approached Suryah, he had told him he was hoping to rope in Big B as well. “Amit ji is a superstar, it’s difficult to get a nod from him, but I was confident about my script. I narrated it to him, he loved it and immediately agreed to be a part of the film,” smiles Tamilvanan.
The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Om Prakash Bhatt, Sujay Shankarwar and Ami Trivedi and Big B will be delivering some of his lines in Tamil. “For the long shots he speaks in Hindi, but for the close-up, he insists on Tamil. He’s been working hard on the language. His energy is infectious; even between breaks he refuses to retire to his vanity van but hangs out on the set with the team,” adds the director.
Abhishek Bachchan paid a visit to his father on Saturday and it was documented with them sitting on a stack of four chairs. “When he not just starts wearing your shoes, but also uses the same number of chairs to sit on, he does not just be a son, but the dearest friend,” Bachchan Sr wrote with a picture.
After a regent, Ramya Krishnan to play a queen next, in web series
8:01 AM
Upcoming web series features Baahubali actress as a politico
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 21, 2019)
Ramya Krishnan, who portrayed the unflappable Sivagami in SS Rajamouli’s Baahubali franchise, is now set to play a queen in a period-drama. The actress’s next, a web series titled Queen, will see her in the role of a prominent politician. Directed by Gautham Vasudev Menon, whose Tamil directorials Vaaranam Aayiram (2008) and Thanga Meengal (2013) bagged the National Awards for Best Feature Film in Tamil, and Prasath Murugesan (Kidaari), the show will air on the free-of-cost digital streaming platform MX Player.
Queen narrates the story of a political icon who ruled with benevolence and with an iron hand. Talking about the digital boom, Vineet Jain, MD, Bennett, Coleman and Co, points out that India is on the brink of an on-demand entertainment revolution with quality content emerging as the most important proposition to attract customers. “MX Player has been empowering talented Indian artists, content producers and independent film studios to produce unparalleled premium content that strikes a chord with discerning viewers. The platform’s launch with five MX Original series, over 20 shows planned for the year and free music streaming is a reaffirmation of its commitment to offer the most comprehensive mobile entertainment experience in India,” he asserts.
The MX Originals include Famously Filmfare, a chat-show that gets up close and personal with film stars along with four web series, namely Aafat, Hey Prabhu, Immature and Lots of Love. The platform already has 36 crore subscribers and offers 1,00,000-plus hours of free entertainment in Hindi, English, Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu.
Baahubali makers in talks with Netflix for a web series on Sivagami's life before Mahishmati?
8:00 AM
Sonil Dedhia (MID-DAY; May 25, 2018)
Rumours were rife that the success of the Baahubali franchise may spawn a web series on one of its pivotal characters. Now, it has been learnt that producers Shobu Yarlagadda and Prasad Devineni — who backed the magnum opus — are in talks with streaming giant Netflix to create a web series on Sivagami.
Essayed by Ramya Krishnan in the films, Sivagami is the queen mother who ruled Mahishmati with an iron hand. Said to be based on the novel, The Rise Of Sivagami, the show will focus on the character’s life before she married into the Mahishmati kingdom, and her subsequent rise to power.
A source reveals that the principal shooting will start in August. “It will be a multi-lingual web series and the first season will have 10 episodes. Gurmeet Singh, who was the associate producer on Inside Edge, will helm the project.”
The source adds that a massive set is being erected at the Ramoji Rao Film City in Hyderabad. “Since the web series focuses on Sivagami’s early years, it remains unclear if the character will be played by Ramya. But she may have a cameo appearance.”
Singh and the production house remained unavailable for comment.
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