What’s Welcome To The Jungle got right? According to Raveena Tandon, two things at least. Director Ahmed Khan’s ensemble comedy embraces its absurdity unapologetically. It also offers its female actors the opportunity to be an active part of the slapstick comedy. 

“We’ve evolved from the era when the heroine’s only job in a comedy was to look pretty and act shocked at the hero’s antics,” laughed Tandon, pointing out that Welcome To The Jungle — that stars Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, and her alongside Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and others — doesn’t follow that trope.

“The biggest change is agency. Female characters aren’t just reacting to the plot anymore; their choices and blunders move the story forward.”

Even as the small changes are appreciated, Tandon asserted that there is still a long way to go. “Actresses today are brilliant at self-deprecation and physical comedy, yet writers hesitate to give them the outright hilarious roles, slapstick, or absurd lines. We are still cast as the voice of reason reacting to the funny men. Films like Chaalbaaz [1989] or Andaz Apna Apna [1994] are etched into cinematic history because the women were devastatingly funny. There is still a lingering hesitation to back a mainstream comedy spearheaded by women.”

Tandon’s three-decade filmography includes several popular comedies, from Andaz Apna Apna to Dulhe Raja (1998) and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998). This time, it was the film’s absurdity that made her say yes.

“[Some] critics ask, ‘Where is the logic?’ But comedy has often been about the joy of absurdity — look at the works of Mel Brooks, Steve Martin, Eddie Murphy, or Jim Carrey. If someone is looking for logic in a film meant to be an escape, they are missing the genre’s purpose,” she stated.

As Welcome To The Jungle gears up for release, one of its biggest talking points is the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon, who share screen space for the first time in 22 years. The former co-stars, whose off-screen relationship was among Bollywood’s most discussed romances in the 1990s, have come together thanks to director Ahmed Khan.

Speaking about the casting coup, Khan told mid-day that his decades-long friendship with both actors helped make it possible. “Both Raveena and Akshay have been such good friends of mine. We have known each other for over 30 years and because we go back so long, we know what has happened in each other’s lives.”

Was it challenging to bring rumoured ex-lovers back together for a film? The filmmaker took up the task as a “fan service.” He said, “People will want to see Raveena and Akshay together, so why not do fan service?”. He added that Akshay in fact encouraged him to cast whoever suited the role best.

According to Khan, Raveena had no reservations when she learnt Akshay was already part of the project. “She said, ‘So what? We are all actors and grown up. We are all friends and we will have a blast on the sets,’” he recalled.

While Kumar and Tandon are not paired romantically in Welcome To The Jungle, they share several scenes and a song choreographed by Rahul Shetty and Prince Gupta. The reunion is particularly nostalgic given that the duo delivered some of Hindi cinema’s most enduring hits, including Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani from Mohra (1994).

Recalling the shoot, Khan revealed, “There is a sequence of Akshay and Raveena dancing together. The whole set clapped. Suniel Shetty, who also starred in Mohra, came in and said, ‘Arre, mere Mohra ki jodi aa gayi’.”

Ahmed Khan says, “It’s a small industry and everybody grows over their past and moves on. Off set, Raveena and Akshay were friends only — joking, having fun, and talking about their kids. We reminisced about the past and work from earlier movies”

A wave of nostalgia swept across social media recently when Pooja Bhatt shared the poster of her 1993 film Pehla Nasha. The post not only revived memories of the cult thriller but also transported many back to a phase when several now-established names were still finding their place in the industry.

For Deepak Tijori, the film remains especially close to his heart. While speaking to us, the actor admitted that Pooja’s gesture caught him by surprise and stirred a flood of emotions.

“I was surprised to see the post. But I can expect that out of Pooja; she has always been that kind of person. She has always been there for me, and seeing her put up that poster just brought back so many memories from that phase of my life,” he says warmly.

Back in the early ’90s, Deepak was still navigating his way through the industry. He recalls, “In 1993, I was still getting there as an actor. I had been doing supporting roles, and this was a big moment for me. What made it even more special was that Pooja, who was already a star at that time, immediately said yes to the film. Even with Raveena Tandon, there was no hesitation; she came on board with complete conviction. That kind of support meant a lot to me back then.”

The film also marked the directorial debut of Ashutosh Gowariker, making the experience even more memorable for the team. Deepak remembers the atmosphere on set as one filled with youthful energy and genuine camaraderie.

“This was Ashutosh’s first film, my first as a lead — it was a very sentimental journey for all of us. Honestly, we were having a blast more than we were shooting a film. There was so much energy, so much enthusiasm. It remains one of those rare experiences in my life that I will always cherish,” he shares.

One of the film’s most talked-about sequences featured an impressive line-up of stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Rahul Roy and Sudesh Berry. “Even that sequence was a treat. To have all these actors come together — it added a certain charm to the film. It felt like everyone was rooting for us,” he says.

Despite the passion and promise behind the project, Pehla Nasha struggled at the box office. According to Deepak, external circumstances heavily impacted the film’s release.

“At the time of release, the film ran into complications with distribution. Around the same time, the 1993 blasts had happened, so naturally people were not going to theatres the way they normally would. The film didn’t get the kind of release it deserved, and it wasn’t a box office success. But for us, it was never just about numbers — it was a very emotional project,” he explains.

The ripple effects of the West Asia conflict can be felt the world over, including in the Hindi film industry. On March 30, mid-day reported that the Dubai schedule of Shah Rukh Khan’s King had to scrapped (When war affects the King’s strategy, Mar 30). Now, the latest film to call off its Dubai shoot is the Akshay Kumar-starrer Welcome To The Jungle. Director Ahmed Khan was to take his ensemble comedy to the emirate for a song shoot, but is now reimagining it in Mumbai.

Postponing the track’s filming was out of the question as it includes the entire primary cast — Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jackie Shroff, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta Bhupathi, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, and many others — and getting their combination dates a second time over would have been difficult. So, the director did the next best thing. 

A source revealed, “Elaborate sets will be put up in Madh Island, Golden Tobacco Studio, and Film City in Goregaon. Created by production designer Sailesh Mahadik, the sets will depict night clubs, casinos, and private jets. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwallah essentially imagined it as a glamorous song that shows how the rich live the good life. That’s why Dubai would have been the perfect location. The unit waited for a month for things to settle down there, but when they didn’t, they shifted the location.”

Khan will begin the song shoot on April 15. Confirming the location shift, the director told mid-day, “We will now shoot the song in Mumbai. It’s a glamorous song with the entire cast.”

An intriguing film is quietly taking shape, and if industry chatter is to be believed, it could see an unexpected pairing come together. Raveena Tandon and Kapil Sharma are said to be the frontrunners for a slice-of-life drama being developed for Netflix, with Sharat Katariya set to direct.

Katariya has earlier helmed movies like ‘Dum Laga Ke Haisha’ (2015) and ‘Sui Dhaaga’ (2018). While plot details of his new venture are tightly under wraps, insiders describe the film as “an intimate story about relationships and everyday dreams.”

Unlike loud, high-concept spectacles, this one is reportedly designed to feel lived-in. “It’s very much in Sharat’s zone, flawed but lovable characters navigating ordinary life. The emotional core is strong, and that’s why casting is crucial. You need performers who can balance authenticity with star presence.”

If the casting goes through, this will mark Raveena and Kapil’s first on-screen collaboration. A look test and photoshoot was scheduled on Sunday [March 1], following which the film is expected to go on floors this month itself with a tightly planned schedule.

Director Ahmed Khan has brought Welcome To The Jungle to the finish line. Well, almost. All that’s left is the shoot of an elaborate song featuring the ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff, and Arshad Warsi. We’ve heard that Khan called action on the song earlier this week, and intends to conclude the shoot in 10 days.

Sources close to the unit describe it as a high-energy celebratory number. An expansive set depicting a jungle has been built at Bahubali Studios in Borivali for the track, choreographed by Adil Shaikh.

“Shooting a song with so many stars isn’t easy. Every actor has their moment in the song. Before beginning filming on February 17, extensive rehearsals were conducted so that principal actors and background dancers move seamlessly through the frame without disrupting camera continuity. It will be used as a post-credit track,” revealed a source.

After this leg, Welcome To The Jungle will move to post-production.

Mumbai is hardly the place one associates with jungles. But trust director Ahmed Khan to turn parts of the city into dense forests for Welcome To The Jungle. mid-day has learnt that on December 5, the director began shooting the climax that will play out across five venues — Film City, Royal Palms, Borivali, and two locations in Aarey Colony. The production team, led by Shailesh Mahadik, has built sets depicting wilderness.

The original plan was to film the climax of the ensemble comedy — starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, and others — in the forests of Uttar Pradesh.

A source revealed, “But the biting cold was a deterrent. Plus, the production team realised it’d be logistically impractical to shoot in the forests with a 34-member cast and 500-strong unit. Given the kind of stunts involved, Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala decided to relocate the shoot to Mumbai.”

After this leg is complete, the director will travel to North India to capture wide shots in the jungles. Khan told mid-day, “It’s wonderful that we’re shooting the climax now. Getting so many actors together was the only challenge, but once on sets, it’s a party.”

In August, the Golden Divas Magical Tour was announced as an eight-city concert across the US headlined by Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Raveena Tandon, and Malaika Arora. But with barely a month left to go before the October concerts, a lot has changed. What had been billed as a celebration of Bollywood’s ’90s dancing divas coming together has now been reduced to solo performances by Arora. While Dixit seems to have dropped out of the Golden Divas Magical Tour and is fronting a solo act, Tandon’s involvement remains uncertain.

Sources close to the project revealed that the decision to cancel the joint appearances stemmed from logistical hurdles. A source told mid-day, “Coordinating the schedules and commitments of the three stars was proving nearly impossible. The timelines, venues, and travel made it unworkable.”

Now, Arora will have solo performances in New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami, and San Diego between October 3 and 12. Dixit, who has been touring select cities in the US since last year, has added a new concert to her calendar — at Boston on November 3. The event, being promoted as An Evening with Madhuri Dixit, positions her as the sole attraction.

“This is an added show to her ongoing tour, not part of the Golden Divas concept anymore. But it is with the same production company Worldstar,” the source clarified.

Meanwhile, there is no word on Tandon’s participation, with insiders suggesting that the actor — who is currently shooting for a yet-untitled film — may not have free dates.

mid-day reached out to Worldstar, which didn’t respond till press time.

In 2021, actor Raveena Tandon made her foray into the streaming world with Aranyak. Given the series’ instant popularity, a sequel was announced soon after. It has been over three years since the announcement; but Raveena has confirmed to us that the second season has officially been shelved.

“I can now say it. It’s not happening,” she says, adding, “Earlier, we all had hope. In fact, season two was written, but I don’t think they were able to crack a good script. Expectations were so high that the platform didn’t want to spoil that.”

Despite the disappointment, the actor acknowledges that streaming has given her career a new direction. “It opened more avenues for [stars from the ’90s]. We are getting to experiment with different roles; we wouldn’t have got a chance to do that in a movie. It becomes very interesting to get that kind of scope to play around with your role in the freedom you get here,” she shares.

Amongst those opportunities is her second series, Karmma Calling, where she played a morally grey character. “I’ve always wanted to do a negative role because I feel they have more fun. Why should villains and vamps have all the fun?” she quips and continues, “One shouldn’t limit themselves but push their boundaries to see what they’ve not done before. This year, the awards are coming in for negative roles and that is a positive beginning for me.”

Raveena Tandon is making a return to Tamil cinema after 24 years (her last Kollywood outing was Kamal Haasan’s Aalavandhan in 2001) with Lawyer, starring Vijay Antony. In a chat with us, the actress shares that she is excited to work in Tamil again after all these years and delving into how she picks her films, says, “Obviously, the role should be good. And you have to have faith in your director. So, it's a combination of everything.” Excerpts:

The actress reveals that she has always loved filming in the South and adds, “I was wondering why I get less work in the South. Whether it's Tamil, Telugu or Kannada cinema, just being down south is an enjoyable treat. I love the kind of work done here, and I want to work here more often. I'm also a fan of South Indian food. Even in the ’90s, I used to go back to Mumbai after filming here and tell people that it’s so refreshing in the South because everyone's so focused. The films made here are deeply rooted in the culture, traditions, and rituals of the place they are set in. Therefore, people can identify with films on a mass level.”

Now that she is back on a Tamil film set, Raveena informs us that she is “refreshing and polishing my Tamil again”. She elaborates, “Once I go back to Mumbai, I forget the language because no one talks in Tamil there. So now, I'm catching up with Tamil words again. Everyone here gets surprised when I speak the language and ask me, ‘Oh, you remember Tamil?’ I say, 'Yeah, it's all coming back to me.’ Tamil is a beautiful language. The actual ethos of India comes from all our indigenous languages.”

Raveena tells us that she currently doesn't have any aspirations and is rather going with the flow. “It's great to work with young blood because they've got fresh and innovative ideas. Working with them keeps you updated, and you also get to enjoy different working styles. I keep hearing of such superb new directors, music composers, and talent coming up from the South, and that is always very tempting. I want to work with many directors from the South. I also want to do a film with my Hyderabad gang again,” states the actress.

Raveena has a rather interesting take on essaying grey characters. “I enjoy playing grey characters. You might watch a character and think that they are grey, but in their mind, they are only doing what they think is right for them. For example, in KGF - Chapter 2 (2022), my character (Ramika Sen) was not grey. She was doing what was right for her country. It's our perception that makes us think who's a grey character and who's not,” she shares.

Elaborating on her experience working on Lawyer, Raveena reveals, “Although I have played a lawyer in Patna Shukla (2024), my character in Lawyer will be completely different. When I heard the film's plot from director Joshua (Sethuraman), I loved it. We are now shooting at such a pace that I feel two films can be made here in the time they shoot one in Mumbai or anywhere else in the world. And I'm thoroughly enjoying it because I hate wasting time. Wastage of time is wastage of the producer's money. I like it when the whole team is out there and working hard with josh.”

Quiz her about KGF - Chapter 3 — the third film in the action franchise, starring Yash — and she says, “I think the makers wanted to give the franchise a break because they didn't want the third film to come out very soon. They wanted to give it a little time so that people's curiosity would increase. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that a third film happens.”

All of 20, Rasha Thadani has realized the importance of making her voice heard as a public figure.

Posing for HT City on World Environment Day today, the actor asserts, “We shouldn’t have just one day dedicated to the environment, but raise awareness year-round.”

Ask where her drive to preserve the environment comes from and she tells us, “I was born in a house which had more animals than humans. As a child, I saw my mum’s (actor Raveena Tandon) passion for the environment.” The actor adds, “While it was a minor subject at school — we would be told to go home and a plant a tree, for example — even that stirred something within me.”

Adopting sustainable habits growing up has shaped her passion for the environment. “When I am with friends, and someone throws a tissue on the road, I stop the car and ask them to pick it up before we continue. They are scared to do anything around me! I also carpool as much as possible, so I try to plant my plans in other people’s minds,” Rasha shares with a laugh.

Growing up in an environmentally-conscious household means that being responsible also translates into small, everyday aspects of life. “In our house, every room has a separate dustbin to discard recyclables, and plastic bottles are a complete no-no at home,” the actor elaborates and continues, “There are small things that you can do for the environment, we only have one Earth.”

Raveena Tandon is all set to make her return to Tamil cinema after 24 years with Vijay Antony’s new courtroom drama, Lawyer. This will be the third Tamil film for the actress, who had previously acted in Arjun Sarja’s Saadhu (1994) and Kamal Haasan’s Aalavandhan (2001).

The film’s director, Joshua Sethuraman, tells us, “I loved Raveena ma’am’s performance in Shool (1999), and we needed an actor with her dynamic presence for our film. She and Vijay Anyony sir will have equally important roles in this film.”

Elaborating on how he approached the actress for this role, the director says, “After Gentlewoman came on OTT, many from Bollywood called me. Since I studied at FTII, I have friends who are working in Bollywood, and that’s how I reached out to her. I told her that she’d get an idea of my work once she sees Gentlewoman, my debut film. After she saw it, I immediately narrated this film’s story and she was also interested.”

Joshua shares that there won’t be any love angle in Lawyer and adds, “It’s a slice-of-life story of a first-generation lawyer. It focuses on the struggles of a law school graduate, played by Vijay Antony, and issues of the working class.”

The director claims that his film will show how a real courtroom functions. “Usually, courtroom dramas deal with criminal cases, but this film deals with a civil case. It discusses a working-class issue taken up in a labour court. The courtrooms showcased in Indian movies are far removed from reality. Films like Visaaranai showcased how the police system functions, but I haven’t seen many films showcasing the proper functioning of a court,” he says.

Apart from playing the protagonist, Vijay Antony will also be bankrolling and composing music for the film. Joshua shares, “He contacted me after seeing Gentlewoman and said that he liked my perspective and wanted to work together.

Reflecting on his experience helming a two-heroine subject as his debut project, he says, “A lot of trade people asked us, ‘Who will come for a two-heroine film when no one even comes for a hero’s films.’ But the film got 50 per cent profit even though many other films released along with it.”

Choreographer turned director Ahmed Khan entered the film industry as a child actor in 1986 with Mr India. The next year will mark his four decades in cinema, a time that saw his evolution from actor to directing action movies (Baaghi 2, Baaghi 3, Heropanti 2) and now comedy with Welcome To The Jungle (WTTJ), the franchise’s third instalment. In a candid chat with BT, Ahmed revealed why commercial cinema is here to stay, Welcome sequel’s casting changes and why he has no intention of sticking to making sequels only.

Sanjay Dutt’s last-minute exit from WTTJ sparked curiosity. The director revealed, “When I started the film, everyone had this fear, kaisay hoga. Casting changes happen in all films whether big or small. It can happen just 15 days prior to shooting. Sanjay Dutt had a good role but dates sabke manage karnay mein issue ho gaya tha. We are like a close-knit family, so we understood each other. He just shot for a day before exiting the project. I can’t tell you if he was replaced or we created a new character because it will trigger this whole talk about isko liya tha pehle, usko liya tha pehle. Aap dekhogay toh aapko yeh pata nahi chalega that who was cast as whom before.”

It was speculated the film was delayed due to its casting and financial hiccups. “I would not like to comment much but we started the film in March last year 2024. Itni badi film will need a year so there’s no delay as such. Half the industry was working with me. The film has Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta and Shreyas Talpade. I cancelled other actors' dates for Shreyas, when he faced an untimely health scare. We waited and shot with him. Every actor stood by Shreyas and said they will change their dates for him. He is a strong guy.”

Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor as Uday and Majnu were iconic characters of Welcome and their omission too felt strange. Ahmed clarified, “I tried to change the vibe of the third instalment. We wanted a totally new look because the audience has changed, humour has changed. They may be back in welcome 4 but it wasn’t necessary for us to recreate the same casting now.”

The filmmaker feels that while commercial films are looked upon as run-of-the-mill, it’s a challenge to make them.

He explains, "Commercial films are toughest to make because everything needs to look good. Be it the hero, heroine, costumes, songs, high octane action or location. The reach is more so the backlash is more as well. You must do it unapologetically. You have to meet expectations of people who want it to be larger than life and yet believable. Bimari pay ek film banalo. Serious hai, background music kam hai, action nahi hai, gaane nahi hai, hospital hai, ghar hai, bimari hai, pareshani hai, dawai hai. People don’t care if it’s not looking good visually. Content driven film may have 50 people on set, we have 500. A lot of effort goes into managing that sort of crew. Commercial Hindi films will never go out of style. Women want a man to give them flowers, be gentle, shower attention, lock eyes with. SRK gives you that."

Looking back at his four decades in cinema, he says, “I started off as a child actor in 1986. I was a choreographer for 25 years of my life! Imagine jumping from choreography to directing action movies and action to directing comedy. I have seen the evolution of cinema. Today’s actors are so well trained. Pehle dhundna padta tha actors ki body hai ki nahi, dance aata kay ahi, now look at today’s boys. They can be compared to international actors and models. The competition is now Timothee Chalamet when it comes to talent and Chris Hemsworth when it comes to physique. Alia Bhatt worked with Gal Gadot and they don’t even make noise about it. 90’s mein main bhi battameez tha. I used to feel it’s okay to be arrogant if you are in the film industry. Today, the youngsters address makeup dada as sir, Tiger Shroff addresses a spot boy as sir.”

The director we hear will launch his son Azaan as an actor soon. Ahmed revealed, “He is a charming 23-year-old. He wants me to launch him like Rakesh ji did for Hrithik. I am very objective that way. I will never say, mera beta superstar banega and he will never say my daddy is the strongest. He knows I am not tall, and I tell him he’s not light-eyed like Hrithik. We are very honest that way, we roast each other. My son knows I am quite critical. He knows he will only succeed if he has it in him.”

Actor Raveena Tandon and her driver were attacked by a mob in Mumbai in June amid rash driving claims against the driver. Recently, the 49-year-old actor has revealed that the attack was pre-planned, as per the Mumbai Police investigation, since actor Richa Chadha also faced a similar mob incident the following day.

“Unfortunately, this has been going on in Mumbai, which is a planned thing — jo ki darane ki baat hai. Jab ye mob ka incident hua, in fact, the next day, my friend Richa Chadha called me. She said, ‘Raveena, you won’t believe it, the same thing happened [with me]!’ Unfortunately, no CCTV cameras were there to record the truth. So, she had to pay up and settle the matter,” she said in her interview with NewsX.

“Toh mere saath jo incident hua, wo shayad daraane, dhamkaane ki koshish kar rahe the. [Taaki] main settle kar dun aur main paise de dedun,” the actor reasoned.

Opening up about the nature of the incident, she said, “I remember, the mob was so aggressive. They were entering my house, my children were upstairs and my husband wasn’t at home. Jo mere male members of staff dikh rahe the unko, wo kheech ke maar rahe the. So hum (she and her staff) gate par khade ho gaye so that no one enters the house. But woh dhakka de de ke bol rahe the, ‘aap bas driver ko bahar bhej dijiye.’ Toh maine kaha, ‘uski galti hai toh police ko aa jane dijiye, fir aap le jaye usko.’”

Having played a cop in Aranyak (2021) and a lawyer in Patna Shuklla, it seems Raveena Tandon is enjoying hardcore portrayals on screen. We have exclusively learnt that the actor’s next is a political drama.

A source close to the project says, “The web series is titled Dynasty. While Raveena plays the protagonist in the show, veteran singer-actor Talat Aziz will also play a key character.”

It marks Tandon’s fifth OTT outing after Aranyak, Patna Shuklla, Karmma Calling and Ghudchadi.

The source adds, “The series is being directed by Sahil Sangha. Raveena and the cast will start shooting for it in the second half of October. The locations are still being finalized, but a large part of it is likely to be shot in Delhi.”

We often hear about celebrities facing uncomfortable situations with fans, from rudeness to invasion of privacy. But the recent event involving actor Raveena Tandon in London and her fan, who wanted a photo, has shifted the gears and focused on a heartwarming encounter.   

On Friday, Raveena took to Instagram to share her side of the story about why she didn’t take a picture with the fan. She recounts being in a hotel back alley when two men approached her, repeatedly asking, “Are you Raveena?” Feeling alone and uneasy, she quickened her pace, alarmed by the events in June this year, including a troubling mob incident outside her Mumbai home.

“They didn’t ask for a photo; they just kept questioning if I was Raveena. With the crime rate in London and stories of people getting robbed, I was on edge. The road was empty, and if it had been busier, I might not have panicked so much. Since the Mumbai incident, I’ve become more cautious around crowds,” the 49-year-old actor explains to us over a phone call. She later apologized in her Instagram post and expressed her desire to meet the fans again.

This situation had a positive twist. The fan, Bhavin Patel, reached out to Raveena’s manager on Instagram, understanding her perspective and reassuring her, “I can fully understand that it can be scary for a woman when approached by strangers. There’s no need for an apology.”

Raveena responded warmly, inviting the fans to meet her at an event she attended on Saturday evening. She shares her thoughts on fan interactions, saying, “I’m not rude and generally try to accommodate fan requests because we owe our success to them. However, aggressive fans are challenging. Some want to touch a celebrity to confirm they’re real, or sometimes they are overwhelmed, which I understand. I’m comfortable with elderly fans having their arm around me, but not anyone else.”

The director (in red) with actors Parth Samthaan, Raveena Tandon, Khushalii Kumar and Sanjay Dutt

First-time director Binnoy Gandhi believes he has learnt from the best. While he served as an assistant director to Ram Gopal Varma, Kunal Kohli and Siddharth Anand, his filmmaker-father-in-law J P Dutta is his biggest influence.

Gandhi, who is gearing up for the release of Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon’s Ghudchadi, shares, “He is particular about his scripts. I get scared to discuss them with him, but talking movies with him makes me learn a lot. So much of what I have shot in Ghudchadi comes from him.”

In the Jio Cinema offering, Aruna Irani plays a matriarch who hopes to see her grandson married; little does she know that her son, essayed by Dutt, is planning to walk down the aisle a second time. While Irani will be a sight for sore eyes, Gandhi says the suggestion of pairing Dutt and Tandon came from producer-wife Nidhi Dutta.

“Nidhi said that the older generation’s love story had to feature Sanjay sir and Raveena. They are like family to her. Raveena loved the script, and Sanju sir was blown away by the one-line concept. He treats Nidhi like a child, and said he had to do it as Ghudchadi is her first baby. I could only think of Aruna ji as the grandmother, and she executed the role beautifully. I used to [shoot] from 7 am to 11 pm, and she would do it cheerfully.”

The slice-of-life comedy is reminiscent of Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s brand of cinema. Gandhi says, “He is one of the legends of Indian cinema. If I achieve even one percent of his vision, my job as a director would be complete.”

Mumbai: Actor Raveena Tandon has sent a defamation notice to a man for failing to take down a video in which he accused her driver of road rage, asserting that a police probe had found his allegation to be fake.

In the clip, the man had claimed that Tandon’s car hit his mother outside her Bandra home on June 1 and on being confronted, the driver assaulted her. A police probe found that the car did not hit anyone.

The notice said the man asked Tandon to send a request seeking removal of the video from his X account, which was sent on June 5 via email. “However, you (the man) have denied deleting the post... and moreover, threatened our client to initiate legal action if the said request letter is not withdrawn within 24 hours (sic),” it said.

In the notice, Tandon said the man had defamed her on social media and news portals via the video “which is admittedly fake news” and derogatory.

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Actor Raveena Tandon's harrowing experience of being heckled by a mob left her fans shocked. It started with a video put out by a social media user, claiming to be a freelance journalist, on June 2. He alleged on X that the actor was drunk and had assaulted a senior citizen. The Mumbai Police however, later clarified that the allegations, which accused her of being drunk, rash driving and assault, were false.

We have learnt exclusively learnt that Tandon has now decided to press defamation charges against the said journalist. HT City is in possession of the defamation notice, which was sent to him on June 12. 

Lawyer Sana Raees Khan, who is representing Tandon, tells us, "Recently an attempt was made to embroil Raveena in a false and frivolous allegation which was clarified in CCTV footage and the allegation was withdrawn. However, a person, claiming to be a journalist, is disseminating false information on X regarding the said incident, which is factually incorrect and misleading. This dissemination of false news appears to be a deliberate attempt to tarnish Raveena’s reputation for ulterior motives. We are currently taking all necessary legal steps to address this issue and ensure that justice is served. We stand in solidarity with Raveena and support her right to seek redressal for the harm caused by these unfounded allegations."