Vijay Ganguly says he never saw coming. The choreographer, who once had no interest in dancing, admits he is still processing the honour.

“I was just numb for five minutes. I couldn’t believe it. When messages started pouring, I realized, okay, this is really happening. I’m still processing it,” he says.

A climax can make or break even the biggest films, and the makers of ‘Vvan: Force Of The Forest’ are taking no chances. The team behind the upcoming folk thriller is heading back for a 10-day additional shoot to expand and strengthen key portions of the film, especially its climax.

Starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, the film recently underwent a review of its final cut, after which the makers decided to revisit a few sequences. “The team simply felt there was scope to make some scenes bigger and more dramatic. When you’re building a world as unique as ‘Vvan’, every detail matters,” says a source close to the production.

Directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra and Arunabh Kumar, the film blends mythology, mystery, and forest lore. According to the insider, the team is pleased with the film’s progress and sees the additional shoot as an opportunity to elevate the viewing experience further.

“The makers are extremely happy with the film. These additions will give audiences an even richer payoff in the final act,” adds the source.

Actor Annu Kapoor has finally addressed the controversy surrounding his ‘dudhiya badan’ remark about actor Tamannaah Bhatia last year that was widely perceived as distasteful.

The comment dates back to an interview in October, where he discussed Tamannaah’s performance in the song Aaj Ki Raat from Stree 2 (2024). At the time, he had said, “Mashallah, kya dudhiya badan hai!” adding, “Apne gaane se, aur apne badan se, aur apne dudhiya mukhde se humare bachchon ko sulati hain.”

Responding to the backlash in a recent interview with YouTuber Siddharth R Kanan, he said in Hindi, “If I had said ‘milky body’ in English, there wouldn’t have been an issue. But saying it in Hindi became a problem,” adding, “Even if I have noticed someone’s body, I appreciate the physique, but I do not desire her.”

He clarified, “If she asks me whether I said it, I will say yes, I did. If you felt bad, I will touch your feet. If a 71-year-old man touches her feet, what will she say? Nothing, because I am not doing it with any wrong intention.”

It was a sparkling yet busy Diwali for actress Tamannaah Bhatia, who’s had a stellar year lighting up screens and songs alike. “It is a working Diwali for me,” she shares warmly, adding, “Of course, I’ll had that one special day for puja and spent time with my family. But I haven’t been able to attend as many parties as I normally would or spend enough time with friends. I’m assuming that on the day of Diwali, it’s going to be a full, wholesome day filled with family, fun, food, and time well spent with loved ones.”

Describing her ideal Diwali at home, Tamannaah’s eyes light up. “Diwali is always about doing pujas at home, at the office and then spending time with family. Then of course, I end up calling all my friends at home, so my family and friends all mix, and everyone just has a great time. We sit together, eat good food and chat. I also like a slightly informal setting at home, so that everyone doesn’t feel the need to go all out and dress too formal. I want people to be able to come home, relax and have a good time.”

When it comes to festive fashion, Tamannaah believes Diwali is the time to embrace tradition with a hint of glamour. “I’ve made sure that my glamour quotient is on during Diwali, but I also love being traditional in a comfortable way. I’ll be wearing one sari and maybe an anarkali one of the days. I’m going to dress all out traditional, because Diwali is that one time when you can go all in and dress up in traditional outfits. Of course, there’s also going to be a lot of bling and a lot of jewels. I’m going to enjoy feeling fully traditional,” she smiles.

For the actress, Diwali is not just about lights and celebrations — it’s a reminder of inner strength and balance. “Diwali signifies the victory of good over evil, and I think all of it lies within us. I believe we are largely overcoming our own thoughts and insecurities, and in my case, I see it in a very internal way. It’s about the battles we have to win within our own minds - that’s what Diwali means to me. It’s about truly bringing that good over evil into action and not keeping it limited to just a thought.”

As for the sound of the season, Diwali feels incomplete without Tamannaah’s chartbusters setting the mood. Whether it’s Aaj Ki Raat or Gafoor, her dance numbers are now synonymous with festive celebrations.

Bring this up and she says, “Parties, and Aaj Ki Raat and Gafoor go hand in hand now, and that makes me so happy. I was that kid who grew up dancing to Bollywood numbers at people’s weddings and Diwali parties. Today, I am bringing that same energy to people. It makes me so happy that I can be that person who brings that community feeling.”

After dabbling in non-fiction all his career, creator Nishant Nayak harboured a dream of making a fiction show. He says it took him and his team almost five years to bring the show to screen. The Amazon Prime Video series Do You Wanna Partner, starring Diana Penty, Tamannaah Bhatia, Jaaved Jaaferi, Nakuul Mehta, and Shweta Tiwari, among others, was, he shares, a product of the pandemic. In conversation with mid-day, Nayak discusses how he and Mithun Gangopadhyay developed the idea, did intense research of the beer industry, and how much the script changed from start to finish. Excerpts from the interview.

To be honest, I haven’t moved. It was just something that I wanted to try out. I still work as a non-fiction director. Actually, I wrote this story as a pandemic experiment. I was always keen to direct an original story. [I wanted] to either do a short film or a long-form content. My cinematographer [Mithun Gangopadhyay, co-creator] had written a couple of concepts and this is the one that I really liked. So, we decided to develop it together. We gave ourselves a month to write the entire story. Then we shopped it around. It took us about nine months to get through to Dharmatic Entertainment and then they got Amazon [Prime Video] on board. Then we set up a writers’ room. Non-fiction is still very exciting and I enjoy it.

I was actually involved in narrating it to a lot of the cast before we finally went on floors in May last year. But it took us about eight to nine months. The whole story of these two girls, who want to enter a male-dominated industry, having to create a fictitious male partner because of the circumstances, I think caught everyone’s ear. Initially, it was set in the US and there was a bit of a video game component. I wanted to localise it, and craft beer is something that we both identified with. In all, it has taken five years from the time we put pen to paper to you actually seeing the episode today.

We’ve been getting a mixed response from outsiders and friends from the industry. I think the whole one-liner really appealed to everyone. People have liked that we integrated a mixed cast from across movies and television. People have found the heightened sense of disbelief. Some people wanted something a little closer to realism. There’s been a little bit of critique on that. But largely I think people have really enjoyed seeing Diana and Tamannaah in a series. The fact that Jaaved Jaaferi is also back in a very endearing role [has got love]. We also got a lot of positive response to Jaaved Jaaferi’s role. I had directed Shark Tank India, so it’s sort of continuing the whole entrepreneur cycle. The music was also well liked.

I think the essential plot of Vikram Walia [played by Neeraj Kabi] having a connection to Tamannaah’s father’s business failing, and that becoming a mission for her to see through, stayed the same. Laila [played by Shweta Tiwari] was originally a sketchy male financier. I am glad Shweta ended up playing it. A few small characters and turning points changed. I have no regrets about what changed. It had an army of good hearts behind it.

They both came in cold because they are from very different backgrounds. Tamannaah is a huge star in the industry. For Diana, it was her first OTT show. We did readings and workshops together. They both loved the story. And it worked  on camera.

We needed a cool product. Initially, we were planning to go with video games. Mithun, my co-creator, had also been a hobby homebrewer years ago. He was familiar with the process and we found the right experts along the way. We, of course, consumed a lot of beer while writing it. The story of Bira was a huge inspiration. Dharma put us in touch with a very fine researcher, Dipti Kharude, who knew a lot of people in the beer community. During the research, we learnt that there were not many female brewers in the Indian market. Then we got in touch with Lynette Pires [from the Women Brewers Collective], who is based in Bengaluru. That was an interesting insight we came across. Since then there have been about six to seven female master brewers. Two of them are consultants for multiple brands. In fact, Pratik Kansara [of Rolling Mills] was the main consulting brewer who helped us on the shoot. 

The cast of Ranger — Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Tamannaah Bhatia — are heading to Thailand next once the first shooting schedule wraps in Mumbai.

A source tells us, “Jagan (Shakti, director) and the cast are finishing the Mumbai schedule and will soon head for the second schedule in Thailand. The shoot involves important sequences of the film.”

The film is touted as a jungle adventure drama, with Ajay playing a forest officer who stands up against poaching, while Sanjay plays the antagonist. Tamannaah is the female lead, though details about her character remain under wraps.

Recently, Ajay and Tamannaah — reuniting onscreen after 2013’s Himmatwala — also shot a song in Mumbai. “The song, choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, required Ajay to shoot while drinking alcohol, but he cheated the sequences with black coffee instead,” says the source.

If you follow content creator Sufi Motiwala on Instagram, you know that sass comes naturally to him. So, when the makers of Do You Wanna Partner, led by Tamannaah Bhatia and Diana Penty, were casting for a sassy character, it’s not surprising that Motiwala ended up bagging it.

“They weren’t able to find someone because the role had sass, flair, and flamboyance. The makers were testing a lot of people. Eventually, the opportunity came to me to test for the role,” he recalls.

But the road to his acting debut wasn’t easy. Motiwala had to go through a series of auditions. “My first audition was really bad because I was trying to play a straight person. Then Archit [Kumar, director] sir met me and said, ‘Babe, you can be yourself.’ That’s when I got the hang of my character,” he says.

Even though the Prime Video series is his second screen outing after The Traitors, Motiwala shot for Do You Wanna Partner before the reality show. While he was anxious, co-stars Bhatia and Penty eased him into the process. Were there any lessons he learnt from his experienced co-stars?

“I’d keep chatting with everybody on set, and by the seventh hour, I was tired. From Tammy, I learnt to conserve my energy so that it shows on camera. From Diana, I learnt commitment as she wouldn’t cancel her shoot even if she was sick.”

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia’s personal life has often made headlines, with the most recent being her split from actor Vijay Varma.

Now, Tamannaah has opened up about the attention on her love life, even addressing the rumours that had once linked her to India cricketer Virat Kohli and former Pakistan cricketer Abdul Razzaq.

Whispers of a romance between her and Virat first began in 2012 after the two shot an advertisement together. Looking back, the actor shared, “I feel so bad because I met him for only one day. I never met Virat after the shoot. Na maine unse baat ki, na unse mili hoon.”

“The internet is a fun place,” she added during a conversation with Lallantop. “According to the [buzz], I was also briefly married to Abdul Razzaq. I’m sorry, sir. Aapke 2-3 bachche hain. It was so embarrassing,” the 35-year-old said.

Tamannaah was first linked to Abdul after they were photographed at a promotional event in 2020. After speculation reached a crescendo, the actor had released a statement to set the record straight. “One day it’s an actor, then it’s a cricketer. These rumours make it sound like I’m on a husband shopping spree. I don’t appreciate baseless news about my personal life,” she wrote.

Calling such speculations awkward and intrusive, Tamannaah noted: “It was so embarrassing. It’s very awkward when there’s no connection at all. But there’s nothing you can do. People will think whatever they want to think.”

The lines between actors and influencers are increasingly blurring, and during a chat with us recently, Tamannaah Bhatia weighed in on this evolution and how actors are adapting to this new reality. She said, “I love the fact that I have worked my way to become an actor. It is also important to adapt and change with the times, and along with acting, we actors are learning about live content creation - we’ve also become influencers.”

She further added, “I did not have any background in acting, but with hard work, I made my way to people’s hearts. There are many people who don’t want to become actors but want to put their voices across and reach out to people. Social media is an important tool in helping build identities and promote brands.”

Reflecting on influencers’ presence at major events like the Cannes Film Festival, the Baahubali actress said, “I don’t feel competitive at all. I’m happy that the process is democratized and that we’re giving people a chance to build communities. I feel that glamour, looking good and endorsements should not be limited to actors. We, as actors, should support the influencer culture because it gives people an opportunity to earn a living through their talent, and everyone deserves a chance.”

On the film front, Tamannaah continues her action-packed run with Odela 2 and Raid 2 already behind her, and upcoming titles like Ranger and Rohit Shetty’s untitled action drama lined up.

In an earlier interview with BT, Tamannaah said, "I’m in a phase where I’m looking inwards for inspiration. I want to express myself in the most honest way possible and stay focused on my work. I am trying to find ways through which I can express myself in the most honest way. I am enjoying this phase.”

Back from the breezy hills of Ooty to the buzz of Mumbai, Tamannaah Bhatia says she missed the high-paced energy of the city. The actor, who has spent her two decade career navigating the evolving landscape of Indian showbiz, shares that she is currently in the happiest phase of her life, thanks to the kind of opportunities coming her way. One that she is most looking forward to is the Netflix series, Daring Partners, alongside Diana Penty, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Nakuul Mehta. The series follows two best friends who venture into a partnership for an alcohol start-up while navigating challenges and breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry.

While the streaming date is yet to be confirmed, Bhatia is confident that Daring Partners will première this year. “I have attempted long format before too, but this show has been extremely close to my heart,” she says, adding that the role demanded significant homework.

“While it is in the fun and entertaining space, it still has a strong emotional connect. Back in the day, sitcoms had a different charm. I have not seen much of that in the OTT space. The content has either become too serious or too frivolous. This show will potentially [fill that void] where you are entertained as well as moved by something,” says Bhatia.

She adds that the show is about more than just two women setting up a beer brewing business — and she believes many women will relate to it. “There are many different types of strong women, however even that has become typecast. The show will give the audience a very real sneak peek into strong women in a working environment, dealing with life and preconceived notions. It is going to be an authentic presentation of that,” explains the actor, who recently paid homage to iconic women-led dance numbers at the Zee Cine Awards.

“I wanted to celebrate the legacy of all the women, who have danced to such powerful numbers before me,” she shares.

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia’s dance moves in Aaj Ki Raat (Stree 2, 2024) and Nasha (Raid 2) for sure have people grooving, but it’s her outspoken attitude which turns heads. Body positivity ranks high on her priority list.

Scrutiny over her looks doesn’t seem to faze her, given her public-facing journey from adolescence to adulthood. “I have had the edge of growing up literally in front of the camera. There’s nothing for me to hide. I was just 15 when I had my first release, so people have seen me go from a teen to how I looked in my 20s to now. Post puberty, people have seen me change on the screen,” says the 35-year-old.

Tamannaah believes that standing out is important in an industry where people end up succumbing to beauty norms. “I feel as an actor and performer, your biggest strength is how unique you are. The fact that I look a certain way — it could be from the face to the body to the way I carry myself — is all unique to me. If I tailor that to how someone else looks, then I will lose something that’s individual to me. I consider everything that’s mine as my strength and also a differentiator. Otherwise, we can’t be impactful if we have the cookie-cutter approach.”

The actor feels that beauty is subjective: “If I have something that five or six other people are also doing, then filmmakers won’t need me. Clearly, I bring something else to the table. Also, the skill and the craft that goes behind channelling beauty are very different than just shapes and sizes. If you don’t feel good about yourself, then you can have the best body on the planet, yet you will still not look good. The camera catches it immediately.”

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia’s song Nasha from the upcoming film Raid 2 has been trending. While many have been appreciating her moves, some social media users drew a comparison between the song and actor Urvashi Rautela’s dance number Sorry Bol in Sunny Deol and Randeep Hooda-starrer Jaat. The chatter took a turn when Urvashi herself addressed the comparisons.

On Monday, Urvashi shared a screenshot of a comment in which a fan called her song “far better than Nasha”. The 31-year-old later deleted her Story, but a screenshot found its way on Reddit. Social media users were not impressed with her post, with several criticizing her for sharing it.

The actor was earlier trolled for naming actor Kiara Advani after her Game Changer bombed at the box office. While promoting her film, Urvashi had told Lehren TV, “Agar Kiara Advani ki Game Changer disaster hui hai aur meri Daaku Maharaaj blockbuster hit ho gayi hai, then it’s not my mistake.”

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Meanwhile, in an interview with Screen, influencer Orry spoke about feeling insecure after Urvashi overshadowed him with a grand entrance at her 31st birthday party in February, adding that he later took “revenge”.

The 29-year-old recalled that the actor walked in carrying her own spotlight: “It didn’t matter who you were—you could be Donald Trump, and you’d still take out your phone and record Urvashi’s entrance.”

He had also shared a video wishing her back in Feb, in which he can be seen pushing her while dancing to Dabidi Dibidi (Daaku Maharaaj): “We were dancing near the DJ booth to her song, and as everyone was recording, I pushed her — on her own song, no less. That was me getting revenge for the light. She even tried to blind me once! I posted the video myself and said, ‘Urvashi, you’re taking too much attention. This is not okay. I’m feeling very insecure — and your physical spotlight is outshining my inner glow’.”

In March, mid-day reported that Ajay Devgn and director Raj Kumar Gupta, who had wrapped up Raid 2’s shoot in May 2024, decided to add two songs to the narrative (The end? Not quite, March 25). Sure enough, last week, singer-musician Yo Yo Honey Singh and actor Jacqueline Fernandez filmed a dance number for the crime thriller. Now, we have learnt that Tamannaah Bhatia leads the second song, a club number, along with Singh. The duo kicked off the shoot in a suburban studio in Mumbai over the weekend.

Bhatia has been on a high since her dance number, Aaj Ki Raat, from Stree 2 (2024) became wildly popular. Can we expect another chartbuster from her?

An insider reveals, “The team has designed an opulent set, inspired by the underground club scene—think shimmering lights, bold colour palettes, and strobe effect. It’s a glamorous track with Tamannaah sporting a sequinned ensemble and displaying her dancing prowess, while Honey Singh matches her with his signature swag.”

Devgn, who plays income tax officer Amay Patnaik in Raid 2, is not part of the shoot as he is filming Ranger in Tamil Nadu. The source, however, adds, “Ajay sir was keen to add a catchy track that could be a crowd-puller.”

The song shoot is likely to be wrapped up by next week, as the film—also starring Riteish Deshmukh—readies for its May 1 release.

At just 13, Tamannaah Bhatia stepped into the world of cinema. By 15, her debut film Chand Sa Roshan Chehra (2005) had hit the screens. Now, as she celebrates two decades in the industry, the 35-year-old actor reflects on her journey, growth, and the wisdom she gained along the way.

“I was giving my Class 10 board exams when my first film released,” she recalls, adding, “I have a very Benjamin Button case — not in how I look, but from an emotional and mental POV. At that age, I thought I knew everything, like a mini dadi maa. Watching my old interviews now is quite funny!”

Tamannaah’s maturity helped her hold her own in an industry where she often worked with co-stars twice her age. “I always worked with people 20 years older than me, be it directors, actors, producers. It is not easy to take this field on and navigate it if you have zero backing or support,” she recalls. However, her biggest support system was her family. “My parents never treated me as a child,” she says.

Over the years, she has mastered the craft and built an enviable career. From the Baahubali films to her latest song Aaj Ki Raat in Stree 2 (2024), she has continued to evolve. But which project was the biggest turning point? “Baahubali was the beginning of me understanding my strengths. I’m a simple person, but being simple doesn’t make you ordinary. That’s become my life’s motto. I have always had high goals. Commercially I had been paired with all leading actors, and done female-led films, too. I wanted to push the envelope, and then OTT happened.”

On the personal front, Tamannaah has been making headlines for her rumoured breakup with actor Vijay Varma. However, she has yet to comment on the speculation.

We didn’t see this coming! The latest development in actors Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia’s relationship is surely going to leave their fans heartbroken. As per reports, the couple has decided to end their relationship and move forward as just friends.

While they are yet to comment on the rumoured split, a source confirms that the news is indeed true.

Until recently, the rumour mill had been hinting at a possible wedding, which makes news of their breakup even more shocking.

Another source had earlier told us that the former couple had been scouting for hotels for a destination wedding, but that’s no longer the case.

Vijay and Tamannaah started dating in 2023 and quickly became pap and fan favourites. They came close during the shoot of their episode of web show Lust Stories 2, and fans hailed their chemistry when they finally confirmed their relationship. “Our relationship began after Lust Stories. First, we met as co-actors, very professional, then I asked her out,” Vijay had told Mashable India in June 2023.

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia has dismissed reports claiming she will be summoned by the Puducherry Police in connection with a Rs. 2.4 crore cryptocurrency fraud case, calling them “fake and misleading”. She also stated that she will take “appropriate action” against the spread of such false information.

In a statement, Tamannaah clarified, “It has come to my attention that rumours are being circulated alleging my involvement and dealing with cryptocurrency. I request my friends in the media not to propagate such fake, misleading, and false reports.” She further added that her legal team is assessing the situation. “In the meantime, my team is looking into the same to initiate appropriate action,” she said. HTC

The controversy stems from a complaint filed by Ashokan, a resident of Puducherry, who alleged that a Coimbatore-based firm defrauded him and 10 others of Rs. 2.4 crore through a cryptocurrency investment scheme. Ashokan claimed that he was invited to the company’s launch event in 2022, which Tamannaah attended, and a subsequent function in Mahabaleshwar attended by actor Kajal Aggarwal. These high-profile appearances reportedly lent credibility to the firm’s operations, influencing investors’ decisions.

As of now, Kajal has not publicly addressed the allegations, and the Puducherry police have not issued an official statement regarding the involvement of either actor.

This case is part of a broader investigation into cryptocurrency scams in the region.

In Lucknow recently, the Aaj Ki Raat fame actress Tamannaah Bhatia shared how she has a special connection with the City of Nawabs. The Sikandar Ka Muqaddar actress also talked about her journey in the entertainment world, her spiritual side and more. Excerpts...

Actually, Lucknow is my father’s birthplace. My dad was born in Lucknow, and it is always special to be here. He hasn’t shared with me much about the city, as he himself was quite young when he left Lucknow, but it feels really nice to come to a place that is your parent’s birthplace. It is more emotional than anything else. I don’t know anything about the city, but wherever I am going to a place, being a foodie, I want to know about the food there. So, I am getting a lot of food recommendations for Lucknow - both vegetarian and non-vegetarian.

Haan bahot bachpan mein I had changed it to this. When I started working in my teens. usi time pe. I changed it to Tamannaah. And clearly, it has been a fairly good decision.

For me, it was a very strong urge to do what I am doing today. While I was doing theatre and some kind of work initially, the performing arts also brought a kind of joy to me. Even though sometimes the timings have been crazy, it never felt like work to me. Strangely, people keep asking me what I do for pleasure, but for me, work only has been my pleasure, and I never seek pleasure anywhere else. Having said that, do I like that every day, maybe not! Do I have boring days, yes! Do I have dreadful days, yes! And would I still do this? Yes! I do have days like ‘Mummy mujhe school nahi jaana hai’ but largely I wake up enthusiastically for my work.

The OTT boom has actually done a great thing by giving people variety. Now the viewers are not restricted to watching a certain kind of genre. When we were growing up, I remember we didn’t have that kind of exposure and had to rent out a handful of international CDs available in the market. Today, literally everybody has choice. So, what OTT brought is a platform for different kinds of cinema to be showcased. Now because of the OTT one can be focused on the art form more and not worry so much about the numbers. With theatres, there is always a number game, which is very important for it to survive because it is very expensive art form. We can’t make very experimental films with theatre audience because it is still community viewing and has to appeal to the masses to do well. But with OTT, now we have movies that only a certain section enjoys. OTT has created a choice situation for the viewers.

I am not in the right position to answer this question, but I do feel like there has to be some space for creative people to make things that they really feel strongly about. I do feel that something that is really problematic, the platforms are taking care of it. OTT platforms today are so careful about the kind of content they are putting out and they are doing a great job of being sensitive to most people and understanding that we want people to consume content.

We have always been doing good work, but somehow it has gotten into the limelight now. With films, we are now more bothered about whether they evoke some kind of emotion in us as a viewer, language no bar. South has told a lot of rooted stories that are about their land and about their people and projects there are now magnum opus kind, especially the folklore ones. And we also have a Baahubali from the South, which is exceptional.

For me, I was always intrigued as in who am I? Those questions were very prevalent at a very young age. I feel lucky to have been in an artistic field where exploration is a part of the job we do. We are playing different people in each character, and you can’t do that unless you understand yourself well. The best thing that spirituality has done for me is that I can’t be emotionally manipulated anymore. Spirituality makes a lot of things very apparent, like you start seeing things for what they are. I am a regular meditator now.

For me, it is different when actors try to attempt a song. Because I felt like I wanted to perform like the character Shama would do it. I had a character to back it up and not do just another dance number. And I think that’s why it also got a distinct flavour of its own. Also, there was fluidity and grace in a rather fast-paced song. It was a fusion of a ghazal and techno. But yes, we didn’t imagine it while shooting that people would love it so much. I still get so much love for Aaj Ki Raat.

Tamannaah Bhatia has confessed that the song Aaj Ki Raat from Stree 2 helped her accept her body. “I grew up on the idea of unrealistic beauty standards. In movies, I would put a lot of pressure on myself to look a certain way,” the actor said.

“Times that I actually started to feel good about myself had rarely anything to do with how thin I was. I somewhere feel like maybe Aaj Ki Raat helped me accept my body,” the 34-year-old told Instant Bollywood.

Bhatia also revealed being fat-shamed after Kaavaalaa (Jailer, 2023) came out. She shared, “One lady walked up to me at a party and she was like, ‘Thank you, you know because of you we as curvy women feel like accepted. You were so big and, fat and yet you were enjoying.’ For the first time, I registered that according to this lady, I was fat. I didn’t completely understand that till I heard it from a person.”

Days after mid-day had reported that Salman Khan was set to pursue his film commitments despite repeated threats to his life (Bhaijaan Won’t Be Bogged Down, October 17) comes news that the actor has taken on yet another project. Two years after he set off to Dubai for a tour with the top female stars of Bollywood, Khan is set to return to the country as part of a Middle Eastern tour. His first global performance on the international stage in the aftermath of fresh threats from gangster Lawrence Bishnoi will commence with an act on December 7. Actors, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonakshi Sinha, Aastha Gill, Prabhudheva, Disha Patani, Maniesh Paul, and Sunil Grover, among others, will be part of this edition of Da-bangg: The Tour Reloaded.

Asserting that Khan wasn’t apprehensive about giving his nod to the international trip, his manager Jordy Patel—who also serves as the show’s organizer, along with Sohail Khan and Adil Jagmagia—says, “Security is arranged well by the Dubai police, and [in] crowded [areas] too. The cops take care of that. We will travel with our own security. Personnel will be appointed for each artiste, including Salman. He has been keeping up with all his professional commitments, and when we approached him for the show, he immediately agreed to be part of it. For Salman, the show must always go on. He has to keep shooting because he is committed to his work.”

In keeping with his past performances on the tour, Khan’s four-hour set is expected to have a blend of music, comic acts, and dance performances. The first act will be held at the Dubai Harbour Experience, which has a capacity of 25,000 viewers, with another show scheduled at Jeddah, where Khan is expected to perform to a 70,000-strong crowd.

“This edition will mark the third show of Da-Bangg in Dubai, and will be held at a beautiful outdoor venue overlooking the Dubai skyline. Only premiere international shows happen here, and an Indian concert like ours will take place here for the first time. While the Middle Eastern tour kicks off in Dubai, we will also announce shows in Qatar, Bahrain, and Doha, when we have the dates of the other artistes. We are trying to cover all the cities in the Middle East,” he says, adding that with 40 shows behind them, the team attempts to match international acts while delivering every new performance. 

“Apart from paying attention to the visuals, sounds, and graphics, we keep changing the line-up of artistes so that Salman [performs] with someone new every time. We plan to add more shows in London and the USA in May and June next year,” he says, adding that tickets for the shows are already on sale.

Considering the multiple projects he has in his kitty, Khan, however, will need to deftly fill his date diary. The preferred days by the international organizers, says Patel, are Fridays, when the actor is required in Mumbai to shoot for the ongoing reality TV show, Bigg Boss.

“On December 7, he will not shoot for the reality show. But, on other days, he will go back and forth, and be part of the tour as well as Bigg Boss.”

Tamannaah Bhatia has worked on movies in several languages across the country. When asked about how her journey has been — from her first film till now — she says it’s all about making a choice and then sticking to it, no matter what.

“I knew I wanted to be an actor, and I took one day at a time, working towards my dream. I did not over-emphasize any particular decision, but I made a very, very conscious choice of what I wanted to do and I stuck by that, regardless of the circumstances,” she tells Bangalore Times in an exclusive interview.

I did not plan the part beyond deciding that I wanted to be an actor. I had no idea where it would take me. Despite the uncertainty, I gave my dream a 100 per cent, and now I feel I pursued something enjoyable.

There was a time when it was only cinema. Then multiplexes came through. After that, OTT happened, with long-format in OTT trending now. Now literally, as creative people, our biggest competition is the 15-second videos online, because we are striving for people’s attention who are used to watching 15-second videos.

Times are changing and we should, too. Technology should not be a problem. It is the responsibility of every individual to make sure that they use it better, and not let technology use them. It’s made by us, so we should be able to control it. Having said that, the fear is about the younger kids who are born with this.

I am working on an untitled Tamil film, and a Telugu movie called Odela. At the same time, I am also doing an OTT show called Partners. So, the idea is to just focus on what that piece of content is that I am a part of. I’m not worried about the format. I’m just trying to see whether it has something new for me to do. Are people going to see a new and better version of me? Also, bonus points if it has some kind of emotional grounding, which tells a story.

I have dubbed for my movies in Telugu, and I am yet to start in Tamil. Recently, for my role in Babli Bouncer, I had to train to get the Haryanvi accent right. So as actors, we train as and when the part demands it. I enjoy prep periods of everything, as it gives you an insight into what the character is. It’s the fun part of the process when you’re just kind of getting to understand what’s going on.

My own journey of finding myself has been through the characters. I feel like every time I perform a certain character, it gives me a little bit of insight about myself, because as an actor, you’re making choices about how you’re going to perceive a character, and those choices are a very big reflection of who you are. So, when people say you know how different the actor is from the character, I don’t agree with it. You are choosing to make that character behave that way because that’s your perception. So, I choose to play characters that are more diverse, and more authentic.

I don’t think there is any downside to fame; it is actually very empowering. It’s all about the way you look at it. I think I’ve only felt more and more empowered because of being somebody who has some kind of influence. I would feel bad for myself if I thought fame was a disability of any kind. This industry and this work do make you give up on a certain kind of life, but then, any other thing I would do would have its own pros and cons.

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Everything in life, at some point, will get exhausting and tiring. It will get demanding. But, what is the one thing you can do when it gets to that point? For me, it’s acting

- Tamannaah Bhatia