Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Ajay Devgn wraps Ranger shoot in Palghar; gears up for Drishyam 3 from December 15
10:58 AM
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; December 5, 2025)
Even as 2025 winds down to a close, Ajay Devgn has no plans to slow down. mid-day has learnt that the actor wrapped up the shoot of director Jagan Shakti’s Ranger earlier this week, and will dive into the world of Drishyam 3 from December 15.
An action adventure also starring Tamannaah Bhatia, Ranger sees Devgn’s forest officer locking horns with Sanjay Dutt, who plays the antagonist out to loot the jungle’s natural resources. Sources have told us that the final schedule was filmed in Palghar.
A source reveals, “Initially, the last leg was to be shot in the forests of Thailand and Sri Lanka. But after Cyclone Ditwah hit Sri Lanka last week, the makers decided to film the portions in India. They quickly zeroed in on Tungareshwar Wildlife Sanctuary and Phansad Wildlife Sanctuary in Palghar district of Maharashtra.”
Now, Devgn is geared up to reprise his role of Vijay Salgaonkar from the hit thriller franchise Drishyam. From December 15, Abhishek Pathak, who helmed Drishyam 2 (2022), will call action on the third part in Mumbai.
The source adds, “The cast, including Akshaye Khanna and Tabu, will be a part of the 10-day Mumbai schedule during which indoor scenes will be canned. They will shoot till Christmas, before taking a New Year’s break. Drishyam 3’s shoot will resume from the first week of 2026, with the plan to wrap it up by April 2026.”
Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Tamannaah Bhatia gear up for Thailand leg of Ranger
9:28 AM
Rohit Bhatnagar (HINDUSTAN TIMES; September 11, 2025)
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.
Bharti Singh responds to backlash: "In Thailand for work, not on holiday"
10:27 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (May 13, 2025)
Comedian Bharti Singh has received backlash for seemingly vacationing in Thailand as military tensions between India and Pakistan escalate.
In her latest vlog on her YouTube channel, a visibly emotional Bharti addressed the harsh comments she has been receiving and clarified that she was in the country for a shoot.
“I’m in Thailand for work and not for holiday. We had a shoot for 10 days and we had committed to this project 3-4 months ago. It is not professional to ditch someone at the last moment,” she said. “India is a very strong nation aur isse koi hila nahin sakta. When I read your comments, I don’t get angry, I just feel aap log bahut bhole ho,” the 40-year-old added.
Breaking down, the comedian went on to share: “Yes, [Amritsar, where her family lives] and the country is going through turmoil. But my family is safe... and I have full trust in my country and the government.”
We shot in Thailand for 6 months alongside The White Lotus team. It was one of the most enriching experiences-Adarsh Gourav
10:22 AM
Divya Shree (BOMBAY TIMES; April 30, 2025)
While Adarsh Gourav built his career in Hindi and international projects, his heart has always held a quiet connection to Andhra Pradesh, where his family comes from. Now, with his first Telugu film underway, that bond finally finds expression onscreen. As he shoots for his Tollywood debut in Hyderabad, the White Tiger actor opened up to Hyderabad Times what this journey means to him, the joy of rediscovering his Telugu roots, and his desire to become a director.
‘Speaking Telugu at home wasn’t a choice — it was a way of life’
Born Adarsh Gourav Bhagavatula in Jamshedpur, the actor comes from a Telugu-speaking household. “Both my parents have roots in Andhra — my dad is from a village near Srikakulam and my maternal grandfather is from near Vizianagaram. It was a rule to speak in Telugu at home,” he shares. “It’s our mother tongue, and my parents made sure I learned it properly from a young age.”
‘Hyderabad feels like home’
Despite a tight six-day-a-week shoot schedule, Adarsh says Hyderabad has already left a lasting impression. “There wasn’t much time to explore, but the food instantly made me feel at home,” he smiles. “I love Andhra food — pappus, chutneys, kuras, vankai kura, bendakaya kura. It all reminded me of eating at home.”
But it’s more than just food and familiarity with the language. “What’s unique about Hyderabad is how much people love cinema. You’ll find doctors, architects, people from different walks of life trying their hand at filmmaking. That’s really special.”
‘Language doesn’t matter, stories do’
Adarsh isn’t one to restrict himself by language or geography. He’s currently learning Malayalam and hopes to work in Tamil cinema too. “Wherever there are authentic stories, I want to be a part of them. Language is secondary as long as the story resonates.”
His Telugu debut, he says, has been a point of pride for his entire family. “Over the years, my father’s family in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam would often ask me when I’d do a Telugu film. I’m finally able to show them something in our own language.”
‘Portraying Jugnu changed people’s gaze’
Adarsh’s portrayal of Jugnu, a trans character, in Guns & Gulaabs was a turning point in his career. “I definitely felt the gaze towards me had shifted,” he reflects.
“It gave me a chance to empathize with what it’s like to transition later in life and the kind of strength it takes.” He adds, “We need to build more sensitivity around the trans community. Live and let live — why would anyone take someone else’s truth as a personal problem?”
‘Acting is just one part — I want to tell stories my way’
In Aanand L Rai’s upcoming Tu Ya Main, Adarsh will be seen in a completely new avatar — as a rapper. “It’s a creature feature, and Shanaya (Kapoor) is my co-actor. It’s a genre I’ve never explored before.”
He also stars in Alien, a sci-fi show by Noah Hawley. “I was never into sci-fi before, but now I’ve completely switched sides. We shot in Thailand for six months alongside The White Lotus team. It was one of the most enriching experiences I’ve had.”
Looking ahead, Adarsh has his sights on directing. “I want to venture into filmmaking in my 30s. My first film might be a satire-drama. I think horror is very difficult to do well, and I’m not ready for that just yet. But I do have many stories in me and I’m excited to tell them.”
‘If not for Samantha, I wouldn’t be doing my first Telugu film’
Though Adarsh had harboured a desire to work in Telugu films for a while, he wasn’t sure how to break into the industry. A chance conversation with actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu at the Citadel success party changed that. “I told her that I wanted to work in Telugu cinema and she connected me with Himank Reddy, who took me around Hyderabad and introduced me to a few directors and producers. That’s when I met Jahnavi and Baba, and things fell into place.”
The film, a psychological horror thriller, is being helmed by a debutant director. “Baba’s actually an architect who’s been working on the script for nearly 10 years. I found that fascinating. It’s also his first film and mine in Telugu, so it felt like a great alignment,” he says.
I was buying coffee in Bangkok when I felt the tremors-Amol Parashar
8:37 AM
Renuka Vyavahare (BOMBAY TIMES; April 9, 2025)
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar (Burma) on March 28, the tremors of which were also felt in Thailand. The countries are still reeling from the devastation after the catastrophe. Amol Parashar, who was in Thailand during the earthquake, shares his experience with us.
“My friends and I were on a short trip to Thailand (March 27-29). We had just landed in Bangkok, and I was buying myself a coffee when I felt the tremors. I thought maybe my head was spinning. I turned to my friend, who said, ‘I think my head is spinning’. At that moment, I knew it was something else. I looked down, and the ground beneath us seemed to be shaking, and the objects in the shop were moving. We ran out of the shop immediately and moved to a common area. By then, many people had realized it was an earthquake,” he says.
‘Metro lines shut down and offices and shops closed down’
The Sardar Udham actor adds, “By the time we got into the car to go to our hotel, more information about the scale of the earthquake had started pouring in. Metro lines had shut down, and offices and shops closed down, and the whole city turned into a huge traffic jam. It took us five gruelling hours to reach our hotel.”
‘Despite the calamity, the locals remained calm’
What struck Amol the most was the civic sense among locals. “It was heartening to see that despite such a calamity, the locals displayed civic sense and remained calm. Even in the traffic, cars stuck to their lanes, people gave space to each other to walk around, and no one was breaking rules, shouting, honking or fighting. When we stepped out for dinner, the city was back in its groove, though a little emptier than expected. We are back in Mumbai, and we are relieved that we didn’t face any disastrous situation.”
Ranveer Singh, Kiara Advani to begin Don 3's action training in March with experts from Thailand
8:26 AM
Ahead of Don 3 shoot in August, sources say Ranveer-Kiara to begin action training in March with experts from Thailand
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 26, 2024)
Earlier this month, mid-day reported that director Farhan Akhtar and actor Ranveer Singh are planning to take Don 3 on floors in August (Gyarah mulkon ki police better watch out, Feb 2). Things seem to be moving fast on the action thriller’s front. Only days after the team announced Kiara Advani as the film’s leading lady, we have now learnt that the lead actors will begin their action training in March.
Since Don 3 will see the stars dive deep into action, sources say Akhtar wanted them to begin their prep early. “Ranveer and Kiara will start their physical prep, beginning with agility training, from late March. Experts in martial arts from Thailand have been roped in,” reveals a source. It is also heard that the filmmaker is keen to up the ante when it comes to stunts.
The source elaborates, “In the last few years, Hindi cinema has seen every type of stylized action— from War [2019] to Pathaan [2023] and Fighter. So, Farhan wants to make the action syntax fresh. He has had several meetings with action choreographers from India and other countries to discuss the possibilities. He wants the palette to be different from whatever the tentpole movies have offered in recent years.”
People go crazy about my signature step even now, says Sonu Nigam on 25 years of Bijuriya
10:35 PM
Soumya Vajpayee (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 8, 2024)
The 1990s was considered the best phase for independent music in India. And one song that continues to rule the playlists of pop music lovers even now is singer Sonu Nigam’s Bijuriya that was released 25 years ago. Composed by Ravi Pawar and penned by Ajay Jhingran, the dance number from the album Mausam gets people on the dance floor even today.
“Bijuriya is among my most favourite songs. It has been a part of my life since 1999 and I perform it at 99.9% of my shows. In fact, I performed it in Phuket (Thailand) two days ago and the attendees went crazy,” says Nigam.
The song came close on the heals of the singer’s another chart-topping dance hit Tu Kab Ye Janegi from the album Kismat (1998). Sharing how it was ideated, Nigam adds, “One of the songs that was written for Mausam was Tera Kaisa Hai Ye Jalwa. Ajay ji and I were at Ravi Pawar ji’s home and I thought we should have something without the word jalwa, as the song Har Taraf Tera Jalwa (from the album Tunak Tunak Tun; 1998) had just released. So, I suggested words like bijuriya, dagariya, gujariya, sawariya, etc. Then Ajay ji wrote the lyrics for Bijuriya. Musicians like Sivamani (percussionist), Rupert Fernandes and Shyam Raj ji (saxophonist) were onboarded for the song.”
Speaking of his signature step, the Padma Shri recipient adds, “Saroj Khan ji (late choreographer) had choreographed Tu Kab Ye Janegi. So, she knew I was a keen learner and a singer who wanted to dance. I told her that while choreographing Bijuriya, she should think that she’s doing it for Govinda (actor). I’m glad that people still look forward to my Bijuriya signature step when I perform on stage.”
Mika Singh lost Rs. 15 crores when he postponed his world tour
8:51 AM
Sugandha Rawal (HINDUSTAN TIMES; August 23, 2023)
It has been a hard few days for Mika Singh, who had to take the “tough decision” to postpone his world tour after suffering from a throat infection. This lead to severe financial losses for the singer.
He had to cancel shows in Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Thailand and Australia and will reschedule them next year. “We suffered a loss of around Rs. 10-15 crores because the shows were scheduled back-to-back. It was important for me to postpone the shows instead of playing CDs [in the background] or lip-syncing in name of a live show, which many singers do these days. Aaj tak ki saari mehnat, image, respect, sab kharab ho jaati [if I did so],” says Singh, who is in California (US) as his health didn’t permit him to travel back to India.
The Miss You singer is feeling “fit and fine”, will soon begin recording. Also geared up to recover from his loss, he says, “In 24 years, this is the first time I postponed my shows because of my health. I am always very careful and take many precautions, especially for my throat.”
Learning from this setback, Singh says, he “will never add tour spots in so many countries, at one go”. He adds, “I will divide it because it gets tiring and sabka nuksaan hota hai. Rest is also important.”
I have been sailing actively for the past year and a half-Nidhi Subbaiah
8:13 AM
The model and actress says that sailing has been one of her primary passions, and she is now making an attempt to prioritize it by seizing any opportunity to go sailing
Devika V Menon (BOMBAY TIMES; April 8, 2023)
Nidhi Subbaiah describes herself as an “actor, singer and decorated sailor” on her social media handles. In fact, her first tryst with fame did not come from modelling or acting, but after she won two gold medals for Karnataka as a sailor. She tells us how sailing has always been her first love, and after all these years, she has now been making it a point to take time out and sail, whenever she gets the time and opportunity.
“I first got into sailing during my first year of PUC and had dreams of pursuing it professionally too. I even had plans of training for the Olympics. But my acting career took off and I could not spend much time out there,” she says.
The actress adds, “However, I have got back to it in a big way. I have been sailing actively for the past year and a half. I head to Mysuru every time I get a break from shoot schedules to sail at the RMSC (Royal Mysore Sailing Club). In fact, I have introduced a lot of my friends and family to it as well. I sail whenever I am presented with an opportunity, especially during my travels. I made the most of it when I was travelling in Italy, Thailand and Mexico. Thailand happened first, in 2015, then Italy in 2017 and a year later, Mexico. Though I did go to New York in 2019, I did not get an opportunity to sail, unfortunately.”
Though, Nidhi adds, the sport is not as easy as or even as glamourous as it may look in pictures. “It is hard work, but luckily something I seem to have the knack for. It is also strenuous, one sets sail in the morning and comes back only in the evening, I used to get totally tanned after spending so much time out in the sun,” she says. “I’m like nature’s child, and I love being out there in the sun!”
Pushpa's success skyrockets Allu Arjun’s brand value pan-India
8:47 AM
Telugu star has signed endorsement deals with brands such as Coca-Cola, KFC, Zomato at Rs. 7.5 crores per day commitment
Gaurav Laghate (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; August 10, 2022)
Mumbai: Allu Arjun, who shot to fame in the Hindi heartland late last year after the sudden success of the dubbed version of his action thriller ‘Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01’, has seen his brand value skyrocket in the North and West.
Many in the marketing world consider the Telugu superstar as the next big celebrity endorser, and are making a beeline to sign him as their brand endorser for pan-Indian audiences.
The 40-year-old actor is already one of the highest-paid actors in the country and is now asking for Rs. 7.5 crores per day for his association with brands.
Some of the brands he has already signed this year, following the success of ‘Pushpa’, include Coca-Cola, Astral, KFC, RedBus and Zomato. The association varies from one to four days’ commitment per brand.
On an average, a brand takes a commitment of 2-3 days from its endorser, which will help Arjun net around Rs. 75-100 crore in fees, said an industry insider.
Experts feel Arjun’s popularity and fanbase in the Hindi market, thanks to the dubbed versions of his previous films available on YouTube and satellite TV, really accentuated ‘Pushpa’s success, which did more numbers in Hindi than its original market.
“Pushpa has penetrated right into tier-II and III markets against the pan-India cricket film ‘83’ in the release week. While his stardom needs no introduction in the South, it has now translated across North also, and hence Arjun has become a hot favourite in the brand circuit and the ask for him has grown manifold,” said a top marketing executive with a company that signed him recently.
Last month, Arjun was shooting a TV commercial for Coca-Cola in Thailand, and the ad is expected to roll out soon.
In April, online bus ticketing platform RedBus announced Arjun as its official brand ambassador. Earlier, he was the brand ambassador of the company from 2017 till 2019. RedBus is expected to kickstart an integrated marketing campaign later this month, spanning TV, cinema, digital, social media, OOH platforms and apps, with Arjun — on the theme of ‘Travel Like A King’.
Interestingly, the actor has refused to endorse a famous gutka brand, which had offered him Rs. 10 crores per day.
Bollywood takes stock after the fire on the sets of Ranbir Kapoor's film
8:43 AM
Three productions come to a halt after the Chitrakoot Grounds fire; destroyed set of Ranbir-starrer to be built again, while Barjatya postpones song shoot to year-end
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; August 6, 2022)
A week since the massive fire broke out at Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri, three major Hindi movie productions have come to an abrupt halt. The set of Luv Ranjan’s yet-untitled next, where the fire reportedly originated, stands completely destroyed. As a result, the shoot of the dance number, featuring leads Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor, has been deferred.
A source reveals, “Ranbir has moved to Animal’s shoot now. They will return to film the song after he wraps up the schedule of the Sandeep Reddy Vanga-directed crime drama, and 'BrahmÄstra' promotions. That will also give the production design team enough time to rebuild the set from scratch.”
The blaze happened on July 29 in the early evening, claiming one. The fire brigade was reportedly alerted at 4.28 pm, after which 10 fire engines were sent to the site. Sooraj Barjatya’s production house lost two massive sets, erected for its coming-of-age film, to the blaze that was designated as Level 2. The yet-untitled movie marks the acting debut of Sunny Deol’s son Rajveer, Poonam Dhillon’s daughter Paloma, and the directorial debut of Barjatya’s son Avnish.
The source adds, “One set was a replica of Thailand streets. The unit was to start filming a song on August 3 that would go on till August 10. It was a lavish set-up that cost them almost a crore. The second set-up was to be used on August 27, 28, and 29 when the cast and crew were to can some crucial sequences. Sooraj sir was to be present for those portions.”
With both sets damaged beyond repair, filming of these portions is likely to be deferred to the year-end. “Avnish has lined up a Thailand schedule between December, and January 2023. After the recent turn of events, he may film the song in locations across Thailand. As for the talkie portions, they will be shot in Mumbai later this year.”
Sriram Raghavan had a set built for the Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi-starrer, 'Merry Christmas', at the other end of the ground. Though the set is fortunately undamaged, the director is exercising caution and will have his unit report to duty only after a few weeks.
Sooraj Barjatya (left) Sriram Raghavan has a set, which is largely undamaged, at the site
Sherni is about wildlife conservation, so it would have been unethical to use animals in captivity-Amit Masurkar
11:16 AM
Considering 'Sherni' revolves around wildlife conservation, director Amit Masurkar on how he felt morally obliged to use VFX instead of shooting with tigers
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; June 17, 2021)
After the widely acclaimed 'Newton' (2017), director Amit Masurkar’s next, 'Sherni', comes bearing the weight of expectations. It is evident that the filmmaker means business as he highlights another urgent subject — the man-animal conflict — through the drama. “The philosophy behind the film is that one person cannot bring about change. Conservation is a community effort. To destroy nature is easy, but to build or sustain it requires effort from a lot of people. So, if you look at the film, it is not hero-driven. It sees the [protagonist] listening to people and learning from them,” says the director.
Headlined by Vidya Balan, the Amazon Prime Video offering takes us through the journey of forest officer Vidya Vincent who believes in wildlife conservation. Given the story’s central theme, shooting with animals posed a moral dilemma for Masurkar. “Many film crews shoot with tigers in Thailand where it’s easy to get permissions, but we decided against it. We were making a film about [wildlife] conservation, so it would have been unethical to use animals in captivity. Instead, we roped in a VFX company that specialises in [creating] sequences of wild animals.”
For Masurkar, Balan is the perfect choice to play the silent but steely forest officer. “Vidya Vincent is written as a layered character, and we needed someone who could do justice to it. Vidya was ready to put in that extra effort. Plus, we needed an actor who is rooted and humble as we were working with many non-actors.”
We made Haathi Mere Saathi film for the big screen experience-Rana Daggubati
8:23 AM
Backing makers’ decision to hold Haathi Mere Saathi release for a year, Daggubati says small screen can’t do justice to movie’s larger-than-life appeal
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; March 14, 2021)
The year-long wait for the release of Haathi Mere Saathi hasn’t been easy on Rana Daggubati, but he insists it has been worth the while. As the adventure drama gears up for a March 26 outing, the actor says it was big-screen-or-nothing for him. “The makers were on the same page [regarding the film’s release post the pandemic]. Even as there were many [OTT] offers on the table, we decided to hold off till theatres across the country opened up. We made this film for the big-screen experience. We shot it in the middle of the jungle. Resul Pookutty, through his sound design, has tried to give it a larger-than-life feel. When viewers are watching this film, we want them to feel that they are in the middle of a rainforest, and [one can] never get that feeling on a mobile phone.”
Told through the lens of a man who shares a deep friendship with one of the elephants, the Prabhu Solomon-directed drama focuses on the issue of human encroachment in India’s elephant corridors. The director, who had previously worked with Unni on two films, roped him in for the trilingual. “Unni is busy because he is one of the few elephants with the Animal Welfare Board of India [AWBI] license. So, we had to [schedule the shoot] according to his dates because the elephant’s comfort was our priority,” says Daggubati.
A crucial part of prep entailed establishing a rapport with the animals off screen. The actor reveals that as the first step, he trained with animals in Thailand. “I worked with 10 elephants in Thailand. [Before shooting with Unni in the forest], we took out time to understand how he is with plants, trees and other animals around him. Since he doesn’t communicate much with humans, we kept an eye out for his reaction to having a human around him in the film.”
The film industry can be a fake world, and you can lose yourself here, if you are not careful-Shamita Shetty
8:13 AM
Kavita Awaasthi (HINDUSTAN TIMES; February 2, 2021)
Shamita Shetty has had a chequered career. But the actor, who’s been appreciated for her performance in the recent web show Black Widows, has no regrets. “I’ve been through ups and downs, and it has made me who I am today. I’m thankful for the life I have. Most of all, to be working even after 20 years is big deal. I’ve not done as much work as I would’ve liked to, but at least I’m given the opportunity to be a part of the film industry, and I’m grateful for that… The industry can be a fake world, and you can lose yourself here, if you are not careful,” says the Zeher (2005) actor, who turns 42 today.
How’s she ringing in her special day? “Now, I enjoy peace and quiet... I remember my 40th birthday celebration was a surprise party. Shilpa (Shetty Kundra; sister) and Raj (Kundra; brother-in-law) whisked me away to Phuket, Thailand. It was just so wonderful,” she reminisces.
Shetty, who has a film, Tenant, lined up, says that 2020 was good for her career wise, but more importantly, it helped her realise what matters. “When you’re trapped alone at home, no matter how much money or fancy stuff you have, nothing matters. It makes you think what’s important. I made a few changes, tried to get rid of negativity. Though I live alone, luckily, I had family close by and I spent quality time with them,” she says, adding, “I was grateful that I got to work on a show during the pandemic. We followed all the Coronavirus protocols while shooting in Kolkata.”
Till the time I was with Sushant Singh Rajput, he had nothing to do with drugs-Samuel Haokip
8:47 AM
Rachana Dubey (BOMBAY TIMES; September 3, 2020)
He was a part of Sushant Singh Rajput’s innermost circle of people, who held a special place in the actor’s life and were a part of his dream projects. In the light of the recent turn of events in the SSR case, Samuel Haokip spoke to BT about the man he knew and admired. Excerpts:
After Rhea Chakraborty’s TV interviews, a Thailand trip is being spoken about where Sushant apparently spent about Rs. 70 lakh…
I didn’t go on that one, but there were seven people who went. Kushal (Zaveri), Siddhant Gupta, Sara Ali Khan, Sushant, Abbas, Mushtaq and Sabir Ahmed. But I have travelled with Sushant to Paris for Dil Bechara and it was amazing. On set, he would keep himself aligned to the thought of the film, which was about a guy struggling with a serious disease. Otherwise, he was happy to have fun. He booked us in another accommodation on the outskirts of Paris, so he could just roam around and chill.
In the last few days, two things have come to the fore — one has to do with Sandip Ssingh, who claimed to be a really close friend, and was at the forefront handling Sushant’s final rites. The other is about Sushant consuming drugs, which has got the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) involved...
I left in June 2019 and till then, Sushant had nothing to do with drugs. We had multiple parties at home with cigarettes and alcohol. We were staying with Sushant. He could fool us once, but not every single day. If he hid and did something, we were not fools to not understand the evident and sudden change in behaviour. As for Sandip, I had never heard Sushant mentioning him. Neither was he ever at the house during that period. In fact, I was not just home, but also with Sushant on his sets, sometimes two shifts in a day. He never mentioned this man. So, when I saw a lot of media speaking about Sandip, I thought maybe he was an old friend.
After Rhea’s interview, people have aligned themselves on either side, throwing open threads of Sushant’s private life. Even the #MeToo allegations levelled against him are back in the headlines. What are your views on this?
The whole nation, and so many groups from different countries are asking for a fair and transparent investigation into his untimely demise. I hope everything comes out. The whole #MeToo controversy affected Sushant. It all started from there, all of us in the team feel so. How difficult it must have been for him to handle the negative reactions, trolling on social media and the evident dislike...
What do you feel about Rhea’s interviews?
I felt she was not asked some important questions. He had done an interview in which he was talking about being in a closed space, where he could stay 25 minutes more than the others. I also have my own experience, as I’ve travelled with him a lot.
Did you stay in touch with Sushant after you left Capri Heights?
No, I didn’t. We spoke just once after that. In January this year, I tried contacting him. I had been with him for a while, so I knew he could be caught up. I sent a message but it had one tick, meaning he had changed his number. I sent the same message to Rhea. She didn’t reply either. I dropped it there.
To ring in the New Year, Sushant Singh Rajput had chartered a private jet for his Thailand trip-Samuel Haokip
8:55 AM
After Rhea Chakraborty stated that Sushant Singh Rajput liked to live the good life, late actor's friend Samuel Haokip reveals details of the Thailand vacation with Sara Ali Khan
Uma Ramasubramanian (MID-DAY; August 29, 2020)
Over a month since Sushant Singh Rajput's father filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and five others in Patna, the actor broke her silence on Thursday, offering a counter-narrative to the Rajput family's claims. Chakraborty — who has been accused of living off Rajput's money by the family, with their Italy trip in October 2019 coming sharply into focus — revealed that it was not unusual of the late actor to splurge on vacations. She also claimed how the late actor had spent Rs 70 lakh when he had taken six of his friends to Thailand in the last week of December 2018.
Speaking to mid-day, Samuel Haokip — who lived with the late actor between October 2018 and July 2019 — revealed details of the holiday that saw Rajput take friends Siddharth Gupta, Kushal Zaveri, Abbas, bodyguard Mushtaq and spot Sabbir Ahmed to Thailand. According to Haokip, the actor's Kedarnath co-star and then-rumoured girlfriend Sara Ali Khan too was part of the vacation. "I was supposed to go as well, but had to skip the trip because of personal reasons. To ring in the New Year, Sushant had chartered a private jet. It was also his bodyguard Mushtaq's dream to travel in a private jet," said Haokip.Highlighting Rajput's benevolent side, Haokip said that the late actor often used his financial success to help others fulfil their dreams. "He was thrilled about our achievements. He once booked a 230-seater auditorium at IMAX for the screening of Kedarnath for us. But he always [planned his expenditures] depending on how comfortable he would be in the next six months."
In her interview, Chakraborty stated that Rajput took Modafinil before flying to alleviate his claustrophobia. However, Haokip refuted the claim, saying, "I have travelled with him so many times. I don't remember Sushant taking any pills before the flights. If he was claustrophobic, he would panic in the air. But Sushant would read, listen to music, and order everything on the menu. Till the time I was there, he never took any chemical drugs."
It's a race against time for USA cinemas
9:05 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
The cinemas in USA were expected to open in the first and second week of July but now it seems a race against time and they will have to delay the opening. The government has given the go ahead but its unlikely that many state governments will now allow due to rising cases of Coronavirus. It is very difficult to see cinemas opening up in early July in most of California, Texas or Florida though New York could see cinemas return.
The importance of USA cinemas is due to content. There are cinemas open in many places in the world and more will open in early July but the content has to come from Hollywood and that can only happen when majority of the cinemas in USA open which is the domestic market for Hollywood. TENET was scheduled to be a 17th July release but was then pushed to 31st July and now moves to 12th August as the opening of cinemas gets delayed. MULAN is now scheduled to be the first major release but a lot depends on how many cinemas will be open by that time in USA.
The markets which are open with a healthy number of screens at present are as follows.
South Korea (did not shut down)
Japan (shutdown for 2-3 weeks in April)
Vietnam
Hong Kong
Thailand
Australia
New Zealand
UAE
Netherlands
Denmark
Switzerland
Sweden
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Czech Republic
Croatia
Slovakia
Estonia
Hungary
Italy
Spain
Germany
Poland
South Korea and Japan are seeing the best turnout and here the former country did not shut down theatres while the latter had for a very limited time. As the reopening of cinemas in US is delayed it will put the date for India further also as the content for India will also come from Hollywood as cinemas try to reopen.
Taapsee Pannu's next supernatural with Anurag Kashyap to be made closer and quicker?
8:13 AM
Sources suggest Taapsee Pannu's next with Anurag Kashyap, which was to be shot in foreign locales, to be filmed in India now to make up for the lost time in lockdown
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 18, 2020)
In a recent interview to mid-day, Taapsee Pannu had stated that the schedules of Rashmi Rocket, Shabaash Mithu and the yet-untitled thriller with Anurag Kashyap were "disrupted" due to the lockdown. Now, the buzz is that Kashyap's supernatural film will be Pannu's first film to roll, albeit with minor tweaks. While the production team had surveyed spots in Thailand and Mauritius, they are now planning to set the story in India.
A source reveals, "The story is not dependent on the milieu, so the makers are considering changing the backdrop. Anurag and his team are figuring out possible locations in the country. The script will undergo minor tweaks once the backdrop is finalised.
We aren't sure when the project will go on floors, but the team is hoping to set the ball rolling by August."
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vikram, Sobhita Dhulipala reunite for Mani Ratnam's multi-lingual
8:17 AM
Set during the Chola dynasty, the multi-lingual project is being made in two parts, of which, the first will release in 2021; Sobhita Dhulipala joins the cast of the film
Himesh Mankad (MUMBAI MIRROR; February 15, 2020)
The film tells the story of Arulmozhivarman, one of the kings of the Chola dynasty during the 10th and 11th century. Buzz is, Aishwarya plays the antagonist Nandini, a woman hungry for power, who plots the downfall of the Cholas through her manipulation of her husband, Periya Pazhuvettaraiyar. “Most of her portions are with Vikram, who plays the role of prince Aditya Karikalan. They had worked together in Raavan,” the source informed.The Thailand schedule wrapped up in January and now the team will be shooting on sets down South as well as real locations across India through the year. “The film is being made in two parts, like the Baahubali franchise, with the first part releasing in 2021. There will be a lot of visual effects,” the source said, adding that the cast had many workshops, with Aishwarya’s focussed on body language and posture training and Sobhita’s to enhance her classical dance techniques.
Makers of Wild Dog call off Thailand schedule after Coronavirus outbreak
8:14 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; February 5, 2020)
With several countries in Southeast Asia confirming infections and the death toll in China rising to 425, the Coronavirus outbreak is on its way to becoming a pandemic. In light of the deadly epidemic, mid-day has learnt that the unit of Nagarjuna-fronted Wild Dog has called off its schedule in Thailand that was slated to kick off on Monday. A major chunk of the actioner, which has the South superstar play a National Investigation Agency officer and is directed by Ashishor Solomon, was to be filmed in the country over a 20-day schedule.A source reveals, "The cast, including Saiyami Kher, was supposed to head to Thailand this week. But the makers felt it would be best to postpone the shoot, given the current scenario. Changing the locale at the last minute was not an option since the country is crucial to the narrative."
Confirming the development, Kher says, "I was training in Mixed Martial Arts over the past month for the action sequences and was looking forward to the long schedule in Thailand. But they have postponed the shoot as they didn't want to take the risk with such a big crew."
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