There is much to be said about an actor who accepts a slump in his career, waits patiently for the tide to turn, and then returns boldly to the screen after eight years, despite industry whispers warning against casting him. Manoj Manchu plays the main antagonist, Mahabir Lama, also known as the Black Sword, a villainous sorcerer in the popular film Mirai.

Speaking about its success, Manchu said, “It’s a good movie. I am grateful that the director, Karthik Gattamneni, trusted me. We worked on it for three years.”

For the actor, the only apprehension when he signed the film three years ago was its spiritual dimension, especially when he had to “confront Rama” in the final fight.

“I was super excited. Only scary thing was once Mahabir Lama gets the ninth book, then the fight will be with Rama. It will be Rama versus Lama. I’m a very devotional person and an ardent devotee of Shiva. Playing against God as Mahabir Lama [felt like I was] going against God. That was challenging. But I was grateful to get such a larger-than-life character,” he explained.

Like any actor making a comeback, Manchu also feared his decision might not work out. However, the positive atmosphere on set and the enthusiasm of the cast and crew put his fears to rest.

“Everybody will have that fear for every movie you do. But then the percentage of the fear varies. For Mirai, the percentage was very less compared to any of my movies in the past. We were rooting and manifesting it to the universe,” admitted the actor.

The film’s production was not without hurdles. From visa delays to weather changes, Manchu recalled why it took three years to complete.

“Because we touched so many countries, visas were a major [reason for]  delays. It happened with Turkey and then in the UK. So again, we had to wait another three months for the visa. By that time, the summer was gone. In the rainy season, the sets we built had to be recreated, so we got delayed again.”

Manoj Manchu has a pan-Indian period film ‘David Reddy’ set between 1897 and 1922. After that, he will shoot for the action-horror film ‘Abraham Lincoln’, where he plays a priest. His third film ‘Rakshak’, directed by Naveen Kolli, will see him as a police officer. He also has an untitled fourth project in the works.

Four years after Oo Antava from Pushpa: The Rise - Part 01 (2021) became a sensation, the chartbuster is making headlines again. Composer Devi Sri Prasad (DSP) has accused Turkish pop singer Atiye of copying his composition for her single Anlayana, which was released seven months ago.

Speaking at an event, DSP said in Telugu: “Many people enjoyed Oo Antava, but I’ve come to know that it’s been copied into Turkish. There are many similarities in singer Atiye’s version. One has to call it a plain copy.”

The composer of Oo Antava, featuring actors Allu Arjun and Samantha, is planning to take legal action against the makers of the Turkish single. He added, “I’m thinking about filing a case against them. But I’m also proud — this just shows the international appeal of our music.”

Actor Aamir Khan faced backlash after photos of his 2017 meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan resurfaced online. The criticism follows Turkey’s alleged support for Pakistan in its recent attack on India and claims of supplying drones.

Aamir finally addressed the issue in a recent appearance on journalist Rajat Sharma’s talk show. “Turkey ne bahut galat kiya, and every Indian is hurt. During the 2023 earthquake in Turkey, the Indian government was the first to send humanitarian aid. At that time, neither I nor our government knew what Turkey would do later,” he said.

Aamir added that his meetings had happened years ago and were in good faith at that point in time. “When I met President Erdogan, I did not know that his country would support actions against India seven years later. As a public figure representing India abroad, it is customary to accept diplomatic courtesies. When invited for tea, I couldn’t refuse. But let me reiterate, what Turkey has done now is completely wrong, and it has deeply hurt us. I was angry too.”

As for the current boycott of Turkish tourism and goods by Indians, the actor said, “They are doing the right thing. We must not support a country that is siding with those who attack us. We extended friendship during their time of need, and in return, they supported Pakistan. Bahut hi galat baat hai.”

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who had visited Azerbaijan in 2023, has weighed in on the calls to cancel travel plans and shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The two countries supported Pakistan after India’s Operation Sindoor.

The filmmaker says, “In the current situation, Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support to the enemies calls for an understanding of the larger picture. Right now, people should refrain from going to these countries. We are giving them the revenue to supply weapons that are used against our jawans. I’m not speaking for the film industry or anybody. I am sharing my opinion as an independent filmmaker.”

Talking about the calls for cancellation of shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan, Madhur adds, “As an individual, I believe that art and politics shouldn’t be intertwined, but when so many people are killed, you need to draw the line. When Indian soldiers are at risk and lives are being lost, emotions run high. We must respect the sentiments of the people of India, who have faced considerable pain due to actions taken by these countries. Nothing is bigger than our country and our Armed Forces. We should put the nation’s sentiments above all else.”

When asked about his trip to Azerbaijan in 2023, he shares, “My trip to Azerbaijan was pleasant, but the recent political developments have left me with a sense of betrayal. Any country that harms my countrymen or soldiers, it pains me. It is hard not to feel a sense of betrayal. In these testing times, we should support our Armed Forces and our nation. Films and entertainment will always be there, but the safety of our soldiers and the unity of our country should come first.”

Golden Boy used to be wildly popular in India

First, Pakistani shows were removed from Indian platforms in the aftermath of the two countries’ military conflicts. Now, the rising public sentiment is that Turkish dramas should be pulled down, following Turkey’s anti-India stance. While Zee5 has already pulled the plug on its Turkish drama catalogue, multiple OTT platforms are contemplating their removal.

In the past seven-eight years, the dramas became wildly popular in India, with shows like Ertuğrul, Feriha, and Masum amassing a dedicated fan base. In light of recent events, Zee5 quietly removed Relationship Status: It’s Complicated and other series over the past week.

An insider reveals, “We’ve been monitoring the sentiment for weeks. While there is no government directive, we made a business decision to avoid a potential backlash. These titles, a part of the Zindagi bouquet, were doing well in Tier-1 and -2 cities, but the risk of reputational damage outweighed the benefits.”

Amazon MX Player has a wide library that includes fan favourites like Golden Boy, Love Is In The Air, Endless Love, and more. The content team at the streamer has been apparently issued an internal memo to halt acquisition of fresh Turkish content. An insider says, “We haven’t received any formal instructions or advisory from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As of now, no content has been removed, but we have paused new acquisitions from Turkish production houses.”

Multiple YouTube channels streaming Turkish series are also reportedly facing increased scrutiny. Live Pakistan, a popular YouTube curator that streamed Resurrection: Ertuğrul, was unavailable in India since Friday noon. A source from the channel says, “We received three takedown requests in the past two days. It felt coordinated. If this escalates, more channels could disappear overnight from India.” The show remains available on another channel.

It may be noted that the Indian government has not  issued any advisory regarding Turkish dramas. However, several Indian universities suspended academic ties with Turkish institutions. In the entertainment sector, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) appealed to film producers to avoid shooting in the Eurasian country (Turkey no-go for Bollywood, May 15).

Another source shares, “As India strains its ties with Turkey, there will be a ripple effect in the entertainment industry. But until a formal notification is sent out by the government, the heads of OTT platforms will keep guessing and play it safe.”

Palash Sen visited Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023

Following Turkey and Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, there is a growing sentiment in the country to boycott these nations altogether – be it for travel, film shoots, weddings, or the import of their products. Celebs like Atul Kasbekar, Rupali Ganguly, and Vishal Mishra have also taken to social media to urge their followers not to visit these countries. Palash Sen, frontman of the band Euphoria, who shot a short film in Turkey in 2019 and travelled to Azerbaijan in 2023 for a corporate gig, tells us he doesn’t see himself visiting either country again unless they change their stance.

Talking about his visit to Turkey in 2019, Palash says, “I went to Turkey in 2019 and shot a film there. There’s no two ways about the fact that it is a beautiful country. I was only in Istanbul and Cappadocia though, but even then, their internal issues were pretty obvious in 2019. While most people (in the team) were Indian, some Turkish people were also involved – the heroine was Turkish. We had a good time but there was an underlying tension in the air – a lot of strife within Turkey. And they didn’t have a very good attitude towards people from anywhere else. The Turkish have a little attitude. I felt a certain kind of animosity, an anti-India stance in Turkey. So when I hear about them helping Pakistan with drones, whatever their political understanding is, Bharat ka dushman matlab mera dushman. We all should take this stand that we should not be supporting Turkey and I don’t think I see myself going back to Turkey ever. There is no point unless they make amends. I am not saying that everybody is like that – but that’s true for every country. Establishment hi hota hai jiske apne views hote hain. If you are anti-India, you are anti-me and why will I support you? It is a beautiful country but saare jahan se achha Hindustan hamara. Aise koi cheez wahan nahi hai jo yahan nahi hai. Haan gaye thay wahan shoot karne – so thanks, but no thanks, Turkey.”

Talking about his Azerbaijan trip, Palash adds that he went there for a corporate gig. “It is popular for corporate gigs and destination weddings. Wahan pe there is not much population and our travellers keep looking for newer places to go to. Travel and stay is cheaper, but I have no attachment. However, unlike Turkey, people in Azerbaijan are sweet and very welcoming. This is my honest opinion. But what I want to say is that India has everything, we don’t need to go anywhere. I fully support the (domestic) tourism industry of India. I would never want to go to these countries unless they make their stance clear against the wrong elements in the world.”

He adds, “These problems are establishment-based, not people-based. Can we differentiate? That is the bigger question. I have been to Pakistan in 2008 or 2009 and people were supportive, (they were) so welcoming in Karachi but then 2008 is different from 2025. The people of Pakistan also say that the problem is with the government, they have their own issues. But I don’t think people anywhere have hatred towards people. That is my stand on the two countries.”

On arriving in Moscow in the summer of 1982, Raj Kapoor discovered that he’d left behind his visa papers. The actor-director was stopped by immigration. Frantic telephone calls were made. Nobody was sure what was to follow. But they need not have worried. A senior official soon arrived, embraced Kapoor, kissed him on both cheeks and warmly escorted him out.

“Is there anybody else in the whole wide world who could enter Soviet Russia without a valid visa? You should have seen that sight — it was a sight for the gods,” actor-director Sanjay Khan, who was also part of the film delegation, is quoted as saying in ‘Raj Kapoor: The Fabulous Showman’ by Bunny Reuben.

Another encounter of the fondest kind further underlines how Kapoor continued to command a hallowed place in the land of Tolstoy and Tarkovsky decades after the Awara craze swept the USSR like a forest fire in 1954.

In 1993, Russian president Boris Yeltsin told Kapoor’s daughter, Ritu Nanda, “I was in love with your father Raj Kapoor, and I remember him even today.” The anecdote is recounted in the book, ‘Raj Kapoor: The One And Only Showman’.

It wasn’t just the post-Stalin Soviet Union. In the 1950s, China, Iran, Turkey, Israel, Greece, North Africa and Eastern Europe were captivated by Kapoor’s movie and its title track. Slowly the film and its title song became an unofficial anthem, a cultural marker and a totem of national recognition.

It was also a diplomatic ice-breaker. TOI reported in 1994 that the then Chinese Premier Li Peng recalled Awara and its title track when he met India’s human resources minister Arjun Singh in Beijing. That hasn’t changed. “Every Chinese knows this movie,” goes a comment on YouTube. Awara anecdotes can fill a book.

As the nation today celebrates the 100th birth anniversary of India’s first actor-director who became a major global star in a pre-globalised era, what better time to re-appraise the magnitude of the impact that Kapoor’s movies have had across the world.

Awara has provided inspiration to much that is popular in Turkish culture: films like Genclik Hulyalari (1962) and Kader Bu (1976), songs and even novels, Turkey based academic and critic Ahmet Gurata told TOI. “A favourite of my mine,” Gurata said, “is a poem by Lale Muldur, which goes like this: ‘“Awaara hoon / Those kids who neither have a Barbie nor a Ken / They always wanted to be visited by Raj Kapoor one night / They would like him to enter their room and bring milk with gold-leaves... and baklava too / How many stories are embedded in the eyes of those shoeshine boys / Who have been paying the price for their genetic sins, / Did you know awaara hoon?”’

Muldur was born in 1956, a year after Awara was released in Turkey. The poem, taken from her ‘Book of Series’ (1991), is yet another testimony to how the gold hearted tramp continues to stir a generation’s imagination.

In his seminal article, ‘The Road to Vagrancy’, Gurata quotes a newspaper advertisement that says “the film was attended by 100,000 spectators during its first week and another 100,000 were unable to watch the film since it had sold out”. He also notes that Awara was voted as the best movie of 1955 by the readers of the popular daily Milliyet, beating Hollywood films such as Roman Holiday (1953) and Limelight (1952). “The film’s director and star Raj Kapoor ranked third on the list of best actors in the Milliyet survey,” he adds.

The title song was a top-selling record and even featured in official functions. “Several Turkish singers circulated it as a Turkish record in music markets. The song literally became part of folk culture when Turkish folklorist Ilhan Basgoz recorded a folk version in 1957,” Gurata writes.

Watching it under the title, ‘The Tramp Of Bombay’, Greeks too were besotted by the Nargis-Raj Kapoor pairing. Many Raj Kapoor films such as Shree 420, Aah, Anhonee, Paapi, Chori Chori, Pyaar, Amber, Sangam and Do Ustad made their way across over the next 10 years, film researchers from Greece say.

Indian films were not only shown in Athens, but also in villages at improvised open-air cinemas during summers. The songs were often rehashed with minor variations by Greek composers, creating a subgenre of such songs called Indo-Prepi.

Helen Abadzi and Manolis Tasoulas, who have extensively researched the influence of Hindi films in Greece, have identified at least 25 Greek songs whose melodies come from songs composed by Shankar Jaikishan for Raj Kapoor films.

“For instance, the song, ‘Ramaiya Vastavaiya’, from the film, ‘Shree 420’, became a Greek song titled, ‘When I kiss him and when he kisses me’, and was sung by Achilleas Koulaxizis and Filitsa in the Greek film drama, ‘Why was I born poor’,” Tasoulas told TOI.

Tasoulas also provides a fascinating anecdote that underlines the popularity of the Nargis-Raj Kapoor pairing. When in the early 1980s, Mehboob Khan’s film, ‘Aan’, was rescreened in Greece, the local advertisers wrote Raj Kapoor and Nargis as protagonists, instead of Dilip Kumar, Nadira and Nimmi, in the Greek posters. “Few understood the difference, because many years had passed since Kapoor’s films had been screened in Greece, and fans did not remember their faces as much as their names,” he says.

‘Sangam’ (1964) floored Iran. Radhu Karmakar, who was Kapoor’s regular cinematographer, writes in his autobiography ‘The Painter of Lights’, that the film was a major hit, especially in South America and Iran, where it ran for over a year. Made approximately on a budget of Rs 1 crore, ‘Sangam’ earned over Rs 12 crore, including Rs 5 crore in foreign exchange, he estimates.

Karmakar remembers how the film’s success helped the Hindujas expand their business. The Hindujas, who distributed the film, invited Raj Kapoor and Vyjayanthimala for the golden jubilee celebrations in Iran and, in turn, got invited to a dinner reception hosted in Tehran by Iran’s ruling family. Karmakar says that the Hindujas “till then were film distributors and contractors, trying unsuccessfully to get bigtime business contracts... The Sangam golden jubilee reception opened the palace doors to the Hindujas and thereafter they moved into the big-time league with large arms contracts and business gains”.

“Everyone also knew the singing-dancing persona of Raj Kapoor in Bulgaria. His popularity was witnessed by many from my generation who grew up in the 1960s. This was mainly courtesy of Awara, which many people had seen more than once,” says Bulgaria-born Dina Iordanova, emeritus professor of global cinema at University of St Andrews, Scotland.

Kapoor, who produced and directed the film and played the male lead, was a prodigious 27-year-old when Awara was released in India in 1951. He created a Hindustani Chaplin — a survivor of class inequity and circumstance (Awara, Shree 420) — and the naive and sentimental underdog with a heart of gold who could stray but eventually return (Shree 420). These stories found a global echo, especially in places of limited cultural freedom. The sloshing of socialism and songs with a slice of the sensuous had an affirmative resonance for millions, converting RK Films into a premier banner. His name was synonymous with Indian cinema. As PM Narendra Modi said in his interaction with the Kapoor family on Wednesday, “He created India’s soft power before the term, soft power, was born.”

K A Abbas, who co-wrote the story with V P Sathe, remembered in his autobiography, ‘No Man Is An Island’, what a student told him during their 1954 USSR visit: “We are tired of the war, we went through it, and now must we relive it in every book we read, in every film or play that we see? Instead of war, we want to see love on the screen, we want to see carefree happiness, we want someone to make us laugh. That’s why we are crazy about Awara.”

Many young students bragged that they’d seen Awara 20-30 times. A young Russian interpreter noticed that a dialogue in the film was borrowed from Krishan Chander’s short story, ‘The Night of The Full Moon’. “No one had noticed it in India,” he wrote.

As Kapoor himself said once, “Awara was my little contribution to USSR-India friendship.”.

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Raj Kapoor was a born serio-comedian whose face conveyed every emotion perfectly. According to Satyajit Ray, Kapoor was a better actor than a director. Mehboob Khan once confessed to Film India editor Baburao Patel that Raj Kapoor perfected his shots in fewer takes than Dilip Kumar.

Kapoor understood his limitations well. He modelled himself along the lines of Charles Chaplin. Kapoor always shared fond memories of his interaction with Chaplin at the latter’s residence in Montreux. Along with Dev and Chetan Anand, Nargis, Balraj Sahni, KA Abbas and Bimal Roy, Kapoor was part of the first Indian film delegation to visit Venice in 1953. Chaplin invited the delegation for a discussion.

During the interaction Kapoor spoke the most. He asked Chaplin how serio-comedy could be performed effortlessly. Chaplin was silent for a minute. Then looking into Kapoor’s eyes, he asked him to emote silently. Kapoor obliged the legend for three minutes. Chaplin was deeply moved by Kapoor’s performance and advised him to follow his own instincts. As they left, Kapoor kept waving to Chaplin with tears of joy in his eyes. Nargis simply told Kapoor to control his emotions, laughing her heart out.

The Kolkata-based writer interviewed Kapoor many times

Ashwath Bhatt, who is currently in Istanbul on a short vacation, faced a harrowing experience when he was attacked by a robber. On Sunday evening, while walking towards the popular tourist location, Galata Tower, in the Beyoglu district, he was assaulted by a gang.

Ashwath says that despite warnings from friends about the risks of pickpockets in Istanbul, he did not foresee such a violent encounter.

Ashwath recalled, "I was walking towards Galata Tower when a man approached me. He had a chain in his hand, and before I could fully comprehend what was happening, he hit me on the back with it. In retrospect, it was likely a gang working in tandem, trying to snatch my bag."

However, Ashwath resisted, catching the attacker off-guard. "For a second, I was so shocked - what’s happening? But I think they weren’t expecting me to resist and put up a fight. While he was trying to snatch my bag, a cab driver stopped and intervened. The robber said something in Turkish and then fled. The cab driver saw my wound and immediately told me to go to the police."

Ashwath says, "It’s unfortunate that such a thing happened, especially in such a touristy area. People often advise not to get involved and not to report to the police. That word 'unnecessary' troubles me. People watch films and think Turkey is all romantic, but if we don’t report crime, these incidents will only increase. Everybody warned me about pickpockets, but this was beyond anything I had imagined. I’ve been to the Middle East, Egypt, and so many parts of Europe, and nothing like this has ever happened to me."

When Ashwath approached a patrol car, the officers asked him to report the incident to the tourist police, who then directed him to another police station. A complaint was yet to be registered till the time of going to press.

One of Turkey’s biggest stars, Hande Erçel has a whopping 31.8M followers on Instagram, making her one of the most influential names in the Turkish film and TV industry.

In her first visit to India for FICCI Frames 2024, we caught up with the actress in Mumbai for an in-depth exclusive chat and even made her try the city’s iconic cutting chai! Deeply observant and excited about her first visit here, though it’s just for 4 days, Ercel spoke about Indian cinema, beauty standards for women, social media and more. Excerpts…

Yes, we spoke. He loved the food and he talked about it a lot. What struck him the most about India was the kindness and warmth in people here. They are extremely loving and it’s true. I was aware that people knew me here but didn’t know I was this popular. This is my first time here. I had heard a lot about Indian culture, people, and music. I had so much curiosity and wonder about India and the country surpassed my expectations. The weather’s good and I like bright sunshine over cold conditions, so this is perfect. It’s a short visit, but I went to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park and liked it. I also hope to visit the famous Ganpati temple (Shree Siddhivinayak) and Dhobi Ghat in the city. It won’t happen this time but it’s a dream to witness the The Taj Mahal in Agra. It’s gorgeous.

I loved watching this film called Black (by Sanjay Leela Bhansali). I like Indian actors a lot, too. I like Dev Patel (British actor of Indian origin) and Hrithik Roshan. I know Ranveer Singh and of course Aamir Khan, who is big in Turkey. I enjoyed PK and 3 Idiots. Not many people know this, but I keep listening to Bollywood songs on set while shooting. You’ll always find Bollywood music on my playlist. I would love to collaborate with Indian filmmakers.

It’s good pressure. It makes me more thoughtful, responsible, and inspirational by wanting to do good things for people. I ensure I separate my private and professional life. That can help you strike a balance between how much of you you put out there. I like to be sincere instead of putting on a mask and present a different persona online. It’s important to stay true to who you are as a person. I am aware of the pressure on women to always look perfect. Young girls look up to their screen idols and want to imitate them. That’s why I try to be as natural and organic on social media. I want to tell them that nobody’s perfect. Every woman is beautiful and distinct. We radiate beauty due to the light and warmth we have within, which matters the most. Believe in yourself.

Cate Blanchett is inspirational as an actor and a person. I like the way Anne Hathaway carries herself and most importantly my mother is my idol.

Everything has a time. I believe in marriage. I would love to have kids and bring them up in a way that they do good for society.

Turkish sensation Hande Erçel is in India! On our way to the shoot, the actor is stopped by several fans for selfies. She is on her maiden visit to the country as she attends FICCI Frames 2024. Surprised by her fan following, she sits down with us for a chat at a Mumbai cafe.

“I am excited to be here. I’ve been thinking about visiting India for a long time now, and it has finally happened. I had guessed that I might have fans here, but not these many. I won’t be able to meet and hug them, but in my heart, I’m doing that,” says the 30-year-old.

Apprehensive to try Indian food, the actor did have a taste of biryani as soon as she landed in Mumbai on Tuesday. “I follow Bollywood and really admire the work done here. I would like to work with (actors) Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone,” she admits. Erçel has been a part of several popular Turkish series, including Güneşin Kızları, Aşk Laftan Anlamaz, Sen Çal Kapımı and Halka.

The actor, who will next be seen in Intoxicated By Love, says, the one thing she admires about Indians is “their loyalty to their culture”. She adds, “They are not afraid to show it. They spread it to other parts of the world too, and I respect that a lot.”

Every time Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif unite on screen, the makers feel the responsibility of upping the ante from their last offering. Choreographer Vaibhavi Merchant felt it too, when she was roped in to design Leke Prabhu Ka Naam for Tiger 3.

“I have been a part of Ek Tha Tiger [2012], Tiger Zinda Hai [2017], and now Tiger 3. With this song, the intention was to do bigger and better,” begins Merchant. First things first, she wanted a dramatic background. Producer Aditya Chopra and director Maneesh Sharma knew just the place—Cappadocia, known for its rock formations, caves, and hot air balloon rides.

The dance number, composed by Pritam, was shot over five days in the central Turkish region. After Tiger Zinda Hai’s Swag Se Swagat, the choreographer made the lead couple strap on their dancing shoes again.

“I feel when there are two good-looking people together, half the [job is done]. Plus, their chemistry and the ease with which they command the frame draw people. The moment you bring Salman in front of the camera, half the battle is won because he is so good-looking. You can shoot him from any angle, and he’ll look handsome. Katrina is a simple girl who would rather sit in her pyjamas. But when facing the camera, she comes alive. She is very particular about [her look], from her accessories to shoes.”

While Kaif is known for her smooth moves, the real surprise of Leke Prabhu Ka Naam is Khan. The superstar is seen dancing his heart out. Merchant attributes it to the energy on the day of the shoot.

“In Cappadocia, we [got an enthusiastic] reception from the locals. They are big fans of Bollywood films, and they all knew Salman Khan. So, when he walked in to see the first rehearsal, they all cheered for him. He felt like a rockstar. That’s why he is looking the way he does in the song.”

And what about that hook step? “Hook steps are never conceived with a lot of thinking; it’s an instinct. When we play the song, I start to groove, my assistants follow the move, and we record it. Then I imagine [the lead stars] doing it.”

Tiger 3, which also stars Emraan Hashmi, has been shot in India, Turkey, Russia and Austria.

Actress Malvika Raaj, best known as the younger Poo, a character made famous by Kareena Kapoor in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, is now engaged. She took to Instagram early this month to share pictures from her dreamy engagement with businessman Pranav Bagga in Cappadocia, Turkey amid hot air balloons. In an exclusive interview with Bombay Times, Malvika spills the bins on her upcoming wedding, memories of K3G, her film family roots and her eternal love story. Excerpts…

I will get married by the end of this year. I want mine to be an intimate destination wedding near Mumbai because I want my dog to attend the ceremony. I want my close friends and family in attendance. My family itself is big so we will plan something where we all can stay together and enjoy the festivities. Not just me but half of India grew up dreaming of weddings as shown in Karan Johar movies. I am sure most girls aspire to have a Bollywood style wedding. However, I was slightly different as a child. I was a tomboy. But I wanted to fall in love the way people do in Bollywood movies and get a dreamy proposal which I was lucky enough to have.

It was spontaneous, romantic and beautiful. Love was literally in the air. I had gone to Turkey for my cousin’s wedding. My sister and Pranav (fiancé) planned this thing where we go to Cappadocia before the wedding to explore it and try out the hot air balloon ride, etc. The two teamed up secretly. My sister got my outfits ready; they got the whole setup ready for pictures, there was a violinist, photographer, and a videographer. You can’t say no to any boy who proposes to you like that (smiles). When I woke up that day, I just thought we were going for the hot air balloon ride. But my sister asked me to wear this dress and I got a hint. I still told myself that I shouldn’t overthink. As soon as I saw the setup, I knew it was true. It was the sweetest thing, and I enjoyed the process.

About five years back, Pranav had casually asked me that if I were to get proposed, at what place would that be? I just said in a dreamy way, hot air balloon and he remembered that. That’s how Turkey was decided. A person who makes efforts and remembers these small things in life, that’s when you know he’s the one.

We have been together for a long time and have been friends before that. We are from Mumbai and live five minutes away from each other. We met through mutual friends in college. Sometimes, when you meet a person, you just know you are going to land up with them. There was instant attraction from his end. He has his bridal couture line and a couple other businesses, he’s an entrepreneur and a workaholic.

We complete each other’s sentences. It usually never happens in the first stage of dating, but it happened to us. Pranav and I are spiritually connected. We felt like we had known each other all our lives. That kept us close, and the bond is still there. He is not from the film industry and sometimes a non-film person may not understand what goes on in an actor’s life. He was patient enough to understand that.

He told me, “I will wait for you whenever you are ready to take the plunge,” and he did wait for long. The way he can read my silences and words, that attracted me to him. We both are so likeminded. Our ideologies match. When two souls are meant to be together, love feels like a breeze.

For me, Love is secondary. Respect and trust are sacrosanct. They are key to a healthy relationship. If there is no respect or trust, there’s no love. I grew up in a house where my parents are still madly in love with each other. They also dated for a long time before tying the knot. For me, togetherness, love and family matter the most. I am inspired by my parents when it comes to love.

I grew up hearing this tag ‘Young Poo from K3G’ (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham). I guess that’s going to be my identity for life no matter what I do. Even if I win an Oscar, it will be said, “K3G child actor wins an Oscar” (smiles). It’s going to be my claim to fame for the rest of my life. But I love it, I am honoured and proud to be a small part of such an iconic movie.

I am only in touch with Karan Johar sir, I once bumped into Shah Rukh Khan sir and the charmer that he is, he is the sweetest. I am his biggest fan. I have also met Hrithik Roshan, Kajol on occasions. Though I played the younger Poo, I have never met Kareena Kapoor in my life. I have never seen her, nor bumped into her at events. People compare me so much to her. I would love to meet her face to face and click a picture someday. She’s stunning.

My grandfather was an actor. His name is Jagdish Raj (known for playing cop roles), my aunt Anita Raj is an actress. My dad used to make films too. He made many films with Govinda and Sanjay Dutt in the early 90’s. But K3G didn’t come to me because I belonged to a film family. I auditioned in school for the film. They didn’t even know about my family when I was selected. My grandfather and Karan sir’s father (Producer Yash Johar) have worked together on films before. He didn’t know that before. Once I was selected, my mom told Karan sir about it and he was thrilled to discover that.

I just shot two films in London, at the end of the year or early next year I will have many films lined up for release. I am already going crazy as I also have my wedding to plan but I am a chillzilla, not bridezilla. I am not relaxed at all as I am Virgo but I am good at assigning work to people (laughs). I love sharing my personal life on Instagram. I would love to share my wedding day with everyone as well. I believe in sharing my happiness.

Hansika Motwani has always been “big on celebrating birthdays”. The actor, who is ringing in her 31st birthday today in Turkey with husband, entrepreneur Sohael Khaturiya, tells us that the latter has “planned a big surprise” for her.

“This is my first birthday after the wedding and Sohael is making it really special. In fact, he has been surprising me every day. Just being with him and exploring a new place will make my birthday memorable,” shares Motwani, last seen in the reality show Love Shaadi Drama.

The actor is a firm believer that “birthdays should be spent doing things that make you, you”. She adds, “I have been big on celebrating the day since I was a kid. I usually celebrate it with family because that makes me happy. For me, it’s a special occasion meant to smile, spread positivity and set new goals for the year ahead.”

Speaking of goals, Motwani says there’s “a lot coming up this year” on the work front. The actor, who will soon be seen in the Tamil film Partner, shares, “Things are looking very bright with all the releases lined up. My reality show got a great response and now, I am pepped up to do even better.”

Turkish actor Burak Deniz, who was recently on a visit to India, said that it was his first visit to the country and he will be back soon. During a session at FICCI Frames in Mumbai, Deniz realised the massive fan following he had in the country, with many fans requesting selfies and videos with him.

At his FICCI Frames session, Burak spoke a couple of lines in English and then chatted in Turkish, which was translated to Hindi via his translator, who had joined on video call from Turkey.

Turkish producer Stare Yildirim, who had joined him on stage, said, “I want to say why are we doing this and connecting a professor from Turkey – it’s because we want to respect all languages and that’s why we didn’t do it (the translation) just in English.”

Even though some of what Burak expressed was lost in translation, the rapt audience was keen to find out what he had to say. Burak shared that what struck him when he landed here – and what he’s gonna remember from his visit – is spicy food, warm people and hot weather.

He said, “Your weather is hot. It is too hot! It is my first visit to India and I was always really curious about the culture and lifestyle of the country. It was a quick visit, but I’d like to come again soon. I was really impressed with the hospitality, but I must say that Indian food is really, really spicy.”

Burak Deniz, who is a popular name among fans of Turkish shows across the world, spoke about his upcoming projects and passion for acting. “In the beginning, acting was like a job for me, but it eventually became my passion. Now, it is indeed much more than a job. I find peace in acting. Whenever I pick a film or series, I ensure that I’m not repeating roles.”

Burak, who recently posted a video of him grooving to Salman Khan’s songs, also talked about Bollywood. “PK is my favourite film from India, and I have great respect for Aamir Khan. He is the greatest actor in the world. If I have to do an Indo-Turkish co-production, then I’d like to collaborate with Aamir Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra and PK director (Rajkumar Hirani).”

With Pathaan marking Shah Rukh Khan’s first film in four years, director Siddharth Anand was keen to create an offering that befit his stardom. In a bid to make Pathaan a “visual spectacle”, Anand took his cast and crew, including Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham across eight countries for the shoot of the actioner.

“The selection of the right locations is always an important part of making a film, and it was more crucial for an actioner like this one. We wanted to create a spectacle for audiences; one that they have never seen before,” says Anand, whose previous offerings include dramas like War, Bang Bang, and Bachana Ae Haseeno.

Filming for Aditya Chopra’s production took place across Spain, UAE, Turkey, Russia and Siberia, Italy, France, and Afghanistan. “This was done to achieve a variation in the [settings]. A lot of planning went into deciding how we would go about filming.”

Pre-production for the film, which also releases in Tamil and Telugu, took nearly two years to complete. “Our aim was to create a film that would raise the bar of action movies in India. We have shot in remote and exquisite spaces so as to make the film both immersive and outlandish,” says the director of the January 25 release that was shot near Paris’s Eiffel Tower, and Siberia’s snow-clad mountains.

On September 24, actress Shivaleeka Oberoi posted a video on social media that had her making her relationship with producer-director Abhishek Pathak Insta official. However, the couple got engaged on July 24, Shivaleeka’s birthday. Abhishek popped the question with a ring during their trip to Cappadocia, Turkey. The couple was accompanied by their friends for the holiday, which proved to be a big step in their relationship.

Talking about the special day, Shivaleeka says, “Everyone was surprised. Of course, some people knew about our relationship, but largely, people knew that we were affiliated through our work. I had auditioned for Khuda Haafiz, and I still remember I met Kumar ji (Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek’s father) before I met Abhishek. We later realised that we had common friends. With time, things organically fell into place. It hasn’t been very long since we started seeing each other, but when something feels right, it’s right. Abhishek was already shooting for Drishyam 2. We found ways to spend time together despite so many restrictions over the last two years. Our friends could see that we were good for each other. On my birthday, he planned this beautiful surprise for me, without telling any of our friends. The location, the hot-air balloon…it was out of a fairytale. Since that day, our families have been so happy. They hadn’t met till then, but now we are one big happy bunch.”

She further adds, “Abhishek is a lot like me, which I feel is a huge plus. We’re both in an industry where our lives are in the spotlight, but we prefer to keep our personal lives away from everything else.”

Shivaleeka, who made her debut in 2019 with Yeh Saali Aashiqui, is currently working on a couple of projects. Speaking about balancing work and personal life, she says, “So many actresses are married today, and their careers are flourishing. Work and relationships are a part of life and can absolutely sail together. Abhishek and I have also broached this subject. We’re both clear that our work life will not change because we’re planning to get married soon. I believe one must take the plunge when they feel it’s the right time. There’s no point in dragging a decision. Marriage will mean that we have a solid partner in each other.”

The couple hasn’t zeroed in on a date for the wedding yet, but the families have already started drawing up a list of guests and ceremonies that they wish to have for them. “Abhishek and I were contemplating whether we should even announce our relationship,” she says, adding, “We took two months to eventually do that. Right now, we both have engagements on the work front, but the marriage will happen soon. Once we have some breathing space from work, we’ll start making plans. Everyone is excited. Right now, we’ve left it to our parents to figure out what works best.”

Abhishek’s next directorial venture Drishyam 2 starring Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran, Akshaye Khanna and Ishita Dutta will release in the theatres screen soon.

Bhoomi Trivedi, who recently performed in Turkey and Dubai, says that it feels great to be performing abroad again. “The last time I performed abroad was at Doha in 2019. A few months after that, the Coronavirus pandemic struck and my shows in Australia and the USA had to be cancelled. Although things started opening up gradually last year, I wasn’t keen on travelling till things were more relaxed. Finally, there is some sense of normalcy and so, I agreed to perform abroad after more than two years. It was an amazing feeling to perform in Dubai and Turkey. When you are in India, the audiences get to hear you live every now and then but when you are abroad, the audiences probably look forward to our performances more eagerly because they don’t get such opportunities too often,” Bhoomi shares.

The singer adds, “In the next few months, I have concerts lined up in Singapore, Australia, Nigeria, the USA and Canada. Till November, I will be performing in at least two countries every month, which includes pre-Navaratra and post-Navaratra concerts. So, these are really exciting times for me as an artiste. ”

Talking about the audience response to her recent concerts, Bhoomi shares, “The moment my name was announced during the Dubai concert, the audience just went crazy and it felt so good. I was craving for this love which you get while performing live. Although I worked on many songs even amid the pandemic, such a reaction reassures you that the audience is receptive to your work. Also, there were families that met me on flights and at airports, and they had good things to say about my work. As a singer, I can’t ask for more. ”

Asked about what 2022 has been like for her, she says, “In 2021, I produced a lot of songs and felt very happy when the song Ghani Cool Chori from the film Rashmi Rocket was received well by the audience. This has been an exciting year too and with my band, we are working on some new as well as old songs. I also have sung for a couple of upcoming Gujarati films, and some albums and Bollywood songs are in the pipeline too. I am in a happy space right now. ”

After KK’s unfortunate death, a lot of singers have spoken about how event organisers in India need to make sure that venues are not overcrowded, and artistes feel comfortable. Asked about her experiences, Bhoomi says, “It was really unfortunate and heart-breaking to lose a legend like KK. We certainly need more discipline at the venues. If the capacity of an auditorium is 500, organisers must be strict and ensure that not a single extra person is allowed at the venue. Here, often the mindset is such that capacity 500 hai toh kya hua, we can accommodate a few extra people, log stairs par baith jayenge. Having too many people inside can cause discomfort to the artiste as well as the audience.”

She adds, “After one of my performances in Dubai, I had friends who wanted to meet me in the green room but even after I requested the security staff, they didn’t allow them. In India, audiences often mob the singer backstage after a performance and ask for selfies. While they do it out of love, there is a need to ensure that the artiste doesn’t feel uncomfortable at any stage.”

Abhimanyu Dassani is gearing up for the release of Nikamma, which went on floors in early 2020. Sabbir Khan’s directorial offering, also starring Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Shirley Setia, required Dassani to pile on 10 kilos to sport a muscular look. The actor remembers beginning his physical prep for the actioner in late 2019.

“I had to put on a lot of weight, but at the same time, I had to sport a chiselled look. In 2019, I trained in Krav Maga in Turkey and learnt hand-to-hand combat for the film. I had to look the part of a ‘nikamma’. My hair had to be [messy], almost an out-of-bed look,” says Dassani. 

The weight gain was aided by a strict diet plan. The actor banked on a five-meal plan, comprising wholesome home-made food. “For lunch and dinner, I had two bowls of protein, mostly chicken, with a bowl of green vegetables and some brown rice. I complemented this with a stipulated water intake, and hitting the gym.”

Dassani had a bigger challenge after a chunk of the movie was shot. The actor was expected to shed the extra kilos soon, as he was to begin filming Meenakshi Sundareshwar (2021), which required him to adopt a lean guy-next-door look.

He remembers, “I had to lose all the weight for Meenakshi Sundareshwar. [After the film was shot], I had to regain the [extra] weight for Nikamma because we had a few days’ shoot and a song sequence left.”

Khan with the Radmehr Brothers in Turkey