Will it release? Will it not? That was the chatter around Vaani Kapoor’s Sarvagunn Sampann, which was produced by Maddock Films and reportedly lying ready since 2023. The good news is that the social comedy is set to stream soon on Zee5, as was made evident by the streamer’s announcement of its new slate.

Starring Ishwak Singh alongside Kapoor, Sarvagunn Sampann is set in the 1990s and sees the leading lady portray an adult star lookalike. With it, director Sonali Rattan Deshmukh explores themes of identity and self-acceptance while challenging societal expectations and perceptions.

Kapoor, who was last seen in Mandala Murders (2025), said she was drawn to the film’s “unique and heartfelt” central idea.

She shared, “At its heart, it’s about identity, the labels society places on us, and the personal journey of finding your own truth. What I loved most is that the film explores this subject with warmth, sensitivity, and humour, making it entertaining while leaving you with something to reflect on.”

Just a week before it was to hit the theatres on May 9, the release of Abir Gulaal, led by Vaani Kapoor and Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, was called off in light of the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Over three months on, Aarti S Bagdi’s directorial venture, now spelled Aabeer Gulaal, is set to arrive in theatres on August 29. But there’s a catch — its India release remains off the table. The romantic drama, produced by Vivek B Agrawal and India Stories Limited, will screen across cinemas in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Singapore, and the Middle East. 

After the Pahalgam terror attack in April, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) called for a boycott of Pakistani artistes working in India and announced that they would block Aabeer Gulaal’s release. Now, the makers of the romantic drama — which was to mark Khan’s return to the big screen in India nine years after Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016) — are bypassing a release on home turf due to the ongoing tension between India and Pakistan.

A trade source reveals, “The film has not yet been picked up by any Indian streaming platform. In today’s scenario where digital rights sales often provide major revenue, this is unusual. A streaming debut in India is not in the offing.”

The love story’s rollout remains uncertain across the border, even as Diljit Dosanjh’s Punjabi movie Sardaar Ji 3 performed exceptionally well in the market. We’ve heard that Aabeer Gulaal has yet to be granted certification from Pakistan’s three provincial certification boards — the Central Board of Film Censors (CBFC), the Punjab Film Censor Board (PFCB), and the Sindh Board of Film Censors (SBFC).

When mid-day reached out to Nadeem Mandviwalla, a leading distributor in Pakistan, he was optimistic about its release.

He said, “A preliminary NOC has not been issued so far. Once that is done, it will go to the Pakistan censor bodies. The movies should run. People want to fight over entertainment, but only artistes end up losing in it. We were happy with the response to Sardaar Ji 3, which is the second-highest grosser in Pakistan after The Legend of Maula Jatt [2022]. We will try our best to release Aabeer Gulaal too.” Meanwhile, it has been submitted to the British Board of Film Classification. Trade insiders predict that the Middle East will be its strongest market.

mid-day reached out to Aabeer Gulaal’s makers, who confirmed that it will be released in cinemas around the globe, with the exception of India.

Vaani Kapoor has had a successful run in 2025 so far with her theatrical hit Raid 2. Now, she’s set to explore a new territory, the world of OTT, with Mandala Murders. While the actor admits feeling nervous about the shift, she’s equally excited to delve into long-format storytelling, which she believes allows her to explore her character in greater depth.

“I was very intrigued by the long format because it gives you much more room as an actor,” she says, adding, “You can explore more nuances, add more layers and really dive deep into the character. In films, you only get 2-3 hours to build an arc, establish it and layer everything in that time.”

In Mandala Murders, Vaani plays a detective, a role often associated with toughness. Ask her what influenced her to take up the role, and she points to films such as Mardaani (2014) for inspiration.

“I also wanted to bring a sense of realness and relatability to my character. She’s not just strong — she’s also vulnerable, fighting her own demons while trying to excel at her job. She’s a fighter from within, like most women, who carry incredible inner strength,” she ends.

Earlier this year, Vaani’s film Abir Gulaal, which was set to mark the Bollywood comeback of Pakistani actor Fawad Khan, faced an unexpected roadblock when it was banned in India following the Pahalgam terror attack in April.

Breaking her silence on the controversy, Vaani says, “When we shot the film, the environment was very different... The producers ensured that every single permission was in place, and all legal protocols were followed. We are law-abiding citizens, and speaking for myself — half my family comes from an Army background. I’ve grown up watching my loved ones serve the country. I understand, on a very personal level, what sacrifice and duty to the nation truly mean,” she says.

Talking about social media backlash, Vaani adds, “I’m not here to prove how patriotic I am to people online. That’s not a benchmark.”

She further adds, “Nobody involved in the making of Abir Gulaal had any intent to hurt anyone’s sentiments. The film was made to spread love, unfortunately all it received was hate. But once the attacks happened, we fully respected and understood the mood of the nation. Not a single member of the team attempted to go against the law. The nation’s sentiment has always come first for all of us.”

Vaani Kapoor knew she would foray into digital entertainment sooner or later. But the actor was willing to wait until she found the right story. That came in the form of Mandala Murders, a crime thriller that has its roots in Indian mythology.

She reflects, “I was looking for something special to mark my streaming debut. I’m glad I found Mandala Murders, where I’m taking centre stage in a thriller that pushes me both physically and psychologically. Taking this leap has challenged me to discover new layers of intensity, grit, and vulnerability.”

Created and directed by Gopi Puthran, who helmed Mardaani 2 (2019), the Netflix series sees Kapoor as Rhea Thomas, a sharp investigator who has to crack the case of a string of brutal murders in the town of Charandaspur. The YRF crime thriller, co-directed by Manan Rawat, also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar, Surveen Chawla, and Vaibhav Raj Gupta.

Transitioning to OTT entertainment was natural for Kapoor, who believes that the medium is encouraging disruptive work. Mandala Murders only proves her theory, she says, pointing out how it gave her the chance to attempt action — something that her 12-year film career hadn’t offered to date. 

She says, “A new wave of female actors is taking on adrenaline-charged roles, showing that raw strength and deep emotion can thrive side by side on screen. Indian actresses are now fearlessly leading the action genre, something that was long overdue. There is a fair amount of grit and action that is empowering for an actor.”

As she readies for the July 25 release, she notes that the OTT boom has been beneficial for women actors. “I love streaming because an actress gets meatier projects and roles to show her craft on screen, which is often limited when it comes to theatrical movies as they are mostly centred on our male actors.”

Ileana D’Cruz, during an online chat, revealed that she was offered to reprise her role in the Ajay Devgn-starrer Raid 2 . However, they couldn’t work out the schedule given that she had just had her baby.

When asked about being missing from the film and her possible comeback, the actress said, “I miss working in movies too and I would have loved to be a part of Raid 2. Raid was a special film, but Malini was such a special character to play and working with my director Raj Kumar Gupta was a wonderful experience as was working with Ajay again. The makers of Raid 2 did offer the movie to me but unfortunately we couldn’t work out the schedule given that I had just had my baby and my priorities are very different at the moment.”

Talking about Vaani Kapoor, who was seen in the sequel to the 2018 film, Ileana added, “That said, I think Vaani looked lovely in all the promos I’ve seen, and I’m sure she brought her own lovely charm to her character. Hope that clears any confusion (sic).”

The actress and her husband, Michael Dolan, are all set to become parents again. The couple welcomed their first child, son Koa Phoenix, in August 2023.

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Actor Ileana D’Cruz played Malini Patnaik, actor Ajay Devgn’s wife, in the 2018 film Raid. However, she was replaced by actor Vaani Kapoor in the film’s recently released sequel. While there was speculation that the makers didn’t approach Ileana for Raid 2, she took to Insta on Sunday to put the rumours to rest.

Responding to a fan, she wrote, “I miss working in movies too and I would have loved to be a part of Raid 2. Raid was a special film, but Malini was such a special character to play and working with my director Raj Kumar Gupta was a wonderful experience as was working with Ajay again. The makers of Raid 2 did offer the movie to me, but unfortunately, we couldn’t work out the schedule given that I had just had my baby and my priorities are very different at the moment (sic).”

Praising Vaani, the 38-year-old added: “I think Vaani looked lovely in all the promos I’ve seen and I’m sure she brought her own lovely charm to her character. Hope that clears any confusion (sic).”

After the teaser of Abir Gulaal dropped earlier this month, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) opposed its release, condemning Pakistani actor Fawad Khan’s return to Bollywood after nine years. Amid the tension, the makers of the love story, also starring Vaani Kapoor, are carrying out the promotions as scheduled, ahead of its May 9 release. We’ve heard that the film’s music will be launched at Global Village in Dubai on April 19, with the leads in attendance. Amit Trivedi, who has composed the film’s soundtrack, will perform at the event.

We’re told Dubai was on the table right when the promotional plan was being drawn up. A source associated with Aarti S Bagdi’s directorial venture tells us, “The team anticipated the risk of backlash in India ever since Fawad came on board. Dubai is the obvious choice for promotions. It’s a neutral ground, has a strong diaspora presence, and Fawad is popular there. Music is a key aspect of Abir Gulaal. They wanted to go big on the music before launching the trailer.”

The music launch is being designed as a concert of sorts, with Trivedi performing select tracks from the movie. Another insider says, “It won’t be a ticketed event; it will be open to the public who have paid the entry fee for Global Village.”

Khan has been missing from the big screens in India since 2016, when the Indian industry stopped collaborating with Pakistani artistes in the aftermath of the Uri attack. While the Punjab release of his Pakistani film, The Legend Of Maula Jatt (2022), was cancelled last year, the actor’s series, Barzakh (2024), premièred on Zee5.

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is set to return to Hindi cinema with Abir Gulaal, co-starring Vaani Kapoor, nine years after his last release, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Pakistani artistes were banned in India following the 2016 Uri attacks. In 2023, the Bombay High Court ruled against a petition that aimed to ban Pakistani artistes from working or performing in India. However, the industry and some political bodies are against the comeback of artistes from Pakistan.

Sandeep Deshpande, city chief, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), told us, “Our stand is very clear. We will not entertain any movie that has Pakistani artistes. And if such a film is released, we will agitate the MNS way.”

Ameya Khopkar, a spokesperson for MNS, wrote on X, “Humein aaj hi iss film ke release ki jaankari mili. Lekin hum saaf taur par yeh keh rahe hain ki hum iss film ko Maharashtra mein release nahin hone denge.”

We reached out to producer Vivek B Agrawal and Vaani’s team, but there was no response till the time of going to press.

“We are still facing attacks by Pakistan. This is insensitive on the part of certain people in this industry. If they keep supporting Pakistanis, the federation will work out a system in which they will have to suffer a backlash. We can’t do anything legally, but we are contemplating action against the Indians and artistes who have worked on this film, including the heroine (actor Vaani Kapoor), by issuing a non-cooperation diktat.”

“Fawad Khan se dushmani nahin hai, Pakistani artistes se hai. We strongly oppose this film, and if our artistes work with them, we will stop them. Now that this film has been shot, we will issue a letter to the Indians involved in the project.”

“There are strong objections from my side. There are terrorist activities happening in Jammu and Kashmir. In the past too, Pakistan has caused so much damage to India. The film industry does not see the morally wrong side of this. We should just be honest to our soldiers and say, ‘Your life doesn’t matter’... We are fooling them when we make a film with Fawad Khan.”

In May 2024, Ajay Devgn and director Raj Kumar Gupta wrapped up the shoot of Raid 2. But now, it looks like the unit will head back to the shoot. mid-day has learnt that the makers have decided to film two songs—a club number and a romantic track—for the Devgn, Vaani Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh-starrer that is slated to hit the theatres on May 1. In the sequel to Raid (2018), Devgn will reprise his role of senior income tax officer Amay Patnaik.

The dance number will be filmed next week. The makers have yet to zero in on an actor to front it. An insider says, “Producers Bhushan Kumar and Kumar Mangat decided to add the song at the last minute. They felt it would add more context to the preceding scene. The number is set in a club, where Ajay’s character is looking for someone. Honey Singh has composed the song.”

The second track, featuring Devgn and Kapoor, will be shot in the third week of April.

Earlier this month, Netflix India announced Mandala Murders, led by Vaani Kapoor, as part of its 2025 slate. While the murder mystery’s principal photography had been wrapped up early last year, we have now heard that director Gopi Puthran and his unit have gone back to the set to film some portions. The team has been apparently shooting since last week in different parts of the city, including Madh Island, adding as well as reimagining certain sequences as per the editing team’s suggestions.

A source close to the production reveals, “The Yash Raj series, which sees Vaani’s character investigating a series of murders, has been a massive undertaking with its action-heavy sequences and layered storytelling. When the show reached the edit table this year, the makers and the editing team felt that certain portions needed to be fine-tuned to enhance the crime thriller’s tension and intensity. So, a call was taken to rework those scenes and add some sequences.”

Mandala Murders marks Kapoor’s foray into long-format storytelling. It also stars Vaibhav Raj Gupta, Jameel Khan and Surveen Chawla. The source adds, “The last phase of the shoot in Madh Island involves crucial portions that tie together the layered plot. Another week of filming is left before the material is deemed good to go.”

Those looking forward to watching Fawad Khan’s The Legend Of Maula Jatt (2022) were disappointed when the film’s India release was stalled again this October. But it looks like we’ll see the actor on the big screen in 2025. mid-day has learnt that Khan and Vaani Kapoor’s romantic comedy, Abir Gulaal, has been wrapped up and director Aarti S Bagdi is now readying it for a theatrical release. The film will mark the Pakistani actor’s return to Hindi cinema almost nine years after his last Bollywood offering, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016).

Sources tell us that beginning late September, the rom-com was shot in a straight schedule in London. The story revolves around two emotionally wounded people who inadvertently help each other heal.

A source from the unit reveals, “Abir Gulaal borrows its name from its lead characters. Fawad plays Abir, a London-based Indian chef, and Vaani, Gulaal, a traditional woman from Jaipur. The shoot began from September 29, with Aarti having planned a 40-day start-to-finish schedule. Filming was wrapped up in 37 days, as Vaani, Fawad and the supporting cast—including Lisa Haydon, Farida Jalal, Parmeet Sethi and Soni Razdan—were well-prepped. Initially the plan was to shoot a few scenes in Mumbai, but eventually, the entire shoot was conducted in London as the story is set against the British capital. Every technician, including designer Sheetal Sharma, was hand-picked from India. Now, the post-production is underway. A part of Fawad’s dubbing is left; that will be done online.”

Producer Vivek B Agrawal, who has been part of Udta Punjab (2016) and Vikram Vedha (2022), is aiming for a theatrical release between early and mid-2025. It may be noted that collaborations with Pakistani artistes had come to a grinding halt in Bollywood after the Uri attack in 2016. However, in October 2023, the Bombay High Court rejected a petition to ban cross-border collaborations, observing that doing so would be a step backward in promoting peace, unity, and cultural harmony. The makers are optimistic that Abir Gulaal, which is an Indian production, will have a smooth journey to the cinemas.

Although The Legend Of Maula Jatt has not yet received clearance to release in India, Fawad Khan has begun his return to Bollywood. The Pakistani actor and Vaani Kapoor kickstarted the shoot of their romantic comedy in London on September 28. “It is a 40-day schedule from start to finish,” a source said about the film directed by Aarti S Bagdi.

Tentatively titled Abir Gulal and produced by Vivek Agrawal of Udta Punjab (2016), Super 30 (2019), and Vikram Vedha (2023) fame, the film revolves around two emotionally wounded individuals who cross paths by fate, help heal each other, and eventually fall in love.

After Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016), this will be Khan’s first appearance in Hindi cinema. The ban on Pakistani artistes in India began after the 2016 Uri terror attack. “The movie is about a London-based chef [Khan] and a simple, traditional girl from India [Kapoor], who has come to visit the city,” said the source, adding that  it is a simple yet well-crafted love story.

“[The cast and crew] will shoot across the city until November 10. Malaika Arora and Ridhi Dogra will join the unit in London. After that, Fawad will return to Pakistan, while the team will resume the shoot in Mumbai for a week. The principal shoot and songs are being shot in London,” said the source.

On October 17, 2023, the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking an absolute or complete ban on Pakistani artistes in India, noting that it would hinder efforts to promote peace, unity, and cultural harmony.

Actor Vaani Kapoor, who is familiar with both success and failure in a career spanning over a decade, says she is learning to detach from failure. “It is something that I’m still learning in my life — to not be so attached. And you learn from it. Take the good from it, value it and then just try and strive,” says Kapoor, who recently starred in Khel Khel Mein.

The actor, whose previous big-screen film, Shamshera (2022) failed at the box office, laments that over the years, beating herself up over every failure as part of a “self-inflicted pressure” became part of her personality. “You have the captain of the ship who takes the last call. A film is also made on the edit table. There is a background score. There are other people and characters. So, it’s not just all on your shoulders. I take it all on me,” Kapoor adds.

But one part that she admits to be still “attached” with is Shyra from Befikre (2016). “For me, it’s a very special part. The film was made with a lot of love and the right intentions. I hope that it finds a place in everybody’s heart someday,” she says.

The actor turned 36 on Friday last week, and she says birthdays are all about looking back at her personal and professional journey now. “The journey of learning is still on. I want to constantly strive, not just in my professional life only, but as an individual. You want to become better evolved from who you were,” she wraps up.

Having accompanied a friend who was serving as an assistant director on Student Of The Year 2 (2019) to the set, Akshay Arora recalls having witnessed the manner in which food was being served to the cast and crew. “I saw that it was not an enjoyable situation,” recalls the chef, who subsequently arrived at the idea of creating vanity kitchens for those on set.

“Having been an athlete, I had a sense of nutrition, so we thought [of serving healthy meals on set].”

While several meal subscription plans have made their way to the market, Arora says his company is distinguished in the fact that the quality of ingredients they serve is superior. “I knew that the food that I would provide would be of the same quality that I would use to put something into my system. We set a benchmark in that aspect, and also spent a lot of time, effort, and money into research and development so that we could create healthy food that was also tasty,” says the chef, who was admitted to an international university for a course on real estate development, but began to also accompany his friend to culinary classes during his time spent there.

“We use different culinary techniques to make food more appetizing, and our passion kept pushing us to do better.”

A bevy of stars, including Sidharth Malhotra, Vicky Kaushal, Kartik Aaryan, Karan Johar, Kiara Advani, Rohit Saraf, Arjun Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Mahesh Babu, and Ram Charan, among others, have availed of his services. After having bagged his first client in Malhotra, he recalls having been approached by Kaushal’s team as the actor was “transforming [his physique] for several projects at the time”.

Arora often finds himself aboard such projects that require actors to undergo a physical transformation. “We need to subsequently be in touch with their coaches and nutritionists to help them meet the purpose of making [the actors] ready for the film.”

Unlike the standard meals provided to the cast and crew on set, Arora creates custom-made meals for each actor. “Because it is tailor-made, we need to understand everyone’s nutritional requirement. During the filming of Student Of The Year 2, Tiger Shroff was on a really strict diet, and we created dishes around his requirements. We have a nutrition department, where nutritionists understand the actor’s goals, and current lifestyle. We also have a culinary department that caters to an actor’s culinary palette, and focuses on creativity. Each one reacts to food in a different way. Nutrition, for the human body is like astrology—it depends on each person’s individual problem. After we understand what works for people, we then inquire about their preferences. For example, some clients may like street foods like wada pav, and we need to [cater to those needs]. We also have to keep track of their lifestyle, sleeping patterns, hormones, and age. Many of them get only three to four hours of sleep due to their erratic schedules.”

Ask him if catering to celeb clients who are vegetarian is as difficult as it is perpetuated, and he responds in the affirmative. “It gets difficult when the calorie allowance is set, which it usually is. So, if someone can only eat about 1,000 calories, it becomes difficult to add enough proteins because a majority of the vegan proteins have high amounts of carbs and fats [which increase the number of calories consumed]. But if you’ve got enough macros to play with, you can easily get a good amount of protein through a vegan diet.” 

A defining aspect of his job is ensuring his team meets the demands of his clients, who are “high-achievers”. “Every minute of their life is dedicated towards being productive in the space that they’re working in, so our life has to match that. If our client has a 4 am call time, our team has to wake up an hour earlier, and sleep an hour after the client sleeps, to ensure they are [served each meal]. Usually, the team dedicated to the client has to be on the same schedule that the client is on.”

What do you get when Akshay Kumar, Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor, Fardeen Khan, Ammy Virk, and Pragya Jaiswal huddle together? A mad story of one night, says Aditya Seal. The actor reveals that their upcoming rom-com, Khel Khel Mein, delves into the themes of friendship and relationships, all unfolding over the course of a night.

“Khel Khel Mein is a story set over one night, and how it changes relationships between friends. It’s a roller-coaster of emotions and hilarity, exploring the dynamics of friendships and romantic entanglements. There is nuance and depth, over and above the fun and frolic,” he says.

Director Mudassar Aziz took the project on floors in London last October and is now readying it for an August 15 release. Seal is upbeat about the movie’s cast that is led by Kumar and has a diverse set of actors. 

“It’s such a unique cast that has a diverse fan base. Between Ammy paaji and Pragya, we have gone all the way from north India to down south. We all bonded as one, and had so much fun on set that there were days when we would wait for the others to finish their last few shots and then leave together.”

Vaani Kapoor, who clocked in 10 years in Bollywood last year, believes that a career in films is a game of patience. “Even the most talented people in the industry, at some point, must have felt impatient. But you have to wait, just hold on and not give up. Sometimes, it is all pre-destined,” says the Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui actress in a chat with us.

Vaani feels that social media has become a huge part of an actor’s journey in showbiz, but being out there is not something that comes naturally to her.

“I am terrible at it. To each its own. I don’t think anything is right or wrong here. But it doesn’t feel organic to me because that is not the person I am. I want to be known for my films rather than my airport looks. I understand that nowadays, you have to put yourself out there and be visible because, strangely, a lot of people within the industry who are giving you work look at your social media numbers. It’s absurd that it has become a barometer of how relevant you are in today’s times.”

Personally as well as professionally, Vaani believes she has come a long way. The Befikre actress says, “I have learnt to be patient. There are many days when I feel low and wonder why I couldn’t have been any different and push myself the way others do. But that’s not me. I don’t want to be untrue to who I am. Do I want to put on a façade and be somebody else just to get more work? That won’t even give me satisfaction, so it’s best to wait it out. After all, why would I want to sell myself short? I believe that the right opportunity might just come to you at a time when you are mentally prepared to give it your best. So, while some get it easily, it’s a bit harder for the others, and you have to accept that.”

Pakistani actor Fawad Khan is reportedly set to make his Bollywood comeback after eight years with a rom-com. Khan will star opposite actor Vaani Kapoor in an untitled film, which will be directed by Aarti Bagdi and shot entirely in the UK. No official announcement has been made yet, but the makers are expected to make the announcement right before filming begins.

The film follows two broken people who come together by a stroke of luck and fall in love. It is set to go on floors this September and is expected to wrap by November.

Khan has appeared in three Bollywood films, including Khoobsurat (2014), Kapoor & Sons and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (both 2016). However, after the Uri terror attack in 2016, the Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) and the Film Producers Guild of India banned Pakistani artistes, including Khan, from working in India as political relations between the two countries deteriorated. The ban was finally lifted by the Bombay High Court last October.

Ahead of International Sushi Day, Vaani Kapoor took a break from her shoot schedule and spent an afternoon learning how to prepare sushi. From placing the nori (the thin layer of dried seaweed used to make rolls) on the rolling mat and topping it with a layer of rice and vegetables, including her favourite asparagus, Vaani’s dish looked picture-perfect till she rolled it and attempted to slice it into bite-size pieces.“Gosh, it looks like biryani more than sushi now. The Punjabi in me was so alert that you can’t put it to sleep,” the actress laughed, as the ingredients started spilling out. Vaani, who loves vegetarian sushi, added, “I thought I’d get it right in one go, but now I realise that rolling, cutting and plating sushi is an art.”

Vaani’s first experience with sushi was when she was interning at a luxury hotel. She said, “I had just completed a tourism course in Delhi and was doing an internship at a five-star hotel. They were teaching us back-end jobs and a part of the program was to spend time with chefs and pick up skills in the kitchen. I was 17 when I had my first sushi back there. The wasabi was too pungent for me, but I developed a taste for sushi and have been a sushi fan ever since.”

The Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui actress said that she can easily tuck in over a dozen sushis in one go. “I can eat as much as 15 to 20 sushis at a time. Now I am planning to host a sushi party for my friends at home,” she shared.

Talking about her favourite vegetarian sushis, she said, “Veg sushi is a very healthy option. I love binging on asparagus and tofu sushi. Veg sushis have a delicious mix of vegetables like bell peppers, avocados and asparagus that are healthy and keep you full.”

Vaani was introduced to Japanese cuisine in her growing-up days. She said, “When I was a kid, my best friend lived in Japan. She would come to India to see her nani during the summer holidays. We were neighbours and she would get me packets of dried seaweed, which is eaten as a snack. I was just 11 when I was introduced to Japanese food. Now, I enjoy eating nori quite often.”

Ajay Devgn knew 2024 would be a busy year with five releases lined up. The actor wasted no time, kicking off the year with the shoot of Raid 2 in the first week of January. Now, we have heard that Raj Kumar Gupta’s directorial venture—also starring Riteish Deshmukh and Vaani Kapoor—was wrapped up last month in Delhi.

Sources tell us that the sequel to Devgn’s 2018 crime thriller reached the finish line on May 10 after an extensive shoot that took the team to Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and finally to the capital.

“The first schedule was conducted in Mumbai over a week with Ajay and Riteish. This was followed by a month-long stint in Lucknow, where they shot at Isabella Thoburn College and La Martiniere College. In the next leg in Rajasthan, they shot in the sand dunes of Khimsar, at Mehrangarh Fort and other parts of Jodhpur. Barring Mumbai, the director shot mostly in real locations,” says a source.

The post-production of Raid 2, which sees Devgn reprise his role of senior income tax officer Amay Patnaik, is underway. This time, the director has apparently turned to a real-life raid case in Uttar Pradesh for inspiration.

“The story has its roots in a case that saw a UP politician-businessman being accused of tax evasion of over Rs. 100 crore,” adds the source.

Producers Kumar Mangat, Abhishek Pathak and Bhushan Kumar are planning a November 15 release.

In the last few months, Vaani Kapoor has been busy shooting for an upcoming project with Raj Kumar Gupta. In a quick chat with us, the actress shared her travel plans for this year and talked about her childhood in Delhi, surrounded by “dogs, horses, rabbits, monkeys, cows” at the family’s farmhouse. Excerpts:

Though this summer is mostly about work for Vaani she has her travel itinerary sorted. She says, “We have so much to explore in India and each place has its own charm. I love hills. I have not had time to visit hills, but I have grown up in Delhi and like for Mumbai people short getaways mean Lonavala, Alibaug, for us it is hills, Manali, McLeod Ganj, Nainital, so my entire childhood has been around hill stations. I love south India. I have been to Kerala once, but I would love to explore south India more. From the last two years I have also been inclined towards spiritual destinations. Tirupati and a couple of other places are on my wish list and I hope that I will do that this year.”

Vaani says that as soon as she completes her next shoot, she will be heading to her hometown Delhi. “I already have my list ready with golgappas and what not! My parents are khata-peeta Punjabis and their way of showing love is food. Now my mother has also started to trick me into eating cream etc saying nahi ye toh dahi hai, they always say haye sookh gayi hai, ise koi khilata nahi hai Mumbai mein. They tell me you have to live up to being a Punjabi,” she says.

Talking about her childhood in Delhi, the actress shares, “My childhood was a blast and now I look back and think why was I hoping and wishing to grow up soon. It was so much fun to be a kid. My family used to run an NGO. Our farmhouse was like a mini zoo with dogs, horses, rabbits, monkeys, cows. We had no neighbours, there were times when my schoolmates would make fun of me, but that was the best childhood one could have because it was so unique and different. I am very introverted, I am a big homebody and my house has been my happy place.”

Vaani adds, “My mother had built a swimming pool in our house with the help of a few workers. We would wake up at 8 am and be in the pool till evening. We would have a tub of mangoes and all seasonal fruits around us and this was how we would spend our summer vacations. My mother was strict and would make us eat veggies, but I was always looking for junk. There was a point when I was almost 70 kgs (I think when I was 12) and my mom was a bit alert about my health, but I was an active kid who would digest pretty much everything.”