Friday belonged to Virat Kohli and Instagram’s newest obsession, LizLaz. The cricketer, who runs the most-followed Indian Instagram account with 276 million followers, briefly liked one of her posts before unliking it, triggering a fresh round of ‘likegate’ chatter online, after a similar incident with actor Avneet Kaur last year. Memes, throwbacks, and speculation followed in minutes.

Caught in the middle of the frenzy, German vlogger-musician LizLaz says the attention caught her off guard. “It was crazy because I woke up and then I was all over the news,” she tells us in an exclusive chat, adding, “I don’t even know when he liked the picture, I learnt through the news. So many people found the articles on me and sent them in my DMs; they were super excited.”

The buzz has also revived an old clip where she admits being a Kohli fan. Her connection to cricket, she says, began during a trip to India last year. “I was born in South Africa but brought up in Germany, where the national sport is only football,” she shares. “Then I started watching IPL with my friends in Bengaluru... It was contagious and I also became an RCB fan. And obviously, if you support RCB, Virat Kohli is the most exciting player to watch. So I was happy about him liking the picture.”

As for the unlike? she isn’t reading too much into it. “No, I felt a bit sorry for him actually! I don’t even know how it became such a big story. But I am grateful for him liking my pic.”

Actor Taniya Chatterjee claims cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal has sent her a defamation notice after a video of her sharing his alleged Instagram DM went viral. Chahal’s team has also confirmed the legal notice. In the clip, Taniya said he called her “cute”, sparking online chatter. Later, she said she didn’t expect it to “go so viral” and called the legal move “ridiculous”, maintaining she did not intend to malign him. She also alleged his PR team asked her to delete the video.

Cricketer Virat Kohli and actor Anushka Sharma have acquired a large land parcel in beach town Alibaug, with the two adjoining plots together measuring over 5.19 acres. The couple has acquired the plots in Zirad village in Raigad district, for a total consideration of Rs 37.86 crore.

This is the second land parcel acquired by them in the coastal town. In 2022, Kohli and Sharma had acquired an around 8-acre land parcel here to build their farmhouse.

The latest transaction was registered on Tuesday, and involved stamp duty payments of about Rs 2.27 crore, showed documents accessed through CRE Matrix, a realty data analytics platform.

One of the plots acquired by the couple measures around 3.6 acres, while the second spans 1.55 acres. The purchase adds to the growing list of large-ticket residential land transactions in Alibag, underscoring the town’s evolution into a premium residential market on the outskirts of Mumbai.

ET’s calls and text message to Kohli’s manager remained unanswered.

Located across the Mumbai harbour, Alibaug has seen rising residential land activity in recent years, supported by improving connectivity and growing interest in low-density developments.

Infrastructure projects such as the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, along with ferry and speedboat services, have significantly reduced travel time between south Mumbai and Alibaug, making the region more accessible for frequent travel.

British filmmaker of Indian origin Gurinder Chadha’s Bend It Like Beckham (BILB) was a game-changer that brought a fresh, spirited take on Punjabi culture and Bollywood to western cinema in 2002. Chadha’s films paved the way for diverse storytelling long before Bridgerton made interracial love stories mainstream. Her upcoming project, Christmas Karma — a Bollywood-inspired adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol starring Kunal Nayyar — continues that tradition. Currently in Mumbai, Chadha spoke with Bombay Times about the much-anticipated BILB sequel, her love for Bollywood and telling stories of immigrants. Read on...

Well, I am exploring the idea. I loved working with Eva Longoria on Christmas Karma, and we were talking about BILB because Eva co-owns several football clubs. I was never interested in returning to Bend It Like Beckham because it’s such a special film for so many people, but the incredible growth of women’s football around the world has made me excited to return to this world. So many international players have told me that Bend It Like Beckham inspired them to play, so I want to celebrate women’s football and look at the challenges that are still there for women to thrive on an equal playing field. I’m excited to bring back all of our beloved characters and see where they are in their lives now. Can you imagine? Jess Bhamra in her forties!

What can I say, I am always ahead of the game (smiles). The world takes time to catch up with me, but it’s okay. Bride & Prejudice is very popular around the world. I was surprised — I was in LA and had gone for dinner to my friend’s place, and her niece (an Italian girl around 12) told me that when she and her friends have sleepovers, this is the movie they watch and the one they dance to as well.”

I feel it’s like a soothing balm for a lot of people. I grew up celebrating Christmas in England as a child, with stockings and cookies. My father would place carrots and whiskey out for Santa Claus. Then he would get up in the morning and say, ‘Look, Santa came and drank my whiskey!’ And we would exclaim, ‘Oh my God! Santa drank your whiskey!’ It was party time, where we all ate together. That was our version of Christmas. So, I was going to make my unique version with a holiday movie that celebrated Christmas the way we did. I am super happy because I have the first Christmas bhangra song in the world in my movie.

It’s all about economics. The first thing that people do when things go down is blame the immigrants. It’s a worldwide phenomenon. The problem in England is that there are no manufacturing jobs. The people at large don’t have the educational qualifications to do the kind of jobs that they would like and earn the kind of money that people who are educated and work hard have. So there are scapegoats with nowhere to run. My children and their generation see race in a very different way. They actually don’t see colour. Times are changing, but I also feel there is something called the English culture. I grew up with it. For some people, it is also important to have English culture and traditions. We should uphold our traditions, but not lose theirs either. So, this Christmas film is from a nation of both cultures and also about what Christmas means to someone like me, or say, Jess Bhamra from Bend It Like Beckham, and how she would be celebrating with her family. It’s a very British interpretation, and I think the message and meaning of Christmas is to give thanks, to do charity and to be kind.

I want to work with Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. There are so many great actors in India that I’d love to work with. If I ever get a chance, I want to make a Punjabi film. I do have a subject, and I am talking to someone. Let’s see if I can make it happen. I’d love to make a film in India in an Indian language. I have done so many crossover films now, it would be a great experience to do something different. 

Gurinder met Virat Kohli at a charity event in London. Does she follow cricket and can someone like him be the centre of her film in the near future, given his global fan following?

She replied, “I think it’s his wife (Anushka) we need to ask. She’s the actor. We met at a charity sporting event and there was a lot of security around him. At one point, I tapped him on his shoulder and he just turned around and said ‘Oh ma’am, ma’am!’ And he called me ma’am, Oh My Lord! And then we got out and he told me, he loves London and he’s settling in well. So that was a nice interaction. My father loved cricket but I am not an expert. I think a true cricket lover should make a film about Virat – it would be a smash!”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suniel Shetty reflects on how much Bollywood has changed over the years, the challenges faced by young actors like his son Ahan Shetty and also weighs in on the controversy around Diljit Dosanjh’s casting in Border 2. Excerpts:

Border 2 faced a setback during the shoot when there was a call to ban Diljit Dosanjh for supporting the release of his movie, Sardaar Ji 3 (outside of India), which featured Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, months after the Pahalgam terror attack. However, following producer Bhushan Kumar’s intervention, the ban was lifted, allowing him to continue with the film.

Talking about it, Suniel says, “When this happened, I thought that there is a world that doesn’t know anything about cinema and is wanting to bring it down. Someone like Virat Kohli, who has served the country as a cricketer, if he can be trolled, nobody will be spared.”

Suniel adds, “The virtual world is feeding us so much that we have forgotten to differentiate. We don’t realise it is creating a perception, and what is perception? What the eye sees, it believes; what the mind believes, it sees. So, where do you belong is the question. For me, it varies from situation to situation. Diljit is a superstar, he has put India on the world map when it comes to music. He has created hysteria for Indian musicians and artistes. We should be celebrating him and not pulling him down. If a child has made a mistake, will you punish him or help him overcome it? Border 2 is a film for the country.”

Talking about how the online world impacts young actors, he says, “It’s tougher now. Today, young actors don’t have to deal with the media, they have to deal with trolls. These are people who don’t know why they are criticizing the actors and films. This virtual world is scary. Otherwise, when it comes to movies, there are great opportunities as many platforms are making content in various forms.”

Suniel, who was last seen in Kesari Veer, points out how digitization is reshaping the business of cinema. “Earlier, makers made films, but today, excel sheets are making movies. When a film released on Friday, the producer would be stressed and think, ‘Kya weekend ke baad picture giregi? Kya Monday ko picture ko khada karna padega? Picture kahan thandi chal rahi hai? Kahan poster lagane hain?’ Today, when the film releases on Friday aur jahan Saturday-Sunday ko films ko chalana hai, film corporates ko chhutti hai. Middleman ko nikala hai, technology has taken over. Online sab ho raha hai, but chhote centres ka kya? The personal touch has gone.”

​It was a blend of cricketing and cinematic worlds when cricketer Harbhajan Singh and actress Geeta Basra tied the knot in 2015. In an interview with us, the couple reflects on their decade-long marriage, parenthood, and what keeps their bond strong through changing times.

Talking about married life, Harbhajan in his characteristic humour, says, “Yaar, main toh maanta hoon ki shaadi nibhane ke liye two things are very important kuch nazar andaaz aur kuch bardasht karna padta hai, baaki pyaar mohabbat toh chalti rehti hai shaadi mein. If you follow these two things, shaadi tik jaati hai.”

Geeta emphasizes that marriage is constant work. “Married life is hard work, it is work in progress and not something that you can take for granted. Tying the knot and having kids is just the beginning. You have to make time for each other, even as life gets busier with responsibilities and work.”

Drawing parallels between marriage and cricket, Harbhajan says, “It’s easy to walk away, but marriage isn’t like a cricket match where you can decide you don’t want to play anymore. You can’t back off saying ki mujhe aur test match nahi khelni hai. Every relationship has its own ups and downs. You have to work on it continuously to make things work.”

Speaking about couples they admire, Geeta and Harbhajan feel that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have set a commendable standard. “They’re an ideal couple,” Geeta says.

Reflecting on what leads to marriages breaking down, Harbhajan says, “It all comes down to personal choice and emotional strength. Pressure, triggers and life situations can push people to make decisions. Ego should never come in the way. Communication, patience and emotional maturity are key to sustaining a relationship.”

Geeta adds, “At the heart of it all, there has to be love. You can’t live with someone for the sake of it.”

Looking back at the early days of their relationship, Geeta recalls how cultural differences and contrasting career backgrounds posed challenges. “Though we’re both Punjabi, we were raised very differently. I grew up in the UK, and Harbhajan in Punjab. Our perspectives, our education — everything was different. We had to adjust to each other’s worlds,” she shares.

After a break from the film industry, Geeta is ready to return to the big screen. Geeta, who was a part of films like Dil Diya Hai (2006) and The Train (2007), was last seen in the Punjabi film Lock (2016). “This year is exciting. You’ll see me in Awasthi vs Awasthi and the Punjabi film Mehr.”

Meanwhile, Harbhajan, who has made cameo appearances in multiple films and played the lead in the Tamil film Friendship (2021), wants to take up meaningful roles. “If I could pick a role, I’d love to play a fauji. I want to be part of films that deal with real stories,” he says.

Meanwhile, the two are also busy with their new online chat show, called Who's The Boss? that focuses on relationships and features celebrity couples.

Virat Kohli on Friday addressed the social media buzz that erupted after many users claimed that the India cricketer had liked a post made by an Instagram fan page dedicated to actor Avneet Kaur.

Taking to Stories, the 36-year-old wrote, “I’d like to clarify that while clearing my feed, it appears the algorithm may have mistakenly registered an interaction.” The former India skipper added that there was “absolutely no intent” behind the like and requested fans not make “unnecessary assumptions.”

The frenzy began after fans claimed that Virat had liked and un-liked a post featuring the actor, who was last seen in the mini series Party Till I Die. The pictures in question showed Avneet in a green crop top and printed wrapped skirt. Fans have since flooded the 23-year-old’s Instagram comment section. Funnily enough, some users also commented on Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s page, demanding he apologise to Virat for this “algorithmic error.”

The internet has, of course, had a field day. One user joked, “Akaay beta, papa ko phone do (sic),” while another wrote: “Virat ne bas Avneet Kaur ka pic like kiya, India ne usse Tinder samaj liya. Its cruel world Anushka (sic).” A third remarked, “Virat Kohli’s like on Avneet Kaur’s post got more attention than his IPL centuries Algorithm 1, Internet 0!”

New Delhi: Cricket seems to have reigned supreme in terms of brand endorsements, yet Bollywood emerged as the shining star, witnessing the highest growth in endorsements (value and volumes) in 2023.

Former India captain Virat Kohli reclaimed his position at the pinnacle of India’s most powerful celebrity brands, boasting a value of nearly $228 million in 2023, according to Kroll’s Celebrity Brand Valuation Study. However, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was the true mover and shaker in terms of growth in brand endorsements, seeing his value soar to $120.7 million and catapulting him from 10th place in 2022 to the third spot in 2023.

“2023 has been the year marking ‘Return of the Kings’ — Virat, SRK and Bollywood. We also witnessed rise of celebpreneurship in India, expanding their sphere of influence and blurring boundaries between entertainment and business,” Aviral Jain, MD (valuation advisory services), Kroll, told TOI.

“In an increasing trend, a growing number of celebrities are leveraging their star power and flexing their entrepreneurial muscles and becoming what are being termed celebpreneurs. Some have launched their own brands, while some are investing in start-ups, the study by Kroll, a leading independent global risk and financial advisory solutions firm,’’ he said.

“For instance, in 2023, Akshay Kumar launched his own athleisure brand Force IX, Kareena Kapoor Khan launched her own Korean skincare brand Quench Botanics and Deepika Padukone launched a luxury skincare brand 82°E. Under celebpreneurship, a growing number of stars are ditching the silver screen for boardroom, diversifying portfolios to build successful businesses. We’ve done some parallels with Hollywood, looking at 80 startups of top 50 Hollywood celebrities, benchmarking by age and industry. It’s no longer just the top four or five celebrities, many are getting involved. For example, we have Nayanthara with 9Skin, Kriti Sanon (Hyphen) and Sanjay Dutt (The Glen Walk) getting involved in various ventures,’’ Jain said.

In Hollywood, the top product categories, which are attracting celeb power, include beauty and personal care and food and beverages. In India, a similar trend is visible.

After weeks of speculations, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma have announced the birth of their baby boy Akaay.

Taking to Instagram, the couple posted, “With abundant happiness and our hearts full of love, we are pleased to inform everyone that on 15th February, we welcomed our baby boy Akaay & Vamika’s little brother into this world. We seek your blessings and good wishes in this beautiful time in our lives. We request you to kindly respect our privacy at this time. Love & Gratitude. Virat & Anushka (sic).”

The couple revealed that the baby boy was born on February 15.

As soon as the couple dropped the good news, fans and members from the film industry and cricket world flooded the comment section with good wishes.

Virat had opted out of the five-match series against England citing personal reasons. The lack of detail led to intense speculation. A couple of weeks ago, former South Africa captain AB de Villiers had inadvertently spilled the beans about Virat-Anushka expecting a second baby in a YouTube video, and later apologized for it.

Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers has revealed that Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma are expecting their second child. Speaking on his official YouTube channel, De Villiers said that Kohli has been indulging in “quality family time”.

He shared, “Virat is spending some quality time with his family, and that is the reason he is missing the initial two Test matches... Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it’s family time and things are important to him. If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people’s priority is family. You can’t judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him. But he has made absolutely the right decision.”

Speculations around Anushka’s second pregnancy started surfacing online in November 2023. Then in January, Kohli pulled out of the Indian squad for the opening two Tests against England citing personal reasons. The couple welcomed their first baby, daughter Vamika, in 2021.

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Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers (ABD) revealed that cricketer Virat Kohli and his wife, actor Anushka Sharma, are expecting their second child.

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, ABD said that Kohli has been spending “family time”. He added that one cannot judge the former India skipper for prioritising family. “Yes, his second child is on the way. Yes, it’s family time and things are important to him,” said ABD.

He added, “If you are not true and genuine to yourself, you lose track of what you are here for. I think most people’s priority is family. You can’t judge Virat for that. Yes, we miss him. But he has made the right decision.”

HT City was the first to break the news about Sharma’s second pregnancy. Later, many reports surfaced online, especially after she was spotted with a baby bump. The couple has remained tight-lipped about the pregnancy and haven’t shared any updates yet. However, with ABD now confirming the news, congratulations are definitely in order for Kohli and Sharma.

They got married in December 2017, in Italy, and have a three-year-old daughter, Vamika.

Kartik Aaryan, who has been busy shooting in Wai, took some time out to soak in the cricket frenzy and celebrate India’s unbeaten run in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 with Bombay Times.

Ahead of the massive India vs Australia WC final today in Ahmedabad, positive about a historic win, the actor shares his thoughts. Excerpts…

There's no question of nervousness. There’s pure joy and excitement to see India get to the finals. We’ve had a dream run so far and it has been a historic World Cup. Be it the records we've broken and especially getting this far with only victories and NO LOSS is extremely commendable. I am super excited. It does feel like a fairy-tale.

I have already requested Kabir (Khan) sir to give us some time off from the shoot for the epic finale because that is something we cannot miss! My team and I have been shooting for the longest time throughout the world cup. But someone from my team is always updated with the match score and whenever we are between the shots, we would all watch it together. I have been following the world cup closely. I didn't want to miss watching Virat Kohli's tremendous form with the bat and Mohammed Shami's terrific bowling. The rush of watching the match with your closed ones is unmatched. My cricket fever doesn’t diminish even during hectic shoots.

I just enjoy the sport, be it playing or watching it. Even now when I get the chance, I am always game for it. On the sets of Chandu Champion whenever we get a break or a day off, we all plan a game of cricket and play together. I have so many memories attached to the game. Back in Gwalior, when we were kids, we used to play cricket on the streets a lot. I remember how everyone would get together to watch the World Cup, especially the India-Pakistan match. It felt like a festival. Everyone would be clapping and hooting and almost celebrating our fours and sixes and every wicket of the opposition. Even today, the thrill to watch our Indian players play is the same - it makes one’s heart thump with every ball. Cricket is a festival in India that everyone loves to celebrate with all their heart and spirit. Since I have been so fond of cricket since childhood, I am always star struck whenever I meet our cricket legends.

Not really but you know how it is when we Indians watch cricket with friends and family. We are so engrossed in it and want India to win every match at any cost, that if anything said or done works coincidentally in our favour, one must then follow it throughout the match (laughs). But all of this is fun and such superstitions must be treated lightly. Because no matter what we do, it is our team’s sheer hard work that produces results. They bleed blue to make us proud.

Virat's 50th ODI century was a milestone and what a proud & historic moment it was for all of us. What made this moment truly so special for everyone who has grown up loving & living cricket is the fact that Sachin Tendulkar sir himself was present at Wankhede. He’s known as the God of cricket and when his record was broken, he humbly congratulated Virat and praised him highly. That century was so memorable, even though he had cramps, he kept fighting and completed his 50th century - exceptional! K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill, Jadeja, Bumrah are all in such a great form right now. Rohit Sharma is a phenomenal captain and finally, there are no words for Shami’s iconic bowling - the way he took 7 wickets in the semifinal, he owned the game and how. Despite missing the first 4 matches, he's the leading wicket taker in the tournament, hats off for this achievement. The semi-final match was iconic.

If we win this world cup, I am sure we will, India will celebrate another round of Diwali. Finally, 2003 WC ka badla pura ho jayega (laughs). When we had won the World Cup in 2011, I remember the streets were crowded, people were out with the national flag, celebrating on the roads with crackers and fireworks. What a moment it was! I hope to witness the same tonight. And I'm sure we will be celebrating it on our sets of Chandu Champion with the whole crew aur phir toh mere liye woh cheat meal day ban jaayega... fir se Cake kaatengey. Hope my trainers are not reading this (laughs).

Saiyami Kher is not just a cricket enthusiast, but also a cricketer who recently played the role of a bowler in Ghoomer. On the eve of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, the actress did a special shoot for us in Mumbai, where she did what she loves the most – played cricket and talked about India’s historic run in the tournament.

She shared, “Before the 2011 final, I was nervous but this time I am not. I am excited. We have been the most dominant side. Every time we were challenged, we came out stronger. 10 games on the trot! This almost feels like the 2003 Australian side. Yes, we know what Australia can do in the finals but given the kind of cricket we have played in this entire tournament, we are a much more dominant side so let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope all goes well for one last time.”

While all of us have our plans in place for today, Saiyami's are star-studded. “I am going to watch the game with Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan, Parthiv Patel, Virender Sehwag. I couldn’t have asked for a better company. I have been starstruck by cricket and sportsmen since childhood. I can’t explain how special it feels to watch the game with them and talk about the games for a show with them. This is me living my childhood dream”, she chuckles.

Which Indian fan is not superstitious, right? Saiyami adds, “We feel our superstitions make India win or lose (laughs). My superstition is wearing the 2011 India WC winning jersey, which I wore at the Wankhede when India won the WC. I felt like Dhoni hit that six to me. I feel that jersey is the lucky charm for Team India. As far as don’ts are concerned, I don’t watch the match with certain friends. I feel we always lose if they are around. Or don’t sit on a particular chair or don’t let someone else hold the remote. The list is endless.”

While there have been so many iconic moments in this WC, Saiyani picks one too. She says, “Virat’s 50 in front of the master blaster (Sachin Tendulkar) was a very special moment, one for the decades. There couldn’t have been a better written script. Glenn Maxwell’s double century was one of the finest ODI innings, K L Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Shami have been so good, but I feel the highlight has been Rohit Sharma and the way he has played. He is destructive and derails the opposition. The intent and aggression he has shown, this brand of cricket, we haven’t seen before. His attitude as a batsman and the way he has captained the team has been commendable. Monday should be a national holiday once we win, and the boys deserve a break too. To get into a bilateral series immediately after the WC can be gruelling.”

The WC has had its share of controversies too but Saiyami concludes, “Controversies, conspiracy theories will always happen. Social media adds to it. Home advantage is bound to be there but using a different coin, manipulating the pitch etc, these things are absolute rubbish.”

Congratulations seem to be in order for actor Anushka Sharma and her husband, cricketer Virat Kohli, if our sources are to be believed. We have exclusively learnt that the couple is expecting its second baby, with Sharma possibly in the second trimester already.

A source says, “Anushka is expecting her second baby. Like the last time, they will formally share the news with the world at a later stage.” The couple has a daughter, Vamika, who was born in January 2021.

It’s been a while since the 35-year-old was spotted at an event or papped in Mumbai. “This isn’t a coincidence. She is staying away from the public eye to avoid speculation,” adds the source. Sharma isn’t travelling with Kohli or attending his matches either — something that she does otherwise.

Another source tells us that the couple was recently spotted at a maternity clinic in Mumbai: “They requested the paparazzi to not publish their pictures, with a promise to make an announcement soon.”

Since Vamika’s birth, they’ve been very particular about not showing her face in public or posting her pictures online. Kohli had previously said, “We have decided to not expose our child to social media before she understands and makes her own choice.”

Sharma wrapped up shooting for her next, Chakda ’Xpress, a while ago. She plays former Indian cricketer Jhulan Goswami in the film.

Last year, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli acquired an eight-acre property in Zirad village in Alibaug. On Sunday, the cricketer made a visit to the coastal town as construction of the luxurious farmhouse kicked off. 

A source reveals, “All the necessary clearances have been received from the local bodies to begin construction. The land, acquired through real-estate company Samira Habitats, will house a spacious bungalow designed by Udayan Mazumdar and Blanca Bravo Reyes. Both Virat and Anushka are nature lovers. They want the house to be well-lit, minimalistic and surrounded by greenery. The property is being designed keeping their aesthetic in mind.”

In an unsurprising move, the premises will also boast of a cricket pitch. “Virat expressed his desire to have a cricket pitch. That way, he can practice the sport when the family is at the farmhouse, or even engage in a quick game when their friends drop in. The couple is overseeing the property’s design down to the last detail, personalizing it in every way possible so that it becomes a home away from home.”

The land was reportedly acquired at over Rs 19 crores.

While one may think celebs sharing glimpses from their day-to-day lives on social media is just for the love of their fans, the reality goes beyond that. Did you know celebs and influencers earn huge amounts for every activity they do on social media? Case in point: cricketer Virat Kohli, who reached the 250-million-followers mark on Instagram recently, charges about Rs. 3.5 to Rs. 5 crores for one post on Instagram.

A source says that the fee varies for different elements on the social media platform: “A story is cheaper than a post, because a post stays forever. A story with a link to the brand’s page is expensive. Even a post with a link is pricey. The most expensive is when a celebrity’s page does a collab with a brand’s page.”

CEO and co-founder of White Rivers Media, Shrenik Gandhi has worked with many Indian and international talents on the digital space. He says, “Social media contributes a lot to a celeb’s finances. Since social media is a two-way medium, it acts as a validation for a brand. About 20% to 30% of a celeb’s annual revenue comes from social media deals now.”

An insider says that it is not necessary for a celeb to be a brand ambassador to share a post: “Audi (automotive brand) had done a campaign featuring Virat, (actors) Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hrithik Roshan.”

And such is the impact of social media that sometimes, brands prefer to shoot less ads with the celeb, but ask for more social media posts. The source says, “Brands tell us that they’d need four social media posts in a year that should range across Insta, Twitter and Facebook.”

Manish Kumar, founder of Digi Osmosis, explains how celebs help in boosting a brand’s value: “Let’s take Virat’s athleisure brand or Hrithik’s apparel brand, for instance. If Hrithik wears stuff from his brand and is also seen donning the same on Insta, his fans will surely buy it. Aryan Khan (actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son) launched a clothing brand and everything was sold out on day one, thanks to Shah Rukh’s posts.”

250 million followers

Earnings per post: Rs. 3.5 to Rs. 5 crore

72.8 million followers

Earnings per post: Rs. 1 crore

87.7 million followers

Earnings per post: Rs. 2 crores

Shraddha Kapoor: 80.8 million followers; Earnings per post: Rs. 1.5 crore

Alia Bhatt: 77.4 million followers; Earnings per post: Rs. 1.5 to Rs. 2 crore

Deepika Padukone: 74.1 million followers; Earnings per post Rs. 2 crore

Bollywood’s first big shaadi of the year is here. For months, fans were speculating about the dates of the Athiya Shetty-K L Rahul wedding, with the buzz getting stronger last week as the cricketer’s Bandra house was bedecked with lights. It is now confirmed that the actor-cricketer jodi — who have been in a steady relationship since 2019 — will tie the knot on January 23 at Suniel Shetty’s sprawling farmhouse Jahaan in Khandala. The pre-wedding festivities will kick off today at the farmhouse with the mehndi and sangeet ceremony.

While the lovebirds kept mum about their impending nuptials over the past months, we hear the wedding preparation began last November. Athiya’s parents Suniel and Mana Shetty personally called their industry friends, requesting them to block their dates from January 21 to 23.

“The shaadi will be a grand, traditional affair, in keeping with the rituals of the Bunt community that the Shettys belong to. The pre-wedding festivities will kick off today with the Madarengee, where the bride’s hands are adorned with mehndi. On D-Day, the bride will perform Murthasese that entails praying to the sacred tulsi plant, followed by the aarti that will mark the beginning of the wedding ceremony. It will be followed by the Dhareyeruna [kanyadaan] and the homa, which sees the couple taking the saat pheras,” reveals a source.

The two families have drawn up a list of 100 guests, comprising their extended family and friends. A mélange of movie stars and cricketers will head to the hill station over the weekend. The source adds, 

“Salman Khan, who had launched Athiya in Bollywood with Hero (2015), will be present. Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Jackie and daughter Krishna Shroff, Sanjay Dutt, Sajid and Warda Nadiadwala are on the guest list, as are Arjun and Anshula Kapoor. The groom’s cricketer-friends Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya won’t be able to attend as they are part of the one-day series against New Zealand.” 

While some guests will be put up at their luxurious farmhouse, others will stay at the Radisson hotel in Khandala, and another lavish property a few kilometres away from Suniel’s estate.

Rahul, who is joining the Indian cricket team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy next month, will head for training within days of the wedding. Given his chock-a-block schedule, the newly-weds will host an elaborate reception in Mumbai only after the 2023 Indian Premier League is wrapped up.

Recently, the Embassy of Italy organized Italian Screens, a three-day film festival in several Indian metros, to present the best of Italian cinema to the country. The initiative was part “of a wider project of deepening cultural relations between Italy and India, to ensure a rapprochement with Bollywood and to stimulate meeting opportunities between producers, distributors and creatives of both countries”.

On the sidelines of the event, Roberto Stabile, Head of Special Projects of the Directorate General for Cinema and Audiovisual of the Ministry of Culture (DGCA-MiC) at Cinecittà, Italy, spoke about the filmy ties between the two countries, and how desi movies and ads shot in Italy, as well as Indian celebrity weddings there, have not just deepened this relationship but also led to a spike in tourists in the region. Excerpts:

Talking about how ‘cinema is a powerful tool to promote culture, lifestyle, and above all, tourism’, Roberto Stabile says, “Thanks to certain local TV series or international blockbusters, off-track spots have become exquisite and precious touristic destinations. For example, in Europe, the Swiss Alps became very popular among Indian tourists. Sometimes, the place might not even have been that mesmerising, but it gained popularity just because it was the house of the main character of a series.”

He adds, “Our target is to attract international productions to locations lesser known to the general public, instead of the usual cultural destinations, that are already overcrowded with tourists, such as Rome, Venice and Florence. A very interesting case study for this is the most recent James Bond movie No Time To Die, which features 14-minute long breathtaking shots of Matera (south of Italy).”

“We have seen a hike in the number of visits of Indian tourists to places such as Tuscany or Milano, where movies or even commercials were shot”. Not just films and ads, Stabile says that “even Indian celeb weddings celebrated in Italy are a fantastic eye-catcher for tourism,” he further says.

He says that they plan to attract more Bollywood filmmakers to Italy, adding, “Very efficient services are being offered by the film commission. The regional funds and the tax credit policy supports up to 40% of foreign productions working in Italy. We plan to expand the trend and become one of the favourite destinations for Bollywood and Indian productions win general.”

Stabile adds that initiatives like Italian Screens are designed to promote the new Italian cinema in the huge Indian market, adding, “We will share with Indian distributors all the policies that the Italian government, through Cinecittà, offers to the distributors who buy Italian movies and screen them in Indian theatres. Not everybody is aware of the fact that, thanks to the Film Distribution Fund, we cover up to 30% of the costs of launch and distribution of the movie up to a maximum of 30,000 Euros (24 lakh, approx).”

With Italy and India having signed a co-production agreement, Stabile says, “We should constantly strengthen the exchange of information and knowledge among the creative directors and the producers. It is crucial to organize throughout the year a dialogue for authors and producers from both the countries.”

Among the most recent Indian films to be shot in Italy is the Prabhas and Pooja Hegde-starrer Radhe Shyam (2022), that was shot in Piedmont

The song Ghungroo from Hrithik Roshan-starrer War (2019) was shot at the Positano Beach on the Amalfi Coast in Italy

The 14-minute long sequence of Daniel Craig performing stunts in Matera (south Italy) in the James Bond film No Time To Die (2021) has cast a spotlight on the lesser-known region

Bear Grylls has gone on several adventures in his life. But his outings with global Indian icons, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to actor Ranveer Singh, have a special place in the survival expert’s heart.

“The warm welcome and love I always feel from Indian superstars, it makes me feel like an honorary Indian. They are always so kind. India is always so close to my heart — the fans, the spectacular wilderness, the amazing food and the kindest of people,” says Grylls, who found popularity with his show, Man Vs Wild.

He has made several visits to India, which include getaways in Kolkata and Darjeeling. In the past few years, he has been on adventures with Indian actors such as Ajay Devgn, Vicky Kaushal, Rajinikanth, Akshay Kumar, with Singh being the latest addition to his list with Netflix’s interactive show, Ranveer vs Wild With Bear Grylls. The one thing that is evident in Grylls’ list is that he is yet to head on a wild trail with a female Indian icon, and he confesses that he is looking forward to the day, saying it “will happen, and soon”.

In fact, when it comes to taking other Indian celebrities on an adventure in the wilderness, he has a long wishlist. “Virat (Kohli; cricketer) would be amazing — a true heart of a lion and kind spirit. And actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas would be incredible! I took her husband (singer-actor Nick Jonas) away once on a journey and he was a great guy. People would love to hear her story, too,” he elaborates.

Sharing his experience about working with Singh, Grylls says, “Life is all about finding our own true purpose and living with eyes and heart wide open with courage and gratitude — those qualities shone bright in Ranveer. In return, all I sought to give him is encouragement to keep living as he is.”

Looking back at his time spent in India, and with stars from the country, the 48-year-old adds, “The biggest learning experience while working with them has been that together we can all do so much more. When we stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the wild, we can overcome any obstacle.”

Director Neeraj Pandey took a stab at long-format storytelling with Special Ops (2020) and Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story (2021). Now, the filmmaker is exploring a docu-series with Bandon Mein Tha Dum. The four-part offering will chronicle the Indian cricket team’s 2-1 win against Australia that helped them retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. The pride of retelling India’s brilliant fightback led Pandey to helm the project.

“We don’t do enough non-live cricket in India. Earlier, we didn’t know whom to make such stories for. Now, the format is undergoing a shift. This story was crucial because the team travelled to Australia amid a raging pandemic. The first test saw an abysmal performance, but the story of how they bounced back is great,” he shares.

In the first test in Adelaide, Virat Kohli-led India recorded only 36 runs in the second innings. It granted Australia an easy win, before captain Ajinkya Rahane led India to a glorious win in the second test. While the third test was a draw, the deciding fourth test saw Australia losing at The Gabba — their first test match loss at the ground since 1988. Pandey says he changed his style to service the story.

“The format requires a certain kind of vocabulary. Getting the right cast was important. We needed the Australian and Indian players, people from the press, and a narrative peppered with information and anecdotes.”

The offering features Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Rishabh Pant, their coaches and journalists who covered the series.

Was there a no-go zone when retelling the episode? “No. We would’ve respected if they had decided to not answer something, but the situation didn’t arise. In fact, for fun, we asked everyone who was a better captain — Rahane or Kohli?”