Category: Entertainment

Zoya Hussain receives rave reviews for her soul stirring portrayal of Amrita Singh in the trending show, Grahan

Zoya Hussain receives rave reviews for her soul stirring portrayal of Amrita Singh in the trending show, Grahan

Zoya Hussain is an actor who is known for her ability to emote with the eyes. Her moving performance in Anurag Kashyap’s Mukkabaaz highlighted that she was made for the arc lights and that acting was in her blood.

The Delhi girl, Zoya came to the city of dreams Mumbai, to enter the competitive of the Hindi film industry but she has managed to Shine bright and carve a unique niche for herself as the girl who can get into the skin of every character. Such was the case with the role of IPS officer Amrita Singh, something that has brought her praises and a huge thumbs up from the critics across all platforms. The audiences and critics alike are impressed and amazed at how Zoya has morphed into Amrita Singh in a show that traverses the delicate father daughter journey across trials, triumphs, lies, deceit and more. As the protagonist of the show, Zoya is not only the central element of Grahan, but is also the riding factor, a huge feat for an actor who came to Mumbai with dreams, talent and ambition. Being paired opposite a seasoned senior actor like Pavan Malhotra who plays her father in the show was surely not easy, but the 2 make for a power packed performance as father and daughter and the same can be seen with the social media trends that are ongoing.

Some of the reviews that Zoya have received are ranging from
The fact that Grahan gives Zoya the needed background to showcase her talent, as she carries the show on her shoulders to the fact that this is the perfect platform for an actor whose talent knows no bounds and who has managed to convey even in scenes where nothing is said. Way to go Zoya!

Grahan was released on June 24 on Disney Hotstar

Karadi Tales Celebrated 25 Years Of Publishing With A Launch Of New Podcast Series

karadi tales

Mumbai: Founded in 1996, Karadi Tales is celebrating 25 years of storytelling. 26th June saw the launch of a brand new podcast called The Little Book Makers.

Karadi Tales was created with the aim of creating a space for Indian culture in mainstream children’s literature. Twenty-five years later, Karadi Tales continues to pave the way for children’s literature in India, working to bring out beautiful books that celebrate Indian culture, Indian voices, Indian art and aesthetics.

On the eve of its birthday, Karadi Tales launched its latest venture – a new podcast, The Little Book Makers, featuring authors, illustrators, musicians, and celebrities. The first episode of the podcast was launched on 26th June 2021, 6PM, with Karadi Tales editors Daya Subramanian and Deepti Ganesh. It witnessed Naseeruddin Shah, the first voice of Karadi the Bear, speaking on his work with the company, the art of voice acting, and some of his favourite books for children. The episode is now LIVE and available on all podcast sites including Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts.

The podcast follows a unique format where authors interview one another about the children’s books they love, books they’ve written or worked on themselves, and, if they’ve done so, their experience working with Karadi Tales. Renowned celebrities such as Naseeruddin Shah and Usha Uthup, who have worked with Karadi Tales since its early years, will also be featured on the podcast in conversation with Publishing Director Shobha Viswanath.

New episodes of The Little Book Makers will go live every Saturday at 6PM IST. Each episode will be between 20 and 30 minutes.

Tension ko karne lift, aaya full on superhit- Coolie No.1

Tension ko karne lift, aaya full on superhit- Coolie No.1

~ Watch &pictures premiere of Coolie No.1 on 27th June at 12 noon ~

This weekend, entertainment hoga full on and tension will be all gone as &pictures brings to your screens a complete dose of laughter and fun with its premiere of Coolie No.1 on 27th June at 12 noon. Directed by the original master of comedy, David Dhawan, this ultimate laugh riot features energetic Varun Dhawan, gorgeous Sara Ali Khan, and comedy ke kings- Paresh Rawal, Jaaved Jaaferi, Rajpal Yadav, and Johnny Lever. Along with its engaging narrative, shenanigans, and comic timing, the film’s music got everybody grooving and became instant crowd pullers like Mirchi Lagi Toh, Husnn Hai Suhana, or Teri Bhabhi.

Talking about the film, Varun Dhawan said, “The joy of sitting in front of the TV with your family and friends, watching good films, and munching on good food, is the ultimate fun-filled experience. There is nothing more satisfying than being a part of the movie that caters to such moments. It has also been great fun working alongside such brilliant and experienced actors. Each of them is an institution in themselves, there is so much to learn from them. I am sure the viewers would have as much fun watching the movie as we had while making it. Be safe at home and be a part of the full on entertainment with &pictures premieres of Coolie No.1 on 27th June at 12 noon.”

Jackky Bhagnani said, “With Coolie No.1 we intend to bring a lot of laughter in everyone’s lives. We hope &pictures premiere of Coolie No.1 on 27th June, will cheer up and entertain everyone.”

The film revolves around the hilarious roller-coaster ride of Coolie Raju who impersonates a rich prince to get the love of his life, Sarah, but everything goes for a toss when his real identity is exposed.
Thus starts a full on comedy of errors. Coolie No.1 is a total family entertainer that will keep you on the edge of your seats with its full on comic timing.
This weekend, entertainment hoga full on superhit! Watch &pictures premiere of Coolie No.1 on 27th June at 12 PM

Rockstar Himesh Reshammiya introduces a new hero, the fresh faced, 'Parth,' with the soulful track Tere Bagairr! Himesh says "He will be a star from his very first video"

Rockstar Himesh Reshammiya introduces a new hero

Rockstar Himesh Reshammiya introduces a new hero, the fresh faced, ‘Parth,’ with the soulful track Tere Bagairr! Himesh says “He will be a star from his very first video”

Himesh Reshammiya is known to be a man who can spot talent within a mile, as such was the case when he launched Deepika Padukone in his song, Naam Hai Tera Tera . The man has a midas touch when it comes to not only identifying superstars but also empowering them with a dream launch, like the most recent prodigy being Uditi Singh, the latest Surroor girl in a song that became an overnight viral sensation. Now Himesh is all set to launch the fresh faced newcomer, Parth, who is sure to become a heartthrob in no time. Parth will be seen in the very first song,Tere Bagairr, which is the debut song from the music album of Moods With Melodies that has been composed by Himesh himself.

Parth possesses a raw albeit handsome vulnerability which is visible in his expressions and body language as well. Speaking on the same, proud composer Himesh affirms that, “The talent that Parth has is so raw and so endearing that you are hooked onto him right from the very first frame in Tere Bagairr. The singers Pawandeep and Arunita too have done a fabulous job in Tere Bagairr and Parth along with the actress Ishita Chauhan have done magic to the visuals of Himesh’s composition, the singer’s talent and more. The way they have acted combined with the way the singers have sung each note and the nuances in everything, makes me very proud.

Tere Bagairr’s video will be launched on June 23rd under Himesh’s music label, Himesh Reshammiya Melodies. Himesh is currently on an all time career high as his studio album Surroor 2021 title has become an overnight success since its launch earlier this month. The title track itself garnered 50 million views and 5 million streams in a matter of a few days. “I am grateful for all the love pouring in from across the globe for the Surroor 2021 title track. It is what it is and it has reached the pinnacle of success due to the audiences and I am always thankful to them. Our second track from Surroor 2021 will be launched in July 2021.”

On World Music Day, Bhushan Kumar announces T-Series’ ‘Mixtape Rewind’ presented by Amazon Prime Music

On World Music Day, Bhushan Kumar announces T-Series’ ‘Mixtape Rewind’ presented by Amazon Prime Music

Starting 30th June, this musical extravaganza featuring 20 talented artists will take you down the memory lane
Listen to these T-Series ‘Mixtape Rewind’ songs first on Amazon Prime Music

After successful seasons of Mixtape Hindi and Punjabi, T-Series gears up for its 3rd season of Hindi Mixtape but this time it goes ‘Rewind’. Produced by Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series and presented by Amazon Prime Music, ‘Mixtape Rewind’s first episode that premiers on 30th June will bring 10 beautiful episodes unveiling every week with songs that will make you reminisce the good old 90s and 2000s.

Bhushan Kumar chose World Music Day to unveil the trailer of the upcoming season which gives the audience a glimpse of the musical extravaganza they are set to experience in these episodes. Bringing together 20 talented Indian artists, the new season boasts renditions by Ash King, Armaan Malik, Benny Dayal, Darshan Rawal, Dhvani Bhanushali, Guru Randhawa, Jubin Nautiyal, Jonita Gandhi, Millind Gaba, Parampara Tandon, Payal Dev, Prakriti Kakkar, Palak Mucchal, Shilpa Rao, Sukriti Kakkar, Sachet Tandon, Tulsi Kumar, Tanishk Bagchi, Yasser Desai, Zara Khan. These artists bring fresh variations with their signature touch to timeless hits like Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi, Dheere Dheere, Aye Mere Humsafar, Wada Raha Pyaar Se, Kya Mujhe Pyaar Hai, Beetein Lamhe and many more.

To celebrate the music and launch the trailer, all 20 artists along with Bhushan Kumar, video director Ahmed Khan &music director Abhijit Vaghani went live on the T-Series Instagram page to interact with their fans and take the trailer live. While ‘Mixtape Rewind’ episodes will go live on the T-Series YouTube page every Wednesday from 30th June, the audio of every episode will first be exclusively launched on Amazon Prime Music. The new season will be available exclusively first on Amazon Prime Music for Prime members to enjoy an ad-free and hands-free voice-enabled experience with Alexa.

Ahmed Khan, who directed the first season of T-Series Mixtape, helms the latest season, ‘Mixtape Rewind’. Every episode of this lavishly produced ‘Mixtape Rewind’ will be the perfect amalgamation of 90s – 2000s music which was romantic, melodious and peppy with a modern twist giving it a completely new & refreshed rendition. With composer Abhijit Vaghani along with the team at T-Series – Sonal Chawla, Shivam Chanana, Raj Chanana, and Vivin Sachdeva, who have conceptualized and developed Mixtape, this season is going to bring together Hindi music fraternity’s several young artists to add their charm to the iconic music.

Bhushan Kumar, Chairman and Managing Director, T-Series, says, “We have all enjoyed listening to these songs for the past several years, but this time with a modern twist in Season 3 of Mixtape we have made the same songs that will be enjoyed by the new young listener. 20 artists with Abhijit Vaghani have made this season of Rewind groovier, playful and entertaining. We are thrilled to further cement our collaboration with Amazon Prime Music on this very special Rewind season of Mixtape. I can’t wait for audiences to listen and enjoy these reimagined hits.”

Sahas Malhotra, Director, Amazon Prime Music said, “Amazon Prime Music and T-Series have a shared vision of bringing specially curated listening experiences for our customers and we are very excited to partner with T-Series for the third Mixtape partnership – Mixtape Rewind. The successful and overwhelming response by listeners from the previous Mixtape launches has inspired us to create the Rewind edition of Mixtape; with soulful renditions of iconic songs to unwind to the good old simpler times. This collaboration marks another step in our commitment to serving our listeners with delightful performances by their favorite artists, with all songs launching exclusively first on Amazon Prime Music

Mum’s the word for Atharva in Sony SAB’s Wagle Ki Duniya

Mum’s the word for Atharva in Sony SAB’s Wagle Ki Duniya

Sony SAB’s Wagle Ki Duniya continues to show us how to cherish the little joys in life while also teaching us some valuable lessons on the go. The upcoming episode is one such glimpse of the daily chatter that takes place in the Wagle house, but this time, things go a little out of hand, resulting in Atharva not speaking to anyone..

In the upcoming episodes, Atharva (Shaheen Kaphi) and Vidyut (Hitanshu Nagai) as their usual curious selves happen to ask a lot of questions to everyone in the family. As soon as any of their questions were answered, Atharva would gear up with another one. Irked by the constant chatter, Vandana out of frustration scolds Atharva for asking so many useless questions saying either he shuts up or she will forever. Atharva takes this scolding by heart and decides that he will not talk to anyone in the future. It leads to him being in a silent frame of mind which surprises the Wagle family.

Will Vandana realize that it was her scolding that made Atharva go speechless? Will the Wagle family be able to convince Atharva to end his mute mood?

Pariva Pranati who essays the role of Vandana said “As parents, we have so many responsibilities and things to do that sometimes we forget the ones we are talking to is our kids or parents and sometimes say things which can hurt their feelings. I think it is important for parents also to be careful what they say. This episode also gives us a glimpse of such a situation. Our audience will certainly enjoy this upcoming episode a lot as they will witness how the Wagle family puts their heart and soul to convince Atharva to end his mute mood.”

Shaheen Kaphi who plays the role of Atharva said “As a kid, I believe that sometimes we do get hurt by what our parents say to us. But it only lasts for some time. Something very similar is being shown in the upcoming episodes. I had a lot of fun shooting for the sequence because being in a speechless mode and acting is tough but so much fun as well.”

Keep watching Wagle Ki Duniya every Monday to Friday at 9 PM only on Sony SAB

Believe the unbelievable! ZEE Biskope’s award-winning Marketing drive

Believe the unbelievable! ZEE Biskope’s award-winning Marketing drive

National: With digital cameras getting integrated in smartphones,the magical device called camera is at our easy disposal. No more do we now need to think of how many frames are left in our reels. Shooting a frame or a video is at our fingertips. 29 June is observed as Camera Day to celebrate the contribution of camera – the device that evokes smiles of memories past. Being in the arena of entertainment, ZEE Biskope rejoiced Camera Day launching the first ever virtual talent hunt of Bhojiwood – Talent Camera Action. The campaign that gave viewers a platform to showcase their talents, received an overwhelming response of over 10K entries in just 8 days. It not just yielded a high ROI with 17% increment in channel reach on the telecast day over the previous two weeks (BARC; BnJ; CS2+, Mon, 29 June 2020, Reach%) but was also appreciated with 1 Gold, 1 Silver & 2 Bronze at multiple national & international award forums.

The award-winning marketing campaign steps into its second season as ZEE Biskope launches Talent Camera Action Season 2 on 29 June – Camera Day. Viewers can record a 1-minute video of their talent in dancing, singing, acting or any other special talent category and send in their entries on ZEE Biskope’s Whatsapp number 8291829134 between 29 June & 11 July. The shortlisted entries will be judged by popular Bhojpuri celebs and winners will be announced.

The scale of gratification this season, makes it again a category first from ZEE Biskope. For the first time ever, a channel’s Marketing initiative is facilitating a ticket to Bhojiwood. 1 winner from each category viz. Music, Dance, Acting & Special Talent will get a direct entry into Bhojiwood by featuring in ZEE Biskope Originals. With this gratification, Season 2 offers a bigger opportunity for many Bhojpuri youth who aspire to earn fame through their talent. Not just that, the best entries from every category will also be featured on ZEE Biskope Television & Social platforms and receive a special edition gift hamper from the brand. The videos will be showcased along with the mega winner announcement on Sunday, 18 July between 12 noon & 6 pm.

ZEE Biskope has roped in popular Bhojpuri celebrities – action star Yash Kumar& glamour queen Nidhi Jha as the flag bearers of the campaign. The duo will be seen promoting the campaign across TV & digital platforms throughout the journey of the contest. The channel has devised a robust & strategic marketing plan with the objective to reach out the novel initiative to maximum possible audience through TV, digital, radio & print.

Speaking on this initiative, Samrat Ghosh, Cluster Head, East, Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) said, “Camera Day is a western concept which didn’t have much of a popularity in the region. However, starting last year, ZEE Biskope curated the occasion with apt hyper local quotient that made it not just relevant but even novel for the Bhojpuri audience. The appeal of such novelty evidenced by the overwhelming response received on its debut,motivated us to launch the second season.ZEE Biskope’s viewer engagement drives have witnessed big brands partnering in the past. With a grander scale, this season of Talent Camera Action will definitely offer wider scope of brand integrations for advertisers to reach out to their relevant audience in the Bhojpuri market.”

Amarpreet Singh Saini, Sr. Vice President, Bhojpuri Cluster added, “Talent Camera Action season 2 brings two major scale-ups: the gratification of an entry into Bhojiwood& the association of popular Bhojpuri celebs Yash & Nidhi. This is in appreciation of the plethora of talented young individuals in the region who look up to such an opportunity, shelving the limitation in their resources. At ZEE Biskope, we believe in engaging with our viewers to an extent that they feel the ‘apnapan’ with the brand rather than being a mere consumer of commoditized offerings. The brand will remain true to its commitment on extending its entertainment offering beyond the magic of movies.”

Rejoicing talent in its purest form, ZEE Biskope raises the bar with Talent Camera Action Season 2. Unlike other channels in the category, the brand strives to offer its viewers Bhojpuriya entertainment not just virtually but even in reality.

The channel is motivated to grow from strength to strength and break new ground in the industry as the ultimate Bhojpuri entertainer. Zee Biskope is available on Airtel (channel no 663), Tata Sky (channel no 1120), DEN Bihar(channel no 840), DEN Jharkhand (channel no 839), DD Free Dish (channel no 31), d2h (channel no 859), Dish TV (channel no 1555), Siti Cable (channel no 214) and Darsh Digital (channel no 189). It’ll soon be available on all other major cable platforms.

Salman Sheikh in Sony SAB's Maddam Sir as Rajvir Tomar

“The entire cast has been a delight to work with”, said Salman Shaikh aka RajvirTomar in Sony SAB’s Maddam Sir

1. Tell us something about your character. How is RajvirTomar different from the other characters that you have essayed in the past?

Rajvir is lazy and someone who doesn’t like to do his work on time, but at the same time, he is also sincere at heart and never intends to hurt anyone. When I first heard about the character itself, I was super impressed. I have never essayed a comic role before and as I always wanted to be a part of such a show, I just grabbed the opportunity.

2. Have you played a cop on-screen before? Where have you taken inspiration for the role of a cop from?

I haven’t essayed a cop on-screen before neither have I taken any inspiration for this role. I believe in daily observation. Even while watching a particular film or series, I try and observe characters at that very moment.

3. What attracted you to this show?

The genre and the philosophy of this show is what attracted me the most, the beauty lies in the way SHO Haseena Mallik and her team bring in sensitivity to their policing while dealing with cases that comes to this police station. As an actor, it is fulfilment to know that people have been watching the show and are feeling relieved from stress and other anxieties. Also, it is an honour to play the role of a police officer.

4. Your experience on shooting with the Maddam Sir team, how has it been?

The experience so far has been wonderful. The entire cast was welcoming, and we all got along very well. Yukiti, Bhavika and I share a lot in common as we lived in Jaipur. The set is filled with positive energy as we laugh a lot and have fun in between scenes which doesn’t make me feel tired after a day of work. We work in a bio bubble that assures our safety. However, we still maintain all safety and sanitization precautions as it is important for one and all. Overall, it has been a delight shooting for the show.

5. How have you prepared for this role? Any challenges that you have faced while delivering into this character?

As soon as I got locked for this role, I started watching the show’s previous episodes. Besides that, the director has been of much help. He explained the scenes well and continuously guided me as to how I should improve particular scenes. There is a challenge for every actor essaying a new role. It takes a while to sink in and get used to it. You must put in more efforts at the same time.

6. In the upcoming episodes, what is it that the audience should look forward to?

I want to tell the viewers to gear up because the show promises a lot of new twists and turns as Sub Inspector Karishma Singh takes charge of this new police thana at Gomti Nagar Police Station.

7. The storyline of this show revolves around 4 beautiful women, is this a new experience for you, working with an all-women ensemble? How have you been bonding with your co-stars on the set?

The entire cast has been a delight to work with. I did not expect to have created such a close-knit bond with them. In between scenes, we play small pranks with each other, make reals, laugh, and joke around. I believe and am sure that this journey with the Maddam Sir team will be an amazing one in the days coming ahead.

8. What are the similarities between you and your character RajvirTomar?

My character RajvirTomar and I share few similarities in common. We both always want to stay happy and we both don’t hate anyone. At the same time, we’re both happy-go-lucky personalities and complete desi’s at heart.

9. What do you think about the concept of a Mahila Police Thana?

I think Mahila Police Thana is a beautiful and unique concept because most of the time people have heard of it but never actually seen it. The way SHO Haseena Mallik leads her team by example while policing cases with heart is what also makes the concept to stand apart. At the same time, I’m glad this show has brought about a change in showcasing the capability of a Mahila Police Thana.

10. How do you manage to keep yourself fit in the new normal?

It hasn’t been easy managing to keep myself fit during these difficult times. It has been a task managing to control my diet. Although, whenever I get some free time, I find time to do cardio exercises and weightlifting techniques.

11. How grateful are you for your upbringing/Rajasthani background? How does it make you the person you are today?

I’m grateful to my parents. They have always been my driving force. I am an actor today because of my father. I was keen on dancing because I was scared of acting, but it was my father who pushed me and motivated me. I began my acting journey by participating in theatre, I, therefore, joined Ravinder Manch, a theatre platform in Jaipur. It thought me all the basic rules that I needed to know to become an actor. Every state, every culture is precious in its own way and it shows in a person. One’s roots should always be strong. I feel as an actor, if I had to essay a Rajasthani character, I would be able to bring about it naturally.

12. What are the three things you miss about Jaipur in Mumbai?

I miss family the most, I ensure to visit them at least once in three to four months. I miss gorging on the food from Jaipur. The chat, various fast foods is something I am missing out on. Jaipur has its own charm, in the evenings the entire city is lit up with lights, it’s a wonder to admire the city from afar.

13. What are your best memories of growing up in Jaipur?

There are many fond memories spent with friends and family. Memories spent at my Nani’s house in Jaipur will remain with me. My cousins and I used to play cricket on the terrace and even today when I see children playing the same way, my childhood memories instantly flashback.

14. You are working with Yukti who is also from Jaipur? How is it working with a fellow co-actor who’s from your hometown?

Yukti Kapoor is a brilliant actress. Shooting scenes for the first episode itself was executed very smoothly. The entire cast welcomed me, it’s like a family environment here. At first, we didn’t know that we both were from Jaipur but as even gradually spoke to one another we had a lot more in common to share. Bhavika Sharma too studied in Jaipur, so the three of us bonded really well, it has also become a very comfortable zone to work in.

Watch Maddam Sir every Monday-Friday at 10 PM only on Sony SAB