Stardust - April 2022 by magnapublishing

Throwback: When John Abraham was given the ‘worst actor’ tag...

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2022

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Mandana Karimi aborts pregnancy. Is Anurag Kashyap in the spotlight?

Is Alia Bhatt upset with the ‘RRR’ makers?

mega flops

With consecutive & pathetic box office performances... Is Akshay Kumar’s career in jeopardy? 1

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Cover Story: Will the mega flops of his films jeopardise Akshay Kumar’s career? ......................................... 13 Get Snappy: “Salman Khan was a very good support system because I remember I didn’t feel prepared but he was always there to support me.” – Bhumika Chawla .................................. 22 In Focus: “During the pandemic, people started consuming OTT content a lot and it opened avenues for newer actors, fresh faces, different stories. Even the audience evolved during this phase and they began watching out-of-box stories and with ‘The Family Man’, my career got a new lease of life.” – Sharib Hashmi .......................................................................... 30 Close Up: “There’s so much to learn from both these strong women Vidya Balan and Shefal Shah - and not just by how incredible actors they are but also as people.” – Kashish Rizwan ............. 42 Stardust Spotlight: Is Alia upset with the RRR makers? ..................................................................................... 38 Stardust Exclusive: Is Anurag Kashyap, the alleged “ace director” that Mandana Karimi claimed got her pregnant and then backed out, so much so that she had to abort her baby? ...... 54 Hollywood Calling: Aron Govil’s New Hollywood Production Robbers Roost Has An Enthralling Storyline & Star Cast ................................................................................... 60 Music Room: “I’m called the‘Shakira of India’. It’s probably because I like to perform a lot while singing.” – Rupali Jagga .............................................................................................. 48 Blast From The Past: ‘GONE’ ABRAHAM! CAN JOHN SURVIVE THE ‘WORST ACTOR’ TAG? ........................... 72

COLUMNS Neeta’s Natter .............................................................................................................................................................. 05 Star List .......................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Web Show ................................................................................................................................................................ 78 Starry Sashay ................................................................................................................................................................ 70 Stardust On The Go .................................................................................................................................................... 68 STARDUST is published monthly by the proprietors MAGNA PUBLISHING CO. LTD., Magna House, 100/E Old Prabhadevi Road. Mumbai 400025, India. Tel No: 91-22-67091234. Editorial texts and illustrations are the copyright of the publishers of this magazine. No one may reproduce any material before permission is obtained in writing. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Mumbai (India) only 2020 Copyright Magna Publishing Co Ltd. Volume No 52 (No. 4) Please address all your advertising, subscriptions and trade enquiries for to: Magna Publishing Inc, 125 Central Park North, PH4, New York NY 10026. T: 212-725-7833 F: 212-889-3250 E: stardustmagazine@aol.com

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At last, they’ve got married! That’s right we are talking about the larger than life ‘RAlia’ wedding which can easily be called the wedding of the year. What was really strange was that though news kept filtering in about the wedding, the Kapoors who are known to keep no secret, managed to keep it a big fat secret. In fact, when mamma Neetu was quizzed by the pap’s ‘Ranbir or Alia k shaadi kab hoga’ and the exact date, she looked up at the heavens, rolled her eyes, and said ‘Bhagwan jaane’.

Well, Bhagwan and the Kapoors definitely knew all about it and the grand wedding of Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt happened according to Hindu rites on April 14, 2022. ...And the vibe of the wedding was airy, breezy and summery. So the entire Kapoor and Bhatt khandaan was seen in soft pastel shades mostly pink, while Ranbir and Alia both twinned in ornate ivory. ...Quite a refreshing change from those heavy dazzling OTT looks and lavish destination weddings, na? 5

The wedding took place at RK Studio and as per Alia’s half brother Rahul, only 28 people were invited and since the Kapoor and the Bhatt khandaan is so vast, we imagine all the 28 must be family members. But the mehendi and the wedding, instead of a formal affair, looked fun ...and both the dulha Ranbir and dulhan Alia looked as if they were having a blast.

What was very touching was that Ranbir Kapoor emotionally picked up his dad Rishi Kapoor’s picture and waved it around, perhaps to let the world know that his dad is with him on this special day. Neetu Kapoor commented, “At last, Kapoor saabs wish is fulfilled’. The late Rishi Kapoor’s last wish was to see Ranbir happily married.

Alia made a very pretty bride not only because she ditched the heavy red lehengas and the formal bun look which designer Sabyasachi gave all his celeb brided. Instead, she looked elegant in an ivory hued embroidered light sari with her hair open and her makeup, minimalistic. This was indeed one happy bride who had confessed in an interview that she had fallen in love with Ranbir at the age of 11 when she had gone to meet Sanjay Leela Bhansali with her mother and she found Ranbir sitting there (that was during the Saawariya time).

Alia by the way donned unique Kaleeras with clouds, stars and the number eight motifs. Eight by the way is supposed to be Ranbir Kapoor’s lucky number. Her marriage date was inscribed on her veil. Ranbir on the other hand had Alia’s name stamped on his hand with mehendi. Supposedly, instead of the usual number of peheras, Alia and Ranbir did four pheras which were most pertinent to them. 6

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By the way, there was one unique wedding gift that the power couple and animal lovers Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt received. Animal Rahat has named two inseparable horses Ranbir and Alia! The mare was being used for wedding ceremonies and was in a terrible condition when she was found. The stallion was confiscated from the Gateway of India in Mumbai, where he was being used for hauling a heavy Victoria carriage. Both the horses are now living at one of Animal Rahat’s sanctuaries, where they receive nutritious food as well as vital veterinary care and have lots of horse friends to run around and play with—but most of all, they choose each other.

Talking about Ranbir’s wedding, let’s talk about the ‘ex’ factors. Well though Katrina put a post for Ranbir and Alia wishing them the very best in life with a lot of love and happiness, Deepika Padukone preferred to make do with just a ‘like’ on Ayan Mukerji’s post on Ranbir and Alia’s shaadi. No wonder, so many people say DP has just not gotten over Ranbir.

Talking about complicated bonds, well, do you know KJo, the big daddy of the industry, calls Alia his first-born. So after her marriage to Ranbir, Karan Johar took to the social media to announce that he has a son-in-law now and that is none-other than Ranbir. So what is he giving his damaadji as gift? ...A big fat film from Dharma marketed to perfection to be a super hit? 8

Another wrangled relation is now Alia and Sara Ali Khan. Do you know now Alia is Sara Ali Khan’s mami jaan? How? Well, Kareena is Ranbir’s cousin and Sara being Saif’s daughter, ends up becoming Ranbir’s niece. And that makes Alia, Sara’s aunt. Hmm... Bollywood relationships are rather tangled na?

Talking about Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan... they looked the epitome of royalty at the wedding. Resplendent in pastel pink , the nawab and his begum stole the show and their two bachchas Tai and Jeh looked super adorable. In the middle of all the shaadi ka rasam’s, Kjo mouthed Poo’s iconic dialogue “Mai apni favourite hun!’ And guess what, Kareena gave the exact expression she had given as ‘Poo’. Bebo sure is a born actor.

Okay enough about the Kapoors, the Bhatt’s too came together in full force. From papa Mahesh Bhatt, mom Soni Razdan, sister Shaheen, step sis Pooja, bhai Rahul, uncle Mukesh Bhatt to all the other Bhatts, they all joined in the revelry. Weren’t there rumours that papa Mahesh and uncle Mukesh had a big fight and they had professionally separated? Well, it was nice to see them both together – indeed, Alia had a big hand in bringing everybody in her dysfunctional family together.

Supposedly another person who has got the entire family together is Shahid Kapoor’s wife Mira Kapoor. Before, according to mom Neelima Azim, as a single mom with two boys Ishaan and Shahid, things were tough more so as Shahid refused to speak to his mom for 13 years after she had got into a relationship and then alleged a third marriage with a musician. But Mira was the perfect bahu who got them all together and today, they are like one big family.

Malaika Arora too is pretty family oriented. After she sent her son to New York for further studies, she flew there herself to make sure that he was comfortable and happy. She does that with Arjun too. She keeps checking to see if Arjun has everything he wants. No wonder this couple is so much in love still.

Incidentally when Malaika had an accident – her car collided with another and she suffered light injuries. This was somewhere in New Bombay and she was rushed to the hospital there where she was pronounced well and discharged. Arjun was the first one to rush to her house to check on her. We are sure with all the TLC she received from Arjun, Mallu is now hale and hearty.

Well, everybody is raving abour Raveena Tandon and her amazing performance as the PM in KGF: Chapter 2. Raveena has always been multitalented but the ‘90s saw her as the typical heroine who had nothing to do beside simper around or dance around trees. This new chapter in her career has seen Raveena belt out some stupendous performances whether it is for her OTT debut Aranyak or KGF, Raveena has excelled. And, how! 11

Though KGF: Chapter 2 has done amazing well, grossing hundreds of crores and smashing box office records, there’s one person who supposedly hated KGF: Chapter Two and that is none-other than the maverick Ram Gopal Verma. He called the box office super hit film as “horror film of Bollywood” and stated that the viewers “will have nightmares “. What about your films then, Ramu? Can they be dubbed as ‘Box office serial killers’?

Another cute lil news reached our ears and we just cant help but share it... Supposedly, Abhishek Bachchan refuses to order room service in hotels himself and makes Aishwarya do that for him. That’s because he feels very shy talking to strangers and if alone hesitates to make contact. Instead he calls wifey dearest who does the needful for him.

Cat’s Crown

This month goes to... Abhishek Bachchan, He has at last got his due with Dasvi. In fact, people felt that he was even better than his dad Amitabh Bachchan, but Chota B rather humbly quoted his dad’s iconic dialogue of Shehenshah, “Rishte mein toh woh mera baap hain’. Big B however couldn’t contain his excitement and he framed each raving review of Abhishek on his instagram callinghim his true “utradhikar”. Cute! 12

COVE R S TOR Y

Will the mega flops of his films jeopardise Akshay Kumar’s career?

Khiladi Kumar is a phenomenon but he too couldn’t weather the jinx of the pandemic. Sumita Chakraborty finds out whether Akshay Kumar can bounce back or be knocked down permanently by his colossal failures? 13

ith Bachchan P a n d e y performing rather poorly at the box office – it didn’t even make 50 crores in seven days –proving to be a mega dud and a big blot on Khiladi Kumar’s record, Akshay Kumar who was known as the man with the Midas touch, suddenly found himself jolted and dropped right down the ladder. “‘Kashmir Files’ box office success Bachchan Pandey ko duba diya,” Akshay claimed ruefully. True... but this film was one of the many Akshay Kumar starrers that spiralled uncontrollably downhill at the Box office. In fact, after Laxmmi and Bell Bottom, Bachchan Pandey too sunk its way into the depths of oblivion. Was that the last nail on the Khiladi’s coffin?

Changing Times True, thanks to the lockdown, things have drastically changed. Bollywood’s unwritten rules and laws have all been turned 360 degrees around. Gone are the days when mega stars were the magnetic pull for the Box office. Thanks to the OTT, the audience now craved for good content and good films. All the Badshahs, Sultans and so many titular so-called superstars bit the dust - affected worst amongst them were namely Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Kartik Aryan to now Akshay Kumar who was earlier dubbed as the Khiladi of the Box office by critics and viewers. In fact, he was the actor who could do no wrong - the Box office danced to his tune for many years. And, how! Akshay avers in an interview, “I have seen many bad films do well. Many bad films of mine have done well. A lot of times people around you tell you that a film is good, but it still does not do well. So kisi ka baap bhee nahin keh sakta if a film can be a hit or a flop. There are times that people watch a film and tell me that it will get a big opening of 30 crores and then it fails. I have been called a dependable and a bankable star, but these are all hearsay. No one can predict the future of any film.” 14

Experimenting With Content True. In fact, everybody still remembers Akshay Kumar’s ‘Khiladi’ series which were mega hits and though they were very entertaining, the storyline were wafer thin but they still did extremely well at the Box office. However, after a spree of action films, Akshay Kumar perhaps at the behest of his wife Twinkle Khanna, started paying attention to good content and good movies. Pad Man was born under Akshay’s banner and it went onto do very well. And that gave Akshay the ‘taste’ for “good content” and he tried to do something different in the film Laxmmi where he played a transgender but that failed big time at the box office. Bell Bottom shot in a bubble during the pandemic in Scotland, garnered a lot of rave reviews when its trailer was launched. The film depicted a true story in which Akshay Kumar played a spy. That unfortunately didn’t do too well with the audience. Of course, that was in the midst of the pandemic when theatres according to government restrictions opened up to just 50 percent. So Bell Bottom was also dropped on an OTT platform. That affected the film and it went on to become a flop.

The Kashmir Files & RRR On Slaughter This time ‘round too, everybody was waiting for ‘Bachchan Pandey’ – the trailer looked very interesting and the Kriti Sanon and Akshay Kumar pair looked fresh. But this was at a time when the audience rushed to watch in hordes Vivek Agnihotri’s ‘The Kashmir Files’, a film on atrocities on Kashmir Pandits - and Bachchan Pandey , the Akshay Kumar film reeled in recoil and failed to fire up the box office. Perhaps if it hadn’t been for ‘The Kashmir files’, Bachchan Pandey would have done at least 25 to 30 percent better because people who watched the film felt it was a ‘paisa vasool’ entertainer but it still failed to bring the audience to the theatres. Khiladi Kumar’s magic just didn’t work. And of course, the release of RRR hammered the last nail into the coffin.

“Kashmir Files’ box office success Bachchan Pandey ko duba diya.”

Is The End Near? So is Akshay Kumar’s career over? Did the golden luck of Khiladi Kumar turn into a jinx, making him a Bollywood flop? Akshay doesn’t think so. He avers that success is temporary. In an interview, he said, “I have seen many stars fall. Every Friday a new star will fall. I have seen questions from the media change every Friday. Around 8-9 years ago I had a lot of films that flopped and I was asked why so many of my films were flopping. These words change according to the season and I accept that. Everyone has to make place for others to come in, and move out when the time is right.” More so, as he stresses that there is no formula for success. It’s all about luck, he adds. “I have seen around 14 to 16 films of my films flop one after the other. One has to just concentrate and keep on working. Everyone has ups and downs, some have a longer night and some have a shorter one. But then there will be daybreak.”

“No one can predict the future of any film.”

Quantity Over Quality Perhaps this ‘belief’ has always put Akshay in a breakneck speed for he keeps signing many films at once, churning out movie after movie without a break. Ask him that, and he flashes his gummy smile, says, “What am I supposed to do? I cannot sit at home.” In fact, this has also made him a target of ‘net funnies’ – the memes. But that doesn’t bother Akshay - he takes flops and the memes in his stride. So for now, Akshay has a lot of films under his belt which includes Cindrella where he plays a psychopath. Plus, he will be part of a two hero project, co-starring Tiger Shroff in a film called Bade Miyan Chhote Miyan. Besides this, he has Raksha Bandhan, Selfie and Prithviraj too.

“I have been called a dependable and a bankable star, but these are all hearsay. No one can predict the future of any film.”

“I have seen around 14 to 16 films of my films flop one after the other. One has to just concentrate and keep on working.”

Not Just Yet, My Dear! Perhaps it’s too soon to call Akshay a flop star or a ‘hasbeen’… that man may have belted a few flops but he has done that before too, and like the phoenix, he has risen from the dead to resurface as the Khiladi of the Box office. He has done it before, he can do it now too. In fact, by sheer hardwork and his optimistic way of strategizing, the 53-year-old Akshay Kumar for all you know, can bounce back again, and take back his claim on the Box office. We will wait ‘n’ watch!

That man may have belted a few flops but he has done that before too, and like the phoenix, he has risen from the dead to resurface as the Khiladi of the Box office.

GET S NA PP Y

“Salman Khan was a very good support system because I remember I didn’t feel prepared but he was always there to support me.” – Bhumika Chawla Bhumika Chawla became a household name with her film Tere Naam opposite Salman Khan – Salman actually called her his lucky mascot. From there on, she worked in several blockbuster banners opposite top heroes. Multi-lingual films had a unique fascination for Bhumika. If you recall the gorgeous Bhumika made her debut in the Telugu film Yuvakadu opposite Sumanth. Subsequently, her second film Kushi opposite Pawan Kalyan was a notable success at the box office. Besides these, she’s acted Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi films. Currently, she’s essaying a different role in Neeray Pandey’s film Operation Romeo directed by Shashant Shah. …Presenting the stunning Bhumika Chawla in a candid mode as she talks to Arushi Dusaj about films, challenges and her take on the much debated nepotism debate..

“Tere Naam was a bit challenging in the beginning.”

You’re an amazing actor, which film did you find the most challenging to act in? I think in Hindi films, Tere Naam was a bit challenging in the beginning. Also, another film which I found really challenging was Gandhi, My Father because the director wanted everything to be very subtle and all in all, he was very particular about me not having too many expressions on the face, probably he wanted the entire act to be subtle. You entered the OTT too, are there more OTT projects in the anvil? No, not right now! I’ve had quite a few offers in the past year but it hasn’t materialized for various reasons. Sometimes, the dates are not in place or we don’t like the scripts. It takes a while just to find that right character so somehow it’s not materialized. 25

Could you tell us something about your upcoming projects which you are really looking forward to? There’s one film that I just finished and I’m really looking forward to that film’s release. I have done something very different from what I have been doing over the last so many years and this film has been challenging because I’ve had to express myself as a character in a way I haven’t done in my previous films, so I’m actually excited and waiting for that film’s release.

because I have a different role in that and in Tamil, there’s a film called Sillunu Oru Kaadhal which I hold close to my heart. In Telugu I have done a film called Missamma and Kushi - these are a few films in my career which I really liked.

“I enjoyed working with everyone but I think Abhishek (Bachchan) has a good sense of humor and even Akshay Kumar - he is quite funny.”

What are some of the roles that will remain very close to your heart? I think most of them are close to my heart. But Tere Naam is special for me, Gandhi, My Father is very dear to my heart! Silsilay 26

You have had the opportunity to work with some of the top stars in the industry, who did you have the most fun working with? I enjoyed working with everyone but I think Abhishek (Bachchan) has a good sense of humor and even Akshay Kumar - he is quite funny. On the sets, he is very focused, yet he has this funny side to himself. It was fun working with them – the ambience on the sets was light-hearted and comfortable.

“It was a good experience working with Salman Khan - he was already a star by then and I was beginning my career in the Hindi film industry.”

“Every actor will have a different take on nepotism. I do feel that you need that extra hand to get into the industry but, it’s still not easy.” Your film ‘Tere Naam’ was a huge success and it was loved by the audiences, how was it to work with Salman Khan? Any challenges you faced while shooting for this film? It was a good experience working with him - he was already a star by then and I was beginning my career in the Hindi film industry. He was a very good support system because I remember I didn’t feel prepared - and I think that happens when you are working in a big banner with a big hero. Sometimes as a youngster, you tend to feel a little nervous. But Salman was always there to support me. That way I think it was a good experience! You’ve been in the industry for some time, how would you define your journey? I have been here for quite some time and I’m very grateful to God for what I have got from the films that I have worked on in all languages - and I think the journey with every film has been interesting - there’s something or the other that I have learnt from each one of them. Films with different storylines have taught me a lot and from the industry, you learn a lot about the business and how the industry functions. So, it’s all about a learning experience and at the end of the day, I feel grateful and blessed to get whatever I have gotten and I’m still raring to go upwards and do things I have not done before. 28

Being an outsider when you first joined the industry, were there any challenges you faced? I started my career with ads and after that, I got into music videos and then Telugu films. So things were happening one after the other. But, in the initial years I did have to go through a lot of auditions to get that first break. But I think it is wonderful that one thing followed another - and I have worked in multi-lingual films like Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi beside Hindi.

“It is tough looking after a little one and then you need to give answers to people which cannot be done by managers. But I love my tiny little world and family and I really love my work.”

“I love to step out for my little walks, love to sit out and admire nature - I feel that is very therapeutic for me.” The ‘nepotism’ and ‘insiders versus outsiders’ debate have been raging for quite some time, what is your take on it? I think every person comes with a different take and that is the first thing I want to say; every actor will have a different take on nepotism. I do feel that you need that extra hand to get into the industry but, it’s still not easy. I think if you’re good, you will make it there no matter what. So there’s no other factor that work besides your hardwork, determination and the rapport you maintain with people - that really plays a big role in shaping your career in the film industry. There are so many times we see people who are not from the industry do well like Preity Zinta or Neha Dhupia. I don’t think Aishwarya or Priyanka Chopra had that helping hand - they came up on their own hard work and made a mark. But, at the same there are people from the industry who made it big like Kareena Kapoor or Karishma. On the other hand, there are people from the industry who despite everything have not made it big so I think it’s just probably your luck, getting the right scripts that you can do justice to! It’s a debate that everyone has a different opinion on but yes, nepotism is there in every industry, right? It happens everywhere so it’s just about how you take it.

How do you maintain a balance between your professional life and personal life? It is tough looking after a little one - right now, he’s swimming in the club where I’m sitting and talking to you - and exams are on and then you have script reading and you need to give answers to people which cannot be done by managers. You have to do it yourself so it is a little difficult but there is also that happiness and joy in doing it because I love my tiny little world and family and I really love my work. So I am highly passionate about both. But I try not to over-do anything. Besides acting, what else do you love doing in life? I love to read, which has been something I loved doing in life, I love to step out for my little walks, love to sit out and admire nature - I feel that is very therapeutic for me. I love adventures and would experience them all the time if given a chance! What are you looking forward to in 2022? As of now I’m just enjoying my holidays and I’ll be traveling abroad so I think that is something I’m looking forward to in the near future. From the work point of view, I’m getting offers so I’m hoping that they work out so there are different things that I’m looking forward to! 29

I N FOC US

“During the pandemic, people started consuming OTT content a lot and it opened avenues for newer actors, fresh faces, different stories. Even the audience evolved during this phase and they began watching out-of-box stories and with ‘The Family Man’, my career got a new lease of life.” – Sharib Hashmi Understated and a bit under-rated, this brilliant actor perhaps has not got the due he deserves from the industry. He showed his mettle in films starting from Slumdog Millionaire but it was the OTT that discovered what a fine actor he is. The Manoj Bajpayee starrer ‘Family Man’ showcased his brilliant portrayal of J K Talpade and that caught everybody’s eyes. Meet the very talented Sharib Hashmi who tells Sumita Chakraborty all about his acting journey from Slumdog Millionaire to Asur, Family Man and more… 30

It’s been quite a journey for you from Slumdog Millionaire to Family Man and Asur, how has the journey been? My journey has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. I have seen more lows than ups, fortunately now I am in a better position. And I also know for a fact that nothing is constant in this industry. So I want to make the most of this time while I can.

“My journey has been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride. I have seen more lows than ups, fortunately now I am in a better position.” How did you get your first break? Why did you want to be an actor more so as your father was a wellknown journalist and you started out as a writer? Well, I worked as a writer for years before I decided to pursue acting as a career. I started as an AD and then I shifted to writing for non-fiction shows and for niche channels like MTV, ETC etc I also worked in MTV as their in-house writer for four years.

Though I did Slumdog Millionaire and Haal E Dil while I was still working as a writer but the thought of taking up acting as a profession had not occurred then. The first film I signed after quitting my job and giving auditions for 3 years was ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan‘, which I got it through an audition - the casting director Shanoo Sharma called me to test for Jab Tak Hai Jaan‘, after she saw a short film of mine called ‘Mehrooni’ and I got selected. Has it been difficult gaining entry into Bollywood? Oh yes, it’s been very difficult. The road was full of hardships and I faced rejections on a daily basis and that can break you if you don’t keep a positive attitude. Thankfully I had a strong support system consisting of my family and friends especially my wife who stood by me like a pillar.

“You really have to go through the whole grind to even get an audition call from the right people.” What are the challenges you faced in the Hindi film industry? Getting work is the biggest challenge we face. And meeting the right people is a difficult task too. You really have to go through the whole grind to even get an audition call from the right people. 31

You are the surprise packet in Family Man – I personally thought you were fab, how did you get this web series and what did you see in the character that made you say ‘yes’ to it? To start with it was the other way round. The question of me saying yes was never there. I had auditioned for the part. I got a call from Mukesh Chhabra bhai’s office and they wanted to test me for a part in ‘The Family Man’, earlier the character was supposed to be a Bengali and his name was Ghosh but I gave the test in a neutral accent. Raj and DK liked my audition but they didn’t want me to put on a fake Bengali accent. I told them I’m a total Mumbaikar born and raised in Mumbai and can speak Marathi. So that’s how Ghosh became Talpade.

“I got a call from Mukesh Chhabra bhai’s office and they wanted to test me for a part in ‘The Family Man’, earlier the character was supposed to be a Bengali and his name was Ghosh but I gave the test in a neutral accent. Raj and DK liked my audition but they didn’t want me to put on a fake Bengali accent. I told them I’m a total Mumbaikar born and raised in Mumbai and can speak Marathi. So that’s how Ghosh became Talpade.”

“It opened avenues for newer actors, fresh faces, different stories. And so many brilliant actors got their due thanks to The OTT boom.” Do you think after the pandemic, there has been a transition in the Hindi film industry, things have changed and more good content and good actors are being spotlighted? During the pandemic people started consuming OTT content a lot and that gave a boost to the OTT industry.

“In fact the OTT is better in a way for the actors as we get enough time to establish our characters and get ample footage on screen as the duration of the series is way more than that of a movie.” 34

“Of course, I really wish to direct in the future – hopefully, very soon. And I’ll direct my own script. So I’m trying to zero in on a subject.” It opened avenues for newer actors, fresh faces, different stories. And so many brilliant actors got their due thanks to The OTT boom. Even the audience evolved during this phase and they began watching out-of-box stories and with ‘The Family Man’, my career got a new lease of life. Is there any difference in working on the OTT as opposed to films? I don’t see any difference for actors. We have to say our lines and ac in front of the camera. In fact it is better in a way for the actors as we get enough time to establish our characters and get ample footage on screen as the duration of the series is way more than that of a movie. The difference I feel is more for the creators because the dynamics change here. The cast is vast, there are multiple tracks, and hence, it needs to be treated differently. They have to keep every episode engaging and leave a hook point at the end of every episode. So the difference is more for the creators.

Do you think you’ve got your due in the industry? It’s difficult to answer that .. but I am very happy with the way my career is shaping now. I did expect great things post ‘Filmistaan’ but things didn’t pan out the way I expected them to. And I was almost giving up when ‘The Family Man’ happened and it brought me back in the game. And the audience love has increased insanely. So yes I am happy. But yeh dil maange more.

“‘The Family Man’ happened and it brought me back in the game. And the audience love has increased insanely. So yes I am happy but yeh dil maange more.” 36

You’ve written scripts and you’ve also assisted, does it mean that some time in the future, we can see you direct too? Of course, I really wish to direct in the future – hopefully, very soon. And I’ll direct my own script. So I’m trying to zero in on a subject. You also sang a song on Jagjit Singh Gazal “Baat Nikalegi” which got featured in Rolling stone. Tell us about this? I was actually shooting in the US last August for a feature film starring Anupam Kher sir and Neena Gupta Mam. And during the shoot, a crew member Zohaib who happened to be a musician as well heard me hum a song. He immediately said that he would love to record me. I jumped on the idea immediately and we recorded a Jagjit Singh ghazal cover. And then I was shooting in UAE for

“I was actually shooting in the US last August for a feature film starring Anupam Kher sir and Neena Gupta Mam. And during the shoot, a crew member Zohaib who happened to be a musician as well heard me hum a song. He immediately said that he would love to record me.” another film, I met a dear friend Yasin Khan and made him hear the song. He loves it so much that he proposed to make a music video for me. And that’s how the song happened. And I’m really thankful to Rolling Stone for featuring my interview and the song on all their digital platforms. Could you tell us about your future projects? I’m very excited about my forthcoming projects. There’s Dhaakad, Mission Mainu, Sharmajee Ki Beti, Vikram Vedha and Shivshastri Balboa and a few more. 37

STARDUS T SP O T L I G HT

Is Alia upset with the

R R makers?

Sumita Chakraborty finds out why Alia Bhatt deleted her ‘RRR’ pictures from her social media. There have been rabble rousing rumours doing the rounds that Alia Bhatt was very upset with the way her character as Sita had been snipped rather brutally at the editing table. Supposedly, her role in the film looked like a glorified cameo. In fact, things hit the roof when Alia Bhatt deleted her pictures from ‘RRR’ which further fuelled rumours on the fiery net that she was very upset with the way her role in the film had shaped up. But as the news reach a crescendo, Alia decided to clear the air and so she took to her social media to deny the rumors of her being upset with the makers of RRR.

In fact, things hit the roof when Alia Bhatt deleted her pictures from ‘RRR’ which further fuelled rumours on the fiery net that she was very upset with the way her role in the film had shaped up. 39

Alia claimed in a social media post that she realigns her old post every time so it wasn’t shocking that her pictures from RRR weren’t there. She hadn’t deleted the pictures, just realigned all her pictures. She goes on to say that she loved being a part of the film and she also loved her character Sita. She loved being directed by Rajamouli and she loved her co-stars. And that she loved every single thing about her experience of working in the film. And that, my dearies, is indeed a lot of love!

Alia goes on to say that she loved being a part of the film and she also loved her character Sita. She loved being directed by Rajamouli and she loved her co-stars.

But something doesn’t ring true, does it? After all, who realigns pictures on the instagram? Alia hasn’t done it before, why start now? Besides, Alia supposedly has also unfollowed director SS Rajamouli on social media. But something doesn’t ring true, does it? After all, who realigns pictures on the instagram? Alia hasn’t done it before, why start now? And what exactly is realigning? Does instagram has any edit button which says “realign”? We don’t think so! Besides, Alia supposedly has also unfollowed director SS Rajamouli on social media. So why did Alia get so diplomatic all of a sudden? Why can’t stars just express emotions like every other normal person? Yes, Alia? Why can’t you just say, I am disappointed, I think I wasn’t given my due in RRR… It would just put an end to all the conjectures and rumours, right? 41

CLOS E UP

“There’s so much to learn from both these strong women Vidya Balan and Shefal Shah - and not just by how incredible actors they are but also as people.”

- Kashish Rizwan 42

She

has been noticed and liked a lot for her character Alia in the Vidya Balan-Shefali Shah starrer Jalsa. Meet the confident and very talented Kashish Rizwan who talks about her film Jalsa, working with stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah, challenges of wearing prosthetic makeup, nepotism and more. Kashish, you’ve been noticed and liked in Jalsa, how did your journey in the entertainment industry begin? I am really glad people have been noticing and liking me in the film. I came to Mumbai three years back when I joined an acting school ‘Actor Prepares’. It was a 3 month diploma course. As soon as I graduated from the school, I began auditioning and instantly started getting ads. Also, very soon after the course, I got my first film, which actually people don’t know about. It was an independent feature film and I was playing the protagonist in the film. That film never came out but I got so much to learn from it – it was my first time on a film set, knowing how I function as an actor, what my process for the craft is. I am very grateful for that. So yes, that’s how it all begun. How did you bag Jalsa? Last year around March, I actually came across an Instagram post that this casting company (Casting Bay) had put up! They needed an actor who could also dance. I thought I fit all the requirements, so I contacted them and sent my profile. I got a call back for an audition. It all happened very organically. We did a scene work for the audition - I sent them my dance videos and a couple of other things. Alia, the character that I play in the film - if you notice loves to make Tiktok/reel videos which is why the dance was required. The director and the team ended up liking me and called me for a screen-test. Soon after, I got a call back saying I had been locked for the part. I took some time to process that happiness! 43

You had to go through prosthetic makeup for your character, tell us about this, was it difficult? It was an extremely fun but challenging time for me. My makeup team was very kind and we used to spend hours to do that kind of prosthetic make in my Van. My one eye was throughout shut after the makeup came on. I had to stay with that for the entire day while we shoot. But my team was very careful and protective about me on set. Even Shefali Ma’am would very sweetly make sure that I am being handled with care! Also, it was my first time with prosthetics - and we also did something which is called extreme prosthetics where you create a replica dummy (for the accident scene). I remember the whole process of creating it was so challenging but interesting for me. To get the measurements accurate, they wrap your whole body and face with plasters for around 3 hours or so - honestly the only connection to life are your nostrils. I am very claustrophobic in real life and this did change a part of me. I had a mini ‘Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’ moment for myself, haha. But of course, we had meetings before we did that and the entire team was extremely careful about it.

“I am really glad people have been noticing and liking me in ‘Jalsa’.”

You had stalwarts like Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah in Jalsa, how was it working with them? Were you at any point intimidated working with these iconic women? I have always looked up to both these wonderful women making it happen in the industry! I was very excited when I got to know that I was going to be working with them and I knew instantly I would come back home with some great learnings. They were extremely warm right from the beginning. So I wasn’t intimidated by them at all. 44

“I remember the whole process of creating it was so challenging but interesting for me. To get the measurements accurate, they wrap your whole body and face with plasters for around 3 hours or so honestly the only connection to life are your nostrils.” 45

I remember when we did the hospital scene where Maya comes to visit and Alia extends a hand to her, Vidya Ma’am was so happy to see my take and after my close up, she came to me and said the sweetest things about my performance. I had the biggest smile despite that the makeup barely allowed my lips to move, haha. I came back home with the happiest heart. Shefali Ma’am has my heart and I got such good energies from her. Like I had mentioned, she was very protective about me on set. Indeed, there’s so much to learn from both these strong women and not just by how incredible actors they are but also as people. You are not from a filmi family so technically an outsider, what do you have to say about the nepotism and ‘outsiders versus insiders’ debate that’s been raging on? I don’t really have a take on it right now because I am fortunate enough to have met very kind people but I know one thing for sure, that if you are talented enough you will get through. 46

“Vidya (Balan) Ma’am was so happy to see my take and after my close up, she came to me and said the sweetest things about my performance.”

“Shefali (Shah) Ma’am has my heart and I got such good energies from her.” Honestly speaking, I admire Alia Bhatt who is a star kid but she is fabulous at what she does. If you are talented and you love your craft, you will get through despite the fact that you are a star kid or not.

“Honestly speaking, I admire Alia Bhatt who is a star kid but she is fabulous at what she does. If you are talented and you love your craft, you will get through despite the fact that you are a star kid or not.” You’ve done ads too, tell us about them? Yes, I have done ads for brand like Paytm, Coca Cola, Hershey’s kisses, Philips, Margo, Nykaa, Vivo, Everyuth and a few others. Ads usually have one

or two shooting days and are quite fun. For me, as long as I am on set is all that matters. I love being on set and in front of the camera!

What’s next in terms of projects for you? I am shooting for some project which I can’t talk about right now. I am also auditioning for many! I definitely see myself cracking some lead projects in the near future and that’s what I want to do - work on good stories and pull out good characters. 47

MUS IC ROOM

“I’m called the ‘Shakira of India’. It’s probably because I like to perform a lot while singing.” – Rupali Jagga She’s been called the ‘Shakira of India’. Meet singer Rupali Jagga or ‘RJ’ as her fans call her and she’s been making a lot of ripples in the music scene in India. Recently, Rupali teamed up with MM Kreem for Neeraj Pandey’s latest movie ‘Operation Romeo’ and practically everybody has been raving about the music. Read on as Rupali Jagga talks about her music journey, her stint on reality Tv, working with music legend MM Kreem and more. 48

Rupali, I believe they call you the ‘Shakira of India’ and ‘RJ’, tell us how you got these tags? Yes, they call me the ‘Shakira of India’. RJ are actually my initials i.e., Rupali Jagga. So, my fans love to call me by these names. The title ‘Shakira of India’ was given to me on the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2016. This was the show that catapulted me to fame and stardom. Manoj Muntashir who is one of the great lyricists of all the time was the one who actually gave me this title after seeing my performance on the show. He was a judge on the show. It got really popular that even years after doing this show, I’m still called ‘Shakira of India’. It’s probably because I like to perform a lot while singing. I consider it as a compliment because I am huge fan of Shakira - she is somebody I look up to. You are singing for Hindi films now, in your eventful journey where you have sung live too - I’m sure you have been exposed to a potpourri of wonderful music… How much has your musical journey been impacted by the varied experiences you have had? Yes, I’ve been singing for Hindi films. Frankly speaking, it’s been a great journey. It’s been full of ups and downs like any other artist but I really proud of the work I’ve done till now. I couldn’t be more grateful that my hard work is finally paying off. I’ve worked really hard on my career and I’m very focused on my playback singing career, as much as I am absorbed in my career as an independent artist. I’m thankful to the Almighty, my fans, my family and everybody who has supported me. By God’s grace, I bagged my latest film Operation Romeo. The title of the song is Tere Bin Jina Kya. It’s a duet so I’ve sung this song with Vishal Mishra. Every singer has a dream to work with somebody like MM Kreem who has composed this song. Manoj Muntashir has the written the lyrics for this song who is my all-time favourite lyricist. This song has already been released and the movie is releasing on April 22. I’d request everybody to show your love to this song and the movie and watch it when it hits the theatres.

“The title ‘Shakira of India’ was given to me on the sets of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa in 2016.” You are working with some very talented musician, could you tell us about that? Yes, I’ve been working with very talented musicians for some time now. I’ve worked with musicians like Himesh Reshammiya, Salim–Sulaiman, and of course, MM Kreem and Vishal Mishra. So, life has been good till now, I’m really excited that I am getting an opportunity to work with some of the biggest names from the industry. I’ve always dreamt of working with these musicians and I’m finally doing it so it feels surreal some times. I’m really overwhelmed and grateful.

“I’ve worked with MM Kreem sir, and it’s been a dream comes true for me. He is one of the greatest musicians of all time and he’s a legend.” 49

You moved from a small town to Mumbai, how did you kick-start your career here? Yes, I moved from a small town to Mumbai. It’s very difficult to break into this industry especially when you come from a small town. You’ve to learn everything and put double the hard work than people who grew up in big cities. It’s not an easy job to become an established singer in the industry or have connections because there are so many talented singers and musicians here. The most important thing is to be your authentic self and stand out. If you stand in the crowd, you will get lost. I’m really proud of myself that I’ve an established career in the industry. I’m really happy for everything that has happened to me till now. You were also in a reality show Bhajan Samrat, how did you get into it? Yes, I participated in the reality show Bhajan Samrat. I was very young back then. I started my journey as a singer at a young age and with devotional songs. My parents used to sing bhajans in the mandir. I started my journey from the mandir as well. People gave me so much love there. So my parents thought that I can come become a professional singer so they made me learn Bollywood and classical Indian music. That’s how it started. As for Bhajan Samrat, I did it when I used to sing only bhajans and I eventually ended up winning the show.

“The songs that are releasing now were actually made during the pandemic while we were sitting at home. So, I’ve been occupied and busy throughout the pandemic.”

You lent your voice in Operation Romeo, how did you get this break? Yes, I’ve lent my voice to the song ‘Tere Bin Jina Kya’ from Operation Romeo. I got this break because of my talent and hard work. As they say, hard work never really goes to waste. I’ve been working hard on my career for the past few years and that’s how I bagged this opportunity. I’ve never tried to chase playback singing, I’ve been releasing independent music and singles for a long time now. I feel that this song was meant for me because the opportunity came to me itself. I didn’t have to chase it. I got a call from Manoj Muntrashir and MM Kreem’s office that they want to do this song with me so I went ahead recorded it, that’s how it happened.

Any memorable anecdote in your musical journey that you would like to share with us? I’ve so many memorable moments in my life so it’s difficult to pick one as my favourite. However, there is this one moment that I cannot ever forget and that’s my performance with Asha Bhosle ji. I’ve grown up listening to her song and I consider her as one of my idols. I follow her music. I was on the stage of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa where I performed her song with ‘Piya Tu’. After my performance, she came to the stage and performed the song with me. She appreciated my singing and gave me blessings so I definitely cannot forget this moment ever in my musical journey.

What about the digital platform – are you also straddling the OTT along with films? I’ve sung for films and I’ve released a lot of singles. I recently released my latest single ‘Tere Piche’, it’s a Punjabi song. Before that, I did a single with Himesh Reshammiya titled ‘Piya Rangeela’. I’m doing another song with him. Besides that, I’ve released many singles like ‘Majboor’, ‘Awara Shaam Hai’, ‘Teri Mitti’, ‘Ishq Nibhava’ and many more. However, I still want to work for OTT platforms. I haven’t done anything on OTT platforms till now but I’m definitely going to do something there. So, I can assure you that I will do a song there as well.

“I feel 2022 is going to be my year. A few of my songs have already released this year and there are more coming.”

You worked with MM Kreem, tell us about this? Yes, I’ve worked with MM Kreem sir, and it’s been a dream comes true for me. He is one of the greatest musicians of all time and he’s a legend. He has done such amazing work especially in the South industry. So, it’s an honour to be working with him. I must say that I got to learn a lot from him because he is a very experienced music director. He taught me many things while working on this song together. Whatever I’ve learnt from him is going to help me through my musical career. I hope to work with him again in the future as I cherish working with him. Do you have any bucket list to sing for any particular actors in Bollywood? To be honest, I don’t have any bucket list for any particular actors that I’d like to sing for. However, I do have a bucket list for composers with whom I would like to work with. I’d love to work with AR Rahman sir, and I’d love to sing for Amit Trivedi as well. I’ve ticked off some of the names from my list such as Himesh Reshammiya, Salim– Sulaiman, and of course MM Kreem. 51

“I’d like to say that it’s better to leaving singing to professionally trained singers unless their voice suits the song, as they say in Hindi, ‘jiska kaam usi ko saaje.’” Actors have started singing too, what do you think of this? Yes, actors have started singing too. I don’t know what to say about this. But Parineeti Chopra is like a sister to me as we had training from the same mentor who is Nidhi Narang from Agra gharana. So there are a few actors who actually sing well like Parineeti Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, and Ayushmann Khurrana. However, I’d like to say that it’s better to leaving singing to professionally trained singers unless their voice suits the song. As they say in Hindi, ‘jiska kaam usi ko saaje.’ Do you think you have got your due in the industry? I’ve got some of my due in the industry. I won’t say that I have got everything. 52

The journey is still long but I’ve definitely crossed some hurdles as a singer while some are still left. So, it’s a journey and it will keep going because I don’t want to put a full stop anywhere. That said, I’m going to continue my journey as a singer and independent artist for a long time to come. The pandemic caused havoc in everybody’s life, how did you cope with the lockdown and everything else? Of course, the pandemic has caused havoc in everybody’s life. As they say, make most of the least. I think I’ve made most of the least. I did a lot of work even during the pandemic. I did live shows through Zoom. The songs that are releasing now were actually made during the pandemic while we were sitting at home. So, I’ve been occupied and busy throughout the pandemic.

“I’d like to request everybody once again to listen to my latest song ‘Tere Bin Jina Kya’ and watch the movie ‘Operation Romeo’ in theatres on April 22.” Which are the projects you are looking forward to now? I’ve many projects lined up. Unfortunately, I cannot share everything at this point because we are still in the process of making them. However, as I’ve already mentioned, I’ve another song coming with Himesh Reshammiya sir, then I’ve many singles releasing as well. I feel 2022 is going to be my year. A few of my songs have already released this year and there are more coming. Please keep showering

me with your love, affection and blessings. I’ve really thankful to all my fans, listeners, family, and well-wishers. I’m only here because of them. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I’m really grateful. I’d like to request everybody once again to listen to my latest song ‘Tere Bin Jina Kya’ and watch the movie ‘Operation Romeo’ in theatres on April 22. Please record the song on your phone and the audience’s reaction, tag me on social media, and I will definitely give you a shout-out. 53

STARDUS T E X CL U SI VE

Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 actor Mandana Karimi’s recent revelations about being pregnant by an “ace director” and then opting for an abortion because he had got cold feet at the last moment, has fired up the net. There have been conjectures galore but everything seems to be allegedly pointing to director Anurag Kashyap. Is Anurag Kashyap the “ace director’? Sumita Chakraborty digs up more on this scandal that’s causing such a furore. 54

It was shocking and scandalizing but not surprising, as everybody knows that Ekta Kapoor’s reality show Lock Upp has been created to grab eyeballs and garner sky high viewer ratings merely for its outrageous content replete with twists and turns. … And it has done that rather successfully if we may say so, as the viewership has crossed 300 million. Hosted by the Queen of controversy, Kangana Ranaut and produced by the Queen who loves to flirt with controversies, Ekta Kapoor, but obviously, the reality show would be peppered with outrageous scandal and more… and so it is.

This time ‘round, it is the Kya Kool Hai Hum 3 actor Mandana Karimi who made a shocking revelation to save herself from being ousted from the show. She spoke about her secret relationship with a famous director during the lockdown period and how they got emotionally close. Supposedly, they decided to settle down and plan a pregnancy. But at the nth moment, the “ace director” got cold feet and Mandana had to abort the child.

“The time when I was struggling with my whole separation (from ex husband Gaurav Gupta), I did have a secret relationship.” – Mandana Karimi

An emotional Mandana sobbed uncontrollably as she narrated her shocking tale. She said, “The time when I was struggling with my whole separation (from ex husband Gaurav Gupta), I did have a secret relationship. My relationship was with a very well-known director who talks about women’s rights. He is an idol to many people. We planned pregnancy but when it happened, he completely backed off…He just destroyed so much for me.”

The Iranian 33-year-old actor claimed that she was at a point where she didn’t trust men in general, but that person pretended to be a friend. Mandana continued, “In the outside world, he talks about women’s rights. He talks about how women have to be independent, how women have to take their power into their own hands, and he is someone who is an idol to many people, the young generation who want to become filmmakers.” She went on to say that her relationship went on for a year and a half - she kept it a secret as she was not yet divorced and did not want anyone to know about it.

“My relationship was with a very well-known director who talks about women’s rights. He is an idol to many people. We planned pregnancy but when it happened, he completely backed off…He just destroyed so much for me.” - Mandana Karimi

“She’s (Mandana) the one who supported Anurag Kashyap during the entire #MeToo movement and wrote a long letter on her social media supporting him and now she’s accusing KV just on the basis of the vibe.” – Anurag Kashyap She further said, “He told me he wanted to move out of India with me. We should plan a family, and we did plan a pregnancy. But when it actually happened, he completely backed off.” The man, she claimed, already had a child. She then said that the worst thing was that the man didn’t have the guts to tell her directly that he had cold feet. Mandana said, “One day, he said we should go and meet my best friends as they were like parents to me. When we went there, he suddenly started saying he was not emotionally ready to become a father again. The next thing I know, he was asking me to have an abortion where everything was planned.”

A broken Mandana shocked to the core, decided she didn’t want her baby to grow up born in a disruptive ambience, so aborted it. And though Kangana Ranaut told her that she should have kept the baby, Mandana was adamant that she did the right thing.

“People call me controversial, rabble-rouser, dark - all terms by people who expect one kind of behaviour (from me).” – Anurag Kashyap 57

In the midst of the #MeToo movement, Anurag Kashyap was accused by actress Payal Ghosh of sexual harassment. Payal alleged that the director assaulted her in a hotel room. So who is this “ace director?” Though Mandana did not mention any names, and throughout her narrative insisted on calling the man an “ace director”. But she threw enough crumbs for the world to join the dots and guess its way to a conclusion. So was it Anurag Kashyap who was the ace director who got cold feet and backed out from Mandana’s life after hearing about the baby? People in the know believe it is him. Teejay Sidhu, wife of Karanvir Bohra, averred after Mandana said she was always uncomfortable with Karanvir Bohra, “It’s not like Mandana is a very close friend of Karanvir, she’s not. They just met in 2020. She’s the one who supported Anurag Kashyap during the entire #MeToo movement and wrote a long letter on her social media supporting him and now she’s accusing KV just on the basis of the vibe. She wrote in the letter that women are exploiting the power that we fought for and now what is she doing. What kind of a woman does this make her? 58

If she’s such a good friend of mine which she’s claiming would she make such statements. I would never go to a person’s house if I felt their husband gave me a funny vibe.” Teejay got her point across but she also threw up a name – Anurag Kashyap! One of Bollywood most talented – some even call him ‘controversy mad’ and a ‘Mahesh Bhatt’ publicity hungry clone - Anurag Kashyap has always been in the line of fire throughout his stint in Bollywood. One actually suspects that he enjoys landing plumb into the midst of controversies and being in the eye of the storm. In fact, in an interview, Anurag had said, “People call me controversial, rabblerouser, dark - all terms by people who expect one kind of behaviour (from me).” That’s right… and Anurag has never disappointed for he has been in the spotlight mostly for some very unsavoury controversies. Some years ago, in the midst of the #MeToo movement, Anurag Kashyap was accused by actress Payal Ghosh of sexual harassment.

Kangana Ranaut had given an interview in support of Payal Ghosh at that point stating that Anurag Kashyap is ‘very much capable’ of sexual assault. Payal alleged that the director assaulted her in a hotel room. She claimed that Anurag told her that it was okay because other actresses he has worked with including Huma Qureshi, Richa Chadha, and Mahie Gill were a call away. Payal insisted that she felt very uncomfortable with that incident and had to get away from that situation. Anurag, however, denied all accusations later through a series of tweets. Coming back to Mandana Karimi, her scandalous statement won her brownie points in the show with even Kanagana Ranaut shedding tears and obviously, she was saved by the host Kangana Ranaut. Kangana if you recall, herself has raised her voice against “Bollywood tyranny” time and again. In fact, during the peak of the #MeToo movement, she had given an interview in support of Payal Ghosh stating that Anurag Kashyap is ‘very much capable’ of sexual assault. She further claimed that ‘many big heroes’ misbehaved with her and shared her own experiences of being sexually harassed by ‘many big heroes’.

But to give the devil his due, it’s still not a proven fact that the “ace director” is actually Anurag Kashyap and though Mandana threw up enough hints to point our way to him, it’s still not conclusive to say it is Anurag Kashyap. So unless Anurag himself comes out in the open and confesses it is him, we really can’t draw up any conclusion. So Anurag Kashyap, why don’t you ride this controversy on the back like you love to do and tell the world your side of the story, what say? 59

H OLLYWOO D CA L L I N G

Aron Govil’s New Hollywood Production Robbers Roost Has An Enthralling Storyline & Cast

There’s some exciting news doing the ‘rounds. The multi-talented Aron Govil, a serial entrepreneur, author and filmmaker is currently producing a Hollywood film titled “Robbers Roost” starring late Margot Kidder in the lead role – she was by the way the leading lady in the original Superman film series. ‘Robbers Roost’ is currently under production – the film was unfortunately delayed due to the COVID pandemic. Aron Govil started his entertainment career by organizing Bollywood shows of numerous major Bollywood stars in America during ‘80s and ‘90s. Thereafter he was involved in financing many Bollywood films with renowned Bollywood producers and directors. But his first Producer credit was for the 2007 crime thriller directed by Jagmohan Mundra Shoot on Sight. He also served as executive producer on that project. The entire film was shot in London which was based on true events. Shoot On sight had a star cast of Brian Cox, Naseeruddin Shah, Greta Scacchi and Gulshan Grover it was released world-wide by Aron Govil Productions Inc. and was also dubbed in Hindi. Brian Cox by the way has starred in The Bourne identity, Braveheart and X-Men while Greta Scacchi starred in hit films including Presumed Innocent, Heat & Dust.

A little bit about Robbers Roost – it is a Hollywood psychological thriller set in the rocky mountains of USA in a remote and unforgiving landscape at the turn of the 20th century during the last dying embers of the Wild West. Robbers Roost is the story of an old woman who is faith abiding and has lived alone in a desolate mountain cabin for decades due to her brutal behavior in young age. Forgotten by time and the word given to her by a man, the old woman is in the final twilight of her life, until one day a mysterious presence from her past emerges from the depths of a brutal winter. It is her long estranged son, Coin, who mysteriously returns to the desolate cabin of his birth in the midst of a winter storm. 61

But the woman can no longer trust her senses so she can scarcely be certain if this man is actually her son, a ghost, or a byproduct of the decaying fabric of her mind.

Coin tells the woman of the hardships he’s had to overcome on his journey home. He tells her of a war party killing his horse with poison tipped arrows, of going for days without food or water, and of enduring frostbite to his toes and fingers. When the woman questions as to why he endured so 62

much hardship just to reach home, Coin tells her that he had returned to forgive her for what she had done to him and her husband. Because of her past memories and inherent nature, the woman starts to become unsure and suspicious of her son Coin; she starts to think that Coin hasn’t returned to forgive her at all, but that he’s actually come to drag her to hell.

She must reconcile her reality with her faith and either kill Coin or accept fate for her past sins. Beyond this meaty role for Margot Kidder, Robbers Roost features Mexican actor Nathalia Acevedo as “The Woman” at a younger age. It also stars American actors David H Stevens as Coin and Richard Dutcher as Frank. In addition to directing Robber’s Roost, Galen Rosenthal both wrote and co-produced the film. Working with him on the project is cinematographer Sadik Ahmed, who shared writing credit with Galen Rosenthal on the 2011 Bollywood crime drama Not a Love Story. On Robber’s Roost, Galen Rosenthal and Sadik Ahmed are working directly alongside each other for the very first time.

Soon thereafter the woman discovers signs of war party people nearby, which Coin spoke of. She doesn’t know why they’ve come, or what they want, all she knows is that Coin has led them to her after she has lived in solace for decades. The sunsets, night falls, and the surroundings begin to burn. She doesn’t know if it is real or just in her mind. The woman comes to believe that she is being punished for her past sins and must decide a course of action as the war party of people starts to close in.

Aron Govil is also credited with few additional films. In 2009 Aron Govil, was both producer and executive producer of Care of Footpath. He followed this achievement by producing, writing, and directing U R My Jaan, a Bollywood musical romance about a pair of unlikely lovers from two different social worlds. In fact, this film is a Bollywood remake of the Hollywood classic Pretty Woman. The music from this film reached the top of the music charts in India. In addition to serving as producer, writer, and director of U R My Jaan, Aron Govil appeared onscreen in the role of Mr. Ambani in the film. He also oversaw costuming and wardrobe for this 2011 film. 63

STAR LIS T

Understated, underrated yet fabulous… The dazzling Seven Bollywood is full of underrated actors especially female actors who despite the fact that they have given some scene-stealing standout performances, are still very understated! Stardust presents Bollywood’s most unconventional yet disruptive actors.

Konkana Sen Sharma:

Critically acclaimed for her work in Hindi and Bengali cinema, Konkana Sen Sharma is a multifaceted actor, writer and director. With two National Film Awards and four Filmfare Awards to her name, Konkana’s films include the likes of Life… In A Metro, Ek Je Aachhe Kanya (Bengali), Omkara, Fashion, Wake Up Sid, Lipstick Under My Burkha, A Death In The Gunj, Ajeeb Daastaans and The Rapist.

Kalki Koechlin: An actor par excellence, Kalki Koechlin’s performances are synonymous with critically acclaimed projects. Films like Shaitaan, That Girl In The Yellow Boots, Maragarita With A Straw, DevD, My Friend Pinto, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Ek Thi Daayan and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.

Saie Tamhankar: Her recent theatrical hit Pondicherry was a prime example of how Saie has constantly broken the shackles of acting through path-breaking roles. One of the biggest superstars in Indian cinema, Saie Tamhankar’s extensive work as a pan-Indian actor spans languages, formats, platforms, scales and shades. She has rightly been recognised as a versatile actor by critics, fans and the industry alike. Her 14-year long acting career has given us films like has films like Ghajini, Mimi, Pondicherry and more. With her first web series Date With Saie, the actress set the trend for Marathi artists to get onto OTT. 65

R K A Shefali Shah:

With films like Dil Dhadakne Do, Darlings, Ajeeb Daastaans, Jalsa, Mohabattein, Karthik Calling Karthik, Gandhi My Father and The Last Lear, Shefali Shah has always been a performance to watch out for!

Radhika Apte:

One of OTT’s first disruptors in Bollywood, Radhika became synonymous with Netflix at one point to an extent that the OTT giant even made memes around her! Gauging the potential of the medium quite early and delivering terrific performances, Radhika has been one of Bollywood’s most effortless performers. With films and shows like Sacred Games, Andhadhun, Pad Man, Badlapur, Lust Stories, Manjhi – The Mountain Man, Shor In The City and Bazaar under her belt, Radhika has become a crowd and critic favourite.

Divya Dutta:

A A popular in name in Hindi and Punjabi cinema, Divya Dutta has given us films like Manto, Traffic, Fanney Khan, Blackmail, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Badlapur and Ragini MMS 2. Her performances in shows like Special Ops and Hostages were also much spoken about.

Amruta Subhash: An award-winning name in Marathi and Hindi cinema, Amruta Subhash has been acclaimed especially for her performances in Gully Boy and Astu (Marathi). While she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gully Boy, she was also awarded a National Award for the same category for her performance in Astu. Other popular films and shows to her name include Dhamaka, Bombay Begums and Sacred Games 2. 67

Stardust on the go Red hot: Nushrat Bharucha

Not on diet obviously: Ananya Pandey

Are actors outside their shooting world as glamorous as they look on the silver screen? Can female actors in Tinsel Town be good friends? Who are the new lovebirds in B-town? Team Stardust brings you a bird eye’s view into the private lives of Tinsel Town eye candies.

Water a babe: Sonakshi Sinha

Glam Gal: Jacqueline Fernandez

Morning vibes: Shahid Kapoor

New kid on the block: Siddhant Chaturvedi

Pretty as a picture: Disha Patani

I’m a poser: Kiara Advani

Charmer in town: Tiger Shroff and Tara Sutaria

Muscles & steel: Varun Dhawan

Ready for some magic? Janhvi Kapoor

Chillin’ out: Siddharth Malhotra

StarrySashay Summer lovin’… That’s right, it’s time to get all those light breezy chic pastel pinks out of your summer closet. Shades of baby pink is the hue that’s trending! And, how! In fact, Bollywood female actors absolutely love this trend, and of course, these super fashionistas are also nailing the style quotient of the ‘pretty in pink’ look to the ‘T’. So what makes chic pastel pink ensembles the toast of the fashion? Simple… it’s elegant and airy… and gives such a wonderful cool delicate effect. In fact, even Alia Bhatt (in an ivory pink bridal lehenga) and most of the Kapoor Khandaan opted to wear delicate shades of baby pink for the big fat Alia and Ranbir Kapoor shaadi. So we picked our personal faves of some gorgeous Bollywood divas who looked pretty in pink. Why don’t you get your rating grades and mark the heroines according to who flaunted the pink look best? Let’s compare!

Priyanka Chopra

Alia Bhatt

Katrina Kaif

Shraddha Kapoor

Ankita Lokhande

Sara Ali Khan

Kiara Advani

Kareena Kapoor

Nushrat Bharucha

Sonam Kapoor

Deepika Padukone

Anushka Sharma

m o r f t s a l B t s a p the

‘GONE’ ABRAHAM! CAN JOHN SURVIVE THE ‘WORST ACTOR’ TAG? May 2009

THERE’S A RUMOUR

d oing the industry rounds. A few weeks ago, director David Dhawan was shooting his next film ‘Hook Ya Crook’ in Hyderabad. Dhawan, who has worked with some of the finest actors in the industry, is known to have a cool temperament. Rarely does he lose his cool and the film unit was in for a rude shock when he tried to keep his frustrations in check when lead actor John Abraham couldn’t get his lines right. It was literally the test of David’s patience. Unable to contain his disappointment, the director had no option but to call for a break. Even John’s co-actors in the film, Shreyas Talpade and Kay Kay Menon, were shocked to see the tension erupting on the set. When we tried contacting John, he simply refused to respond. And the news died its own death within the confines of the unit.

Admittedly, this is not the first time that John has found himself in such a messy situation. In the past too, we have heard about directors like Anurag Kashyap, Nagesh Kukunoor, and Vivek Agnihotri being compelled to confront similar predicaments when they worked with the glorified stud muffin. Sadly, the industry is too diplomatic (read scared) to admit it publicly. But at the same time, they wouldn’t mind sniggering about the actor in hushed tones. For the hunky actor, it isn’t a situation he asked to be in. The world knows that John is not a trained actor and the dashing dude is shrewd enough to know his limitations. In fact, at the outset of his film career, the successful model never entertained the thought that he would rustle up so much hype. Initially, he grabbed eyeballs because of his achingly built physique but the problem started when along with hype came the excess baggage of expectations. 73

Today, it is the same body, which he flaunts at the drop of a hat, and the venerable ‘poster boy’ status that often works against him. Admits John’s friend and director Kabir Khan, “Beyond a point, if you are going to focus on the body, it is definitely going to go against you. If today, John wants to be taken as an actor and not as a pin-up, it will be very difficult. Like Aishwarya Rai’s beauty prevented her from getting many roles. John’s physicality is such that he just cannot play any character. He just cannot play any normal office-going, person.” In the current scenario with an overdose of media coverage, getting noticed is no problem for any performer. But after the initial euphoria dies down, it’s only the talent that counts. John is a great looker no doubt – but he’s been there and done that. Now, the audience demands more from him. But the question is – does he have it in him to deliver the goods? Mahesh Bhatt launched John for the first time in the controversial ‘Jism’ but even in that film, it was Bipasha Basu who walked away with all the kudos. John was only remembered for his taut torso, which he flaunted with élan throughout the film. Bhatt feels that John has not grown as an actor and none of his performances after ‘Jism’ have been talked about. “The answer is a resounding no,” he maintains. “If it were, I would have heard it from so many people who quite like him. But I still feel that he has not been able to out-distance that impression he left in the viewer’s mind. Normally, people around me often say that his best work remains just ‘Jism’. The angst, the anguish, the sincerity, the doomed portrayal in the film has, kind of, left an indelible mark on the consciousness of people, which hasn’t been surpassed by his subsequent films,” he says. After the no-holds-barred physicality in ‘Jism’, the next best thing for the hunk to do was to position himself as the male pin-up sensation but the strategy went haywire. His gorgeous

looks never really helped him grow as an actor. And then there was a string of duds like ‘Saaya’, ‘Paap’, ‘Lakeer’ and ‘Aitbaar’, which crashed at the box office one after another. Also, these disastrous flicks did little for John to evolve as a performer. In all of his films, John had the same two-and-a-half expressions on his face and his body language literally struggled to be in tandem with the camera. And then ‘Dhoom’ happened, which could be termed as John’s only claim to a hit in his career spanning six years. But like a Yash Raj loyalist puts it, “Aditya Chopra had worked with the character in such a way that it didn’t need any histrionics. All John needed was to look good and mouth a handful of lines.” It’s said that during the scripting stage, Aditya gave strict instructions that John would have only a few dialogues. But the moot point is that not every film would require a character like ‘Dhoom’ and every actor, after a point of time, has to raise his own bar. And the sad part is that John has been unable to do that. Compare him with the heroes who started around the same time or after him and one will get the picture crystal clear. For instance, the much low-key Shaahid Kapoor was taken as a star seriously only after the much celebrated ‘Jab We Met’ happened. But even before that, he had still successfully established himself as a solo hero with films like ‘Vivaah’ and ‘Ishq Vishq’. If today, Shaahid is in a far bigger league than John, it’s only because of the fact that he has reinvented himself with every film and every character. Vivek Oberoi who entered the industry around the same time proved his mettle as an actor of caliber in many films like ‘Company’, ‘Saathiya’, ‘Yuva’ and ‘Omkara’. Even newcomers like Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan have raced past John in the talent department.

Filmmaker Harry Baweja who had cast him in ‘Karam’ prefers to call him a pin-up sensation and not an actor. Things sound a little bit harsh when a section of the industry today calls the actor ‘Gone’ Abraham because of his spate of flops. And for any lead actor, it is an even more humiliating experience when a second lead manages to overshadow you completely in a film.

During the making of the film, it was widely reported that John and Arshad couldn’t see eyeto-eye and it was understood that Arshad was by far exasperated with his co-actors no-show. A source connected with the film reveals, “There were times when in certain shots, Arshad would give his best take but the shot would be canned because John wouldn’t get it right.” Their war was at its peak when Arshad was highly disturbed about the fact he was not given his well-deserved credit during film’s promotion. In ‘Taxi No 9211’ too, the tall presence of Nana Patekar completely outshone John. It is a known fact that the growth of any actor happens with the kind of directors he works with, who eventually helps him come out of his dormant shell, and be his natural spontaneous self. Now, to John’s credit, he has worked with the likes of Deepa Mehta, Priyadarshan, Sanjay Gadhvi, Ravi Chopra, Anurag Kashyap, and Nagesh Kukunoor and Karan Johar amongst others. However, if you analyse the actor’s performance skills from ‘Jism’ in 2003 to ‘Dostana’ in 2008, there has not been much of a change. It would be disheartening for any actor to find his name on top of ‘the worst actor of all times’ list on the Internet. But that’s where you find John. Would that be a reason why none of his directors have repeated him in any of his films with the exception of Kabir Khan who’s worked with him again in ‘New York’?

It happened for the first time in Kabir Khan’s ‘Kabul Express’ where Arshad Warsi and Salman Shahid (the Pakistani character actor) were the only two actors whose performances were applauded. And the same episode was repeated during ‘Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal’ where Arshad completely overshadowed John despite having a much smaller part. Kabir Khan feels that getting John to give his cent percent before the camera is a tough task as the pin-up sensation tends to get too conscious as and when the camera starts rolling. “One thing I have always told John is if he could get even 50 percent of what he is off-camera on to the screen, he would rock,” he states. “In real life, he has such a brilliant smile but I have never quite managed to get that on camera. That is the problem with most actors.” With regard to John’s disastrous portrayal in ‘Kabul Express’, Kabir justifies, “John likes to be understated. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t people, think it is wooden. Unfortunately in our industry, our audiences have liked a louder sort of acting.”

Not long time back, director Nikhil Adwani who had cast John in ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’ opposite Vidya Balan had blasted him for demanding a whopping sum of Rs 13 crores. The outspoken director was quoted as saying, “You have exactly 13 expressions. Do you expect to be paid Rs one crore per expression?” John’s biggest drawback lies in the fact that he is unable to fit into the mould of any character. Give him a character like ‘Dhoom’ and ‘Dostana’ where all he needs to do is to flaunt his body and look good – perhaps you won’t find any faults. But the moment you ask him to slip into the skin of any specific character, he’ll be a big disappointment. That’s the reason why John needs excessive padding in his films. That’s why even after having more than 25 releases in six years, he can only boast of two hits to his credit. That also explains why there are no takers for a solo John Abraham film anymore. In most of his films, he has played a foil to the protagonist. The recent case in point is ‘Dostana’ where director Tarun Mansukhani gave him the role of a muted photographer as opposed to Abhishek who was more boisterous and loud. The grapevine has it that Nagesh Kukunoor’s ‘Aashayein’ is ready for release for over a year now but even the producer, Percept Picture Company, seems to have lost faith in the project. For his next film ‘Hook Ya Crook’, director David Dhawan was desperate to sign Arshad Warsi in a parallel role to John’s but the actor flatly refused the role which then went to Shreyas Talpade. Adding to the pandemonium is another report about Kabir Khan’s ‘New York’. The film’s first promo was out a month back but it has been kept on the backburner by Yash Raj films. The industry buzz was that Aditya Chopra was aghast when he saw the rushes of the film, especially John Abraham in the more intense portions. Of course, to John’s credit, we must add that Kabir Khan denies this, and understandably so. “We are ready but not able to release because of the producers’ strike,” he says.

“The promos were aired because of the Yash Raj policy. The promos were shown with ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ because there were no other films. Both Aditya and I were happy with his performance. I don’t want to speak about it much right now.” Point noted. Still, John continues to maintain an image of a poster boy because he knows he is best only at that. He had no inhibitions when he bared his butt with panache in ‘Dostana’ and while doing a Full Monty in the upcoming ‘New York’. The other agenda that keeps him regular in Page 3 columns is his on and off relationship with his comparatively more successful girlfriend Bipasha Basu. And when he does get a one-off hit like ‘Dostana’ to his credit, he goes all out and hogs full credit for it. Everyone noticed that John had a handful of dialogues in ‘Dostana’ and the film was completely shouldered by Abhishek Bachchan and Priyanka Chopra. Even John’s preposterous dance in the song Desi Girl became the butt of all jokes. Though director Tarun Mansukhani defends John’s dancing skills saying, “It was a fun song shot in a pub where actors were meant to just let their hair down.” Director Milan Luthria who cast John in ‘Taxi No 9211’ adds, “Yes, John needs to work on his dancing. Both of us have often joked about it.” The million-dollar question is – how long would John’s propaganda last? John’s legion of fans and the directors he has worked with have realized it. It is only John who doesn’t seem to understand the implications of the ‘worst actor’ tag that comes along with his share of stardom. It’s time for him to act – literally. JOHN ABRAHAM: KISSA KISS KA! If there are stars that turn their fans off with their snobbish attitude and curt tones, there are also stars who fans would want to approach just because they’re approachable and easygoing. One such charmer is John Abraham. This particular incident occurred during his modelling days, before his foray into Bollywood. John was one of the guests of honour at an event to celebrate

Women’s Day. Despite the presence of the other celebs at the venue, John remained the most wanted, what with everyone wanting to meet him and talk to him. During the course of the evening, when John was in conversation with someone, a petite gal went up to him to greet him. The polite and chivalrous John excused himself and turned to greet the girl courteously. But he was pleasantly surprised when the girl asked if she could kiss him. With a dimpled grin, John agreed, and bent down to level his face with the petite’s girl. The elated fan planted a peck on his cheek, shook hands with him and thanking him profusely, went her

way, too excitedly narrate to her friends about how she ‘kissed John Abraham.’ Word of advice John; next time you allow people to kiss you, make sure Bipasha Basu is nowhere around. ‘’JOHN has not been able to outdistance the impression he left in the viewer’s mind. Normally, people around me often say that his best work remains just ‘Jism’” – Mahesh Bhatt ‘’BEYOND a point, if you are going to focus on the body, it is definitely going to go against you. If, today, John wants to be taken as an actor and not as a “Beyond pin-up, it will be very difficult” – Kabir Khan

FAST FORWARD This article perhaps was a trifle harsh on John Abraham but on the other hand, perhaps it acted like the awakening call it was meant to be and woke up an almost comatose John. Over the years, he has worked on himself – not only his svelte body but also his acting and though many reviewers still call him “wooden”, John has undoubtedly improved. But more than being an actor, John has the knack of picking the right films. Thanks to that, he started his production house and has produced several good films including Parmanu: The Story Of Pokhran where even his acting skills looked good. So perhaps John has not ‘Gone’ anywhere, perhaps he took note of this Stardust article and instead of ‘Gone’, was Reborn! And, how! He always had a fabulous analytical mind being an MBA student and this he channelized in the right direction to tap and find gold. He produced sureshot winners like ‘Vicky Donor’, ‘Madras Café’, ‘Force 2’, ‘Batla House’, ‘Attack’ amongst others. Knowing fully well that his acting chops weren’t exactly a point to write home about, he instead decided to produce good content and that made him a winner. All the films John produced have been hat ke with good content, slick direction and quality production. No wonder, they have been winners.

On the personal front, though there are constant rumours of problems in his marriage as his elusive wife Priya Runchal is never there with John at public events, it isn’t true. John and his wife Priya are at times spotted quietly spending quality time together and they look very happy, So that’s another rumour gone to dust.

- Sumita Chakraborty

WEB S HOW

It is an exciting time for Indian cinema! Actors across the corners are not hesitating to take on challenging narratives with a human value. From exploring relationship nuances to crucial issues - these performers have given a new height to films, and we cine lovers can’t be more thrilled! So, here’s listing down the four most remarkable performances of the year by far that one should not miss out on binge-watching for quality cinema. Have a look! 78

Nimrat Kaur - Dasvi Released only a few days, NimratKaurisearningrave reviews for her brilliant performance in Dasvi. Her transformation from an innocent housewife to a power-hungry CM is outstanding, making her the ultimate showstealer. The versatile actress’ command of the Haryanvi dialect and body language is hard to miss!

Vidya Balan - Jalsa Vidya Balan became the force behind another power-packed drama with Jalsa. The actress, known for doing womanled films, created quite a stir with her recent release. With audience and critics going gaga over her performance and chemistry with Shefali Shah, Jalsa became one of the most talked-about movies on OTT. 79

Rishi Kapoor Sharmaji Namkeen Sharmaji Namkeen marked the last film of the legendary actor Rishi Kapoor! The drama will go down in cinema history for having two actors play the same character (Paresh Rawal and Rishi Kapoor as Sharma Ji). It left the audience with a bittersweet feeling of watching the late actor one last time on the screen!

Taapsee Pannu Looop Lapeta Hailed as her films’ hero, Taapsee Pannu hit a Hetrick with Looop Lapeta on OTT. After Haseen Dillruba and Rashmi Rocket, the actress impressed everyone across the nation with her note-worthy performance in the drama. While she earned a positive response from critics, the audience became a fan of her gripping screen presence. 80

Stardust - April 2022

Articles inside

Aron Govil's New Hollywood Production 'Robbers Roost'.