Industry veteran Anupam Kher, whose career has spanned over three decades and over 500 films, says playing the role of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been the most difficult one in his career.

Anupam spoke to the media on the sidelines of the the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Awards 2018 held here on Tuesday.

Asked whether he has completed shooting of ambitious film THE ACCIDENTAL PRIME MINISTER, Kher said: "No… Only 40 per cent of the film shoot has been completed. I have studied the character of Manmohan Singh for four months and it is the most difficult role that I have done. I hope the audience will see his journey on-screen really soon.

A video of Anupam in the midst of the film's shoot was met with appreciation for how well the actor has tried to mould his walk and demeanour to match Singh's distinct style.

At the awards ceremony, Anupam received a special honour for his contribution to Indian theatre and cinema.

"I have come straight here only to receive this award from England after completing my shooting (schedule) for 'The Accidental Prime Minister'. I am really honoured and fortunate to receive this award.

"The kind of contribution that the Mangeshkar family has in the world of music is really unbelievable. They have not only won our hearts with their music, but with voices of Mangeshkar sisters, they have united the nation and that is their achievement. It's a great feeling to receive an honour by them."

Anupam dedicated the award to youngsters from rural parts of India.

"Whenever I receive an award for my work, it motivates me to do even better. I always say that it s not my lifetime achievement award because I feel like I have started my career just now. This award I have dedicated to youngsters from rural parts of India who come here (to Mumbai) and work hard towards achieving success.

"I just want to advice them that if a boy like me who was son of clerk from forest department of Shimla can receive this award, then they can also achieve many things in their life."

Veteran actor Jackie Shroff gets concerned at times about the risks that his action hero son Tiger Shroff takes for the big screen, but he says he is confident about him and his talent.

 Tiger has been receiving rave reviews about his action sequences in all his films like HEROPANTI, BAAGHI, MUNNA MICHAEL and BAAGHI 2.

"As a father, I get worried because he does all the action by himself, risking his body. But I do not stop him, I do not discourage him to do that. I am concerned, but confident about Tiger," Jackie told IANS.

Tiger joined the industry after consistent training in martial arts.

"He has been doing martial arts from his childhood, so there is a certain amount of body confidence he has. And he works with a great team of action choreographers.Now technology is much advanced than our time… But of course, even though there is wire support, jumping from high rises is risky because the ground floor looks tiny from the top!

"Having said that, I know there's positive energy all around us that will protect my son," added the 61-year-old proud father.

Having started his career in 1982, Jackie is known for some of his stellar performance in films like PARINDA, KHALNAYAK, RANGEELA, 1942: A LOVE STORY and DEVDAS.

Remembering his earlier days in the industry, Jackie said: "Our generation has actually experienced the transformation of how the technological advancement changed the game of cinema.

"These days, people are more concerned about the safety of actors and other crew members. We were also concerned that time, but whenever we required something, we were provided it.

"Now, you will see an ambulance at every film set. Earlier it was not that well-organised."

He recounted that during the shoot of 1942: A LOVE STORY, his ankle was hurt.

"In my career, so far, my eyes have got hurt twice, my legs were hurt… Maine bahut maar khayi hai apne career mein (I have got hurt a lot). I think when I look at his (Tiger's) performance, he looks convincing and connects with the audience because he performs from his heart. That is why there is an emotional connection he has with the audience," said Jackie.

The actor is keeping busy these days with the shoot of SAAHO and PALTAN.

In his career, Jackie has worked with a variety of directors like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Subhash Ghai, Ram Gopal Varma and the late Rituparno Ghosh.

How has he managed to stay relevant for all these years?

He said: "I think there is a learner in me who is always learning something or the other every day. I never lost connection with people… I can deeply communicate with a little child as well as youngsters.

"I value the life that I have got and I am thankful to the Almighty for that.As long as I am curious about life and living every moment of it to the fullest, I think whether as an actor or a human being, we all can stay relevant."

Veteran actor Jackie Shroff gets concerned at times about the risks that his action hero son Tiger Shroff takes for the big screen, but he says he is confident about him and his talent.

 Tiger has been receiving rave reviews about his action sequences in all his films like HEROPANTI, BAAGHI, MUNNA MICHAEL and BAAGHI 2.

"As a father, I get worried because he does all the action by himself, risking his body. But I do not stop him, I do not discourage him to do that. I am concerned, but confident about Tiger," Jackie told IANS.

Tiger joined the industry after consistent training in martial arts.

"He has been doing martial arts from his childhood, so there is a certain amount of body confidence he has. And he works with a great team of action choreographers.Now technology is much advanced than our time… But of course, even though there is wire support, jumping from high rises is risky because the ground floor looks tiny from the top!

"Having said that, I know there's positive energy all around us that will protect my son," added the 61-year-old proud father.

Having started his career in 1982, Jackie is known for some of his stellar performance in films like PARINDA, KHALNAYAK, RANGEELA, 1942: A LOVE STORY and DEVDAS.

Remembering his earlier days in the industry, Jackie said: "Our generation has actually experienced the transformation of how the technological advancement changed the game of cinema.

"These days, people are more concerned about the safety of actors and other crew members. We were also concerned that time, but whenever we required something, we were provided it.

"Now, you will see an ambulance at every film set. Earlier it was not that well-organised."

He recounted that during the shoot of 1942: A LOVE STORY, his ankle was hurt.

"In my career, so far, my eyes have got hurt twice, my legs were hurt… Maine bahut maar khayi hai apne career mein (I have got hurt a lot). I think when I look at his (Tiger's) performance, he looks convincing and connects with the audience because he performs from his heart. That is why there is an emotional connection he has with the audience," said Jackie.

The actor is keeping busy these days with the shoot of SAAHO and PALTAN.

In his career, Jackie has worked with a variety of directors like Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Subhash Ghai, Ram Gopal Varma and the late Rituparno Ghosh.

How has he managed to stay relevant for all these years?

He said: "I think there is a learner in me who is always learning something or the other every day. I never lost connection with people… I can deeply communicate with a little child as well as youngsters.

"I value the life that I have got and I am thankful to the Almighty for that.As long as I am curious about life and living every moment of it to the fullest, I think whether as an actor or a human being, we all can stay relevant."

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday reached the picturesque Sonamarg hill station in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day shooting schedule of Remo D'Souza directed movie RACE 3.

The action packed thriller is being produced jointly by Ramesh S. Taurani and Salman.

Besides Salman, RACE 3 will also feature Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem.

Like all Salman blockbusters, RACE 3 is scheduled to be released coinciding with the Eid festival on June 15.

Salman is likely to shoot for the movie in Ladakh region after completing the schedule in Sonamarg.

Sonamarg is hosting Salman for a second time. He spent over a fortnight in Sonamarg last time shooting for Kabir Khan directed super-hit movie BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN.

Sonamarg has been one of the most favourite shooting locales for bollywood.

Raj Kapoor's RAM TERI GANGA MAILI and Yash Chopra's SILSILA are some of the better known Bollywood movies shot in Sonamarg.

Fans of the superstar are likely to throng his shooting schedule in Sonamarg, thereby helping local hoteliers, tea vendors and pony owners.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Monday reached the picturesque Sonamarg hill station in Jammu and Kashmir for a two-day shooting schedule of Remo D'Souza directed movie RACE 3.

The action packed thriller is being produced jointly by Ramesh S. Taurani and Salman.

Besides Salman, RACE 3 will also feature Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Jacqueline Fernandez, Daisy Shah and Saqib Saleem.

Like all Salman blockbusters, RACE 3 is scheduled to be released coinciding with the Eid festival on June 15.

Salman is likely to shoot for the movie in Ladakh region after completing the schedule in Sonamarg.

Sonamarg is hosting Salman for a second time. He spent over a fortnight in Sonamarg last time shooting for Kabir Khan directed super-hit movie BAJRANGI BHAIJAAN.

Sonamarg has been one of the most favourite shooting locales for bollywood.

Raj Kapoor's RAM TERI GANGA MAILI and Yash Chopra's SILSILA are some of the better known Bollywood movies shot in Sonamarg.

Fans of the superstar are likely to throng his shooting schedule in Sonamarg, thereby helping local hoteliers, tea vendors and pony owners.

Actor- filmmaker Farhan Akhtar says that it is important to raise awareness about the planet's conservation as that has become one of the critical issues nowadays.

"Planet conservation is one the most critical issues that we are facing and it is time we raise awareness around this complex challenge," Farhan told IANS.

"Environmental stewardship is a joint responsibility and to address this, we need more and more people to come forward and work together to contribute towards a sustainable future.

On screen, we all love to see an actor performing role of a hero. People too can help defeat such issues and become a real life hero by contributing in initiatives such as Lights, Camera, Earth," he added.

National Geographic, the global expounder of planet conservation, kicked off ‘Lights, Camera, Earth' on Earth Day on April 22.

It is a storytelling crusade focused on harnessing the power of the word to help build a better tomorrow. Fronted by Farhan, the drive is a call to citizens to save the Earth through stories that spark change in the world.

Commenting on this initiative, Swati Mohan, Business Head, National Geographic and Fox Networks Group India, said: " With ‘Lights, Camera, Earth', we wanted to extend this

very important mission of planet conservation to our readers, fans and viewers – as we believe that when it comes to a purpose like saving our planet, there are only more stories to be told!

"We are thrilled to have one the most celebrated story tellers of our times, Farhan Akhtar, on the jury along with us to help us inspire the next generation of story tellers that will have their stories seen on a national stage."

Actor- filmmaker Farhan Akhtar says that it is important to raise awareness about the planet's conservation as that has become one of the critical issues nowadays.

"Planet conservation is one the most critical issues that we are facing and it is time we raise awareness around this complex challenge," Farhan told IANS.

"Environmental stewardship is a joint responsibility and to address this, we need more and more people to come forward and work together to contribute towards a sustainable future.

On screen, we all love to see an actor performing role of a hero. People too can help defeat such issues and become a real life hero by contributing in initiatives such as Lights, Camera, Earth," he added.

National Geographic, the global expounder of planet conservation, kicked off ‘Lights, Camera, Earth' on Earth Day on April 22.

It is a storytelling crusade focused on harnessing the power of the word to help build a better tomorrow. Fronted by Farhan, the drive is a call to citizens to save the Earth through stories that spark change in the world.

Commenting on this initiative, Swati Mohan, Business Head, National Geographic and Fox Networks Group India, said: " With ‘Lights, Camera, Earth', we wanted to extend this

very important mission of planet conservation to our readers, fans and viewers – as we believe that when it comes to a purpose like saving our planet, there are only more stories to be told!

"We are thrilled to have one the most celebrated story tellers of our times, Farhan Akhtar, on the jury along with us to help us inspire the next generation of story tellers that will have their stories seen on a national stage."

Iconic actor who feels disturbed about the recent barbaric rape and murder cases of young girls, says that more rape cases are reported to police and media these days, as compared to earlier, which is "a positive sign".

Asked at the trailer launch of his upcoming film HOPE AUR HUM on Monday for his opinion about the rape and murder of an eight-year-old child in Jammu and Kashmir's

Kathua, he said: "Well, rape is not a new phenomenon, such horrors have always happened; but the positive thing is, these days such cases are reported more.

"In fact, there is a very wonderful thing that read yesterday in a newspaper where a rape survivor was saying that why should the victim has to hide her face? It, in fact, the accused, who committed the crime should be ashamed, they should hide their faces. It's a threatful situation… I guessait's a good thing that media is so alert about all these things nowadays."

"It surely makes our morning horrifying, as the moment you open the newspaper, such news appears. But it is good that such incidents are talked about."

Naseeruddin admitted that he doesn't know if this is the solution.

"We are talking about a generational change of mindset, that cannot happen overnight. What we can do, is to trend set the example in our personal lives. We cannot keep on policing or not every girl possibly keeps a pistol or learns martial arts. It has to begin with us, with each one of us," said the veteran actor.

The trailer launch was attended by the cast and crew of the film including actress Sonali Kulkarni, Naveen Kasturia, along with child actors of the film and director Sudip Bandyopadhyay.

HOPE AUR HUM is releasing on May 11.