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.

Actress Anushka Sharma says experimenting with roles has been a mainstay in her career from the start.

Anushka spoke to the media here on Monday on the sidelines of an event organised by Standard Chartered Bank, where she was announced its brand ambassador.

In a promotional campaign for her latest endorsement, Anushka plays the triple role of a daughter, mother and grandmother.

On the experience, Anushka said: "I have always tried to experiment with my roles right from the beginning.

"This year, I am doing films in which all my characters are very different from one another in terms of physical and emotional appearance. So, when you get to do that in an advertisement, you feel great.

"Playing a triple role was something which I had never done before, so I was very excited. It takes a lot of time while doing prosthetic make-up, but the end result was great. So, I was all up for it."

Anushka's upcoming Bollywood projects include ZERO and the biopic on Sanjay Dutt.

"I am really happy that this year, I am doing different kind of films and both films are going to release very soon. As far as the Dutt biopic is concerned, that's one film that the audience will be very excited about and will be happy while watching it.

"I recently saw a teaser of it and I really liked it. I am doing a cameo in it. Nevertheless, I am really looking forward to watching the film."

The actress-producer also shared her thoughts on the ordinance to introduce death penalty for rapists of children, after the nationwide uproar on Kathua and Unnao rape cases.

"I was deeply hurt and affected by the incident. Even now, when I think or talk about it, I feel disgusted and extremely emotional. I feel the most severe punishment has to be meted out to the people involved.

"The most severe punishment should be served to those who spoil something as innocent as a child because it's the worst thing that a human being can do."

Actress Anushka Sharma says experimenting with roles has been a mainstay in her career from the start.

Anushka spoke to the media here on Monday on the sidelines of an event organised by Standard Chartered Bank, where she was announced its brand ambassador.

In a promotional campaign for her latest endorsement, Anushka plays the triple role of a daughter, mother and grandmother.

On the experience, Anushka said: "I have always tried to experiment with my roles right from the beginning.

"This year, I am doing films in which all my characters are very different from one another in terms of physical and emotional appearance. So, when you get to do that in an advertisement, you feel great.

"Playing a triple role was something which I had never done before, so I was very excited. It takes a lot of time while doing prosthetic make-up, but the end result was great. So, I was all up for it."

Anushka's upcoming Bollywood projects include ZERO and the biopic on Sanjay Dutt.

"I am really happy that this year, I am doing different kind of films and both films are going to release very soon. As far as the Dutt biopic is concerned, that's one film that the audience will be very excited about and will be happy while watching it.

"I recently saw a teaser of it and I really liked it. I am doing a cameo in it. Nevertheless, I am really looking forward to watching the film."

The actress-producer also shared her thoughts on the ordinance to introduce death penalty for rapists of children, after the nationwide uproar on Kathua and Unnao rape cases.

"I was deeply hurt and affected by the incident. Even now, when I think or talk about it, I feel disgusted and extremely emotional. I feel the most severe punishment has to be meted out to the people involved.

"The most severe punishment should be served to those who spoil something as innocent as a child because it's the worst thing that a human being can do."

Staying still with her eyes shut and not doing anything on-screen was the hardest challenge for British Indian actress Banita Sandhu while shooting OCTOBER.

Banita, who plays a comatose girl in Shoojit Sircar's highly-lauded film, says a whole lot of homework went into playing Shiuli, the girl who plunges from a high rise to a near-death experience.

She says the most irksome part of doing this role was to cease all activity.

"I am not going to lie. It was quite annoying being still for so long especially when my eyes were shut. We shot the film chronologically, so I had my eyes closed for about a week.

"And then when I finally got it open, you can't imagine how how relieved and excited I was able to act conscious, even if it was only through my eyes.

"So I really tried to grab to take advantage of any moment I had to do something and by the time it came to a physically demanding scene, I was actually able to do it easily because I was so frustrated acting still for so long while everyone around me was up and about."

Banita could feel her comatose character's frustrations.

"We were both sailing in the same boat. Rather, not ‘sailing' at all. When I finally got to move, it came out so well on-screen because there was that frustration within me as an actor of being immobile.

"It was like the character and me were kind of going through the same thing at the same time and I guess that's why it comes across so real on-screen. I bet Shoojit sir planned it that way because he knew that that it whould come out the way it did."

Born and brought up in Britain, the Hindi was a problem for Banita.

"Language was definitely tough but as you must have seen in the film, my dialogues are very limited, so we kind of got around that very well. Both Shoojit sir and I were very stubborn that this character will have my voice because there's so much more to the performance than my dialogue.

"A lot of people commented on what I did with my eyes, the frustration and all the emotions. So the language was tough, but I think honestly the hardest part was not doing anything on the screen for 10 to 12 hours a day. I used to get frustrated as everyone around me was acting. I used to get jealous."

The film features Varun Dhawan.

Banita found him sweet, humble and kind-hearted.

"I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first co-star. For Varun, OCTOBER was also like a first film together also. So it was kind of like going through this journey together.

"We watched each other's back. The film, its mood and shooting were not only difficult for me but it was challenging for him too to go through all that emotion. I'm so lucky that I had a great support system in Varun, Shoojit and the entire team."

[By Subhash K Jha]
 

Staying still with her eyes shut and not doing anything on-screen was the hardest challenge for British Indian actress Banita Sandhu while shooting OCTOBER.

Banita, who plays a comatose girl in Shoojit Sircar's highly-lauded film, says a whole lot of homework went into playing Shiuli, the girl who plunges from a high rise to a near-death experience.

She says the most irksome part of doing this role was to cease all activity.

"I am not going to lie. It was quite annoying being still for so long especially when my eyes were shut. We shot the film chronologically, so I had my eyes closed for about a week.

"And then when I finally got it open, you can't imagine how how relieved and excited I was able to act conscious, even if it was only through my eyes.

"So I really tried to grab to take advantage of any moment I had to do something and by the time it came to a physically demanding scene, I was actually able to do it easily because I was so frustrated acting still for so long while everyone around me was up and about."

Banita could feel her comatose character's frustrations.

"We were both sailing in the same boat. Rather, not ‘sailing' at all. When I finally got to move, it came out so well on-screen because there was that frustration within me as an actor of being immobile.

"It was like the character and me were kind of going through the same thing at the same time and I guess that's why it comes across so real on-screen. I bet Shoojit sir planned it that way because he knew that that it whould come out the way it did."

Born and brought up in Britain, the Hindi was a problem for Banita.

"Language was definitely tough but as you must have seen in the film, my dialogues are very limited, so we kind of got around that very well. Both Shoojit sir and I were very stubborn that this character will have my voice because there's so much more to the performance than my dialogue.

"A lot of people commented on what I did with my eyes, the frustration and all the emotions. So the language was tough, but I think honestly the hardest part was not doing anything on the screen for 10 to 12 hours a day. I used to get frustrated as everyone around me was acting. I used to get jealous."

The film features Varun Dhawan.

Banita found him sweet, humble and kind-hearted.

"I honestly couldn't have asked for a better first co-star. For Varun, OCTOBER was also like a first film together also. So it was kind of like going through this journey together.

"We watched each other's back. The film, its mood and shooting were not only difficult for me but it was challenging for him too to go through all that emotion. I'm so lucky that I had a great support system in Varun, Shoojit and the entire team."

[By Subhash K Jha]
 

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (Best Actor) for his performance in PADMAAVAT, has dedicated the award to wife Mira Rajput.

Talking about the award he won on Saturday, Shahid said: “This is my first award for PADMAAVAT this year, so I am really very happy and I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, Mira because she tolerated me for a year during this period and without her I wouldn’t have been able to do this film. So I am very thankful to her.”

Shahid is married to Mira Rajput and the couple is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Misha. Recently, the couple announced they are waiting for the arrival of their second child.

Talking about becoming a father for the second time, Shahid said: “I am very happy and we just felt like sharing it with everyone. Mira wanted to put it out on Instagram and I thought that the photograph was really cute, it was a spontaneous decision and it just happened. It was a great weekend for the family.”

Shahid is also happy for his brother Ishaan Khattar winning accolades for his debut movie BEYOND THE CLOUDS helmed by Majid Majidi.

“Ishaan has given a spectacular performance. He is getting a lot of love. He is very deserving of all the applause and appreciation; he is a very talented boy,” he said.

“Of course he just started but he has lots to learn and a long way to go. He has to put his head down, with humility and work hard. He is getting good opportunities to work with people like Majid Majidi and now Shashank Khaitan, I think he should consider himself fortunate,” the UDTA PUNJAB actor said.

Next, Shahid Kapoor will be seen in BATTI GUL METER CHALU which also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam in Shree Narayan Singh directorial.

Talking about the film’s progress, Shahid said: “Seventy per cent of the film is complete and some 30 per cent is left. Next week we start shooting again and I believe by May the shooting will be complete.”

The Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 was graced by several Bollywood personalities including Karan Johar, Simi Garewal, Shilpa Shetty, Kartik Aryan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and many more.

Actor Shahid Kapoor, who bagged the Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award (Best Actor) for his performance in PADMAAVAT, has dedicated the award to wife Mira Rajput.

Talking about the award he won on Saturday, Shahid said: “This is my first award for PADMAAVAT this year, so I am really very happy and I would like to dedicate this award to my wife, Mira because she tolerated me for a year during this period and without her I wouldn’t have been able to do this film. So I am very thankful to her.”

Shahid is married to Mira Rajput and the couple is blessed with a beautiful daughter, Misha. Recently, the couple announced they are waiting for the arrival of their second child.

Talking about becoming a father for the second time, Shahid said: “I am very happy and we just felt like sharing it with everyone. Mira wanted to put it out on Instagram and I thought that the photograph was really cute, it was a spontaneous decision and it just happened. It was a great weekend for the family.”

Shahid is also happy for his brother Ishaan Khattar winning accolades for his debut movie BEYOND THE CLOUDS helmed by Majid Majidi.

“Ishaan has given a spectacular performance. He is getting a lot of love. He is very deserving of all the applause and appreciation; he is a very talented boy,” he said.

“Of course he just started but he has lots to learn and a long way to go. He has to put his head down, with humility and work hard. He is getting good opportunities to work with people like Majid Majidi and now Shashank Khaitan, I think he should consider himself fortunate,” the UDTA PUNJAB actor said.

Next, Shahid Kapoor will be seen in BATTI GUL METER CHALU which also stars Shraddha Kapoor and Yami Gautam in Shree Narayan Singh directorial.

Talking about the film’s progress, Shahid said: “Seventy per cent of the film is complete and some 30 per cent is left. Next week we start shooting again and I believe by May the shooting will be complete.”

The Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Award 2018 was graced by several Bollywood personalities including Karan Johar, Simi Garewal, Shilpa Shetty, Kartik Aryan, Aditi Rao Hydari, Kriti Sanon, Rajkummar Rao, and many more.

The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 was an evening of glitz and glamour with a galaxy of stars from Bollywood Indian television and music fraternity walking down the red carpet. Organized at St. Andrew’s in Bandra, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 recognized some of the best performances and talents of 2017.

The awards night was anchored by RJ Anurag Pandey, the evening witnessed live performances by Shayan Italia who played a rendition of National Anthem on the piano followed brilliant dance performance by ABM dance music and soulful singing by Raja Hasan, Avijeet Roy, Rani Hazarika amongst others.

There was a special 3 minute performance by Smile Foundation kids. Organized by Harsh Mehta of HR Entertainment along with actress and producer Poonam Jhawer, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards

2018 has associated with Smile Foundation the National level development organization as the charity partner to support their initiative of – SHE CAN FLY. The Award also focused on bringing attention to the pay gaps that affect women in the industry. Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards has been powered by Emars Events and VEGO, with Dream catcher being the event partner.

The glittering evening kick-started with the lamp lightening ceremony which was followed by the announcement of winners in different categories.

Since long we are hearing news of many B-town actors being awarded with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Actress Kriti Sanon received the award for outstanding performance in leading role in BAREILY KI BARFI, Actor Ranveer Singh won the Best Actor Peoples choice award for his stellar performance in PADMAVAT.

Actress Simi Garewal was her effervescent self when she walked the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Versatile actor Sanjay Dutt was honored  with the award of Pride of Indian Cinema.

Check out the complete list of awardees.

Shahid Kapoor: Best Actor (Male) – PADMAAVAT

Ranveer Singh: Best actor people's choice for PADMAAVAT

Anushka Sharma & Karnesh Sharma: Path breaking producer of the year

Kartik Aryan: Entertainer of the year

Rani Mukerji: Socially Conscious performance of the year – Mr. Sidhaarth Malhotra the director of HICHKI

Rajkummar Rao: Outstanding performance (Male)- NEWTON

Tamannaah Bhatia: Outstanding performance (Female) – BAAHUBALI

Rana Daggubati: Outstanding performance (Male) – BAAHUBALI

Kriti Sanon: Outstanding performance in leading role (Female) – BAREILLY KI BARFI

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari: Best director for BAREILLY KI BARFI

Aahana Kumra: Promising face of the year for LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

Tusshar Kapoor: Best comic role – GOLMAAL RETURNS

Aditi Rao Haidri: Best Actress – Critics (BHOOMI)

Divya Khosla Kumar: Best performance in a Short film BULBUL

Vaibhav Tatwawaadi: Best Actor (Male) – Marathi

Pooja Sawant: Best Actor (Female) – Marathi

Sanjukta Dutta: Best Fashion Designer of the year

Hina Khan: Entertaining performance in reality show Bigg Boss (Female)

Karan Patel: Best Actor – Television (Male)

Shilpa Shetty: Best reality show judge

Karan Johar: Best talk show host – Koffee with Karan

Manoj Muntashir: Best Lyricist

Hans Raj Hans: Iconic contribution towards music

Sumona Chakraborty: Best comedy – comedy night with Kapil Sharma

Rani Hazarika: Versatile singer

Simi Garewal: Lifetime Achievement Award

Sanjay Dutt: Pride of Indian Cinema

Jaya Misra: Social & Business entrepreneur of the year

The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 was an evening of glitz and glamour with a galaxy of stars from Bollywood Indian television and music fraternity walking down the red carpet. Organized at St. Andrew’s in Bandra, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards 2018 recognized some of the best performances and talents of 2017.

The awards night was anchored by RJ Anurag Pandey, the evening witnessed live performances by Shayan Italia who played a rendition of National Anthem on the piano followed brilliant dance performance by ABM dance music and soulful singing by Raja Hasan, Avijeet Roy, Rani Hazarika amongst others.

There was a special 3 minute performance by Smile Foundation kids. Organized by Harsh Mehta of HR Entertainment along with actress and producer Poonam Jhawer, Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards

2018 has associated with Smile Foundation the National level development organization as the charity partner to support their initiative of – SHE CAN FLY. The Award also focused on bringing attention to the pay gaps that affect women in the industry. Dadasaheb Phalke Excellence Awards has been powered by Emars Events and VEGO, with Dream catcher being the event partner.

The glittering evening kick-started with the lamp lightening ceremony which was followed by the announcement of winners in different categories.

Since long we are hearing news of many B-town actors being awarded with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke award.

Actress Kriti Sanon received the award for outstanding performance in leading role in BAREILY KI BARFI, Actor Ranveer Singh won the Best Actor Peoples choice award for his stellar performance in PADMAVAT.

Actress Simi Garewal was her effervescent self when she walked the stage to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Versatile actor Sanjay Dutt was honored  with the award of Pride of Indian Cinema.

Check out the complete list of awardees.

Shahid Kapoor: Best Actor (Male) – PADMAAVAT

Ranveer Singh: Best actor people's choice for PADMAAVAT

Anushka Sharma & Karnesh Sharma: Path breaking producer of the year

Kartik Aryan: Entertainer of the year

Rani Mukerji: Socially Conscious performance of the year – Mr. Sidhaarth Malhotra the director of HICHKI

Rajkummar Rao: Outstanding performance (Male)- NEWTON

Tamannaah Bhatia: Outstanding performance (Female) – BAAHUBALI

Rana Daggubati: Outstanding performance (Male) – BAAHUBALI

Kriti Sanon: Outstanding performance in leading role (Female) – BAREILLY KI BARFI

Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari: Best director for BAREILLY KI BARFI

Aahana Kumra: Promising face of the year for LIPSTICK UNDER MY BURKHA

Tusshar Kapoor: Best comic role – GOLMAAL RETURNS

Aditi Rao Haidri: Best Actress – Critics (BHOOMI)

Divya Khosla Kumar: Best performance in a Short film BULBUL

Vaibhav Tatwawaadi: Best Actor (Male) – Marathi

Pooja Sawant: Best Actor (Female) – Marathi

Sanjukta Dutta: Best Fashion Designer of the year

Hina Khan: Entertaining performance in reality show Bigg Boss (Female)

Karan Patel: Best Actor – Television (Male)

Shilpa Shetty: Best reality show judge

Karan Johar: Best talk show host – Koffee with Karan

Manoj Muntashir: Best Lyricist

Hans Raj Hans: Iconic contribution towards music

Sumona Chakraborty: Best comedy – comedy night with Kapil Sharma

Rani Hazarika: Versatile singer

Simi Garewal: Lifetime Achievement Award

Sanjay Dutt: Pride of Indian Cinema

Jaya Misra: Social & Business entrepreneur of the year

The two new releases of the week, Faraz Haider’s NANU KI JAANU and renowned Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi’s BEYOND THE CLOUDS, failed to excite the audience much.

The front runner was obviously the Abhay-Patralekha starrer NANU KI JAANU (10 percent), while Ishaan Khatter’s BEYOND THE CLOUDS lagged behind (5 percent). Though the weekend can still change things, the front runner turned out to be the week old OCTOBER.

While on OCTOBER, the Shoojit Sircar directed Varun Dhawan starrer held quite well, closing the opening week at around 29 crore. The film also managed a reasonably good show on the second Friday and should come with a decent show and outcome, given the 35 crore digital and satellite rights, already in!