The Shri Rajput Karni Senas declaration that they would make a film on director Sanjay Leela Bhansalis mother marks a new low in bullying. But filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, one of the more vocal representatives of Bollywood, says it's only the beginning.

Pandit, vice president of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), said: "The Bollywood bullying has only begun. Do they think the Karni Sena and other fringe groups are going to stop with PADMAAVAT? They've tasted blood. They will come back for more.

"They have realized this is an entertainment industry filled with cowards."

Pandit takes a dig at the empowered superstars who kept quiet through the attack on PADMAAVAT.

"Apart from Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Farhan Akhtar, no one spoke out while Sanjay Bhansali was being attacked, not even the big superstars who have worked with Bhansali. They all looked the other way while the fire raged. Which is really strange. No one was asking them to descend on the streets with banners and candles.

"All you had to do was tweet your support or write a blog on Facebook. Big stars who are usually so vocal on social media were suddenly paralyzed by fear," he said.

Pandit feels groups such as Karni Sena will now "try to muscle into as many films as possible".

"They will demand to know why Aamir Khan, a Muslim, is making 'Mahabharat'. Or why Mohammed Rafi sang one of the most beautiful bhajans 'Mann tarpat hari darshan ko aaj'. The nightmare is never going to end now for the film industry."

[By Subhash K. Jha]

The Shri Rajput Karni Senas declaration that they would make a film on director Sanjay Leela Bhansalis mother marks a new low in bullying. But filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, one of the more vocal representatives of Bollywood, says it's only the beginning.

Pandit, vice president of the Indian Motion Pictures Producers' Association (IMPPA), said: "The Bollywood bullying has only begun. Do they think the Karni Sena and other fringe groups are going to stop with PADMAAVAT? They've tasted blood. They will come back for more.

"They have realized this is an entertainment industry filled with cowards."

Pandit takes a dig at the empowered superstars who kept quiet through the attack on PADMAAVAT.

"Apart from Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi and Farhan Akhtar, no one spoke out while Sanjay Bhansali was being attacked, not even the big superstars who have worked with Bhansali. They all looked the other way while the fire raged. Which is really strange. No one was asking them to descend on the streets with banners and candles.

"All you had to do was tweet your support or write a blog on Facebook. Big stars who are usually so vocal on social media were suddenly paralyzed by fear," he said.

Pandit feels groups such as Karni Sena will now "try to muscle into as many films as possible".

"They will demand to know why Aamir Khan, a Muslim, is making 'Mahabharat'. Or why Mohammed Rafi sang one of the most beautiful bhajans 'Mann tarpat hari darshan ko aaj'. The nightmare is never going to end now for the film industry."

[By Subhash K. Jha]

Child actor Aditi Inamdar, who featured as the lead in POORNA, says she is focussing on her studies as of now.

In POORNA, directed by Rahul Bose, Aditi brought to life the real-life story of Poorna Malavath, the youngest girl to scale the highest peak of Mount Everest.

Will the audience see her in another film soon?

"Right now I am concentrating on my studies, but you might get to see me act in another inspiring film in the future," Aditi said in a statement.

There's an important learning that Aditi took away from POORNA — which premiered on &pictures on Republic Day.

"POORNA's story makes you believe that if you work hard and believe in yourself, your dreams come true. The very fact that she dreamt of climbing Mount Everest is the most inspiring thing for me," she said.

Her message to the youth of today is: "Chase your own dreams and they will come true. One must always be determined and honest with their goals so that they can conquer them easily."

Child actor Aditi Inamdar, who featured as the lead in POORNA, says she is focussing on her studies as of now.

In POORNA, directed by Rahul Bose, Aditi brought to life the real-life story of Poorna Malavath, the youngest girl to scale the highest peak of Mount Everest.

Will the audience see her in another film soon?

"Right now I am concentrating on my studies, but you might get to see me act in another inspiring film in the future," Aditi said in a statement.

There's an important learning that Aditi took away from POORNA — which premiered on &pictures on Republic Day.

"POORNA's story makes you believe that if you work hard and believe in yourself, your dreams come true. The very fact that she dreamt of climbing Mount Everest is the most inspiring thing for me," she said.

Her message to the youth of today is: "Chase your own dreams and they will come true. One must always be determined and honest with their goals so that they can conquer them easily."

Shruti Haasan turned 32 on Sunday, and she is not fretting over her age. The actress finds the number concept 'silly'.

"Age is just a number. I have always wondered why, be it any artiste anywhere in the world like Tom Cruise, there will be a bracket and then their age will be there, or it will read so and so 23-year-old. I have always wondered why do people do that," Shruti told IANS over the phone from Los Angeles.

"It is really odd because the number concept, beyond a point for me, is really silly," she added.

As for her 32nd birthday celebration, the daughter of stars Kamal Haasan and Sarika, says there is no big party planned.

"I am in LA and I am going for dinner with all my friends from here, so I am really excited about it. About having a warm cosy evening with my friends," she said.

Looking back at all those growing up years, Shruti, who sings and acts in films in multiple languages like Hindi and Tamil, said: "It has been wonderful. I have always been big on birthdays. My parents have been so wonderful to me during my birthdays, my sister, my friends everyone. So, there are fond memories.

"There are so many fond memories that I can't pick one."

Shruti had a shaky start to her career, with films such as LUCK, ANAGANAGA O DHEERUDU and 7AM ARIVU failing to elicit expected response. But Pawan Kalyan's Telugu film GABBAR SINGH, a remake of DABANGG, changed the game for Shruti and got her into the big league.

The actress says she has learnt a lot over all these years, with the art of remaining patient, being the most important thing.

"It has really been about patience. I have learnt a lot of patience and still I am not that patient which I like to be. But yes, it has been better than it was before… I have learnt to be more empathetic."

Shruti wants to continue on the same path of growing and learning.

"The challenge is to make something new in the path of growing and maintaining balance."

After the release of BEHEN HOGI TERI and KATAMARAYUDU last year, Shruti decided to take a step back to re-assess her career. The actress says the process turned out to be a "great neutraliser".

"I have never done it before. It was (all about) learning as I go, and by God's grace, once you get successful, then doing this and that and next thing and next thing… I felt like I really wanted to take a step back and I really wanted to balance music in my life as well. I felt I needed a neutralising experience.

"It is difficult to change your point of view when you are in the same situation constantly. I took a step away and went to London which was a completely new environment, new me and there was no baggage of the past. There were no expectations and I met some lovely artistes. For me, it was a great neutraliser and a great re-assessing when I wanted."

On the work front, the actress says there will be announcements soon, and promised she will "do lots of music this year".

Shruti Haasan turned 32 on Sunday, and she is not fretting over her age. The actress finds the number concept 'silly'.

"Age is just a number. I have always wondered why, be it any artiste anywhere in the world like Tom Cruise, there will be a bracket and then their age will be there, or it will read so and so 23-year-old. I have always wondered why do people do that," Shruti told IANS over the phone from Los Angeles.

"It is really odd because the number concept, beyond a point for me, is really silly," she added.

As for her 32nd birthday celebration, the daughter of stars Kamal Haasan and Sarika, says there is no big party planned.

"I am in LA and I am going for dinner with all my friends from here, so I am really excited about it. About having a warm cosy evening with my friends," she said.

Looking back at all those growing up years, Shruti, who sings and acts in films in multiple languages like Hindi and Tamil, said: "It has been wonderful. I have always been big on birthdays. My parents have been so wonderful to me during my birthdays, my sister, my friends everyone. So, there are fond memories.

"There are so many fond memories that I can't pick one."

Shruti had a shaky start to her career, with films such as LUCK, ANAGANAGA O DHEERUDU and 7AM ARIVU failing to elicit expected response. But Pawan Kalyan's Telugu film GABBAR SINGH, a remake of DABANGG, changed the game for Shruti and got her into the big league.

The actress says she has learnt a lot over all these years, with the art of remaining patient, being the most important thing.

"It has really been about patience. I have learnt a lot of patience and still I am not that patient which I like to be. But yes, it has been better than it was before… I have learnt to be more empathetic."

Shruti wants to continue on the same path of growing and learning.

"The challenge is to make something new in the path of growing and maintaining balance."

After the release of BEHEN HOGI TERI and KATAMARAYUDU last year, Shruti decided to take a step back to re-assess her career. The actress says the process turned out to be a "great neutraliser".

"I have never done it before. It was (all about) learning as I go, and by God's grace, once you get successful, then doing this and that and next thing and next thing… I felt like I really wanted to take a step back and I really wanted to balance music in my life as well. I felt I needed a neutralising experience.

"It is difficult to change your point of view when you are in the same situation constantly. I took a step away and went to London which was a completely new environment, new me and there was no baggage of the past. There were no expectations and I met some lovely artistes. For me, it was a great neutraliser and a great re-assessing when I wanted."

On the work front, the actress says there will be announcements soon, and promised she will "do lots of music this year".