Come this Sunday, the glittering sphere of the BAFTA Film Awards will witness the presence of Bollywood icon Deepika Padukone, as she takes the stage to present an award at the renowned celebration of cinematic excellence. As the lights illuminate the Royal Festival Hall in London, anticipation heightens, yet the specific award category she will be announcing remains a closely guarded secret.
The gathering of stars at the BAFTA ceremony will be a medley of prominent figures, boasting the likes of Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Idris Elba, Emma Corrin, Emma Mackey, Gillian Anderson, Himesh Patel, Hugh Grant, David Beckham, James Martin, Rebecca Ferguson, Taylor Russel, Adjoa Andoh, and Lily Collins among the presenters. Each is set to bring a unique flair to the esteemed event.
Deepika Padukone, known for her compelling performance in “The Fighter,” took to social media to express her “Gratitude” for being honored with the role of presenter, a gesture reflecting her acknowledgment of the platform’s magnitude. This is not the first instance of Padukone’s intersection with international award galas – she previously handed out the Best Song award to ‘RRR’ at the Oscars and served as a jury member at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.
In a related update coinciding with World Radio Day, it was announced that ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan,’ featuring Sara Ali Khan, is poised to premiere on Amazon Prime Video come March 21. This much-awaited Karan Johar production, directed by Kannan Iyer, narrates the compelling journey of freedom fighter Usha Mehta, who operated an underground radio station during the British Raj. Emraan Hashmi joins the cast, enlivening the role of socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia.
Gulki Joshi, the prominent face of theater and television with roles in ‘Kaalchakra’ and ‘Bhaukaal’, vocalized her excitement as teleplays garner broader audiences. Joshi advocates for this medium as an essential bridge, reacquainting the modern generation with the raw power and sheer beauty of theater, hailing the form as a conduit to influential narratives.
An OTT-bound action thriller is in the pipeline, with Saif Ali Khan and acclaimed director Siddharth Anand’s creative force converging once more. ‘Jewel Thief’, a title sparking curiosity, features Jaideep Ahlawat and centers on a diamond heist storyline, albeit separate from the 1967 classic by the same name. Robbie Grewal has wrapped up the shooting and plans for a release are set for later this year.
Salman Khan and Sajid Nadiadwala, the formidable duo in the Bollywood industry, are teeing up for another cinematic enterprise. Courtesy of AR Murugadoss, this forthcoming project promises to be an action-fueled spectacle, with plans to commence filming across various European landscapes this summer. The unnamed film is slotted to be an Eid release for 2025, anticipated to be a festival blockbuster.
Akshay Kumar stands poised with ‘Sarfira’, a remake of the Tamil hit ‘Soorarai Pottru’, setting the stage for its release on July 12. “Dream so big, they call you crazy,” he penned on social media, alluding to the daring narrative of Capt GR Gopinath’s life. The original’s leading man, Suriya, will grace the remake with a cameo, alongside co-star Radhika Madan.
Rekindling a prolific on-screen partnership, Preity Zinta and Sunny Deol are slated to reunite in ‘Lahore, 1947’, a production under the auspices of Rajkumar Santoshi and Aamir Khan. Decades after their first foray together, Santoshi extols Zinta for her fully immersive approach to her roles, asserting that the audience cherishes the chemistry that Zinta and Deol have historically brought to life on screen.
As these diverse narratives and collaborations unfold in the vibrant tapestry of Indian cinema, audiences worldwide eagerly await the stories that will emerge and captivate, indicative of the ever-evolving landscape of filmography.
