Bollywood meets the boxing world as the ever-radiant Indian actor Urvashi Rautela taps into the fighting spirit under the tutelage of Irish mixed martial artist and boxing sensation, Conor McGregor. The training sessions, a preparation for Urvashi’s role in the upcoming Telugu film tentatively titled ‘NBK109’ starring alongside Nandamuri Balakrishna, has the fighting community and Bollywood aficionados buzzing with excitement.
Urvashi, no stranger to the limelight with her enchanting presence and rising fame, found herself in the capable hands of McGregor, known for his formidable presence in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and forays into professional boxing. The mutual admiration between the student and the iconic combat sports figure was evident when McGregor expressed his impressions of Rautela, “The only Bollywood film person I know after Shah Rukh Khan is Urvashi Rautela. Just look at her beauty and popularity. She’s an excellent and outstanding actor and an artiste. She’s a shining example of beauty from India and I’m sure you’ll be seeing her in more Hollywood projects soon.”
Away from the boxing ring and into the film sets, Aamir Khan’s next production venture sees his son, Junaid Khan, taking the lead, currently filming in Japan. Aamir is reportedly planning a visit to Japan to check on the project’s progress after previous shoots in Mumbai. This follows Junaid’s debut in the period drama “Maharaj”.
In an era where technology continues to blend with the creative process, music maestro AR Rahman appropriately tapped into AI’s potential. His latest venture involved utilizing AI software to recreate the voices of the late singers Bamba Bakya and Shahul Hameed for a track in the superstar Rajinikanth’s movie “Lal Salaam”, crediting the artists posthumously. Emphasizing ethical practices, Rahman stated, “We took permission from their families and sent deserving remuneration for using their voice algorithms. Technology is not a threat or nuisance if we use it right.”
Adding to the infrastructure to support India’s cinematic landscape, Boney Kapoor’s company stands victorious in a bid to develop a new Film City in Noida, near the Jewar airport. With ambitions to complete the project within three years, Bhutani Group CEO Ashish Bhutani discussed the plans for an initial phase focusing on commercial facilities spread across 75 of the total 230 acres.
While some stars are building cities, others, like Shah Rukh Khan, are constructing walls of wit. Khan engaged in light-hearted social media banter with “Jawan” writer Sumit Aroraa, commenting on the length of Aroraa’s dialogues and their potential to decorate walls.
In the realm of reality TV, Abdu Rozik, the social media sensation and “Bigg Boss” alumni, shared a peek into his meeting with this season’s Bigg Boss winner Munawar Faruqui. Speculations of their “next takeover” project are rippling across their fan bases, with Rozik dubbing both himself and Faruqui as heroes of their respective territories.
Kareena Kapoor Khan’s heartfelt birthday tribute to her best friend, Amrita Arora, displayed her affection prominently across social media, proclaiming the latter her “queen of hearts” and touching on their everlasting friendship.
Maharashtra’s cultural milieu was aglow as Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recognized renowned Marathi thespian Ashok Saraf with the Maharashtra Bhushan award, the state’s highest honor. Saraf’s diverse roles over his illustrious career earned him accolades and admiration, affirming his status as a cherished icon.
Lastly, a word of caution from Salman Khan’s camp cautioned the public about fraudulent casting calls circulating in their name. The production house’s statement affirmed that Salman Khan Films is not casting at present and warned of legal action against unauthorized use of their name, thus ensuring transparency and authenticity in their interactions with aspirants and fans.
