The recently concluded 77th Cannes Film Festival was a momentous occasion for Indian cinema, with several actors and filmmakers making their presence felt on the global stage. However, not everyone was thrilled by the attendees. Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi voiced her displeasure over the growing trend of celebrities attending the prestigious event solely due to their brand connections.
Huma Qureshi, who first graced the Cannes red carpet in 2012 for her debut film “Gangs of Wasseypur,” took to social media to express her concerns. “Cannes Film Festival is a film festival where art is celebrated for art’s sake,” she wrote. The actress further added, “I really hope some of these brands/companies that spend hundreds of dollars sending people who have nothing to do with films, instead find a way to support small and independent films.” She concluded by congratulating the winners and expressing pride in the incredible women from India who brought home glory. “More power to them and to our home-grown storytellers,” she remarked.
Huma has been keeping busy with her acting career. Having recently appeared in the third season of her web series “Maharani,” she has just wrapped up filming for “Gulabi” and is now working on “Jolly LLB 3” alongside Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi.
In other news, actor Junaid Khan has been preparing for his Bollywood debut for the past four years. He landed the lead role in Yash Raj Films’ (YRF) “Maharaj,” a period drama based on the 1862 Maharaja Libel Case. The film, directed by Siddharth P Malhotra and starring Jaideep Ahlawat, Shalini Pandey, and Sharvari, wrapped up its shooting in October. Scheduled for a direct release on Netflix, “Maharaj” will debut on June 14, with an extensive marketing strategy planned, including a trailer launch on June 5. Junaid has also completed filming his second project with Siddharth and Sai Pallavi and will soon start working on a remake of the Tamil romantic comedy “Love Today” (2022) with Khushi Kapoor.
Another exciting development comes from Bipasha Basu Singh Grover, who is all set to turn author. She plans to pen a personal account detailing the instances that have shaped her life journey. Described as part memoir, part self-help, the book will recount various anecdotes, reflections, and illustrations as Bipasha shares why she chose to pursue happiness above all else. The actress mentioned that her life has been both challenging and blessed, emphasizing her conscious decision to focus on the brighter side of things. She expressed her excitement about this new chapter and praised her enterprising team at The Sunflower Seeds and LAP Ventures for helping her bring this dream to fruition.
. The book is scheduled for release next year.
In the realm of new talent, Aneet Padda from the successful series “Big Girls Don’t Cry” is poised to be the next YRF heroine. Impressed by her auditions, studio head Aditya Chopra has signed her for their upcoming production. Known for his penchant for introducing fresh faces, Chopra has signed Aneet on for a three-film contract. She will be managed by the studio’s talent division, marking one of the four debut launches planned by YRF over the next year.
The Cannes Film Festival also saw Indian talent being celebrated. Actor Anasuya Sengupta and director Payal Kapadia made the nation proud with their achievements. Anasuya won the Best Actress award in the “Un Certain Regard” segment for her performance in “The Shameless,” becoming the first Indian to secure an acting honor at Cannes. Director Payal Kapadia’s film “All We Imagine As Light” won the prestigious Grand Prix. It was the first Indian film to compete in the main competition at Cannes in 30 years, since Shaji Karun’s “Swaham.” Anasuya dedicated her award to the queer community and other marginalized groups worldwide. In her acceptance speech, Payal urged Cannes not to wait another 30 years to include Indian films in the main competition.
Additionally, celebrated filmmaker Karan Johar announced his next directorial venture on social media to mark his 52nd birthday. Sharing an image of himself holding a script with the caption, “Untitled narration draft. Directed by: Karan Johar,” he wrote, “Get, set, go!” While details are tightly guarded, fans recall Johar mentioning on his 50th birthday that he intended to make his first action movie. It remains to be seen what this new project entails, especially after his film “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’s” release was postponed from February 2023 to July 2023.
Meanwhile, Aryan Khan has completed the shoot of his directorial debut “Stardom.” The web series, set within the entertainment industry, features Lakshya, Bobby Deol, and Mona Singh in key roles. The team recently celebrated with a wrap-up party, featuring a three-tiered cake. In lighter news, after recovering from a heatstroke in Ahmedabad, Shah Rukh Khan, along with his wife Gauri and children Suhana and AbRam, flew to Chennai to support their team, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in the Indian Premier League (IPL) final against Sunrisers Hyderabad (RH).
