Actor Rishi Kapoor has died at the age of 67. Confirming the news of the veteran actor’s death

Actor Rishi Kapoor has died at 67 after a two-year battle with leukaemia. Rishi breathed his last at the Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai. His wife and actor Neetu Kapoor was by his side. “Yes, he is no more,” Rishi’s elder brother Randhir Kapoor told Hindustan Times.

A statement from the family read:

Our dear Rishi Kapoor passed away peacefully at 8:45am IST in hospital today after a two-year battle with leukemia. The doctors and medical staff at the hospital said he kept them entertained to the last.

He remained jovial and determined to live to the fullest right through two years of treatment across two continents. Family, friends, food and films remained his focus and everyone who met him during this time was amazed at how he did not let his illness get the better of him.

He was grateful for the love of his fans that poured in from the world over. In his passing, they would all understand that he would like to be remembered with a smile and not with tears.

In this hour of personal loss, we also recognise the world is going through a very difficult and troubled time. There are numerous restrictions around movement and gathering in public. We would like to request all his fans and well-wishers and friends of the family to please respect the laws that are in force.

He would not have it any other way.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “Multifaceted, endearing and lively...this was Rishi Kapoor Ji. He was a powerhouse of talent. I will always recall our interactions, even on social media. He was passionate about films and India’s progress. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and fans. Om Shanti.”

sources from: hindustan times

When 'Inferno' actor Tom Hanks said that he wants to be cool like his co-star Irrfan Khan

Irrfan Khan was one of the few Indian stars to seamlessly transition from Bollywood to Hollywood, while breaking the stereotypical barriers reserved for brown people in the West with his unconventional acting skills.
From pivotal roles in big budget tent-poles like 'Jurassic World', 'Inferno' and 'The Amazing Spider-Man' to critically acclaimed and successful crossover dramas such as 'The Namesake', 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'Life of Pi', Irrfan was India's first and biggest export to Hollywood. And he did all this without making any clamor about invading the West, and instead let his work do the talking.

He was the actor who matched the Oscar-winning Tom Hanks' on-screen thunder. He portrayed the role of the head of an enigmatic international organisation known as 'The Consortium' in 'Inferno'. While promoting the film Tom Hanks said he wants to be cool like Irrfan.

"Here's what I hate about Irrfan Khan... I always think I'm the coolest guy in the room, and everybody's hanging on to every word I say and everybody's a little intimidated to be in my presence. And then Irrfan Khan walks into the room. And he's the coolest guy in the room," Tom Hanks said about working with Irrfan.

After carving a name for himself in Hindi cinema, he has gradually established himself in the West too. But there was a time in the 1990s when Irrfan was contemplating leaving the glitzy world of showbiz.

British filmmaker Asif Kapadia's "The Warrior" in 2001 gave a much-needed fillip to his career and an exposure to the West that opened new vistas. From there on, there was no looking back.

In an interview with IANS in the past, Irrfan had shared how his move to tread the Hollywood path was initially met with criticism.

"When I entered Hollywood, most of my colleagues and industry people used to say that 'Hollywood mein kya hai', 'Taxi driver aur waiter ke role hi hote hain'. But fortunately things have changed. Now, nationality is not important," he said, going on to use his character in "Inferno" to further elaborate his point. For me in 'Inferno', nationality doesn't matter, or like in 'Jurassic World', where I played the role of Simon Masrani -- he could have been an Indian Sindhi or an Italian. So that is how things are changing. Your nationality doesn't really become a limitation," the National Award-winning star had said.

He also starred in the 2017 film "The Song Of Scorpions", and 2007 movie "A Mighty Heart", which also featured Angelina Jolie, besides the Indo-German short film "The Cloud Door" (1994).

After working on the small screen, Irrfan made his film debut with a cameo in 1988 through Mira Nair's Oscar-nominated "Salaam Bombay". The actor passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday. He was 53.

The actor, diagnosed with a neuroendocrine tumour in 2018, was still recovering from the disease after extensive treatment in London.

The actor was taking baby steps back into the acting world. He recovered well enough to complete the shoot of "Angrezi Medium", which was incidentally the last film to hit the screens in India before the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.

sources from: Tha times of india

Captain Marvel' sequel starring Brie Larson is in the works, eyeing a potential 2022 release

A year after making a billion dollars at the box office, a follow-up to ‘Captain Marvel’, featuring Oscar winner Brie Larson in the titular role, is finally taking shape. According to reports, Disney studio is in final negotiations with Megan McDonnell, a staff writer for the project.
It has been said that Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck, who co-wrote and directed the 2019 hit, will not return to helm the sequel. However, they are in talks to remain in the Marvel Universe and direct a possible series for the studio giant.

sources from: Tha times of india

Waiting continues to attract audiences.....

Naseeruddin Shah and Kalki Koechlin

The Naseeruddin Shah-Kalki Koechlin starrer 'Waiting' is not only garnering positive feedback on social media, but also attracting cinegoers for its touching story. It is about two strangers who are poles apart but become friends while Waiting for their respective spouses to receuperate. Viewers are drawing parallels between director Anu Menon's film and last year's sleeper hit 'Piku'. The unlikely pairing of Naseer-Kalki is reminiscent of Amitabh Bachchan-Deepika Padukone in Shoojit Sircar's comedy drama.

POSTED BY :- BANWARI SHARMA

sources from: Tha times of india 

Katrina - Ranbir maintain a distance on the sets of 'Jagga Jasoos'

Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor haven't looked each other in the eye ever since their alleged breakup. The 'Chikni Chameli' and Kapoor Jr have time and over avoided bumping into each other at events and B-Town parties. And as usual, the couple are reportedly maintaining a distance from each other on the sets of their forthcoming flick, 'Jagga Jasoos.' Buzz is that the couple purposely avoided taking the same flight to Morocco, where they are currently shooting for the film. They allegedly even refused to stay put in the same hotel while there. Wonder if these two will ever let bygones be bygones.

Posted by Banwari sharma

Sources from Times of india

Tusshar to shake a leg with Priyanka?

The star cast of Sanjay Gupta's 'Shootout At Wadala' is very interesting. It has Anil Kapoor, John Abraham, Sonu Sood, Ronit Roy and Tusshar Kapoor essaying important roles. As for the female lead, it is virtually Kangana Ranaut's show because she plays John's love interest. 

One small hitch here. When it comes to who from his male leads will dance, Gupta is apparently very sure he will ask Tusshar to wear his dancing shoes. That's because he is the youngest of the lot of actors and also, his is the character that Sanjay can take a few liberties with. Tusshar is said to be very excited that he may be the chosen one to shake a leg with Priyanka Chopra in one of the film's snazzy item numbers. 

The actor was unavailable for comment because his director has asked him to keep a lid on affairs till such time as the shooting happens. But nothing stays secret in the movies for long.

sources from: Tha times of india 

Working with John had everyone running to the gym: Saif

Saif Ali Khan, 42, currently sports an envious physique. Even as he admits that taking off his shirt on screen without good reason is not his forte, he is now more confident than ever about showing off his six packs. Thanking his ' Race 2' co-star John Abraham for making him fully aware of what it means to sport a lean, mean look, Saif says, "Working with John had everyone running off to the gym. Anil Kapoor, John and I spent a lot of time during the making of the film exercising together."

Saif laughs as he recalls Anil's dilemma towards the end of the film's schedule in Turkey. Says he, "Anil is older than John and me, but he was there, killing it in the gym even twice a day on occasions. When it was time for Anil to return to Mumbai, he was very depressed about eating kaali dal and rotis at home.

It is almost suicidal to eat like that when you are maintaining a good physique. I have eaten at Anil's home on a couple of occasions and I must say that they eat really well. During the making of this film, all of us felt the pressure of having a social life and going to dinner, as opposed to being lean and fit on screen." Apart from Saif, Anil and John, the movie also stars Deepika Padukone, Ameesha Patel and Jacqueline Fernandez.

Saif, who has learnt to eat just one piece of bread during meals and relish it, says, "Life takes a full turn. As I said in an earlier interview, there was a stage in my younger days when I could knock down a couple of drinks and pack in a few rotis without being too conscious. But that is now a thing of the past. I've practically quit smoking and drinking. The irony of life is that in your 20s, you pour out drinks in bars and in your 40s, you hand out diets. That is how it works. If you are on a good diet, it makes you happier, you are so much more positive. You feel light and happy. The trouble is, you may not know what to do with so much energy and positivity. Here I must borrow what Sigmund Freud said. He said, 'Nations go to war because they do not know how to handle the burden of civilisation'. It is so true. If everything is nice and healthy, then you do not know what to do."

Coming back to looking fit, Saif says, "John was truly inspiring to work with and all of us were trying to get fit as quickly as possible. People think John is the villain in Race 2. But I think he is just playing a cool role. Everyone in the film has some shades of grey-black in their roles." But it seems 'inspiration' is not the only reason that had Saif sweating it out in the gym. He says, "I also needed to match John's physical attributes, because the two of us have a hand-to-hand combat in the film. And when it comes to actually being fit, you cannot cheat."

Race 2, produced by Tips Industries Ltd and UTV Motion Pictures, releases on January 25.

sources from: Tha times of india