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INSIDE Ananya Panday’s birthday bash: BFFs Suhana Khan, Shanaya Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and more have fun; Karan Johar says she ‘insisted’ on posting PIC

Oct 31, 2024 · 6:24 PM Blog

Ananya Panday marked her 26th birthday yesterday, October 30, 2024. The actress celebrated her special day with her friends and colleagues in the film industry. Ananya’s BFFs Suhana Khan and Shanaya Kapoor, as well as Varun Dhawan, joined the fun. Karan Johar posted a picture from the party, revealing that she ‘insisted’ on it.

Today, October 31, Ananya Panday took to Instagram to share a photo dump from her birthday celebration. In the first slide, she posed with her best friend Suhana Khan. The duo looked stunning in their bodycon dresses. Shanaya Kapoor joined them for the next photo, in which Ananya was seen making a quirky expression.

The birthday girl also flaunted her purple handbag, which was adorned with her initials, ‘AP.’ There were more pictures of the Call Me Bae star with her friends, including internet sensation Orry.

In the caption, Ananya wrote, “Birthday behaviour (kiss mark emoji).” Have a look at the post!

Earlier, Karan Johar dropped a selfie with Ananya Panday from the celebration on his Instagram Stories. He revealed, “It’s her birthday she insisted I post.. @ananyapanday (red heart emojis).” Varun Dhawan posed with Ananya holding a glass candle in his hand. He wished, “Happy bday @ananyapanday.”

Neha Dhupia and Bhumi Pednekar also posted pictures with the actress. Check out their stories!

Ananya Panday also celebrated her birthday with the paparazzi. She cut two cakes happily and distributed sweets among the paps on the occasion of her birthday as well as Diwali.

On the work front, Ananya Panday is gearing up for the release of her untitled film with Akshay Kumar and R Madhavan. As per the official announcement, the film is about the “shocking cover-up of a massacre that pushed India’s top barrister C. Sankaran Nair to fight an unprecedented battle against the British Empire.” Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, it is scheduled to release in cinemas on March 14, 2025.

Meanwhile, Ananya has begun work on the second season of her comedy drama series Call Me Bae. The first season brought in a lot of acclaim for her performance and can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

ALSO READ: Subedaar: Sonam Kapoor raises excitement as she drops intense look of ‘fauji’ Anil Kapoor for upcoming action drama; shares shooting update

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Five fascinating facts about Gladiator you may not know

Oct 31, 2024 · 6:24 PM Blog

Ridley Scott’s Gladiator (2000) remains an iconic cinematic masterpiece, celebrated for its epic storytelling and breathtaking visuals. However, the journey behind its creation holds equally captivating stories that many fans may not know. Here are five intriguing insights that showcase how Gladiator’s production was just as epic as the film itself.

Russell Crowe Wasn’t the First Choice

Interestingly, Russell Crowe was not the initial pick for Maximus. Before he landed this iconic role, actors like Mel Gibson, Hugh Jackman, and Antonio Banderas were considered. Gibson declined, Jackman was then relatively unknown, and Banderas wasn’t quite the right fit. Crowe’s powerful portrayal eventually earned him an Oscar and unforgettable acclaim.

CGI Helped Complete Oliver Reed’s Role

Actor Oliver Reed, who played Proximo, passed away mid-production. Instead of rewriting, Ridley Scott used CGI with a body double to finish his scenes—one of the earliest uses of CGI for this purpose, costing 3 million dollars.

Maximus: A Fictional Hero

While Gladiator draws on real Roman elements, Maximus is entirely fictional, inspired by various historical figures. This creative blend of fact and fiction adds to the film’s legendary appeal.

Real Tigers in the Arena

For added realism, the production used live Bengal tigers during Maximus’s intense arena battle. Crowe performed with these animals, separated only by a thin chain, heightening the scene’s tension.

The Iconic “Are You Not Entertained?” Was Improvised

Crowe’s famous line wasn’t scripted; he improvised it during filming. This unscripted moment captured Maximus’s intense frustration, becoming one of the film’s most memorable lines.

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Diwali 2024: 10 Bollywood films to watch with friends and family

Oct 31, 2024 · 6:24 PM Blog

The festival of Diwali is here and it is the perfect occasion to spend some quality time with your loved ones. And what better than enjoying a good film with your family? On Diwali, we have curated a list of ten Bollywood films that captures the essence of the festival of lights.

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham

Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham has one of the most iconic Diwali scenes featuring Jaya Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan where the latter’s character comes back home after a long time and the former, sensing his presence, stands at the door with a ‘pooja ki thali’. Not just that, K3G remains one of the cult classics in Indian cinema. Directed by Karan Johar, it also stars Amitabh Bachchan, Kajol, Hrithik Roshan, Fareeda Jalal and Kareena Kapoor Khan among others.

Hum Aapke Hai Koun..!

The film’s premise revolves around a wedding and shows the essence of Indian festivals really well. The Diwali scene featured in the Hum Aapke Hai Koun..! shows the birth of a baby boy.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol’s iconic romantic drama, DDLJ is a perfect watch for any occasion. It follows Raj and Simran, who meet on a trip and fall in love. However, Simran’s father wants her to marry his friend’s son. Will Raj be able to win back his love and convince her father?

Brahmastra: Part One – Shiva

This one is for the mythology and fantasy lovers. Ayan Mukherji has perfectly blended traditions with modernity in his magnum opus starring Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt. Heavily inspired by Hindu mythology, it follows Shiva, a man with pyrokinetic powers who finds out that he is a weapon or ‘astra’. His mission is to prevent Brahmastra, the strongest weapon from falling into the wrong hands.

Sholay

Two friends, Jai and Veeru follow a notorious bandit and bring him to justice after being hired by a retired policeman with an unfortunate past. Sholay remains one of the most important films in the history of Indian cinema. It featured an ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, Amjad Khan, Sanjeev Kumar and Satyen Kappu among others.

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani is a tale of love, friendship and finding oneself. It follows Naina (Deepika Padukone), a studious girl who sneaks out on a trip with her school mates and ends up falling in love with Bunny (Ranbir Kapoor). However, Bunny leaves to follow his passion and they meet after several years at their friend’s wedding. The film also stars Kalki Koechlin and Aditya Roy Kapur.

Mohabbatein

Mohabbatein is a story of love vs intolerance of love. Narayan Shankar, is the strict principal of Gurukul whose daughter commits suicide after he opposed her relationship with Raj. However, years later, Raj returns to Gurukul and encourages three students to follow their heart, much to the dismay of Narayan Shankar. It stars Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Uday Chopra, Jugal Hansraj, Jimmy Sheirgill, Shamita Shetty, Kim Sharma and Preeti Jhangiani among others.

Baghban

Baghban is a tear-jerker movie starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini in lead roles. It is also a perfect family watch as it teaches one the values of their parents and the importance of having a good family. The film also stars Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhry, Aman Verma, Samir Soni and Divya Dutta among others.

Dil Dhadakne Do

Dil Dhadakne Do is a perfect mix of humour and emotions. It is a family drama, told through the lens of two siblings played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Ranveer Singh. It follows the story of a dysfunctional family who invite their friends on a cruise trip. During the trip, the family goes through a turmoil when they are faced with difficult truths.

Golmaal: Fun Unlimited

Golmaal remains one of the most hilarious film franchise in Bollywood. Watch it for its old school humour, coupled with a great cast which has perfect comic timing. It stars Ajay Devgn, Tusshar Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Sharman Joshi, Rimi Sen, Paresh Rawal, Mukesh Tiwari and Sushmita Mukherjee among others.

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