The new poster drafted to drive awareness, depicts a child refusing to consume the medicine. It says the drug may cause “liver toxicity, serious skin adverse reactions like Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis.”
Vikramaditya Motwane’s directorial CTRL, featuring Ananya Panday in the lead role, has been released on Netflix and is making waves for all the right reasons. Recently, the director shared his thoughts on the film’s potential sequels and mentioned that he originally planned a different ending in the first draft. He explained that Nella’s vengeful ending didn’t align with the story’s flow, particularly given the constraints of the screenlife format, prompting him to make changes.
As reported by Hindustan Times, when asked about the possibility of a sequel in which Nella seeks revenge, perhaps without the screenlife format, Vikramaditya Motwane expressed doubt. He said, “Maybe. I don’t know. I don’t buy into a sequel. I think in Nella’s case, she’s doomed. She’s gone down that rabbit hole again.” Vikramaditya believes CTRL should remain a cautionary tale, rather than evolving into a revenge-driven storyline.
Vikramaditya initially explored a different ending for the film, where Nella’s journey takes a vengeful turn. In the first draft, she sets out to settle scores, but the magnitude of the adversary she faced required a choice: either stay true to the screenlife format or shift to a more traditional climax.
He shared that it became clear that incorporating such a dramatic shift wouldn’t fit naturally into the story’s structure, especially with the limitations of the format. He said, “That’s the moment we realised, why would anyone in that right mind stream this or shoot this, what would be the screenlife element? So very quickly, that went out of the window.”
From the start, the director had a clear vision for the film, aiming to make it a truly collaborative project. He credits much of the film’s authenticity to Sumukhi Suresh, who wrote the dialogues, and Ananya Panday, who brought the story to life. Recognizing his own distance from the digital-savvy world of 20-somethings, Vikramaditya was keen on not dictating how young characters should navigate the internet.
Instead, he wisely brought in the right people to ensure the film resonated with a generation that understands the digital landscape far better than he does. This collaborative spirit, according to him, shaped the film’s modern edge.
In shaping the second key character of the film, Allen—the Artificial Intelligence avatar that Nella, Ananya Panday’s character, interacts with, Vikramaditya took a different approach from the iconic AI portrayals seen in films like Her and Ex Machina. Instead of crafting a ‘boutique’ AI with a singular, artistic vision, he opted for a more relatable, mass-market creation.
Motwane revealed that Allen was designed with the mindset of what a mainstream company would release to the public—a versatile app that could manage social media, erase past mistakes, and serve as a friend, philosopher, and guide all at once. To appeal to a broader audience, Allen was given customizable personality traits, from the playful comic flirt to a science geek, allowing users to choose the type of AI they wanted. He shared that this design choice kept Allen engaging and accessible, without venturing into the high-concept AI territory of previous films.
CTRL marks the debut collaboration between director Vikramaditya Motwane and actress Ananya Panday. The film boasts a varied ensemble cast, including Vihaan Samat, Devika Vatsa, Kamakshi Bhat, Suchita Trivedi, Samit Gambhir, Ravish Desai, and Aparshakti Khurana, adding depth and diversity to the narrative. CTRL released on Netflix on October 4.
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Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of rape and sexual assault.
Garth Brooks accuses his rape accuser of extortion, citing a demand letter received before her lawsuit alleging sexual misconduct, filed on October 3.
In Brooks’s initially anonymous complaint, filed on September 13 in Mississippi and obtained by People, the singer claimed the accuser, a makeup artist who worked with him for 15 years, had encountered financial setbacks upon her 2020 move from Tennessee to Mississippi and asked him for assistance. While Brooks says he helped her with money out of loyalty and friendship, the country star alleged the accuser’s demands increased with time.
When he refused to pay her more and meet her demands for salaried employment and medical benefits, Brooks’s complaint, per the aforementioned publication, alleges that he was met with “false and outrageous allegations of sexual misconduct” in a “confidential demand letter” from her attorney on July 17. The letter, per Brooks, included fictitious assertions of “sexual grooming, the creation of a sexually hostile work environment, unwanted sexual touching, and sexual assault.”
According to Brooks, the accuser threatened to publicly file a suit against him with the same fabricated allegations unless he met her financial demands. The demand letter, per Brooks, referenced many celebrity sexual misconduct lawsuits with multi-million-dollar jury rewards to mind-twist him into obliging.
ALSO READ: Nashville Community Is Shocked After Learning About Allegations Against Garth Brooks; ‘He Literally Refers To Her As Queen…’
Brooks claims in his complaint that he received a follow-up letter from his accuser on August 23, offering to refrain from filing a suit against him in exchange for a multi-million-dollar compensation. By not complying, the accuser, according to Brooks, was aware of how filing a lawsuit publicly would affect his career and livelihood, and she attempted to exploit that information for her own gain.
The Much Too Young crooner is seeking a declaratory judgment from the court that his accuser’s allegations against him are false. He is also seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages, and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief.
In her Thursday filing, the accuser, known as Jane Roe, claimed that the inappropriate behaviors on Brooks’s end began in 2019, with one of the first abuse incidents taking place at his home while she was there on an appointment. At the time, she claims the singer walked out of his shower naked and with an erection, and forced her to touch his genitals. Later the same year, Roe, in her complaint, claims she was physically dominated and raped by him while employed for an event.
During her time working for the That Summer performer, Roe claims she experienced the singer deliberately exposing himself in front of her and initiating talks on sexual subjects, including telling her his bedroom fantasies. She also claims to have received explicit messages from him.
Roe is seeking monetary and/or compensatory damages and punitive/exemplary damages.
On Thursday, the country star denied all accusations against him, saying he was not the person she painted him to be. Of his aforementioned anonymous filing detailing her extortive intentions, Brooks said he took the legal step without naming her to protect the reputation of both parties.
If you know someone who is struggling with abuse, please reach out and report about it. There are several helplines available for the same.
ALSO READ: ‘I Really Needed This’: Garth Brooks Gets Emotional Over Returning To Vegas Stage Amid Sexual Assault Allegations