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New Indian Express
13 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Nasser: I have a very special relationship with SS Rajamouli
There's a calculated calmness that draws you in when a prolific legend like Nasser talks. His words flow with an ease of someone who listens more but also carries the wisdom of years. In this exclusive conversation with Cinema Express about SonyLIV's Mayasabha: Rise of the Titans, his upcoming original Telugu series directed by Deva Katta and premiering on SonyLIV on August 7, Nasser talks with a quiet conviction in his voice. Firstly on whether the veteran actor is a part of SS Rajamouli's SSMB29, he (laughs) and reveals, "I was involved in an initial serious discussion about preparing actors. I am not a part of the film yet. But he may call me anytime. And I have a very special relationship with Rajamouli. We know each other from his first film. I appreciate him because he never talks to anybody about anything other than cinema. And when Rajamouli narrates a scene, that is like a story by itself."


News18
27 minutes ago
- News18
Bangladeshi model used fake Indian documents to purchase properties
Kolkata, Aug 1 (PTI) Bangladeshi model and actress Shanta Pal allegedly used fake Indian documents to jointly purchase properties in the southern part of the city along with her live-in partner, a police officer said on Friday. Pal was arrested earlier this week, with fake Indian documents like Aadhaar card, ration card. Police are verifying the details of the property transaction, the officer said. Initial probe revealed that Pal allegedly used fake documents and entered into a 'digital marriage" with the man, hailing from Andhra Pradesh. She arrived in Kolkata in 2023 from Barisal, Bangladesh, using her Bangladeshi passport. 'She brought along her friend and alleged partner, Ashraf, a resident of Andhra Pradesh, who works in the merchant navy. 'The duo rented an apartment in Park Street and later moved to Golf Green, where they began living together. Shanta reportedly kept Ashraf's passport in her possession. With the help of a local agent she allegedly forged multiple Indian identity documents, including ration card, Aadhaar card, voter ID, and PAN card," the officer said. She obtained a fake Aadhaar card, falsely claiming to be a resident of Gopalpur, Barshul in Burdwan, and later procured another under her Golf Green address. 'Using both her and Ashraf's documents, they allegedly purchased properties in Kolkata," police said. Further investigation revealed that Shanta had represented Bangladesh in the Indo-Bangla Beauty Pageant in 2016, and in 2019, she went on to become Miss Asia Global. 'Following her success in modelling, she began her acting career before eventually joining a Bangladeshi airline," he said. Police are cross-checking her professional background as part of the ongoing investigation into alleged identity fraud and property acquisition in India. In the last two years, Shanta acted in Tamil and Bengali films, and even signed an Odia film, the officer said. PTI SCH RG view comments First Published: August 01, 2025, 23:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


India Today
an hour ago
- India Today
Sudipto Sen on Best Director win at National Awards: Vindication of our 10-year struggle
Director Sudipto Sen won Best Director for 'The Kerala Story' at the 71st National Film Awards. The film sparked nationwide debate and conversation upon its release in 2023. In an exclusive chat with India Today, Sen called the honour a validation of years of research, perseverance, and public support."Naturally, I'm feeling great,' Sen said shortly after the National Awards win. "But I would have been even happier if the film had also received the principal award. Still, it's a vindication of what we set out to communicate.'advertisementStarring Adah Sharma, 'The Kerala Story' was released in 2023 and was met with both overwhelming public support and heated controversy. Despite the polarising discourse, the film went on to become a box office hit. Sen recalled how 'The Kerala Story' started as a modest project but received massive attention and appreciation post-release.'We already got our award in the form of audience blessings. Even two years after release, people are still talking about the film on social media. On OTT platforms, we were in the top 10 for nearly 35 weeks out of 70. That's the kind of love and engagement we witnessed," he film, which focused on the alleged ISIS recruitment model in India, struck a nerve among audiences despite its modest budget and limited marketing."We didn't expect it to become so big. After a decade of research and struggle, this award feels like a reward for that journey," he asked whether the National Award felt like closure following the controversies surrounding the film, Sen acknowledged the initial backlash but insisted that the narrative changed once people watched the film.'Yes, there was controversy in the beginning, but that faded as audiences realised the film wasn't about religion—it was about a very real and serious issue. ISIS's model of recruitment had impacted parts of Europe and America, and we were showing how it had roots in India too, particularly Kerala,' Sen added that 'The Kerala Story' was often mislabelled due to political sensitivities in the country, especially around the word 'Muslim'.'People assumed it was Islamophobic, but it wasn't. Once they saw it, they understood it was about terrorism—not religion. And ironically, the controversy helped us. We didn't need to spend on publicity. People organically found their personal connection to the film.'Sen began working on the project in 2012, and his collaborator from Kerala, Ambika JK, had been involved since 2010. For the director, the award isn't just recognition—it's the culmination of over a decade of hard asked if he had spoken to anyone since the news broke, Sen shared that he had just spoken to actor Adah Sharma, who played the lead has been our biggest inspiration—on and off-screen,' he he celebrated with friends and colleagues, Sen was clearly overwhelmed.'It's a happy moment. We're just grateful,' he signed Kerala Story is currently streaming on Zee5.- EndsMust Watch