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India.com
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor who played young Amitabh Bachchan, more in demand than heroes, worked with Dilip Kumar, now a big businessman; His name is…
When Amitabh Bachchan was at the peak of his career, a child artist became very popular. He played the role of Big B's childhood in Shakti, Coolie, Amar Akbar Anthony and Mr. Natwarlal . People used to lovingly call him Chota Amitabh, but things changed in such a way that he was forced to leave Bollywood. He is a big businessman today. Did you recognise him? Who played young Amitabh Bachchan in most of the movies? If you have seen Amitabh Bachchan's popular films Amar Akbar Anthony and Coolie, then you must remember the little actor who played the role of Amitabh Bachchan's young avatar. If you see him today, you will not be able to recognise him. We are talking about Master Ravi. His career also flourished along with Big B. He won a lot of accolades by playing the role of Big B's young version in his films. Who is Master Ravi? Young Amitabh, also known as Master Ravi's real name is Ravi Valecha. He worked actively in the 1970s and 1980s, and entered the world of acting at the age of four. In addition to Amitabh Bachchan, he shared the screen with legendary actors like Dilip Kumar and Rishi Kapoor. Master Ravi made his debut in 1976 with the film Fakira, but it was the 1977 film Amar Akbar Anthony that brought him fame and took his career to new heights. Master Ravi Master Ravi was in great demand at the peak of his career, especially in films starring Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. In his golden era, he also appeared in films like 'Karz', 'Yaadon Ki Baaraat', 'Desh Premi', to name a few. Where is Master Ravi now? After his initial success in Bollywood, Ravi Valecha changed his career path. In fact, after growing up, he didn't receive the same recognition he had enjoyed as a child actor. According to News18, Master Ravi left acting and ventured into business. He completed Diploma in Hotel Management, and has a Dual Specialisation MBA (Hospitality and International Business). Today, Ravi is a prominent name in the hospitality industry. He now helps students with personality development and skill enhancement to prepare them for careers in hospitality.
Economic Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Top Bollywood star couple fought over cake mid-flight in front of Vir Das. 'He just ate my cake' recalls comedian
Synopsis Comedian Vir Das recently shared a light-hearted memory of the late Rishi Kapoor during an appearance on the Moment of Silence podcast. He recalled an incident on a flight where Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor had a playful argument in business class over a piece of cake, with Neetu reminding Rishi of his health restrictions. Moments later, Rishi left his seat, greeted Vir, and ended up eating his cake instead. Vir Das's Unexpected In-Flight Guest Took His Cake Comedian-actor Vir Das recently revisited a humorous and unexpected encounter involving late Bollywood legend Rishi Kapoor and his wife Neetu Kapoor. During a guest appearance on the Moment of Silence podcast with Sakshi Shivdasani and Naina Bhan, Vir recounted a memorable in-flight incident where the veteran couple was seen engaging in a light-hearted quarrel over a who shared a brief screen space with Rishi Kapoor in Namaste London, initially recalled how he had first met the actor during the shoot. Calling Rishi Kapoor a 'cool guy,' Vir said the veteran actor had asked for his name, greeted him with a handshake, and unexpectedly praised his acting. Vir humorously described the handshake as a moment where he felt like a heroine from one of Kapoor's iconic films, joking that all his masculine energy seemed to vanish in that after that first meeting, Vir and Rishi crossed paths again—this time on a flight. While seated at the back, Vir overheard a spirited exchange in business class. He described hearing a back-and-forth between a couple, where the woman insisted the man avoid eating cake due to health restrictions, and the man adamantly demanded it anyway. The back-and-forth escalated, with the man exclaiming his frustration about not being allowed to enjoy the dessert. Then, Rishi Kapoor suddenly stood Vir's surprise, Rishi Kapoor spotted him and immediately walked over. He left his business class seat to sit next to the comedian. As they talked, Rishi began sharing stories of his contemporaries and the early days of his career. Then, mid-conversation, he noticed Vir's untouched cake and casually asked if he planned to eat it. Before Vir could respond, Kapoor went ahead and helped himself to the dessert.'He just ate my cake,' Vir recalled on the podcast, finding the moment both hilarious and memorable. He added that if anyone could get away with such a move, it was Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, one of Bollywood's most beloved couples, were married in 1980 and remained together for four decades. Their on-screen chemistry in classics like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, and Kabhi Kabhie made them household favorites in the 1970s and '80s. Off screen, they were admired for their enduring partnership, which weathered fame, family, and Rishi's health passed away on April 30, 2020, following a two-year fight with leukemia. He had undergone treatment in New York before returning to India in 2019. Despite initial signs of recovery, his condition worsened in early 2020. His final film, Sharmaji Namkeen, was released posthumously, with Paresh Rawal
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Top Bollywood star couple fought over cake mid-flight in front of Vir Das. 'He just ate my cake' recalls comedian
Comedian-actor Vir Das recently revisited a humorous and unexpected encounter involving late Bollywood legend Rishi Kapoor and his wife Neetu Kapoor . During a guest appearance on the Moment of Silence podcast with Sakshi Shivdasani and Naina Bhan, Vir recounted a memorable in-flight incident where the veteran couple was seen engaging in a light-hearted quarrel over a dessert. Vir, who shared a brief screen space with Rishi Kapoor in Namaste London, initially recalled how he had first met the actor during the shoot. Calling Rishi Kapoor a 'cool guy,' Vir said the veteran actor had asked for his name, greeted him with a handshake, and unexpectedly praised his acting. Vir humorously described the handshake as a moment where he felt like a heroine from one of Kapoor's iconic films, joking that all his masculine energy seemed to vanish in that interaction. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Years after that first meeting, Vir and Rishi crossed paths again—this time on a flight. While seated at the back, Vir overheard a spirited exchange in business class. He described hearing a back-and-forth between a couple, where the woman insisted the man avoid eating cake due to health restrictions, and the man adamantly demanded it anyway. The back-and-forth escalated, with the man exclaiming his frustration about not being allowed to enjoy the dessert. Then, Rishi Kapoor suddenly stood up. 'You're Going to Eat That Cake?' To Vir's surprise, Rishi Kapoor spotted him and immediately walked over. He left his business class seat to sit next to the comedian. As they talked, Rishi began sharing stories of his contemporaries and the early days of his career. Then, mid-conversation, he noticed Vir's untouched cake and casually asked if he planned to eat it. Before Vir could respond, Kapoor went ahead and helped himself to the dessert. 'He just ate my cake,' Vir recalled on the podcast, finding the moment both hilarious and memorable. He added that if anyone could get away with such a move, it was Rishi Kapoor. Rishi and Neetu: Iconic On and Off Screen Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh, one of Bollywood's most beloved couples, were married in 1980 and remained together for four decades. Their on-screen chemistry in classics like Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, and Kabhi Kabhie made them household favorites in the 1970s and '80s. Off screen, they were admired for their enduring partnership, which weathered fame, family, and Rishi's health battles. Kapoor passed away on April 30, 2020, following a two-year fight with leukemia. He had undergone treatment in New York before returning to India in 2019. Despite initial signs of recovery, his condition worsened in early 2020. His final film, Sharmaji Namkeen, was released posthumously, with Paresh Rawal
Hindustan Times
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vir Das recalls Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor fighting over a piece of cake in business class: ‘Heard chikad chikad'
Comedian-actor Vir Das has fond memories of meeting late actor Rishi Kapoor, and recalled an awkward moment when he heard the actor fighting with his wife and actor Neetu Kapoor in a flight. He admits he was surprised when Rishi got up from his seat and came to sit with him. Vir Das worked with late actor Rishi Kapoor in Namaste London. Vir recalls Recently, Vir joined Sakshi Shivdasani and Naina Bhan on their podcast, Moment of Silence, where he recalled his meeting with Rishi Kapoor. He worked with Rishi in Namaste London. Vir recalled his first meeting with Rishi Kapoor, where the actor called him a "cool guy'. The comedian shared that Rishi Kapoor asked for his name, and after Vir introduced himself, Rishi Kapoor asked him to shake hands. Vir jokingly described the experience, saying that shaking hands with Rishi Kapoor made him feel like a heroine from one of his films, with all his 'masculine energy draining away'. Rishi Kapoor then praised Vir, calling him a great actor and asking him to promise to continue acting. The comedian ran into the late veteran actor five years later on a flight, and heard Neetu and Rishi fighting over a piece of cake Vir said, 'I'm in the back of a flight, and like in the front of the flight, I hear some chikad chikad happening between a couple in business class, 'You can't eat the cake.' 'I want to eat the cake.' 'You're not allowed to eat the cake. The doctor said no cake.' 'I want the bloody cake. What the f**k?' Then, Rishi Kapoor stands up.' He added, 'He's like, 'Arre, Vir.' He comes and sits down next to me, and he tells me this story. He's like you know… and he gave me this list of guys who started with him. Then at some point, he's like, 'You're going to eat your cake?' Then Rishi Kapoor ate my cake.' More about Rishi and Neetu Rishi and Neetu got married on January 22, 1980. They have two children--Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and actor Ranbir Kapoor. In the 1970s and 1980s, the couple starred in several hits together, such as Amar Akbar Anthony, Khel Khel Mein, Rafoo Chakkar, Kabhi Kabhie, Besharam, and many more, inspiring generations with both their on-screen and off-screen romance. The actor died on April 30, 2020, at the age of 67, after battling leukaemia. Rishi's final film was Sharmaji Namkeen (2022), which was released posthumously. Since he could not complete filming, Paresh Rawal stepped in to finish his portions.
Mint
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Old Indian films find revival on OTT platforms, thanks to social media, nostalgia cravings
A craving for nostalgia and the clout of social media have combined to give new life to old films. Viewership for old films on streaming platforms is surging, driven by re-releases in theatres and the emergence of content around movies and music from yesteryear on social media. This has benefitted hit Bollywood titles such as Sholay, Mughal-e-Azam, Jab We Met, Raja Hindustani and Amar Akbar Anthony. Executives said this is a mix of evolving audience behaviour, fan-led digital chatter and marketing strategies, coupled with the return of some of these films to the cinemas. Even some films that hadn't worked on their initial run have found a cult following over the years. 'A renewed interest in classic titles has definitely been observed, often sparked by what's trending online or the chatter on social media platforms," said Mohan Gopinath, head - Bollywood business, Shemaroo Entertainment Ltd, which owns a YouTube channel and streaming platform ShemarooMe. 'Fan edits, nostalgia reels, or even simple film appreciation threads have brought films from decades ago back into the conversation." Evergreen hits like Amar Akbar Anthony, Jab We Met, Dhol, Dil, and Raja Hindustani have garnered significant views month-on-month while titles like Benaam and Manzil have become audience favourites, as indicated by search trends and YouTube suggestions, Gopinath said. Some films may not have resonated with audiences at the time of their theatrical release, but with a fresher perspective and search-enabling platforms like YouTube, titles like Mann, Dil Kya Kare, Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Tango Charlie, Rishtey and Dhamaal have found a second life on digital platforms, Gopinath added. Experts emphasized that the appeal of older catalogue films lies in simpler storytelling, a gentler portrayal of life, and timeless music that continues to resonate long after a film's release. Many find this familiarity and comfort refreshing compared to the over-stimulated content landscape today. Universal appeal Films with universal appeal find new audiences across generations, attracting not just nostalgic viewers but also youngsters discovering them afresh. Referring to nostalgia as not just a mood but a movement, producer and director Hemal A Thakkar said streaming platforms also tailor algorithms and throw up recommendations depending on audience sentiment. For instance, viewers received suggestions of older patriotic films during Operation Sindoor, India's cross-border counterstrike following the Pahalgam terror attack. 'What we're observing today is a reaffirmation of the belief that audiences, especially from younger and regional cohorts, actively seek out older films and classics that resonate with their cultural memories and personal nostalgia. This resurgence isn't accidental – it's a mix of evolving audience behaviour, the influence of fan-led digital chatter, and our agile marketing strategy," a ZEE5 spokesperson said. The platform saw renewed interest in titles like Posham Pain October and December 2024 through influencer-led lists of must-watch psychological thrillers. Another film, Barot House, also trended alongside, sustaining gains through early 2025. 'We've also activated this strategy around actor birthdays, film anniversaries and theatrical re-releases, opportunities that consistently boost search, discovery and incremental subscription metrics. Such titles not only deliver on the nostalgia factor but continue to perform exceptionally well across both metro and regional markets," the spokesperson added. Different era The overall appeal of older Indian films compared to newly released films and shows on Indian OTT platforms can be attributed to several factors. Older films often evoke a sense of nostalgia, offering viewers comfort and familiarity. Rajat Agrawal, chief operating officer and director of Ultra Media & Entertainment Group, said many classic Indian films explore universal themes such as love, family and social issues, which remain relevant despite changing times. Older films offer a glimpse into India's rich cultural heritage, showcasing traditional values, customs, and historical events. Additionally, they feature legendary actors and actresses, boast memorable soundtracks and cinematography, which have stood the test of time. Older films provide a means of escapism, allowing viewers to temporarily forget their current challenges and immerse themselves in a different era, Agarwal added. Classic Indian films that have drawn viewers on OTT platforms include Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Nayakan and Chembaruthi in Tamil, Sagar in Kannada, Meghe Dhaka Tara in Bengali and Chemmeen in Malayalam, according to Agrawal, who runs YouTube channels and an OTT platform Ultra Jhakaas. 'Marquee nostalgia titles are comfort watches that people keep turning to every now and then. They usually have very high repetition rates. Adding more and more new titles is crucial for a platform's growth but at the same time, it sometimes leads to confusion. These are times when people choose an older tested title and binge on it," said Ujjwal Mahajan, co-founder of Chaupal, a platform specializing in Punjabi, Haryanvi and Bhojpuri content.
