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News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'Renewed Respect, Deep Pride': Raj Kundra On Embracing Sikh Values Through 'Mehar'
Last Updated: Raj Kundra shared his transformative experience playing Karamjeet Singh in Mehar, expressing gratitude to the team and highlighting Seva, Sabhar, and Sikhi. Businessman-actor Raj Kundra has opened up about playing the role of a Sikh, Karamjeet Singh, in the upcoming film, 'Mehar." In his latest post on Instagram, Shilpa Shetty's husband said that stepping into the shoes of Karamjeet in 'Mehar" has been one of the most transformative experiences of his life. In his heartfelt post, Raj Kundra shared that his character reminded him of the values often forgotten in the rush of life—Seva, Sabhar, and Sikhi. He also expressed his gratitude to the team that made the experience possible. Sharing his first-look poster from the movie, Raj Kundra wrote, 'From Raj to Karamjeet Singh a journey I'll never forget. Stepping into the shoes of Karamjeet Singh in #Mehar has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. He's not just a character he's a man of deep emotions, unwavering love for his family, and quiet strength in the face of adversity. He reminded me of the values we sometimes forget in the rush of life Seva, Sabhar, and Sikhi. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the powerhouse team that made this possible." 'To Geeta Basra, my co-star and dear friend thank you for your grace, patience, and authenticity. Your presence brought depth and warmth to every scene we shared. @geetabasra To Divya Bhatnagar & Raghu our producers thank you for believing in this story when it was just an idea, and nurturing it with love and conviction. @divzbhatnagar @raghukhanna85 To my onscreen best friend co-star Baninder, onscreen brother in law @ashishduggal_09 & the ace poet and lyricist Sony Thulewal you are now friends for life. Thankyou for all your love and guidance during the shooting. @baninderbunny @sonythulewal." He added, 'To the entire crew from the spot boys to the DOP, every technician, costume designer, and light dada tuhada dilon shukriya. You brought life to every frame. And above all, to our captain, director Rakesh Mehta @ thank you pahji for seeing Raj and creating Karamjeet. You didn't just direct a film you helped me discover a side of myself I didn't know existed. Your vision and sensitivity gave birth to a character I will carry with me forever." The post further read, 'This film gave me more than a role it gave me a renewed respect and pride in the Sikh way of life. The values, the simplicity, the strength… they've left a mark on my soul. #Mehar is not just a film. It's a blessing. Waheguru Mehar Kare With Love; Gratitude Raj Kundra." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raj Kundra (@onlyrajkundra) The upcoming Punjabi film 'Mehar" is directed by filmmaker Rakesh Mehta and also stars Geeta Basra, Master Agamveer Singh, Baninder Bunny, Savita Bhatti, Rupinder Rupi, Deep Mandeep, Ashish Duggal, Hobby Dhaliwal, Tarsem Paul, and Kulvir Sony. The movie is slated to hit theatres on September 5, 2025. First Published: July 27, 2025, 13:30 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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Purulia girl's tale on Mumbai migrants in competition at Venice film fest
1 2 3 Kolkata: A Purulia girl's film about two migrant women in Mumbai, whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined, is in competition with 18 other feature films in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anuparna Roy's 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set in Mumbai, is inspired by the story of her childhood friend from Monpura village in Bengal. The Hindi film, filmed by a cinematographer from Bengal, is competing with Teona Strugar Mitevska's film on Mother Teresa. Roy, whose first short film was shot in Purulia, is also keen showcase the Bengal where she grew up. The film's cinematographer, Debjit Samanta, is from Kolkata. "Sakyadeb Chowdhury from SRFTI is the second unit DOP. They are an integral part of my film. Though my film is set in Mumbai, my childhood experiences of Bengal form the springboard for the script. Growing up as a girl in rural and not elite Bengal, I experienced how institutions from schools to family made gender-based discrimination feel normal. In my village school, boys received books and toys. We girls received rice rations based on our body weight until fourth grade," Roy added. As a child attending Ranipur High School, Roy became friends with a girl named Jhuma Nath. "Our village, Narayanpur, was predominantly inhabited by Rajputs. I met Jhuma in Class V and quickly grew fond of her. However, everything changed when I mentioned her name to my father. The caste divisions were deeply entrenched, even within my own family. Despite being a mining engineer, my father reacted with disapproval upon hearing Jhuma's surname. He mocked me for developing a close friendship with someone from the Nath community," she recalled. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Roy was too young to protest against caste discrimination. "I couldn't understand why my father refused to accept my friendship with her. From the next day, I stopped speaking to her. Jhuma would often approach me and quietly ask why I had changed. I had no answer. Eventually, I learned that she married and would never return to school. My intention was to make a documentary about searching for her, but my proposal was not approved by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)," she said. For the feature film, Roy developed the concept further. The protagonist is a sex worker and wannabe actor in Mumbai whose sugar daddy provides her with an apartment. She sublets the living room to another migrant woman from north India. "My protagonist clings to memories of a lost girl from her childhood. The memories she shares are drawn from my own recollections of Jhuma. In the film, I use the metaphor of the Hollong tree from Assam, often referred to as the forgotten tree. In the story, it symbolises the girl my protagonist has lost," Roy explained, who worked in the corporate sector while writing this film. The film also explores the platonic relationship the two migrant women share. "It also shows how these two women are stuck in the same routine of a straight, male-dominated society. They are not able to express their true feelings for each other until they clearly see how the world around them is like a closed circle, built and controlled by men. In cinema, we women are rarely seen as we are. Instead, we are often sugar-coated through the male gaze, packaged, labelled, and filtered through imposed political, religious, and social frameworks. My film resists that. It attempts to reclaim the space where women exist not as symbols, metaphors, or vessels of ideologies but as themselves," Roy said. Roy is keen to shoot in Bengal. "My first short film, 'Run To The River', was shot in Bengal. It was made in Purulia's local dialect and won a special jury mention at the festival in Russia's Cheboksary and was at festivals in Stuttgart and London. I am keen to return to shoot in Bengal. But the language will be regional, not one used by the elite Bengali language. It will criticise the urban elite's propaganda on culture, language, and system," she said. Kolkata: A Purulia girl's film about two migrant women in Mumbai, whose lives become unexpectedly intertwined, is in competition with 18 other feature films in the Orizzonti section of the 82nd Venice International Film Festival. Anuparna Roy's 'Songs of Forgotten Trees', set in Mumbai, is inspired by the story of her childhood friend from Monpura village in Bengal. The Hindi film, filmed by a cinematographer from Bengal, is competing with Teona Strugar Mitevska's film on Mother Teresa. Roy, whose first short film was shot in Purulia, is also keen showcase the Bengal where she grew up. The film's cinematographer, Debjit Samanta, is from Kolkata. "Sakyadeb Chowdhury from SRFTI is the second unit DOP. They are an integral part of my film. Though my film is set in Mumbai, my childhood experiences of Bengal form the springboard for the script. Growing up as a girl in rural and not elite Bengal, I experienced how institutions from schools to family made gender-based discrimination feel normal. In my village school, boys received books and toys. We girls received rice rations based on our body weight until fourth grade," Roy added. As a child attending Ranipur High School, Roy became friends with a girl named Jhuma Nath. "Our village, Narayanpur, was predominantly inhabited by Rajputs. I met Jhuma in Class V and quickly grew fond of her. However, everything changed when I mentioned her name to my father. The caste divisions were deeply entrenched, even within my own family. Despite being a mining engineer, my father reacted with disapproval upon hearing Jhuma's surname. He mocked me for developing a close friendship with someone from the Nath community," she recalled. Roy was too young to protest against caste discrimination. "I couldn't understand why my father refused to accept my friendship with her. From the next day, I stopped speaking to her. Jhuma would often approach me and quietly ask why I had changed. I had no answer. Eventually, I learned that she married and would never return to school. My intention was to make a documentary about searching for her, but my proposal was not approved by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT)," she said. For the feature film, Roy developed the concept further. The protagonist is a sex worker and wannabe actor in Mumbai whose sugar daddy provides her with an apartment. She sublets the living room to another migrant woman from north India. "My protagonist clings to memories of a lost girl from her childhood. The memories she shares are drawn from my own recollections of Jhuma. In the film, I use the metaphor of the Hollong tree from Assam, often referred to as the forgotten tree. In the story, it symbolises the girl my protagonist has lost," Roy explained, who worked in the corporate sector while writing this film. The film also explores the platonic relationship the two migrant women share. "It also shows how these two women are stuck in the same routine of a straight, male-dominated society. They are not able to express their true feelings for each other until they clearly see how the world around them is like a closed circle, built and controlled by men. In cinema, we women are rarely seen as we are. Instead, we are often sugar-coated through the male gaze, packaged, labelled, and filtered through imposed political, religious, and social frameworks. My film resists that. It attempts to reclaim the space where women exist not as symbols, metaphors, or vessels of ideologies but as themselves," Roy said. Roy is keen to shoot in Bengal. "My first short film, 'Run To The River', was shot in Bengal. It was made in Purulia's local dialect and won a special jury mention at the festival in Russia's Cheboksary and was at festivals in Stuttgart and London. I am keen to return to shoot in Bengal. But the language will be regional, not one used by the elite Bengali language. It will criticise the urban elite's propaganda on culture, language, and system," she said.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Pawan Kalyan's Hari Hara Veera Mallu Becomes Highest Grosser In Single Screening In Tollywood History, Says "Deeper Purpose..."
New Delhi: Actor-politician Pawan Kalyan's first film after becoming Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister has created a new record, becoming the highest grosser in a single screening for any Tollywood hero. Pawan Kalyan said it earned over Rs 30 crore with premiere show screenings in India and overseas. "There is, however, a deeper purpose of the film beyond commercial success," the actor-politician who plays the title role of the period action film, Hari Hara Veera Mallu, said. Pawan Kalyan said the movie had a profound historical mission. The film's true success lies not in its box office numbers but in its ability to "drive home truth about Mughal" history and confront past wrongs, he said. Beyond the box office, Hari Hara Veera Mallu is far more than just a commercial venture for him, Kalyan stressed. He asserted that the film is fundamentally about "admitting wrongs of the past" and that "more than commercial success, sending the message across" was paramount. He described certain events of the past as a "historical blunder that has become a civilizational wound from the past", declaring that the film is inherently about "our civilisation and history." For Kalyan, the film "has achieved its purpose beyond the numbers", highlighting its role in initiating a crucial dialogue about India's historical narrative. "In the past, films or even our textbooks only spoke about Akbar the Great, praising the Mughals. People must know another aspect of the Mughal era too," he said. Kalyan, who humorously referred to himself as a "mistaken star," clarified that his presence at the press conference was a moral obligation to producer A.M. Ratnam, given the film's arduous journey through COVID-19 and "man-made" (political) delays. However, his core message revolved around the film's weighty themes. Fans of Pawan Kalyan and the period epic have more to anticipate, as Kalyan also confirmed the coming sequel, titled Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 2 - Battlefield (Yuddhabhoomi in Telugu)." This revelation, hinted at in the first film's climax, solidifies the franchise's ongoing exploration of the 17th-century Mughal Empire through the eyes of its fearless warrior protagonist. Kalyan indicated that feedback on the technical aspects of the first film would be incorporated to enhance the upcoming installment. Addressing the long production delays, Kalyan acknowledged his political commitments played a part but lauded director Jyothi Krishna and DOP Manoj Paramahamsa for their relentless perseverance. Regarding his remuneration, he quipped, "I'll consider my remuneration only if it's a hit," emphasising his primary concern was for the producer's investment recovery. Pawan Kalyan asked his fans not to be overly sensitive to criticism and to "handle all the negative aspects in style." He encouraged them to "enjoy their lives and not be stressed by social media comments," assuring them that he would bear the pressures. "Hari Hara Veera Mallu," a historical drama set against the backdrop of the 17th-century Mughal Empire, features Pawan Kalyan as a valiant warrior. The film, released on July 24th, opened to mixed reviews but had strong collections, particularly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Channel 4
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Channel 4
On patrol at the US border with an armed vigilante
A self-styled paramilitary patrols the US border to defend it from what he describes as a 'gang-banger' invasion. Donald Trump has launched an unprecedented crackdown on immigration in the US, with raids carried out across the country by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE. But despite a huge drop in the numbers of people making the crossing into the United States, people like Tim are still taking matters into their own hands – grabbing weapons and patrolling the boundary with Mexico on their own. We join this lone-vigilante in Arizona, as he tracks migrants and feeds information to the actual border police, while confronting good Samaritans trying to offer the most basic assistance to anyone still risking the journey to cross into America. —– Correspondent: Paul McNamara Director/DOP: Michael Downey Producer: Jeff Neumann and Vik Patel Editors: Ricardo Marcelino, Alex Micklewright and Sophie Larkin-Tanner
Mint
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Risabh Shetty wraps up shooting for Kantara Chapter 1
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 21 (ANI): Actor-filmmaker Rishab Shetty has wrapped up shooting for his much-awaited film 'Kantara Chapter 1.' The makers, Hombale Films, announced the wrap-up on Instagram with a new poster for the film. Along with the poster, they added a caption that read, "Wrap Up... The Journey Begins..." "#KantaraChapter1 has been a divine journey, deeply rooted in our culture, brought to life with unwavering dedication, relentless hard work, and incredible team spirit. Can't wait to see you all in theatres on October 2nd, as this legendary tale unfolds on the big screen worldwide..." it added. Earlier this month, the makers also shared a special birthday poster for Rishab Shetty, who turned 42. In the poster, Shetty is seen holding a battle axe and a shield, giving a glimpse of his powerful role in the film. Rishab Shetty, who also directs the film, gained wide recognition for 'Kantara,' which released in 2022 and became a pan-India success. He played the lead role in the film and also won the National Award for Best Actor. On receiving the honor, Shetty told ANI earlier, "This has been possible because of my entire team. I am just the face of the film; it is all because of their hard work. The production house, the DOP, the technicians--it's all because of them." Set in the fictional village of Dakshina Kannada, 'Kantara' followed the character of Shetty, who portrayed a Kambala champion who had a faceoff with an upright Forest Range Officer. Kantara also won the 'Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment' award. 'Kantara Chapter 1' is set to hit theatres on October 2. (ANI)
