Latest news with #Dhoka
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Should men on screen hide their chest hair?
Are you appalled by the sight of male chest hair? You may not be, but actor Atiqa Odho certainly is — and the Dhoka actor is not shy about expressing her withering views on the subject. "Wear disco jackets if you must, but please do not have undone buttons all the way down so you can show off your chest hair," pleaded Atiqa during a recent appearance on a local talk show during a conversation on the double standards of men and women are subjected to on screen with regards to modesty with their clothing. "I just get so put off when I see men with hairy chests. You can wax it off! I can take you to a salon!" In case any men taking notes had missed the point, the scathing screen veteran reiterated, "If you must have your buttons undone all the way down, please get it all waxed, because hairy chests are a complete put-off." For those still left in suspense about Atiqa's true feelings, she concluded, "It's yuck." Atiqa's comments came in the wake of actor Ali Raza flaunting an unbuttoned shirt in drama serial Dastak, with a full chest of hair on display. Atiqa's definitive verdict vis a vis male body hair and its relative visibility predictably sparked a discussion amongst fans online. "I don't understand why men in Pakistani dramas often have their shirts unbuttoned halfway down," commented a user, evidently in agreement with Atiqa — although the fan did not agree with every point raised by the screen veteran. "Even if the chest is waxed, it still looks cheap." Others, however, were as critical of Atiqa as the latter was of men favouring undone buttons. The logic stands that if women should be free to wear clothing of their choice (see the 'Mera Jism Meri Marzi' movement for reference), so should men. "She needs to lower her gaze, period!" wrote one enraged commenter on Instagram. "We cannot have double standards. If men are told to lower their gazes, so should women." Echoing similar sentiments, another user wrote, "Honestly, if women stand up for their right "mera jism meri marzi", then on what basis are these remarks made for men? Waxing for men is a very personal choice and some don't even want to wax." Fans (or not, as the case may be) on Reddit were largely aligned with this criticism of Atiqa's no-holds-barred opinions. "If you don't tolerate body-shaming or age-shaming of women, extend the same towards men. I am not fan of Ali Raza, but this was an unprovoked attack and very distasteful with the way she approached the topic on air."
The Print
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Grisly Meghalaya honeymoon horror or Modi govt anniversary? TV news chased Sonam all week
A 'grisly' plot in which a 'bride doomed husband to death' ( NDTV 24×7 ) has 'shaken entire Hindustan' ( Times Now Navbharat) and dominated the news cycle after the 'Killer wife' Sonam ( India Today ) turned up at a roadside dhaba in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh on Monday—approximately 17 days after she and her husband disappeared during their honeymoon in Meghalaya. Husband Raja Raghuvanshi's body was discovered on 2 June. If that murder is a 'Honeymoon Horror' ( CNN-News 18 ) that involves ' Pati, Patni aur Woh' , then all the better. Since then, we have been treated to non-stop details of 'Love, Shaadi, Dhoka' (News 24) that involved 'mastermind' Sonam or her boyfriend Raj (ABP News) and 'supari' killers. So many elements to a diabolical murder plot are just too irresistible – and television news channels didn't resist: They ignored even Prime Minister Narendra Modi's completion of his 11th year in office, to chase after the alleged culprits, criss-crossing from Indore to the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya and finally, to Ghazipur. TV's favourite murder mystery The television `bahurani ki kahani' has only gotten juicier in the telling with each passing day. The 'Lapata Lady', as Times Now Navbharat chose to call Sonam, became the 'Killer Wife' (India Today) in the matter of a few hours. It unfolded to include Sonam, her husband Raja, and her alleged lover Raj, who was at least five years younger than her—or so Aaj Tak reported. Then there were the two families of the bride and bridegroom, both of whom threw open their homes to TV reporters. One Times Now reporter entered the newlyweds' bedroom where 'I love u' was written in balloons hanging on the wall. 'This is heartbreaking (for Raja's family). The same woman they had embraced as a daughter was a sinister killer,'' declared the Times Now reporter. It was really like a TV soap opera: family members of Sonam, Raja and Raj had the TV microphone thrust at them.—and agreed to speak. Reporters asked Raja's family, 'What punishment do you want for Sonam?'—by Wednesday, his mother and brother were calling for the death penalty. Sonam's father, mother, were interviewed by TV news channels, The father claimed his daughter was 'seedhi-saadhi ladki' (Aaj Tak). Raj's sister was spoken to —in between tears, she said her brother treated Sonam like a 'sister', called her 'Didi' (Zee News). Raja's mother became a barometer of how the story changed right before our eyes. On Monday, she was careful in her choice of words—she praised Sonam for being 'loving' and said the couple was happy. By Wednesday, she was saying that Sonam was capable of doing anything and that she had probably performed 'black magic' on Raja. His murder was part of a 'sacrifice', she suggested. The mother also claimed that Sonam's family was into tantra. (CNN News 18) When Sonam's brother visited Raja's mother on Wednesday, he was attacked with TV microphones and questions—it was a terrible invasion of privacy. 'Was she having an affair?', 'Who planned the murder of Raja?', 'What is Raj's relationship with Sonam?'—the questions went rat-a-tat-tat at him, ceaselessly. 'Broke all ties with her…'' he said, when he could get a word in. By Wednesday afternoon, we were being given a blow-by-blow account of what apparently happened when Raja was murdered. We were told that Sonam was not only present when Raja was murdered but also gave instructions. 'The deviant wife,' as India Today called her, had a Plan B—if the killers failed to murder her husband, she would push him off the cliff. (India TV). Delicacy is for the fainthearted. Our braveheart news channels jumped right into alleged conspiracy: TV news reported an alleged conversation between Sonam and her lover, Raj, 'Let's kill him…'', 'Make me a widow' (Times Now), 'Maar do…(kill him)' (Republic Bharat). And by Wednesday evening, TV anchors were seriously arguing over the `kundalis' of Sonam and Raja (Times Now Navbharat). Also read: TV news is always enthusiastic about a 'war'—India-Pakistan, Putin-Zelenskyy, Kannada-Tamil Tantric angle No detail of the case was too small for TV news. They turned up at Patna airport on Tuesday to watch Sonam being escorted by police on her way to Shillong—and began investigating which airline she was flying (Aaj Tak guessed Indigo) and how long the flight would take (NDTV India). 'It will be a late-night arrival,' said the NDTV India reporter. There were the alleged accounts of 'chats' in which Sonam denied her husband, 'intimacy' until they visited the temple in Meghalaya. We heard lurid details of how Sonam planned the murder before or just after '9 phere', how she contracted the killers—or did Raj contract them? It wasn't at all clear, but that didn't stop TV news from reporting it. There were stories about 'the widow's plan' (Zee News) to marry Raj after a decent interval. Another story was that Sonam's mother knew or was even involved in the murder plot. One of Raja's brothers told NDTV India that it is '100-70 per cent possible that the mother knew.' And then there was the 'tantric' angle. Republic Bharat and News 24 reported that Sonam's family believed in tantrism. Republic spoke to a jyotish, Ajay Dube, who said there was 'mangal dosh' in the horoscopes of Raja and Sonam. He added darkly that there seemed to be another woman involved in the murder. Honeymoon horror It wasn't just television news: 'Raja, Raj aur Sonam' (India TV) made a splash across daily newspapers and their news websites, too. On 10 June, The Times Of India (Delhi edition) led with it on page 1: 'Honeymoon horror: MP bride, lover got her husband killed in Meghalaya' read its main headline. On the same day, Hindustan Times also carried it on page 1, so did The Indian Express and The Hindu—the latter's report identifies Raj Kushwaha as one of the accused but doesn't mention any love angle between Sonam and him. Odd. All of them roughly recited the same sequence of events as did television news, but without the references to a 'killer wife' or 'hate story' (India Today) and other juicy descriptions of the plot and murder. The author tweets @shailajabajpai. Views are personal. (Edited by Ratan Priya)
Economic Times
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
Deepika Padukone's ex-boyfriend says '90s actress treated him 'heinously': 'She often called actors dogs'
Muzammil Ibrahim alleges mistreatment by Pooja Bhatt during his debut film 'Dhoka,' citing verbal abuse and a toxic environment. He claims Bhatt demeaned other actors and that Mahesh Bhatt, despite being supportive, couldn't prevent the emotional toll. Ibrahim also reveals a missed opportunity for a role in 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani' due to biased casting agents. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Allegations of Abuse and Unfair Treatment A Fallout Rooted in Power Games Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Missed Opportunity in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Actor Muzammil Ibrahim has been on a tell-all spree recently. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, he claimed that he was treated 'heinously' by actress Pooja Bhatt in his debut film, 'Dhoka'. He claimed that the environment on set was hostile and alleged that Pooja Bhatt, who was significantly older than him, treated him with blatant disrespect. At just 20 years old, stepping into the film industry with high hopes, he was instead met with what he described as emotionally scarring Mahesh Bhatt, the producer and creative head of the project, was reportedly encouraging and kind to Muzammil, he said that Pooja's attitude created a toxic atmosphere. According to Muzammil, she dismissed him as 'unprofessional' and allowed damaging rumors about him to spread in the press. The situation was made worse by what he described as a complete lack of empathy, considering his age and the fact that he was entering the world of cinema for the first didn't hold back when recounting his experience on the sets of Dhoka. He claimed that Pooja Bhatt was verbally aggressive and often used foul language, creating an unsettling work environment. He felt unsupported and humiliated, which eventually affected his mental health. The actor said that her behavior intensified when Mahesh Bhatt wasn't around. Although Pooja was credited as the director, Muzammil alleged that it was Mahesh Bhatt who actually called the creative shots, directing the scenes while Pooja mainly handled the music the unpleasant experience, Muzammil shared that Mahesh Bhatt later offered him roles in Raaz 2 and a film project that Soni Razdan, Mahesh's wife, intended to direct. However, he turned down both offers. The trauma from his debut left him deeply shaken—he said he couldn't bring himself to work with them again and even began experiencing nightmares due to the psychological toll it took on also shared troubling anecdotes about Pooja's attitude toward other actors. He recalled her allegedly demeaning comments about John Abraham and Dino Morea, claiming she treated them as though they were beneath her.'Pooja has told actors in the past that they are like dogs, when I tell them to sit, they should sit, if I tell them to stand they should stand. She would say this about John and Dino. Someone who has this kind of attitude about their actors, imagine what kind of a person they would be," he controlling, dismissive attitude made him question her approach to filmmaking and actor relations. Although he wanted to stand up for himself, Muzammil admitted that he feared retaliation. He believed that the influential Bhatt family had the power to manipulate media narratives and damage his Dhoka, Muzammil discussed another heartbreak in his career—the role of Avi in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, which eventually went to Aditya Roy Kapur. Muzammil said that Ayan Mukerji, the film's director, originally envisioned him for the role. He also claimed he had even recommended Deepika Padukone's name for the project, emphasizing that their personal history had no bearing on his he said things changed when casting agents got involved. According to Muzammil, they miscommunicated and acted with bias, causing a rift between him and Ayan. Despite Ayan's supposed intention to give him the script, it never reached him. Muzammil alleged that the casting agents had their own agendas and played favorites, ultimately blocking his chance to be part of what became a revelations highlight the struggles many newcomers face in the film industry—especially when caught between internal politics and the weight of powerful personalities.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Deepika Padukone's ex-boyfriend says '90s actress treated him 'heinously': 'She often called actors dogs'
Actor Muzammil Ibrahim has been on a tell-all spree recently. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, he claimed that he was treated 'heinously' by actress Pooja Bhatt in his debut film, 'Dhoka'. He claimed that the environment on set was hostile and alleged that Pooja Bhatt, who was significantly older than him, treated him with blatant disrespect. At just 20 years old, stepping into the film industry with high hopes, he was instead met with what he described as emotionally scarring behaviour. While Mahesh Bhatt, the producer and creative head of the project, was reportedly encouraging and kind to Muzammil, he said that Pooja's attitude created a toxic atmosphere. According to Muzammil, she dismissed him as 'unprofessional' and allowed damaging rumors about him to spread in the press. The situation was made worse by what he described as a complete lack of empathy, considering his age and the fact that he was entering the world of cinema for the first time. Allegations of Abuse and Unfair Treatment Muzammil didn't hold back when recounting his experience on the sets of Dhoka. He claimed that Pooja Bhatt was verbally aggressive and often used foul language, creating an unsettling work environment. He felt unsupported and humiliated, which eventually affected his mental health. The actor said that her behavior intensified when Mahesh Bhatt wasn't around. Although Pooja was credited as the director, Muzammil alleged that it was Mahesh Bhatt who actually called the creative shots, directing the scenes while Pooja mainly handled the music sequences. Despite the unpleasant experience, Muzammil shared that Mahesh Bhatt later offered him roles in Raaz 2 and a film project that Soni Razdan, Mahesh's wife, intended to direct. However, he turned down both offers. The trauma from his debut left him deeply shaken—he said he couldn't bring himself to work with them again and even began experiencing nightmares due to the psychological toll it took on him. A Fallout Rooted in Power Games Muzammil also shared troubling anecdotes about Pooja's attitude toward other actors. He recalled her allegedly demeaning comments about John Abraham and Dino Morea, claiming she treated them as though they were beneath her. 'Pooja has told actors in the past that they are like dogs, when I tell them to sit, they should sit, if I tell them to stand they should stand. She would say this about John and Dino. Someone who has this kind of attitude about their actors, imagine what kind of a person they would be," he said. This controlling, dismissive attitude made him question her approach to filmmaking and actor relations. Although he wanted to stand up for himself, Muzammil admitted that he feared retaliation. He believed that the influential Bhatt family had the power to manipulate media narratives and damage his career. Missed Opportunity in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani Beyond Dhoka, Muzammil discussed another heartbreak in his career—the role of Avi in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani , which eventually went to Aditya Roy Kapur. Muzammil said that Ayan Mukerji, the film's director, originally envisioned him for the role. He also claimed he had even recommended Deepika Padukone's name for the project, emphasizing that their personal history had no bearing on his casting. However, he said things changed when casting agents got involved. According to Muzammil, they miscommunicated and acted with bias, causing a rift between him and Ayan. Despite Ayan's supposed intention to give him the script, it never reached him. Muzammil alleged that the casting agents had their own agendas and played favorites, ultimately blocking his chance to be part of what became a blockbuster. Muzammil's revelations highlight the struggles many newcomers face in the film industry—especially when caught between internal politics and the weight of powerful personalities.
News18
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Muzammil Ibrahim Says He Had Nightmares Over Pooja Bhatt's Abuse On Set: 'I'd Pray To Allah To Save Me'
Last Updated: Actor Muzammil Ibrahim shares his traumatic experience working with Pooja Bhatt, revealing abuse and its impact on his mental health. Model-actor Muzammil Ibrahim made shocking confessions about his experience filming the 2007 movie Dhoka, claiming that working under director Pooja Bhatt left him emotionally scarred. In a new interview with Siddharth Kannan on his podcast, the actor opened up about the trauma he allegedly endured on set, revealing how it impacted his mental health. Opening up on the traumatic experience, Muzammil said, 'Pooja Bhatt had a temperament which was very difficult and disrespectful towards actors. Mahesh Bhatt used to like me a lot. But Pooja said a lot of things about me. I don't want to go into the details of it. I was very respectful towards her, but she had a very abusive nature. She was extremely abusive." The actor recalled how difficult the experience was for him. 'I went through hell during its shoot. I suffered a lot, and I was very young. I got into depression because of it. I used to have nightmares. Every morning, I would pray to Allah to save me from her." Muzammil also claimed that Mahesh Bhatt was aware of the tension on set but was unable to fully intervene. 'He would ask Pooja to not behave with me like that, but she would do it when he was not around. The crew members and even Mukesh Bhatt told me stories about Pooja's behaviour and temper." Due to the experience, Muzammil said he turned down future offers from the Bhatt camp. 'I was scared to work with the Bhatts again. Mahesh sir was very keen on casting me in Raaz 2. Even Soni Razdan pursued me for doing their films, but I refused all of them." He further shared that after the film's release, Pooja Bhatt allegedly spoke poorly about him in the press. He recalled, 'I was called names in the media and accused of being unprofessional, but I didn't respond. I feared being boycotted." Muzammil Ibrahim is best remembered for the hit remix track Pardesiya alongside Rakhi Sawant and films like Horn 'Ok' Pleassss and Will You Marry Me?. His last appearance was in the web series Special Ops. First Published:
