Latest news with #IndianNationalTheatre
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Paresh Rawal's wife Swaroop Sampat once called him 'dumb' as he didn't speak to her for nearly a year: ‘If I paid attention to anyone else..'
Paresh Rawal has long been a cherished name in Hindi cinema. With a career that has spanned decades, he has delighted audiences through his brilliant comic timing as well as strong antagonist roles. Whether it's the hilarious Baburao in 'Hera Pheri' or his unforgettable performances in films like 'Andaz Apna Apna', 'Chachi 420', 'Hungama', 'Garam Masala', 'Awara Paagal Deewana', 'Ready' or 'OMG', Paresh has carved out a versatile and respected place in Bollywood. But behind all the fame is a love story that is as sweet and funny as some of his best films. It's the story of how he fell in love with actress Swaroop Sampat – and didn't speak to her for nearly a year! Love at first sight – but no words The moment Paresh Rawal saw Swaroop Sampat for the first time, he knew she was the one. It happened at an Indian National Theatre festival where Swaroop was handing out brochures in a pink saree. Her father was the chief producer at the event. Paresh was there to perform with his college friends. Swaroop recalled the moment in an earlier interview with Bollywood Bubble and shared, 'I was wearing a pink saree and I was handing out brochures. And Paresh walks in with his friend and he says, he is going to marry me. But you know he is so dumb, he didn't talk to me for nearly a year.' Yes, she called him 'dumb' for not talking to her for so long! Theatre and acting brought them closer Paresh and Swaroop both had a strong love for acting and theatre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Irish homeowners eligible for solar 'bonus' if they live in these eircodes Activ8 Learn More Undo This common interest helped them get close once they finally started talking. Swaroop had always been a big fan of Paresh's work and admired his stage performances. In a past chat with The Free Press Journal, she said that Paresh was serious from the beginning. He made it clear that he wouldn't be in a relationship unless there were plans to get married. She said,'Even during our courtship days, Paresh was the possessive one. He would not like it if I paid attention to anyone else. But now, after many years of knowing each other, he is relatively chilled out.' A long wait before tying the knot Paresh and Swaroop's love story began in the 1970s, but they didn't get married until 1987. They dated for 12 years before finally tying the knot. The reason for this long wait was quite simple – Paresh wanted to focus on building his career before getting married. Swaroop, on the other hand, had her own clear views. She didn't want to elope with Paresh, as she was the only daughter in her family, born after many years. For her, marriage had to happen with her parents' blessings and at the right time. Once Paresh's career was stable and both of them were ready, they had an intimate wedding in 1987. After their marriage, Paresh and Swaroop welcomed two sons – Aditya Rawal and Aniruddh Rawal Akshay Kumar Hints at Paresh Rawal's Return to Hera Pheri 3: 'Fingers Crossed'
India.com
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet actor who faced financial struggles after giving blockbuster, worked as Salman Khan's ‘servant', earned Rs 50, now a top star, net worth is Rs…
This actor, who was born in Mumbai, started acting from the age of 12. Like many outsiders, he used to work on stage for commercial programs. As a backstage artist, he used to earn Rs 50 per role. While completing his education in BCA (Bachelor's in Computer Applications), the actor got an award for Best Actor at the Indian National Theatre. Though he worked with Salman Khan in Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun ! and Shah Rukh Khan in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani and One 2 Ka 4, he faced a lot of financial struggles. He was without work for a year, and that's when he joined the television industry and came in shows like Kabhi Yeh Kabhi Who, Daal Mein Kala, Kora Kagaz, Rishtey – The Love Stories , Malini Iyer , to name a few. After 12 years in TV, he was offered the role of Jethalal in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah , and that's when he became a household name. We are talking about none other than actor Dilip Joshi. Do you know the 57-year-old actor played the role of Salman Khan's house servant in his debut movie Maine Pyar Kiya as Ramlal? When Dilip Joshi faced struggles Dilip Joshi once said in his old interview that even giving hits working with Salman, Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar, he didn't have money. He used to earn Rs 400-450 per show for a long time. Though Joshi worked with several big stars, but it was Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah that transformed his career. Today, Dilip Joshi is every comedy lover's favourite character. Now, he charges Rs 1.5 lakh per episode and has a net worth of Rs 42 crore, as per the reports. He is one of the highest-paid actors in the television industry. Joshi has been a part of TMKOC for over 17 years. The actor has also been apart of movies like Khiladi 420, Humraaz, Dil Hai Tumhara, Firaaq, What's Your Raashee? and Yash.
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Around Town: Once a haven for artists like M F Husain and F N Souza, now a famed thali spot — Chetana's legacy began before Independence
Now a Mumbai landmark, Chetana, a dining spot popular for its Gujarati and Rajasthani thalis in the Kala Ghoda precinct, began as a hub of intellectual discourse. In the pre-Independence era, a young Sudhakar Dikshit, a journalist and writer, came to Mumbai and took over a cultural centre that was running into the red. He transformed it into a vibrant gathering space for intellectuals, frequented by the founder of the Indian National Theatre, Damu Jhaveri, legendary musician Ustad Allauddin Khan, and pre-eminent writers such as Pt Dinkar, Dharamvir Bharti, and Mulk Raj Anand, among others. 'Chetana was established in 1946. He took on lease about 2,500 sq ft — slightly bigger than the current space — and turned one part into a book centre and another into a chess corner with a café serving snacks and coffee,' shared Dikshit's grandson Kavi Arya, director of Chetana and a professor at IIT Bombay. 'It was almost like a salon that hosted book and play readings, and also ran a chess club. Back in those days, Raja Sir Maharaj Singh, the first Indian Governor of Bombay, could be seen here every Friday, engaged in a game of chess.' A photograph of industrialist J R D Tata browsing at the Chetana Book Centre still exists — a quiet reminder of the personalities it drew. Its chatai-clad walls, which now feature artworks by Mumbai-based contemporary artist Naren Panchal, were perhaps the first canvas for artists like M F Husain, K H Ara, F N Souza, and S H Raza. 'Chetana was one of the nuclei of the modern art movement — it is where the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group would hold their meetings. Their gatherings often included theatre doyens like Ebrahim Alkazi and Alyque Padamsee, writers such as Raja Rao, and actor Balraj Sahni. 'R K Laxman's first exhibition of cartoons was inaugurated by Justice Chagla at the gallery in 1949,' said Arya, adding that Chetana was Mumbai's first art gallery and a hub for artists before the inception of the Jehangir Art Gallery. 'Once upon a time, Anand Pai came to Chetana to publish his set of mythology books. But since they had pictures, my very religious grandfather was not on board — those books later became Amar Chitra Katha,' Arya smiled, sharing the anecdote. Today, Chetana is a well-known vegetarian restaurant offering Gujarati, Rajasthani, and Maharashtrian thalis, served fresh and hot by a team darting around the aisles with bowls of sabzis and plates of rotis glistening with ghee. The first thali, he shared, was Gujarati and it was introduced in the mid-1950s to cater to the Gujarati and Marwari crowd visiting the Bombay Stock Exchange, as well as the lawyers, journalists, and politicians who frequented the neighbourhood. The Rajasthani thali followed in the 1980s. 'Back then, people had to come physically to the building to trade, and they craved home-like food — we offered them that. Our thali now includes multiple items, including four to five sabzis, but back then, it began with five or six items: two sabzis, a bowl each of dal and kadhi, chapatis, rice, khichdi, and sweets. Our khichdi — a simple preparation of moong dal and rice with light tempering — has always enjoyed a fan base of its own,' shared Arya, who studied at Oxford before returning to India in the 1990s. 'My grandfather had taken ill and passed away in 1995. My mother, Chaaya Arya, began looking after the place. I joined Chetana in 1994. I had big plans — I wanted to reinterpret Indian culture in contemporary idioms and make Chetana an international brand. But my family got worried; it was too much of a risk, so I returned to academics and joined IIT Bombay six years later,' he said. Now 91, Chaaya Arya has been visiting the restaurant since she was a young girl and later even started an exhibition centre for arts and crafts. The book centre and the craft store are now merged and occupy a significant corner in the restaurant. She continues to look after the place and is known to visit daily — except for the previous week, when she caught a viral fever. Just as we arrived, a staff member carrying curd rice for her was hailing a taxi to her nearby home. 'She eats here regularly, and that's how we ensure the quality and consistency,' Arya told us later. Like any business, Chetana has had its share of ups and downs. Arya recalled a period when his grandfather wanted to focus solely on publishing and handed over the restaurant to a relative. 'They turned it into a Chinese restaurant — it didn't do well,' he said, estimating this to be sometime in the early 1970s. The family reclaimed the restaurant in the 1980s and brought back the thali format, and added Rajasthani thali and an à la carte menu. A decade later, they decided to renovate the entire space. 'We changed the layout, added more seating, brought in large glass windows to make it feel more expansive and airy… even restored the exterior façade,' Arya said. While the business picked up after the 1980s renovation and again in the early 2000s, the last decade has seen significant growth, courtesy of Kala Ghoda's resurrection as an art district. 'Once upon a time, this neighbourhood was filled with intellectuals. Then, for a while, it became dominated by shops selling tools, air-conditioning parts, and such. When the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival was first proposed, barely anyone from the area supported it — except us — fearing it would hurt business. Today, it's a thriving art district, home to every leading fashion designer, and that has organically brought us a new clientele — shoppers looking for a hearty meal break. The evenings have become livelier, with families stepping out for dinner,' he said. What's next for Chetana? Arya has plans. He is considering returning to the business. 'The talks are on with all stakeholders,' he shared. 'In the short term, I would like to introduce more thalis — maybe a Mangalorean thali, since my wife is from that region. I also want to add more grains and vegetables to the menu. I feel there's a demand for bespoke restaurants — they're doing well. I want to retain this space as it is, but I want Chetana to be more than just a thali brand… let's see.' Three decades later, the dream still simmers — and this time, it just might be ready to be served.
