Latest news with #OMG–OhMyGod!
India Today
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Heer Express trailer: Ashutosh Rana mentors a young chef in wholesome entertainer
The trailer of debutant actor Divita Juneja's upcoming family-drama 'Heer Express' was released on Tuesday. The film narrates the journey of an aspiring young chef who moves to United Kingdom (UK), to fulfil her trailer promises a fun ride with a blend of emotions and melodrama, indicating a wholesome family entertainer. It shows Juneja in the titular role, introduced while riding a horse. She plays a chef named Heer from Punjab, known for her cooking travels to the UK under the mentorship of Ashutosh Rana, while attempting to take Indian cuisine abroad. Earlier, the teaser of the movie had shown glimpses of Heer's emotional journey as she sets out to fulfil her mother's dream overseas. The trailer takes forward the narrative by revealing the obstacles faced by the protagonist. The film also features Pritt Kamani, Ashutosh Rana, Gulshan Grover, Sanjay Mishra, and Meghna Malik in pivotal characters. 'Heer Express' is shot across different scenic locations in the trailer here: The makers launched the trailer at a grand event. The entire star cast marked their attendance while sharing their journey from the shoot of 'Heer Express'. The family-drama is directed by Umesh Shukla. He is known for helming films such as 'Dhoondte Reh Jaaoge' (2009), 'OMG – Oh My God!' (2012), 'All Is Well' (2015), '102 Not Out' (2018) and 'Aankh Micholi' (2023).Shukla's 'OMG-Oh My God!' won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 60th National Film Awards. The film was also awarded the Best Hindi film award by Institute for Research and Documentation in Social Sciences (IRDS) at the second IRDS Hindi Film Awards for social Entertainment in association with Merry Go Round Studios and Creative Strokes Group, present 'Heer Express'. The film is co-produced by Umesh Shukla, Ashish Wagh, Mohit Chhabra, Sanjay Grover and Sampada Wagh.'Heer Express' is scheduled to release in theatres on August 8, 2025.- Ends
United News of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Sachin Parikh: From Stage Lights to Spotlight
New Delhi [India], June 26: In a world where many chase the spotlight, Sachin Parikh stands apart as an artist who let the craft guide his path. From Gujarati theatre to the big screen and now into the world of OTT, Sachin's journey has been anything but conventional — yet deeply rooted in passion, legacy, and performance. Born and raised in Mumbai, Sachin Parikh was never far from the world of performance. With a father who was an avid theatre enthusiast, storytelling ran in his blood. Though his academic path led him to a degree from Narsee Monjee College and a General LLB from Jitendra Chauhan College of Law, destiny had other plans. Even while working a regular banking job, Sachin never abandoned his first love — the stage. His initial acclaim came through Gujarati theatre, where he delivered powerful performances across countless plays for over two decades. One of the landmark moments in his theatre career was his portrayal of Krishna in Kanji vs Kanji — the play that inspired the hit Bollywood film OMG – Oh My God!, with Akshay Kumar stepping into the same role on screen. Other celebrated plays include Masala Mami, Saiyer Tu Aave To Janu, and Dikro to Wahi ni Thapan, each showcasing his natural command over stagecraft. Sachin's foray into television and cinema was a natural extension of his theatrical roots. Over the years, he's shared the screen with industry stalwarts like Aamir Khan (PK), Ajay Devgn (Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji), and Manoj Bajpayee (Aligarh). He also portrayed Brij Narain Kaul in Main Atal Hoon alongside Pankaj Tripathi — a role that brought both dignity and presence to the screen. His roles have spanned diverse genres and formats — from television serials like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, and Pushpa Impossible (where he played the beloved Manish Parikh) to web series such as Karm Yuddh, Avrodh 2, and Crackdown 2. International audiences also took note of his talent in the global series The Most Beautiful Hands of Delhi. Most recently, his portrayal of Prabhat Singh Chauhan in Vasudha on Zee TV has won him praise for its depth and emotional maturity. While Bollywood opened its doors to him with films like Bajrang Aur Ali, where he played Ali, it's his upcoming Gujarati film Vahali that has his heart. 'As a father, the script of Vahali moved me deeply,' he says. 'It speaks of the beautiful bond between a father and daughter. It's emotional, romantic, and rooted in family values — something I connect with as a parent and an artist.' Parikh's choices reflect a quiet confidence in storytelling over stardom. He gravitates toward roles that speak to him emotionally, often taking on characters with layered depth and maturity — the kind that demand more than just performance, but understanding. With The India Story — his next film alongside Shreyas Talpade and Kajal Aggarwal — on the horizon, and Vahali ready to resonate with audiences, Sachin Parikh continues to redefine what it means to be a versatile, rooted, and emotionally intelligent actor. Sachin's powerful return in front of Gujarati audiences with Vahali marks a special milestone — a comeback that feels both personal and cinematic.
Hindustan Times
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Did Vidhu Vinod Chopra bribe Umesh Shukla with ₹8 crore to not make Akshay Kumar-Paresh Rawal's OMG? Filmmaker reveals
Rajkumar Hirani and Aamir Khan's film PK was a massive hit at the box office. However, the film's concept had a striking resemblance to filmmaker, actor, and writer Umesh Shukla's OMG-Oh My God!, starring Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal, which had released just a year before. In a recent interview with Friday Talkies, the filmmaker talked about the comparisons between the two films. (Also Read: 102 director Umesh Shukla on skipping Rishi Kapoor's funeral: 'Sight of seeing the van going away was shocking') Umesh opened up about the similar concepts of the two films and said, 'I think they might've had a similar idea in mind. If PK had released before my film, people might have said that mine resembled PK. Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and writer Abhijat Joshi had all seen my play. So, when someone works on a similar subject, there's bound to be some reflection. If you're making a love story, and someone says 'I love you' in that film, well, of course they will, it's a love story.' Umesh recalled rumours about Vidhu Vinod Chopra offering him money to not make OMG and said, 'At that time, there were even rumours that Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who was part of PK, gave me ₹8 crore to not make the film. But that was just gossip, nothing like that actually happened. Wo apne aap mein itne talented log hain. Rajkumar Hirani sahab, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sahab, Aamir Khan sahab, sab log itne talented hain ki wo itni unchi harkat karte hi nahi the paisa dene ke liye. Yeh sab uḍ chali thi uss samay par, aisa kuch nahi tha (They are all incredibly talented individuals—Rajkumar Hirani sir, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir, Aamir Khan sir. They are way above doing something so petty as offering money to stop a film. These were just talks that floated around back then, but there was no truth to it).' In OMG – Oh My God!, Paresh Rawal plays an atheist who sues God after his shop is destroyed in an earthquake, leading to a courtroom drama that questions the practices of religious institutions. In PK, Aamir Khan plays an alien who loses his communication device and is forced to confront how religion shapes people's beliefs, often being misused by so-called "godmen." Both films use satire and humour to deliver strong social commentary. While OMG – Oh My God! made ₹149 crore worldwide, PK earned ₹792 crore globally. Meanwhile, Umesh's next film, Heer Express, stars Ashutosh Rana, Sanjay Mishra, Gulshan Grover, and Prit Kamani, with Divita Juneja playing the lead role. The exact release date has yet to be announced, but it is scheduled for this year.
News18
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Umesh Shukla Breaks Silence On PK Vs OMG Rumours: ‘Sab Afwayein Thi'
Last Updated: Umesh Shukla clarified that while there were conceptual similarities, the claims of being paid off by the makers of PK to shelve his own project was baseless. Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal starrer OMG – Oh My God! was widely loved by the audiences. But there was considerable buzz around its striking resemblance with Aamir Khan's PK. Now, years after the release, director Umesh Shukla has addressed long-standing rumours surrounding the two films, including speculation that he was paid off by the makers of PK to shelve his own project. In a candid interview with Friday Talkies, the director clarified that while there were conceptual similarities, the claims are baseless. He went on to say that people speak about Oh My God!'s similarities with PK, but if PK had released before my film, they might have said the opposite. 'I think they might've had a similar idea in mind. Vidhu Vinod Chopra, Rajkumar Hirani, and writer Abhijat Joshi had all seen my play. So, when someone works on a similar subject, there's bound to be some reflection. If you're making a love story and someone says 'I love you' in that film, well, of course they will, it's a love story," he added. In the same conversation, he addressed the rumours that he was offered Rs 8 crore by the PK team to not proceed with OMG. Umesh said, 'Uss time afwah thi ki PK mein Vidhu Vinod Chopra sahab jo the unhone mujhe 8 crore offer kiye the film nahi banane ke liye. Par wo sab afwayein thi. Aesa kuch hua nahi tha (At that time, there were even rumours that Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who was part of PK, gave me Rs 8 crore to not make the film. But that was just gossip, nothing like that actually happened)." He further elaborated, 'Wo apne aap mein itne talented log hai. Rajkummar Hirani sahab, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sahab, Aamir Khan sahab, sab log itne talented hainn ki wo itni unchi harkat karte hi nahi the paisa dene ke liye. Yeh sab uchli thi uss samay par aisa kuch nahi tha (They are all incredibly talented individuals—Rajkumar Hirani sir, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir, Aamir Khan sir. They are way above doing something so petty as offering money to stop a film. These were just talks that floated around back then, but there was no truth to it)." Previously, responding to the allegations, Rajkumar Hirani denied offering any money back then. He had told Deccan Chronicle, 'Please call Umesh Shukla and ask him or call Paresh. This is absurd, how can someone say something like this." Aamir Khan, who was also present during this conversation, had added, 'It's all lies…fabricated. You should be very careful about what you believe." Released in 2012, OMG – Oh My God! starred Akshay Kumar as Lord Krishna. The film struck a chord with both audiences and critics for its storyline and powerful performances. The film's successful run at the box office paved the way for a sequel, OMG 2. It was released in 2023, with Pankaj Tripathi taking on the lead role. First Published: June 14, 2025, 12:05 IST
Pink Villa
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Did PK producer Vidhu Vinod Chopra offer Rs 8 crore to stop Akshay Kumar's OMG? Director Umesh Shukla breaks silence
Akshay Kumar 's film OMG – Oh My God! became quite a hit at the box office. Also starring Paresh Rawal in the lead role, the film was highly praised by fans and critics. At that time, there were reports that the film's subject is quite similar to Aamir Khan's PK, and that the producer offered Rs 8 crore to OMG director Umesh Shukla to stop the film. Now, the filmmaker has finally broken his silence on the rumors and dismissed them. In a recent interview with Friday Talkies, OMG director Umesh Shukla said that people spoke about Oh My God's similarities with PK. Rajkumar Hirani, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and writer Abhijat Joshi had watched his play on similar subjects. Talking about similar genres, he shared that even if someone is working on a similar subject, there will naturally be some resemblance. He compared it to the romantic genre where 'I love you' is present in all the projects. Umesh further talked about Rs 8 crore rumors and shared, 'Uss time afwah thi ki PK mein Vidhu Vinod Chopra sahab jo the unhone mujhe 8 crore offer kiye the film nahi banane ke liye. Par wo sab afwayein thi. Aesa kuch hua nahi tha.' (At that time, there were rumors that Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir, who was part of PK, had offered me Rs 8 crores to not make the film. But those were just rumors. Nothing like that actually happened). He also added, 'Wo apne aap mein itne talented log hai. Rajkummar Hirani sahab, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sahab, Aamir Khan sahab, sab log itne talented hai ki wo itni unchi harkat karte hi nahi the paisa dene ke liye. Yeh sab uchli thi uss samay par aisa kuch nahi tha.' (They are all incredibly talented individuals—Rajkumar Hirani sir, Abhijat, Vidhu Vinod Chopra sir, Aamir Khan sir—they are way above doing something like that, offering money to stop a film. These were just talks that floated around back then, but there was no truth to it). Earlier, Pinkvilla exclusively reported that OMG 2 director Amit Rai is gearing up for the film Oh My Dog, which will be an adorable story about kids and dogs. A fresh star cast to be featured and even Pankaj Tripathi might have a cameo in it.
