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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘System is so cruel': OMG 2 director disappointed after his Shahid Kapoor film on Shivaji gets shelved, wonders if his ‘Rs 180 cr film was not enough' proof
Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava has been the biggest Hindi hit of the year so far and until Saiyaara came along, it seemed like Chhaava's throne might remain untouched. While that is yet to be determined, another film based on the life of another Maratha king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has been shelved. Amit Rai, of OMG 2 fame, was going to direct the film and Shahid Kapoor was attached to the project. Amit blamed the 'cruel system' for his film getting shelved and said that despite his last film doing really well, his hard work of five years has been destroyed. In a chat with Mid-day, Amit said, 'The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a R180 crore film [OMG 2], it's not enough.' Amit did not explain why his project was shelved but expressed his disappointment with the systemic problems of the film industry. 'How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management? You live with a story for five years, and within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager, pointing out what is wrong and what is right in the film,' he said. Exclusive | Salman Khan's Bigg Boss 19 fees revealed, actor to charge between Rs 120-150 crores for three months In 2024, it was reported that Amit's film would be produced by Telugu film producer Dil Raju, and Shahid was already attached to the project. At the time, he was also going to star in Ashwatthama, which was later put on hold due to budget constraints. A post shared by Riteish Deshmukh (@riteishd) Meanwhile, Riteish Deshmukh has already announced his film, Raja Shivaji, based on the life of Shivaji. Riteish is directing the film and will also play the lead role here. The film also stars Abhishek Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Amole Gupte, and Genelia Deshmukh.
News18
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Shahid Kapoor's Chhatrapati Shivaji Biopic Shelved, Confirms Director Amit Rai
Last Updated: Director Amit Rai, best known for OMG 2, confirmed the news in a recent interview with Mid-Day. Shahid Kapoor's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has been officially shelved. Director Amit Rai, best known for OMG 2, confirmed the news in a recent interview with Mid-Day. He also expressed his frustration with the film industry's systemic issues. In an interview with Mid-Day, director Amit Rai said, 'The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a R180 crore film [OMG 2], it's not enough. How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management? You live with a story for five years, and within minutes, somebody writes a five-pager, pointing out what is wrong and what is right in the film." Amit also revealed that his OMG 2 actor Pankaj Tripathi is a part of his next. In fact, Akshay Kumar, too, had expressed interest in doing it. He praised the two actors for being 'generous'. 'An actor will only do what's working at the box office. Very few actors were honest to me. Sometimes, they weren't interested in being part of a film that's speaking the truth about society, and instead wanted to do a love story," he added. Shahid Kapoor is currently busy with the shoot of Vishal Bhardwaj's next. A high-voltage box office clash is likely to happen at box office in December this year. The makers of Shahid Kapoor's next has reportedly decided to stick to the original release date of the upcoming film, despite major competition from Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar and Prabhas' much-anticipated The Raja Saab. There is no intention of altering the film's release, setting the stage for a massive three-way showdown. Times Now has quoted Bollywood Hungama report which mentions that there is no change in release date of Shahid Kapoor's next. The portal reported a source close to the development as saying, 'It was the makers of Shahid Kapoor's next that took the December 5 slot first. The filming is going on at a steady pace and the film has shaped up well. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala is confident of the product and doesn't feel the need to move from the date that he was the first one to reserve." But still an official confirmation is awaited. First Published: July 23, 2025, 11:17 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
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Shahid Kapoor's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic gets shelved; director Amit Rai slams the system, calls it ‘cruel'
Bollywood has seen several biopics and historical dramas, and is known to embrace the genre with utmost love, respect, and caution. Thus, when the reports of Amit Rai making a biopic on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj came out, cinema and history lovers couldn't keep calm. This film was supposed to star Shahid Kapoor in the role of the Marathi warrior. However, according to the latest reports, the movie will not see the day's light. Shahid Kapoor's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic gets shelved Yes, you read that right! The Shahid Kapoor starrer and Amit Rai directorial Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj biopic has been shelved. The director has confirmed the news that one of his most ambitious projects will not be released, according to Mid-Day. Speaking to the same portal on the matter, Amit revealed, "The system is so cruel. Even if you have proved your mettle with a R180 crore film [OMG 2], it's not enough. How is a director supposed to work here, under these systems of casting, production, star, and management?' He expressed his frustration by adding that an artist lives with a story for five years, and all it takes for someone is just 5 minutes to write a five-pager and pointing out 'what is wrong and what is right in the film." He continued, 'An actor will only do what's working at the box office. Very few actors were honest with me. Sometimes, they weren't interested in being part of a film that's speaking the truth about society, and instead wanted to do a love story," he added. Amit Rai to produce his next movie himself Reportedly, now Amit has decided to produce his next project himself. Hungarian cinematographer Máté Herba and popular action and motion-capture specialist Isaac Hamon are supporting the director in his decision to take all the charge into his hands. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo 'OMG 2' actor Pankaj Tripathi is a part of his next, revealed Amit in his interaction with the aforementioned portal. He added that Akshay had also expressed interest in the project. He appreciated both the stars for their genuine personality.
The South African
15-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Here's HOW much fraudulent ghost tokens cost ESKOM annually
Eskom has probed the illicit creation, transfer and use of ghost tokens in South Africa, and the numbers are worryingly high. Leaders say the state-owned entity needs to get on top of these illegal ghost tokens being distributed countrywide. Essentially, they allow the user free electricity, and it is costing Eskom and South African taxpayers billions annually. Electricity expert, Chris Yelland, believes these counterfeit ghost tokens cost Eskom as much as R27 billion every year. Additionally, this is over and above a recent investigation into procurement fraud at Eskom at the start of 2025. Investigators found R180 million in kickbacks for contracts at certain power stations. The state-run power utility absorbs the cost of ghost tokens three-fold. Image: File For those who are unaware, Eskom ghost tokens are created through unauthorised access to Eskom's Online Vending System (OVS). The aforementioned requires direct collusion with corrupt Eskom insiders. It has been reported that Eskom insiders have compromised the OVS to create and sell fraudulent ghost tokens. They are able to gain unauthorised access to the system and generate legitimate tokens. These are then sold to both suspecting and unsuspecting customers, often at a wildly discounted rate. Worse still, the money goes directly to the fraudsters … A lack of revenue, producing electricity for free and then redirecting resources to combat the scourge has seen prices increase 450% in two decades. Image: File Furthermore, because these ghost tokens are not tied to any legitimate transaction, the revenue generated does not go back to Eskom. Essentially, this doubles the overall revenue loss for government and ensures that ghost tokens are not a victimless crime. Plus, the state-owned entities efforts to address the constant breaches diverts critical resources away from keeping the lights on. Yellend further explains, in low-income areas like Soweto, as much as 80% of the electricity delivered by Eskom is not paid for. Municipal arrears from this persistent non-payment now exceeds R100 billion. The power utility needs to make this shortfall up somehow, often with the only recourse being increased tariffs for paying customers. Between 2007 and 2025, the cost of electricity has risen 450%. Free electricity is available to qualifying households, but the uptake is dropping each year. Image: File Meanwhile, Stats SA has revealed some telling data on the decline of indigent households taking advantage of Free Basic Services at the same time. Between 2014 to 2024, the number of residents getting free electricity dropped from 25% to 14%. And yet, 80% of South African households – an estimated 5.4-million residents – are eligible for the service but choose not to receive it. Some households qualify for 100% subsidies, while others only qualify for less, depending on the criteria set. On average, free basic electricity and water includes 50 kWh of power and 6 000 litres of water per month. Contact your local municipality for more details in your area if you think you qualify. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
30-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
NICU bills racking up for miracle baby Ayden
Ayden van Tonder was born prematurely at 25 weeks and weighed only 850g on June 7, and has since been receiving treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Life Midmed Hospital. According to Ayden's mom, Chané Janse van Vuuren, Ayden is still too fragile to be transferred to a government hospital, despite her little boy fighting valiantly for his life. The Middelburg Observer previously reported that Ayden is receiving oxygen due to his lungs not being fully developed, as well as treatment for a hole in his heart. Chané confirmed that Ayden is doing well, but had to undergo blood transfusions on Sunday. 'His oxygen levels take a dip every time he feeds, and we were told that the blood transfusions will help pick up his oxygen levels.' Since the Observer's articles about Ayden's fight for survival, Chané and Ayden's father, Elijah van Tonder, have seen overwhelming support from the community. Without medical aid, the couple have had no choice but to pay the mounting hospital bills every week. How to help According to Chané, last week's hospital bills are still outstanding, and the couple has to pay R193 771.43 for last week, in addition to another R180 000 for this week, by Friday. The couple have started a BackaBuddy profile for Ayden to raise funds for his medical bills. Anyone wishing to donate towards Ayden's hospital fees are welcome to visit the following link: Donors are also welcome to make contributions directly to Life MidMed Hospital under the reference number: *538036. Read more here: Baby Ayden born at 25 weeks and needs help At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
