Latest news with #RajaShivaji


Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Vidya Balan says she's ‘shamelessly optimistic' when people ask her to shed weight: 'There is nothing wrong with me'
Vidya Balan opened up about her deliberate decision not to rush into her next film after completing one. The actress has remained in the limelight through her humorous reels on social media and revealed that she has embraced a stress-free zone in both her personal and professional life. Vidya Balan on Being Told to Lose Weight In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter India, Vidya shared that the absence of constant visibility doesn't evoke fear or insecurity in her. Instead, she's revelling in the rare calm, enjoying her time at home and indulging in fun reels on social media. Vidya Balan recalls how people 'took jibes' at her 'dressing sense' and it 'scared' her: 'She's overweight... she's so badly dressed' 'I think I am shamelessly optimistic. I have so much self-belief. I have put myself out there at my biggest and not batted an eyelid. I've had people tell me I should work on myself, that I should shed weight. But I actually believe there is nothing wrong with me. And I think that is a great attitude because it helped me sail through. I was still playing the lead, so I don't think those kinds of insecurities have ever weighed me down,' she stated. Vidya Is Leading a Stress-Free Life 'The Dirty Picture' actress admitted that she is not feeling any stress and is thoroughly enjoying this phase of her life. She has been listening to scripts and has finalised two films, though she remained tight-lipped about the projects. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Vidya Balan's Work Front On the professional front, Vidya was last seen in 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3', alongside Kartik Aaryan and Madhuri Dixit . The film turned out to be a box-office success, grossing Rs 400 crore. She is next set to appear in 'Raja Shivaji', a historical epic directed by Riteish Deshmukh. Centred around the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the film will also feature Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Genelia D'Souza. It is slated for release on May 1, 2026.


News18
a day ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vidya Balan On Taking Break from Acting: ‘I'm Shamelessly Optimistic'
Vidya Balan is on a break, reading scripts, planning two films. Her last film, Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, was a hit. She will next appear in Raja Shivaji, releasing May 1. Vidya Balan is currently on a break from acting and she's completely at ease with it. In a recent chat with The Hollywood Reporter India, the actor spoke about taking time off and how she doesn't feel insecure about not being in the spotlight. 'For the first time in my life, I am not experiencing stress," Vidya said. 'Knowingly or unknowingly, we go through a lot of stress. I am enjoying this period. I am reading scripts, meeting people, and I have decided on two films. Unfortunately, I am not able to talk about it right now." Even though she's away from the screen, she's confident that she's on the right path. 'I think I am shamelessly optimistic. I have so much self-belief. I have put myself out there at my biggest and not batted an eyelid," she said. 'I've had people tell me I should work on myself, that I should shed weight. But I actually believe there is nothing wrong with me." She added that she never let such comments affect her. 'I was still playing the lead, so I don't think those kinds of insecurities have ever weighed me down." Vidya was last seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 (2024) alongside Kartik Aaryan and Madhuri Dixit. The film was a massive hit, earning over Rs 400 crore at the box office. Before that, she starred in Do Aur Do Pyaar with Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D'Cruz, and Sendhil Ramamurthy, which also received positive reviews. Up next, Vidya will be seen in Raja Shivaji, a historical drama directed by Riteish Deshmukh. The film, based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, also stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Genelia D'Souza and will release on May 1 next year. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Vidya confirmed, 'Yes, I just finished shooting for it. It's a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and I was amazed throughout the process." Reflecting on her experience with Riteish Deshmukh as a director, she added, 'I had previously worked with Riteish as a co-actor in Heyy Babyy (2007), and we've all seen how brilliant his comic timing is. But as a director, he completely surprised me." First Published: July 22, 2025, 20:55 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.


Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Vidya Balan says she's ‘shamelessly optimistic' amid acting break: 'Insecurity of not being seen does not weigh me down'
Vidya Balan is in no rush to return to the screen, and she's completely at peace with it. In an interview with THR India, the actor opened up about taking a step back from work and whether the thought of not being seen ever causes insecurity or panic. She also talked about exercising the luxury of choice lately, where she enjoyed being at home and having fun while making reels. Vidya Balan expressed contentment in taking a break from acting, feeling no insecurity in a new interview. (AFP) I have so much self-belief, says Vidya Balan 'I think I am shamelessly optimistic. I have so much self-belief. I have put myself out there at my biggest and not batted an eyelid. I've had people tell me I should work on myself, that I should shed weight. But I actually believe there is nothing wrong with me. And I think that is a great attitude because it helped me sail through. I was still playing the lead, so I don't think those kinds of insecurities have ever weighed me down," Vidya said. Her unshakable self-assurance has carried her through years in an industry often obsessed with appearance. And now, for the first time in years, Vidya said she is embracing a stress-free phase. "For the first time in my life, I am not experiencing stress. Knowingly or unknowingly, we go through a lot of stress. I am enjoying this period. I am reading scripts, meeting people, and I have decided on two films. Unfortunately, I am not able to talk about it right now," Vidya said. Vidya Balan's latest projects Vidya Balan was last seen in the 2024 blockbuster Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, where she starred alongside Kartik Aaryan and Madhuri Dixit. The film marked her much-anticipated return to the popular franchise and went on to earn over ₹400 crore at the box office. Prior to that, she received widespread critical acclaim for her role in the romantic comedy Do Aur Do Pyaar, co-starring Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D'Cruz, and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Vidya will next appear in Ritiesh Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji, a historical drama about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's life. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, and Genelia D'Souza and is set to hit the theatres on 1 May next year.


News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Vidya Balan On Working With Riteish Deshmukh: ‘Felt Incredibly Natural'
Vidya Balan returns with Raja Shivaji, a historical drama directed by Riteish Deshmukh, aiming for pan-India impact. After her last appearance in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Vidya Balan is gearing up for a grand return with Raja Shivaji, a historical drama based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The film marks a significant project for Balan, who is known for her powerful performances and careful script selection. Directed by Riteish Deshmukh, the film holds special importance not just for the cast, but also for Marathi cinema as it aspires to reach a pan-Indian audience. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Vidya confirmed, 'Yes, I just finished shooting for it. It's a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and I was amazed throughout the process." Reflecting on her experience with Riteish Deshmukh as a director, she added, 'I had previously worked with Riteish as a co-actor in Heyy Babyy (2007), and we've all seen how brilliant his comic timing is. But as a director, he completely surprised me." Vidya praised Deshmukh's intuitive and actor-friendly approach behind the camera, saying, 'Because he's an actor himself, his direction felt incredibly natural. It was like having a heartfelt conversation with a fellow performer rather than being told what to do. I really cherished that process." She went on to express her excitement for the project, calling it a remarkable attempt at bringing a legendary story to life. 'What they're trying to create with this film is truly special. I'm very proud to be a part of it." One of the most heartwarming aspects of the film for Vidya was her reunion with Sanjay Dutt, nearly 19 years after they last shared screen space in the cult classic Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006). Recalling their time together, she shared warmly, 'Being back on set with Sanju after all these years was just beautiful. He had been incredibly kind to me during Parineeta (2005), and although we had occasionally stayed in touch, getting to meet him again in person was emotional. I was overjoyed to hug him and say, 'Lage raho Munna Bhai! Aap jaisa koi nahi.'" According to Pinkvilla, the production of Raja Shivaji is in full swing, with the makers aiming for a grand theatrical release on May 1, 2026. The film stands out as one of the few large-scale Marathi-language projects envisioned with a pan-India appeal, both in terms of story and scale. The cast of Raja Shivaji is nothing short of star-studded. Alongside Vidya Balan and Sanjay Dutt, the ensemble includes Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Amole Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh, among others—each adding weight and depth to the film's expansive historical narrative. First Published: 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.
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First Post
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
After 'Raid 2' & 'Housefull 5' success, Riteish Deshmukh starts shooting for 'Masti 4' in London
Apart from Masti, Riteish will also be seen in 'Dhamaal 4' and 'Raja Shivaji', based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which is his second directorial after massive success of VED under his home production Mumbai Film Company. read more It has only been the first half of 2025, and Riteish Deshmukh is already celebrating a phenomenal year with two back-to-back blockbusters, Raid 2 & Housefull 5, Raid 2 crossed over 250 crore worldwide. Fresh off this massive success, the versatile actor is now headed to London to begin filming the highly anticipated fourth installment of the popular Masti franchise. After the success of his two films and Heading to London for 'Masti 4' shoot, the actor said 'I believe every actor should feel fortunate to be part of a franchise or any film that extends into multiple installments as it signifies the love it received over years. I am grateful to be working on several such other projects. I think it's a source of pride for any actor to be part of a great team coming together to carry forward the franchise that's been celebrated over decades' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He further added 'It feels good when you work hard on something and then hope people will love the film, and I'm truly grateful for the kind of love audiences have showered on them.' Deshmukh's recent box office triumphs have solidified his position as a bankable star. His comic timing and dramatic prowess were both on full display in 'Housefull 5', while 'Raid 2' showcased his ability to deliver powerful performances in more serious roles. These back-to-back success underscore his wide appeal and consistent ability to draw audiences to theaters. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting his return to the rib-tickling antics of the Masti series. The franchise, known for its over-the-top comedy and ensemble cast, has garnered a loyal following over the years becoming a fan favorite. With Deshmukh's golden touch at the box office over years and with recent 2 success, expectations for Masti 4 are undoubtedly soaring. The actor has recently left for London to begin the shoot for the fourth installment of Masti, bringing another dose of laughter and entertainment to his dedicated fanbase. Apart from Masti, Riteish will also be seen in 'Dhamaal 4' and 'Raja Shivaji', based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, which is his second directorial after massive success of VED under his home production Mumbai Film Company.