Latest news with #SuneelDarshan
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Director Slams Deepika Padukone's 8-Hr Workday Demand; Fatima Sana Shaikh Recalls Facing Harassment
Last Updated: Suneel Darshan said that Deepika's 8-hour work shift demand is 'unreal". Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about a deeply traumatic incident. Ever since Deepika Padukone was ousted from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit due to her requests for an eight-hour workday, it has started the debate around work-life balance in Bollywood. While many have come forward in support of the actress as of now, filmmaker Suneel Darshan has now said that Deepika's 8-hour work shift demand is 'unreal". Actress Fatima Sana Shaikh has opened up about a deeply traumatic incident where she was physically assaulted by a man she tried to confront for inappropriately touching her in public. In a recent conversation with Hauterrfly, the actress recounted the moment that changed how she responds to such situations even today. Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan Movie Review: Shanaya Kapoor's debut film is all set to hit theatres today (Friday, July 11). While everyone is excited to watch the film, early reviews suggest that the Santosh Singh directorial is a heartwarming tale. Recently, actor-turned-critic, Kuldeep Ghadvi, took to his Instagram handle and penned down a long note, reviewing the film, which also stars Vikrant Massey in the lead. Kaanta Laga star Shefali Jariwala passed away on June 27, at the age of 42. Her sudden death left her husband, Parag Tyagi, shattered, and he has been grieving the loss of his beloved wife. As a heartfelt tribute to Shefali, he has now taken a meaningful step- planting trees in her memory. He revealed that Shefali loved nature and always wanted to give back the love she had received. Aap Jaisa Koi Movie Review: What a great time for urban rom-com fans! There's Metro In Dino running in cinemas. You could do a movie triathlon with Aap Jaisa Koi and Aankhon Ki Gustaakhiyan this week. And a few days later, Param Sundari will hit the screens. What a breath of fresh air! But the one film that stands out from this lot is Aap Jaisa Koi. Why you ask? It's themed on the complex and cinematically lesser explored institution of arranged marriages, albeit through a pastel-tinted pair of lenses. First Published: July 11, 2025, 21:46 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.
Mint
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Veteran Bollywood director slams Deepika Padukone's ‘unreal' demands: ‘The producer will touch her feet if…'
Season writer-producer-director Suneel Darshan has criticised actress Deepika Padukone's demand for an 8-hour work shift. He has called it 'unreal'. In an interview with IANS, he said that producers should get written assurance that the actor would give full effort during those hours. 'I don't want to comment on Deepika Padukone. I find her terms and conditions unreal. I'm referring to the ones I heard of,' he said. Also Read | Deepika Padukone, first Indian honoured with Hollywood Walk of Fame star "The producer should first take from her in writing that, for the 8 hours she is on the set, she will be giving shots. Instead of 8 if she even gives shots for 4 hours, the producer will touch her feet in gratitude," the Barsaat director said. Darshan believes people should work with those who truly care about the film. He has also reminded everyone that no one is irreplaceable in the film industry. Also Read | Deepika Padukone expresses admiration for Brad Pitt after F1 movie release "It doesn't matter. There was a time when Deepika was new in the industry. You will be able to find several new girls. The show will go on," he said. Suneel Darshan's next release is Andaaz 2, starring newcomers Aayush Kumar, Aakaisha and Natasha Fernandez. It's a sequel to the 2003 film, Andaaz, starring Akshay Kumar. The film, produced by Suneel Darshan, marked the Bollywood debut of two beauty queens, Lara Dutta and Priyanka Chopra. What's the Deepika Padukone controversy? Deepika Padukone was first chosen to star in Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. However, she was later replaced by Triptii Dimri. Reports claim Deepika wanted an eight-hour workday, no Telugu dialogues and a share in profits. This allegedly led to a clash with the director and her subsequent exit. Vanga reacted strongly on X (formerly Twitter) without naming anybody. He said that he had felt disappointed by an actor. He accused the actor of playing dirty PR games, disrespecting a younger actress and not understanding the hard work behind filmmaking.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Priyanka Chopra's Parents 'Repaired' Her Nose, Says Suneel Darshan: 'She Wasn't Conventionally Good-Looking'
Priyanka Chopra Nose Surgery: Producer Suneel Darshan recalls advising Priyanka Chopra to fix the bridge of her nose before Andaaz shoot. Priyanka Chopra Nose Surgery: Film producer Suneel Darshan recently revealed that he told Priyanka Chopra to fix her nose before Andaaz. During a chat with Minutes of Masala, Suneel Darshan shared that he wasn't immediately impressed with Priyanka Chopra's appearance. The 2003 film also starred Lara Dutta, apart from Priyanka Chopra and Akshay Kumar, as the lead. Pankaj Dheer, Johny Lever, Maya Alagh, and others were cast in supporting characters. In the conversation, Darshan recalled noticing something he thought needed addressing. He said, 'Before I did Andaaz, I did tell her that she should do something about the bridge of her nose." He was impressed when she acted on his advice. 'She knew that that was due, and her father and her mother were such good doctors. It wasn't an issue, they got it repaired immediately." Priyanka later confirmed that the surgery was related to a sinus issue. However, she has admitted that the operation was botched, nearly derailing her Bollywood launch. Even then, Darshan knew he had something special. He observed, 'She wasn't conventionally good-looking, but she had a powerful presence and an alluring voice." He praised her determination and predicted she would make it big, despite the spotlight being on her co-stars. During an interview on Howard Stern's radio show, Priyanka Chopra recalled how she got called 'Plastic Chopra' after a surgery mishap. She explained why her nose changed drastically post-winning Miss World, describing the incident as 'horrifying.' She had difficulty breathing and opted for surgery to remove a nasal cavity polyp, thinking it was a routine procedure. Andaaz (2003) was a hit Bollywood film that helped launch the acting careers of Priyanka Chopra and Lara Dutta. Both were making their debut in the movie alongside Akshay Kumar. Directed by Raj Kanwar and produced by Suneel Darshan, the film told the story of a love triangle filled with friendship, emotions, and second chances. With its popular songs and emotional storyline, Andaaz became a favourite with audiences and played a big role in making Priyanka and Lara well-known names in the film industry. First Published: July 10, 2025, 10:35 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.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Akshay Kumar was a flop actor, he held my hand and promised to do 100 films for me': Andaaz producer says, ‘That's probably how he proposed to women'
Akshay Kumar has been going through a difficult patch in his career, but he has said on several occasions that he bounced back from a worse situation many years ago. When he was starting out, Akshay delivered a series of flops, which led the film industry to practically write him off. Some of the movies that he was working on were shelved because of his lack of bankability. It was at this time that he met with producer Suneel Darshan, who cast him in the film Jaanwar. The movie turned things around for Akshay, and there was no looking back. In an interview, Suneel said that their relationship didn't end on a positive note, and implied that the actor was 'corrupted' by other forces as he gained prominence. Chatting with Minutes of Masala, he recalled a promise that Akshay made to him after his career had gotten back on track. 'I first offered Jaanwar to Sunny Deol, but he told me the script needs more work. I thought, 'This man is lying'. Then, Ajay Devgn showed interest. But he was already a big star and very busy. The next day, Akshay called me and asked to meet. I invited him over, and it was the first time we'd formally met. He had a great reputation, and I remember thinking that he was very handsome. During that meeting, I decided to go with him for Jaanwar.' Also read – 'Told Priyanka Chopra to fix her nose immediately, she agreed it was due': Andaaz producer says cosmetic surgery is 'dangerous and risky' He continued, 'The one downside was that he'd delivered a lot of flops. So, from both the audience and the industry's perspective, he was a… In fact, several of his films had stalled midway. He was doing nothing, he was totally available. He was ready to give me 100% and I was going to extract 200% out of him.' As actors become more popular and successful, he said, a 'corruption' begins to set in. They stop interacting directly, and communicate via their teams and managers. He said, 'In fact, Akshay made a promise to me. He held my hand and told me, 'Please promise you'll do 100 films with me'. I thought to myself, 'This is how he must propose to women'. We worked together for seven years, and we did seven films together. I look back on that time with fondness, even though the end wasn't very pleasant.' In a past interview, Suneel Darshan had also implied that Akshay's wife, Twinkle Khanna, wasn't very pleased about him working with Priyanka Chopra. 'She had issues with Priyanka, I was told… I feel the profession has its own hazards. Sometimes, the proximity, sometimes the individual's own lifestyles, all these things come in the way and the media blows it out of proportion, without realising how much loss a filmmaker could suffer because of…' he told Bollywood Hungama.
India.com
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet superstar whose career was revived after Sunny Deol and Ajay Devgn rejected this film, earned three times its budget, movie was…, his name is…
In ever-shifting landscape of Bollywood casting, some films take unexpected turns before reaching the silver screen. One such project, which eventually became a notable entry in early 2000s cinema, was originally envisioned with two of the industry's top action stars. In a recent interview, the director revealed that both Sunny Deol and Ajay Devgn were approached for the lead role but exited the project at different stages. What followed was a surprising casting choice that helped shape the film's final identity. Let's see who this actor was who has now become a superstar. The Most Talented Superstar of Bollywood The actor we are talking about here is Akshay Kumar , who is currently celebrating the release of his latest movie, Housefull 5 and has starred in more than 150 films throughout his career that has lasted over three decades. Akshay Kumar made his entry into the film industry with a leading role in the 1991 film Saugandh . Throughout the years, he became a key figure in many movies; however, he struggled to attain the stardom or commercial success he desired. This all changed with the 1999 release of Jaanwar , which was directed and produced by Suneel Darshan and featured co-stars Karisma Kapoor and Shilpa Shetty alongside Akshay Kumar. However, many of you must not have known this, but for this, Akshay was not the first choice for the makers. Suneel Darshan's Revelation About Jaanwar's Casting Suneel Darshan told in a recent interview with India Today that Jaanwar was originally planned to star Sunny Deol and later Ajay Devgn , both of whom declined to participate. He said, 'Jaanwar wasn't written for Akshay. With Sunny Deol, the film was initially intended. We were almost ready to travel when we disagreed about some nasty matters. These items are still pending. So I decided to move on and find someone else.' Suneel Darshan further elaborated and said, 'Ajay and I met on a Saturday and came to an agreement on the film. We were set to finalize everything that Monday, but Sunday changed everything,' as the director received an unexpected call, 'It came from someone I had never encountered before that was Akshay Kumar. He was very eager to meet right away. I welcomed him over, and he expressed his desire to star in Jaanwar. He inquired, 'Would you think about making the film with me?'' Suneel Darshan admitted he was initially hesitant about casting Akshay Kumar, as the actor 'was experiencing the lowest point of his career' at that time. Suneel Darshan continued, 'However, I considered, 'Here's a good-looking, disciplined actor who is committed to giving 100% of himself.' He even remarked, 'Sir, I will give you 100% of myself,' and his words stayed with me.' With a production budget of Rs 4 crore , Jaanwar grossed more than Rs 12 crore at the box office, marking not only a financial triumph but also rejuvenating Akshay's career, which had been struggling with several unsuccessful films until then.
