1. Dear Kangana Ranaut, A Gentle Reminder - You Are Not Manikarnika
Dear Kangana Ranaut,
I'm well aware of the fact that acting is not an easy job, and you have to be so involved that you often take your job home. But, honestly, while I admire your acting skills greatly and rejoice in your success as an actor, I have to ask you to please do us all, as well as your own self a favour, and cut the damn drama.
Kangana, you are no avatar of Bharat Mata. Neither are you actually Manikarnika. Please don't forget that even though you have struggled significantly to attain the position and power that you now hold and command, you lead today a very rich and a very privileged existence. You are untouchable, wealthy - the highest paid actress in Bollywood, according to your own admission - and have access to services and perks that your average Indian woman can't dream of. When you make a film, nationalist or not, you have an entire crew scampering about frantically, with your best interest at heart. And you are not the only person in the country who works hard.
If you stepped out of your van (the same one in which you claimed to have shared a meal with Justin), and really looked around, you would see hundreds of people, slogging just as hard, if not harder, on your own film set. That too sans the privilege of publicly lashing out or crying foul if their film garners flak. Point being: you are no singular, unifying representational image of the nation.
You, Kangana, may have had the country’s best interest at heart, but in making the film you were neither fighting a war, nor eradicating poverty, nor finding a cure for cancer. You were only doing one thing: your job, for which you get paid.
Thus, it is not only unfair, but highly condemnable, that you accuse people of being desh-drohi/anti-national if they dislike your film or your attitude. Do I really have to tell you that making a film like Manikarnika does not make you a torchbearer of patriotism or nationalism? The film was a commercial feature, which has also apparently made money at the box-office. You, Kangana, may have had the country's best interest at heart, but in making the film you were neither fighting a war, nor eradicating poverty, nor finding a cure for cancer. You were only doing one thing: your job, for which you get paid. And it is up to other people - regular viewers and scribes alike - to decide whether they like how you did your job or not.
You can read the full letter to Kangana Ranaut here on The Quint.
2. What Will I Watch ‘Kabir Singh’ For, Asks Vijay Deverakonda
Shahid Kapoor’s Kabir Singh might have crossed over Rs 250 crore at the Indian box-office so far but the original ‘Kabir Singh’ - Telugu actor Vijay Deverakonda is in no mood to watch the remake of his film. Kabir Singh is a remake of the Telugu film Arjun Reddy, which stars Vijay Deverakonda in the lead.
Recently at a press conference in Bengaluru for his new film Dear Comrade, Vijay Deverakonda was asked if he had watched the Hindi version of Arjun Reddy. According to a report in Cinema Express, Deverakonda said that he is not interested in watching the Bollywood version of his film. "Shahid has done that film, and he has gone through the character, and there is nothing for me to watch it again. I know the story, I have done that film, why will I watch again?” said the actor.
Apparently, the director of Arjun Reddy and its Hindi remake Kabir Singh, Sandeep Reddy Vanga has been trying to get Deverakonda to watch the film starring Shahid Kapoor, which has become a monstrous hit. “Kya Picture, kya dekhenge. I wanted the Hindi film to be a big hit, because Sandeep is my man. But unexpectedly, it became a blockbuster. Done. No more discussion there," Deverkonda said.
You can read the full story here on The Quint.
3. Video: Salman Khan’s Bottle Cap Challenge Is a Winner
Everyone from Jason Statham to Akshay Kumar has put out videos of them doing the #BottleCapChallenge. We’ve also seen some hilarious ones come from the likes of singer Mariah Carey too. With all the celebs doing their bit can Salman Khan be far behind? Bollywood’s Sultan put out his version of the #BattleCapChallenge on Sunday.
It looks like the bhai was working out at his gym and decided to do something constructive during his break. Salman posted the video on Twitter and also added a PSA message to it, asking his fans and followers to save water.
Check out Salman’s #BottleCapChallenge below:
4. Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Prabhas Box-Office Clash on 15 August
The big box-office face-off this 15 August is going to be between Akshay Kumar, John Abraham and Prabhas. The three actors are going to compete for screens and audience attention with the release of their films Mission Mangal, Batla House and Saaho respectively. Though Mission Mangal also features big names such as Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu and Sonakshi Sinha, one can make out from the poster of the film that it’s being marketed on Akshay’s star power.
Over the years, Akshay’s films such as Gold, Toilet: EK Prem Katha and Rustom have all released around 15 August or Independence Day celebrations and each of these films have turned out to be super hits. While traditionally, the release date of 15 August has always been an Akshay Kumar favourite, this year he will face some heat from John Abraham. Mission Mangal has everything going for it - big stars, a patriotic high based on India’s Mars mission, a background score of Vande Mataram - typical Independence Day fare that’s been working at the box-office
If you remember last year, John Abraham’s Satyamev Jayate released on 15 August and went on to become a sleeper hit, so the makers of Batla House are hoping to repeat that success.
John Abraham-starrer Batla House directed by Nikkhil Advani, is inspired by the controversial Batla House operation conducted by the Delhi Police in 2008. Mission Mangal may not find many takers in the mass market and that’s probably where Batla House will score. The trailer of Batla House promises the usual mainstream fare - action, punch dialogues, item songs - all of this wrapped with the “based on real events” tag, which as we have seen helps get more footfalls.
You can read the full story here on The Quint.
5. Katrina Kaif Says You Need Nerves of Steel to Survive In Bollywood
After 16 years of surviving the Bollywood grind grinding with more hits than misses, actress Katrina Kaif, says one needs to have nerves of steel to be in the glitzy world of Hindi cinema. "It's not always easy. You need to have nerves of steel to be in the film industry. It's an unpredictable place and no one can guarantee success. I believe in not taking success to your head, or failure to your heart," Katrina told IANS.
She tags her 16-year run in Hindi films as a beautiful journey. "It's been wonderful, a lot of hard work but also a lot of love from the audience," she said.
The break comes after hectic months of work when Katrina gave most of her time to her last few releases --- Thugs Of Hindostan with Aamir Khan, Zero with Shah Rukh Khan, and Bharat with Salman Khan. Fans loved her performances in Zero and Bharat, particularly.
Hong Kong-born British beauty Katrina, who celebrates her birthday on July 16, is currently vacationing in Mexico. Over the weekend she has been setting social media afire with holiday snapshots and videos on Instagram. On Saturday, a picture of Katrina in blue swimsuit went viral in no time.
The break comes after hectic months of work when Katrina gave most of her time to her last few releases --- Thugs Of Hindostan with Aamir Khan, Zero with Shah Rukh Khan, and Bharat with Salman Khan. Fans loved her performances in Zero and Bharat, particularly.
Considering her next release is Sooryavanshi opposite Akshay Kumar, it would seem like she has become the staple choice primarily of the senior superstars in the industry. "I don't really analyse things that much. I prefer looking ahead rather than dissecting the past and believe the best is yet to come," she said.
You can read the full story here on The Quint.