1. Impeccable Performances: Celebs Laud ‘The Accidental PM’
Anupam Kher-Akshaye Khanna-starrer The Accidental Prime Minister is set to release on 11 January, but adulation for the actors are already flowing in from celebrities who attended special screenings of the controversial Vijay Gutte film.
Actors Anil Kapoor and director Shekhar Kapur are among people who are lauding Anupam Kher (who plays former PM Manmohan Singh) and Akshaye Khanna’s (who plays his media advisor Sanjaya Baru on whose eponymous book the film is based) performances in what they call a “must-watch” film.
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2. Chulbul Pandey Is Back: Salman to Start Filming ‘Dabangg 3’
Filming for the third instalment of action film Dabangg 3 will begin from April, confirms producer Arbaaz Khan. Mumbai Mirror quoted him as saying, “Yes, Dabangg 3 will go on the floors in April. However, we are still contemplating the locations. At this point, all that I can say is that the film features Salman Khan in the lead and will be directed by Prabhudeva.”
While some have speculated that the film will be based on the real-life story of a Noida policeman, Arbaaz has chosen to remain tight-lipped about the subject. “I have been reading a lot about Dabangg 3 on social media — some say it is a remake, some say it is inspired by a real life incident, some say it is set in Noida. At present, I would like to maintain some secrecy around it,” he told the publication.
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3. Emraan Hashmi’s ‘Cheat India’ Gets New Title After CBFC Objects
Emraan Hashmi’s upcoming film Cheat India will now be titled Why Cheat Indiaowing to objections from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Mumbai Mirror reports that according to a source close to the project, the Examining Committee has observed that the title was controversial and misleading when seen in context of the film. It referred the matter to the Revising Committee which agreed with the EC’s sentiments despite arguments from the makers that the promotional material for the film had already been in the public domain for two years.
After talks with the Board, the makers agreed to rename the film Why Cheat India after which it was cleared by the Regional Officer and given a U/A certificate. Prior to this, the team behind the film claim to have received only one cut in which they were required to blur out footage of drug use.
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4. Watch: Ranveer Singh Makes a Joke About Ranbir Kapoor & Alia Bhatt
Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt made a splash with the trailer of Gully Boy that was released on 9 January. At the trailer launch, Alia Bhatt was asked about the similarities and differences she encountered while working with Ranveer and Ranbir Kapoor, with whom she is set to share screen space in Brahmastra. She spoke about how there are quite a few similarities between the two.
“Both are superb human beings and outstanding actors. The only difference is that I'm working with him in Gully Boy and the other in Brahmastra," she said. Ranveer interjected, "Ek thoda zyada special hai, ek thoda kam."
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5. No Pressure on Us: Kangana on ‘Manikarnika’-‘Thackeray’ Clash
25 January will see the releases of two big biopics — Kangana Ranaut’s Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi and Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Thackeray, which is based on the life of the late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
Speaking at the film’s music launch, Kangana, who has co-directed the film with Krish (Radha Krishna Jagarlamudi), denied claims that she faced pressure concerning the clash in dates.
“No one has told us to shift our release date and in fact no one has approached us. It’s a big window and I think two films can easily release. There was no pressure,” she said.
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