Latest news with #Amar
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Smriti Irani has not changed a bit, she asked me tu buddha kab hoga?' says Amar Upadhyay
There's a wave of excitement sweeping across fans of Indian television as one of the most iconic shows in the history of daily soaps, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, is all set to return. The buzz is even louder this time as the original lead pair—Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay—will reprise their legendary roles as Tulsi and Mihir Virani. This also marks the highly anticipated return of Smriti to acting after years of a successful political career. The original show aired from 2000 to 2008 and became a cultural phenomenon. Now, 17 years later, viewers are eager to see how the story and characters have evolved with time. Speaking to The Times of India, Amar Upadhyay shared insights about the upcoming version of the show. He admitted that the cast and crew are feeling a bit of pressure, thanks to the enormous response the announcement has received. 'People have loved this show for so long, and now the expectations are even higher,' he said. ALSO READ | Nupur Sanon's brand faces backlash over overpriced clothing: 'The ridiculous price points…' Addressing the challenge of bridging the 17-year gap, Amar revealed that the storyline has been thoughtfully crafted to justify the return of each character. The show will focus on how relationships have matured, particularly between Tulsi and Mihir. 'The love between them has grown deeper. We've grown both as people and as actors,' Amar said. He also joked that unlike the last time when his character Mihir was killed off and brought back due to public outcry, this time, he's 'here to stay.' Amar Upadhyay also shared his excitement about working with Smriti Irani again. Despite her stature as a politican, he said she remains the same warm, witty person. Recalling a recent meeting at Ekta Kapoor's house, he said, 'She looked at me and joked, 'Tu buddha kab hoga? (When will you age?)' and I replied, 'Abhi time hai (There's time).'' According to Amar, their bond hasn't changed a bit in 25 years—it still feels like the good old days.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Amar Upadhyay reveals details about Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2: ‘Love between Mihir and Tulsi has matured'
Seventeen years after it first became a cultural phenomenon, Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is set to make a much-anticipated comeback, with Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprising their iconic roles as Tulsi and Mihir Virani. Amar Upadhyay, in a new interview, gave details about the reboot and how makers are feeling "a different kind of pressure" this time around. (Also read: Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi actor Achint Kaur asks for work on Insta: 'Life as an actor is full of peaks and pauses') In an interview with The Times of India, Amar confessed that he didn't expect the show to resonate with the current audience, given the new content out there. However, he was pleasantly surprised to learn that people of all generations are still excited about it. Giving details about the show, Amar said, 'The story justifies the return of each character and how their relationships have evolved. The love between Mihir and Tulsi has matured. We've all grown as people and actors, and that shows in the story." When Amar exited the show previously, Mihir was written off with a dramatic death, only to return later due to audience demand. When asked what his fate would be this time, the actor said that Mihir is here to stay, right until the final episode. The second season of the show will mark Smriti's return to acting after 15 years. Amar said that despite Smriti's political stature, she remains the same. He says, 'When I met her at Ekta Kapoor's house, it felt like no time had passed. We were just the same. She joked, 'Tu boodha kab hoga?' and I said, 'Abhi time hai' (laughs). She's always been grounded, and that hasn't changed one bit. Our interaction was exactly how it used to be 25 years ago.' Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is one of the most influential and successful Indian soap operas of all time. Produced by Ekta Kapoor under Balaji Telefilms, the show aired on Star Plus from 3 July 2000 to 6 November 2008, spanning over 1,800 episodes.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Amar Upadhyay: Smriti Irani and my interaction is exactly how it used to be 25 years ago
Amar Upadhyay (BCCL/Tejas Kudtarkar) After 17 years, the TV show Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is set to return with Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay reprising their popular characters, Tulsi and Mihir Virani. In an exclusive chat, Amar shares, 'I didn't think Kyunki... would still be such a big deal, especially with so many shows airing today. But people from all age groups seem excited. They keep asking me about Tulsi and Mihir, about the show, and it's made me realise how deep the connection still is. So, yes, the pressure is definitely there this time.' Amar with Smriti Irani in a still from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 'The story justifies the return of each character' Ask him how the reboot will handle the time gap, and Amar says the makers have taken that into account. 'The story justifies the return of each character and how their relationships have evolved. The love between Mihir and Tulsi has matured. We've all grown as people and actors, and that shows in the story,' he shares. The last time he exited the show, Mihir was written off with a dramatic death – only to be resurrected later due to overwhelming viewer demand. This time, he says with a smile, 'Mihir is here to stay – right till the final episode.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Smriti and Amar in a still from Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 'Smriti has always been grounded, and that hasn't changed' The second season of the show marks Smriti's return to acting after 15 years. Amar says that despite Smriti's political stature, she remains the same. He says, 'When I met her at Ekta Kapoor 's house, it felt like no time had passed. We were just the same. She joked, ' Tu boodha kab hoga ?' and I said, ' Abhi time hai ' (laughs). She's always been grounded, and that hasn't changed one bit. Our interaction was exactly how it used to be 25 years ago.' 'You can't cast me and then underutilise me' Amar doesn't subscribe to the notion that male actors are sidelined in female-led shows. He says, 'It depends on the actor. I've always given my best to all my shows and the audience has loved me equally in shows that were considered female-oriented. Relegation doesn't happen when an actor is confident in his craft and knows what he brings to the table.' That confidence also stems from the deliberate choices he has made over the years. 'You can't cast me and then underutilise me,' he says, adding, 'I want to play a pivotal role — I can't just be made to stand in a corner. That applies not just to television, but films as well. I won't take on a token role. Even if I'm there for a short time, my character needs to be well etched. That's what I've earned over the years in this industry. '
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The FTC Risks Chilling Speech With Its Advertising Boycott Investigation
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened an investigation into Media Matters for America, a progressive nonprofit dedicated to "monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media," for its role in an advertising boycott of X in May. On Monday, the FTC expanded the investigation to major advertisers, including Omnicron Group and the Interpublic Group, both of which are founding members of the World Federation of Advertisers (WFA). The FTC's investigation follows not only Elon Musk's intimate involvement with the Trump administration but also lawsuits filed by X Corp. against Media Matters and the WFA. In November 2023, X Corp. filed a lawsuit against Media Matters in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas accusing the nonprofit of making false and malicious statements disparaging the quality of X, which led to the subsequent loss of advertising contracts. In its complaint, X Corp. accuses Media Matters of publicly smearing the company by "knowingly and maliciously manufactur[ing] side-by-side images [of] advertisers' posts…beside Neo-Nazi and white-nationalist fringe content." X Corp. cites "99% of [its] measured ad placement in 2023 [appearing] adjacent to content scoring above the Global Alliance for Responsible Media's [GARM] brand safety floor" as contradicting Media Matter's portrayal of the platform. X Corp. filed an antitrust lawsuit against GARM's parent organization, the WFA, in August 2024. After Musk acquired Twitter (now X) in November 2022, members contacted GARM for advice on whether to continue advertising on the platform. At this time, the suit alleges, GARM "conveyed to its members its concerns about Twitter's compliance with GARM's standards"—concerns exacerbated by critical coverage from progressive nonprofits like Media Matters—prompting a boycott that caused revenues to dip 80 percent below forecasts. X Corp. alleges that WFA members violated the Sherman Antitrust Act's prohibition of conspiracies in restraint of trade by "withholding purchases of digital advertising from Twitter." Supreme Court precedent strongly suggests this allegation is meritless. Vikram David Amar and Ashutosh Bhagwat, both professors at the University of California, Davis School of Law, cite NAACP v. Claiborne (1982) as evidence that the First Amendment applies to politically motivated boycotts. Amar and Bhagwat explain that, in Claiborne, "the Court insulated the boycotters from liability under state laws seeking to protect fair economic competition and held that 'the nonviolent elements of [the boycotters'] activities [were] entitled to the protection of the First Amendment.'" Amar and Bhagwat also invoke 303 Creative v. Elenis (2023), where the Court ruled that "a seller of inherently expressive services…can't be compelled [by a consumer] to provide speech." It stands to reason that consumers (like advertisers) may not be forced to buy expressive services they disagree with. Forcing companies to pay for speech with which they disagree is unconstitutional. The FTC's advertising boycott investigation is a waste of the commission's time and taxpayers' money because, even if advocacy groups and advertisers colluded to boycott X, the First Amendment forecloses antitrust prosecution given the expressive nature of the X platform and its advertising service. The post The FTC Risks Chilling Speech With Its Advertising Boycott Investigation appeared first on
India Today
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
What went wrong with Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam's Thug Life?
'Thug Life' marked the legendary and most ambitious collaboration in Indian cinema by bringing Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam after almost four decades. Their gangster saga promised an epic exploration of gangsters, violence and betrayal in the trailer sparked curiosity, evoking memories of Mani Ratnam's classic gangster films like 'Nayakan' and 'Chekka Chivantha Vaanam'. With a strong cast including Silambarasan TR, Trisha, Joju George, and music by AR Rahman, expectations were once the film ended, one question remained: what went wrong with a film that had everything going for it? Spoiler alert...!The story wants to be everything, and ends up being nothing'Thug Life' tells the story of Rangaraya Sakthivel, an ageing gangster seeking revenge on those who betrayed him, including his brother, his own gang members, and Amar (his right hand and adopted son, played by Silambarasan). It is also a tale of mistrust and power struggles, with Sakthivel willing to destroy anyone he suspects of threatening him. The film also explores a morally murky subplot: Sakthivel's extramarital relationship with Indrani (Trisha Krishnan), a social media influencer. He casually calls the act of infidelity his 'disorder'.On paper, 'Thug Life' is rich with ideas: it aims to be a dark, psychological crime drama in the vein of 'Nayakan'. But in execution, it tries to be too many things at once. With multiple subplots competing for attention, characters feel underdeveloped and scenes rushed. While 'Nayakan' also juggled complex narratives, it did so with organic flow and emotional depth, something 'Thug Life' gangster drama feels like the final instalment of a franchise film, packed with too many characters and motives, yet without the benefit of prior films to build toward this so-called final arcs and unclear motivationsPerhaps the most unexpected shortcoming is the lack of clear motivations, surprising from a legend like Mani Ratnam, known for emotionally complex characters. For instance, Sakthivel names Amar as his successor as he goes to prison. Amar conquers and calls himself the next Rangaraya Sakthivel. Also, there's a secret regarding Amar's father's killing that affects his bond with Sakthivel. What makes Amar the potential leader? What does he contribute to the gang? The film offers no satisfying answers. If the gangsters' own activities are unclear, it is unrealistic to expect a well-defined motivation for Indrani is another missed opportunity. After her nuanced role as Kundavai in the 'Ponniyin Selvan' series, here she feels vague and ornamental. Is she a lover, muse, or distraction? The film never gives her enough space or clarity. With better writing, she could have anchored the shifting dynamics between Amar and Sakthivel, much like Nandini's character in 'Ponniyin Selvan'.Silambarasan's Amar lacks a clear personality or emotional grounding. His choices appear impulsive without adding intrigue. If his confusion was deliberate to explore inner conflict, it might have worked, but instead it feels like the film itself is unsure of who he is. Consequently, key moments like Amar's betrayal or Sakthivel's revenge lack the emotional impact they the large cast, only Inspector Jai Royappa (Ashok Selvan) carries emotional weight. His motivations are clearer, and his past is explored enough to make him compelling. But even he cannot hold together a film where most characters feel half-formed and much telling, too little showingMani Ratnam is celebrated for his visual storytelling. Iconic scenes like the sun shot in 'Thalapathi' or Shaila's pregnancy-reveal in 'Bombay' communicate volumes without words. 'Thug Life', however, leans heavily on exposition. Key developments like Amar's rise, Sakthivel's exile transformation, the gang's collapse, and what happened to Jeeva (Sakthivel's wife) are relayed through rushed dialogue and montages. Instead of giving these moments emotional weight, the film tells us what happened without letting us feel example, Amar supposedly restructured the gang's operations in two years, but what exactly did he do? How did the world change during Sakthivel's absence? Why does Amar's rise make sense, or does Sakthivel's influence wane? None of this is shown; characters just talk about it. The story feels disjointed, important moments are described rather than highs and flat revealsThe trailer's standout line, 'Inimel inga naan dan Rangaraya Sakthivel (Here on, I am Rangaraya Sakthivel),' hits hard in promos but barely registers in the film. It is not due to Simbu's performance, which is strong, but because the build-up is missing. Mani Ratnam's best films rely on emotional highs: Remember the mirror scene in 'Nayakan', the train departure in 'Alaipayuthey', or the press conference in 'Guru'? In 'Thug Life', many emotional beats arrive without proper setup or feel hastily key interval reveal, intended as a pivotal twist, falls flat. The issue is not the twist but the missing emotional groundwork. If Amar was told early on that the gang was responsible for his father's death, what motivates his sudden switch at the interval? The manipulation by Manikkam (Nasser) is unclear, and the strength of Amar's bond with Sakthivel is not explored. The scene feels gimmicky and unconvincing. Similarly, confrontations like the beach scene between Sakthivel and Jeeva or Amar's final showdown with Indrani aim for gravity but come off sluggish and under the weight of its own legacyA major factor behind the mixed response to 'Thug Life' is how it was promoted. Marketed as Kamal Haasan's grand return to the gangster genre, with heavy callbacks to 'Nayakan', from the character's name to interviews where both Kamal and Mani Ratnam evoked their earlier works' emotional and cinematic weight, expectations soared. The stage was set for a profound character drama rich with tragedy and 'Thug Life' leans heavily on the aesthetics of those classics without capturing their emotional soul. The title, tone, and visuals suggest depth, but the world it builds lacks real stakes. The final product: a gangster saga with no real danger, a father-son conflict without emotional rupture, and a betrayal that feels the film excels. But this beauty often feels disconnected from the storytelling. At times, the music, composed by AR Rahman, overwhelms rather than supports key emotional scenes. The expectations set by its legacy and marketing created a bar so high that the film struggled to reach. 'Thug Life' is not without merit. There are moments where the film shines, especially in the performances of Sakthivel and Amar, and the early scenes between them that carry Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan's signature craft. But instead of building on these strengths, the film often chooses style over substance. It is not a bad film, but one that feels stuck, caught somewhere between honouring the past and finding a new voice. This unresolved tension leaves the film feeling distant when it should have been deeply engaging.
