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Hindustan Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Woman on the verge: How Sahiba Bali is working her way to the top
When asked where home is, Sahiba Bali finds it hard to answer. Bali, 30, is part-Kashmiri, part-Punjabi, but was born in Kolkata. She spent her early years in Indonesia (the Bali jokes write themselves), but returned to Delhi to complete school and attend Delhi University. Then, she flew to the UK to complete her Masters in marketing, and did an extra business course at Oxford, just because she could. Then, she moved to Mumbai. But the reason someone would ask her that in the first place is because Bali is everywhere. She started off as a brand manager for Zomato, was an associate director at Unacademy, and found time to be a lifestyle content creator. She ended up hosting S4 of Shark Tank India, is now a sports broadcaster and an anchor at Disney Star, and has been in three movies and several web series. She played Kashmiri student Ambreen in Laila Majnu (2018), an Inter-Services agent Abida in the Netflix series Bard of Blood (2019), and an exacting journalist in Amar Singh Chamkila (2024). For this season's IPL, Punjab Kings brought her on as their marketing and digital curator, making those viral fun Reels with cricketers. While you catch your breath, she's now in a music video too: Haqeeqat, sung and composed by Akhil Sachdeva. None of this, she says, was part of the plan. Early start As the only child of a banker and a production-house director, Bali recalls watching both parents hard at work, every day. She ended up excelling in her studies simply because she didn't know any other way. But being an only child meant more than academic excellence. 'My parents were working through the day, so I would be left to my own devices,' Bali recalls. 'I had only myself to entertain and motivate.' Cue the extracurriculars: Bharatanatyam, keyboard, jazz, debating, theatre. 'I was doing so much, and a lot of it was competitive. It just inculcated this behaviour of trying to excel in different things. That stayed with me.' It also helped chart a multi-pronged path to the spotlight. Acting was never meant to be more than a side hustle, Bali says. But perhaps the roulette of auditions and rejections didn't hit as hard. 'During the weeks when I wasn't acting, instead of sulking about the lack of work and feeling bad about rejection, I took a marketing job on the side.' Bali originally auditioned for Triptii Dimri's role in Laila Majnu, but got the part of her sister instead. She auditioned for Kiara Advani's role in Kabir Singh, as well as Anushka Sharma's role in Sultan, opposite Salman Khan. She recalls a Netflix show that fell through. 'I had this great role — a woman from Delhi who lives in Gurgaon, a complete girl-next-door. But unfortunately, after we signed the contract and everything, they went ahead with someone else because they wanted to package it differently.' She just kept auditioning until the tide began to turn. Audiences noticed her small part in Laila Majnu. She began to be recognised for the videos she'd do with Zomato; her fresh vibe resonating with viewers on YouTube and Instagram. People began watching her vlogs (each video now has more than 20 lakh views). Speak easy Bali is often cast as Kashmiri. 'Maybe I look and talk the part.' But she's eager to break that stereotype. 'I want a typical Yash Raj filmi, over-the-top romantic drama,' she says, and quickly adds that she'd also do 'a very natural, Piku-type role'. But she's aware that her big break is yet to come. Until then, she's not shying away from being herself in public. Last year, Bali was invited to an Indian billionaire's son's wedding, a much-spotlighted event that was dubbed The Shaadi Of The Century. She skipped it, telling interviewers that she didn't want to attend it just for the attention. In April, she was one of the few people in entertainment to speak up against the erasure of Mughal history from grade 7 NCERT textbooks. As a star-in-the-making, she knows the cost of speaking her mind. But she knows how fickle fandom is too. 'It's the small things,' she says. 'I don't talk about something, people start forming opinions about me. If I do say something about an issue, then there are questions.' Of course, like all young people, she yearns for simpler times. 'There are days where I really wish we had gone back to analogue life and didn't have smartphones,' she admits. The constant scrutiny means 'whenever I'm saying anything, I have to think twice'. But years of putting in the effort, competing and coming out shining are helping her battle online negativity and public opinion. 'I tell myself that this is for two hours, that people are going to forget, that there are bigger problems in the world, that nobody cares about you in the grand scheme of things,' she says. 'I don't worry about what I can't change.' We'll be seeing more of her on screen. Let's hope she keeps that fighting spirit intact. From HT Brunch, June 21, 2025 Follow us on
Indian Express
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Shah Rukh Khan is probably the one I know the most and really enjoy working with': Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos
It's no surprise that Shah Rukh Khan is a great host. Members of the film industry, from budding actors to seasoned filmmakers, have often heaped praises on how special Shah Rukh makes one feel at home despite his towering stature. A recent addition to this list of Shah Rukh Khan admirers is Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos. When asked if he has a favourite creator in India, Sarandos clarified that he works with so many that it's unfair to pick one, just like you can't pick your favourite child from all your babies. 'But I have to tell you, early in coming to India, I met Shah Rukh Khan right away. He hosted a very nice little dinner for me, and we just hit it off immediately,' revealed Sarandos. He added on Nikhil Kamath's podcast how he and his wife have had 'nice times together' with Shah Rukh Khan whenever they've visited India hence. 'We visited each other in Los Angeles when his son was in school. So having dinner with Shah Rukh Khan in India is much different than having dinner with him in Los Angeles. I'd say that's probably someone I know the most and really enjoy working with,' added Sarandos. Shah Rukh Khan's elder son Aryan Khan studied fine arts in film and television production at the University of South Carolina in Los Angeles. He graduated back in 2020. Aryan will now make his debut as the creator, writer, director, and showrunner of the show The B***ds of Bollywood, which is produced by his father's banner Red Chillies Entertainment, and will stream on Netflix India this year. 'I've watched the first two episodes so far. It's very funny. I think people in India and people outside of India know nothing about the inner workings of Bollywood. So it's a really fun world. He's (Aryan) a very good director,' said Sarandos on The B***ds of Bollywood. While the details of the cast of the show is kept under wraps, its synopsis on Netflix states: 'In this high-stakes drama, an ambitious outsider and his friends navigate the chaotic, larger-than-life, yet uncertain world of Bollywood.' Also Read: Will Aryan Khan's show The Ba***ds of Bollywood be to India what Seth Rogen's The Studio is to Hollywood? The B***ds of Bollywood isn't Shah Rukh Khan's Red Chillies Entertainment's first collaboration with Netflix India. Previously, they've teamed up on Ribhu Dasgupta's 2019 spy thriller show Bard of Blood, starring Emraan Hashmi, Kriti Kulhari and Vineet Kumar Singh, and Patrick Graham's 2020 zombie horror show Betaal, starring Singh and Aahana Kumra.
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Viineet Kumar Siingh on his acting approach: 'I wish to become a part of the story'
Viineet Kumar Siingh is quickly becoming one of the most versatile actors in Bollywood with some great performances to his credit. Viineet started his journey by playing Veer Singh in "Bard of Blood", and Vikram Sirohi in "Betaal". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now More recently, Viineet left everyone speechless as Kavi Kailash in 's acclaimed drama, "Chhaava". This was followed by a spectacular portrayal as Forogh in "In Super Boys of Malegaon". His latest release "Jaat" also made a massive mark on the audience as Somulu. Viineet also received a lot of praise as Avinash Patwardhan in " ". Mehul Buch: You will see at least a bit of Dilip Kumar ji in every actor in our industry Sharing his approach for each of his characters he said that he believes in becoming a part of the story. "I don't just act, I wish to become part of stories that live on," he shared. Viineet also revealed what real success means to him. "When someone tells me they saw a part of themselves in a character I played... that connection, that emotion, it means more than box office numbers. That's my true reward," he added. Previously, Viineet disclosed a horrifying experience during the shoot of "Chhaava." He told that he sustained a major injury while filming one of the battle sequences for the historical drama. Recalling the unfortunate incident, Viineet stated, "Getting cuts and bruises during training was very normal. But during the shoot of the Burhanpur battle, I sustained a major injury. During the sequence, we were all riding on horses with all kinds of weapons in our hands. I was on horseback with two words in hand when my horse lifted its front legs and I got thrown off. I landed on my back and the impact was so painful that the first thought that came to my mind was, 'God let me be able to stand. ' I have heard that back injuries could be very risky and getting thrown off horses would be very painful."
News18
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Sobhita Dhulipala Birthday: How Q&A Sparked Her Love Story With Naga Chaitanya?
Last Updated: Happy Birthday Sobhita Dhulipala: The actress and Naga Chaitanya kept their relationship private until August 2024, when they made headlines with a traditional engagement ceremony Happy Birthday Sobhita Dhulipala: The South Diva is celebrating her 33rd birthday today, May 31. Sobhita Dhulipala made her theatrical debut with the 2016 Anurag Kashyap directorial Raman Raghav 2.0. Her performance in the movie was well-received, and she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Cannes Film Festival's Directors Fortnight. In the follow-up years, Sobhita bagged roles in films like Kaalakaandi, The Body, Ponniyin Selvan and more. Sobhita later made her Hollywood debut with Monkey Man. She also left an indelible mark on the OTT sphere with projects like Made In Heaven, Bard of Blood and The Night Manager. The actress recently tied the knot with Telugu actor Naga Chaitanya. Sobhita's love story with Naga Chaitanya began unexpectedly through a fan's 'Ask Me Anything" (AMA) question on Instagram. The actor initially followed Sobhita on Instagram, but she hadn't followed him back. A fan noticed this during the AMA session and asked Sobhita why she wasn't following him. This prompted Sobhita to check his profile, where she saw he followed a small number of people, including her, and then she followed him back. Their relationship blossomed naturally, with them starting to chat via direct messages and eventually meeting for a breakfast date in Mumbai. Their dating rumours started circulating back in 2022, but the couple never confirmed or denied them. They kept their relationship private until August 2024, when they made headlines with a traditional engagement ceremony attended by their close friends and family. Later, on December 4, they got married at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad. Sobhita Dhulipala's Top Films Raman Raghav 2.0: Sobhita's bold Bollywood debut in this psychological thriller showcased her fearless approach to acting. Her complex and unconventional role in the film set her apart as a promising newcomer willing to push boundaries. Kaalakaandi: Sobhita plays Tara in Saif Ali Khan's dark comedy Kaalakaandi, showcasing her range as she navigates a complex character torn between carefree optimism and guilt-ridden turmoil. Tara's character is central to one of the film's multiple narratives that intersect to form the main plot. Made in Heaven: Sobhita's portrayal of Tara in the web series earned her mainstream recognition. She played a fierce yet vulnerable wedding planner tackling business and personal struggles. Her nuanced performance brought depth to the character. The show explored the themes of marriage, class, and identity in Indian society. Bard of Blood: In the Netflix series, Sobhita played senior analyst Isha Khanna. She teams up with Emraan Hashmi's character Kabir Anand in an espionage mission to rescue captured Indian intelligence officers in Balochistan. Kurup: The film is based on the life of Sukumara Kurup, India's longest-wanted fugitive. Shobhita played the role of Kurup's wife in the Malayalam crime thriller, bringing gravitas and sensitivity to her portrayal of a woman torn between love and moral ambiguity. Her nuanced performance added depth to the film, exploring the complexities of her character's relationship with Kurup. Sobhita Dhulipala's Upcoming Projects Made in Heaven Season 3: Sobhita is likely to make her return as Tara in the upcoming season of Made in Heaven, where she will be seen sharing the screen with Arjun Mathur, Jim Sarbh and Mona Singh. The release date of the project is yet to be announced. Vettuvam: The actress will star opposite Arya in Pa Ranjith's gangster drama. The Tamil movie also stars Ashok Selvan. First Published:
