Latest news with #JaaneTu...YaJaaneNa
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Genelia Deshmukh recalls being called ‘not conventionally pretty': ‘But Aamir Khan saw his Aditi in me'
Genelia Deshmukh , who is best known to an entire generation as the fiery and free-spirited 'Aditi' from Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na, has made a heartfelt comeback to the silver screen with Sitaare Zameen Par. Reuniting with Aamir Khan , she plays his on-screen wife in the emotional drama, her first major role after a long acting hiatus. While the actress continues to be adored for her infectious energy and effortless performances, Genelia recently opened up about facing harsh beauty judgments early in her career. 'You're not the conventional pretty girl' In a recent interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, Genelia shared that when she first entered Bollywood, she was often told she didn't fit the industry's typical standards of beauty. 'When I was growing up, actually very close to Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na also, there were a couple of people who told me, 'You're not the conventional pretty, pretty girl.' I said, 'What does that mean?'' she recalled. According to Genelia, during the early 2000s, fair skin, coloured hair, and light eyes were considered the benchmarks of beauty. 'Everyone went through putting contact lenses,' she added, highlighting how many aspiring actors conformed to these norms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brass Krishna Idols For Prosperity & Protection In Life Luxeartisanship Shop Now Undo Amitabh Bachchan in her first ad, Aamir Khan in her breakout role Despite working with Amitabh Bachchan in her very first advertisement, directed by Mansoor Khan , Genelia revealed that few in the industry saw her as a potential leading lady. It was Aamir Khan who recognised her talent and cast her as the perfect Aditi. 'My first ad was with Mr Bachchan also. I went with my own clothes, and Mansoor Khan had directed that ad. So, they never saw 'that' as someone who could act. And back then also, Mr Aamir Khan saw his Aditi in me,' she shared. Genelia D'Souza Finally Breaks Silence on John Abraham Marriage Rumours 'I'm very particular about my dignity' When asked if the remarks about her looks impacted her self-confidence, Genelia was clear and composed in her response. She stressed that she never let those comments define her worth. 'No, it didn't. As a person, I am very particular about my dignity. You cannot take that away from me… very often, when it's a power struggle, you can't say some things. But that doesn't mean I'll take what you say,' she said. 'If I can, I will stand up and say it. If not, I don't have a problem walking away and saying, 'You feel what you want about me, but I'm not going to feel what you want about myself.''
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Genelia Deshmukh on accidental marriage rumours with John Abraham: No truth to it
Genelia Deshmukh has finally cleared the air on one of the strangest rumours from her career that she and John Abraham were accidentally married during the filming of their 2011 film 'Force'. The speculation, which first surfaced in 2012, claimed that a real wedding took place on set during a scene in which the two actors exchanged garlands, mangalsutra, and took the seven pheras in the presence of a real a recent interview with Siddharth Kannan, Genelia firmly put the rumour to rest. 'There was no truth to it. We didn't get married. These stories were spread by PR, and I think you should ask them why they did it,' she said, dismissing the story as completely 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na' star emphasised that neither she nor John had anything to do with the buzz and that the entire narrative was a product of publicity tactics. Genelia is now happily married to actor Riteish Deshmukh. The couple, who got married in 2012, are parents to two children. Meanwhile, John Abraham is married to investment banker Priya Runchal. The actor also recently opened up about taking a decade-long break from films after her wedding. In a separate conversation with Zoom, she explained, 'Most people ask me if it's easy to step away from the limelight for 10 years and I said, 'It's what I wanted to do, so I did it.' I saw a place after 10 years and I am happy in that place. I may not do 10 films, I may do three films, but my happiness is with that and that's what matters the most.'Genelia made a successful comeback with the 2022 Marathi film 'Ved', directed by Riteish Deshmukh. While she had brief cameos in 'Jai Ho' and 'Force 2', 'Ved' marked her return in a lead role, and the film went on to become a Watch
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Did Genelia D'Souza almost marry John Abraham during 'Force'? Actress REACTS to bizarre old rumours: 'I think you should ask…'
Back in 2012, strange rumours surfaced claiming that Genelia D'Souza and John Abraham were accidentally married during the shooting of the film 'Force'. The story said that a real priest on set had performed an actual Hindu wedding ceremony, including all the traditional rituals like mantras, garlands, mangalsutra, and the seven pheras. In a new interview with Siddharth Kannan, Genelia cleared the air and confirmed that the so-called marriage never happened. 'There was no truth to it' Addressing the bizarre rumour, Genelia said, 'There was no truth to it. We didn't get married. These stories were spread by PR, and I think you should ask them why they did it.' The 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na' actress explained that the entire buzz was created by PR teams and had nothing to do with her or John. Back in 2012, the story had taken the media by storm, making many people believe that the on-screen wedding had turned real. Today, Genelia is happily married to actor Riteish Deshmukh . The couple tied the knot in 2012 and have two children. Genelia's Bollywood comeback During a recent panel at Elle Impact, she revealed how some people doubted her comeback after 10 years. 'Being an actor who has worked in six languages and someone who took a break because I was having babies, I remember people telling me, 'Oh, you want to come back to films after 10 years? It won't work', but my comeback film became a cult hit. We shouldn't listen to people.' She added, 'It's a part of our life. I feel we hype our success too much and stress a bit too much about failure, whereas the impact and intent of your daily life are what truly matter.' On the work front, Genelia is ready to return to the big screen. She will be seen next in 'Sitaare Zameen Par', which is a sequel to Aamir Khan 's much-loved film 'Taare Zameen Par'. Aamir Khan's Sitaare Zameen Par | Emotional Premiere & Powerful Story
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Redefining masculinity in Bollywood: Acknowledging the subtle shift to empathetic male protagonists - the characters who listen, feel, react
For decades, Bollywood's definition of masculinity was sculpted in the image of the angry young man, the alpha hero, the macho savior who fought for honor, exacted revenge, and seldom shed a tear. From Amitabh Bachchan's seething intensity in the 1970s to Salman Khan's brawny dominance in the 2000s, Indian cinema has created and celebrated male protagonists who were stoic, emotionally unavailable, and heavily steeped in patriarchy. But times are changing A new breed of character is quietly reshaping what it means to be a man on the big screen - one who doesn't shy away from crying, nurtures without condescension, and listens more than they speak. They don't show aggression to wear the crown of hero; instead, they earn it through empathy, integrity, and respectful masculinity. These portrayals of male protagonists on the big screen have not just redefined 'hero' in cinema; they are reflecting a significant cultural shift in how society is accepting the new perspective of strength and sensitivity. Not a sudden shift The transformation didn't happen overnight. The rising awareness of gender roles, consent, and emotional intelligence has pushed cinema to evolve. There is no denying the fact that the audience today has always been very accepting and understanding of the flawed, broken characters, but the generation of this era is also vocal about ejecting glorified male entitlement. They are appreciative of the lead male character who can grow emotionally and breaks the stereotypical masculinity trap. Men who lead by example Movies like Wake Up Sid or Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na showed us men who care, who know it's fine to express, and it's perfectly okay to bid adios to toxic masculinity on the big screen for being a hero. Trailer: 'Wake Up Sid' Here are a few more examples Rajkummar Rao Rajkummar Rao has repeatedly played men who are far removed from Bollywood's archetype of hypermasculinity. One of the perfect examples can be 'Newton,' where his character is idealistic but not naive, stubborn but never disrespectful. He embodies masculinity through a sense of duty and moral courage. Another of his movies that stands out is Hum Do Humare Do, where he creates a fake family to get the girl he loves. His intention behind the whole fake family is not to deceive the girl; he does that because he understands she values emotional roots. Vikrant Massey Vikrant Massey is an unsung hero of Bollywood's new masculinity. In Chhapaak, he plays the role of an acid attack survivor, and his character is written without the male savior trope. Instead of rescuing her, he stands beside her quietly, respectfully, and lovingly. Even in 12th Fail, his journey is filled with emotions - determination, doubt, failure, and deep reflection. Ranbir Kapoor More recently, his portrayal of a conflicted and toxic alpha male character in 'Animal' fetched him mixed reactions. However, over the years, Ranbir Kapoor has given Indian cinema characters that are often flawed, but also emotionally transparent. Be it Rockstar, Tamasha, or Barfi!, his characters were seen struggling with identity and trauma, but not through violence, but through introspection. Tamasha, in particular, stands out for bringing to light the weight of societal expectations on men and how they are often denied emotional expression. Ranbir Kapoor's breakdown scene with Deepika Padukone remains one of Bollywood's most poignant depictions of male vulnerability. The audience also took notice of the wonderful concept and character: 'It's so impressive how well Ranbir can subtly emote inner turmoil. No dialogues or exaggerated expressions, and yet you can instantly connect and feel for him,' wrote a Reddit user, while sharing a soul-stirring scene from the movie. Below the same post, another user commented - 'I think about Tamasha often. Ranbir, IMO, does the self-discovery/introspective character/ character in existential crisis/flawed manchild trying to fit in but cannot character trope or genre, the best. I find it very relatable. As we saw by the reception of his films, people do not appreciate it enough, tbh. But all these characters have hit home for me.' 'Subtle performances like this one or the one in Barfi. He just hits it out of the park,' wrote another netizen. The rise of the equal partner Another hallmark of the new Bollywood man is how he navigates romantic relationships. He is not possessive or overpowering; he is collaborative and understanding. Here we can take the example of The Zoya Factor, where Dulquer Salman's character as a cricket captain never tries to undermine Sonam Kapoor 's character even when her superstition becomes the center of attention. Another example is 'Dil Dahadakne Do,' where Zoya Akhtar crafted a male lead, played by Farhan Akhtar , who is supportive of the female protagonist's career choices, even at the cost of social fiction. It's no more about the red roses or the love ballads; emotional availability is the new romance. Think of The Lunchbox, where Irrfan Khan's Saajan is a lonely man who learns to open up to a connection. The appreciation, the love that Irrfan Khan garnered from critics and audience alike for 'The Lunchbox' are beyond words. He was given the title of 'national treasure' for a reason! Irrfan himself knew that his character in 'The Lunchbox' was much more than a regular protagonist. Thus, as the movie completed two years in 2015, he tweeted - "He wasn't fond of small talk or forced interactions. One day, a stray lunchbox had a conversation with his soul." In short... While the tide is turning, regressive portrayals still exist - hypermasculine spectacles like Kabir Singh and Animal prove that the old template hasn't entirely vanished. But the fact that scun potrayals now draw criticism and counter-narrative is progress in itself. Further, as new-age filmmakers continue to tell stories that mirror the evolving Indian man, one who is not defined by aggression but by empathy, we can hope for a future where masculinity is not a performance but a human experience.
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aamir Khan reveals why Imran Khan does not fit in the industry: 'He's not comfortable with herogiri'
Imran Khan made his debut with 'Jaane Jaane Na' and Aamir Khan was one of the producers on the film. While Imran was loved in his first film and went on to do movies like 'Break Ke Baad', 'Delhi Belly' and many others, he took a long break from the industry and hasn't done a movie in a while. In a recent interview, while Aamir was promoting his upcoming film 'Sitaare Zameen Par', he spoke about why Imran doesn't fit in the industry. He said in an interview with Screen, "Imran has a certain creative instinct. He finds it difficult to fit into the mainstream construct we have. That's not his natural space. Which is why he'd do really well in a film like Jaane Tu and Delhi Belly. He's in his element there." He added further, 'But the moment you put him into a regular Hindi film, he won't fit. He's not comfortable with herogiri. He wants to play a real person. Everybody was offering him mainstream films because he's good-looking. But he wants to be an actor, and not a star." Imran was away from the limelight for a while, but recently, his Instagram posts created a lot of buzz. He started expressing himself on social media. In an interview with Vogue, he also opened up on the reason for his break from the industry. He said, "I hit a low in 2016 where I felt broken inside. At that point, it wasn't my career because I wasn't excited by it enough to want to work hard for it. I had recently become a father and thought, 'This is valuable. This is something I take seriously.' I wanted to be the best version of myself for Imara. I decided it was no longer my job to be an actor. Now, I had to fix myself; be at my healthiest and strongest for my daughter." Imran was married to Avantika and got divorced in 2019. They have a daughter, Imara. Imran is now in a relationship with Lekha Washington.
