Latest news with #Screen
Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Banita Sandhu supports Deepika Padukone's 8-hour shift demand, recalls fighting 18-hour work shifts: ‘I am blacklisted'
Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone's reported exit from Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Spirit has sparked a debate about an eight-hour shift for actors in the industry. While many actors supported the demand, others linked it to individual perspectives. Banita Sandhu, who has worked on both Hollywood and Bollywood projects, recalled speaking out against 16–18-hour shifts in Bollywood. (Also Read: Banita Sandhu says she was body shamed: 'They said I was too skinny to be attractive') In an interview with Screen, Banita highlighted the importance of strong industry regulations, noting that one of the key advantages in the West is the presence of powerful unions that protect both actors and crew members. She recalled consistently advocating for 12-hour turnovers on sets, stressing that filmmaking is not a war and no one's mental health should be compromised in the process. According to her, the job should never come at the cost of basic human rights. She further recalled speaking out against 16–18-hour shifts in Bollywood and said, "With Hindi cinema, it is getting better now. But early in my career, when I really didn't understand how industries work, I just assumed this was the way to work. I did 16–18 hours a day shifts, where producers aligned my schedule, I would shoot the whole day and then fly at night. I didn't sleep for 24 hours straight. I stood up for myself and the crew. I told the producers that this is not okay. Maybe, I am blacklisted from that industry now, but I don't care. I just believe in standing up for what's right." A post shared by Banita Sandhu (@banitasandhu) She recalled how, after October, she wasn't fully living in India — flying in for shoots while also working on international projects and completing her college studies in London. She said, "I wasn't as present as I could have been. There's a perception that I went and came back, but for me, I never went away, I was always working, just in a different country. After October released, I graduated and I shot for at least 3 projects in a year – in Hollywood and South. I got work from all different parts of the world, maybe not much from Bollywood. I would have been filthy rich if I moved to India at that time. I remember many producers telling me we wanted you after October in so and so film, but we didn't know where to find you. It works that way in Bollywood, if you're out of sight, then out of mind." For the unversed, Deepika was supposed to star opposite Prabhas in Spirit. However, according to reports, the actor's demands — including a share in the film's profits, an eight-hour working day, and more — didn't sit well with the filmmaker, leading to her exit from the project. The film now stars Triptii Dimri in the lead role. Meanwhile, Banita is currently seen in the film Detective Sherdil, starring alongside Diljit Dosanjh, Boman Irani, Diana Penty, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Chunky Panday in key roles. The comedy whodunnit, directed by Ravi Chhabriya, is available to stream on ZEE5.
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'Bridgerton' actress Banita Sandhu supports Deepika Padukone in the 8-hour work demand, reveals standing up against 16-18 hours shift: 'I am blacklisted now'
Banita Sandhu who started out her career with Varun Dhawan starrer 'October' was recently seen 'Bridgerton 3'. Banita who has now seen how things function in Bollywood and Hollywood both, said in a recent interview that perhaps she's now banned in the Hindi film industry because she stood up against producers. At the moment, the 8-hour work shift is a huge talking point, after it was reported that Deepika Padukone had demanded that she would only work for eight hours. This was cited to be one of the reasons for her conflict with Sandeep Reddy Vanga. Thus, now, many industry insiders are sharing their views on the same. Banita opened up during a chat with Screen, "It's so important. One thing that we have in the West is really strong unions. They really protect actors and crew. I have always been a firm believer of 12-hour turnovers for everybody on sets. We are not at war, we are making movies. I don't think anyone's mental health should be sacrificed for that. At the end of the day, it's a job and everyone deserves an adequate amount of rest and sleep. It's basic human rights." She revealed further, "With Hindi cinema, it is getting better now. But early in my career, when I really didn't understand how industries work, I just assumed this was the way to work. I did 16-18 hours a day shifts, where producers aligned my schedule, I would shoot the whole day and then fly at night. I didn't sleep for 24 hours straight. I stood up for myself and the crew. I told the producers that this is not okay. Maybe, I am blacklisted from that industry now, but I don't care. I just believe in standing up for what's right." Talking about getting recognition and more work after 'October', she pointed out, "During that time of my life, I wasn't fully living in India. I came to shoots and I was also shooting a lot of western stuff, I was doing my college in London as well. I wasn't as present as I could have been. There's a perception that I went and came back, but for me, I never went away, I was always working, just in a different country." She further added, "After October released, I graduated and I shot for atleast 3 projects in a year – in Hollywood and South. I got work from all different parts of the world, maybe not much from Bollywood. I would have been filthy rich if I moved to India as that time. I remember many producers telling me we wanted you after October in so and so film, but we didn't know where to find you. It works that way in Bollywood, if you're out of sight, then out of mind. "
Pink Villa
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi New Season: Gaurav Khanna or Sudhanshu Pandey, which Anupama actor approached for Smriti Irani-led?
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi new season filming has finally begun, and fans can't wait for the iconic show to premiere soon. Produced by Ektaa Kapoor, the new season will feature the original cast, Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay, in lead roles. Amidst this, there are reports that another popular actor from Television, who was a part of the hit show, Anupamaa, will soon be seen in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. The actor who was approached to be a part of the new season is none other than Sudhanshu Pandey. While speaking to Screen, Sudhanshu Pandey, who played the role of Vanraj Shah in Anupamaa, was approached for Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi's new season. As there were reports that Sudhanshu is being approached for Mihir Virani's role in the show, the actor denied such claims. He revealed that someone from Balaji (Ektaa Kapoor's production house) called him. Sudhanshu Pandey shared that he was not informed for which role he was called for. He said, "I don't know what it was for, and I was asked how much I would charge. That is all, there is nothing more to that." Speaking about his stint, Sudhanshu Pandey was immensely loved for portraying the role of Vanraj Shah in Anupamaa. His character received applause from the audience and garnered him a huge fan following. The actor took an abrupt exit from Anupama for unknown reasons. He had informed about his departure from the show through a live on Instagram. After his exit, Sudhanshu joined Karan Johar-led show The Traitors. Meanwhile, speaking about Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi new season will only have 150 episodes and there is a reason for this. The producer shared that when the original series ended, it was exactly 150 episodes short of hitting the 2,000-episode milestone. The show will star Smriti Irani and Amar Upadhyay in lead roles. Meanwhile, Smriti will have Z+ security. The premiere date of the show has not been officially announced.
News18
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Gauri Khan's Torii Restaurant Has A 'Secret Doorway' For Khan Family, Reveals Head Chef
Last Updated: Gauri Khan's Torii restaurant in Mumbai has a 'secret doorway' for the Khan family. Shah Rukh Khan enjoys their lamb chops, while AbRam loves sushi. Gauri Khan's Torii restaurant has always been in the spotlight – firstly, for its immensely popular owners and secondly, for the fake paneer row. The Khan family often visits the restaurant or orders in; however, they are not regularly photographed. Wonder why? Torii has a 'secret doorway" exclusively for the Khans', revealed the restaurant's Head Chef, Stefan Gadit. Not just this, Gauri's husband, Shah Rukh Khan and son AbRam have their favourites at the restaurant. Gadit spoke about the dishes that the Khan family prefer from Torii. 'They keep coming here quite often, and whenever they don't have the time, they place an order and we have it sent over to their home. AbRam likes the sushi here, and Suhana has come on a few occasions with her friends. SRK has also been here a few times, mostly with Gauri and family. They celebrated Pooja Dadlani's anniversary here. Shah Rukh Khan has enjoyed the lamb chops we serve here; that's his usual order," the chef told Screen. He further added, 'Aryan has been here on a few occasions, but I don't know anything particularly about the food bit with Aryan. It's usually later in the evening." Stefan further explained that the secret doorway is reserved for a select few celebrities – and naturally, the Khans are among them. He said, 'Not everybody has access to the secret doorway; it's for the Khans." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Torii Mumbai (@toriimumbai) Is Gauri Khan involved with the restaurant's daily operations? Stefan Gadit told the same portal, 'She gives us her two cents when she feels something is not right, so far things have been going well. There is a good understanding between the management and Gauri Khan." He said that he had a few reservations about putting Gauri's favourite dish on the menu, but it was added to the list anyway. 'She loves Thai curry, and I feel it's done everywhere, and we shouldn't do it, but that's her favorite, so we have it. The dish is dedicated to her," he said. Gauri Khan entered the hospitality industry with her first restaurant, Torii, situated in Mumbai's lively Bandra neighbourhood. Opening its doors in February 2024, the restaurant features a distinctive blend of Latin-Asian fusion cuisine, showcasing Khan's signature style. First Published: June 15, 2025, 19:36 IST
Tom's Guide
10-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm stoked about iOS 26 Call Screening, but it proves Apple Intelligence is still playing catch up — here's why
Apple had a lot to share with its announcement of iOS 26 during its WWDC 2025 keynote yesterday (June 9). Not only will the iPhone software get a dramatic makeover when it's released later this fall with Apple's new Liquid Glass design, but there were several new features introduced that are coming to the iPhone's core apps. In particular, I'm excited that Apple's making it easier for iPhones to reduce the amount of spam calls thanks to a new feature called Call Screening. But after watching the Call Screening demo in action, it's nowhere as thorough as what some of Google's Pixel phones can do when it comes to the same task. I know this because I religiously lean on Call Screen with my Pixel 9 Pro XL to take phone calls on my behalf, relying on Google Assistant to help me make actionable decisions. What sets Google's version apart is how it can come up with contextual responses — whereas Apple's implementation simply screens calls to see if they're spam or not. Without contextual awareness actions, it proves how Apple Intelligence is still playing catch up to what other AI leaders like Google provide. The nice thing about Call Screening is that you might actually end up dealing with fewer spam calls in your life, which is always a good thing. This iOS 26 feature will automatically take calls from unknown numbers silently in the background,; if they're actual humans and share their responses, your iPhone will proceed to ring — complete with what appears to be a transcription of their message. This is a good first step because I like how Call Screening won't ring your iPhone unless it determines it's not a telemarketer or spam message, so that saves you from having to deal with them. In the current iteration, the phone call appears on your iPhone with the notification that it's a possible spam call, but it requires your intervention to take the call to find out what it is. At least with Call Screening, you don't have to make that interaction. Call Screen makes me feel like I have an actual assistant taking them for me While we just found about Call Screening in iOS 26, Google's Call Screen feature still feels superior from my point of view — mainly for how the Google feature does more than to field the phone call. Google Assistant not only screens a phone call, but listens to the responses from people as to why they're calling. That gives you contextual actions for responding, showing off the strength of Google's AI. Those contextual responses come in the form of quick replies that pop up in the app, where you make the call on which action to take. For example, if the call is about a package delivery, you'll get responses that can the caller to drop off the package by the door, come back another time, or something else. I've used Call Screen on the Pixel for other things too, like a friend asking about a move date I've committed to. Google Assistant is smart enough to discern what they're asking and gives me relevant responses to choose, like telling them that I'll be there on time or perhaps to reschedule it. I can't tell you enough about how Call Screen has been such a godsend ever since I started using it first with the Pixel 8 Pro. When I'm stuck in a meeting where I physically can't take a call, or simply don't want to speak with whoever's on the other end of the line, Call Screen makes me feel like I have an actual assistant taking calls on my behalf. That'll be tough for Apple to match. While Apple's Call Screening seeming lacks the actionable responses that Google offers, I'm still hopeful that there's more to come with this feature. There wasn't a full deep dive into Apple Intelligence this week as there was at last year's event, with Apple hinting that more will be shared around this in the coming year, Call Screening could ultimately get the same contextual awareness as Google's version. Perhaps Apple is saving a later event to introduce proper Apple Intelligence features with iOS 26? I hope so because so far this proves exactly how Apple is still trailing its rivals when it comes to offering robust AI capabilities. Siri definitely has a big role to fill with Call Screening if it's going to do more than just be the in-between person for phone calls, as I suspect that it needs to be intelligent to not only transcribe the conversation accurately — but to also be smart enough to take action.
