Latest news with #ShreyasTalpade
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Our kids deserve better than Housefull 5, a broken censor board, and biased audience
In an age where cinema holds immense power to influence culture and shape young minds, the double standards of the Indian censor board are not just baffling — they are dangerous. Take Housefull 5, the latest instalment of a franchise that has long thrived on adult comedy, double entendre, objectification of women and slapstick vulgarity has been given a U/A certificate, green-lighting it for 'family viewing' with parental guidance. In sharp contrast, Oh My God 2, a film designed to educate teenagers on sex education and adolescent health was slapped with an 'A' certificate, making it inaccessible to the very audience it aimed to enlighten. This contradiction not just exposes the gaping hole in how the censor board defines appropriate content, and what it truly believes is 'safe' for children but also highlights a deeper societal discomfort with truth-telling. Especially, when it comes to sex education. I witnessed this contradiction firsthand at the screening of Housefull 5 at a multiplex packed with over a hundred people. The audience was a full house of families–from toddlers to seniors, all drawn in by the promise of a 'family entertainer' as implied by the U/A certificate. The Mukesh tobacco ad played, the lights dimmed, anticipation was high. But the moment the film began, a sense of unease settled in. Billionaire Ranjeet Dobriyal (played by Ranjeet) dies just before his 100th birthday bash on a cruise ship. Soon, characters played by Shreyas Talpade, Dino Morea, Fardeen Khan, Chitrangada Singh, and others are introduced. The discomfort starts early: a female lawyer (played by Soundarya Sharma), enters in a highly sexualised manner with Ranjeet's will, sits provocatively, and becomes the target of a crass joke where the character of Shreyas Talpade uses rolled-up paper as binoculars as she crosses her legs. Some chuckled, others looked on, squirming in their seats. ALSO READ | Housefull 5 director blames viewers for focusing on 'skin show, objectification of women' in the Akshay Kumar-starrer: 'The plot is driven by women' But this was just the beginning. In one scene, Soundarya's cleavage is emphasised through two clumsy paper-dropping incidents, drawing the gaze of camera and male characters. One might expect grown adults to roll their eyes at such dated attempts at humour. But when a child, barely 10, sitting near me laughed at the scene, the real problem is obvious — what were they laughing at and what were they learning? As the film progressed, the scenes grew more disturbing. Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, and Riteish Deshmukh each show up with Nargis Fakhri, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Sonam Bajwa, respectively, to stake their claim to Ranjeet's empire–the only clue being that Jolly, his heir, has a foreigner wife and a burn mark on his butt. What follows is a slew of jokes centred around skin show, sexual positions, and degrading female characters. Especially when Akshay Kumar asks Nargis Fakhri to show off her body to prove she is a 'foreigner' woman. Phrases like '69' and visual gags of women being inappropriately touched in the dark pass off as punchlines. The curiosity these scenes brought in children's eyes wasn't comic–it was loaded with questions no parent had prepared to answer. And who could blame them? The CBFC told them this was 'safe' to watch — that this was 'family-friendly entertainment.' ALSO READ | Housefull 5A and Housefull 5B ending explained: Who are the killers in this Akshay Kumar-starrer? But so was not the fate of Oh My God 2, a film that dared to do what our education system often avoids. With Akshay Kumar in a divine avatar, the 2023 film approached topics like masturbation and puberty not with vulgarity, but with empathy and clarity. It was not flawless but a sincere effort to destigmatise topics that are often hushed in Indian homes and classrooms. But the CBFC found it to be 'too explicit', delayed it, ordered multiple cuts, and finally stamped with an 'A' certificate. Rather than focusing on the content and its purpose, censor board was busy taking issue with Akshay Kumar originally playing Lord Shiva in OMG2, forcing the makers to recast him as 'Shiv ka Das' to avoid offending religious sentiments. However, it didn't find an issue with the way women were objectified, crass dialogues and voyeurism in Housefull 5–and labelled it U/A. The most sobering reality is not just the system–it's us, the audience. Housefull 5, despite its regressive humour and objectification of women, is racing ahead at the box office. Tickets are selling out, laughter echoes in packed theatres, and it is being labelled as 'mass entertainer'. We are the same people who laugh at sexist jokes in movies like Housefull 5 or watch it with our children in theatres but often be the first one to raise moral alarms when a web series depicts nudity, intimacy, or profanity–even when done in context. The double standards of the censor board only reflect the double standard of our society. Jyothi Jha works as a Copy Editor at the Indian Express. She brings in more than 5 years of experience where she has covered Entertainment majorly for TV9, NDTV and Republic Media. Apart from Entertainment, she has been an anchor, copy editor and managed production team under the Politics and Daily News segment. She's passionate about Journalism and it has always been her first choice, she believes in what George Orwell had once said, " Journalism is printing what someone else does not want you to do, rest everything is public relations". ... Read More
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Cooperative society uses names of actors to lure, dupe investors
A multi-state credit and thrift cooperative society operating in Uttar Pradesh allegedly used the names of Bollywood actors to promote its schemes and win public trust, thus duping unsuspecting investors. A case in point is Lucknow's adjoining district Hardoi, where the society allegedly used the name of actor Shreyas Talpade to attract investors. The actor's name was also mentioned in the FIR filed at Shahabad police station on June 7 (Saturday), after the society allegedly disappeared with crores of rupees collected from investors, authorities said. According to inspector, Shahbad police station, Brijesh Rai, local agent of the society Amar Singh filed an FIR against 16 people, including Talpade, under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (fraud), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 504 (insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the old Indian Penal Code (IPC). Fifteen accused named in the FIR include Ram Rajput, Gaurav Verma. Krishna Dixit, Faheemullah Khan, Raziullah Khan, Sanat Rajput, Uttam Kumar Singh, Samir Agarwal and his wife Sania Agarwal, Mumbai-based fund manager RK Shetty, Sanjay Mudgal, Pankaj Agarwal, Shahab Hashim and Zulfikar Ahmad, Rai said. However, according to the inspector, initial investigation suggested that Shreyas Talpade had nothing to do with the society. He said the society operators would claim association with Bollywood actors to attract investors. They had also used the name of another Bollywood actor Alok Nath, which was also mentioned in a separate FIR lodged in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar Extension police station. In his complaint, Amar Singh stated that the society initially offered him the role of centre manager for its Hardoi unit and lured him into investing family funds in return for attractive returns. Believing the claims, Singh said he helped raise over ₹1 crore from friends, relatives, and others since 2022. He said the society operators insulted him and threatened him with dire consequences when he asked them to return the money on the completion of its maturity period.
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India.com
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Exclusive: Giorgia Andriani Is Happily SINGLE, Reveals Her 2 AM Friend In Bollywood & Believes Gender Should Not Decide Your Pay
Model-turned-actress Giorgia Andriani is majorly into fitness, fashion and all things stylish. The Italian beauty has over 1.6 million Instagram followers and often shares her updates on social media. She made her Bollywood debut with Shreyas Talpade in Welcome To Bajrangpur, followed by her appearances in Karoline Kamakshi (2019) and Martin (2024). In her chat with Zee News Digital, she opened up on working in India, pay parity in Bollywood and much more. Read her exclusive interview here: Q. How has your experience of working in India been so far? A. India has honestly felt like a second home to me. The warmth of the people, the incredible culture, and the energy of the industry, it's all so infectious. I've had the chance to work on diverse projects and collaborate with very passionate, talented people. It's been a journey of growth, discovery, and endless learning, and I'm truly grateful for every moment. Q, Who are your 2 am friends in Bollywood? A. I'm honestly a bit of an old soul, so I rarely stay up till 2 am! (laughs) But I do have a few very close friends from the industry with whom I can talk about anything, at any hour. Shehnaaz Gill has been like family to me here. It's so important to have your tribe in this fast-paced world. Q. There is a huge pay gap between male and female stars. What do you have to say on that? A. It's an important conversation and one we need to keep having until things change. I believe talent, dedication, and the ability to pull audiences, should decide the final compensation and not the gender. The industry is evolving slowly, and I see more women speaking up and taking charge, which is very encouraging. But yes, there's still a long way to go. Q. Are you dating anyone or single right now? A. I'm happily single and focusing on myself and my work. I believe this is such a beautiful time to grow, travel, explore new opportunities, and nurture my passions. Love will come when it's meant to, but right now I'm in a relationship with life. Q. Tell us about your upcoming projects A. I'm quite excited about what's coming up! A couple of music videos and a film project are in the pipeline. I can't reveal too much yet, but you'll definitely be seeing more of me very soon! Q. Your last relationship was much-hyped, what did you learn from it? A. Every relationship teaches you something about yourself. I think what I've learnt is the importance of personal peace, independence, and surrounding yourself with people who truly value you for who you are. Life is about evolving, and I'm grateful for every experience that shapes me. Q. What do you have to say on objectification of women in movies, especially special dance numbers? A. It depends on the intent and the execution. There's a fine line between celebrating femininity and objectifying women. I love dance numbers that are empowering and showcase a woman's confidence and strength. As an artist, it's important for me to be part of work that respects women while still being entertaining. Cinema should uplift, not reduce anyone to a stereotype.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Kapkapiii Movie Review: This campy horror comedy has more chuckles than chills
Story: A group of out-of-work boys begin dabbling with an Ouija board just for kicks. At first, it's all fun and games — until strange events start to unfold. What begins as harmless mischief soon spirals into chaos, turning their lives upside down. 'Kapkapiii' is a Hindi remake of the 2023 Malayalam horror-comedy Romancham. Review: Horror comedies flow in a peculiar rhythm that's often hard to perfect. It's a fine balance that has to be maintained between making it too campy, somewhat goofy, and scary enough to make the audience feel just a tinge of fear. Kapkapiii checks these boxes mostly — but not without flaws. Manu (Shreyas Talpade) and his friends Achyut (Dinker Sharma), Nanku (Jay Thakkar), Nirup (Varun Pande) and others are a bunch of nincompoops sharing a room and doing all the aimless things out-of-work boys usually do. Things get mildly exciting when two young girls — Kavya (Siddhi Idnani) and Madhu (Sonia Rathee) — move in next door. But just when romance seems like a possibility, the story takes a sharp, spooky turn when Manu brings home an Ouija board. What begins as casual foolery soon snowballs into a series of eerie events that start to disrupt their lives. The tension gradually builds until it reaches a flashpoint — an unmistakable, unsettling presence in the house. As the plot progresses, more twists stumble out of the closet, adding layers of chaos to the group's already messed-up reality. Directed by the late Sangeeth Sivan best known for comedies like 'Kya Kool Hain Hum', 'Apna Sapna Money Money', and 'Yamla Pagla Deewana 2', leans heavily into the humour more than the horror. The comedy is crude, occasionally borderline offensive, but many of the jokes surprisingly land. The film thrives in its raw, unfiltered moments — thanks to the tapori lingo and the wild ways these boys speak to each other. There's a consistent stream of chuckles, aided by the fact that each character is quirkier than the next. Sivan and writers Saurabh Anand and Kumar Priyadarshi find fertile ground in their concept — throwing a motley bunch of lazy fellas into a haunted house scenario. It's not polished, but it's packed with energy. Unfortunately, the female characters here feel like mere props. Their presence is largely inconsequential, and their romantic tracks do little beyond stretching the runtime. Tusshar Kapoor's entry in the second half is a welcome change of pace. His character Kabir has a very bizarre yet funny trajectory. Tusshar's goofy expressions help but his character could have been fleshed out better. Shreyas Talpade is loud, as expected, but brings the right madness to Manu. Among the supporting cast, Dibyendu Bhattacharya is a total riot even in a short cameo. He has the rare ability to make an impression with minimal screen time. The screenplay, while rooted in a solid concept, feels cluttered with too many characters and too much chaos. While the humour works, the horror often fizzles. Still, the chemistry between the boys keeps things from falling apart. Music by Ajay Jayanthi blends well with the film's overall vibe, keeping it breezy and fun. Overall, 'Kapkapiii' is a harmless fun film that will tickle your funny bone but won't exactly send shivers down your spine.
News18
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Kapkapiii Box Office Day 1: Shreyas Talpade's Horror Comedy Off To A Slow Start
Last Updated: Tusshar Kapoor and Shreyas Talpade have previously shared the screen space in Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3 and Golmaal Again. Kapkapiii, the Shreyas Talpade and Tusshar Kapoor starrer horror-comedy, has made a lackluster debut at the box office. Released on limited screens, the film couldn't gather much audience despite giving special offers like Buy-One-Get-One for the opening weekend. According to the film minted a total of Rs 26 Lakh Nett India on Day 1. The major reason for the low numbers could be its stiff competition from big projects like Bhool Chuk Maaf, featuring RajKummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi, as well as Kesari Veer: The Legends of the Somnath, starring Sooraj Pancholi. Some of the other holdover releases, including Ajay Devgn's Raid 2, Akshay Kumar's Kesari 2, Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible 8 and Final Destination: Bloodlines, are too big competitors for the horror-comedy due to their exceptional performance on the big screen. However, going by the positive word-of-mouth of the critics and viewers, Kapkapiii is expected to gain momentum in the coming days. Directed by Sangeeth Sivan, the film is an official Hindi remake of the Malayalam film Romancham and also features celebs like Siddhi Idani, Jay Thakkar, Sonia Rathee and Varun Pandey in significant roles. Kapkapiii marked Sivan's collaboration with Tusshar after a long gap of 19 years. They had previously worked together in Kya Kool Hain Hum, while the director joined hands with Shreyas Talpade in the 2006 comedy-drama Apna Sapna Money Money. The director lost his life during the making of Kapkapiii, while the film was in post-production. Recently, in a chat with Zoom, Tusshar mourned his demise and said, 'This is a sensitive topic for all of us. We are still in disbelief. The shock and emotional overwhelm are not intended to carry his legacy or memories forward. Unfortunately, he's not here to enjoy the film." The film follows a group of friends who, while experimenting with an Ouija board, unintentionally trigger paranormal activity in their shared home. This results in a series of spooky and hilarious events, blending horror with comedy. Tusshar and Shreyas have previously shared the screen space in Rohit Shetty's Golmaal Returns, Golmaal 3 and Golmaal Again. They will be reuniting again for Welcome…To The Jungle, co-starring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and others. First Published:
