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Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Siddharth P Malhotra on Bollywood's harsh realities, ‘Hichki' struggles - 'It reached a point where I wanted to end it all"
Filmmaker Siddharth P. Malhotra, best known for his work on 'Hichki' and 'Maharaj', offering a rare insight into his turbulent journey in the film industry in a candid podcast. While he was at it, he also opened up about his family's cinematic legacy, and the deeply personal struggles that shaped him as a storyteller. As the grandson of legendary actor Prem Nath and Beena Rai, and son of producer Prem Kishan, Siddharth admitted to The Free Press Journal that while a legacy may offer access, it doesn't promise respect or success. Sharing his initial days in the industry, he revealed that he started work at the age of 16, and took on odd jobs in TV serial sets, from setting up vanity vans to managing food, laying the groundwork for what would become an intense yet rewarding journey in television with popular shows like Sanjeevani and Dill Mill Gayye. Despite the exposure, breaking into films was anything but easy. After his 2010 directorial debut We Are Family, Siddharth faced a 7-year-long dry spell where his pitches consistently failed to take off. Hichki: A Turning Point From 2011 to 2017, Hichki maintained an idea he believed in, but no one else did. He approached actors from top to bottom, only to face repeated rejections. 'It reached a point where I wanted to end it all,' he admitted. The turnaround came when his wife, Sapna, pushed him to pitch it to Aditya Chopra . The film, shot in just 28 days, became a breakthrough moment. Remembering Prem Nath Siddharth also reflected on his grandfather Prem Nath's legacy, calling him 'a very learned man' who once swam the Mansarovar and knew over 100 classical raags. 'I was just 13 when he passed, but there are so many conversations I wish I could've had with him,' he shared. I Didn't Matter He Is Aamir Khan's Son: Director Siddharth P Malhotra On Working With Junaid Khan
Time of India
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Paresh Rawal proposed to his boss' daughter and waited 12 years to marry her: 'Yeh ladki meri wife banegi'
is famous for his perfect comic timing, he has made people laugh with iconic roles in films like 'Andaz Apna Apna', 'Chachi 420', 'Hera Pheri', 'Awara Paagal Deewana', 'Hungama', 'Garam Masala', 'Ready', 'OMG' and many more. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Born in Mumbai into a Gujarati family, Paresh always dreamt of becoming an actor. His love for acting and theatre not only shaped his career but also helped him meet the love of his life, . A theatre festival that changed his life Swaroop Sampat met Paresh at an Indian National Theatre festival. She had just finished school and was handing out brochures at the event. Her father was the chief producer at the time. Paresh and his college friends were performing a play at the same event. The moment he saw Swaroop, he knew she was the one. In fact, he told his friend Mahendra Joshi then and there that he was going to marry her. Even when Mahendra warned him that Swaroop was their boss' daughter, Paresh didn't back off. In a past interview with Bollywood Bubble he said, 'I was kind of 'Yeh ladki meri wife banegi'. My friend Mahendra Joshi was with me. He told me, 'Tujhe pata hai tu jis company mein kaam kar raha hai us boss ki beti hai woh'. Toh maine bola, 'Kisi ki bhi beti ho, behen ho, ma ho, main iske saath shaadi karunga'.' A bold proposal and a clear mind Paresh and Swaroop shared a love for theatre and acting, which brought them closer. While Swaroop was impressed by Paresh's talent on stage, Paresh couldn't take his eyes off her beauty. After a few months of dating, Paresh proposed to her in a very honest and straightforward way. Recalling his proposal, Paresh shared, 'After 2-3 months, I told her, 'I want to marry you but don't tell me 'let's get to know each other, let's grow together'. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Marte dum tak koi kisiko nahi jaan sakta. Toh mere saath woh futile exercise mat karo. Commit yourself. But we got married after 12 years.' 12 years of waiting and love Even though Paresh proposed in 1975, the couple didn't get married until 1987 — a whole 12 years later. The reason? Paresh wanted to focus on building his career before taking on the responsibility of marriage. Swaroop, too, was clear about her own values. She didn't want to elope as she was the only daughter in her family, born after many years. She wanted her parents to be part of her big day. In an interview with The Free Press Journal, Swaroop shared that Paresh was always sure about marrying her. Since they were both Gujaratis, their families had no objections. Once Paresh's career was settled, the couple tied the knot in a simple and intimate ceremony, marking the start of their lifelong journey. A happy ending with no family drama Since both Paresh and Swaroop were Gujarati, their families had no issues with the relationship. Once Paresh's career was stable, the couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in 1987. They went on to have two sons — and Aniruddh Rawal — and have lived a peaceful and loving life ever since. Their story shows that true love can wait, and sometimes, even a dramatic declaration like 'Yeh ladki meri wife banegi' can come true with time, trust, and patience. Paresh Rawal QUITS Hera Pheri 3
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sonam Kapoor's birthday: Bhumi Pednekar turns heads with Rs 5.77 lakh bag at the fashionista's party
Bhumi Pednekar made a stylish statement as she attended Sonam Kapoor 's birthday party on Sunday evening in Mumbai. Dressed in a simple yet elegant white midi dress, it was her eye-catching silver bag that truly stole the show. A chic look with a twist Bhumi chose a white gathered midi dress with ruched and zip details down the centre. The dress had full sleeves and a collar, giving her a classy and modern look. She added a rhodium-finish choker necklace to complete her outfit. But the real highlight was her silver pouch bag from the Italian luxury brand Loro Piana. As reported by The Free Press Journal, this bag, priced at Rs 5,77,050, is known for its unusual texture and careful finish. It gave Bhumi's outfit a touch of luxury and made her stand out at the star-studded event. Star-studded celebration Sonam Kapoor's birthday bash was attended by many close friends and family. Among the guests were Kareena Kapoor Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor , Swara Bhasker, Janhvi Kapoor , Arjun Kapoor, Masaba Gupta, Khushi Kapoor, and Vedang Raina. Bhumi fit right in, shining with her elegant style and unique accessory. Bhumi Pednekar's recent work Bhumi was last seen in the OTT series 'The Royals' alongside Ishaan Khatter. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo Although she faced a lot of criticism for her role in the show, she has remained strong and focused on her career. Director Priyanka Ghose defended Bhumi, she told News 18, "You will be treated like Goddesses, and you will also be ridiculed by trolls. All of the actors and creative stakeholders on this project were very well aware of what we were setting out to do. So, even with Bhumi, she has had an incredibly successful career so far. She's always gotten a lot of love and also, sometimes a lot of criticism for whatever she's done. I don't think she allows it to affect her at all. That's the beauty of working with actors who have been doing this for a long time." Riteish Deshmukh & Akshay Kumar's Titanic Moment Breaks The Internet Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Palak Tiwari says mom Shweta Tiwari is her toughest critic: ‘ She's tackled the same kinds of roles at my age.... '
Palak Tiwari recently opened up in an interview about the powerful influence her mother, television icon Shweta Tiwari , has on her personal and professional life. Talking to The Free Press Journal, when asked if her mother is her most honest critic, Palak responded confidently, 'Indubitably, yes.' She shared that Shweta knows her abilities and flaws even better than she does herself. Reflecting on their parallel journeys, Palak said, 'Our journeys are eerily similar — this is roughly the same age she began her career, actually five years younger than I am now. So, she knows the traps and pitfalls of this phase — she sees exactly where I'm going wrong.' 'We're very similar kinds of performers' Palak emphasized that what makes their relationship special is not just the mother-daughter dynamic, but the fact that Shweta is also a seasoned actor who understands the craft deeply. 'We're very similar kinds of performers,' Palak explained. 'She's tackled the same kinds of roles at my age, so when she gives feedback, it's from experience.' Palak shared how Shweta's guidance goes beyond lines and delivery; she notices subtle facial expressions and gestures, offering detailed insights that only someone with years in the industry could provide. With a smile, Palak said, 'She raised me, after all. So she'll watch me and say, 'That thing you do with your eyes, cute in person, not flattering on screen.' It's invaluable, really.' 'When we argue, I get scared…' Palak also recounted a personal story about how deeply her mother's feedback runs. 'She once told me, 'When we argue, I get scared seeing your angry expressions. They're so intense, I hope they never translate badly on screen.' And I was like, 'Seriously? While I was trying to ace that monologue, you were judging my facial expressions?' But that's just her, she always sees the bigger picture.' Despite having a mother who isn't afraid to point out her flaws, Palak approaches her career with grace, balancing the legacy she inherits with her own evolving identity. On the work front, Palak was last seen in 'Romeo S3', a thriller where an officer investigates a drug ring involving virus-laced drugs. The film was directed by Guddu Dhanoa . Check out our list of the latest Hindi , English , Tamil , Telugu , Malayalam , and Kannada movies . Don't miss our picks for the best Hindi movies , best Tamil movies, and best Telugu films .
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nancy Tyagi or Neha Bhasin? A social media post reveals who really brought chain corsets to India
Cannes Film Festival 2025 has been a major hit for India this time, as several social media influencers and actresses, from Sarah Sarosh to Janhvi Kapoor and Nitanshi Goel, stunned the red carpet at the French Riviera. Apart from the debuts, influencer Nancy Tyagi walked the red carpet straight for the second year in a row, but it seems her red carpet look this time didn't sit well on the internet, especially after singer Neha Bhasin alleged that the influencer misrepresented the outfit's origins. She accused Tyagi of falsely claiming her beige outfit at the Cannes Film Festival was self-stitched. How did the fashion feud brew The whole controversy started when singer Neha Bhasin recently took to her Instagram Stories and accused Nancy of falsely claiming that she had stitched her own outfit for her second look at the Cannes Film Festival. She went on to share an image of a similar outfit that she donned at one of her concerts in the past. The 42-year-old singer did not stop there; she went on to share some more stories, mentioning, 'This corset looks too familiar, hmmmm. Just wondering'. While the next story's caption read, 'Same Same'. She stated that the dress is from The Source Bombay, which is a fashion brand with an outlet located in Bandra. Lastly, sharing a post featuring the same outfit, she wrote, 'I rest my case'. But what's the reality? Well, the news broke out. Surbhi Gupta, the founder and stylist at The Source Bombay, while speaking to The Free Press Journal, stated that Nancy had bought the dress from their store, which she claims was stitched by herself. Gupta quoted the report, ' She did not stitch it herself, which she claims she did. The cape she wore doesn't belong to me... that's something she seems to have made herself, I guess and she bought the outfit for ₹25,000 before going to Cannes.' But is this the first time a celebrity is seen donning a chain corset? Let find out. Tight laces and royal graces: The curious tale of chain corsets in India Amid the ongoing feud, an Instagram page called Diet Sabya, an anonymous account on the platform, India's biggest fashion police social media handle, shared some details about the design of chain corsets and their origin in India. The platform shared some stories on its Instagram, saying that it clearly looks like it's from The Source Bombay. The next few stories included a discussion about the copied and non-copied debate of Nancy's outfit. This is when the page revealed that it is neither Nancy Tyagi nor Neha Bhasin, but the design was originally copied from 'The Blonds.' The pioneer of this chain corset is the iconic ballroom brand from the 2000s called The Blonds. According to DietSabya, the Blonds were the ones who first made it, and then everyone copied it. Finally, the last story noted, 'It was the 'Raakesh Agarwal' who started the chain corsets in India. Why did Neha Bhasin call out Nancy Tyagi? Later, Neha went on to mention, 'The intention was not to demean another woman but to state a simple fact. We have all worked hard to be where we are. We are all self made'.
