Entertainment

The Homely & Independent Kriti

Kriti Kharbanda is a name to reckon in the Telugu and Hindi film industry. Having begun her acting career in 2009, she has worked her way up to success. The young and bubbly girl-next-door actress talks exclusively to Lipika Varma for Hashtag India about her next film 14 Phere, the shoot of which begun recently, how she spent the lockdown and other subjects. Read on…

Lockdown Life

I enjoy being a recluse, thus I could adjust anywhere without complaining. I enjoyed being locked in because we were promoting our film Taish on Zoom while sitting at home. Hence, I could do multiple things at the same time. This lockdown has made me self-sufficient.

About being a recluse and enjoying it

I am a home-loving person and everyone is aware of it. I don’t like to go out when I’m not shooting; I prefer staying home. The idea of being home is being in your own space and enjoying it. We meet so many people during working hours so it’s very important to find some time for yourself. I get this from my mother; even now she spends all her time in the house. I guess I have been brought up to love staying home and luckily that came in handy during the lockdown period.

The idea of being home is being in your own space and enjoying it.

About missing her family and work

Two things I missed during this pandemic were my family and being on sets for work. I was eagerly waiting to go on set and now that I am back at it, it feels so different and scary. But, we have to move on with precaution and make sure our surroundings are clean and ensure we can protect ourselves.

Working on your birthday

Working birthdays are really a bonanza for me. This year, I was promoting my film Taish on my birthday. I enjoy working on my birthday as it reminds me of school days when you’d wear something fancy and everyone around you would wish you and be nice to you.

I have never had a party on my birthday. I love being with my near and dear ones on my birthday and my team and co-stars are those people to me!

kriti Kharbanda About missing her family and work

Upcoming films

I have a couple of films which have not yet been announced. I have signed something which is to release in the early half of December.

Two things I missed during this pandemic were my family and being on sets for work.

Sneak-peek into her upcoming film 14 Pheres

As you know, Indian weddings usually have seven pheres, but this film titled 14 Pheres has a socially relevant message that marriages don’t happen just between two individuals but between two families. It’s not easy to deal and adjust between two families, hence the message we are trying to send is, just like the respect of the family is important, love between the couple is important too.

Are women stronger when it comes to controlling their emotions in comparison to men?

I think it has a lot to do with where you come from and how you have been brought up. For example, my younger brother is the calmest person while I am an angry one, so it would be incorrect to say that all men get angry fast. A lot of women were suppressed in the past, thus they were not valued high enough. But in today’s generation, men and women are equal. Today’s definition of feminism is different in comparison to what it was 15/20 years ago. Today, we are all equal. I read a meme on social media this morning which read ‘happy wife’. I thought this is a biased statement as it should be ‘happy spouse’ because both need to be equally happy or else a house cannot stand tall. Women don’t need to be put on a pedestal, instead, they should be treated as equals.

December 21, 2020

#Lockdown, #StreamingNow, Celebrities

The Rise of Meenaakshi Chaudhary: Reigning Queen of the South India

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Entertainment

Action Reloaded: Sunny Deol Steps into the South with Jaat

Sunny Deol is riding high on the success of Jaat, his first full-fledged lead role in a South Indian film. Directed by Gopichand Malineni and produced by Mythri Movie Makers and People Media Factory, the film has struck critical and commercial gold. In an exclusive chat with LIPIKA VARMA, Sunny opens up about his experience working in the South, redefining stardom, and why audiences are returning to strong, rooted cinema. Exclusive Excerpts After Gadar 2, would you call this a golden phase in your career? Absolutely. When the first Gadar became a hit, meri dukaan band ho gayi. Then came the second one and dukaan khul gayi. People said Gadar 2 was outdated, but the audience loved it. Today, we’re returning to rooted films. Bollywood directors have moved away from making original, grounded stories—they’re focusing too much on city-centric films. But 99 percent of our audience is Indian, and they want stories they can connect with. How do you define stardom today? Do you consider yourself a star or an actor? I focus on my work, not on stardom. These days, actors feel the need to constantly stay in the public eye. But for me, stardom is enjoying my work as an actor. If my work is appreciated, I feel fulfilled. I feel blessed to be in this industry where we live different lives through our characters, even if it means no weekends and no regular work hours. We are people who love a peaceful life. Is doing physically demanding roles still challenging for you?Honestly, I’ve never found physical roles difficult. That’s just who I am. Age is just a number. If the role suits me and I can live the character truthfully, that’s enough. I don’t shy away from physically demanding work. What precautions do you take while performing

Entertainment

5 Paranormal Podcasts which will send shivers down your spine

Love the thrill of a good scare? Paranormal podcasts are the perfect escape into the unknown, where haunted tales, ghostly encounters, and eerie investigations come alive through chilling audio. If you are looking for something more than just background noise, these supernatural podcasts will tingle your spine and mess with your sleep. Grab your headphones and prepare to get haunted as DHANUSH KUMAR brings five podcasts that are not for the faint of heart. 1. Bhay Originals Created by Ankan Sharmishtha Bose, Bhay Originals has rapidly become a leading name in Indian horror podcasts. With over 2 million organic listens, it offers immersive, movie-style Hindi horror audio dramas that delve into ghost stories, paranormal encounters, and suspenseful narratives. Why it’s popular: High-quality production and original storytelling that keeps listeners on the edge. Listener feedback: Praised for its originality and spine-chilling narratives. 2. Paranormal Reality Hosted by paranormal investigator Jay Alani, Paranormal Reality explores real-life, supernatural phenomena across India. Jay shares his extensive experiences, discussing various entities and their characteristics, making it a compelling listen for those intrigued by the unknown. Why it’s popular: Authentic accounts from a seasoned investigator who provides a unique perspective. Listener feedback: Appreciated for its legitimacy and engaging content. 3. Ghosts Encounters Unfiltered Produced by Scare Events India, this podcast features Pooja Vijay, Sarbajeet Mohanty, and Savio Furtado from the Parapsychology and Investigations Research Society (PAIRS). They dissect infamous paranormal cases, sharing decades of experience and insights into the supernatural world. Why it’s popular: In-depth analysis of well-known paranormal incidents by experienced investigators. Listener feedback: Valued for its detailed discussions and professional insights. 4. Spookcast Spookcast offers original horror stories in Hindi, narrated by Avi and produced by Manjila Basu. The podcast covers a range of spooky tales, from haunted highways to eerie personal experiences, providing

Entertainment

Top 10 Travel Destinations Most Indian Celebrities Flock to During Summer Vacations

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