Tusshar Kapoor has opened up about the advantages and challenges of being born into a film family, reflecting on the expectations that came with being the son of veteran actor Jeetendra. In an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal, the actor acknowledged that a film family can make getting a debut easier, but stressed that sustaining a career and making a film successful remain outside an actor’s control.

Speaking about the pressure associated with being the son of an established star, Tusshar said there is often a greater expectation from actors who come from prominent film families. He said the industry and trade can be particularly critical, with achievements sometimes being viewed through a more demanding lens.

“When you are from a film family, an accomplished star’s son, you know, son of an accomplished star, I mean, then there is an expectation, especially within the film industry or within the trade, where no matter how much you do, the glass is always considered half empty rather than half full. So you have to always surpass yourself. So initially, of course, I had a tough time, you know, trying to ignore the noise that comes with being a star’s son. It’s not a red carpet for sure. Of course, there’s a huge battalion of pull-downers who were waiting for you to fall.” Tusshar Kapoor on blocking out the noise The actor also credited his experience of living independently for helping him deal with the scrutiny surrounding his career. Tusshar said that living abroad and away from his family helped him develop an individual identity and gave him the ability to focus on his work rather than outside opinions.

“But the fact that I’ve lived abroad, lived on my own, and found myself as an individual, living away from family, gave me the strength to really be able to block that noise out, no matter how overwhelming it got at certain points. I used to just block it out and just show up for work, show up for my classes. Yeah. I was training at that point. I would show up for work and just try to do my thing in my own way, in my track, and not focus on whatever is being said or what is being written. And then the film spoke for itself.” "You get your first break" Tusshar acknowledged that having a family connection to the film industry can provide an entry point that may be harder for outsiders to access. However, he emphasised that getting a debut does not automatically translate into success.

“So yes, it’s an Agneepath in a sense but one has to be grateful that, you know, getting your first film is easier when you are from a family that belongs to the film fraternity. You get your first break. But us film ko complete karna, us film ko logon ke saamne tak lana, aur film ka chalna, woh aapke haath mein nahin hai. So that’s the only advantage we have with all these disadvantages; that’s the only advantage we have: that you get a break. You are more accessible to people who want to launch star sons.”

Tusshar made his acting debut with Jeena Sirf Merre Liye in 2002 and has since worked across comedy, drama and other genres in Hindi cinema. His latest comments reflect on the continuing conversation around privilege, expectations and the challenges of building an identity within the film industry.

Also Read: Tusshar Kapoor opens up on 50 vanity vans at Welcome To The Jungle set: “Is it really justified?”

The popularity of Guddu Pandit, played by Ali Fazal in the Mirzapur franchise, continues to grow as fans find new ways to show their connection with the character. With Mirzapur: The Movie currently running in theatres, the character’s fandom has extended beyond social media posts and fan edits, with some admirers now getting tattoos inspired by Guddu Bhaiya.

Over the years, Guddu Pandit has influenced fan-created content, hairstyles, fashion choices, videos and edits. The latest expression of fandom has seen fans getting tattoos inspired by Ali Fazal’s character, reflecting the impact Guddu has had on the audience.

Ali Fazal, who has played Guddu Pandit across the franchise, said he feels touched by the continued response to the character, particularly after Guddu made the transition from the streaming series to the big screen.

Talking about the response, Ali Fazal says, “Honestly, I am extremely touched and overwhelmed by the love Guddu Bhaiya continues to receive. To see how the fandom has grown over the years and now multiplied even more after Mirzapur The Movie came to theatres is incredibly humbling. People have connected with Guddu in ways I could never have imagined, and seeing fans take that love to the extent of getting tattoos inspired by him is truly surreal. Guddu belongs to the audience as much as he belongs to me now. I am deeply grateful for all the love, and the fact that the film is doing so well at the box office makes this journey even more special.”

Guddu Pandit’s growing popularity highlights the lasting impact of the Mirzapur franchise and its characters. What started as a character from a streaming series has now reached a wider theatrical audience, with Guddu continuing to remain a prominent part of the franchise’s identity.

As Mirzapur: The Movie continues its theatrical run and receives a positive response from audiences, Ali Fazal is also reflecting on the character’s journey. The film’s performance has expanded the Mirzapur universe to the big screen while further highlighting the connection audiences have developed with Guddu Pandit over the years.

Also Read : Trade predicts Mirzapur The Movie can EASILY enter Rs. 200 crore club: “Rs. 10 cr+ Monday after a HUGE holiday weekend is a remarkable achievement”

Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, has been eliminated from Khatron Ke Khiladi Season 15. Following his exit from the stunt-based reality show, Orry took to Instagram to reflect on his experience and open up about the struggles that often remain hidden behind his glamorous public image.

Known for his appearances at parties and his pictures with Bollywood celebrities, Orry said that social media often presents only the most polished version of a person’s life. Sharing several glimpses from his time on Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, he wrote, “We are educated to put only the shiniest, most pretty, perfectly curated moments on our feed. Everyone knows me as the boy who is always at a party, always with celebrities, always extremely opulently glamorous and ‘has everything easy', an image of the dream life drowning in immense happiness and privilege, never a worry in sight.” He went on to explain that there is more to his life than what people see online. “Nobody sees beyond that – the chaos, the struggle, the hustle, the hard work, the grit, and the days your head is literally locked in a box of rats. People think living a glamorous life means you've never faced hardship, but one cannot build resilience on fluff.” During his stint on the show, Orry participated in several challenging stunts and pushed himself through difficult tasks. Reflecting on his determination, he said, “You don't face your fears like this if your life was always easy and smooth sailing. I pushed to make it this far because I've fought through unpretty parts never meant for the feed, with nightmares fueling me to prove my grit beyond the grid,” he wrote. Orry also expressed gratitude for being part of Khatron Ke Khiladi 15, describing the experience as an opportunity to reveal different sides of his personality. “It has been an honour to participate in a 0 bias show that objectively brings out every single shade of who I actually am. The many many many shiny and sparkly parts as well as dead and damaged ones. Because that is also part of who I am.” Also Read : Orry keeps Salman Khan’s picture beside his bed; says the superstar gave his career a much-needed kick-sta

Rani Mukerji was honoured with the Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award at the 62nd Maharashtra State Film Awards ceremony held in Mumbai on Wednesday. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the award to the actor in the presence of Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and members of the film fraternity.

The award recognises Rani’s contribution to Indian cinema and her long-standing association with Mumbai and Maharashtra. Born and brought up in Mumbai, the actor has built a career spanning several decades, with films including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Hum Tum, Bunty Aur Babli, Black, Talaash, Hichki and Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway among her credits.

While accepting the honour, Rani spoke about her connection with Maharashtra and described the state as an important part of both her personal and professional journey. She said, "Majhyasathi Maharashtra fakt ek rajya nahi. "Maharashtra majhi janmabhoomi aahe. Majhi karmabhoomi aahe. Ani majhya ayushyacha ek avibhajya bhaag aahe (For me, Maharashtra is not just a state. Maharashtra is my birthplace. It is the land where I built my career. And it is an inseparable part of my life)."

Talking about Mumbai’s role in her life, Rani added, "Mumbai has given me my identity. It has given me an audience. It has given me a career. And it has been my home, my safe place, my everything. So this award will hold a very special place in my heart because whenever I look at it, I will not just see an award. I will see my Mumbai, my Maharashtra."

Rani also reflected on the kind of characters she has chosen throughout her career. "I have always silently worked to represent the powerful girls and women of India through cinema that has its heart in the right place."

She further said, "I chose characters that felt truthful, that I felt instinctively drawn towards for their story, their journey and their resilience. Characters who had courage. Characters who had flaws. Characters who refused to disappear into the background. Women who were never waiting for someone else to rescue them."

Concluding her remarks, Rani said, "I have never considered cinema merely a profession. For me, cinema is a deep emotion. And Maharashtra is the home of that emotion."

Also Read : Rani Mukerji becomes second Indian film personality after Shah Rukh Khan to receive La Trobe Honorary Doctorate

Veteran actor Sharat Saxena, known for his memorable villainous and supporting roles in Hindi cinema, has shared pictures from an MRI session ahead of his upcoming surgery. The actor, who was recently seen in Ajay Devgn-starrer Son of Sardaar 2, posted four pictures from the MRI room on social media, prompting fans and well-wishers to express concern and wish him a speedy recovery.

Saxena shared the pictures shortly before undergoing surgery. The photographs show the actor undergoing an MRI while standing, with visible discomfort on his face.

Sharat Saxena undergoes MRI while standing

Sharing the pictures, Sharat Saxena revealed that the MRI was conducted ahead of his lumbar spine surgery. He wrote in the caption, “Standing mri before lumbar spine surgery at Bombay Hospital.”

Following his post, several fans and well-wishers took to the comments section to wish the veteran actor well and pray for his recovery. Saxena also responded to the messages and thanked everyone for their support. He wrote, “Thank you all for the good wishes. I hope I will be able to walk properly and work again. Thank you all.”

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Sharat Saxena’s film career

Sharat Saxena has been part of the Hindi film industry for several decades. After completing an engineering degree, he reportedly chose acting instead of pursuing a conventional career. Convincing his father to support his decision was initially difficult, but his family eventually accepted his choice.

Over the course of his career, Saxena has reportedly worked in more than 250 films across Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam and Tamil cinema. He appeared as Daga, one of Mogambo’s associates, in the 1987 film Mr. India.

He has also taken on a variety of roles, including comic characters and father figures. In Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he played Kareena Kapoor Khan’s father. He was also seen as Tota Seth in the Hera Pheri franchise, adding a comic element to the film. His other notable films include Tridev, Ghayal, Khiladi, Soldier and Baghban.

After several years away from the silver screen, Preity Zinta returned to acting with Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947. The period drama, which also stars Sunny Deol, was released theatrically on August 14, 2026, during the Independence Day weekend. However, despite its ensemble cast and the significance of its subject, the film received decent-to-mixed reviews and did not make a significant impact at the box office.

Speaking exclusively to Mid-Day, Preity opened up about the film’s performance and whether its box office underperformance affected her. The actor maintained that she remains proud of the project and believes an actor can only control the effort they put into a film, rather than its eventual reception.

She said, "First of all, I am very proud of the film, and it's a very overwhelming experience. And as an actor, I am always managing expectations. Once I am working, I put in my 100 per cent. As I said earlier, I believe in karam (deed). You do your karam and then leave the rest to god. You can't control what happens. So, you work as hard as you can on every film; I give my 1000 per cent and then leave the rest to God."

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What is Batwara 1947 about? Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Batwara 1947 is set in Lahore during the Partition of British India. The film is adapted from Asghar Wajahat’s acclaimed play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai and centres on a Muslim refugee family that moves from India to Lahore after Partition.

Sunny Deol plays the head of the refugee family, who is allotted a haveli in Lahore. However, the family discovers that an elderly Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, continues to live in the house. The story explores how the two communities navigate their circumstances, while focusing on humanity, empathy and resilience amid the upheaval caused by Partition.

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The film features Preity Zinta, Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal, Karan Deol and Abhimanyu Singh, who plays the antagonist Yaqoob Pehalwan. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, while Santosh Sivan serves as the cinematographer.

Also Read: Preity Zinta on working 16-18 hour shifts for Vibe amid 8-hour workday debate: “I wanted to finish my work and go back to America to be with my kids…didn’t go out even for one evening”

Actress Nora Fatehi has reportedly landed in a legal dispute after aviation company Dunes Aviation filed a Rs 3 crores civil defamation suit against her at a Gandhinagar court over comments she allegedly made about one of its chartered aircraft on social media.

According to a PTI report, Dunes Aviation has accused Nora of making “derogatory and reckless” remarks after she shared videos from inside the company’s aircraft during a Mumbai-Jaipur flight in December last year. The company has alleged that the actress referred to the aircraft as a “miniature”, a “toy” and a “Lego airplane” in the videos posted on her Instagram account.

The matter is reportedly scheduled to come up before senior civil judge R Agarwal on September 25. Dunes Aviation claims social media posts affected business In its suit, Dunes Aviation has reportedly claimed that Nora’s remarks reached a substantial audience because of her social media following, which the company puts at more than 4.6 crores followers.

The aviation firm has alleged that the posts caused reputational and commercial damage, including booking cancellations and a decline in business. According to the company, its bookings dropped by 15 to 20 per cent following the controversy, while cancellations increased.

Dunes Aviation has described Nora’s alleged comments as “reckless, irresponsible, and made without any technical knowledge, verification or factual basis”. The company has further claimed that the remarks resulted in “serious reputational damage, loss of goodwill and adverse commercial impact”. Company defends aircraft’s certification and operation Dunes Aviation has also addressed the comments about the aircraft itself. According to the suit, the Cessna Citation CJ2 used for the Mumbai-Jaipur journey was a standard aircraft and appropriately sized for the flight.

The company has stated that the aircraft was fully DGCA-certified and airworthy and was being operated legally under a valid Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP). What Dunes Aviation has sought from Nora Fatehi Apart from Rs 3 crores in damages, Dunes Aviation has reportedly asked the court to direct Nora to remove social media posts and other online content containing the alleged remarks or references to the aircraft.

The company has also sought a public clarification from the actress over the comments.

Also Read: Guru Randhawa supports Nora Fatehi after podcast comments: “So many young kids are inspired from you on a daily basis”