SCOOPS: Akshay Kumar's 5 releases this year, Shraddha Kapoor meets her 13-year-old fan suffering from TB

Akshay Kumar is known to start and finish films at a quick pace. He doesn’t believe in taking long breaks from work and usually has three-four releases every year. However, this year is looking to be different for the National Award winning actor as he has as five movies lined up to open in cinemas. Akki begins 2019 with his Holi release Kesari, which is based on the 1897’s Battle Of Saragarhi, followed by Mission Mangal during the Independence Day weekend. Next, in September, the superstar has Good News, which also reunites him with Kareena Kapoor Khan, after a decade since their last film together, Kambakkht Ishq. That’s not all, the 2.0 actor’s eagerly-awaited comic caper Housefull 4, which has a reincarnation theme, releases the following month, during Diwali. Moreover, there’s strong buzz that Rohit Shetty’s action thriller Sooryavanshi will be the last Bollywood film to hit the marquee in 2019. Latest reports suggest that the cop action-drama will be out in theaters on December 27. The blockbuster director gave an indication of this when he added an announcement promo of Sooryavanshi to the end credits of Simmba, mentioning how Akki will be seen as supercop Veer Sooryavanshi this year. So that makes it five in a row for the Khiladi Kumar.

The big announcement about Ahan Shetty’s film debut came about a few months ago. Now, the newbie has also started gearing up to look his part for the movie, which is an official remake of South film RX100. Says a source close to the actor, “He has been on a weight gaining programme for the last three months. Ahan is currently on a high-carb diet with continuous workout and training sessions. He usually sticks to four meals a day that has a lot of chicken, rice and broccoli. Apart from that, he usually snacks on an oatmeal and a protein shake or a turkey sandwich.” There are several action sequences in the film, which will also present Ahan as a potential star, so he is making sure he’s perfectly in shape before he begins shooting around April-May. The film is being readied for a release towards the end of this year.

Four decades ago, director Subhash Ghai forayed into production with his fourth directorial venture, Karz (1980). While the Rishi Kapoor, Tina Munim (now Ambani) and Simi Garewal musical drama thriller was presented by his company, Mukta Arts, named after his wife Mukta, it was with Hero (1983) that he started making films only under his banner, Mukta Arts Pvt Ltd. Since then, he has given many blockbusters like Meri Jung (1985), Karma (1986), Ram Lakhan (1989), Saudagar (1991), Khalnayak (1993), Pardes (1995) and Taal (1999). On the occasion of his company’s 40 years completion, the showman sent out mementoes to his friends in the film industry and the media, expressing gratitude for being a part of his illustrious journey.

Bobby Deol let his elder son, Aryaman, steal his thunder on his 50th birthday when he posted their picture online. He also penned a long post in which he described the bond that he shares with his first born. 

The Race 3 actor wrote, “If that’s how it feels!! Being 49 was amazing .. 50 is going to be even better ... I reminiscence the life experiences I have been through and how they have made me grow as an individual. I take the same opportunity to remember the amount of love that all of you dear to me have given me. It is this love that is my strength which keeps me going. My son is symbolic to this change. Finding a friend in his young father. I hope to continue living my life happily with all of you loved ones. I have turned 50 but I’m still always going to be the twenty something young adult all set to win the world. — Love Love Love to all (sic).”

Not only did the actor get a load of likes for this picture with people remarking, “Who is the better looking guy in the photograph?” but there were  also many who swooned over the teenager’s good looks and commented, “Wow, yet another Deol is set to make his Bollywood debut.”

But do wait. We have learnt that Aryaman has something to do between now and making a career in the movies.

Dharmendra’s grandson will head to the Big Apple for his studies for a minimum of four years before he ventures into the direction taken by his grandfather (one of the 10 best-looking men in Asia at one point.) So, for all the Bollywood producers who are standing in queue to sign on this Deol lad, the wait may have gotten that much longer.

The first look of the Narendra Modi biopic featuring Vivek Anand Oberoi was out earlier this month. Apart from playing the Indian Prime Minister, what makes this project special for the Inside Edge actor is that he will share screen space with his dad, Suresh Oberoi, for the first time.

Says a source, “The father-son duo will be seen in several scenes together. Although the team is keeping his character under wraps for now, Senior Oberoi will have a prominent part in the movie that chronicles NaMo’s life.”

The film, which went on floors earlier this week, also features Boman Irani, Zarina Wahab and Darshan Kumar in pivotal roles.

— Nayandeep Rakshit

International masked music producer DJ Marshmello (Christopher Comstock) has teased a clip on his Instagram account with #biba. The American musician is all set to collaborate with composer Pritam for a track called Biba for the Artist Originals series. 

A source says, “They will also release a Bollywood style music video when Marshmello comes to India next month.” Though he posted a video of Daler Mehndi’s Tunak Tunak Tun, the Punjabi musician has nothing to do with the global collaboration. Marshmello has also hinted that he is working with Tu Mil Gaya hitmaker and viral sensation Shirley Setia by tagging her in the post. His message read, “new music coming#biba @ipritamofficial @shirleysetia (sic).”  

— Dhaval Roy

One Bollywood superstar seems to be equal to three actors. Once speculation began that Shah Rukh Khan has exited Saare Jahaan Se Achha, the biopic on cosmonaut Rakesh Sharma, further conjecture on his replacement started. Everyone who is anyone has rushed to add that they have been offered the script. 

It seems Kartik Aaryan, Vicky Kaushal (the current hot favourite) and Rajkummar Rao have reportedly been given copies of the script and negotiations are now going on behind closed doors. The makers want to keep this part a secret, but the actors themselves are in a tearing hurry to say, ‘me too’.

On Tuesday afternoon, Shraddha Kapoor surprised 13-year old Sumayya, who’s admitted in KEM Hospital for tuberculosis, by dropping in to visit her. The Stree actress had opted to cover herself in a burkha and be unaccompanied by her security to avoid attracting attention as she went to fulfil the wish of the girl who is diagnosed with the third stage of TB, which has led to her liver failing completely. While she’s battling between life and death, awaiting an urgent liver transplant, her online khwaish by a crowdfunding platform to meet her favourite actress caught Shraddha’s notice a couple of days ago. She immediately expressed her wish to meet Sumayya and seems to have come up with this idea.  

After meeting the teen and spending time with her, the actress shared online a picture saying, “I’m so so happy that I was able to go & meet Summaya today. She’s such a precious little angel. Praying for her recovery. @ketto please let me know how I can help with her treatment & all the best with all the work you guys are doing (sic)”