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Indo-Asian News Service or IANS is a private Indian news agency. The IANS was founded by Indian American publisher Gopal Raju as the India Abroad News Service. It was later renamed the Indo-Asian News Service. The IANS has its main offices located in Noida.

Articles Written By IANS News

Vidyut on lockdown: Now is a great time to listen to our own ideas
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Vidyut on lockdown: Now is a great time to listen to our own ideas

Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) Action hero and fitness enthusiast Vidyut Jammwal feels that the time in lockdown should be taken as an "inner pilgrimage" and one should utilize this period to listen to the ideas from within.## "I always time spend with my near and dear ones. I spend enough time with them and I am happy spending time now also. I've never had a shortage of time because time can be managed. But it's a great time because the whole world is in lockdown it's an inner pilgrimage we can go into. We have only been talking to people and listening to them, but now is the time to listen to our ideas," Vidyut told IANS.## Vidyut is currently inspiring fans and followers with his live online fitness sessions. He says he wants everyone to understand the basics.## "Me blowing the candles with my hands or feet or doing the bottle cap challenge or break a brick with an egg with my hand -- that needs a lot of training. You need to get your basics right... That's the whole idea behind this program and age is not a criterion... Every part of your body needs to be worked out, said the actor, who has been doing martial art form Kalaripayattu since the age of three.## He added: "In Kalaripayattu there are six systems a person needs to master cardiovascular system, respiratory systems, digestive system, visceral system, skeletal system, and the neuromuscular system. If you know all of them then you are a master and to know all of them you need to study them."## The actor has a great fan following on social media. Fans follow his workout very diligently. Vidyut enjoys a following of 3.6 million on Instagram and 184.1K on Twitter.## What prompted him to start his live online fitness sessions? "Every time I was working or something I would get a message from them saying that 'please share your workout or diet tips' I have to genuinely spend time doing that so the way I workout, which is different from other people like going to the gym for two hours... So, I started doing one part of my workout for these guys and it just caught fire and I am happy I did. Whatever I do I share one part of my training with them," he said.## Stay tuned...

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Ramesh Sippy: Not really keen to remake 'Sholay'
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Ramesh Sippy: Not really keen to remake 'Sholay'

New Delhi, April 21 (IANS) Bollywood has been obsessed with remakes of cult films and blockbusters but filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, who gave Indian cinema one of its biggest gems, "Sholay", in 1975, does not favor the idea of his 45-year-old classic being recreated.## "I am not really keen to recreate 'Sholay' unless one can imagine a way to represent it in a very different way. Otherwise, remaking is something I would not like to do as far 'Sholay' is considered. It does not mean that I am against remakes -- many films have been remade beautifully but it's not that easy. It's how you recreate the whole world of a particular film and genre (that matters)," Sippy told IANS.## An attempt to recreate "Sholay" was done by Ram Gopal Varma in 2007, with "Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag". However, Varma's attempt was universally rejected and the film failed at box office.## Sippy's "Sholay" starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini and Jaya Bachchan among others. Today, the film is primarily remembered for Amjad Khan's iconic performance as the film's arch-villain, dacoit Gabbar Singh.## Recalling the memories of "Sholay", Sippy shared that it was extreme challenging to helm such a masterpiece back in the day.## "From making so many actors work together to involving high-octane action sequences and introducing people to the concept of a 70mm screen, creating 'Sholay' was a huge challenge. I am glad that our efforts did not go in vain. People liked our film, appreciated it and even 45 years later they still talk about it. It feels great to be associated with such a remarkable project," he added.## "Sholay" apart, Sippy made several other big-ticket Bollywood films such as "Andaz", "Seeta Aur Geeta", "Shaan", "Shakti" and "Saagar". He is also known for his serial of the eighties, "Buniyaad", which is currently being re-telecast on Doordarshan amid the coronavirus lockdown. The 73-year-old verteran is naturally thrilled.## Written by Manohar Shyam Joshi, the show is a family saga based in the time of India-Pakistan Partition.## "The re-telecast of 'Buniyaad' has ushered in a wave of nostalgia. I am really happy to see my show back on the screen after almost 35 years. We have a difference audience today. I hope they will get to know what the nation had to go through in the past and learn something from it, as we are dealing with a similar kind of situation right now," Sippy said.## For more and latest news about Bollywood, stay tuned with us.

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Shahid Kapoor's online 'war' with wife Mira
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Shahid Kapoor's online 'war' with wife Mira

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira Rajput Kapoor engaged in a funny online war, where Mira ended up taking "a sweet revenge" from him.## Shahid posted a short video where he is seen flirting with Mira and calling her "sexy".## "We grow wiser and more mature with each passing day in #quarantine," the actor captioned the video.## Mira took to the comment section and wrote: "Revenge is in the mail".## She posted a throwback picture of the actor on the photo-sharing platform.## "Revenge is sweet", she captioned the image, where a young Shahid features on a cover of a magazine.## Recently, Shahid took over the kitchen to treat his wife Mira with some pancakes.## On the acting front, Shahid will next be seen in "Jersey", a remake of a Telugu film of the same name. The film tells the tale of an aging cricketer who tries to make a comeback to the Indian cricket team to win a team jersey to fulfill his son's desire.## Stay tuned...

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Naseeruddin Shah: I am not done yet as an actor
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Naseeruddin Shah: I am not done yet as an actor

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) From theatre to television, cinema to digital platforms, veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah is constantly proving his relevance as a performing artist. Although there is nothing to prove as far as his skill as an actor goes, he says that he wakes up every day to the new sun with the belief that he has "something to give" to the audience.## "I think it is the suspicion that I still have function left to fulfil, I am not done yet as an actor. I still have something to give (to the audience) and I am lucky that people still want to watch me. I am lucky, and also the fact that I love my work, I love acting. There is something about performing. I can't explain the excitement, and I haven't got over it. I think I am obsessed with acting. I think when I wake up tomorrow morning if I am unable to perform, I probably will commit suicide. What is there in life without it?" the 70-year-old actor told IANS.## Shah is one of the most revered faces of parallel cinema and has also tasted commercial success. Over the years, he has worked with the biggest of filmmakers across genres, and he says he has always been supportive of debutant filmmakers.## "When I interact with newcomers I have the example of people like Habib Tanvir, Girish Karnad, Om Puri, Shyam Benegal, Satyadev Dubey. When I was a youngster, they were ideals for me. When one struggles, encouragement is needed, and these people always guided us. Perhaps it is because of them, even in our darkest days, we stayed hopeful and continued our struggle to become the actor we are. So when I work with new actors and film directors, I try and encourage the story that is worth telling," he said.## Asked if the politics of on-screen characters matter to him when he agrees to do a film, Shah said: " It is not always the character but what the intention behind telling the story is that matters the most."## Citing an example, the actor elaborates: " If the film ‘Khuda Kay Liye' were about glorifying the Taliban I would have not come on board to be part of the story. Coming from a very orthodox Muslim family, as a child I was told that Islam is the greatest religion and all non-Muslims are 'kaafirs'. But those thoughts used to disturb me as a growing adult. I was like, ‘but my friend KC Singh is such a nice fellow, it was not his decision to born a Hindu, so why would he go to hell?' We do not choose our parents and the religion we are born into'. Why should music be banned? All those questions were addressed in ‘Khuda Kay Liye'. So, as an actor, I had to agree with the ideology that the story was showing, not necessarily the character that I was portraying."## Stay tuned...

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When Shraddha Kapoor had 'bunny' teeth
2241 days ago
Bollywood

When Shraddha Kapoor had 'bunny' teeth

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Actress Shraddha Kapoor on Monday shared an adorable picture of herself from her childhood days, flaunting her "bunny" teeth.## "When I had teeth like rabbit....#beforebraces," shraddha captioned the image.## Reacting to Shraddha's cute image, actress Sara Ali Khan commented: "So cute."## Actor Varun Sharma wrote: "So cute. I have bunny teeth even now."## On the work front, Shraddha might reportedly share screen space with Telugu superstar Mahesh Babu in "Geetha Govindam" fame Parasuram's next. She was last seen opposite Tiger Shroff in "Baaghi 3".## Stay tuned...

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SRK claims he is not a superstar but a king
2241 days ago
Bollywood

SRK claims he is not a superstar but a king

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Shah Rukh Khan claims he is not a superstar but a king! The actor who is often referred to as Bollywood's "Badshah" was at his sarcastic best while interacting with fans on Twitter in an online session titled "#asksrk" session on Monday.## A user tweeted to Shah Rukh Khan hinting that perhaps the superstar should retire now. The tweet reads: "Decline is inevitable in a life cycle. When/how do u know its right time to change careers/call quits if u are a superstar?? #asksrk"## To this, SRK replied: "Wouldn't know....try asking a superstar. I am just a King unfortunately."## The actor also revealed how he is using the lockdown period to spend quality time with his three kids. Responding to a fan asking how he is spending the lockdown period, Shah Rukh replied: "Inspite of contributing to the population boom, having three kids to be with is a treat. They r in all shapes and sizes, so the day goes by being with them each for a couple of hours. Then spend rest of the day cleaning up their toys!"## SRK also shared the lesson this ongoing pandemic has taught him. Replying to a fan, he tweeted: "That we all need to slow down a bit. Look and feel life and nature a bit more than just seeking instant gratification 24/7."## He also uttered words of prayer for the world to tide over the pandemic soon. "Hope we overcome the virus...faster than the number of movies I have done. Insha Allah"## Shah Rukh concluded Monday's session with a message for his fans on how to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.## "Thank you all for #AskSrk Need to get back to doing nothing. Please stay at home. Physical distancing. Hygiene. And respect all who r doing amazing work on ground. Just Love a lot more and do nothing...because ‘Jo kuch nahi karte woh kamaal karte hain," he wrote.## Stay tuned...

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What was in Taapsee's mind during 'Manmarziyaan' wedding scene?
2241 days ago
Bollywood

What was in Taapsee's mind during 'Manmarziyaan' wedding scene?

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Actress Taapsee Pannu has revealed what was going on in her mind during the shoot of the wedding scene in Anurag Kashyap's "Manmarziyaan".## Taapsee shared a behind-the-scenes picture of herself, dressed as a Sikh bride in a blush pink salwar kameez. She also shared that this is one of her most favorite moments in the film.## "Just before the interval sequence of #Manmarziyaan One of my favorite moments in the film. As an actor who has acted in quite a few films now I have probably dressed up as a bride many times but this was the first one in Gurudwara," she wrote alongside the photograph.## She added: "Have only seen gurudwara weddings so closely in real life during the wedding functions of family members, friends, and relatives. So here I'm sitting n thinking........end mein kadah prashaad real mein milega ki nahi (will I get the kadah prasad after this?) #Throwback#Archive #QuarantinePost."## The actress essayed the free-spirited Rumi in the film, which also featured Vicky Kaushal and Abhishek Bachchan.## Taapsee's latest role in Anubhav Sinha's "Thappad" has been widely acclaimed. The actress will be seen in "Haseen Dillruba", "Rashmi Rocket" and "Shabaash Mithu" in the coming months.## Stay tuned...

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Yami Gautam: 'Vicky Donor' taught me to be fearless in my choices
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Yami Gautam: 'Vicky Donor' taught me to be fearless in my choices

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Actress Yami Gautam gets nostalgic looking back at her Bollywood debut film "Vicky Donor", which opened eight years ago on this day. She says the film that dealt with sperm donation and infertility, taught her to listen to her instincts and be fearless in her choices.## "What made the film so memorable is the team that collaborated together. It was one of the most memorable shoots in terms of learning team collaboration. Everybody was so energetic, giving and supportive of each other," she recalled.## Yami shared that the film led her to root for roles that have substance.## "It helped me explore myself as an actor. I remember the process of preparing for 'Vicky Donor'. We had workshops and we were so thorough with the script. After packing up we would sit with Shoojit da (Sircar)and Juhi (Chaturvedi) and work on upcoming scenes. It taught me to listen to my instincts and be fearless in my choices. It was a path-breaking script. I credit the film for strengthening my desire to be part of such stories that have depth and impact," she said.## She said the film's director Shoojit Sircar was one of the main reasons why she had said yes to the movie.## "I had watched 'Yahaan' and I thought it was a beautiful film. When I had just heard the concept of 'Vicky Donor' and I had auditioned for it, my instincts said 'I wish I get this part'. The concept was so fresh and the script was so funny," Yami recalled.## "Not many newcomers get to play such roles. When I got the part I was so happy and I knew it was going to be something special. I was very fortunate to have been directed by Shoojit da in my first film. He is so passionate and calm; he effortlessly takes you through the journey of the world that he creates," she added.## Stay tuned...

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Big B influence in Shreyas Talpade's COVID-19 awareness video
2241 days ago
Bollywood

Big B influence in Shreyas Talpade's COVID-19 awareness video

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Actor Shreyas Talpade has created a video to spread awareness about the COVID-19 pandemic and his effort bears an influence of Bollywood veteran Amitabh Bachchan, who he considers a "huge inspiration".## The video features Shreyas' childhood friends, who are not from the film industry. Each of them has come up with their own thoughts and do their bit to spread the word. One of the friends even mimics Big B in the video.## "Sir Paisa Wapas Corona, When a group of childhood friends, who are not from the Film Industry or actors but who are Businessmen, Professionals & doing Jobs in different parts of the country & abroad, decided to be a part of a video, the results were not only delightful but also heart-warming," Shreyas captioned the video.## He further wrote: "I say this because we didn't have a script. We just had a thought & everyone chipped in with their own thoughts & ideas. But the way it has flowed proves that wherever we are & whatever we do...We will always remain Connected. I've tried my best to do justice to everyone & at the same time keeping it compact & entertaining."## He even apologised in case people feel it's not up to the mark.## "To our Friendship & the bond that binds is together....forever. Enjoyyy. --SHREYAS TALPADE. PS - @amitabhbachchan Sir you've always been a HUGE inspiration to all of us & you continue to do that even in times of a Lockdown. Thank you Sir," Shreyas concluded.## Stay tuned...

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Vicky Kaushal: I was never a 'horror-film friendly' actor
2242 days ago
Bollywood

Vicky Kaushal: I was never a 'horror-film friendly' actor

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Actor Vicky Kaushal tried out the horror genre with "Bhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship" earlier this year. He says there was a time when he was not a "horror-film friendly" actor.## The film tells the story of a young shipping officer, Prithvi, grappling with a personal loss. He takes it upon himself to unravel the mystery of a haunted ship.## "I was never a ‘horror-film friendly' actor before doing 'Bhoot – Part One: The Haunted Ship'. I was someone who would step out of the room if a horror movie was on. However, with this film, I was able to overcome my fear," said Vicky.## "With this movie, the endeavor has been to bring to the fans, a true experience of the genre through a genuine horror film which is not just filled with thrills, but which is honestly scary," he added.## It will now have its digital premiere on Amazon Prime Video on April 22.## "I am happy that many more viewers across the globe can now stream the film and enjoy some edge-of-the-seat thrill, from the comfort of their personal devices on Amazon Prime Video," said the actor.## The Bhanu Pratap Singh directorial also features Bhumi Pednekar and Ashutosh Rana.## Stay tuned...

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Ayushmann: Grateful to industry for welcoming an outsider like me
2242 days ago
Bollywood

Ayushmann: Grateful to industry for welcoming an outsider like me

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) Ayushmann Khurrana's debut film "Vicky Donor" released eight years ago on this day. Looking back at eight eventful years, the actor says he is grateful to Bollywood for welcoming an outsider like him with open arms.## "It has been a gratifying, humbling and thrilling eight years and I would not want to change anything about it. I only have gratitude to the universe for enabling me to chase my dreams. It wasn't easy, it had its share of tears and lack of self-confidence but it sure has been super exciting," Ayushmann said.## Ever since his debut, Ayushmann has always picked unconventional themes that often bank on taboo topics, like the sperm donor in "Vicky Donor", or the man with erectile dysfunction in "Shubh Mangal Saavdhaan", the prematurely balding youth of "Bala" or and the gay man in "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhaan".## He has even had his share of misses, of course, by way of "Nautanki Saala!", "Bewakoofiyaan" and "Hawaizaada".## The National Award-winning actor says he has several things to be grateful for in his journey to stardom.## "I'm grateful to the industry for welcoming an outsider like me with open arms, I'm thankful to all the visionary film-makers who made me a part of their stories because whatever I'm today is because of them. I'm also supremely thankful to the audiences for loving my work and constantly validating my film choices with so much affection."## "They have told me when I have been correct in choosing the best content films and I have learned from them when I have faltered," he says.## Ayushmann is clear that he wants to back the best cinema that is being made by the industry.## "For me, the past eight years have only been about growth and my journey in cinema has just started. I wish to back the best films that will be made in the Hindi film industry and be a part of the phenomenal visions of the leading storytellers of my generation. I can't wait to know what my future holds for me," he said.## For Ayushmann, the responsibility to deliver great cinema to audiences drives him tremendously.## The actor said: "I realize the responsibility I have today to deliver good cinema because audiences expect my films to be differential and clutter-breaking but I'm relishing this expectation. This only shows that people want to see my films in theatres and in today's day and age that's the best compliment for any actor to get."## Stay tuned...

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Alia Bhatt slays lockdown blues with no make-up glow
2242 days ago
Bollywood

Alia Bhatt slays lockdown blues with no make-up glow

Mumbai, April 20 (IANS) A new picture of Alia Bhatt has the actress in a no-makeup look, and fans cannot help gushing. The photograph was uploaded by her sister Shaheen Bhatt.## After recently sharing a photograph of Alia catching up on sleep with her cat, Shaheen has now shared a cute picture of the actress where the two sisters strike a casual pose.## In the picture, Alia looks stunning in a white top with colorful print. What grabs the eyeballs, besides her trademark sweet smile, is Alia's glowing skin without any make-up.## Shaheen used a gif stating "pudding vibes" to describe the picture.## Meanwhile, during the lockdown period, the sisters have been experimenting in the kitchen. Recently, Alia's sister Shaheen took to her Instagram to share a photograph of the actress in her pajamas.## In the monochrome image, the actress, who looked pretty in a casual t-shirt and pajamas, is flashing a big smile for the camera as she is standing in her kitchen. In the caption, Shaheen said that Alia was making a pudding.## In another post sometime back, Alia shared a set of drool-worthy images of the chocolate cake and banana bread on her Instagram, writing: "Stayed home and .. baked a little with the sister. Shaheen Bhatt made the real chocolate cake and I made the grain-free paleo banana bread."## Meanwhile, on the film front, Alia will be seen in Ayan Mukerji's "Brahmastra", which also stars Amitabh Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor, and "Sadak 2".## Stay tuned...

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