Have you heard? My relationship, my business

Saba Azad and Hrithik Roshan

Saba Azad grew critical of a response she received from a former collaborator while ascertaining the reason behind his decision to refrain from giving her work as a voice-over artiste. Azad, who said she had been in the business for around 15 years, had been wondering why work had been dwindling in the last two years. Sharing that having crossed paths with a director-friend, she inquired why they had stopped approaching her. Azad shared that the director said, "We thought you wouldn't like to do voice-overs anymore." "In short, he said he didn't think I would do a VO's job, given who I was dating," she wrote. Even though they have not confirmed their relationship, Azad and actor Hrithik Roshan have been dating for several years. The duo often heaps praise on one another, and Azad is often seen with Roshan on public platforms and at family functions. Slamming the "patriarchal mindset", she questioned if we "are still living in the dark ages where we assume a woman in a relationship with a successful partner no longer has to put food on her own table".

Baby on board

Actor Drashti Dhami, who is known for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Pardes Mein Hai Mera Dil, and Duranga, is expecting her first baby with her husband, Neeraj Khemka. Yesterday, the actor took to social media to share a video announcing the news. "Could be pink, could be blue. All we know is that we are due! October 2024," read a poster in the video. She wrote in the caption, "In a galaxy not so far away, a tiny rebel is joining our crazy tribe. Please send love, blessings, cash, and French fries." The couple tied the knot in 2015.

MAMI gets a new director

Filmmaker Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, who has been a part of the MAMI board since 2021, has stepped in as interim festival director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival at The Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI). Dungarpur has directed three award-winning documentaries, including two National Awards, under the banner of his production house. In 2014, Shivendra founded the Film Heritage Foundation, a Mumbai-based non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation and restoration of India's film heritage. Its film restorations have been selected for premieres at the Cannes Film Festival.

Remembering Rajput

Sara Ali Khan and Ankita Lokhande remembered late actor Sushant Singh Rajput on his fourth death anniversary yesterday. Khan remembered Rajput by sharing a string of unseen images of them. Khan made her Bollywood debut with Kedarnath (2018), which featured the late actor. Lokhande also remembered the actor by sharing a picture of him with his pet dog. Meanwhile, Rajput's sister held a prayer meet yesterday. Rajput was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his apartment on June 14, 2020.

Can the cop nab the ghost?

The makers of Singham Again, starring Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor Khan, have locked the release date of the film for Diwali this year. With the new release date now set, it appears the film will lock horns with the Kartik Aaryan-led horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3. The news was revealed by director Rohit Shetty, who presents the third instalment this year. Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 is being directed by Anees Bazmee. The film's last edition had a successful box-office run after Aaryan took over the reins. The movie also stars Triptii Dimri.

Remembering a friend

Anup Jalota and Talat Aziz recalled the fond memories of their friend Pankaj Udhas on a singing reality show. Talking about a performance on the show, Aziz said: "This was one of the songs that Anup Jalota, Pankaj Udhas, and I performed together. This brought back beautiful memories of those times when the three of us used to perform together. Those days were beautiful; I will always cherish them." Udhas passed away in February.

Not on Netflix

YRF Entertainment's Maharaj did not premiere on Netflix yesterday, as scheduled, after the Gujarat High Court stayed its release following a petition by members of a Hindu sect who claimed the film would hurt their religious sentiments. The movie, in which Aamir Khan's son Junaid makes his debut, caught the attention of social media users on Wednesday. Demands to boycott the film were subsequently made. Responding to a petition by members of Pushtimarg, a Vaishnava sect of Hinduism, the Gujarat High Court stayed the film's release. A single-judge bench of Justice Sangeeta Vishen passed the order against the film and issued notices to the Centre, Netflix and Yash Raj Films. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on June 18. According to a trade source in the industry, YRF and Netflix are challenging the stay order. "The matter is in court. Maharaj is based on a real-life case. It is adapted from Saurabh Shah's book titled Maharaj. The author has said that the film does not vilify the Vaishnav community."