Have you heard? Age appropriate?

Dulquer Salmaan, who turned 37 last month, said that he would like to explore action in the next decade of his life

Actor Dulquer Salmaan believes he needs to grow beyond the “romantic hero” image and let the maturity he has attained with age, reflect in his choice of roles. Salmaan has starred in romance dramas such as Mani Ratnam’s Tamil hit, OK Kanmani, and Sita Ramam, and The Zoya Factor, in Hindi, in his career of over 10 years. The actor, who turned 37 last month, said that he would like to explore action in the next decade of his life. “I have realised that, [in] this next decade of my life, I can’t survive as a romantic hero. I am turning 40 now, it is time to kick a**. I don’t want to be boxed into any genre. I want to keep pushing myself, and, anything that scares me is where I want to be.” His upcoming Malayalam film, King on Kotha, in which he plays an alcoholic gangster, is his first major outing as an action hero. “I have never been known to do action; it is very difficult. There are four to five fights in this movie, but it is also interesting to be in that zone, in terms of look and character,” he added.

Off to TIFF

Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming film, Thank You For Coming, has been selected for its world premiere at the soon-to-be-held edition of the Toronto International Film Festival. The film is a coming-of-age comedy directed by Karan Boolani and written by Radhika Anand and Prashasti Singh, and will be screened at the festival on September 15, at the Roy Thomson Hall. The film also stars Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila, and Dolly Ahluwalia.

All praise

Karan Johar heaped praise on  Vijay Varma at the 14th edition of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) which commenced on Friday. Varma was the only member of the industry to receive nominations for Best Actor in Films for Darlings, and Best Actor in a Web Series for Dahaad at the festival. “I just watched him in a series called Kaalkoot last night, and I was like, he can do anything. If an artist can do anything, that means that his versatility can take him to all kinds of places in the world.” Vijay will next be featured in Homi Adajania’s Murder Mubarak, Sujoy Ghosh’s The Devotion of Suspect X, and Mirzapur 3.

Kartik set to tie the knot by 2023-end?

Karan Johar left netizens scratching their heads when he made a comment relating to Kartik Aaryan at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Johar was seen poking fun at Aaryan, stating that he would be tying the knot before the end of 2023. “And what fun if it’s a wedding in Melbourne,” he added in the edited clip that did not appear to give any context to the discussion that preceded the conversation. Meanwhile, Johar also addressed their much-talked-about fallout, asserting that while their previous attempt to collaborate failed, they are in talks for another project. Asked if it was Dostana 2, Johar said, “Don’t ask me a secret and I won’t tell you a lie.”

Now searching for roots?

Rajinikanth’s friend Raj Bahaddur revealed the “secret” behind the Tamil superstar’s youthful energy, during the release of his latest film, Jailer. Talking to the media, Bahaddur said he derives energy from meditation and heads to the Himalayas often to meet sages. He added that he would be given roots of medicinal plants, which help him stay composed and young. “That is why Rajinikanth is a 73-year-old, and looks like a 23-year-old man. He looks more active and vibrant, film after film. The reason is the special medicinal plant root that gives him the energy,” said Raj Bahaddur.

Pasoori singer marries boyfriend?

Ali Sethi, who shot to fame globally with his Coke Studio song, Pasoori, in 2022, has reportedly married a Pakistani painter, Salman Toor. It is speculated that the duo tied the knot in New York City. Sethi met Toor at an art class at Aitchison College. It has been claimed that they have been in a relationship for a long time. In an interview with The New Yorker in 2022, Toor said that when he was 15-years old, he had tried to tell his parents that he was gay. “They didn’t accept that,” he told the publication. He added, “They said, ‘You’re not developed yet, you just don’t know.’ ” Although both of them eventually came to terms with his sexuality, they did so, he said, more with tolerance than with understanding. News of the duo’s wedding did not go down well with fans in Pakistan.

Jr B’s salute

Turning up on a reality show to promote his next, Ghoomer, close on the heels of Independence Day, Abhishek Bachchan recalled a special patriotic moment in his life. “I vividly recall an extraordinary experience during a film festival in Melbourne. I was granted the honour of unfurling the Indian flag at the Main Square, a momentous occasion as I had never officially hoisted the flag before. Sharing this remarkable moment with the legendary Kapil Dev ji was truly special. During the filming of LOC: Kargil, I had the privilege of interacting with the military. A Lieutenant Colonel imparted a poignant insight that remains etched in my memory. He remarked that the flag does not flutter due to the wind alone; it soars because of the weight of the sacrifices made by martyrs.” 

Serving humour this Diwali

Khichdi 2-Mission Paanthukistan, a sequel to the 2010 film, Khichdi: The Movie, is set for release during Diwali. The dysfunctional Parekh family, which was introduced to Indian viewers via a fictional television show before a film adaptation followed, will return to the screen again.  This edition takes audiences on an adventurous roller-coaster ride, delving into new dimensions of the Parekh family’s dynamics. Led by Supriya Pathak Kapoor, Rajeev Mehta, Anang Desai, Vandana Pathak, Kirti Kulhari, and actor-producer Jamnadas Majethia, the film promises a blend of humour, and entertainment. Farah Khan also joins this venture as she was spotted in the recently released trailer. 

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