From bagging her first award for her American TV show to being one of the Padma Award winners, actress Priyanka Chopra says she is living a dream and the national honor is a result of her hard work. "From 'Dil Dhadakne Do' to 'Bajirao Mastani' to getting People's Choice award for 'Quantico' and now Padma Shri...I can't explain in words what emotions I am going through. I think I am living my dream," said Priyanka.

Courtesy: SantaBanta.com

After putting on huge weight for 'Dangal', the next big challenge for superstar Aamir Khan is to shed extra kilos and get into shape "like wrestler Sushil Kumar" to shoot some parts of the film. In the Nitesh Tiwari-helmed sports drama, Aamir portrays the role of a Haryana-based wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, who taught wrestling to his daughters, Babita Kumari and Geeta Phogat."I have put on weight for 'Dangal' and have to reduce it as well. I am a national level wrestler like Sushil Kumar ji. I had to put on 25 kgs, so have to now reduce 25 kgs and not just that make it look like Sushil Kumar...muscular, low-fat," Aamir told reporters here at the press conference of 10-year celebration of film "Rang De Basanti".

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

For fans of Hindi film "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", Bhumi Pednekar is etched in their memories as the smart plus-sized Sandhya. But the actress, who now looks almost unrecognisable in her fit avatar, says she's glad that Bollywood accepts "honest talent", size notwithstanding. "Dum Laga Ke Haisha", in which she landed a role by chance, required Bhumi -- a casting assistant herself back then -- to gain over 20 kg. She did, and carried out the endearing role so effortlessly that she has just won a Filmfare Award for her performance. Asked if Bollywood favours women of a certain weight and size, Bhumi told IANS over phone from Mumbai: "I think today a lot of attention has gone from what you look like physically. I think it existed a few years ago... there has been a very evident change in the kind of cinema our audiences are liking.I think people are accepting (actors with) different body types today... I don't think the idea of size zero exists any more. People just want to be fit." Now ready with her second film "Manmarziyan", Bhumi hopes the audience can relate to the change in her frame."I really hope that the audience can relate to it (the change in her avatar). I think the audience connected with me the most in 'Dum Laga Ke Haisha' because of the film that I was a part of, the way the story was told and the character was sketched," she said.

Courtesy: SantaBanta.com

When the whole industry, specifically Aamir Khan, came out in support of Sunny Leone after a rather unseemly drubbing by the anchor of a prominent news channel, lyricist and screenwriter Prasoon Joshi struck a different note. At an event yesterday to mark 10 years of the cult film 'Rang De Basanti', the 44-year-old lyricist, said that he was not in the habit of insulting a person publicly, but that that did not mean that he is in favour of Leone's past profession. 'I don't support Sunny Leone's past profession and I don't even want the youth to get inspired by that. But it is also not acceptable to take someone up to the well for this,' he said. 'If the person is a drug dealer, that's the person's personal choice. Will I disrespect the person? No! Will I insult the person publicly? No! That probably my culture doesn't allow. But at the same time, I wouldn't encourage the profession either. Certain professions don't play a constructive role in bringing up a great society, we need to criticise them as well.I think that's a free society, people have choices to make. But if the choices are not great, then we need to criticise. I think we need to draw a fine line; it is not such a black and white subject,' Joshi further explained.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff says he is keen to make a documentary film in future as they have the power to show reality. Shroff said he was currently toying with a few ideas that include one on the extinction of some species of bees and butterflies in India, to make a film. "Documentary is reality. It shows the truth. We used to watch a lot of documentaries, something we used to look forward to...I want to make a documentary too. I'll make it 100 per cent. Currently, I have a few subjects in my head," the actor told reporters. He was speaking at the press conference of upcoming the 14th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) for Documentary, Short and Animation Films.When asked about various themes on his mind, Shroff, the brand ambassador of the festival this year, said, "Cross pollination, bees, butterflies... they are diminishing. I have heard, 50-70 per cent of our original indigenous species have been extinct. I am thinking to make (documentary) on how to conserve that," he said. The seven-day festival will take off from January 28.

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com

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