Producer Ritesh Sidhwani's mother Leelu Sidhwani passes away

The entertainment industry is in mourning following the passing away of Leelu Sidhwani, mother of renowned film producer Ritesh Sidhwani. Mrs. Sidhwani passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024. A statement released by Ritesh Sidhwani's team reads, "We are deeply saddened to announce the passing away of Mrs. Leelu Sidhwani on May 17 2024."

Reportedly, Ritesh Sidhwani's mother was taken to P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre in Mumbai as she was seriously ill. Celebrities such as Malaika Arora, Amrita Arora, Javed Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar, Zoya Akhtar, Sharman Joshi, Chunky Pandey, and others paid a visit.

Funeral Arrangements

Prayers for Mrs. Leelu Sidhwani will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 3:15 pm at Quantum Park, RG Level, Union Park, Khar West. The cremation ceremony will follow at 4:30 pm at Santacruz Hindu Crematorium,

Ritesh Sidhwani, co-founder of Excel Entertainment production house alongside Farhan Akhtar, has produced numerous successful films. News of Mrs. Sidhwani's passing has garnered condolences from across the Indian film industry.

Also Read: Farhan Akhtar – Ritesh Sidhwani’s Excel Entertainment and Harman Baweja-led Baweja Studios join hands for their third collaboration

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Bhumi Pednekar to lead water bowl initiative to aid Mumbai's animals and birds during summer

Bhumi Pednekar is embarking on a new noble project to provide relief to animals from the sweltering summer heat! She is concerned about how birds and animals are finding it difficult to cope with the ongoing summer and how often they struggle to gain access to water and suffer from heatstroke, dehydration, and fever, often causing extensive damage to brain cells and vital organs, leading to seizures, comas, and even death.

Through The Bhumi Foundation, Bhumi plans on installing scores of water bowls in Mumbai to aid animals in need. These bowls will serve as essential sources of hydration for birds and animals struggling to find water and can also be a place where they can cool off too!

Bhumi says, “While we can voice our discomfort during the heat, innocent creatures suffer in silence. I feel it's important that we understand their plight and take care of the animals and birds around us. Regular access to clean water prevents dehydration, reducing the risk of strokes and other health issues. This simple provision supports their well-being in challenging environments.”

Through this initiative she wishes to urge everyone to add water bowls in their societies or neighbourhoods. Bhumi adds, “It is important that each one of us take responsibility for providing aid to the birds and strays in our areas. If cumulatively we all add water bowls in our societies and neighbourhoods – it will go a long way to help them. It can be a simple DIY container outside your balcony or society gate for birds and animals to get access to them.”

Bhumi, along with her team and some volunteers, will be placing water bowls in her area and will organise volunteers to do so across the city. ALSO READ: Bhumi Pednekar opens up on how fashion became her confidence; says, “When I was growing up, I struggled with feeling confident”

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EXPLOSIVE: Sandeep Singh, who has the biopic rights of Subrata Roy, to take legal action against Scam 2010 makers: “Hansal Mehta is a negative man. One day, his karma definitely will answer him”

Two days back, the announcement video of Scam 2010 - The Subrata Roy Saga was released and it became a big talking point. Hansal Mehta, who directed Scam 1992, will direct Scam 2010. The announcement led to a lot of excitement among the fans of the series. But one person who was left aghast was Sandeep Singh. He has the rights to the life of Subrata Roy. In fact, on his birthday last year, he even announced the biopic Saharasri. Hence, shocked by the announcement of Scam 2010 - The Subrata Roy Saga, he has decided to take legal action against Hansal Mehta, producer Sameer Nair of Applause Entertainment and the streaming giant, Sony LIV.

Speaking exclusively with Bollywood Hungama, Sandeep Singh minced no words as he said, “The director, Hansal Mehta, was a good friend of mine. We worked on Aligarh (2016) together. He has the ability to pick up negative stories because he himself is a negative man. One day, his karma definitely will answer him. His karma is already answering him slowly.”

Sandeep Said then said, “Everybody knew, including Hansal Mehta, that I announced Saharasri last year and that I have been working on this film since 2019. Yet, he has gone ahead and made the announcement. He even made the conclusion that it was a scam, which even the Supreme Court has not concluded so far. I don’t know who gave him the right to do that. It’s a money-making racket which he falls for and I think he definitely wanted to do that through the Scam series. God bless him for that. But neither I nor Sahara India Parivar will take it lying down. We are going to the court. We’ll go against the director, the production house and the channel. We’ll try and stop this show because the official rights of Subrata Roy are with us and my banner, Legend Studios.”

 

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Sandeep Singh then revealed how he managed to bag the rights, “I had met Mr Subrata Roy over lunch, for which he had invited me. I told him, ‘Dada, main khaana khaate waqt aapse ek gift chaha raha hoon. Maine suna hai ki aapke yahaan se koi khaali haath nahin jaata’. He asked me what I wanted from him. I expressed the desire to secure his life rights so that I could make a film or show on him. He did not say anything at first. But after lunch, he offered me mishti doi and said, ‘Yeh lo. Munh meetha karo. If I decide to give my life rights, it’ll be to you’. I asked me, ‘Dada, you know everybody in the industry. And yet, if you want to give me your rights, I’ll be very grateful’. He replied, ‘Yes, and it’s because of your intention. You are not here to make money. You are not here to give out the wrong story. Jo sachhai hai, woh tum dikhaao’.”

Talking about his research, the producer stated, “I met Tihar jail officials, the lawyers, Kapil Dev, Akhilesh Yadav, Virender Sehwag, his friends including the ones in the industry, etc. I recorded what they said about him. We even worked on the casting. Then last year, he passed away. That shook us and things came to a standstill. Then yesterday, when I saw the announcement video, we all were left shocked.”

Sandeep Singh also revealed, “Sameer Nair called me and my director (Sudipto Sen) to his office a few months ago. He gave us the proposal to do Scam’s next season with us since we have the rights to Subrata Roy’s life. We rejected the offer and categorically told him that his is not a scam story. He said, ‘If you are uncomfortable with the proposal, then no worries’. And few months later, they shocked us and cheated us by announcing Scam 2010. But they’ll have an answer from us very soon and we’ll make sure that they step back.”

Did Sandeep Singh call Hansal Mehta or Sameer Nair after he saw Scam 2010’s announcement video? Sandeep Singh retorted, “Did they try to speak to us before putting out the teaser? Our announcement came out last year on his birthday. Yet, why did they do so? The onus of having ethics falls on them, not on me. Hansal Mehta and Sameer Nair have known me for more than 15 years. They should have called and asked, ‘We are going ahead with Scam 2010. Is that okay?’. They knew that the rights were with me.”

Sandeep Singh said he’s saddened by the fact that going by the format of the series, it’ll show Subrata Roy in a negative light. “Hansal Mehta and Applause Entertainment think that they are bigger than the Supreme Court of India. They have concluded that it’s a scam though the Supreme Court has not even concluded that in the last 10 years. The case is still going on. Yet, they made this announcement as they wanted to have publicity and make money. This is where Bollywood fails because we cheat our friends and we tell the wrong story without knowing the facts,” he said.

He signed off by saying, “We have roped in an actor. When the right time comes, we’ll make the announcement. Meanwhile, this cheap publicity needs to be fought with. It’s a tough battle actually. Here was a man who never ran out of India, like other businessmen. Everyone else flew out but he didn’t. He went to the Supreme Court when he was caught. He got jailed and he came out. Everyone knows that he has provided the maximum employment after the Railways in India.”

Also Read: Ankita Lokhande to play celebrated courtesan Amrapali in Sandeep Singh’s web show

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Richa Chadha reacts to Sharmin Segal getting trolled for her performance in Heeramandi; says, “I think truthfully, it is the audience’s right”

Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has been in news ever since its release. The grandeur of this Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial, as the filmmaker makes his big web-series debut, and the performances by actresses and actors have been receiving a lot of love from industry insiders as well as audiences too. However, it is SLB’s niece Sharmin Segal who found herself at the receiving end of trolls as many of them were quite brutal while reviewing her acting chops. Coming in support of the actress, was her co-star Richa Chadha, who essayed the character of Lajjo.

During an interaction, Richa Chadha addressed the matter of Sharmin Segal getting trolled for her performance in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar and she told Pinkvilla, “I think truthfully, it is the audience’s right. It’s the audience’s prerogative that you like the show, you dislike the show. You like a performance, you dislike a performance”. However, the actress also maintained that one needs to be mindful of the fact that it doesn’t hurt the actor. “But what happens today, I think in the era of social media, when people start trolling, making memes, doing all that, that’s a bit hurtful, I think, for anyone. We must never be unkind because it can happen to you tomorrow. And everyone is a human being,” she added.

In the past, Taha Shah Badussha, who essayed the role of Tajdar, who is in love with Sharmin’s character Alamzeb, also came in defence of the actress wherein he stated that her ‘method’ for acting ‘involves being subtle’.

For the unversed, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is a web-series set against the backdrop of pre-Independence that revolves around the lives of courtesans and explores a tale of love, power, betrayal, and freedom, featuring an ensemble cast of Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Pratibha Ranta, Sharmin Segal, among others as courtesans whereas Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, Fardeen Khan, play their patrons along with Taha Shah Badussha as the Nawab. The show is currently streaming on Netflix.

Also Read: Heeramandi’s Taha Shah Badussha opens up about his struggling period: “If you are not desperate in life, you will not get anything”

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Pratik Gandhi, Avinash Tiwary, Divyenndu Sharma starrer Madgaon Express premieres on Amazon Prime Video

On Friday, Prime Video announced the global streaming premiere of the super hit comedy-drama, Madgaon Express. Headlined by Divyenndu, Pratik Gandhi, and Avinash Tiwary, the film also features Nora Fatehi, Upendra Limaye, and Chhaya Kadam in pivotal roles. Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the banner of Excel Entertainment. Madgaon Express marks the directorial debut of actor Kunal Kemmu. The film will stream in India and over 240 countries and territories starting May 17.

Talking about the film, director Kunal Kemmu said, “Madgaon Express holds a special place in my heart as it’s my first project as a director and also a writer. It was the most liberating experience for me. Every member of the cast and crew poured their hearts, love, sweat, and tears into this film to guarantee that viewers would have a blast watching the hilarious antics of our three leads. The overwhelming adulation the film received during its theatrical run has been humbling. I am thrilled that it will now be available to a global audience through Prime Video.”

Manish Menghani, director – content licensing, Prime Video India, also shared, “Madgaon Express has been lauded for its revival of the classic comedy genre which has led to much audience love and appreciation. The movie’s relatable themes, phenomenal dynamic between the lead characters, and Kunal Kemmu’s commitment to portraying comedic gold on screen has contributed to making the film a huge success. It exemplifies our continued commitment to bringing fresh, top-notch Indian stories to our global audience. We are looking forward to adding yet another much-loved and successful title to Prime Video’s selection of blockbuster films.”

Producer Ritesh Sidhwani also added, “From the initial concept to the final edits, this film has been a journey of exceptional talent coming together. Kunal's vision as a director is fresh and captivating, and the phenomenal performances by Divyenndu, Pratik, Avinash, and the entire cast truly elevates the story. We're confident that Prime Video's global reach will allow audiences worldwide to experience the twists, turns, and thrills of Madgaon Express, and we can't wait for everyone to revel in this laugh riot.”

the Goa trip finally left the gc! ????????#MadgaonExpressOnPrime, watch nowhttps://t.co/o7vKye1ujL@divyenndu @pratikg80 @avinashtiw85 @norafatehi @Upendralimaye @CKadam24187 @kunalkemmu @ritesh_sid @FarOutAkhtar @roo_cha @J10kassim @vishalrr #Olly @adilafsar @chouhanmanoj82… pic.twitter.com/x4L0Bf9uAj — prime video IN (@PrimeVideoIN) May 16, 2024

Speaking of the plotline, the film revolves around three childhood friends, Dodo, Pinku, and Ayush, whose quintessential teenage dream of going to Goa together has never been fulfilled.  Years later, they reunite to finally embark upon their dream trip, only for their unforgettable vacation to go off-track. An unwarranted luggage mix-up and a bag full of unidentified drugs later, hilarity ensues as the trio must escape from drug lords, cops, and gangsters in a bid to save their lives.

Also Read: Madgaon Express Box Office: Kunal Kemmu film goes past Rs. 35 crores mark

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REVEALED: The Garfield Movie has a Brahmastra and Ramayana connection

The animated flick The Garfield Movie is all set to release in India on Friday, May 17, a week before its release in North America and major markets on May 24. The buzz is tremendous for the film in the West and as per Variety, it’s all set to open at $35 million in the weekend, despite clashing with Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. What’s interesting to note is that worldwide, audiences watching The Garfield Movie will see the mention of an Indian production house in the beginning slate and end credits.

It has come to light that Prime Focus, an Indian studio known for delivering VFX in local and international films, is one of the producers of The Garfield Movie. As soon as the film begins, the logo of Prime Focus is displayed along with Sony Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Alcon Entertainment etc. And in the end credits, Namit Malhotra’s name in big bold letters is mentioned as one of the producers.

Interestingly, Prime Focus was also one of the producers of Brahmastra. Released in 2022, this Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt starrer was loved for its concept, performances, music and of course VFX that matched global standards. If all goes well, Prime Focus will also be a part of one of the most awaited films, Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi and Yash of KGF fame. However, as per recent reports, Prime Focus is yet to fulfill the payment terms to producer Madhu Mantena.

Prime Focus has delivered VFX in several significant Hollywood films like Harry Potter series, Tenet, Dunkirk, films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe including Avengers: Endgame, Mission Impossible films, Fast & Furious films, movies of the DC Universe, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire etc.

After The Garfield Movie, Prime Focus has also produced Animal Friends, which is a live action-cum-animated film starring Ryan Reynolds and Jason Momoa. It is expected to be released in 2025.

Also Read: The Garfield Movie Trailer: Chris Pratt’s Garfield embarks on a dangerous and secret mission in first glimpse, watch

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Hansal Mehta announces season 3 of Scam titled Scam 2010 - The Subrata Roy Saga based on founder of the business empire Sahara Group

Applause Entertainment, the creative force behind the globally lauded Scam series, proudly announces the third chapter of their groundbreaking franchise. Building upon the success of Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story and Scam 2003: The Telgi Story, the newest installment will delve into the depths of one of India’s most storied financial scandals - Scam 2010 - The Subrata Roy Saga. Based on the book – "Sahara: The Untold Story by Tamal Bandyopadhyay", the series will be Produced by Applause Entertainment, in association with Studio Next and helmed by Hansal Mehta.

Scam 2010 is the dust-to-diamonds story of maverick businessman Subrata Roy. In the early 2000s, the glamourous Roy was caught in a whirlwind of accusations ranging from chit-fund manipulations to fake investors, ultimately leading to his arrest in 2014. With approx. 25,000 crore rupees still lying unclaimed with government authorities, the repercussions of the Scam continue to reverberate even today.

From the gripping portrayal of Harshad Mehta’s meteoric rise and fall in the stock market to the vivid depiction of Abdul Karim Telgi’s counterfeit empire, the Scam franchise sheds light on the infamous tales of financial fraud in India. Scam 2010 - The Subrata Roy Saga will be available on Sony LIV.

Sc3m is back!???????? Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, coming soon on @SonyLIV#Scam2010OnSonyLIV ⁰@applausesocial @SonyLIVIntl @SPNStudioNEXT @nairsameer@deepaksegal @mehtahansal @Indranil1601 @prasoon_garg@PriyaJhavar @DevnidhiB @001Danish @saugatam @amansri pic.twitter.com/quhuHNwvbw — Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 16, 2024

Sameer Nair, Managing Director, Applause Entertainment, “The Scam series has become more than just a show; it's a pop cultural phenomenon. With Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, we are poised to raise the bar even higher, offering audiences an immersive journey into the life and times of one of the most audacious and ambitious minds in Indian business history. With Hansal at the helm and Sony LIV as our partner, we look forward to this next season.”

Hansal Mehta, Show Runner and Director, “Scam is not just a franchise for me. It is a chronicling of our times. I’m thrilled to collaborate again with Applause and Sony LIV to bring this larger-than-life story alive.”

Danish Khan, SonyLIV, “We are delighted to, once again, collaborate with Applause and Hansal Mehta to bring the third edition of the Scam series. The series has consistently been the most viewed franchise on Sony LIV and we are confident that the third edition will create newer benchmarks in compelling storytelling.” ALSO READ: Harry Potter star Tom Felton joins Pratik Gandhi & Hansal Mehtas Gandhi, international cast announced

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