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Sidharth’s first director recalls his rise from ‘a non-actor to a TV star’

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Sidharth-Shukla

Ratna Sinha is the director who launched late actor Sidharth Shukla in the television series titled ‘Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na’, released in 2008. And since then, there was no looking back for Sidharth.

After his sudden demise, Sinha recalled the upcoming model who had that spark that turned him into a successful actor. Here’s her first-person account, shared exclusively with IANS, of her first meeting with the late actor:

It was around 2007 onwards when I think I saw him in a shopping mall. Sidharth was a ramp model back then when me and my team was looking for a new face for a new show that I was working on.

One of my assistants walked towards him and approached him for acting and he was so skeptical about the idea of acting. He really was a non-actor and when we auditioned, even the channel rejected the audition.

He was actually quite happy with modelling. But we thought there is something in him that will work! We kept on working on his skill and eventually I cast him as the male protagonist for my show ‘Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na’.

As the show received a good response, since then the world of acting opportunities grew for Sidharth. You know I really have seen Sidharth growing from a model, non-actor to a television star that he became. I had a mixed feeling of pride and happiness that this fellow is growing from strength to strength.

It is not easy at all to make it big here in the industry and staying relevant for 13 years! There were many youngsters back then started as a model and stepped into acting but maintaining success is a task that Sidharth was doing successfully. I think ‘Balika Vadhu’ was the breakthrough for him.

When I spoke to him last time, before lockdown, he was saying how keen is he to do more films. He was very keen on expanding his horizon in Bollywood. He did one film (‘Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania’) and he nurtured the hope of acting in more films.

In the morning, when I woke up to the message of his sudden demise, I was numb. Just numb.

In the past one year, we lost so many young talents really. This is hard to process … life is so unpredictable really. I knew how emotionally close Sidharth was to his mother … my heart goes out to her.

Entertainment

Neeharika Roy joins &TV’s supernatural comedy Gharwali Pedwali as Savi!

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&TV’s Gharwali Pedwali is all set to deliver a fun-filled rollercoaster of laughter, spooky surprises and emotions. Adding to the charm of this refreshing concept is the energetic and talented Neeharika Roy , who will portray the role of Savi , a spirited, bold, and fashion-forward Gen Z girl. As the ‘Gharwali’ in this unusual love triangle, her presence promises to shake things up in the most unexpected ways.

With a mix of sass and sweetness, Neeharika is ready to leave a lasting impression. Speaking about her role as Savi, Neeharika Roy shares, “Savi is not just a character; she is a whole vibe. She represents today’s young, confident, and independent girls who are not afraid to take charge of their lives. I love how unapologetically bold and expressive she is, breaking the typical mould of female characters on television. What makes Savi’s character stand out, is her unique blend of a modern outlook, emotional maturity, and a subtle trace of small-town grace. I enjoy fun banter and spontaneous madness in real life, too, so stepping into Savi’s shoes feels very natural. It is a role that feels both exciting and meaningful to me.”

Excited about the show, the actress adds, “What makes Gharwali Pedwali so exciting for me is how unpredictably entertaining the entire concept is. It is not your typical romantic or daily soap setup; it brings together a high-spirited love triangle, a mysterious ghost, and plenty of humorous confusion. The title may sound simple at first, but once the characters start unfolding, you realise how cleverly it plays into the storyline. There is a constant tug of war between the living and the supernatural. Playing the ‘Gharwali’ opposite a ‘Pedwali’ creates an interesting dynamic that I cannot wait to explore on screen.”

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Entertainment

Actress Ruchi Gujjar Hits Actor-Director With Chappal, Protests Against Him At Mumbai Theatre After Filing FIR Over ₹25 Lakh Fraud

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A dramatic scene unfolded at a Mumbai theatre during the screening of So Long Valley when actress Ruchi Gujjar hit the film’s producer and actor Man Singh with a chappal, leading to chaos at Cinepolis. The incident, captured in a now-viral video, came amid an ongoing financial dispute between Ruchi and another producer, Karan Singh Chauhan.

In the video, she is heard screaming while arguing with the producers. She then lost her cool and hit one of the producers with her chappal.

It appears that she arrived at the theatre with the intention of staging a protest. During the special screening, where the producers were present, Ruchi showed up along with a group of protestors. People around her were seen raising slogans against the producers.

They held placards with the producers’ photos, marked with red cross signs across their faces. In some of the posters, which can be seen in the video, the producers were depicted sitting on donkeys.

What is the case?

According to Ruchi, Chauhan had approached her last year claiming he was producing a Hindi television serial that would soon air on Sony TV. “He offered to add me as a co-producer and also sent documents related to the project,” she said, according to media reports.

Believing the offer, Ruchi stated that between July 2023 and January 2024, she transferred several payments from her company, SR Event and Entertainment, into accounts linked to Chauhan’s K Studios. However, the promised project never took off.

“Despite repeated contacts, he kept postponing them and lied,” she added in her complaint.

She claims to have discovered that the funds were allegedly used not for the serial, but for the production of So Long Valley. “When I got the information that the film is releasing on July 27, I told him to return my money now, on which he started threatening me,” she alleged.

Mumbai Police has registered an FIR under sections 318(4), 352, and 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against Chauhan, 36, for allegedly cheating actress Ruchiof Rs 25 lakh.

Ruchi has submitted banking records and documents to support her claims. An investigation into the financial transactions and communications is currently underway.

Notably, Ruchi had earlier drawn attention for her Cannes appearance, where she wore a necklace featuring an image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Entertainment

‘What A Shame’: Janhvi Kapoor Reacts To Kalyan Clinic Assault Case, Says Man Should Be Jailed For Thrashing Receptionist

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Bollywood actress Janhvi Kapoor reacted to the Kalyan clinic assault case and said the man should be in jail for thrashing the female receptionist. For those unversed, a video has gone viral which shows a man, identified as Gopal Jha, punching the receptionist, dragging her by the hair, and repeatedly assaulting her at Shree Bal Chikitsalaya, a paediatrics hospital, in Kalyan East on July 21.

Janhvi says the man should be jailed

Reacting to the incident, Janhvi took to her Instagram story on Thursday (July 24) and wrote, “This man needs to be in jail. Why does anyone think this behaviour is ok? What makes him think he can raise his hand at someone like this? What kind of upbringing convinces you to go through with these actions without any remorse, guilt or sense of humanity?”

“How do you live with yourself after knowing this is how your brain operates? What a shame. And shame on us for not punishing and condoning such behaviour more aggressively. Nothing excuses this,” the actress added.

However, on Wednesday, a new video surfaced on social media which shows that it was the receptionist who first slapped a woman and then charged at Gopal Jha. Reportedly, the woman she slapped is Jha’s sister-in-law.

The attack occurred after the receptionist denied Jha entry to see the doctor, who was attending another patient at the time.

The receptionist reportedly sustained serious injuries on her neck, legs, and chest, with concerns that she may suffer from partial paralysis due to the extent of the trauma. She has been admitted to Janaki Hospital.

Janhvi Kapoor’s work front

Meanwhile, on the work front, Janhvi is gearing up for the release of Param Sundari with Sidharth Malhotra. Directed by Tushar Jalota and produced by Dinesh Vijan, the romantic drama will release in theatres. However, its release day is not confirmed yet.

Janhvi also has films like Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, alongside Varun Dhawan, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Maniesh Paul, and Akshay Oberoi, and Peddi with Ram Charan in the pipeline.

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