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Bhumi speaks up for gender-neutral performing arts awards

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Hours after Brian May, the guitarist of the British rock group Queen, slammed the decision of the Brit Awards management to do away with gender-specific awards, Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar came out in support of the move, saying that it is time human beings started celebrating artistes irrespective of the gender they belong to.

The Brit Awards, which celebrate the best in British and international music, have replaced Best Male/Female Solo Artiste of the Year and Best International Male Solo/Female Solo Artiste of the Year with two gender-neutral categories — Best Artiste and Best International Artiste of the Year, respectively.

Pednekar, who is known to articulate her opinions on gender and environmental issues, says that society needs to be more open to the reality that’s unfolding each day.

Batting for inclusivity, Pednekar said: “I have always felt that gender must not be important to determine the value of an artiste’s skill or creation. Artistes should be celebrated solely because of their body of work and not by how they choose to identify themselves.”

Almost echoing the sentiments of the best-selling ‘genderqueer’ English Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Sam Smith’s concern that the award categories ruled out non-binary artistes like him, Pednekar said: “People are identifying with diverse genders and we just can’t turn a blind eye to this reality.”

Pednekar praised the Brit Awards management for “doing away with gendered awards” and said: “We have to ensure that our society acknowledges gender diversity. I laud the Brit Awards. It is a step in the right direction and shows across the world will soon follow suit.”

She added a note of caution, saying the journey towards more inclusivity must not come at the price of representation. “We should also keep in mind that while we try to be more inclusive, it should not lead to less representation or less inclusion of genders in a world that is governed by the binary lens. That would be counterproductive to equality.”

Most recently, the Berlin Film Festival awarded its first-ever gender-neutral Silver Bear for Best Leading Performance to Maren Eggert for her role in the German sci-fi romance, ‘I’m Your Man’.

The Gotham Awards, which will be held on Monday, November 29, also announced that their best actor and best actress prizes will be combined into a single lead performance category.

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Saif relives his Rajasthan road trip during ‘Laal Kaptaan’, Kareena reacts

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Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan decided to relive his Rajasthan road trip during the shoot for his 2019 drama, ‘Laal Kaptaan’.

On Friday, he uploaded some snippets from his road trip to Ramathra, Deogarh and Narlai. Saif revealed that the journey was filled with great music, great highways, Ancient forts, and rugged locations.

“What a road trip ! Great music and great highways ! What an adventure making Laal Kaptaan… Ancient forts and stunning, rugged locations in romantic Rajasthan .. we had a really great time on this ambitious, mad and sadly, ultimately doomed adventure !! But what a ride !! Ramathra, Deogarh and Narlai !! (among others !) (sic)”, Saif wrote on the photo-sharing app.

Reacting to the post, wife Kareen Kapoor mentioned in the comment section, “Finally you can post all your favourite pictures love”, followed by two red heart emoticons.

Saif has been acing the social media game ever since he joined Instagram in October this year. The ‘Hum Tum’ actor has been treating the netizens with fun glimpses from various aspects of his life.

On Wednesday, Saif shared that he has resumed his fitness routine as he prepares to welcome the New Year.

The ‘Omkara’ actor provided a glimpse of his latest workout session. In the clip, Saif was seen performing some yoga asanas in his garden, wearing nothing but shorts. He was seen flaunting his well-toned physique and muscles as he focused on bringing both his mind and body back on track for the coming year.

“Time to get back to work!.. First the mind.. then the body .. back on track for a happy new year,” Saif wrote on his official handle.

Meanwhile, Saif recently appeared with Kareena on Karan Johar’s popular chat show ‘Koffee With Karan’.

In a hilarious moment during the episode, Karan asked the couple to call someone famous. Saif wanted to call his wine dealer, but when Bebo pointed out that the wine dealer was not a celebrity, the actor quipped, “Well, he is a celebrity to me.”

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Shilpa Shetty decodes modern relationships, talks situationships, benching and breadcrumbing

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Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty, who is all set to host “Pyaar Ka Pressure Cooker”, has decoded modern relationships, talked about situationships, benching and breadcrumbing.

Hosted by Shilpa Shetty, the show will bring together couples who find themselves stuck in their relationships, at different crossroads whether struggling with commitment or being in long-term partnerships that have failed to move to the next step.

Speaking about the show, host Shilpa said in a statement: “Relationships today come with a whole new vocabulary, from situationships and breadcrumbing to benching, and somewhere along the way, clarity got lost. Whether it’s a new or a long-term relationship stuck for years, there comes a point when someone has to ask the real questions.”

“What excites me about Pyaar Ka Pressure Cooker is its fresh take on the reality format, and as India’s first relationship show where parents deliver the reality check. It’s relatable for couples, and just as much for the parents watching, who are just as curious about what is going on. It’s a show that gets people to say what they actually mean, and I’m so excited to be hosting it.

Inside one house, the participants will be made to answer the questions they have been dodging, with parents stepping in to give a much-needed reality check, until the moment of clarity arrives and the truth comes out.

The show was announced with a quirky, catchy promo that sees Shilpa take audiences through the love stories of then and now. Moving from the strict, disapproving parents of yesteryear to today’s dating landscape, where terms like “situationship” and “ghosting” have left families bewildered, she highlights how much the language of love, and the confusion around it, has changed.

The film builds to the show’s signature moment, the whistle of the pressure cooker, as Shilpa announces that it’s time for “clarity ki seeti”.

Pyaar Ka Pressure Cooker will speak to a generation fluent in every relationship term there is, and to parents watching from the sidelines, wanting to know where it is all headed. Its defining sound is the whistle of the cooker, the “Clarity Ki Seeti”, which blows when the truth comes out under pressure.

Bringing India’s first relationship show into reality, Alok Jain, Head – Hindi & English Entertainment (Streaming, TV & Studios), JioStar, said: “Young India is at the heart of what we do, and we are always looking for ideas that reflect their lives and the conversations they are having. Relationships are among the most talked-about subjects for this generation, but rarely get an honest conversation, least of all with parents.”

“Pyaar Ka Pressure Cooker brings both sides to the table with humour, heart and a clear point of view. We believe it’s an idea young audiences will see themselves in, talk about and share, and we are excited to bring it to them.”

Pyaar Ka Pressure Cooker will air on Colors.

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Aadinath Kothare recalls school days with Ranbir Kapoor, reveals interesting Kapoor family connection

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Actor Aadinath Kothare has opened up about his school-day memories with Ranbir Kapoor.

In an exclusive quote shared with media, he recalled how the two would play cricket together as they lived in the same building. He also shared an interesting connection between their families, revealing that his father had once played Neetu Singh’s brother on screen. Recalling his school days with Ranbir, Aadinath shared, “Ranbir was my senior in school. We used to stay in the same building and play cricket together. I remember Vinoy Gandhi introducing me to Ranbir in school once.”

The actor also spoke about a connection that has come full circle with his casting in “Ramayana.” Kothare mentioned, “My father was a child actor in his younger days, and he had played Neetu Singh’s brother in Ghar Ghar Ki Kahani. What a coincidence that I am playing Ranbir’s brother in Ramayana.”

In Namit Malhotra’s “Ramayana”, Aadinath Kothare plays the role of Bharat, Lord Ram’s devoted younger brother.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, “Ramayana: Part 1” is based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, traditionally attributed to sage Valmiki. The film is the first instalment of a two-part cinematic adaptation and chronicles the life of Lord Ram, from his childhood to his 14-year exile. The film features an ensemble cast led by Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The cast also includes Ravi Dubey, Anupam Kher, Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Vivek Oberoi, Kunal Kapoor, Aadinath Kothare, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, and Lara Dutta, among others.

Produced by Namit Malhotra and Yash, the film has been written by Nitesh Tiwari and Shridhar Raghavan. It was released in theatres on 5 November.

Speaking about Aadinath’s acting journey, he made his first screen appearance as a child actor in his father’s film Majha Chakula (1994). He later made his adult acting debut with “Ved Lavi Jeeva.”

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