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.”

When Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt appeared on season 5 of the popular chat show, ‘Koffee With Karan’ with Sushmita Sen, he narrated an unusual incident when he learned about his past life.

The ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S.’ actor shared that he was told that he was a king in his past life, who was betrayed by his wife. Heartbroken, he eventually starved himself to death in the jungle.

He added that a friend of his suggested that they should visit a village.

Speaking to host Karan Johar, Sanjay shared, “It is a small village, and over there you give your thumb impression, and they find your leaf. So I got my leaf, and he went into my past life, saying that I was a king in the Ashoka dynasty. My wife had an affair with my minister, and she sent me away to war to get killed, but I killed a lot of people, and I came back, and I found out, and I killed her, and I killed him. I was a Shiv Bhakt. So I went into the forest, and I starved myself to death.”

Sanjay added that it is because of the past karma that he was born in a good family; however, he added that he also believes it is because of all the killings he did that he also has to face some hurdles in this life.

“That’s why I was born in a good family. And that’s why I live the way I live. That’s why I have this career. But all the killings I did in the past life. I had to pay for it, so it’s payback time this janam. So it’s crazy,” Sanjay added.

Talking about his career trajectory, Sanjay made his acting debut with ‘Rocky’ in 1981 and went on to become a part of many prominent movies such as ‘Khalnayak (1993)’, ‘Vaastav: The ‘Reality (1999)’, ‘Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. (2003)’, and ‘Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)’, to name just a few.

After Madhya Pradesh Congress spokesperson, Abbas Hafeez, sent a legal notice to Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan over her social media photographs featuring her wearing a huge vintage emerald pendant bearing a Quranic verse, a Hindu outfit has backed the star.

Demanding the removal of the social media photographs and a public apology over it, Hafeez said his objection was not to the actor wearing the jewellery but to the manner in which the religious inscription was displayed on social media, claiming it had hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.

Hafeez’s advocate Mohammad Zafar said the pendant carried a verse from the Holy Quran, which is considered sacred in Islam, and that religious practices prescribe ritual ablution before touching or reciting the holy texts.

The legal notice seeks the removal of the photographs and related posts, an apology and an assurance against displaying the religious inscription in a manner considered disrespectful.

Hafeez said the pendant was associated with the heritage of the Begums of Bhopal and was worn as an expression of faith rather than as a fashion accessory.

He, however, clarified that the issue was his personal initiative and should not be linked to the Congress party, its ideology or political position.

The controversy centres on an emerald pendant described by celebrity stylist Rhea Kapoor as an approximately 200-year-old heirloom of the former Bhopal royal family.

Kapoor had shared photographs of Kareena wearing the jewellery as part of her Diwali look.

The historical connection is linked to the Pataudi family as actor Saif Ali Khan’s grandmother Sajida Sultan was the daughter of Hamidullah Khan, the last ruling Nawab of Bhopal.

She married Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, and their son was former Indian cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, Saif’s father.

Meanwhile, Hindu Utsav Samiti president Chandra Shekhar Tiwari has extended support to Kareena and said she did not need to apologise to anyone.

“A pendant is meant to be worn around the neck, close to the heart. If it bears Quranic verses, she would not have worn it at any place considered disrespectful. She does not need to apologise to anyone,” Tiwari said.

He also argued that Kareena, being the daughter-in-law of the erstwhile Bhopal royal family, could naturally wear jewellery belonging to her mother-in-law.

The Hindu Utsav Samiti and Sanskriti Bachao Manch have also expressed support for the actor. There was no immediate public response from Kareena Kapoor or her representatives to the legal notice.