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Manjari Fadnnis on how OTT has changed her career and ‘Miya Biwi Aur Murder’

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After two of her recently released shows ‘Masoom’ and ‘Miya Biwi Aur Murder’ (MBM), which have given her a chance to prove her versatility as an actress and earning her appreciation for her work, Manjari Fadnnis says that, finally, she is feeling satisfied as an artiste.

Making her Bollywood debut with the film ‘Jaane Tu Yaa Jane Naa’ in 2008, the actress said that post the success of the film, she was getting typecast for the longest time and never got a real opportunity to grow with her craft.

In conversation with IANS, Manjari said, “I was facing a certain kind of typecasting by most of the casting directors. I was always offered sweet, girl-next-door characters, girlfriend of a rich boy etc. I am always told that I give a vibe on-screen with my smile, good looks, and so on.

“But my point was, if it is about my look, a makeup artist can change it. I am an actress so I need the chance to prove my skill. I always wanted to act as some character that is intense or quite opposite of who I am in real life. I was feeling so suffocated for the longest time.”

Though in between she kept working in Hindi, Marathi and South India films, according to Manjari, it started changing from 2019 when she signed up for the web film ‘Barot House’.

She said: “That film and our director Bugs Bhargava changed the game for me and of course, I am thankful for that. But I also mentioned that it is because of OTT shows and films that actors like us are finally getting our due. Whether it is me, Pratik (Gandhi), Amit (Sadh) who are in the industry from a young age but mostly got sidelined in mainstream Bollywood. Now things are good with us.”

While her performance in ‘Masoom’ starring Boman Irani and Samara Tijori in the lead was quite intense, her character in ‘MBM’ was just the opposite.

In MBM, which is a comedy show, she plays a housewife named Priya who does not get attention from her police officer husband and goes for a Tinder date with another guy.

A murder takes place and as bizarre as it may sound, Priya and her husband try to solve the murder, connecting the dots by taking references from the television show ‘CID’, which Priya used to watch in repeat telecasts while sitting idle at home.

Manjari said, “Yes, it was a bizarre comedy and everything about the character is crazy and it was a laugh riot. I got the script just after the first lockdown back in 2020. We all were going through a tough time then so, it was like comic relief in our real lives too, while shooting.”

‘Miya Biwi aur Murder’ features Rushad Rana, Ashmita Bakshi and Prasad Khandekar. It is streaming on MX Player.

Bollywood

97th Oscars: Priyanka Chopra, Guneet Monga’s ‘Anuja’ loses to Dutch film ‘I’m Not A Robot’

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Los Angeles, March 3: Priyanka Chopra and Guneet Monga backed short film “Anuja” has lost the Dutch-language movie “I’m Not a Robot” at the 97th Oscar Awards held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles.

“Anuja”, which tells the story of a gifted nine-year-old girl who, alongside her sister Palak, faces a life-changing opportunity that tests their bond and mirrors the struggles of girls worldwide, was competing at the Oscars 2025 in the Best Live Action Short category.

Other contenders included “A Lien,” “The Last Ranger,” and “The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent”.

“I’m Not A Robot” is a science fiction and directed by Victoria Warmerdam. The synopsis states: “After failing an online CAPTCHA test, Max faces an existential crisis when he believes he might actually be a robot.”

Along with Priyanka and Guneet, “Anuja”, currently streaming on Netflix, Hollywood star-writer Mindy Kaling serves as its producer.

Directed by Adam J. Graves “Anuja” tells the tale of a 9-year-old title character, who works in a back-alley garment factory with her older sister Palak. The narrative follows the young protagonist as she faces a decision that will impact both her future and her family.

The short, developed in partnership with Mira Nair’s Salaam Baalak Trust, features Sajda Pathan, in a leading role. The production team spans Graves Films, Shine Global Inc (Oscar winners “War/Dance” and “Inocente”), Krushan Naik Films and Salaam Baalak Trust.

In January, Priyanka said that she is proud of the “beautiful film” “Anuja”,in which she serves as an executive producer.

Priyanka took to her Instagram stories, where she had shared a snapshot of a news article from variety.com, which had the title “Netflix Acquires ‘Anuja,’ Oscar-Shortlisted Short Film Backed by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Mindy Kaling and Guneet Monga Kapoor”.

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Exclusive! Govinda-Sunita separation: Actor’s sister Kamini Khanna breaks her silence on the matter

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Mumbai, March 1: In the midst of growing rumors surrounding the separation of Bollywood actor Govinda and his wife Sunita Ahuja, the actor’s sister, Kamini Khanna, has finally spoken out.

In a recent conversation with media, Kamini revealed that she does not have much information about the situation, citing the busy schedules of both Govinda and Sunita. She stated, “No, I don’t know much. I stay very busy, and they are very busy too. We meet very rarely, so I don’t know much. I don’t want to say too much on this topic because both families are involved, and I have a lot of love for both.”

When asked about her bond with Sunita, Kamini shared, “Our parents are no longer with us, so we are like parents to each other. And we are also very good friends.”

Kamini also mentioned that she did not feel it was appropriate to reach out to Sunita and Govinda regarding the speculation. According to her, while she is aware of the rumors circulating in the media, she believes that such personal matters should be handled privately within the family. She emphasized that it’s important to respect the privacy of both Sunita and Govinda, especially when it comes to sensitive issues such as their relationship.

Rumors have been circulating regarding a possible divorce between Govinda and his wife, Sunita Ahuja. It was reported that Sunita had issued a divorce notice to Govinda six months ago. However, the actor’s legal representative has since clarified that the couple has worked through their issues and resolved their differences.

In a recent interview, Sunita made a startling revelation about living separately from Govinda. She also shared that she has been celebrating her birthday alone for the past 12 years, which sparked further speculation about issues in their marriage.

For the unversed, Govinda and Sunita tied the knot in March 1987. The couple welcomed their daughter, Tina, in 1988, followed by their son, Yashvardhan.

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Yash-starrer ‘Toxic’ being shot in English and Kannada, director ensures ‘authentic experience’

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Mumbai, Feb 24: Yash’s “Toxic” is touted to be the first ever large scale Indian film to be conceptualised, written, and filmed in both English and Kannada. Director Geetu Mohandas says the vision was to craft a narrative that resonates with audiences both in “India and globally”.

“Our vision for ‘Toxic’ was to craft a narrative that resonates authentically with audiences both in India and globally,” says director Geetu Mohandas.

“Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups” will be dubbed in multiple Indian and international languages, including Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam.

Mohandas added: “We’ve strived to capture the nuances of the story in both Kannada and English, ensuring an authentic experience for viewers across different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.”

He said that the film “explores a collaboration of artistic vision and precision of commercial storytelling.”

“It’s a journey that transcends borders, languages, and cultural confines, designed to connect with hearts and minds worldwide,” concluded the director.

Toxic, a film jointly produced by Venkat Narayana under KVN Productions and Yash’s Monster Mind Creations, was conceived as a global cinematic experience.

The film’s international team—including action sequences by JJ Perry, best known for his work in the John Wick and Fast & Furious franchises, and visual effects by DNEG, who recently won the BAFTA Film Award for Special Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two—was carefully assembled to match the project’s scale.

Last month, on Yash’s birthday, the makers released a “Birthday Peek” offering a glimpse into the film. Filming began in August 2024.

Producer Venkat K Narayana emphasised the film’s ambitious scope, saying, “Our goal for “Toxic” was crystal clear: a film that resonates in India and globally. From the very beginning, we were driven by a deep conviction in this story and its potential. This unwavering belief fueled our “all-in” approach, required to bring this cinematic experience to life.”

“We embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, confident that “Toxic” will not only captivate audiences worldwide but also showcase the brilliance of Indian cinema on a global stage.”

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