Bollywood
Monica Chaudhary gains 20 kg for her role in ‘Salt City’

Actress Monica Chaudhary talks about gaining 20 kilos for her role in the web series ‘Salt City’, which also stars Piyush Mishra, Gauahar Khan, Divyendu Sharma, and Eisha Chopra, among others.
She talks about her role as Ela Bajpai and says: “It was one of the toughest decisions I have made in my entire life. The first and foremost requirement for me to play Ela was to put on 20 Kilos more weight.”
“Ela is stereotyped and fat-shamed throughout the series. There are scenes where she is running on the treadmill just to lose those extra pounds for her wedding so that she can look like the conventional pretty bride. In the series, we show how society’s harsh judgement affects and traumatises her,” adds the actress who was seen in ‘Apharan’, ‘Dark 7 White’ and ‘Rudrakaal’.
She continues: “For me at this stage of my career, putting on 20 kilos meant losing out on a lot of other work that was coming my way. But I decided to go ahead regardless as I fell in love with Ela’s character. Director Rishabh told me they will show different stages in her weight gain and weight loss journey and I’d have to prepare for the same.”
“I realised that it isn’t easy because it impacts your health negatively and you become lethargic. Now I’m back to being my normal fit self but have got stretch marks for life.”
Sharing about what prompted her to take the role, she reveals: “It was the ensemble cast as I have grown up watching movies of Piyush sir. When I met him, I told him how much I’d learnt from watching his performances.”
“Working with him was one item checked off my bucket list. And then there was Divyenndu whom I absolutely loved as Liquid in ‘Pyaar ka Punchnama’ and Munna Bhaiya in ‘Mirzapur’. I have always been a fan of Gauahar as well. When I met the director Rishabh, his narration of the series intrigued me and I wanted to explore this genre of family drama. So I said yes.”
Talking about her work experience with the entire cast, she says: “Working with an ensemble always gives you a lot to learn because every actor works using their own noteworthy style and method. And I’m that curious student who is looking to learn from everyone. I have been extremely fortunate that I have acted alongside some brilliant performers.”
“They have all been so helpful as well. I remember once I was in my own zone and wasn’t aware if my look was right for the scene. Guahar made sure of that, she fixed my hair. She is such an amazing and humble actor to work with. Also Divyenndu has helped me in every scene to bring out a fine performance. With Piyush sir, I used to ask him a lot of questions about his approach. So it’s always a learning experience,” she concludes.
Bollywood
‘Thamma’ Movie Review: A massy, mythical, Maddock-style fire-cracker blockbuster!

Director: Aditya Sarpotdar, Writer: Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, Arun Falara, Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Paresh Rawal, Sathyaraj, Fasial Malik, Geeta Aggarwal, Rachit Singh, Duration: 149 Minutes, Rating: 4.
Thamma is big-screen fun at its purest — a daring mix of folklore, family, fantasy, and fanfare of a full-blown franchise. With this new movie in the Maddock horror-verse, director Aditya Sarpotdar is taking Indian genre cinema to a whole new level. It’s all sorts of strange, clever, and wildly creative — yet, very relatable. While Stree was scary and subversive and Bhediya went into the wilds, Thamma conquers the territory by merging horror with love and, thus, leaving a cinematic experience that is totally different.
The story revolves around the forest of myths where the past is still alive and the ancient guardians are awakening. Not Thamma by any means, but it still manages to conjure up a bizarre fantasy universe complete with its own laws, curses, and consequences. Compared to other supernatural thrillers, this one is basically an emotional comedy with a dose of humor and the human instinct to save those whom we love even if it costs our lives. It doesn’t become scary but rather keeps its faith. The movie is funny but not farcical. It is also emotional without being overly dramatic.
One of the main characters is journalist protagonist Khurrana from a small town. His incidental supernatural experience leads to a series of events that is not in his capacity to grasp the enormity of it. In the first half, he is simply lovable and relatable but later on he becomes quite intense. Mandanna delivers an emotional performance that is also very down-to-earth. She has the fire as well as the delicate side of her nature and does not go for the usual stereotypical trope of horror comedy being over-the-top.
The continuing part is just an explosive work of art — it features fight, change of characters, and a breathtaking fight between Alok and Bhediya (Varun Dhawan). Special effects are of great quality and the confrontation between these two forces is signaling their underlying relationship which will definitely influence this cinematic universe storyline in the future. Such a moment of grandeur is the kind of moment in which you wish to applaud in a jam-packed hall, and subsequently, you are left with more questions than answers. How are these two characters related? I promise; the answer will be beyond your imagination.
On the subject of universe-building, the movie is full of Easter eggs and a few character recalls, but one highlights: the comeback of Sar Kata, the frightening character from Stree, who ominously appears, signaling the massive danger that lies ahead for the Maddock horror-verse. To be honest, the connection between Stree 2 and Thamma is quite strong, and by the time you get to the end, it’s only evident that it’s something huge that is on its way. The seeds of a mega-crossover have been dropped.
The acting, in general, is great. Paresh Rawal offers a great comic relief performance as the sarcastic and sharp-witted father while Nawazuddin Siddiqui dominates the movie with his intense and dark presence. The upward movement of his character feels like the dawn of something bigger and maybe a major factor in the future war of good vs. evil in this ever-expanding universe.
Following that is the comeback of Sathyaraj as Elvis, the idiosyncratic paranormal expert who got the nickname Hand of God. However, this time, he is not only here for the laughs — his arrival subtly changes the bigger picture. In a significant moment, Elvis points to a vital connection between Alok’s freshly changed Betaal and Bhediya, the one who was last seen grappling with Sar Kata in Stree 2. It’s a clever, low-key link that signals the coming events and the Maddock universe fans will instantly get the excitement of the bigger plot unfolding.
Moreover, the talked-about Nora Fatehi cameo is not only a glam reel but also an addition to the lore. Her unveiling provides a wonderful emotional connection to Stree and is a massive high point for long-time fans of the universe. Being a kind of fan service, it rewards attention and gives a totally different perspective to everything that we thought we knew about this world. Is she the one who opens the door to its secrets or something else?
Before the release, the buzz was mostly about item numbers and flashy visuals. However, Thamma, turn, defies the expectation. In the typical Maddock manner, every song in this movie has its function-character revelation, story advancement, or myth deepening. There are no unnecessary diversions, no hollow spectacles, only the narrative-driven songs that keep the emotional part of the story going. It is a very important revamp of the Bollywood horror formula and the result is great.
Bollywood
Asrani Death: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Mourns Sholay Actor’s Demise, ‘A Gifted Entertainer…’

Veteran actor Asrani passed away on Monday, October 20, 2025, at the age of 84. Many Bollywood celebrities and politicians took to social media to mourn his demise. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to X (Twitter) to mourn the Sholay actor’s demise.
PM Modi tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Govardhan Asrani Ji. A gifted entertainer and a truly versatile artist, he entertained audiences across generations. He particularly added joy and laughter to countless lives through his unforgettable performances.”
“His contribution to Indian cinema will always be cherished. My condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he further wrote.
Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, also took to X (Twitter) to mourn the demise of Asrani. He tweeted, “Deeply saddened by the demise of the legendary actor Govardhan Asrani ji. His unmatched versatility and unique sense of humor brought joy and laughter to millions.”
“From the iconic jailer in Sholay to memorable roles in Chupke Chupke, Golmaal, Aap Ki Kasam, Abhimaan, Baton Baton Mein, Chhoti Si Baat, Dhamaal, and many more, his performances have left an indelible mark on Indian cinema. My humble tributes to him and deepest condolences to his family and millions of fans. Om Shanti (sic),” he further wrote.
Asrani’s first movie was Hare Kaanch Ki Choodiyan which was released in 1967. Later, he starred in many famous films like Guddi, Bawarchi, Parichay, Namak Haraam, Chupke Chupke, Sholay, and many more.
His character of Jailer in Sholay is still remembered by one and all. Moviegoers will never forget the famous dialogue mouthed by him, “Aadhe idhar jao… aadhe idhar jao… aur baaki hamare saath aao.”
Bollywood
Dulquer Salmaan’s much-awaited period drama ‘Kaantha’ to hit screens on November 14

Chennai, Oct 20: The makers of director Selvamani Selvaraj’s much-anticipated period drama, ‘Kaantha’, featuring actor Dulquer Salmaan in the lead, on Monday announced that the film will now hit screens worldwide on November 14.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan, who plays the lead in the film, took to his social media timelines to make the announcement. He wrote, “Diwali just got a whole lot more explosive!#Kaantha will be lighting up theatres worldwide from NOVEMBER 14th!Wishing you all a happy Diwali and we’ll see you in the theatres very soon. A @thespiritmedia and @dqswayfarerfilms production.”
For the unaware, the film was originally scheduled to hit screens on September 12. However, the team then chose to postpone the film’s release. It is now scheduled to release on November 14.
A teaser that the makers of Kaantha had released some time ago has triggered huge excitement among fans and film buffs. The teaser has only increased expectations from the film.
The teaser begins with an announcer stating that ‘Saantha’, the film being made by Modern Studios, will be Tamil cinema’s first horror film. The teaser then shows the film getting made. Ayya (Samuthirakani) is the writer and director of the film and Dulquer Salmaan is the hero of the film. It is evident that both the director and the hero of the film are now at loggerheads with one another and are no longer on talking terms. While Ayya wants a scene in which a character called Chandran gets scared after seeing a spirit called Neeli to be shot first, Dulquer wants some other pleasant scene to be shot first.
The hero and the director are bitter enemies only now but there was a time when both of them loved and respected each other before turning foes. The teaser shows that Ayya is the one who trained and made Dulquer the hero he is today. However, all that is a thing of the past. While Ayya seeks to make the heroine the central character of the film, Dulquer continues to make changes. In the end, the teaser shows Dulquer changing the title of the film from ‘Saantha’ to ‘Kaantha’.
A gripping period dramatic thriller set in 1950s Madras, ‘Kaantha’ will look to transport the viewers to the soul of that era. It captures a moment in time when tradition and modernity collided, giving rise to stories both personal and profound.
Sources close to the unit say that the film, which has been anchored by powerful performances, is a richly textured story and has stunning visuals.
The much-anticipated period film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse in the lead.
The film, which is being jointly produced by Spirit Media and Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, has cinematography by ace cameraman Dani Sanchez Lopaz and music by Jhanu Chanthar. Art direction for the film is by Tha. Ramalingam and editing is by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves.
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