National Award winner and veteran film-maker Pradeep Sarkar, noted for making sensitive and powerful films like ‘Parineeta’ and ‘Mardaani’, passed away here after a prolonged illness, early on Friday morning, family sources said.

He was 67 and his funeral rites shall be performed at the Santacruz Crematorium this afternoon at 4 p.m.

According to his friends and associates, he was rushed to a hospital last night for kidney and related ailments, but failed to survive and breathed his last early this morning.

Prominent Bollywood biggies like Ajay Devgn, Manoj Bajpayee, Ashoke Pandit, Nitu Chandra-Srivastava, Hansal Mehta, Neil Nitin Mukesh and others mourned and paid tributes to Sarkar as the news broke out.

Starting his entertainment career with commercials and music videos in the early 1900s, Sarkar debuted as a director with ‘Parineeta’ (2005) starring Sanjay Dutt, Saif Ali Khan and Vidya Balan.

Over the years, he made other films like ‘Laaga Chunari Me Daag’ (2007), ‘Lafangey Pandey’ (2010), ‘Mardaani’ (2014), ‘Helicopter Eela’ (2016), and co-edited the superhit Vidhu Vinod Chopra film ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’ (2003).

Since 2019, Sarkar has also directed web series like ‘Coldd Lassi Aur Chicken Masala’, ‘Arranged Marriage’, ‘Forbidden Love’, ‘Duranga’.

 Pakistani playback singer Atif Aslam, who is known for chartbusters such as ‘Aadat’, ‘Bakhuda’, ‘Jeena Jeena’, ‘Jaane De’ and several others, has become a proud faher as he and his wife Sara Bharwana welcome a baby girl.

The ‘Tajdar-e-Haram’ hitmaker took to his Instagram on Thursday to share the news of his baby’s arrival with his fans. He posted a picture of his daughter wrapped up in pink colour baby sleepwear.

The baby is named Halima.

He wrote in the caption: “Finally the wait is over. The new queen of my heart has arrived.”

“Both baby and Sarah are fine Alhamdulilah. Please do remember us in your prayers. Ramadan Mubarak from Halima Atif Aslam 23/03/2023.”

He also added #Ramadan in the caption.

Atif has sung many songs in Bollywood films including ‘Tere Sang Yaara’ from ‘Rustom’, ‘Tu Jaane Na’ and ‘Tera Hone Laga Hoon’ from ‘Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani’ and ‘Tere Bin’ from ‘Bas Ek Pal’.

The teaser of Salman Khan’s third song from Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was officially shared by the makers on Monday. The song, Jee Rahe The Hum (Falling In Love), will be released on March 21.

Salman Khan’s fans are in for a treat as the actors has picked up the mic once again for Amaal Malik’s composition.

Salman Khan shares teaser of his new song

The 57-year-old actor is seen in a joyous mood with his on screen love interest Pooja Hegde. Raghav Juyal, Jassie Gill and Siddharth Nigam are also seen in the teaser of the song.

Well, it will be interesting to see if visuals and melody of the romantic song impress the audience.

In 2015, Salman Khan sang the Amaal Malik composition, Main Hoon Hero Tera, for his home production Hero. The song was a run away hit back in the day. Salman has reunited with Amaal after eight years.

Before Jee Rahe The Hum, others songs like Naiyo Lagda and Billi Billi were released by the makers earlier.

About Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan

Meanwhile, the trailer of Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan was dropped along with Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan in theatres on January 25. Directed by Farhad Samjhi, the film is touted to be a family entertainer. It also stars Jagapathi Babu, Vijender Singh, Bhumika Chawla, Shehnaaz Gill, Palak Tiwari, Vinali Bhatnagar and Abhimanyu Singh.

The film is all set to release on Eid 2023 and will be a Zee Studios worldwide release.