Connect with us
Saturday,01-November-2025
Breaking News

Bollywood

Review: ‘Aarya Season 2’: Sushmita Sen enthralls you with her performance

Published

on

Series: ‘Aarya Season 2’ (Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar); Duration: Averaging 40 minutes per episode.

Director: Ram Madhavani

Cast: Sushmita Sen, Ankur Bhatia, Vikas Kumar, Maya Sarao, Vishwajeet Pradhan, Sugandha Garg, Geetanjali Kulkarni, Jayant Kripalani, Akash Khurana, Sohaila Kapur, Dilnaz Irani, Charu Shankar.

IANS Rating: ***1/2

“Kahnewale kuch bi kahenge, I’m just a working mother.” This dialogue with the Investigating Police Officer ACP Yunis Khan (Vikas Kumar), in the last episode of the second season of ‘Aarya’, encapsulates the mindset of Aarya Sareen (Sushmita Sen), who is no stranger to the criminal underworld due to her family’s connections.

So lucid is the narrative that those who have not seen season one of the series will not have any difficulty following the thread of events in season two.

This eight-episode series begins from where it left in season 1.

After Aarya’s husband Tej Sareen, a reluctant crime syndicate operator murdered for stealing drugs worth 300 crore from Udayveer Shekhawat (Akash Khurana), which belonged to the Russian Mafia, her father Zorawar Rathod (Jayant Kripalani) and brother Sangram (Ankur Bhatia) are accused of his murder.

How Aarya struggles to balance raising her three children, keeping the police investigation at bay, and is invariably sucked into the sticky web of dodgy deals, violent threats, and double-crosses forms the crux of this narrative.

So innocuous is Aarya’s approach to her tumultuous life that it makes the series appealing. The first episode, titled ‘Mujhe Yahan Se Bhaagna Hai’, exposes her desperation to flee the country due to the impending threats they face. What follows are, ‘An Eye for an Eye’, ‘Ab Hum Vaapas Jaa Rahe Hai’, ‘Sangram Kahan Hai”, ‘300 Crore Ka Consignment’, ‘I Hate You’, ‘Phir Se Panje Baahar Nikaalo’ and ‘Isko Mere Raaste Se Hataa Do’.

There are also a few moments in the series, especially events in episodes four and eight, dealing with the weaknesses of the characters that appear trite, formulaic, and forced.

But overall, the script ignites your interest with enough sympathy and an equal amount of intrigue and brilliance. The best of which- springs in episode six, where the tormented mother in desperation leaps like a ferocious tigress.

This inspiring and jaw-dropping moment is enough for you to root for Sushmita Sen, who essays Aarya effortlessly – balancing reluctance, innocence, and zealous determination, with a compelling grit.

Season two of ‘Aarya’ is once again Sushmita Sen’s canvas. And she shines as; a mother bonding with her three children, a disgruntled daughter who dislikes her father, and a concerned sister, friend, and confidant. Sushmita delivers her part earnestly, thus making Aarya a believable character.

She is aptly supported by a group of ace actors who slip into their characters with natural grace. Among the casts are; Viren Vazirani, Virti Vaghani, and Pratyaksh Panwar, who portray Aarya’s Children Veer, Arundhati, and Aditya. Sikandar Kher plays Zorawar Rathod’s loyalist and Aarya’s well-wisher. Dilnaz Irani plays the Public Prosecutor.

Apart from the acting, it is the production values, inclusive of the locales and the cinematography of the series, that are worth a mention. But moreover, it is the usage of the peppy, old Hindi film songs used as background score that brings a familiarity to the telling and elevates the viewing experience.

The final episode ends on a cliff-hanger, ensuring that you look forward to season three.

Bollywood

Allu Arjun welcomes sister-in-law Nayanika to the family after engagement with brother Allu Sirish

Published

on

Mumbai, Nov 1: Allu Arjun welcomed his sister-in-law Nayanika to the family after her engagement with his brother Allu Sirish on Friday.

Uploading a couple of photos of the lovebirds from the engagement ceremony, the ‘Pushpa’ actor penned on his X (Previously known as Twitter), “Grand celebrations at home begin! A new addition to the family! We’ve been waiting for this joyful moment for a while…(sic).”

Congratulating his brother on his new journey, AA added, “Congratulations to my sweetest brother, @AlluSirish, and a warm welcome to the family, #Nayanika! Wishing you both a beautiful new beginning filled with love and happiness! (black heart emoji).”

On Friday, Allu Sirish used social media to share the happiest news of his life – his engagement with Nayanika with the netizens.

He posted some dreamy photographs from the engagement ceremony and penned, “I am finally & happily engaged to the love of my life, Nayanika (sic).”

The post immediately went viral, garnering a lot of love from the cybercitizens.

The engagement – an intimate yet elegant family affair was attended by the various members of the Allu and Konidela families.

The festivities were graced by Allu Arjun with his family, Megastar Chiranjeevi and his family, Ram Charan and his wife Upasana, and Varun Tej with Lavanya, along with others.

Both Sirish and Nayanika made for a beautiful couple on the occasion. While Sirish wore a customised Manish Malhotra outfit for his special day, Nayanika was all elegant in a Sabyasachi lehenga.

On October 1, Allu Sirish announced his engagement to Nayanika on the birth anniversary of his grandfather, the legendary actor and comedian Allu Ramalingaiah.

He took to social media and dropped a picture of himself holding Nayanika’s hand during their romantic getaway in Paris.

Sharing the personal update, Allu Sirish penned a heartfelt note that read, “Today on the birth anniversary of my grandfather, Allu Ramalingaiah garu, I feel blessed to share something very close to my heart- my engagement to Nayanika. (sic)”

Continue Reading

Bollywood

Vivek Oberoi to play Aurangzeb in Rishab Shetty’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, say reports

Published

on

Mumbai Oct 31: Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi has been roped in to play Aurangzeb opposite Rishab Shetty’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in Sandeep Singh’s upcoming historical epic, ‘The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’, according to reports on Friday.

While there is no official confirmation as of yet.

The film will depict the journey of history’s greatest warrior king, highlighting the courage, strategy, and devotion that shaped the foundation of Swarajya.

With Rishab Shetty as Shivaji Maharaj, Shefali Shah as Jijamata, and now Vivek Oberoi stepping into the role of Aurangzeb, the stage is set for a compelling narrative that explores both conflict and conviction at an epic scale.

Vivek Oberoi’s inclusion will add another remarkable chapter to his strong slate of upcoming projects, which includes Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’ with Prabhas and Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’.

Helmed by Sandeep Singh, ‘The Pride of Bharat: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’ is shaping up to be one of Indian cinema’s most ambitious historical productions, with a team comprising multiple National and Academy Award-winning technicians.

The magnum opus is slated for a never-seen-before mega global release in more than 40 countries worldwide on January 21, 2027, in Hindi, Marathi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali and English.

Talking about Vivek, the actor is all set for his upcoming movie ‘Mastiii 4’. The movie also stars Aftab Shivdasani and Ritesh Deshmukh in the lead.

Talking about Rishab Shetty, the actor is currently riding high with the humongous success of his recently released movie, ‘Kantara: Chapter 1’. The movie also stars Rukmini Vasanth.

‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ released last month on October 2.

It competed with Janhvi Kapoor-starrer ‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ at the box office.

Continue Reading

Bollywood

Bollywood actor Mukesh Rishi watches J&K Assembly proceedings from Speaker’s Gallery

Published

on

Srinagar, Oct 29: Bollywood actor Mukesh Rishi on Wednesday watched the proceedings of J&K Assembly from the Speaker’s Gallery as members cutting across party lines welcomed his presence.

The Assembly warmly welcomed Rishi, who was present in the Speaker’s Gallery during the ongoing session.

Members across party lines greeted the actor with applause as Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather announced his presence in the House.

Rishi belongs to J&K and was born on April 19, 1956, in a Gujjar Chaudhary family in Kathua district.

Growing up in Jammu, graduating from Government College, Sector 11, Chandigarh, and working for two years in Mumbai, Rishi moved to Fiji for work, where he met his future wife, who is of Indo-Fijian ancestry. Her family ran a traditional departmental store. He has a lucrative investment portfolio, including warehouse investments.

He later worked as a model in New Zealand before beginning his acting career in India.

An actor known for playing villainous and supporting roles and a film producer, he has worked in Hindi, Telugu, and other films. Among his better-known Bollywood movies are “Gunda” (1998), “Sarfarosh” (1999), and “Koi… Mil Gaya” (2003).

The Autumn Session of the J&K Assembly will end on October 31. With its conclusion, all the top offices of government, including those of the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, the Chief Secretary, administrative secretaries and the Director General of Police (DGP) will move to the winter capital Jammu.

The move is called the “Dabar Move” and will see the offices functioning for six months from the winter capital, Jammu.

The over one and a half century old practice of shuttling offices between Srinagar and Jammu was stopped by the Lt Governor in 2021, but has been restored by the elected government headed by Omar Abdullah.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending