Bollywood
Review: ‘Badhaai Do’: Stretched narrative makes for tedious viewing
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Film: ‘Badhaai Do’ (Running in Theatres); Duration: 147 minutes.
Director: Harshavardhan Kulkarni. Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Bhumi Pednekar, Sheeba Chaddha, Seema Pahwa, Loveleen Mishra and Nitesh Pandey.
IANS Rating: **1/2
Bold themes reflecting the changing reality of our society are slowly but surely making their way into Hindi films.
While the honesty and intention are laudable, Harshavardhan Kulkarni’s ‘Badhai Do’ is forcefully stretched to make this point palatable to the audience. Also, somewhere down the line, the message loses its impact and earnestness.
Shardul Thakur (Rajkummar Rao) and Sumi Singh (Bhumi Pednekar) come from middle-class families where societal norms are expected to be complied with. The two of them however are ‘different’.
They belong to the queer community, and discovering a common goal, enter into a marriage of convenience, wherein each one leads his or her life freely while keeping up pretences of being a happily married couple.
The societal pressure of having a baby, and elders in the family trying hard to make it happen, make things spiral out of control, and a chance discovery of Sumi with her partner, Rimjhim (Chum Darang), causes the Pandora’s Box to be opened. How they explain to their families that they are born to be different and are not suffering from a ‘disease’ forms the crux of the film.
Rajkummar Rao, as the policeman, fixated upon fitness and body-building, flaunting his six-pack abs and an enviable physique, every inch looks his part. But somewhere, in his bid to be different and not use stereotypical mannerisms, as he essays this character, he tries too hard and fails to impress. One does not empathise with him and one cannot feel his predicament.
Bhumi Pednekar as Sumi, a Physical Education teacher, scores over Rao in her realistic portrayal and seems to be more comfortable portraying her bold character. Yet, somewhere, neither of them is deeply convincing.
The supporting cast of veteran actors deliver what is expected of them. The scene on the terrace where Shardul’s mother (Sheeba Chaddha) embraces her sobbing son in acceptance is poignant.
The plot is linear, with the narrative having a single-minded focus on delivering this message to its audience. The length of the film and the lacklustre chemistry between the lead cast, however, dilute this impact.
The setting of the film — middle-class small-town families and societal expectations — are a tad exaggerated, merely to drive home the point and heighten the contrast.
The LGBTQ+ rally towards the end, to reiterate their liberation and acceptance of who they are, is one of the several uncalled-for instances in the film, which merely adds to its length, not its gravitas.
Also, the sensitivity of the issue and the societal reactions, particularly those of middle-class families, are made to look trite, and with the several forced attempts to highlight the struggles of this community, somewhere along the way, the seriousness of the message is lost.
The music meshes well with the theme of the film. ‘Atak Gaya’ by Arijit Singh, in particular, encapsulates the essence of the film.
Overall, this film appears to be just another take on LGBTQ+ issues, this time adding the adoption angle to the otherwise commonplace matter of coming out of the closet and making your families understand. Mounted with moderate production values the film tends to get tedious at times.
Bollywood
Nargis Fakhri Marriage: Who Is Tony Beig? Here’s All You Need To Know About Housefull 5 Actress’ Husband
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Nargis Fakhri has always guarded her personal life, and has never spoken about her relationships. Many years ago, she was in the news for dating Uday Chopra, but both the actors never confirmed their relationship. Later, Nargis made it to the headlines for being in a relationship with businessman Tony Beig, but once again, the actress never spoke about it.
Now, recently, there have been reports of Nargis and Tony getting married, and a few inside pictures of their wedding made it to the social media. However, in those pictures apart from the venue and a cake, we don’t get to see anything else.
A report in TOI confirmed that the two got married last week in California and the wedding was a low-key affair. Reportedly, the couple are currently on their honeymoon in Switzerland.
While Nargis’ fans wait to see their favourite actress’ wedding pictures, let us give you a brief about who Tony Beig is. The 41-year-old businessman hails from Kashmir, but he is now settled in the US. He is the founder of Dioz Group which was launched in 2006. Many brands like Alanic, Oasis, 8Health, 8EV and 1 Energy come under Dioz Group.
Beig did his MBA from Victoria University of Technology in Melbourne, and while his company has its headquarters in Los Angeles, they have multiple offices in different parts of the world like London, Dubai, Riyadh, Sydney, Dhaka, Shanghai, and Kolkata.
Tony’s brother Johnny Beig is a film producer, and his father Shakeel Ahmad Beig is a politician. Shakeel Ahmad Beig earlier was the Deputy Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir.
Nargis hails from the US, and reportedly, the two have been in a relationship from the past three years. While Nargis and Tony have not yet officially announced their wedding, the latter recently shared a picture with the actress on his Instagram story.
Meanwhile, the actress, who has been away from the big screens for quite sometime, is all set to make her comeback with Housefull 5.
Bollywood
Yo Yo Honey Singh Millionaire Mumbai Tour: Check Out Dates, Venue, How To Book Tickets Online & More
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Mumbai: Rapper Honey Singh is set to start the ‘Millionaire India Tour,’ which begins in Mumbai. The concert is set for Saturday, February 22, in Nesco Pvt Ltd, Mumbai.
Honey Singh Who has given hit songs and albums like Brown Rang, Love Dose, etc, has always been a choice of the Gen Z generation. The rapper shared with India today that, “Tomorrow, we are performing for the first time not the first time, but the first show of the Millionaire India Tour, and we are excited. Let’s do it!”
The artist, known for his energetic performances, shared with the media that he’s “rehearsing for the show” for the first time, marking a new era in his performances. He explained that the “Stage Aajtak” show is “meticulously directed and choreographed,” featuring a six-piece live band, new visuals, and a fresh sound.
Singh said, “I have been performing for more than 15 years now, but this time, it’s a wholly directed and choreographed show.” He added, “For the first time in my life, I have to rehearse before the show.” As the ‘Millionaire India Tour’ begins, fans can expect “something very new and very different.”
About Concert Tickets and Venue
The concert will be held at Nesco Pvt Ltd in Mumbai, and tickets start at around ₹3,500. As part of his much-awaited tour, Honey Singh will be playing in ten Indian cities.
How to Book Tickets
From the given link of District by Zomato, fans can book tickets. His ‘Millionaire India Tour’ trip starts in Mumbai on February 22 and continues to Lucknow on February 28, Delhi on March 1, Indore on March 8, Pune on March 14, Ahmedabad on March 15, Bengaluru on March 22, Chandigarh on March 23, Jaipur on March 29, and Kolkata on April 5.
Bollywood
Ali Fazal to don a never-before-seen avatar in Prosit Roy’s magnum opus thriller
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Mumbai, Feb 21: Actor Ali Fazal is all set to don a never-seen-before avatar in Prosit Roy’s upcoming magnum opus action thriller.
Fazal has teamed up with ‘Paatal Lok’ director Prosit Roy for the action thriller before beginning work on ‘Mirzapur: The Film.’ The yet-to-be-titled project is scheduled to commence production in mid-2025 after he wraps up his current commitments with Raj & DK’s period fantasy drama series, Rakht Brahmand.
Speaking about the collaboration, a source close to the production shared, “This series is designed to be a thrilling, large-scale action spectacle, unlike anything Ali has done before. Prosit Roy’s unique vision and storytelling prowess make him the perfect director to helm this project. With Ali’s dedication to his craft and Sonali Bendre’s strong screen presence, we are looking at a film that will push boundaries in both narrative depth and action sequences. The team is gearing up for something truly special.”
The insider added that the ‘Fukrey’ actor is likely to be seen in an avatar like never before. In addition to the new series, Ali Fazal is gearing up for the highly anticipated “Mirzapur: The Film,” along with the releases of “Metro In Dino.”. The actor also has other exciting projects, including “Lahore 1947,” the pan-India film “Thug Life,” his Hollywood venture “Rule Breakers,” and “Rakht Brahmand.”
Ali had earlier spoken about his incredible slate of projects. He mentioned, “2025 feels like the culmination of years of hard work and passion for storytelling. I’m incredibly excited about the diverse range of projects I’m a part of this year. From exploring the intricate stories of Metro… In Dino and stepping into the world of Mirzapur again, but this time on the big screen, to working with Mani Ratnam sir in Thug Life, it has been a creatively enriching journey. Collaborating with Raj and DK on a period drama like Rakhtbrahmand has been a thrilling experience, as they continue to redefine the OTT space in India.”
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