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In 2022, upon the release of “Gangubai Kathiawadi,” Anurag Kashyap a close friend and collaborator of director Vasan Bala noted that Alia Bhatt is the new Bacchan. Bala, who we all know is fascinated by pop culture and how it shapes the narrative of the present, past, and future of cinema itself, must have taken the comment quite literally. With “Jigra,” his third directorial venture (fourth if you consider the unreleased “Peddlers“) Bala has a bigger budget and even greater star power in his kitty.

The usually dependable Alia Bhatt stars as Satya, an orphan who had made herself into such a rock-solid young woman that her meditative gaze can get any shit done. Early on in her life, she witnessed the tragic suicide of her father when she and her younger sibling Ankur (later played by Vedang Raina) returned from school one day. It’s obvious that ever since that day,...

Jigra (which means both heart and courage) is, in equal parts, gutting and emotional but also far-fetched and logic-free. Director and co-writer Vasan Bala creates a jailbreak movie that tries to find the sweet spot between moving sibling drama, thrilling action and breathless suspense, and although he doesn’t hit all the marks, lead actor and co-producer Alia Bhatt reconfirms that she is a formidable talent.

Even when the plot becomes looser and the twists too convenient, Bhatt doesn’t miss a beat. She’s fabulously fierce as protagonist Satya, her eyes maintaining an expression of unblinking determination. She might be small physically, but when she takes down a grown man, we don’t question it because her conviction is so absolute. In one scene, another character admiringly calls her a gundi (gangster). In this environment, it’s a compliment.

Satya is unbreakable because she’s had to grow up too fast.

Jigra tells the gripping story of Satya and her fight to save her brother Ankur. Directed by Vasan Bala, it stars Alia Bhatt in a standout role as Satya, a woman with bold conviction who will stop at nothing to protect family.

The film belongs to the jailbreak thriller genre. Satya’s brother Ankur finds himself sentenced to death in the fictional country of Hanshi Dao after being framed for drug possession. As an older sister would, Satya vows to rescue Ankur from this foreign prison, wherever it may be.

Alia Bhatt brings Satya to life with layers of emotion beneath a composed surface. You feel her pain from past tragedies and fierce love for her brother. The film starts strong, drawing us into Satya and Ankur’s close bond. But later it loses some focus amid references to other films.

Still, Bhatt anchors the film, keeping us invested in Satya’s mission.

Rani Chatterjee and Satya Anand have little in common.

The leads of Karan Johar’s “Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani” and Vasan Bala’s “Jigra” are both played by Alia Bhatt, one of the top actors in her class, and the only connective tissue between the saree-clad romantic heroine and the resolute woman out to save her brother is that if you cross them, or someone they love, they would probably kill you. It’s a trait Bhatt wears on her sleeve — think “Gully Boy” and “Gangubai Kathiawadi” — and Bala unleashes the best iteration of that to date.

“Jigra” is the story of siblings Satya (Alia Bhatt) and Ankur (Vedang Raina), orphaned in their childhood and raised in the home of wealthy relatives. When Ankur ends up on death row for drug possession in the fictional country of Hanshi Dao, Satya resolves to get him free at all costs.

Bhatt plays a woman trying to spring her brother from prison in a fictional East Asian state, after he is framed by their rich-kid cousins

Director Vasan Bala has a knack for capturing the way some humans view others as disposable, as lives to spend for power. In Bala’s new Hindi-language production Jigra, a jailbreak film that frequently alludes to earlier, better Bollywood thrillers, Satya (a luminous Alia Bhatt), has learned from the best; after witnessing her father’s suicide she is raised by powerful relatives, and works as a fixer in one of their luxury hotels where she handles any inconveniences, human or otherwise.

Satya’s sole loyalty is to her younger, less savvy brother Ankur (Vedang Raina); whose attempts to raise money for a tech start-up with his reckless, far richer cousin Kabir (Aditya Nanda) go from bacchanalia to drug bust. Kabir and his family summarily frame...

Alia Bhatt Vs Deepika Padukone Brand Battle: With 844 Crore Guess Who Is Winning Between Ed-a-Mama & 82E ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

In Bollywood, the age-old question of whether two actresses can be friends with this new lot of Hindi film actresses has put a new spin on it. Alia Bhatt & Deepika Padukone have conquered global levels with their spectacular talent and entrepreneurial skills. Both Bhatt and Padukone are owners and co-founders of their brands, Ed-a-Mama and 82E. And with superstar status comes the value of their respective brands as stars, but who wins in a battle of the brands? Deepika Or Alia? Read on to find out!

Apart from their diverse acting and producing projects, Bollywood actresses have also ventured into their businesses. Katrina Kaif’s Kay Beauty is a great example of celebrity products done right. Talking about brands that add value to star power, we are breaking down the comparison...

Alia Bhatt shares an endearing moment of Ranbir Kapoor and their daughter Raha on Instagram, showcasing their bond and garnering admiration from fans.

Raha Kapoor’s Heartwarming Outfit

The picture captures Raha in a charming yellow outfit, walking alongside her father Ranbir Kapoor who sports a casual attire complemented by matching white shoes.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alia Bhatt (@aliaabhatt)

Fans’ Overflowing Affection

Social media users shower love and adoration on the post, reflecting the public’s fascination with this glimpse into the Kapoor-Bhatt family’s private life.

Alia Bhatt’s caption, “no caption needed (heart and flower emojis),” subtly expresses the depth of emotions shared in the candid father-daughter moment.

Ssmilly Suri Opens Up On Her Debut Film Kalyug & More

Remember the early 2000s when a song called Jiya Dhadak Dhadak went trending like crazy? Featuring Kunal Kemmu and Ssmilly Suri, the song was a chartbuster and was received phenomenally well. It was from Kalyug, which became a box-office success with its unique storyline.

Released in the year 2005, the film starred Kunal Kemmu, Emraan Hashmi, Amrita Singh, and Ssmilly Suri. It was directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Mukesh & Mahesh Bhatt. Recently, in an exclusive chat with Koimoi, Ssmilly revealed how she landed the part.

Ssmilly had a brief yet memorable role in Kalyug. However, she was never the first choice of the film. In fact, she was only assisting Bhatt films at that time. But fate had other plans, and she was offered the role, which none in Bollywood were keen to do.

Trending Kill Teaser: All You...

Parveen Babi Starred In Super Hit movies like Namak Halal, Kaalia, Shaan, Deewar, and More. (Photo Credit – IMDb/Instagram)

The late 70s and 80s superstar Parveen Babi is a star whose loss is a remnant in Hindi Cinema. Her charm and ability to translate emotions through subtlety and grace made the movies she starred in more affluent. Multiple heartbreaks, a bout with schizophrenia, and an untimely death at the age of 50 marked the end of the starlet’s life. But did you know she once ran behind Mahesh Bhatt without stopping him after they broke up? She also ended up in a mental hospital in New York.

Parveen Babi‘s life stories are no less than a saga; it had everything: love, heartbreak, sadness, and tragedy. Amar Akbar Anthony, Namak Halal, Shaan, and The Burning Train are just a few of the classic Hindi films she starred in. And while...

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt recently took to Instagram to announce the completion of her upcoming thriller film ‘Jigra’. Directed by Vasan Bala, the film features Alia alongside co-star Vedang Raina. Bhatt revealed that ‘Jigra’ is set to hit theaters on 27 September 2024. Here’s a glimpse into the wrap-up announcement and the candid moments shared by the stars.

Announcement on Instagram:

Alia Bhatt shared a series of candid pictures with her co-star Vedang Raina on her Instagram account, marking the end of the filming journey for ‘Jigra’. She expressed her excitement for the film’s release, mentioning Vasan Bala and Swapnil S. Sonawane in her post. The actress revealed that audiences can catch ‘Jigra’ in theaters from 27th September 2024. The post garnered attention from fans and fellow celebrities, generating buzz for the upcoming thriller.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alia Bhatt (@aliaabhatt)

Candid Moments Shared:

The candid...

Alia Bhatt To Exec Produce Prime Video’s ‘Poacher’

Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has signed on as an executive producer on Poacher, an upcoming Prime Video investigative crime-themed drama series based on real events from QC Entertainment, the film production and finance company with credits for Antebellum, Us, Get Out and BlackKklansmen. Poacher, created, written, and directed by Richie Mehta, the series stars Nimisha Sajayan, Roshan Mathew and Dibyendu Bhattacharya and is set in the world of illegal poaching. Bhatt will EP through her Eternal Sunshine Productions business as an associate producer. Suitable Pictures, Poor Man’s Productions are also associate producers. “The impact of Poacher was deeply personal, and Richie’s portrayal of the urgent issue of wildlife crime resonated strongly with me and the team,” she said. Bhatt is known for films such as Highway, Udta Punjab, Raazi and Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva

BBC Children’s Builds Out...

A New Collaboration: Bollywood sensation Alia Bhatt has stepped into the world of web series production as she joins the team of Amazon Original Series ‘Poacher’ as an Executive Producer.

Unveiling a Gripping Crime Story:

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Richie Mehta, ‘Poacher’ delves into the dark world of wildlife crime, exposing the largest ivory poaching ring in Indian history. The series promises to unravel a riveting narrative that explores the complexities of the illegal wildlife trade.

Alia Bhatt Associates With Amazon Original Series ‘Poacher’… #AliaBhatt [@aliaa08] comes on board as Executive Producer for #AmazonOriginal series, #Poacher.

Directed by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker #RichieMehta, the crime series unearths the largest ivory poaching ring in… pic.twitter.com/BCuhyPj5sI

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) February 6, 2024Alia Bhatt’s Strategic Role:

Alia’s association with ‘Poacher’ not only marks her debut as an Executive Producer but also showcases her commitment to supporting compelling storytelling.

Suhana Khan and Alia Bhatt are both well-known figures in the entertainment industry, with Suhana being the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, and Alia Bhatt being a successful Bollywood actress.

Suhana Khan, who is all set to make her big Bollywood debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, in a recent conversation expressed her admiration towards Alia Bhatt for re-wearing her wedding saree at the National Film Awards.

On being asked about the youth’s role in protecting the environment, Suhana Khan talked about sustainable fashion by recalling Bhatt’s initiative of repeating her outfit. She said, “Recently, Alia wore her wedding saree again for the National Awards and I think as somebody with a platform, who has an influence, I thought that was incredible and a much-needed message.” She further emphasised, “And if Alia Bhatt can re-wear her wedding saree then we can also repeat an outfit for a party.

Suhana Khan and Alia Bhatt are both well-known figures in the entertainment industry, with Suhana being the daughter of Shah Rukh Khan, and Alia Bhatt being a successful Bollywood actress.

Suhana Khan, who is all set to make her big Bollywood debut with Zoya Akhtar’s The Archies, in a recent conversation expressed her admiration towards Alia Bhatt for re-wearing her wedding saree at the National Film Awards.

On being asked about the youth’s role in protecting the environment, Suhana Khan talked about sustainable fashion by recalling Bhatt’s initiative of repeating her outfit. She said, “Recently, Alia wore her wedding saree again for the National Awards and I think as somebody with a platform, who has an influence, I thought that was incredible and a much-needed message.” She further emphasised, “And if Alia Bhatt can re-wear her wedding saree then we can also repeat an outfit for a party.

Jawan

The best thing about this maara-maari-thon is, no not Shah Rukh Khan (he’s beyond human evaluation of excellence) but Deepika Padukone. She shows up in this exacerbated show of flamboyant showmanship post midpoint and instantly lights up the screen with her luminous presence.

Wish she didn’t have to go. Sadly all good things must come to an end. Deepika’s exit ushers in another wave of indescribably kinetic action scenes, some of them on the road, others in confined spaces where the atmosphere is so sullen, I wished Deepika would turns up again to bring a bit sunshine into the glum.

Jawan is a bit like dipping your feet into a slushy toxic pond. You know it will sully you indelibly, but you can’t help it. There is so much here to celebrate , and the characters keep bursting into dances to Anirudh Ravichander’s cacophonic songs...

It’s turning out to be quite a summer for superspies and supercomputers.

A month after the action feast of “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part I”, in which Tom Cruise faced off with an AI supervillain called “the Entity,” comes a very “Mi”-like international espionage thriller with an equally fancy and powerful machine.

“Heart of Stone” stars Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone, an agent for an elite and clandestine intelligence agency called the Charter. Like “Mission: Impossible”, “Heart of Stone” hits glamorous global destinations and features lengthy actions sequence including a wingsuit skydive.

Read More: ‘Heart Of Stone’ Trailer: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan And Alia Bhatt Star In Thrilling Spy Film

Enzo Cilenti as Mulvaney in “Heart Of Stone”. — Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023. Gal Gadot as Rachel Stone in “Heart Of Stone”. — Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2023.

Whereas “Dead Reckoning” pushed old-school filmmaking to extremes for a gripping theatrical experience,...

“Heart of Stone” is an action-packed thriller directed by Tom Harper, based on a screenplay by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder. The film stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, with Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, and Matthias Schweighöfer.

This thrilling action movie delivers everything one would expect: heart-pounding action, solid editing, and cutting-edge technology that will amaze viewers.

There are many going in favor of “Heart of Stone,” but above all i that it stays true to its genre as an adventurous spy film filled with action, catering to the most demanding fans of the genre.

Plot

Rachel Stone (played by Gadot) is an intelligence agent who stands as the only woman between her powerful global peacekeeping organization and the loss of its most valuable and dangerous asset. When a mysterious hacker named Keya Dhawan (Bhatt) disrupts a routine mission, Rachel’s two lives collide. As she races to protect the...

“Heart of Stone” is an action-packed thriller directed by Tom Harper, based on a screenplay by Greg Rucka and Allison Schroeder. The film stars Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan, with Alia Bhatt, Sophie Okonedo, and Matthias Schweighöfer.

This thrilling action movie delivers everything one would expect: heart-pounding action, solid editing, and cutting-edge technology that will amaze viewers.

There are many going in favor of “Heart of Stone,” but above all i that it stays true to its genre as an adventurous spy film filled with action, catering to the most demanding fans of the genre.

Plot

Rachel Stone (played by Gadot) is an intelligence agent who stands as the only woman between her powerful global peacekeeping organization and the loss of its most valuable and dangerous asset. When a mysterious hacker named Keya Dhawan (Bhatt) disrupts a routine mission, Rachel’s two lives collide. As she races to protect the...

Netflix clearly is determined to play the major-studio game of big, star-driven action franchises. Extraction, its current sequel, another Russo Brothers’ franchise The Gray Man (with the promise of more), Red Notice and many others represent big-screen-type entertainment designed ultimately for people to watch on their couches at home.

This kind of stuff, while skillfully and expensively executed, still works best at Imax rather than your living room, but the streamer is convinced that it will goose subscriptions, so expect more of movies like Heart of Stone, a convoluted spy thriller loaded with James Bond-style action set pieces but with a wonder woman in the name of Gal Gadot in the center of it all. Taking a cue from Charlize Theron’s Netflix franchise The Old Guard, this is a female-driven enterprise where the men, namely Jamie Dornan’s complicated bad guy, take a back seat for the most part.

Gal Gadot in Heart Of StoneImage: Netflix

On its surface, Heart Of Stone certainly has all the markings of an intriguing spy-thriller: A hero who’d sacrifice themselves for the greater good battling a villain who’d stop at nothing, a mystery revolving around a powerful artificial intelligence device, a...

Alia Bhatt and Gal Gadot, co-stars of upcoming Netflix series “Heart of Stone”, say they are both game for a Bollywood venture next.

When Et Canada’s Sangita Patel asked Gadot if she’ll think about starring in a Hindi movie, she quickly replies, “Yes, certainly.”

Bhatt, currently basking in the success of her Bollywood movie “Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani”, added, “We’re already working on it. It’s going to be a massive thing. I’m producing it. Gal’s going to star and obviously there’s going to a song.”

Read More: ‘Heart Of Stone’ Co-Stars Gal Gadot And Alia Bhatt Share Their Formula To Raising Daughters, Talk About Women In Action Genre

Bhatt, who describes her dance skills as “highly average” also talked to Et Canada about some of the “craziest things” she has done – which involved dancing with a broken leg and torn ligament.

Gal Gadot and Alia Bhatt are throwing on their bulletproof vests and gearing up to release their new action-packed spy-thriller, “Heart of Stone”, which hits Netflix on August 11.

Joining Et Canada’s Sangita Patel, the talented actresses, aged 38 and 30 respectively, delved into the empowering messages of fearlessness they aim to impart to their daughters while promoting this explosive thriller.

When asked what the two women hope to teach their daughters, Gadot succinctly responded: “To love themselves.”

Read More: Gal Gadot Confirms There’s A ‘Wonder Woman 3’ In The Works

Gadot is a loving mother to her three daughters, Alma, 11, Maya, 6, and Daniella, 2, with her real estate developer husband, Yaron Varsano.

“I think it’s good for everybody – women and men as well. I think that if you love yourself and value yourself, your standards for the people that you surround yourself with is going to be better. I just think...

Mumbai, August 3 (Ians) As the grand finale of ‘Bigg Boss Ott 2’ draws closer, the reality show’s house is witnessing a lot more action and drama. After Abhishek, Jad and Jiya had their teary eyed encounters with their families, Pooja Bhatt just met her father Mahesh Bhatt where she revealed that she had asked him whether Sunny Leone was a good choice for the film ‘Jism 2’.

The filmmaker revealed to the contestants that this was not the first time he made an appearance in ‘Bigg Boss’ house — this was his second time.

She said: “You know, interestingly my father is coming for the second time in the ‘Bigg Boss’ house. The first time he had come was when Sunny Leone was in Season 5 of Bigg Boss”.

“So that time I wanted to cast her (Sunny Leone) for my film ‘Jism 2’. That time I couldn’t wait for six...

Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal’s “Oppenheimer” continued their domination of the U.K. and Ireland box office with a combined £21.4 million ($27.3 million) after their second weekend, per numbers from Comscore.

Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” topped the charts for the second week in a row with £13.2 million, and now has a total of £47.9 million. The film is expected to surpass Universal’s “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” which is the year’s current No. 1 film in the territory with £54.4 million, this week.

Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was second with £8.2 million and now has a total of £27.6 million. It is currently the fifth highest grossing film of the year and is expected to move beyond “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (£30 million) into fourth place this week.

In its third weekend, Paramount’s “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” earned £1.8 million in third place for a total of £20.2 million. Disney’s “Elemental...

Mumbai, June 11 (Ians) Director and producer Vikram Bhatt’s daughter and debutante director Krishna Bhatt has tied the knot with longtime boyfriend Vedant Sarda in Mumbai. And their wedding reception was a starry affair.

Those who showed up to bless the newlyweds included Mahesh Bhatt, Pooja Bhatt, Bobby Deol, Avika Gor, Aftab Shivdasani, Sandeepa Dhar, and Sunny Leone, who came with her husband Daniel Weber and their children.

Before the wedding reception, the Bhatt clan organised a sangeet for Krishna and Vedant. The event was a starry affair where Vikram Bhatt took the centre stage and danced with his daughter.

In the video, Krishna can be seen dressed in a gorgeous pastel lehenga while enjoying a slow dance with her dad, with whom she has worked as his assistant director in films such as “Haunted”, “Creature” and “Mr X”.

For the wedding, Krishna opted for a maroon traditional lehenga with...

Even as her debut film ‘1920: Horrors of The Hearts’ await its June 23 release, newbie director and Vikram Bhatt’s daughter, Krishna Bhatt, is getting married to her long-time boyfriend Vedant Sarda.

The wedding festivities have started in Mumbai with the mehndi ceremony. The pheras are scheduled to take place on June 11. Bhatt and Sarda got engaged in December last year.

Krishna Bhatt’s mehndi artist shared a video on social media where the bride-to-be is seen having mehndi applied on her hands. The caption reads: “Embracing traditions, creating memories. @krishnavbhatt #MehendiCelebrations”

Presented by Mahesh Bhatt, who’s also the writer, and Anand Pandit, ‘1920: Horrors of the Heart’ revolves around a young girl, who walks into a dark world in search of revenge, but the darkness consumes her, making her a victim of the revenge she’s seeking.

The film features ‘Balika Vadhu’ star Avika Gor, model-turned-actor Rahul Dev,...

Mahesh Bhatt, who has written the upcoming “1920: Horrors of the Heart”, says the film, despite its ‘horror’ tag, is not just another horror film, but it has an emotional family drama woven into it. Known for his ground-breaking films such as “Saaransh”, “Arth”, and “Naam”, Bhatt last wrote “Hamari Adhuri Kahaani”.

Talking about the “1920” sequel, the writer-director said: “The film is an emotional family drama woven with horror. We have narrated the story around a family drama. People will see and will relate to it as there is a mother, father, sister, all relations in the film.”

Bhatt added: “Vikram and I together have an experience of 90 years. We are bringing our experience together on screen and now we have given the onus to the younger generation to take it forward. I feel at a time like this, post-Covid, to bring a non-star film to theatres and that too in Hindi,...