Hindi
Smita Thackeray making film on Babri controversy
MUMBAI: Smita Thackeray is making a film on the Babri Masjid controversy. The movie is titled Babri.
“This is a subject I had in mind for a while now. I want to put in my own views in the film but in a cinema format with cinematic liberties. I think the whole issue has been much politicised and coming from a political family, I wanted the film to come from a common man’s point of view. And cinema is the only way to do it. After a lot of work, I have been able to put my final thoughts and the script is ready,” Thackeray has been quoted to have said.
Thackeray wanted Aamir Khan to play the lead. But due to Khan’s prior engagements, he has declined the same. But nevertheless, he has helped Thackeray with the finer nuances of the script. Speaking about Khan’s association with the film, the filmmaker said, “While working on the script, I met Aamir Khan and we had a few meetings on this subject. A lot of credit goes to him.”
Brushing aside talks that her family would react to her making a film on such a controversial subject, Thackeray said: “I am not putting any communal point of view. I am making a film that I want to and I don’t want to predict or assume anything.
The filmmaker now has Ajay Devgn in mind for the role. “I have immense respect for him as an actor and he is the one who can do justice to the role. I am keeping my fingers crossed to do the film when I approach him,” she concluded.
Hindi
Rashmika Mandanna, Shanaya Kapoor and Naila Grrewal climb IMDb’s Indian celebrity rankings
Upcoming films and returning shows are driving fan interest across Bollywood and streaming
MUMBAI: Bollywood’s popularity contest has a new weekly scorecard, and the numbers are telling. IMDb’s Popular Indian Celebrities list for this week places Shanaya Kapoor at number six, buoyed by buzz around her film Tu Yaa Main. Naila Grrewal slots in at seven on the back of the returning comedy series Maamla Legal Hai, while Rashmika Mandanna climbs to eighth, riding mounting anticipation for Cocktail 2.
The list, available exclusively on the IMDb app for Android and iOS, tracks trending Indian entertainers and filmmakers each week, drawing on data from more than 200m monthly visits to the platform worldwide.
Further down the rankings, Raaka is keeping two of its biggest names in the spotlight. Deepika Padukone holds 11th position, with Allu Arjun close behind at 13th, as the film continues to find traction with audiences.
The list offers fans a weekly pulse on who is breaking through, who is holding steady, and who is fading. It is a barometer as unsparing as the box office itself.
