SCOOPS: Meet Salman Khan's niece Alizeh Agnihotri, Akshay Kumar turns singer for 'Kesari' song

New kid-on-the-block Alizeh Agnihotri complements aunt Seema Khan’s creations 

Talent and movie-star looks run deep in Khan family’s fantastic gene pool. So, it’s not surprising to see Salman Khan’s gorgeous niece Alizeh Agnihotri rocking the hell out of designer Seema Khan’s statement-making and ornate creations. The ingenue has already sparked off intrigue as the face of the bridal couture collection. 

Looking elegant in creations crafted from flowy tulle, lively layers, iridescent crystals, mirror work to organza and pearls — she’s a vision. 

For a newcomer, she looks rather poised and confident in Seema’s signature goddess-like drapes. With this stylistic foray, she’s made the observers sit up and take note. B-Town whisperers are already speculating her next move — will it be the glossy runway of fashion or the rough-and-tumble of Bollywood?  

It’s too early to deduce anything, but as of now, we could marvel at Alizeh’s latest images shot by ace lensman Avinash Gowariker. She’s already an Insta sensation and with this campaign, it’s hard not to picture her sizzling on the silver screen soon.

Bhumi Pednekar, who has done content-driven films like Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Dum Laga Ke Haisha and Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, feels that 2018 was a phenomenal year for cinema. “There were several breakout films last year. Even this year’s Uri: The Surgical Strike was one such movie. We keep saying content is king, filmmaking is a director’s medium and writers are the backbone of it. The year reiterated that. We had a film like Simmba, a masala, fun fantastic release, awesome movies like Badhaai Ho, Stree and AndhaDhun.” In fact, the Ayushmann Khurrana-Tabu starrer is her all-time favourite film.  

Ask her if there’s any movie that she felt she should have been a part of and pat comes the reply, “AndhaDhun! I wish the protagonist was a girl and I played the pianist!” Though she did not have a release in 2018, she says it was a great year for filmmakers and especially actors who are trying to break the stereotype. “The whole definition of what your commercial film or actor should be has changed, which is such a welcome change. Now, what is important as an actor, is you need to act. Priority should be given to the craft, and not the frills that come with it,” she surmises.  

— Chaya Unnikrishnan   

The makers of Total Dhamaal are laughing all the way to the bank. The adventure comedy starring Ajay Devgn, Anil Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi, which did swell business in its first week, continued to keep the momentum in the second weekend as well.

Considering the huge number of cinegoers watching the Indra Kumar directorial, veteran trade analyst Taran Adarsh observed, “#TotalDhamaal catches speed on (second) Saturday and jumps on Sunday... Massive gains from mass circuits... Proves, yet again, entertainers having the mandate of families/kids will always work at BO... (Week 2) Fri Rs 4.75 cr, Sat Rs 7.02 cr, Sun Rs 11.45 cr. Total: Rs 117.77 cr. India biz (sic).”

Ajay, who is also a co-producer of Total Dhamaal, now has nine films crossing the Rs 100-crore mark. While the movie registered the second highest-opening figures of 2019 so far, what makes its numbers noteworthy is that it released on a regular Friday, without the added advantage of a holiday. Also, it’s interesting to note that despite two new releases on March 1, the third instalment of the Dhamaal franchise, which had been tracking well since its trailer launch, continues to attract footfalls and has become a favourite with family audiences and children.

Vicky Kaushal, who’s the flavour of the season post the stupendous success of Uri: The Surgical Strike, has bagged another interesting film to his kitty. The rising star has signed up for director Shoojit Sircar’s next, Udham Singh, based on the unsung hero of India’s fight for Independence from British Raj.

The Raazi and Sanju actor will portray the daring martyr who assassinated Michael O’Dwyer, the former Lt Gov of Punjabi in British India, in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919. Singh was subsequently tried and convicted of the murder and was hanged in July 1940.

Elated to essay this patriot under the aegis of the Vicky Donor and Piku director, Vicky enthuses, “Being a Punjabi, I’ve always heard about Udham Singh’s life while I was growing up and he has always come across as a mysterious character. The more mysterious a character, the more stimulating it becomes for an actor and for the director as well. I’m so looking forward to becoming Udham Singh and translating Shoojit sir’s vision. I just feel that this is one person whose life story India should know and I’m really excited for this journey to start.” 

Divyanka Tripathi Dahiya has become the first TV celebrity to have garnered 10 million followers on her Instagram. The actress, who is juggling three shows — Yeh Hai Mohabbatein, Voice India and Cold Lassi And Chicken Masala — is active on social media and keeps posting pictures from her personal and professional life.

Whenever fans meet her or send gifts, she posts pictures or stories, that’s the reason she probably has so many followers! Says Divyanka, “My social media family keeps me motivated, helps me keep going and improving myself at all stages. I get first review of whatever they like; it’s instant feedback. I would say the new mark is a Maha Shivratri gift for me!”

The patriotic number from his upcoming movie releases today

Six years after debuting as a singer with Mujhme Tu in Special 26 (2013), Akshay Kumar has gone behind the mic again. The superstar has lent his voice to a few lines of the inspiring and patriotic number, Ajj Singh Garjega for Anurag Singh’s directorial Kesari, which is based on the 1897 Battle of Saragarhi, where 21 Sikh soldiers fought against 10,000 Afghans. The song, penned by Kunwar Juneja, composed by Chirrantan Bhatt and rendered by Jazzy B, is all set to release today.

A source says, “Akshay was extremely moved by the powerful lyrics of the track. Along with the sequence, it also stirred sentiments of nationalism that the characters feel in the movie.” The insider adds, “Akshay was charged up with the composition and the visuals. It was apparent that his voice would enhance the emotions of the character.”

Kesari, presented by Zee Studios in association with Dharma Productions, Cape Of Good Films and Azure Entertainment and produced by Dharma Productions, releases on March 21.