Onir’s Shab premieres at New York Indian Film Festival

Onir's much-awaited movie, Shab had its World Premiere at the New York Indian Film Festival on May 1, 2017.Set in the cosmopolitan city of Delhi, the romance-drama featuring Raveena Tandon and introducing two talented actors – Ashish Bisht and Arpita Chatterjee, is a story of people coming from different walks of life, some in the search for love and some towards realization of their dreams.Also starring French actor Simon Frenay, Shab is a story of these characters caught in the web of circumstances of an unforgiving and cold city.Director Onir and actor Ashish Bisht interacted with few acclaimed directors – Amit Masurkar, Sudhish Kamath and Sandeep Mohan – of the movies that were screened at the coveted festival during the gala dinner.The screening of Shab which took place on May 1, 2017 (US time) received wonderful response at the festival. 

It’s a double whammy for Onir as his film screening happened on his birthday – May 1, 2017. The filmmaker was excited about attending the New York premiere of Shab and the prestigious film festival along with Ashish and Simon and also receiving praises from the festival director Aseem Chhabra and Mallika Dutt – Indo-American human rights activist and CEO-Founder of Breakthrough Foundation. 

Produced by Sanjay Suri, Bhavna Talwar, Mohan Mulani and Onir under the banner Anticlock Films, WSG Pictures and Surya Ventures, Shab is scheduled to release this year. The first look of the film will also be revealed soon.

Shilpa Shetty Kundra & Goldie Hawn bond over Yoga

Shilpa Shetty Kundra who was recently in London for a charity event ,had a fangirl moment when she met Hollywood star Goldie Hawn. 

Shilpa who is a huge fan of the 71 year old diva met the gorgeous actress to discuss another charity intiative and the conversation veered towards health, yoga and food given that the two share a common passion for fitness . 

Shilpa was pleasantly surprised to discover that Goldie is very well versed with yoga and meditation and has even studied it in detail.

AISHWARYA TURNS VEGAN

Aishwarya Sakhuja has turned over a new leaf. The Trideviyan actor turned vegan two months ago. She says, “I was a non-vegetarian all my life. I relished eating non-vegetarian dishes. However, last year in August, my husband (Rohit Nag) suffered from typhoid, and he was only allowed to eat khichdi. So, I began eating khichdi along with him and something brought about a change in me. I didn’t eat meat ever again.”

While her husband’s illness might have acted as a catalyst that triggered the change of heart, Aishwarya says the documentaries she watched

on an online streaming channel too, “changed her outlook” about life, food and animals. She adds, “I watched a few documentaries on the food and dairy industry, and animals. They opened my eyes. It was a big shock and a reality check.” The actor feels her “ignorance” allowed her to consume dairy in the past. “Humans don’t need dairy or dairy products. Animals are living beings too, and they are tortured to provide for us. The trauma they must be going through is insane. We should understand that as much as the planet is ours, it is theirs too. We have forgotten that. Many people don’t respect animals. That needs to stop.”

The change hasn’t been easy for Aishwarya, who is currently working in a sitcom. She says, “It’s a big decision and many of my friends think that I am mad. The kind of love I had for non-vegetarian dishes was huge. The biggest challenge is avoiding dairy. It’s in so many products that one consumes on a daily basis. I have given up on all the little pleasures in life from biscuit to cake, and so many more items. I also haven’t gone to a vegan dietician, who can help me with supplements to diary. I need to take care of that.” 

Aishwarya says, “ The actor says watching a few documentaries changed her outlook about life, food and animals. My ignorance allowed me to consume dairy in the past. Humans don’t need dairy or dairy products.”

Amish and Raveena Tandon launch the book cover of ‘Sita- Warrior of Mithila’

One of the most popular mythology writers of our times, Amish launched the book cover of his highly-awaited Book 2 in the Ram Chandra series - ‘Sita-Warrior of Mithila’ today. The cover launch of this thrilling adventure that chronicles the rise of Lady Sita was held at Title Waves Bookstore in Mumbai. At the book cover launch, the renowned author was accompanied by none-other-than the Bollywood Actress and Producer, Raveena Tandon.

Amish’s new book, which revolves around Lady Sita, defies the image we have of the Goddess and portrays Lady Sita as a feminist icon. Amish’s new book cover perfectly captures her as a fearless warrior. A powerful Lady Sita is shown on the book cover with her lathi, single-handedly fighting a crowd of men who have come to abduct her.

Commenting on the cover launch for the book, Amish said, “Ancient India witnessed a far more equal social set-up than we have today. The cover depicts Lady Sita to be a fearless warrior and the book will capture her journey from an adopted child to a fierce warrior and then becoming a Goddess.”

Raveena rightly emulates the spirit of the modern woman, who is independent and powerful much like Amish’s Lady Sita. It is fitting that the actress graced the event to unveil the cover of the book.

Talking about the cover of the book, Raveena Tandon said, “In ancient India, women held positions of power and led countries as queens and fiercely fought on the battlefield. They enjoyed more freedom and respect from the society. It is great to see that Amish is bringing that alive through Lady Sita and the cover beautifully illustrates her as a true warrior.”

The trailer launch of this much anticipated book will take place on 16th May, while Amish’s fan will finally get a chance to grab their copies on the day of the book launch to be held on 29th May in Mumbai. The Book 2 in the popular Ram Chandra series, ‘Sita- Warrior of Mithila’ can be pre-ordered at:

http://bit.ly/SWOM-AZ

http://bit.ly/SWOM-FK

http://bit.ly/SWOM-SD 

About the Author: AMISH

Described as 'India's first literary popstar' by world-renowned film director Shekhar Kapur, Amish's unique combination of crackling story-telling, religious symbolism and profound philosophies have made him an overnight publishing phenomenon, with spiritual guru Deepak Chopra hailing Amish's books as 'archetypal and stirring'.

Amish's books include the Shiva Trilogy (The Immortals of Meluha (2010); The Secret of the Nagas (2011); The Oath of the Vayuputras (2013)) & the Ram Chandra Series (Scion of Ikshvaku (2015)). His books have sold over 3.5 million copies with gross retail sales of over Rs. 100 crores. The Shiva Trilogy is the fastest selling book series in Indian publishing history. Scion of Ikshvaku was the highest selling book of 2015. His books have been translated into 19 Indian and International languages.

Amish won various awards, including the Raymond Crossword Book Award 2015 for ‘Scion Of Ikshvaku’.Forbes Magazine has listed Amish amongst the 100 most influential celebrities in India, four years in a row. He has also received the Society Young Achievers Award for literature in 2013, Man of the Year by Radio City, Communicator of the Year by PR Council of India, Dainak Bhaskar Reader’s Choice Awards and Pride of India award (Literature). Amish was also selected as an Eisenhower Fellow, a prestigious American programme for outstanding leaders from around the world.

Amish is a graduate of IIM-Calcutta and worked for 14 years in the financial services industry before turning to full-time writing. He lives in Mumbai with his wife Preeti and son Neel.

Also find appended below the link of the live video of the cover launch event.

HARI MEHROTRA’S VIRAAM'S WORLD PREMIERE AT MARCHE DU CANNES THIS MAY

It is a film with a soul, a film about how love can transform a person. It is Viraam… The End of A Journey, the product of passion of producer Hari Mehrotra and director Ziaullah Khan, that is all set for a world premiere at Marche Du Cannes, this May. 

The cast and crew of film Viraam came together for a promotional familial party of the film at Raheja Classique Club, Andheri West. Seen were actors Narendra Jha and Urmila Mahanta, Producer Hari Mehrotra with Rama Mehrotra, Director Ziaullah Khan and Co-Producer Amankumar D Shah. The film is all set for a World Premiere at Cannes this May. 

The film revolves around Abhiraj Malhotra (Narendra Jha), a widower whose life changes when he meets Matun (Urmila Mahanta), a young woman. But when Abhiraj slowly comes out of the cobweb of pain inspired by Matun’s love, a shocking truth comes to light... what happens next forms the crux of Viraam. 

Starring Narendra Jha, Urmila Mahanta, Monika Ravan, Tripurari Vitthal, Zaid Sheikh,Tripurari Yadav, Sanjay Singh, Kavita Khanna, Gyanendra Bharti, Satish Sharma and Raj Rahat,  the film, directed by Ziaullah Khan, is under the banner Hari Mehrotra Productions, co-produced by Amankumar D Shah, story by Rajeev Yogendranathaand Hari Mehrotra, written by Abdullah Khan-Ziaulllah Khan,dialogues by Abdullah Khan, Ziaullah Khan and Hari Mehrotra, music by Siddhant Mahav, lyrics by Abdullah Khan, Azeem Ziraji, cinematography Sanjay Johny Lal, editor Ashish Arjun Gaiykar.