Abhishek Kapoor - The Star Maker

After recognizing the immense star potential in director Farhan Akhtar , filmmaker Abhishek Kapoor convinced him to star in the mega blockbuster Rock On! that went on to win a National award .

Soon after Akhtar swept multiple awards for his performances, something that Kapoor was confident about when he recognized the actor in him.

Abhishek Kapoor's Kai Po Che that marked Sushant Singh Rajput's debut ,went on to become the most talked about film in 2013 not just for its relevant subject and treatment but also because a star was born with Sushant Singh Rajput. 4 years later , the two who share a truly commendable partnership teamed up for Kedarnath, which was also Sara Ali Khan's massive launch pad.

The young actress walked away with rave reviews for the film and is already one of the most sought after stars. All this despite being just a film old, speaking volumes for Kapoor's knack of recognizing, mentoring and nurturing talent.

Says a trade source, " Abhishek Kapoor is known to have a keen eye for talent. He launched names like Farhan Akhtar as an actor ( Rock On) , Sushant Singh Rajput ( Kai Po Che) , Rajkummar Rao ( Kai Po Che) and now Sara Ali Khan ( Kedarnath) , all of whom are bonafide stars. Kapoor recognizes talent when he sees it and grooms and nurtures it to its full potential. He is a fine mentor ,whether its conducting workshops , grooming them on their screen presence, right down to conversations and all else that goes into making a great actor".

When contacted said Abhishek Kapoor, “Casting newcomers is not a deliberate move but a natural process and that is how it should be.  I guess I’ve been successful at it because my intention has always been to make my film and tell the story. New talent from my films have always emerged as a byproduct of the films.. They have to be right for the character and give it 100%. If any story demands a fresh face i won’t hold back.. Besides, as a film maker it gives me the opportunity to contribute to the pool of talent in the industry.”

Priyanka Chopra Jonas stars in a powerful TV commercial that champions equality and challenges gender stereotypes

Bumble, the woman-first social network with almost 50 million users worldwide, debuted #EqualNotLoose, a fully integrated marketing campaign across India that celebrates the empowerment of Indian women and challenges the judgment that too often accompanies their pursuit of independence and achieving their professional and relationship goals. Bumble’s vision is a world free of misogyny, where all relationships are equal. With this campaign, Bumble aims to encourage Indian women to feel liberated from societal judgements that hold them back, so they are free and empowered to make their own choices in love, life and business.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas, globally iconic actor, entrepreneur and philanthropist, and

Bumble partner and investor, stars in the campaign’s TV commercial with a message

that champions gender equality and the everyday moments in a modern Indian

woman’s life as she makes empowered choices: to be ambitious at work, curious in

love, and to live confidently and freely, on her own terms. The commercial will air across India over.

“At the heart and soul of Bumble is a mission to empower women worldwide and we’re so honored to be sharing that message with our users in India in a campaign that stars our dear friend and partner, Priyanka Chopra Jonas,” said Whitney Wolfe Herd, Bumble

Founder and CEO. “To tear down generations old stigmas, you must first make people aware of the issues and start the conversation, and we’re hoping our collaboration with Priyanka will help do just that.”

Alaia F’s tryst with Urdu for Jawaani Jaaneman

Alaia F, daughter of Pooja Bedi, will soon be making her big Bollywood debut alongside Saif Ali Khan in Nitin Kakkar’s family comedy, Jawaani Jaaneman.

The young promising actor who will start working on her debut film by early next year has already started prepping for her character.

Interestingly, Alaia who plays a distinct and important role in the film, will be reciting dialogues in Urdu in the film.

A source informs, “Though details of Alaia’s character are under wraps at the moment, most of her dialogues requires her to speak in pure Urdu. For the perfection of the role, Alaia has started learning the basic Urdu words and accent too.”

“To get an in-depth knowledge of Urdu, Alaia has also started conversing with her staff, including her driver to understand pure Urdu. To master the accent and right diction of Urdu dialect, Alaia is also spending four to five hours every day watching videos and reading books,” the source informs. 

While a string of newcomers are making their inroads into the Hindi film industry, insiders have been placing their bets on Alaia, who is quite the social media sensation.

Floors the King Khan of Bollywood Shahrukh Khan with his dancing skills

Nitin Kumar, one of the most favorite contestant of Indian Idol 10 is known for his funny gimmicks on the sets. The contestants and the host Maniesh Paul is always seen pulling his leg on his various habits be it his snoring or his dancing skills. Nitin has shown some of his best dance moves on the sets infront of the esteemed judges and the guests who grace the show. Off late, Nitin has learnt a new move which is sliding from between the legs of another person. He has been displaying this unique talent of his for a couple of times leaving the judges and the audience in splits. Last he was seen doing it when Rohit Shetty, Ranveer Singh visited the sets. And in the finale week, he shows this skill off infront of none other than the Baadshah of Bollywood-

Shahrukh Khan who had come with his co-stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif from the movie Zero.  He slided right between the legs of Shahrukh Khan and Maniesh Paul. Shahrukh Khan was floored with this talent and was mind-blown.

Nitin said, “I feel to be a performer one needs to know dance along with singing and that is important to woo and entertain the audiences. So, I have been brushing up my dancing skills along with my singing and all my dance steps are my own innovation. Everyone on the sets finds it funny, and I’m happy to bring that comic element in the show along with Maniesh Bhaiya.”   

Watch Nitin entertain the audiences with his funny acts only on the grand finale of Indian Idol 10 only on Sony Entertainment Television on Sunday, December 23, 2018 at 8pm!

Suniel Shetty and Zaheer Khan Join Hands to Launch Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB)

Renowned Bollywood superstar and sports enthusiast Suniel Shetty, cricketing legend Zaheer Khan, and investors extraordinaire Jasmeet Bhatia and Mitesh Sharma, today announced the launch of Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB), India’s first nationwide cricket league for amateur cricketers. FCB will feature 16 teams representing various regions of the country. Registration is open to players who are 15+ years, and the best performers will be selected, subject to an intensive 22-city talent search. The league aims to discover the most talented and passionate amateur cricketers from across the country.

FCB is an exciting endeavour aimed at encouraging the nation’s cricket lovers to pursue their dreams of playing competitively by giving them a massive platform to showcase their talent. After two intense selection rounds involving several thousand aspiring cricketers across multiple cities in India, the final 224 players will be divided into 16 teams. These teams, which will be mentored by internationally renowned cricketing legends and leading coaches from across India, will then compete with each other in an exciting 15-over a side format. Each shortlisted player will receive a participation fee of INR 1 lakh along with exciting cash rewards for the winning teams. The top 14 performers of FCB will be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the FCB All Stars Team and participate in a local club level tournament in Australia.

The launch ceremony was hosted by emcee Gaurav Kapoor and graced by some of the most iconic names in cricket such as Zaheer Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chris Gayle, and Praveen Kumar. Industrialists Jasmeet Bhatia and Mitesh Sharma, co-founders and promoters of FCB also stated that a few more international cricketing icons would likely be signed on as mentors for the upcoming season of FCB.

Suniel Shetty, co-founder of Ferit Cricket Bash said, “Movies and cricket are two unifying factors in our country, and as a sports enthusiast, I am most excited to launch FCB in partnership with Zaheer, Jasmeet and Mitesh. There is no dearth of passion for cricket in India, and it is almost a religion for us. Even at my age, I look forward to the opportunity of playing a game of cricket regardless of whether it is on a film set or in the lane outside my house. Our endeavour with FCB is to bring young and old ‘ziddi’s’ together on a national scale, and let the cricketing fervour take over. Although FCB is for amateur cricketers, the joy and pride of representing your city or state will push you to go that extra mile, and that is the essence of what we are creating here. Cricket is a way of life for a majority of us, and the most passionate ones deserve the chance to know what it feels like to live the game.”

Zaheer Khan, Cricket legend and co-founder of FCB said, “I started my journey amongst hundreds of other cricket enthusiasts, and most of us had nothing, but our love for the game that kept us going. It was the opportunities I had while participating in local tournaments back home that later enabled me to represent my country. Therefore, I most definitely realise the value of an opportunity given to amateur players, especially those with humble beginnings. Many passionate cricketers we’ll encounter during our search may not aspire to become professional players, but at FCB, it won’t stop them from fulfilling their desire of becoming a part of a team, having their names on their jerseys, playing on beautiful grounds across India or having their friends and families rooting for them, while the nation watches. That is the USP of FCB, and I am very proud to be associated with Suniel Anna, Jasmeet and Mitesh. I look forward to encouraging and engaging with India’s most talented cricketers.”

Tavinderjit Singh Panesar, President of DSport Business, the official broadcasting partner of FCB added, "Cricket is India’s most cherished sport. The heart and dedication that the country’s millions of amateur players show - whether it is in the gullies of Mumbai, or the fields of Punjab - is truly incredible. FCB’s idea of supporting these amateur and talented cricket players in such a meaningful and exciting manner is genuinely brilliant, and we are thus elated to associate with stalwarts like Suniel, Zaheer, Jasmeet and Mitesh for this venture. We are certain that the passion these young men display on and off the field will resonate strongly with audiences across India.”

The Ferit Cricket Bash is going to be conducted in July/August 2019. However, registrations and the following selection process for Phase 1 will begin on 20th December 2018. If you have dreams of glory, and spirit of cricket in your blood, be sure to log on to https://www.feritcricketbash.com/ or give a missed call on +91-98710-63063. 

ABOUT FERIT SPORTS INDIA PVT. LTD.: 

Ferit Sports India Private Ltd. was founded by Jasmeet Bhatia and Mitesh Sharma with a single objective in mind - to provide people with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play sports competitively. The first season of the tournament is dedicated to the sport which is the lifeline of our country, CRICKET. To take amateur cricket in India to the next level, Jasmeet and Mitesh have partnered with Bollywood superstar, entrepreneur and sports enthusiast Suniel Shetty and cricketing legend Zaheer Khan to launch their first venture, Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB).

Ferit Cricket Bash (FCB) is a new and innovative 15-over a side league. It enables amateur cricketers to play the game they love, with the bells and whistles of an international level tournament. A one of a kind Cricket league, FCB is the only platform in India where amateur players get the opportunity to be mentored by International Cricketers like Zaheer Khan, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chris Gayle, and Praveen Kumar.

ABOUT DSPORT INDIA: 

DSport, part of the Discovery Networks Asia Pacific stable is a premium channel catering to a wide range of sports across the globe including Cricket, Football, Rugby, Horse Racing, Cycling, Golf and more. It boasts of an exquisite catalogue of over 4000 hours of live annual content. Exalting Discovery’s legacy of two years in India, DSport has enabled access to premier live sports content, especially to the country’s gen next.