Ekta Kapoor’s next web series based on the women behind the Mars Orbiter Mission !

Ekta Kapoor, who reinvented entertainment over the digital space, has already set her sights on her next web series, Mangalyaan.

The producer recently visited the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bangalore as part of the research for her latest series, which revolves around the Mars Orbiter Mission, the space mission that was launched in November 2013.

The series will be directed by Nupur Asthana, who also accompanied Ekta on the visit. Inspired by real-life events, the show will shed light on the three women scientists who were critical in making Mangalyaan a reality -- Seetha Somasundaram, Nandini Harinath and Minal Rohit.

Speaking about the project, Manav Sethi, CMO, ALTBalaji said: “At ALTBalaji, we believe in path-breaking content and inspirational stories. We want to tell our audience stories that have never been told before. Mangalyaan is one such show which talks about these women who have made India proud. We are proud to capture some facets of their journey while undertaking this path-breaking mission for India.”

Through Porus the audience will get to know about world history : Sameksha

Beautiful actress Sameksha whom we have last seen in POW (Prisoners Of War) is playing the role of gorgeous Olympia in Siddharth Kumar Tewary's (Swastik Productions) Porus one of the most biggest shows on Indian television. The production house have searched quite long for Olympia's role and finally zeroed on Sameksha. Sameksha who was already slim worked on her physique to look leaner. She says,"Queen Olympia is a beautiful character to play. She was a queen and was stunning. I wanted to look perfect for the role so I went into a special diet . Apart from the physical transformation I have also done voice modulation." Interestingly the introduction scene of Olympia is quite different and unusual. Sameksha adds,"In my introduction scene I will be raped by my husband Philip and the scene has been wonderfully directed by the man behind this magnum opus show, Siddharth Kumar Tewary. I have done films in my career so I know how to enact that situation and it has been done in a very professional way. My director was also very happy that I have done justice to the role and the situation." One more thing Sameksha feels about this show that Porus will be a medium through which audience will come to know about world history." King Alexander was born because of his mother who wanted her son to conquer world.

Nawazuddin's Monsoon Shootout to get India’s first ever interactive trailer

Nawazuddin Siddiqui's next crime thriller Monsoon Shootout has already been creating quite a buzz amongst the audience after its poster and teaser launch a few days back where we see Nawaz in a gruesome grey shaded character on the run. The makers of the film have also released two songs of the film prior and both have been runaway successes.

Monsoon Shootout will be hitting the screens 15th December and this Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Vijay Verma starrer are going beyond the traditional way of releasing the trailer for the film. For the first time ever a trailer will be launched where the audiences would get a choice to see the content of the trailer in two different aspects. This is a concept that has never been tried before in Bollywood and now with Monsoon Shootout, the makers are breaking away from the usual way to edit a trailer.

The film has won several awards across festivals, is a narrative where the central character played by Vijay is torn between choices as a cop he has to make in the split of a second. It’s the first time a film is using such a narrative to tell a story from three different points of view. Thus to bring out the idea of how one's choices can alter their lives, the trailer for Monsoon Shootout will be interactive. The audiences will see the trailer to a point where they will be given an option to select between, To Shoot or Not To Shoot. Then what unfolds in the trailer is basis the choice the viewer makes!

Speaking about this Producer Guneet Monga said, "The film's story and the narrative is something extremely different from what the audiences have seen so far. The central character that Vijay plays in the film is torn in a split of a second decision to shoot or not to shoot a criminal suspect. So keeping the theme and the innovative story that Monsoon Shootout is, this is the first time ever that the audience will get to choose what they want to see in the trailer when it releases this week. The idea is to have one trailer but the trailer stops at a junction and asks the audience to select which narrative they would like to see - To Shoot or Not to Shoot. Nothing of this sort has been seen so far and we are excited to know what people think of it. We are leaving the decision on the choice of the viewer."

Monsoon Shootout is releasing on 15ht December 2017. It is a crime thriller directed by Amit Kumar and produced by Guneet Monga, Anurag Kashyap, Arun Rangachari and Vivek Rangachari.

Filmmaker Atom Egoyan conducts a Master Class at IFFI 2017

Renowned Canadian stage and film director, writer and producer Atom Egoyan hosted a special Master Class on Day 8 of the 48th International Film Festival of India.

Atom Egoyan is one of Canada’s most celebrated directors and was knighted by the French government and is a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest honour.

While his film Exotica, which won the FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes’94, was his first international breakthrough, The Sweet Hereafter, his most critically acclaimed film, received two Academy Award nominations. His other films Where the Truth Lies, Adoration and The Captive have all competed for the Palme d’Or in Cannes.

Exotica talks about a dutiful wife and mother re-examining her veneration of her husband after she finds another woman’s underwear in his laundry. Her quest to find the truth leads her to an unexpected journey of liberation.

The Master Class held on 27th November was a treat for budding filmmakers and cinema aficionados, as he discussed his filmmaking style and other aspects of direction.

Atom Egoyan said, “I think that for any drama genre film to work, you need to work on the projection through the eyes of a viewer and then the actual transformation happens. There’s this sense of naturalism which I try to display in each of my films, the structure, the story-telling and situations need to be realistic. My stories have always been unconventional.”

Festival Director Sunit Tandon said, “We are so pleased that Mr Egoyan agreed to be part of IFFI 2017. Almost all his films have screened at IFFI as they were made over the years. It’s wonderful to have him here, especially as he will be accepting the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Closing Ceremony of the Festival tomorrow.”

The 48th Edition of IFFI is being held from the 20th to 28th of November, 2017 in the beach state of Goa.

Consul General of Canada Jordan Reeves talks about Meditation Park at IFFI 2017

Canada has partnered with the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) to be the ‘Country Focus’ for the 48thedition of the Festival.

The Press Conference related to the Canadian movie Meditation Park was attended by the Consul General of Canada Jordan Reeves, and the cast and crew of the film including producer Stephen Hegyes, director Mina Shum, and actors Cheng Pei Pei, Tzi Ma and Don McKellar. Besides talking about Meditation Park, the panelists spoke about the India - Canada collaboration and dealing with a movie budget model in countries as well as the stereotypes Asians often face.

Jordan says, “One of the things that really impressed the Canadians was the encouragement, the warm welcome and the hospitality. Some of the discussions we've had this week have been very exciting. Canada had a couple of things that we wanted accomplished here. First was to provide a platform for Canadian films, artists and filmmakers and the other was to increase collaboration between our two main industries.”

Director Mina Shum adds, “The inspiration for the film, the character in many ways comes from the idea that we live in a world where citizens feel completely powerless. We can't do anything about the environment or the corporation. So I wanted to create a character that was powerless within a family structure.”

About Asians battling stereotypes in the film business, Tzi Ma said, "We have challenged and fought against the portrayals of who we are. We also want to be participatory in terms of the shaping, the image and the way the world sees us. I think it is changing slowly. Within the parameters of Hollywood, we as actors need to take a more proactive position into what they see and what we see."

I feel blessed to be marrying Saurabh, the man I love: Zara Barring

Actor Zara Barring, who will soon be tying the knot with actor Saurabh Pandey, is ecstatic at being able to spend her life with the one she loves. Zara says that their relationship has had its share of upheavals and she is thrilled that they have finally made it. “I feel very blessed to be getting married to the man I love. It's definitely a very beautiful feeling. I feel ours has been a relationship that has been through its fair share of ups and downs. We passed many challenges along the way and took the time to fully know one another...And naturally, marriage would be the next step to take,” she says. The two will tie the knot on November 28. The engagement and mehendi ceremonies will take place on November 26 and 27, respectively.

Although they come from different religious backgrounds, Zara says that this has never made a difference in their relationship, and never will. “Religion, to me, comes secondary. I believe what matters more are the core values a person has been raised with. Once two people are in love...who cares about religion?” she says, adding, “Love is obviously the glue that binds us together...if we weren't in love we would not have made it this far. It's very important to show your significant other that you value them through your actions and I think Saurabh and I do that quite a bit. I see us leading a happy, blissful, and beautiful life together... working hard and traveling the world.”

As for her family, they too love Saurabh. “Saurabh is absolutely adored by entire family but I feel he is closest to my father. They share a very strong bond of love and mutual respect and it's heartwarming to see that,” she says.

Meanwhile, since both Zara and Saurabh are part of the same industry, Zara says that this makes it easier for them to understand each other’s work. “We both understand the late nights and early mornings and everything else that comes with the job,” she says.

Ask her if she is experiencing any marriage jitters, and she says, “Oh yes! definitely but Saurabh's family has taken me in so warmly that it doesn't even feel like I'm actually taking the plunge. I'm very lucky to have such loving and understanding in-laws.”

The couple are yet to finalise their honeymoon plans. “We are so caught up with the wedding planning we haven't had time to zero in on a honeymoon destination yet!” 

And, who is her ideal couple, who she looks up to for marriage advise? “I always look at my parents for inspiration. And they're definitely the ideal couple for me.  They have stuck together through thick and thin. My mother has taught me that life don't always be a bed of roses but love and respect for one another will definitely make the journey more pleasurable...always respect one another...that is the key!” she says.