News Analysis India

Tag: Saif Ali Khan

  • Jr NTR’s ‘Devara Part 1’ Now Set To Release On This Date – Check Details | Movies News

    Mumbai: The makers of the Jr NTR-starrer film ‘Devara Part 1’ have locked its release date. The film, which was earlier scheduled to be released on October 10, will now hit theatres on September 27.

    The makers of the film on Thursday also unveiled a new poster featuring Jr NTR, as they announced the film’s new release date.

    Talking about the film, the producers said, “We are glad to announce that ‘Devara Part 1’ directed by Koratala Siva will now be released on September 27, 2024.

    We have planned this move keeping in mind how the film is coming together and we don’t wish to keep the fans waiting anymore.” Also starring Saif Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor, the film is making waves with its recently released ‘Fear Song’, composed by Anirudh Ravichander.

    The film that will unfold in two parts is produced by Yuvasudha Arts and NTR Arts, and presented by Nandamuri Kalyan Ram. The music is composed by Anirudh Ravichander with R. Rathnavelu as the cinematographer.

  • Ranbir Kapoor, Daughter Raha Twin In Matching Blue Outfits, VIDEO Is Winning The Internet – WATCH | People News

    New Delhi: Once again, B-town was lit! All thanks to Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan who celebrated the birthday of their second son, Jeh. The celebration had several celebrities and close friends in attendance. Actor Ranbir Kapoor was present at the party with his daughter Raha, and they were spotted twinning in blue outfits. Ranbir was also accompanied by his niece Samaira Sahni, the daughter of his sister Riddhima Kapoor Sahni.


    Kareena and Saif arrived in style for the birthday party, with Kareena looking stunning in a green blazer, a yellow t-shirt, and blue denim. Saif was seen in his signature kurta pajama look. Taimur, Jeh’s big brother, arrived at the party straight from school in his uniform, accompanied by his school buddies.


    Jeh, the birthday boy, was later seen at the venue wearing a white shirt paired with a sweater vest and jeans. Kareena and Saif have been married for 11 years and are parents to two children, Taimur and Jeh. Saif was previously married to Amrita Singh, and they have two children together, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan.

    Kareena and Saif have been married for 11 years. The two have worked together in LOC Kargil (2003) and Omkara (2006), but it was on the sets of the 2008 film Tashan that they fell in love with each other. And on October 16, 2012, the two tied the knot. In 2016, the two became parents to their son Taimur and in February 2021, they welcomed Jeh. Saif was married to Amrita Singh before Kareena and they have two children together, Sara Ali Khan and Ibrahim Ali Khan.

  • Saif Ali Khan among nine named in FIR lodged by Hindu outfit leader in MP against Tandav

    Express News Service
    BHOPAL: Despite makers of web series Tandav issuing an unconditional apology and also deleting contentious scenes from the nine-episode series, the FIR lodging spree by right-wing Hindu outfits against the cast and crew of the Saif Ali Khan-starrer web series continues unabated in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh.

    Yet another FIR has been registered by the leader of another Hindu outfit in MP. The fresh FIR has been registered by Keshav Sharma, the leader of RSS-affiliated Hindu Jagaran Manch at the Guna Cantt police station of Guna district.

    This is the third FIR that has been lodged against the cast and crew of the controversial web series within three days in the central Indian state for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.

    The FIR, which was registered on Thursday late night, has been lodged against nine persons under Sections 153-A, 295, 505(1)(b), 505(2) and 469 of IPC, besides Sections 66,66F and 67 of the Information and Technology Act.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand mulls banning ‘Tandav’ web series after controversy

    Those named in the FIR include the web series director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, story writer Gaurav Solanki, actors Mohmmad Zeeshan Ayub and Saif Ali Khan, executive producer Bhaumik Gondaliya and Amazon Prime Video’s India content head Aparna Purohit.

    Importantly, the list of the nine accused/suspects in the FIR also include the names of Farhana Akhtar and Ritesh Savdhani. These names resemble those of Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani – both makers of another controversial Amazon Prime Video web series Mirzapur.

    Just a few days ago, acting on the complaint of Lucknow-based senior journalist Arvind Chaturvedi, an FIR was registered at the Mirzapur Dehat Police Station of East UP’s Mirzapur district against Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani and Bhaumik Gondaliya for allegedly showing Mirzapur district in bad light through abusive content and promoting social enmity.

    The ‘Present Address’ column in the FIR lodged at Guna Cantt police station mentions Guna, Madhya Pradesh.  

    The FIR has been registered on the complaint of the Hindu Jagaran Manch leader Keshav Sharma, who made the complaint to the Guna police on the basis of a video of Tandav web series going viral on social media. In his complaint, Sharma alleged the videos hurt Hindu religious sentiments.

    However, when contacted by The New Indian Express over phone about his complaint and the FIR containing among the accused the names of Farhana Akhtar and Ritesh Savdhani (that resemble those of the makers of the Mirzapur web series), the Hindu Jagaran Manch leader stuck to his allegations that both these persons were also part of the Tandav web series cast and crew.

    The in-charge of Guna Cantt police station Avnit Sharma said, “The list of accused in the FIR is based on the complaint by the complainant. If during the course of investigations, it’s found that some of those included as accused have no link with the concerned web series, their names will be dropped from the FIR.”

    Prior to this case in Guna district, two FIRs were lodged at Jabalpur and Gwalior respectively on January 19 and 20 based on the complaints of other right-wing Hindu outfit leaders.

  • Second case against controversial web series Tandav lodged in Madhya Pradesh in two days

    By Express News Service
     BHOPAL: The fifth case against the makers of the controversial web series Tandav in the country has been registered in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. This is the second case registered against the makers of Saif Ali Khan-starrer Amazon Prime Video web series in the State, while a complaint by a ruling BJP leader is pending with Indore Police.  

    According to the Gwalior district police superintendent Amit Sanghi, the case was registered at the Crime Branch police station on the complaint of Hindu Mahasabha state organization secretary Lalji Mishra on Wednesday evening.  

    The case was registered against the web series’ producer Himansu Krishna Mehra, director Ali Abbas Zafar and writer Gaurav Solanki under IPC Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language), 501(1) and 501(2) which deals with making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report with an intent to incite any class or community.  

    In the complaint to the Gwalior Crime Branch, it has been alleged that scenes and dialogues in the 17th and 22nd minute of the first episode and also other episodes of 9-episode web series hurt sentiments of a particular religious community and a caste. In the same complaint, it has also been alleged that women in the series have been shown in an insulting manner.  

    This is the second criminal case in MP within two days, as earlier on Tuesday, a similar case was registered against the web series’ director and writer and other cast-crew under IPC Sections at Omti police station of Jabalpur district on the complaint of right wing Hindu outfit Hindu Seva Parishad leader Dhiraj Gyanchandani.  

    Till date, five cases have been registered against the makers of the controversial web series across the country, including two in UP (Lucknow and Greater Noida), two in MP (Gwalior and Jabalpur) and one in Mumbai.

  • Will implement changes to address concerns: Team ‘Tandav’ amid FIRs, calls for show’s ban

    By PTI
    MUMBAI/BHOPAL: The makers of “Tandav” on Tuesday agreed to implement changes to their controversial web series after several FIRs were filed against the political drama for the alleged inappropriate depiction of Hindu deities and calls for its ban.

    The day also saw many political leaders expressing the need for close monitoring of OTT platforms besides protests at some places with the demonstrators burning effigies of series director Ali Abbas Zafar among others.

    “Tandav”, a nine-episode political thriller starring Bollywood A-listers Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia and Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, started streaming on Amazon Prime Video on Friday but the show ran into trouble over its depiction of Hindu deities.

    Taking cognisance of complaints over the web series, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had on Sunday sought an explanation from Amazon Prime Video on the issue.

    With the controversy refusing to die down, the cast and crew of the Amazon Prime Video series Tuesday evening said they have decided to implement changes to it to address concerns.

    In a statement, the team said, “We have the utmost respect for the sentiments of the people of our country. We did not intend to hurt or offend the sentiments of any individual, caste, community, race, religion or religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead.”

    Facing outrage, the cast and crew had on Monday issued an unconditional apology if their fictional show had “unintentionally” hurt sentiments.

    At the center of the row is a scene with Ayyub, in the role of college student Shiva, playing the Hindu god Mahadev (also a name for Shiva) in a theatre production.

    Another student playing Narad wonders about the increasing followers of Lord Ram on social media.

    Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra condemned the way Ayyub, Khan and Zafar “reacted to our religion and hurt sentiments”.

    “The Madhya Pradesh government will register a case in this regard,” he said in Bhopal.

    Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan also reacted to the controversy, saying “no one has the right to hurt our faith and insult our deities.”

    He said “obscenity being served on OTT platforms is not good for our teenagers” and called for close monitoring of these platforms.

    Haryana’s Home Minister Anil Vij demanded that “Tandav” be removed from the Amazon platform, saying it has hurt the sentiments of the Hindu community.

    He also said that the Centre should make a provision that no web series can be screened without being passed by the censor board.

    Uttarakhand BJP vice president Devendra Bhasin said all web series should be censored before being streamed on OTT platforms.

    “The makers of Tandav have apologised. It is good if they really mean it. Only time will tell whether or not they make the necessary changes in the web series. However, it is time all web series are censored before being streamed on OTT platforms,” he said in a tweet.

    OTT content does not come under the ambit of the Central Board of Film Certification at present.

    The government though had recently brought OTT platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ Hotstar, besides other online news and current affairs content, under the ambit of the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, giving it powers to regulate policies and rules for the digital space.

    Meanwhile, there were protests at some places in Haryana by Bajrang Dal activists and VHP and Hindu Jagran Manch members in Uttar Pradesh who also burnt effigies of some stars and makers of the web series.

    The VHP also demanded that NSA be invoked against Zafar.

    In Uttar Pradesh, three FIRs have been lodged against the makers and artists of “Tandav” — in Lucknow, Greater Noida and Shahjahanpur.

    The complainants have alleged inappropriate depiction of Uttar Pradesh Police personnel, Hindu deities, and adverse portrayal of a character playing the prime minister in the political drama.

    The latest FIR at Rabupura in Greater Noida names as accused Zafar, Amazon Prime’s India head Aparna Purohit, producer Himanshu Kishan Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and actors Khan, Kapadia and Sunil Grover.

  • Tandav web series row: Yogi government warns producers of serious legal fallouts

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: An aide of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said the makers of web series ‘Tandav’ and Amazon’s India content head will have to “pay a price for hurting religious sentiments” by depicting Hindu gods in an objectionable manner.

    Adityanath’s media advisor Shalabhmani Tripathi gave the warning in a tweet tagging the series director Ali Abbas Zafar, producer Himanshu Krishna Mehra, writer Gaurav Solanki and actors Saif Ali Khan and Zeeshan Ayub.

    “UP Police has left for Mumbai, that too in a car. There are strong sections in the FIR, remain prepared, will have to pay a price for hurting religious sentiments,” Tripathi said in his tweet.

    ALSO READ | Makers of Amazon Prime series ‘Tandav’ issue ‘unconditional apology’, say no intent to hurt sentiments

    Tagging the office of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thakeray, he said, “Hopefully you will not come to their rescue.”

    In a related tweet earlier, Tripathi said, “Playing with people’s sentiments will not be tolerated, cases under stringent sections have been invoked against the team of web series Tandav, which is spreading hatred in the guise of cheap web entertainment, be prepared for arrest soon.”

    An FIR was lodged at Hazratganj police station by its Senior Sub Inspector Amarnath Yadav himself after he saw the objectionable web series, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Somen Burma said earlier.

    A four-member police team left for Mumbai on Monday for a detailed probe into the matter, he had added.

  • BJP demands ban on Saif Ali Khan-strarrer ‘Tandav’ for mocking Hindu deities

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: BJP MP Manoj Kotak on Sunday said he has written to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking a ban on Amazon Prime Video’s series “Tandav” for ridiculing Hindu deities.

    “Tandav”, starring actors Saif Ali Khan, Dimple Kapadia, Sunil Grover, Tigmanshu Dhulia, Dino Morea, Kumud Mishra, Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Gauhar Khan and Kritika Kamra, premiered on the streaming platform on Friday.

    Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar has created, directed and produced the political drama with Himanshu Kishan Mehra and it is written by Gaurav Solanki, best known for “Article 15”.

    The Mumbai North-East MP said attempts are “often” made on such platforms “to not show” Hindu deities in good light.

    “Different organisations and individuals have complained that Hindu Gods and Goddesses have been ridiculed in ‘Tandav’ web series. Comments have been passed about them,” Kotak said.

    “Hence, we have made a demand to Javadekar ji and have written to him to ban the web series immediately. The actors, producers and directors should apologise for hurting sentiments,” he added.

    Sharing the picture of his letter to Javadekar on Twitter on Sunday, Kotak said as there is no law or autonomous body governing digital content, such platforms are “full of sex, violence, drugs, abuse, hate and vulgarity. Sometimes, they also hurt religious sentiments.”

    “It seems that makers of ‘Tandav’ have deliberately mocked Hindu Gods and disrespected Hindu religious sentiments,” he said in the letter dated January 16.

    Another politician , Ram Kadam, a BJP MLA from Ghatkopar West, also asked the director to remove the portion of the web series in which Lord Shiva is ridiculed.

    The legislator said he has filed a complaint in this connection at the suburban Ghatkopar police station.

    “Filed complaint against Tandav Web Series at Ghatkopar police station. Police has assured quick investigation, FIR under Sec 295A of IPC, Section 67A of IT Act & Atrocities Act. Producer, Director, Writer, Actors & Amazon to be summoned soon.#BanTandavNow #Boycottandav,” he tweeted.

    The scene at the heart of the controversy relates Zeeshan’s Shiva doing a stage play where he is dressed as Lord Shiva.

    The sequence talks about how Lord Ram has become more popular today.

    When contacted Amazon Prime Video PR said the platform “won’t be responding” on the matter.