News Analysis India

Tag: Shah Rukh Khan

  • MP minister sees red at Deepika wearing saffron bikini in movie with SRK

    By Express News Service

    BHOPAL:  More than a month before its release, the Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer much awaited Bollywood film, ‘Pathaan,’ has landed into trouble in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, due to the saffron coloured costume worn by the film’s lead lady in the song, Besharam Rang.’

    Peeved over Deepika Padukone wearing a saffron coloured bikini towards the end of the song (first track of the 2023 movie) whose video was released recently, the MP’s Home, Jail and Law Minister Narottam Mishra said on Wednesday, “The costume used in the song is highly objectionable. The filming of the song in such a manner reveals a polluted mindset.”

    He further attacked Padukone, saying, “It’s well-known that Deepika Padukone has been a supporter of Tukde-Tukde Gang in the JNU episode in the past. I appeal to the makers of the upcoming movie to rectify or remove the objectionable scene and costume from the song, failing which the film may not be allowed to be screened in MP.”

    The multi-starrer thriller movie, which will see Shah Rukh Khan essaying an undercover RAW agent’s role, is set to be released across the country on January 25, 2023. But it was not only the MP home minister who took strong exception to the use of saffron costume in the song, as even the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state and senior Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh objected to it.

    “Since the song is titled ‘Besharam Rang,’ does that mean that saffron colour is shameless? The objectionable scenes in the concerned song should be banned or deleted at the earliest.” The MP Congress’s media wing vice-president Bhupendra Gupta mocked the MP home minister on the issue.

    “We appeal to the MP CM to propose the state’s home minister’s name for being included in the Censor Board, to ensure that he can keep a watchful eye on script, scenes and costumes in movies, before their release.”

    BHOPAL:  More than a month before its release, the Shah Rukh Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer much awaited Bollywood film, ‘Pathaan,’ has landed into trouble in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, due to the saffron coloured costume worn by the film’s lead lady in the song, Besharam Rang.’

    Peeved over Deepika Padukone wearing a saffron coloured bikini towards the end of the song (first track of the 2023 movie) whose video was released recently, the MP’s Home, Jail and Law Minister Narottam Mishra said on Wednesday, “The costume used in the song is highly objectionable. The filming of the song in such a manner reveals a polluted mindset.”

    He further attacked Padukone, saying, “It’s well-known that Deepika Padukone has been a supporter of Tukde-Tukde Gang in the JNU episode in the past. I appeal to the makers of the upcoming movie to rectify or remove the objectionable scene and costume from the song, failing which the film may not be allowed to be screened in MP.”

    The multi-starrer thriller movie, which will see Shah Rukh Khan essaying an undercover RAW agent’s role, is set to be released across the country on January 25, 2023. But it was not only the MP home minister who took strong exception to the use of saffron costume in the song, as even the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the state and senior Congress MLA Dr Govind Singh objected to it.

    “Since the song is titled ‘Besharam Rang,’ does that mean that saffron colour is shameless? The objectionable scenes in the concerned song should be banned or deleted at the earliest.” The MP Congress’s media wing vice-president Bhupendra Gupta mocked the MP home minister on the issue.

    “We appeal to the MP CM to propose the state’s home minister’s name for being included in the Censor Board, to ensure that he can keep a watchful eye on script, scenes and costumes in movies, before their release.”

  • Guneet Monga pens special note about SRK connection ahead of her wedding

    By IANS

    MUMBAI: Producer Guneet Monga, who is set to tie the knot with her partner Sunny Kapoor on December 12, took to her social media on Monday to share her love story and also penned a special note talking about her connection to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and the movie ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ and the filmy romance of the 1990s.

    Sharing a picture of herself decked up in a baby pink Indian attire with her partner by her side, she wrote a lengthy caption, “Like every girl growing up in the 90s, I too have been on a constant lookout for my Raj ever since I was 18. Anyone I dated, I ran to my friends to tell them this is it, I found my partner for the rest of my life. Some even indulged me a couple of times but mostly rolled their eyes and wanted to say, ‘Guneet please just take your time’. I never wanted to take my time, my magical forever started from Day 1. I was ready to commit from Day 1 (sic).”

    Guneet started her journey as a line producer and progressed to a film producer as she currently heads Sikhya Entertainment. Her film ‘Period. End Of Sentence.’ won the award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 91st Academy Awards.

    While everyone always told her that the right person will come into her life “at the right time”, it irritated her as she felt why her right time hasn’t come. “Ab toh chaalis saal hogaye (it’s been 40 years now), actually 39 but a round figure sounds better na”, she joked in her caption.

    She then wrote about what every unmarried Indian has to hear from their relatives, “And every time an extended family member would ask me, ‘Beta shaadi nahi ki’ (why haven’t you got married yet), I would reply, “Koi dhoond do, kal karloongi (help me find someone and I’ll happily get married tomorrow)”, and they would have no answer. Just “Beta hum kahan se dhoondhein… tum toh film industry mein ho na (how can we find one, you’re in the industry you know more people than us)”. Now that is also my fault.”

    There were moments of self-doubt as Guneet mentioned in her note, “Honestly, I have cursed my body, my intelligence, my way of talking, my education, my middle-class life and even my job designation to be able to find someone. Wait, did I tell you, I have also tried missing the last Euro train but wahan pe door automatic shut hotey hain (the trains have automatic doors) and no one keeps their hand out to pull you in! Haath kat jayenge behenon (you could end up injuring yourself, sisters)”.

    The producer then shared that now it feels like the right time for her, “My dear girlfriends, can I tell you, when the time is right and when that person comes into your life, you just know it. When he shows you how much YOU mean to him. That kind of love is everything. Aur phir meri real life ki picture main, mera real hero aagaya (then came the real hero in my real life).”

    “And while he is sure of me, this time I am in self-doubt. Really, you love me? Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me? Someone who is in the film industry, living in Bombay and half balding. With tears in his eyes, Sunny said, ;you are perfect and I am so lucky that you are mine and the universe made you wait for us’. Today marks a year of our Roka and we now countdown to our wedding which is exactly seven days from now.”

    “As cliche as it sounds, when the time is right, the universe makes it happen and I am forever grateful. I’ve found my Raj! Par apko toh pata hai… Bade bade deshon mein chhoti chhoti baatein, hoti rehti hain (the quintessential DDLJ dialogue),” she concluded her note.

    MUMBAI: Producer Guneet Monga, who is set to tie the knot with her partner Sunny Kapoor on December 12, took to her social media on Monday to share her love story and also penned a special note talking about her connection to Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and the movie ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ and the filmy romance of the 1990s.

    Sharing a picture of herself decked up in a baby pink Indian attire with her partner by her side, she wrote a lengthy caption, “Like every girl growing up in the 90s, I too have been on a constant lookout for my Raj ever since I was 18. Anyone I dated, I ran to my friends to tell them this is it, I found my partner for the rest of my life. Some even indulged me a couple of times but mostly rolled their eyes and wanted to say, ‘Guneet please just take your time’. I never wanted to take my time, my magical forever started from Day 1. I was ready to commit from Day 1 (sic).”

    Guneet started her journey as a line producer and progressed to a film producer as she currently heads Sikhya Entertainment. Her film ‘Period. End Of Sentence.’ won the award for Best Documentary (Short Subject) at the 91st Academy Awards.

    While everyone always told her that the right person will come into her life “at the right time”, it irritated her as she felt why her right time hasn’t come. “Ab toh chaalis saal hogaye (it’s been 40 years now), actually 39 but a round figure sounds better na”, she joked in her caption.

    View this post on Instagram

    A post shared by Guneet Monga (@guneetmonga)

    She then wrote about what every unmarried Indian has to hear from their relatives, “And every time an extended family member would ask me, ‘Beta shaadi nahi ki’ (why haven’t you got married yet), I would reply, “Koi dhoond do, kal karloongi (help me find someone and I’ll happily get married tomorrow)”, and they would have no answer. Just “Beta hum kahan se dhoondhein… tum toh film industry mein ho na (how can we find one, you’re in the industry you know more people than us)”. Now that is also my fault.”

    There were moments of self-doubt as Guneet mentioned in her note, “Honestly, I have cursed my body, my intelligence, my way of talking, my education, my middle-class life and even my job designation to be able to find someone. Wait, did I tell you, I have also tried missing the last Euro train but wahan pe door automatic shut hotey hain (the trains have automatic doors) and no one keeps their hand out to pull you in! Haath kat jayenge behenon (you could end up injuring yourself, sisters)”.

    The producer then shared that now it feels like the right time for her, “My dear girlfriends, can I tell you, when the time is right and when that person comes into your life, you just know it. When he shows you how much YOU mean to him. That kind of love is everything. Aur phir meri real life ki picture main, mera real hero aagaya (then came the real hero in my real life).”

    “And while he is sure of me, this time I am in self-doubt. Really, you love me? Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me? Someone who is in the film industry, living in Bombay and half balding. With tears in his eyes, Sunny said, ;you are perfect and I am so lucky that you are mine and the universe made you wait for us’. Today marks a year of our Roka and we now countdown to our wedding which is exactly seven days from now.”

    “As cliche as it sounds, when the time is right, the universe makes it happen and I am forever grateful. I’ve found my Raj! Par apko toh pata hai… Bade bade deshon mein chhoti chhoti baatein, hoti rehti hain (the quintessential DDLJ dialogue),” she concluded her note.

  • Nawab Malik exposed farce behind drugs-on-cruise case, but paying price for it: Raut

    Talking to reporters in Kolhapur, Raut said Malik is paying the price for exposing the farce behind the case and the real face of the BJP.

  • Cruise drugs case: Aryan Khan marks his weekly presence at NCB office

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, on Friday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officials here in connection with cruise drugs case to mark his weekly presence there as instructed by the high court, sources said.

    Aryan Khan arrived at the NCB office located in Ballard Estate area of south Mumbai around 1.30 pm and left within 10 minutes, they said. This is Aryan’s third weekly appearance before the anti-drugs agency in connection with the case.

    Last week, after marking his presence at the NCB office, Aryan Khan had also appeared before the agency’s SIT from Delhi, which is now probing the case, the sources said.

    The 23-year-old son of the Bollywood superstar was arrested by the NCB on October 3 following a raid on the cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    The central agency had booked him under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for possession, consumption, sale/purchase of banned drugs and conspiracy and abetment.

    He was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on October 28. The HC had imposed 14 bail conditions on him and his co-accused in the case, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, who were also granted bail.

    In the five-page order, the HC said the trio will have to surrender their passports before the NDPS court and shall not leave India without taking permission from the special court and will have to attend the NCB office each Friday between 11 am and 2 pm to mark their presence.

  • Witness Prabhakar Sail appears before NCB team probing drugs-on-cruise case

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Independent witness Prabhakar Sail on Thursday appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with the drugs-on-cruise case involving Aryan Khan, an official said.

    Sail, who has claimed to have heard about a pay-off deal to let off Aryan, actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son, in the case, was quizzed by the NCB’s vigilance team earlier.

    On Thursday, he and his lawyer Tushar Khandare reached the NCB’s south Mumbai office around 2.30 pm, said the official.

    The operational team of the NCB which has arrived here from Delhi and taken over the probe of several cases including the case involving Aryan Khan, had summoned him.

    The central agency’s vigilance team interrogated Sail for several hours on Monday and Tuesday.

    Sail, who claimed to be the bodyguard of NCB witness K P Gosavi, alleged in an affidavit last month that he had heard Gosavi discussing a Rs 25 crore pay-off deal after Aryan Khan was arrested during a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast.

    He also claimed that Gosavi had said Rs 8 crore of the deal money was to be given to the NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    Following his allegations, the NCB started a vigilance inquiry.

    Wankhede denied all the allegations.

  • Cruise drugs case: Witness Prabhakar Sail appears before NCB vigilance team for second day

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness, appeared before the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Delhi vigilance team here for the second day on Tuesday in connection with its probe into the pay-off allegations in the cruise drugs case in which Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan is an accused, an NCB official said.

    Sail was on Monday questioned by the NCB for over 10 hours.

    NCB’s Deputy Director General (northern region) Gyaneshwar Singh, who is heading the vigilance team, earlier said Sail was called again on Tuesday for questioning.

    Accordingly, Sail reached the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) mess in suburban Bandra around 11.55 am along with his lawyer Tushar Khandare, an NCB official said.

    The NCB’s vigilance team, headed by Singh, who is also chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the federal anti-narcotics agency, had reached here from Delhi on Monday morning.

    Sail, who claims to be the bodyguard of NCB witness KP Gosavi, last month alleged in an affidavit that he had heard Gosavi discussing a Rs 25 crore pay-off deal after Aryan Khan was arrested by the NCB.

    Sail claimed that Gosavi had said Rs 8 crore of the deal money was to be given to NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    Following Sail’s allegations, the NCB had ordered a vigilance inquiry against the anti-drugs agency officials and others.

    Wankhede had denied the allegations against him.

    Last month, a vigilance team led by Singh came to Mumbai to probe the allegations of extortion, but had then failed to record Sail’s statement.

    It had at that time recorded statements of eight persons, including Wankhede, and collected some important documents and recordings related to the cruise drugs case, an official earlier said.

  • Maharashtra minister Aslam Shaikh denies knowing Kashif Khan, says cruise party invite was just like other events

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Aslam Shaikh on Monday said he was invited by one Kashif Khan to the cruise party on October 2, which was busted by the Narcotics Control Bureau, leading to the arrest of Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan.

    Shaikh’s reaction comes a day after his cabinet colleague and NCP minister Nawab Malik claimed that Kashif Khan, an organiser of the cruise party, had tried hard to get Shaikh and children of top ministers of the state government to attend that party.

    Malik has been spearheading the Maha Vikas Aghadi government’s attack on the Centre and the NCB, calling its drug raid “fake”.

    “I don’t know the individual called Kashif (Khan) nor have I met him before. As the guardian minister of Mumbai, I get invited to various events. This was one of the invites,” Shaikh told reporters.

    He said two agencies, the NCB and the Mumbai Police, are probing this case.

    “As far as I can recollect, I don’t remember speaking to Kashif on my mobile phone. It cannot be possible that I will have Kashif’s mobile number because I don’t know Kashif and he doesn’t know me. He met at someplace (function) and he invited me and the matter got over,” Shaikh added.

    Targeting the BJP and the Centre, Shaikh added that concerted attempts are made to defame the Maharashtra government and its ministers since the tripartite MVA was formed nearly two years ago.

    Shaikh said while all the focus has been on the drug cruise raid, similar attention is not given to the multi-crore drug seizure in Gujarat in September.

  • NCB’s Sameer Wankhede was part of plot to ‘kidnap’ Aryan Khan, claims Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Sunday alleged that NCB’s Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede was part of a plot to “kidnap” Aryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan.

    Speaking to reporters here, Malik claimed BJP leader Mohit Bharatiya was the “mastermind” of the plot.

    He further claimed that Wankhede had met Bharatiya at a graveyard in suburban Oshiwara.

    Aryan Khan was last month arrested following a raid led by Wankhede on a cruise ship from which drugs were allegedly seized.

    Malik has repeatedly termed the cruise drugs bust case as “fake” and levelled a series allegations against Wankhede.

  • Drugs case: Aryan Khan was framed up in a pre-planned raid, claims witness

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: A witness in the NCB’s alleged drug bust on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast on Saturday claimed that Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan had been “framed up” in the case.

    Aryan (23), who got bail from the high court after spending three weeks in prison following his arrest on October 3, was implicated by some people to make money, witness Vijay Pagare told Marathi news channels.

    It was a pre-planned raid, he alleged.

    Earlier, Prabhakar Sail, another independent witness used by the NCB, had alleged that some officials of the Narcotics Control Bureau had tried to extort money for letting off Aryan.

    The NCB has already launched an inquiry into the allegations.

  • Cruise case: No drugs were found in Aryan Khan’s possession, claims Sam D’Souza, cites NCB witness Gosavi 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI:  Sam D’Souza, whose name had cropped up in connection with the pay-off allegations surrounding the drugs-on-cruise case, on Monday claimed that he was told by NCB witness K P Gosavi that no drugs were found in possession of Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, during the raid last month.

    He also claimed that NCB officials were not corrupt as Gosavi and Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness, were calling each other over the phone by saving NCB Mumbai chief Sameer Wankhade’s name in their mobile phones to pretend as if he was in touch with them.

    Last month, Sail had claimed that he had overheard Gosavi discussing a Rs 25 crore deal with one Sam D’Souza over the phone in connection with the drugs case of which Rs 8 crore is meant for NCB Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede.

    “In the wee hours of October 3, I came to know that the celebrity who was caught on the ship was Aryan Khan. That time Aryan told Gosavi that he wanted to talk to his manager Pooja Dadlani. Gosavi conveyed Aryan’s message. That time Gosavi told me that Aryan Khan was clean and no drugs were found in his possession. He said we can help him (Aryan Khan),” D’Souza claimed.

    D’Souza said he, Gosavi, Pooja Dadlani, her husband, and one Chikki Pandey then met at Lower Parel.

    D’Souza further said he later came to know through one Sunil Patil from Dhule that a “token amount” of Rs 50 lakh is being paid.