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When Arvind Kejriwal was 'Panchayat' star Jitendra Kumar's first claim to fame

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New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Arvind Kejriwal is grabbing news headlines and Season 3 of the acclaimed OTT comedy drama series ‘Panchayat’ is all set to start streaming on May 28. Now, what is the connection between the two?

It is Jitendra Kumar, who plays the troubled and conflicted engineering graduate serving as the gram panchayat secretary of the fictional village of Phulera in Uttar Pradesh in the Amazon Prime Video series.

Originally famous as Jeetu Bhaiyya of the other popular OTT series, ‘Kota Factory’, Jitendra Kumar was a fresh Civil Engineering graduate of his (and Arvind Kejriwal’s alma mater), IIT-Kharagpur, when he played a student leader named Arjun Kejriwal modelled after the then muffler-wrapped Aam Aadmi Party leader in a sketch for The Viral Factory’s YouTube channel.

It was to be Kumar’s ticket to fame. Last checked, the sketch had garnered 7.7 million views.

A gifted mimic since he was a child growing up in Khairthal, a small town in Rajasthan, Kumar then played a Bollywood Aam Aadmi Party (BAAP) leader, who was again inspired by Delhi’s Chief Minister, being grilled by ‘Arnub Goswami’.

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His IIT-Kharagpur Hindi Dramatics Society mate, Biswapati Sarkar, who was one of the co-founders of The Viral Factory, parodied the popular yet controversial news anchor, and continued to do so in the hugely popular YouTube show, ‘Arnub’s Qtiyapa’.

The sketch, last seen, had been viewed by 11.1 million YouTube subscribers.

When Kumar was asked by a television channel if he would like to play Kejriwal on the big screen, he replied amid much laughter, “I would love to do it. I would be grateful if I get an opportunity to play him.”

In another media interview, Kumar said, “Kejriwal has a peculiar pitch and mannerisms. I picked them up while watching his interviews, particularly the one he gave to Arnab Goswami.”

This cast of characters, all linked to IIT-Kharagpur, continue to be connected with each other.

The Viral Factory, which launched the tradition of web series in the country in the early 2010s on YouTube and produced ‘Kota Factory’, is also behind ‘Panchayat’.

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Deepak Kumar Mishra, the series director, cut his teeth in the entertainment industry with The Viral Factory’s ‘Permanent Roommates’, which ran for three seasons on YouTube. The show launched the careers of some of the most talented young actors, notably Jitendra Kumar, Rasika Dugal, Divyendu Sharma and Maanvi Gagroo.

The startup, which received hefty Tiger Global funding in 2016, was founded by another IIT-Kharagpur alumnus, Arunabh Kumar, along with fellow IIT-ians Sarkar and Amit Golani.

Sarkar and Golani now run their own production house, Poshan Pa Pictures, which recently presented the medical thriller, ‘Kaala Paani’, starring Mona Singh and Ashutosh Gowariker.

–IANS

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Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Nikeet Dhillon-starrer 'Tujhpe Main Fida' S2 revolves around mystery hidden in Cole Town

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Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Nikeet Dhillon-starrer 'Tujhpe Main Fida' S2 revolves around mystery hidden in Cole Town

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) The makers of Rudhraksh Jaiswal and Nikeet Dhillon-starrer ‘Tujhpe Main Fida’ Season two on Tuesday unveiled the trailer of the modern-day fairytale show, which is a journey filled with love, heartbreak, and mystery.

The one-minute and 35-second trailer takes the audiences back to Cole Town, featuring Rudhraksh as Marcus, and Nikeet as Aaira.

The video gives a peek into how the spark that had once burned so brightly between Marcus and Aaira still lingers.

It further shows the characters mending their hearts post breakup.

Speaking about the series, Rudhraksh said in a statement: “I am stoked to embark on Marcus’s journey once again in Season two. My character experiences profound growth, diving deeper into his personal life and the intricate mysteries of Cole Town. As Marcus navigates the painful process of healing from a severe heartbreak, he must reconstruct and redefine himself before he can fully embrace his path forward.”

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“My passion for storytelling and unwavering dedication to my craft propel me to infuse Marcus’s journey with genuine authenticity and intensity, ensuring that every moment resonates deeply with our devoted audience,” he shared.

Rudhraksh added: “I am deeply committed to bringing a rich, nuanced performance that captures the essence of Marcus’s evolution, and I am eager to share this compelling chapter with our viewers. Thank you for all the love and support you have showered us with, it means the world to us.”

Amogh Dusad, Head of Content, Amazon miniTV, commented: “The second season of ‘Tujhpe Main Fida’ is the perfect blend of intense romance, mystery, and intrigue. The narrative and the plot will definitely keep the viewers at the edge of their seats with the evolving mystery that hides in the silent lanes of Cole Town. A stellar cast, engrossing story, and excellent screenplay will undoubtedly appeal to audiences.”

Sameer Gogate, General Manager, BBC Studios Productions India, added: “‘Tujhpe Main Fida’ has really captured the hearts and minds of our viewers and we’re excited to bring Marcus and Aaira back for more romance and intrigue.”

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Produced by BBC Studios Productions India, ‘Tujhpe Main Fida’ S2 will stream on Amazon miniTV from August 2.

–IANS

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Indian celebrity photographer Rohan Shrestha shoots 'nice, funny' Ryan Reynolds

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Indian celebrity photographer Rohan Shrestha shoots 'nice, funny' Ryan Reynolds

Indian celebrity photographer Rohan Shrestha shoots 'nice, funny' Ryan Reynolds

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Renowned celebrity photographer Rohan Shrestha recently completed an exclusive photoshoot with Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds.

This is not the first time Shrestha has clicked pictures of global head-turners, including names such as Lionel Messi, Kevin Hart and Oprah Winfrey.

The photographer, who has worked with Bollywood bigwigs such as Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Priyanka Chopra and Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli, ‘White T Series’ features celebrities in simple white T-Shirts, has become particularly iconic, capturing the essence of stars like Oprah Winfrey with striking simplicity.

The series began in 2012 with actor Abhay Deol, reports variety.com.

For Reynolds’ shoot, Shrestha implemented his signature style, creating a series of black and white portraits.

The photographer shared an anecdote about bonding with the star over his early role in “Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place”.

“The first thing I spoke to him about was a show that he was a part of when he was much younger,” Shrestha said.

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“I told him about his character Berg and how I used to watch that growing up in India. He laughed and said, ‘Oh, that’s awesome, man, that’s still one of my most favorite roles that I’ve played.'”

Shrestha added that Reynolds is “genuinely nice and funny”.

He added: “He made everybody on the crew laugh. For me personally, I was kind of nervous just because it’s always nervy to shoot someone you’re in awe of.”

–IANS

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Shaan shares video of Sonu Nigam, Anup Jalota celebrating their birthdays together

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Shaan shares video of Sonu Nigam, Anup Jalota celebrating their birthdays together

Shaan shares video of Sonu Nigam, Anup Jalota celebrating their birthdays together

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Playback singers Sonu Nigam and Anup Jalota celebrated their birthdays on Tuesday with fellow singers and composers from the music industry.

On Tuesday, playback singer Shaan took to his Instagram and shared a video of the two singers cutting cakes and celebrating the occasion with their friends and contemporaries.

In the video, artists like Papon, Shaan, Sonu Nigam, Anup Jalota, Anu Malik, Shankar Mahadevan, and Swanand Kirkire can be seen enjoying the celebrations.

Shaan humorously mentioned in the caption that this was Sonu’s 21st birthday celebration. While Sonu’s birthday is on July 30, Anup’s birthday is on July 29.

The singer wrote in the caption: “Wishing my Brother and The Real Rockstar @sonunigamofficial a Very Happy 21st Birthday. Sharing a lovely moment… when @anupjalotaonline Ji and SonuBhai cut each other’s Birthday cake.… (Anupji’s Birthday was Yesterday)… The Love and camaraderie was so Beautiful. Had to share it with You ..:)) (forgot to take a pic with Budday Boy though).”

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Sonu and Shaan have been professional rivals yet the best of friends. The two ruled the 1990s during the Golden period of Indie Pop.

Anup Jalota, who was awarded the Padma Shri by the government in 2012, is known for his contributions to the Bhajan genre of Indian music. He is popularly known as the “Bhajan Samraat.”

Indie pop thrived throughout the 1990s, but the scenario changed when the dotcom bubble burst in the early 2000s, leading to the monopoly of mainstream film music. This changed with the 4G revolution in India as the music ecosystem became more democratised.

–IANS

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Mira Kapoor can't keep calm, attends Taylor Swift concert with daughter in Munich

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Mira Kapoor can't keep calm, attends Taylor Swift concert with daughter in Munich

Mira Kapoor can't keep calm, attends Taylor Swift concert with daughter in Munich

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Mira Rajput Kapoor, wife of Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is currently on a family vacation in Europe, on Tuesday, shared a video from Taylor Swift’s concert in Munich, Germany, which she attended with her daughter Misha.

Mira, who is an avid social media user with 4.8 million Instagram followers, posted a reel video showing her enjoying the concert.

She wore an orange top with matching trousers and a denim jacket, while her daughter sported a white abstract design co-ord set.

The post was captioned: “Core memory with my sunshine swiftie… We couldn’t believe it! Mother-daughter trip of dreams #taylorswift #swiftie.”

The video has garnered 787K views.

One fan commented, “goals,” while another said, “Awesome.. will be soo memorable for you both.”

Mira also shared a solo snap of herself from the concert on her Stories section, captioning it: “Smiling at my baby girl shining.”

Shahid and Mira married in July 2015 and have two children, Misha and Zain.

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On the professional front, Shahid made his debut with the 2003 romantic comedy film ‘Ishq Vishk’, directed by Ken Ghosh, which also starred Amrita Rao and Shenaz Treasurywala.

The actor has since appeared in films such as ‘Fida’, ‘Dil Maange More’, ’36 China Town’, ‘Vivah’, ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Kismat Konnection’, ‘Kaminey’, ‘Phata Poster Nikhla Hero’, ‘Haider’, ‘Padmaavat’, ‘Kabir Singh’, ‘Jersey’, among others.

Shahid was last seen in the science fiction romantic comedy ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’.

The actor will next be seen as a police officer in the upcoming adrenaline-pumping action thriller, ‘Deva’. The movie also features Pooja Hegde and Pavail Gulati.

Directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, the film promises an action-packed roller-coaster ride full of thrills and drama.

It is set to release on February 14, 2025.

–IANS

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Karisma Kapoor calls 'IBD 4' contestant 'Magical Swan' for performance on 'Hum Mile Na Mile'

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Karisma Kapoor calls 'IBD 4' contestant 'Magical Swan' for performance on 'Hum Mile Na Mile'

Karisma Kapoor calls 'IBD 4' contestant 'Magical Swan' for performance on 'Hum Mile Na Mile'

Mumbai, July 30 (IANS) Actress Karisma Kapoor has praised the performance of ‘India’s Best Dancer’ season 4 contestant Vaishnavi Shekhawat on the song ‘Hum Mile Na Mile’, calling her “magical as a swan.”

Paired with choreographer Bharat Ghare, Vaishnavi, who hails from Rajasthan and now resides in Bengaluru, presented a blend of modern contemporary and jazz-funk dance styles to the song ‘Hum Mile Na Mile’ from the film ‘Kisna’, leaving the judges stunned.

The song is from the 2005 period romantic drama ‘Kisna: The Warrior Poet’, written and directed by Subhash Ghai. It stars Vivek Oberoi, Antonia Bernath, and Isha Sharvani in the lead roles.

Karisma commented on Vaishnavi’s performance, saying, “Vaishnavi and Bharat, this was a beautiful performance. Vaishnavi, you are graceful, beautiful, and as magical as a swan.”

Judge Geeta Kapur said: “Vaishnavi, right from the start, I haven’t seen a more dignified dancer than you. There is beauty, dignity, and grace when you dance. It is so pure and pristine; these qualities are ingrained in you, don’t ever lose that.”

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After Vaishnavi’s performance, the contestants and choreographers, including host Aniket Chauhan, indulged in a dance cypher, where they danced in the middle of the stage one after the other, showcasing their unique dance moves.

The show recently revealed its ‘Best Barah’, and this weekend’s ‘Grand Premiere’ episode is themed ‘Stage to Stardom’.

The show also features Terence Lewis as a judge.

Out of the ‘Top 12’ contestants, only the best six will have the opportunity to be seated in a special section week after week, where they will have to strive hard to maintain their leadership.

‘India’s Best Dancer 4’ airs on Sony.

–IANS

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