ENTERTAINMENT

As Queen completed seven years of its release, Kangana Ranaut acknowledged the contribution of director Vikas Bahl to her career. She said that despite where their personal equation may stand, she feels that he ‘played a very significant role’ in getting her to where she is today.

Kangana shared a picture with Vikas and wrote on Twitter, “Vikas sir wherever we may be with our friendship today but I do believe you played a very significant role in shaping my destiny, I enjoyed every minute of our creative partnership and today when I see #7yearsofqueen trending.... I want to say thanks to you. Thank you so much.”

In 2018, after a former employee of Phantom Films accused Vikas of sexual harassment, Kangana extended support to her. She opened up about his alleged inappropriate behaviour with her.

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan starrer Chehre is making the right kind of noise ahead of its big release. The venture is produced by Anand Pandit and will hit the screens on April 30 this year.

“It is impossible to be around Amit ji and not absorb something of value about not just cinema but personal discipline and dedication towards work. The wonderful thing is though, he doesn’t pretend to be a big superstar but works like an eager learner. And that is something one can take away from him. One can never believe that one knows everything. Working with him was a huge learning curve for me because I learnt to look at filmmaking from his perspective and his passion for perfection and detail," said Anand Pandit, recalling his time with Amitabh Bachchan on sets.

Be it the 14-minute long monologue he pulled off in one take or his work ethic during a tough schedule in the sub-zero temperature of Slovakia, Amitabh Bachchan wowed the entire unit with his enthusiasm.

Actress Mamta Kulkarni has filed a plea before the Bombay High Court, seeking the quashing of an FIR registered against her about five years ago. The FIR is registered with the Thane Police under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Kulkarni says that she has been made an accused "only on presumption," and "the same can be seen from the charge-sheet."

Kulkarni, who lives in Kenya, states in her plea that she has done over 50 films and that merely on the ground that she "has some cordial relationship with co-accused Vicky Goswami, she cannot be arraigned as accused."

On April 12, 2016, at around 4.30 pm, two white cars were intercepted by Thane police and were found to be carrying 2-3 kgs of Ephedrine (powder), a controlled substance under the NDPS Act. The drivers of vehicles, Mayur and Sagar, were arrested. The consignment was worth over Rs 80 lakh and both the accused had fake identity cards of a pharmaceutical company. During the course of the investigation in the case, 10 people were arrested while 7 were shown as wanted, including Mamta Kulkarni.

Wednesday morning saw Income Tax searches carried out at properties linked to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap and actor Taapsee Pannu in Mumbai over an alleged tax evasion. The raids are being conducted by the IT department at the premises linked to a talent agency as well as Phantom Films co-promoted by Anurag Kashyap and producers Vikas Bahl and Madhu Mantena.

Several ministers across the opposition slammed the tax raids, saying Kashyap and Pannu were the centres of the target because of their views on the Centre's working.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Nawab Malik said the way in which raids were conducted in the homes and offices of Anurag Kashyap and Taapsee Pannu is definitely the usage of Enforcement Directorate or the Income Tax against those who take a stand against the government or its policies. "Anurag Kashyap and Taapsee Pannu have raised their voice against the Modi government's policies. This action is an attempt to suppress their voices."

Ajay Devgn was stopped on his way to Mumbai's film city today. The actor's car was stopped by a person who has been identified as Rajdeep Singh. Rajdeep stopped Ajay's car for 15 minutes in Goregaon and questioned the actor for not speaking in support of the ongoing farmers' protest. He was later arrested and taken to Dindoshi police station.

The video of an angry Rajdeep Singh pointing fingers at Ajay Devgn has made its way to the Internet. Ajay Devgn can be seen sitting in the front seat of the car.