ENTERTAINMENT

Pankaj Tripathi will play a character inspired by Lal Bihari Mritak, a man who struggled to prove that he is alive after he was declared dead in the land revenue records of Uttar Pradesh, in a new film titled Kaagaz. Directed by Satish Kaushik, it will release on Zee5 on January 7.

Director Satish Kaushik, who also plays a pivotal role in Kaagaz, said, “I remember reading about the story of Lal Bihari Mritak in the news for the first time, I was intrigued and inspired with his journey, so I did a lot of research on the events that took place in his life. Eventually, it felt to me like this story deserved to be told to the world.”

Lal Bihari Mritak fought a long and hard battle for nearly two decades to prove himself alive, after he was declared dead in the records of the Uttar Pradesh government’s revenue department in 1976. He founded the Mritak Sangh upon realising that there were many others in the state suffering a similar fate.

Actor Diljit Dosanjh has responded to those who ridiculed the ongoing farmers' protests by saying that the farmers are being fed pizzas. Diljit shared a photo bearing the text, "Farmers consuming poison was never a concern, but farmers eating pizza is news."

Pictures from the so-called 'pizza langar' went viral a few days ago and while sharing them, many wondered how poor farmers could afford pizzas.

The pizza langar has evoked mixed reactions, with some complimenting the organisers, and others questioning whether the farmers are protesting or 'picnicking'.

Actor R Madhavan addressed speculation about him playing entrepreneur and philanthropist Ratan Tata in a film. He clarified that he has neither signed any such project nor been in talks for it. Talking about the poster being circulated online, he said that it was a fan-made poster.

“@ActorMadhavan Is this true that You are gonna play a lead role in Ratan Tata Biopic?? if this happens it’s gonna be a huge inspiration to many," a Twitter user asked Madhavan.

“Hey unfortunately it’s not true. It was just a wish at some fans will made the poster. No such project is even on the pipeline or being discussed," he replied.

Choreographer-director Remo D'Souza suffered a heart attack and was immediately rushed to a hospital in Mumbai on Friday (December 11). According to sources close to the family, the 46-year-old director is in the Intensive Care Unit of the Kokilaben hospital.

"He had a heart attack. There was a blockage. For now, doctors have done angiography and he is currently in the ICU," sources told a news agency. The hospital sources said the 'Race 3' director was admitted today afternoon.

"He's stable now and under observation," sources added.

Contemporary Indian dancer Astad Deboo, renowned for marrying Kathak and Kathakali into a unique form, died here on Thursday, his family said, reported news agency PTI. He was 73. "He left us in the early hours of December 10, at his home in Mumbai, after a brief illness, bravely borne," the family announced on social media. "He leaves behind a formidable legacy of unforgettable performances combined with an unswerving dedication to his art, matched only by his huge, loving heart that gained him thousands of friends and a vast, number of admirers," it said. The announcement said, "The loss to the family, friends, fraternity of dancers, both classical and modern, Indian and international, is inestimable. May he rest in peace. We will miss him." Deboo is noted for creating a modern dance vocabulary that was uniquely Indian.