Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the acclaimed Bollywood filmmaker, initially made his mark in the film industry by collaborating with producer-director Vidhu Vinod Chopra. Bhansali recently shared his journey into Bollywood, revealing that his entry was far from straightforward. Originally from Bhindi Bazaar, Bhansali found it challenging to break into the industry due to his lack of connections and resources. However, his sister, Bela Segal, played a pivotal role by leveraging her professional relationship with Vidhu’s ex-wife, Renu Chopra, convincing her to advocate on his behalf. Though Bhansali faced initial rejection from Vidhu, he was ultimately hired and served as an assistant director for the next eight years.

During his tenure with Chopra, Bhansali contributed to notable projects, including “1942: A Love Story,” where he was credited as a co-writer, and “Parinda,” on which he worked as an assistant director. Bhansali credits his time with Chopra for helping him develop resilience and fortitude, stating that it equipped him to face any challenge in the world. Despite their successful collaboration, Bhansali and Chopra reportedly had a falling out after Bhansali declined to direct “Kareeb” in 1998, which led to Bhansali ultimately debuting with his own film, “Khamoshi: The Musical.”

Since his debut, Bhansali has directed numerous acclaimed films, including “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam,” “Devdas,” “Black,” and “Saawariya.” He has also recently ventured into digital content by creating the series “Heeramandi.” Currently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is working on his latest project, “Love and War,” featuring Bollywood stars Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal. His profound gratitude towards Vidhu Vinod Chopra remains evident, as he acknowledges the significant impact Chopra had on his life and career.

Dishya Sharma, who compiled this narrative, has over a decade of experience as an entertainment journalist, with a passion for Bollywood, Hollywood, and Korean cinema.

At the IIFA Utsavam 2024, held over the weekend in Abu Dhabi, the spotlight was on Aishwarya Rai and a host of other brilliant performers. Aishwarya Rai, honored for her exceptional dual role in Mani Ratnam’s “Ponniyin Selvan 2,” was awarded Best Actress. The prestigious award was presented to her by Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna, who handed it over with heartfelt blessings after Aishwarya respectfully touched his feet. The touching moment was captured in a video that quickly went viral, winning over fans across the internet.

In an exciting twist at the ceremony, Aishwarya herself took to the stage as a presenter, awarding Mani Ratnam the Best Director trophy for the same film. Her evident excitement and gratitude for her long-time collaborator shone through as she acknowledged him as her guru before presenting the accolade.

Speaking to the media, Aishwarya couldn’t contain her gratitude. “He’s my guru. From the beginning, I’ve been grateful to work with Mani Ratnam. It’s an honor to have played Nandini in Ponniyin Selvan and to share this success with our team,” she said.

The ceremony was brimming with other notable wins. Vikram won the award for Best Actor (Tamil) for his outstanding performance in “Ponniyin Selvan 2,” while Rajinikanth’s “Jailer” took home the Best Picture (Tamil) award. Additionally, Nani was honored with the Best Actor (Telugu) award for his role in “Dasara.”

Aishwarya, spotted at the event with her daughter Aaradhya, returned home the following day, notably without other members of the Bachchan family, who have yet to comment on her win.

Dishya Sharma, with a decade of experience in entertainment journalism, reported these highlights. Her passion for Bollywood, Hollywood, and Korean films continues to drive her insightful and engaging coverage of such celebrated events.

Bobby Deol couldn’t hold back his emotions after winning the Best Villain Award at the IIFA 2024 for his standout performance in “Animal.” A video from the awards show captures the heartfelt moment when Bobby’s name was announced. Seated next to his wife Tanya, the emotional actor hugged and kissed her before taking the stage to accept the award. The room erupted in cheers and chants of his name, making the moment even more poignant.

Struggling to contain his tears, Bobby expressed his gratitude, saying, “I can hear it in your voices, how much you feel that I won this award. It makes a difference when I hear it in your voices that I should win this award. Thank you so much.” Overwhelmed, he admitted, “I am not good at saying things but…” before the crowd erupted once again. In an endearing moment of fan interaction, Bobby silenced the crowd by recreating his iconic finger-on-the-lip pose from “Animal.”

The night turned even more memorable when Vicky Kaushal requested Bobby to dance to “Jamal Kudu.” Ever the sport, Bobby obliged and brought director Sandeep Reddy Vanga on stage to join him.

“Animal” is particularly special for Bobby as it marked a significant comeback for him. Despite a limited and mute role, his powerful presence left a massive impact on audiences, earning him the affectionate nickname “Lord Bobby.”

The film “Animal” was a big winner at IIFA 2024, also clinching three more prestigious awards: Best Film, Best Supporting Actor (Male) for Anil Kapoor, and Best Playback Singer (Male) for Bhupendra Babban.

Dishya Sharma has a decade of experience in entertainment journalism and her passion for Bollywood, Hollywood, and Korean films truly shines through in her writing.

Zayed Khan remains close to Hrithik Roshan, despite Hrithik’s divorce from Zayed’s sister, Sussanne Khan, in 2014. The couple was married for 14 years and continues to remain good friends. In a recent interview with Subhojit Ghosh on YouTube, Zayed discussed the impact of Mumbai’s numerous distractions on marriages, suggesting the city makes it challenging for relationships to survive.

When asked about the family’s reaction to online trolls following Hrithik and Sussanne’s divorce, Zayed emphasized the importance of having a supportive family. He stated, “You have to have a thick skin. Our family is like a rock. Anything happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.” He also highlighted their modern family’s resilience, noting how they remain united through adversity.

Zayed pointed out Mumbai’s demanding environment, adding, “We live in a city where there are so many distractions. It’s a tough city to survive for a lot of marriages.” Despite these challenges, Zayed praised the former couple’s amicable relationship and their friendly stance towards each other’s new partners. “We are a very modern family… we inculcate respect not only into ourselves, but also our children,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of mutual respect and understanding, adding, “Irrespective of whatever happens, we never badmouth any side. We can all be happy together, or we can be sad together. What would you choose?” Zayed also praised Sussanne’s and Hrithik’s partners, Saba and Arsalan, calling them wonderful people.

Hrithik and Sussanne continue to co-parent their sons, Hrehaan and Hridhaan. Zayed concluded by expressing his close bond with Hrithik, describing him as “a gem of a guy, with a heart of gold.”

Dishya Sharma
With 10 years of experience, Dishya possesses a deep love for the entertainment world, spanning Bollywood, Hollywood, and Korean cinema.