Ranbir Kapoor: I have tried drugs when I was in college

Ranbir Kapoor’s latest outing, Sanju, the movie based on Sanjay Dutt’s life, is a critical and commercial success. The movie traces Sanju’s life, from a budding movie star to a prison inmate at the Yerawada jail. The song, Kar Har Maidaan Fateh, shows Sanjay’s struggle at a drug rehabilitation centre in the US. The movie is a reminder that abusing drugs could be the end of one’s life and not everyone is as lucky as the central character. In fact, lead actor, Ranbir, has now made a shocking revelation, in an interview with Deccan Chronicle. Ranbir talked about how he also has experimented with drugs. “I have tried drugs when I was in college and got into bad influence. But I realised that nothing will happen in life if I continue with drugs. When we did that section, I did a lot of research,” he said. But further the actor revealed that he has instead picked up another bad habit. “Every man makes mistakes in his life. I am addicted to nicotine now and it’s worse than drugs. And I have addiction for sweets as well,” he added After enjoying a record-breaking weekend, Ranbir Kapoor starrer Sanju had an excellent hold on Monday at the box office. The biographical drama has collected Rs 25.35 crore yesterday and now stands with the grand total of Rs 145.41 crore. Directed by PK’s Rajkumar Hirani, Sanju also features Vicky Kaushal, Paresh Rawal, Dia Mirza, Sonam Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, Jim Sarbh and Boman Irani in pivotal roles. It is produced under the banners of Vidhu Vinod Chopra Films, Rajkumar Hirani Films and Fox Star Studios.

When Sanjay Dutt said, ‘If anyone touches you, you tell me,’ to Shah Rukh Khan

Sanjay Dutt or should we say Sanju baba is quite popular in his circle of industry friends. He has an image as the one who comes to the rescue of those in distress, a friend whom you can rely on. The actor, who’s known for gifting Rolex watches to his dear friends, is also a person who would take a bullet for you provided you are close to him. We have heard numerous instances of how the actor would go to any lengths to lend a helping hand to a friend. Even Shah Rukh Khan had a great tale to narrate when Sanjay Dutt was a participant on his reality show – Kaun Banega Crorepati with Boman Irani, during the release of Munnabhai MBBS. During his early years in Bollywood, when SRK was still new in the industry, he had a huge fight with someone. But since he was from Delhi, there was no one he could ask for help. He didn’t know anybody and the fight was pretty serious at that time. Narrating the incident on his show, he said, I had no friends, no parents either. But then one man came in his jeep at my residence and said, “If anyone touches you, you tell me.” The man was Sanjay Dutt and I still owe it to him.” Now that’s Dutt for you. The actor has had quite a colourful life. In an interaction with actress-turned-host, Simi Garewal, on her chat show, Rendezvous with Simi Garewal, Sanjay even revealed one incident that stunned us, as a viewer. Once, while the actor had sniffed drugs, he went off to sleep and woke up in the morning feeling extremely hungry. He asked his servant to make something for him but he was shocked to see him cry. When the star asked him the reason behind him crying, he said it was because the star had woken up after two long days. Shocking, but true. The scene was even shown in his biopic, Sanju.

‘Wondering what’s going to happen to me’ says Varun Dhawan in this video shot by Karan Johar

When your mentor is like a father figure in your life, you have so much provision to lounge all day. That’s exactly what Karan Johar caught Varun Dhawan doing at Dharma Productions’ office. KJo had launched VD and since then, he has been an inseparable part of the filmmaker’s life. So today the director shot a video of the actor chilling at his office, speaking to Shashank Khaitan, the director of Dhadak. Karan asked Varun as to what are his thoughts today. But what the actor said, got us a bit worried about him. He revealed how he is wondering as to what will happen to him. Karan then tells him that he has Sui Dhaaga, and while he accepts it and seems excited about it, he also seemed to be a bit lost. Okay Varun, if you are worried even a bit, let us tell you a few things. You were the first person to bail out Bollywood in 2017 with Judwaa 2. That gave the industry a far better second half than the first because by then both Shah Rukh and Salman Khan had disappointed at the box office. You are the most bankable actor in your age group and are yet to see any major flop at the box office. So VD, cheer up! You are the future star Bollywood has been waiting for since the three Khans happened.

Actor Anil Kapoor is a proud daddy. Congratulating his daughter Sonam for “eight hits in a row”, he has lauded her for making “pretty damn good” choices in her film career. Anil tweeted on Monday: “The choices we make shape our lives. Sonam, you have made some pretty damn good ones when it comes to scripts, directors and content… Your hard work, commitment and conviction have resulted in 8 hits in a row! So happy and proud of you!” He shared a collage of posters of Sonam’s movies. Neerja, Raanjhanaa, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, PadMan, Khoobsurat, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Veere Di Wedding and the latest Sanju find space in it.

Ever since Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas’ affair hit the news, there has been this constant concern on how is her mother Madhu Chopra reacting to it. Is she really happy with the relationship because for all that you know, long back she had made a statement on how she would never want PeeCee to marry a foreigner. But then, soon we got to see Priyanka and Nick flying down to Mumbai to specially meet Priyanka’s mom. Say for that matter, they even took off for a quick family vacay in Goa and well, just like that, Priyanka’s mom seems to have finally accepted Nick as her daughter’s better half. Here, this unseen picture from Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta’s engagement party screams a “yes”! Just how beautiful is it to see Priyanka posing with Nick on one side and her mother on the other. This is perhaps their first family pic together and now that it has made it’s way to the internet, we can safely say that Nick has indeed become a part of Priyanka’s family, officially!

Katrina Kaif is a stunner! And though her fans need no proof of that, the actress decides to treat them with one anyway. Katrina is posting pictures from a recent black-and-white photoshoot and we are gasping for breath! We saw the first picture from this photoshoot a few days ago and were completely bowled over. And today, Katrina has posted another one from it, just to make sure our heart skips a beat. The pictures have been clicked by Tarun Vishwa for a photo series called Malang, which, if you remember is also the title of the song from Dhoom 3. Katrina has her eyes closed in the new shot and her locks are falling on her face after a flick. Specks of dust behind her give this shot a destructive feeling while Katrina, herself, is calm and serene – a perfect contradiction. Katrina will be next seen in Aanand L Rai’s Zero. The movie reunites her with Shah Rukh Khan and Anushka Sharma after Jab Tak Hai Jaan. Though much is not made official about the plot we have earlier told you that Kat will be playing the role of an actress who is struggling with alcoholism. “While everyone thinks that only Shah Rukh Khan has a special role in the film with a disability, they will be surprised to know that Anushka and Katrina’s characters also face various challenges. While everyone knows Katrina plays a diva, nobody knows that she is also an alcoholic in the film. She battles with alcoholism, which affects her life in various ways. Anushka, on the other hand, plays a struggling scientist. The makers are trying to keep these details a secret because they don’t want to give out too much information,” a source told us.

Thoughts ON HUMANITY

It’s happening! Salman Khan’s Kick 2...

STORY: Kalindi (Kareena Kapoor Khan), Avni (Sonam Kapoor Ahuja), Sakshi (Swara Bhasker) and Meera (Shikha Talsania) are childhood friends. Kalindi and Rishabh (Sumeet Vyas) are getting married, and the four gal pals come together for their veere’s wedding. But of course, there can be no shaadi without showsha and a lot of drama. This wedding celebration brings out skeletons from the closet, unspoken truths and some harsh realities as well. REVIEW: Four friends dealing with life, love, marriage and heartbreak isn’t an unheard of concept. But what makes ‘Veere Di Wedding’ a unique prospect is that here the pack of performers, is led by four ladies who make their choices, stand by them and have the guts to live their life the they want. There’s nothing holding back these gutsy girls. They speak their mind with fearless abandon, while they’re talking about sex before marriage, the lack of it post marriage, about orgasms and sex toys. They giggle and laugh over it and analyse their own situations in life with a certain objectivity, which many may or may not agree with. It’s refreshing to see a film present its women characters, in not just a progressive light, but also with umpteen flaws and cracks. It gives them the freedom to make mistakes and move on and that’s the beauty of it. These girls are unabashed using cuss words to express their angst or get high and happy to let their hair down. They don’t feel compelled to explain themselves or justify their actions, and that is one of the highlights of the film. The story introduces you to the four characters and sheds light on their complexities. Kalindi can’t come to terms with the idea of marriages and the other challenges that come with it. She’s just going with flow because she’s in love. Avni can’t seem to find a soul mate though her nagging mom (Neena Gupta) is desperately trying to find her a suitable matrimonial match. Sakshi is a little too fiery to be tamed by relationships and Meera is married to a firang and they have a young child, but her marriage isn’t a cake walk either. The best part of Director’s Shashanka Ghosh’s ‘Veere Di Wedding’ is the vibe that these veeres share and their conversational chemistry. They are like any four millennial girls who live their life carefree. But what the story could have done with is a little more depth in each character, which would make the audience feel for them. Here, you understand their complexities but don’t really become a part of their journey. There are some superb laugh-out-loud moments though, and some of the best dialogues are delivered effortlessly. A little more detailing in writing, could have added more heart to the story. While the conversations are engrossing, a lot of time is lost in the girls' chatter as the movie doesn't quite move forward. Kalindi’s story is at the centre of it all and gradually other characters and their sagas unfold. Sonam, Swara and Shikha rally around with their own set of problems. Kareena excels in her role as a girl trying to find her own answers and coming to terms with the idea of marriage. Sonam Kapoor as the girl desperately searching for love also bares her flaws with nonchalance, giving some cute and funny moments in the film. Shikha as the loud and spirited woman pulls off her role with ease. Swara as a bold and brazen, rich brat adds the right amount of crazy to the ensemble. All the girls are fabulously dressed and styled in every frame, whether they’re partying, moping, introspecting or just having a good time. While the girls are cracking dialogues with cool confidence, what often disturbs the experience is the background score that constantly underlays the dialogues. The music is good with tracks like ‘Tareefan’ and ‘Bhangra Ta Sajda’ setting the mood for the moments. The four leading ladies break the proverbial glass ceiling with their sexy stilettos. We’ve rarely seen women on screen who are so uninhibited about their life, sexuality and desires. In that respect, ‘Veere Di Wedding’ is a brave effort indeed. This film will find an appeal with the younger generations who can relate to the discussions and dilemmas of these veeres.

STORY: Sanju explores some of the most crucial chapters from movie star Sanjay Dutt’s dramatic and controversial real life. It gives a lowdown on his tryst with drugs and his trials and tribulations in the Arms Acts case and the 1993 Mumbai blasts.

REVIEW: One man, many lives is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Sanjay Dutt. Rajkumar Hirani’s film presents a vivid and very dramatic look in this biopic of sorts. The film starts off with Sanjay Dutt (Ranbir Kapoor) wanting a writer for his biography even while he's preparing to surrender himself to the Supreme Court's judgement in the Arms Act case. A film writer fails him miserably, so Sanju turns to a more established writer Winnie (Anushka Sharma) to pen his biography. His confessions and recollections to Winnie are intimate and give us deep insights into the highs and lows of his life, which is nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. Like any Rajkumar Hirani film, Sanju blends humour with drama effortlessly. While it doesn't reveal much about the protagonists’ relationships and marriages, it does tell a strong story of an unbreakable bond between a father, son and a best friend. In fact, Sanjay’s relationship with his father Sunil Dutt (Paresh Rawal) forms the major part of this story and some of the most heart wrenching and touching moments in the film belong to both of them. Manisha Koirala as Nargis Dutt (Sanju’s mother) has a brief role, but the scenes between the father, mother and son move you to tears. There’s also his best friend Kamlesh (Vicky Kaushal) who's one of the most important characters in the graph of the story and he leaves a solid impact. Maanyata (Dia Mirza) his wife’s strong presence is felt right throughout the film, but his previous marriages have been completely left out of the narrative. Even the birth of his first child, daughter Trishala doesn’t feature in this heart-rending story. The absence of these aspects of Sanju’s life leave the viewer craving for a tad bit more. The first half is extremely gripping, with Sanju struggling with his inner demons. The second half is spent on elaborating his court cases and it reiterates the thought that he’s not a terrorist. The fact that Sanjay Dutt’s real life presents great material for a story on celluloid is unquestionable. Hirani beautifully taps into some deep emotions that keeps the audience drawn to the screen. Even though the film feels long, the film industry nostalgia and the many references to old Hindi film music keep you hooked on. Ranbir Kapoor is just as good as his reputation. To state that he's an incredible actor who fills Sanjay Dutt’s role with gravitas and spunk is stating the obvious. That's expected from a talented actor like Ranbir. But what he does best in Sanju, is that he delivers the central character's swag and nonchalance in the most effortless manner. Whether he's dancing like a hysterical man, with bloodshot eyes under the influence of drugs or he’s the broken, emotional wreck just staring blank, Ranbir portrays a variety of emotions and grey shades with flair. He's the heart and soul of this film. One of the finest performances in the film comes from Vicky Kaushal. He stands tall and pulls off a superb act as Ranbir’s best friend who stands by him like a rock. AR Rahman, Rohan-Rohan and Vikram Montrose’s music sets mood right. Songs like Kar Har Maidan Fateh and Ruby Ruby add to the experience of the film. The background score is top notch too. The drugs infused phase of Sanju’s life is the most impressive and it has been portrayed with the right amount of sensitivity. It has some fantastic visuals and some crazy emotions too. Presenting a biopic on a man with so many shades and one who's lived a life of such extremes is a no mean feat. Hirani, in his signature style, takes you through Sanju's remarkable journey with the finesse and commitment it needs. In the film, Sanju's wife says that he's the king of bad choices, and Hirani's idea of making a film on his life has certainly paid off. Yes, there’s a lot missing, but even then, this is still an incredible story of a man and a movie star who made massive mistakes, walked through fire, survived it and lived one heck of a life.

STORY: A young man discovers he's destined to become a vigilante when one of his friends is killed.

REVIEW: He can’t fly or swing from rooftops. He doesn’t have a million dollar armoured suit with fancy gadgets. He doesn’t have a magic ring to give him powers overnight or super strength. But, he’s our very own homegrown superhero – a simple man made of flesh and bones, with a bleeding heart. In Bhavesh Joshi Superhero, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Priyanshu Painyuli & Ashish Verma play three college mates who are more socially conscious than your average graduate. Kapoor & Painyuli’s characters take this a lot more seriously and begin to intervene in local issues as they champion the cause of the common man. But things eventually escalate and get terribly out of hand. One of them dies while trying to reveal a corrupt plot at the hands of a local politician, played by Nishikant Kamat. The other is then left to choose his destiny. Bhavesh Joshi isn’t a caped crusader ripped off from most of the comic books we know, but his steely resolve and conscience make him relatable. Director and co-writer Vikramaditya Motwane certainly draws some inspiration from this superhero’s international counterparts but manages to infuse him with motivations and a backstory that’s compelling. More importantly, this masked vigilante’s story hits close to home, which works much in its favour for the first half of the film. The frustration and inability to work around an unethical system is one that we’re all too familiar with, and Motwane, along with co-writers Anurag Kashyap & Abhay Koranne, makes the most of it. This propels the first act quickly with stirring momentum which is missing after the interval when it resorts to being an origin tale. All is not lost though. French stunt choreographers Cyril Raffaelli and Sebastian Seveau put together some gritty and realistic action. A bike chase sequence is spectacular to behold in its sheer audacity. But then, it comes at the price of dropping its initial reality. This compromise is a costly trade-off as the film becomes tediously long drawn towards its final stretch. Yet, there’s a lot to savour along the way. Gorgeous camerawork and excellent editing allow you to take in all the action. Harshvardhan Kapoor shows growth as an actor in his second outing, but what stands out is the supporting cast. Priyanshu Painyuli deserves a special mention as the most impactful performance in this film. Bhavesh Joshi Superhero needs to be appreciated for what it sets out to do – stirring the common man out of apathy by channelising our anger. It doesn’t entirely succeed, but Vikramaditya Motwane’s take on the superhero genre is worth a look.

STORY: The Singh family comprises of Shamsher (Anil Kapoor) his step-son Sikandar (Salman Khan), twins Suraj (Saqib Saleem) and Sanjana (Daisy Shah). They run a business of illegal arms and trade with the help of their friend Yash (Bobby Deol). Things get dramatic when Jessica (Jacqueline Fernandez) meets Sikandar and the family ties are strained under each character’s ulterior motives.

REVIEW: The Race franchise is known for its excessively stylized characters and high-octane action. These films showcase expensive cars and fancy set pieces, they have everything to please the an action movie buff and James Bond fans. ‘Race 3’ puts the pedal to the metal when it comes to making stylish statements. But as it zooms ahead in style, the substance is left behind in a cloud of dust. This film is about a rich family dealing with a lot of double crossing and scheming, as you’d expect from a film of this franchise. The Singh family is executing a high stake heist, where they have to steal a hard disk from a bank, so the setup looks like it's going to have a lot of thrills and action. But the generous dose of action never translates into any serious thrills because the story is so flimsy. To say that the film has a wafer thin plot is an understatement. Unlike the action, the script lacks any real punch as the story does not engage the viewer at all. Trailer of the film had sparked off a bevy of memes on social media and when you watch the film you realise there are more such dialogues like, ‘Our business is our business, none of your business’ and that makes you wonder what the writers were thinking. What redeems the tissue-thin plot is the larger-than-life action sequences. You have it all - car crashes, explosions, combats, cat-fights and wingsuit diving stunts. Yes, there's lot of smoke and fire, but no real steam - in the story or the performances. Most of the action scenes are in slo-mo, meant to heighten the drama and thrill obviously, but it often ends up making the scene a tedious watch. The best directed parts of the film are the songs, which look like elaborately designed music videos. The movie is mounted on a lavish canvas, and shot on some beautiful locales, but none of that holds your attention for more than a few minutes. It’s a visual delight to see a range of super cars in action, glamorous girls throwing kicks and punches, and of course, fans will relish the sight of Salman Khan and Bobby Deol ripping their shirts off to flaunt their well-greased and chiseled bodies. There’s a star studded cast on offer so the fans will have plenty of moments to cheer for their favourite stars. Salman Khan leads the pack with the main role, and while he’s great with the action and the style, the character has very little depth. Anil Kapoor plays the father figure of the Singh family with ease. Bobby Deol and Daisy Shah are at their stylish best, too. Jacqueline Fernandez and Saqib Saleem look fantastic as well. ‘Race 3’ will work for Salman fans the most, as bhai kicks and punches with gusto. But for all its big moments, ‘Race 3’ just does not work up the feeling of suspense and intrigue that made the previous masala movies from the franchise a guilty pleasure. While the film wants to keep you guessing on who will finish the Race first, you are left wondering when you will cross the finish line.

Several of his friends and filmi folks, who haven't seen him on the big screen in four years, have been congratulating him for attempting to play a teacher who speaks shudh Hindi, a tribute to his father Dharmendra's character in 'Chupke Chupke'. Now that the film, which centres around vasectomy, is all set to hit the screens, the actor will start looking at the other projects he has been offered. For Bobby, his dad has always been a huge inspiration. He says, "I am hungry for work. I want to collaborate with good directors on interesting scripts. I am happy that Poster Boys has got me back on everyone's minds. I am looking forward to new subjects and roles." The upcoming comedy, the remake of a Marathi film of the same name, also features macho Sunny Deol as one of the victims of a campaign that promotes vasectomy. The reason an actor with a repertoire of action films agreed to be a part of this light-hearted project is that today, meritorious content seems to have outshined big-budget projects. 'Poster Boys', produced by Sony Pictures Networks Productions, Sunny Sounds Pvt Ltd, Shreyas and Deepti Talpade, releases on September 8.