Shah Rukh Khan’s comeback in 2023 has been a momentous event in the world of Indian cinema. His return to the silver screen with a string of successful films has reaffirmed his status as a legendary figure in Bollywood, and his enduring appeal continues to captivate audiences around the world.

Shah Rukh Khan revealed that his children, Aryan and Suhana, played a pivotal role in motivating him to make a comeback for his youngest son, AbRam. He has shared that his elder son reminded him of the stardom he once enjoyed, while his daughter acknowledged it, but it was AbRam who had never experienced his father’s stardom. This heartfelt motivation inspired Shah Rukh Khan to return to the big screen with a renewed vigor and dedication.

Whatever it was, it surely made great entertainment for the viewers and a cause for celebration for his fans.

For this magnum opus, the production houses have enlisted the talents of Bollywood filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee as the director. Adding to the star power, Rukmini Maitra will take on the title role in the film, which is based on the award-winning Odiya novel Yajnaseni by renowned author Pratibha Ray. The novel provides a unique perspective on Mahabharata, narrating the epic tale from Draupadi’s point of view with contemporary relevance, highlighting her embodiment of patience, penance, and power.

Speaking about the film, Pratibha Ray expressed her delight at the interest Indian filmmakers still hold in the timeless story of Mahabharata. She believes that her book, Yajnaseni, will find its creative justice under Ram Kamal’s direction, given his background as an author as well. Furthermore, she sees this as an opportune time to reintroduce the epics to the younger generation, sharing Indian culture and heritage.

Producer Dev Adhikari expressed his confidence in Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s ability to bring his unique aesthetic and visual presentation skills to the project, making it an intriguing experience for all. He praised Rukmini Maitra’s talents, who had previously worked with Ram Kamal in Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan, and is now set to take on the challenging role of Draupadi.

Pramod Films’ Producer, Prateek Chakraborty, stated that recreating the grand saga of Mahabharata in Bengali was an intriguing and exciting prospect. He praised Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s storytelling prowess, which inspired him to embark on this ambitious journey. He also commended Rukmini Maitra’s portrayal of Nati Binodini, predicting that she will take Draupadi’s character to new heights.

Rukmini Maitra, Bengal’s leading actress, shared her pleasure at reuniting with Ram Kamal for this project, as he has the ability to make challenging characters comfortable on screen. She expressed her honour at being a part of a subject so close to every Indian and acknowledged the role of Draupadi as one of the most demanding in her career.

A motion poster for the film, designed by Ekta Bhattacharjee from Ekta Tales and featuring a background score composed by Sourendro and Soumyojit duo, has been released. The Sanskrit verses in the motion poster are penned by Ram Kamal himself. While the director wraps up post-production work on Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan, he is simultaneously delving into the research and screenplay development for the new film.

Paawaan Aagarwal, who worked as Chief Associate Director with Ram Kamal in his Bengali feature Binodiini Ekti Natir Upakhyan, joins him as his co-researcher and co-screenplay writer. Paawaan has earlier worked as Chief Associate Director in Mumbai and Kolkata for almost 50 ad commercials.

Director Ram Kamal expressed his gratitude to the producers, Dev and Prateek, for supporting his vision once again, and stated that he was overwhelmed to reunite with Rukmini as Draupadi. He informed that the movie will be shot in Mumbai, and requires an extensive four-month pre-production and workshop period before filming commences.

Preetisheel Singh D’souza, who is India’s No.1 character designer, has designed the looks for some of the topmost actors in the Indian film industry. She has also handled the makeup and prosthetics for successful movies such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Pushpa: The Rise, Mom, Bala, Mulk, Andhadhun, Haider, Rangoon, Romeo Akbar Walter, Bachchhan Paandey, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Chup: Revenge of the Artist and the southern movies 24 and Master.

Preetisheel is a National Award-winner for best makeup and runs the country’s premier makeup and prosthetic studio called Da Makeup Lab along with her partner-husband Mark D’souza.

The workshop focused on various aspects of prosthetics, makeup and hair, including wig making, bald caps, aging and character makeup. The students were taught the art of creating realistic-looking prosthetics, as well as the use of prosthetic pieces to create various effects such as scars, burns and wounds. The workshop also provided hands-on training to the students, giving them an opportunity to practice and perfect their skills.

The workshop was a huge success, with students hailing from various parts of the country attending the course. The students were thrilled with the techniques and tricks they learned, and many of them expressed their gratitude to Preetisheel and her team for providing them with such an amazing opportunity.

Speaking about the success of the workshop, Preetisheel said, “We are delighted with the response we have received from the students. Our aim was to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to create realistic-looking characters using prosthetics and makeup. We are happy that the students have learned a lot from the workshop and are looking forward to putting their new skills to use.”

The Preetisheel School of Character Design is committed to providing world-class education in the field of character design, prosthetics and makeup. With experienced instructors and state-of-the-art facilities, the school aims to train the next generation of character designers, prosthetic experts and makeup specialists. The success of the first workshop is a testament to the school’s commitment to excellence and its mission to provide the best education possible to its students.

In the Best Documentary (Short) category, Kartiki Gonsalves’s The Elephant Whisperers secured India’s second victory at the Oscars. This achievement is significant as Gonsalves is the first Indian director to win in this category, as well as the first Indian to win in any directing category. Additionally, producer Guneet Monga has now won two Oscars, with her previous win coming from co-producing the 2018 winner titled Period. End of Sentence.

“Pathaan road-rollered the Boycott Bollywood movement with its runway success at the start of the year, and now Naatu Naatu and The Elephant Whisperers have won Oscars. These projects have served as rocket fuel to the film industry,” remarks Bollywood PR guru Dale Bhagwagar.

True, they have not only revitalized and galvanized Bollywood, but have made the world acknowledge the soft power of India’s film industry. While 2022 was sort of gloomy, 2023 has got off to a roaring new start for the entertainment industry. “That’s also good for business in general, especially while the world is talking of an impending recession,” remarks the popular entertainment publicist.

Dale is no stranger to the business of cinema. He has handled the PR and media branding for around 300 celebrities, 30 movies, 20 Bigg Boss contestants, a Celebrity Big Brother winner and even a controversial Godman and Godwoman. Many of his clients call the Bollywood celebrity PR their ‘lucky charm’, but the media maverick retorts, “it’s just my work which they mistake for luck.”

Talking about the future of Bollywood, Dale Bhagwagar feels that the industry is finally accepting that change is constant and that there is no surety with anything. He says that Bollywood is fast learning to adapt and adjust to change and technology — whether it comes in the form of monetary fluctuations or automation. It’s stopped complaining about how there is revenue loss because of films releasing on OTT and is ready to embrace the new hybrid model between single-screen theatres, multiplexes, tele-films and OTT.

“The future is here and it looks very challenging and that is fantabulous,” concludes Dale. We can’t help but concur to that double-dose of positivity. The sun is up, and yet the stars are shining bright.

Bollywood has always been open to beauty queens, and many of them have found success in the film industry. Aishwarya Rai, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta and Sushmita Sen are just a few examples of former beauty pageant winners who have made a name for themselves in Bollywood. Maithili’s win has created a buzz in the industry, and it will be interesting to see if she follows in their footsteps.

Maithili’s triumph has also sparked excitement and pride in the Indian community as she represents them on a global stage. Her hard work and dedication have been acknowledged and celebrated by Indian web media. Her win serves as an inspiration to young Indians, emphasizing that with perseverance and determination, one can achieve great accomplishments.

Speaking to a section of the media, Maithili expressed her gratitude to her family, friends, the Indian community for their support and encouragement. She also stated her ambition to use her platform to empower and inspire young women.

As the newly-crowned Ms International World Petite, Maithili will now be representing the pageant at various events and will have the opportunity to travel the world, spreading her message of positivity, beauty and confidence.

The Indian entertainment industry is the largest in the world, and it offers a platform for new actors and performers to showcase their talent. With her beauty, confidence, and talent, Maithili is likely to attract attention from filmmakers and movie producers. It remains to be seen if Maithili decides to pursue a career in acting, but her fans and well-wishers are eagerly waiting to see the turns her career takes.

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Preetisheel spoke about the importance of minute details, such as hair, texture, scars, beards, moustaches and more. She also shared some secrets about makeup and character design and how she created the desired looks for topline actors and actresses in the entertainment industry and as per the requirements of filmmakers.

Along with her team, she demonstrated the start-to-end application process of creating a monkey-faced man, leaving the students awestruck. She also demonstrated how to create bruises and swelling on the face, outlining the minute details and the do’s and don’ts while doing makeup.

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For the record, Preetisheel Singh D’souza and her partner-husband, Mark D’souza, run Da Makeup Lab, India’s No.1 makeup, hair and prosthetic studio based in the high-profile Versova locality of Mumbai.

The studio has launched the Preetisheel School of Character Design, which specializes in teaching special effects makeup. The school’s next batch is to commence in April and will cover both theoretical and practical aspects of makeup, such as creating scars, cuts, wounds, burns and more. The goal is to impart education on character design, prosthetic makeup and SFX throughout India.

Da Makeup Lab has carried out character designs for many successful movies, including Padmaavat, Gangubai Kathiawadi, Mom, Chhichhore, Bala, Mulk, Andhadhun, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Haider, Rangoon, Romeo Akbar Walter, Bunty Aur Babli 2, Bachchhan Paandey, Chup: Revenge of the Artist and Pushpa: The Rise. The lab is now working on Pushpa’s sequel titled Pushpa: The Rule, and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web-series Heeramandi coming soon on Netflix.

The Masterclass was a huge success and is expected to have added to the reputation of Lakme Academy powered by Aptech for providing professional courses in various disciplines related to the beauty industry.

Over a period of years, DK looked after the work assignments for many celebrities including names such as Govind Namdev, Sherlyn Chopra, Milind Soman, Raju Srivastav, Shakti Kapoor, Anupama Varma, Mandakini, Sunil Pal and a plethora of other celebrities. He also handled the casting for some of Anees Bazmee’s films, including blockbusters such as Welcome, Ready, No Problem, Thank You and even some Tik Tok influencers and South Indian stars.

Apart from being a talent manager, business manager and casting director, he had also started two firms, namely Big Shot Productions and Big Shot Events.

He was particularly known as the ‘Happiest Celeb Manager in Bollywood’, as he always greeted people with a big smile and was jovial and spiritual in his thoughts and talks. DK Shroff was also known for his unique sense of dressing and would dress in clothes with certain colours on certain days.

Moreover, his dressing sense was unarguably the most colourful in Bollywood, which jelled quite well with his happy-go-lucky personality. He made sure he inspired and cheered up everyone who came in contact with him, and even had a knack of winning over his detractors. Such was his charm, and he will be greatly missed in the film industry.

According to reports, he suffered a major heart attack on Valentine’s Day February  14 and was admitted to Cooper Hospital in Mumbai after which he was shifted to Arogya Nidhi Hospital and later to Sion Hospital, where he passed away on February 18. He was visited at the hospital by his actress client Sherlyn Chopra and other Bollywood celebrities whose work he had managed for years, and was attended by his brother till his last breath.

DK Shroff and his smiling demeanor will be fondly remembered by many in Bollywood for a very long time to come.

From her graceful and expressive movements to her precise footwork, Twinkle has captivated audiences with her performances. Throughout her career, Twinkle has always had a passion for dance, and it shows in her dedication to perfecting her craft. She spends countless hours rehearsing and practicing, and it has paid off in the form of breathtaking dance sequences in her show as well as her Instagram that have left viewers in awe.

Twinkle is grateful for the love and support she has received from her fans. Expressing her thoughts on dance, she says, “Dance has always been a part of who I am, and I am so thankful to my fans for their appreciation of my passion. To me, dance is not just about the steps or the music, but about expressing myself and telling a story through movement. It is a way for me to connect with others and bring joy to their lives, and I am grateful for the opportunity to do so.”

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In fact, as Twinkle’s career continues to grow, many are speculating that she could be a perfect fit for films in the future. With her undeniable talent and charisma, there is no doubt that Twinkle Arora has a bright future ahead of her, and fans can’t wait to see what she does next.

The team, which included Icon Star Allu Arjun, actress Rashmika Mandana, and director Sukumar, was thrilled to be welcomed with overwhelming enthusiasm by their Russian fans. In addition to being released in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Pushpa: The Rise was also featured at the opening ceremony of the Fifth Indian Film Festival, which was held in 24 Russian cities.

From Mumbai, character designer Preetisheel Singh D’souza, who curated the unique looks the now iconic characters of Allu Arjun as Pushpa Raj, Rashmika Mandanna as Srivalli and Fahadh Faasil as SP Bhanwar Singh Shekawat in the film, expressed her excitement at seeing the film being recognized internationally.

“The response from fans has been one of great excitement and happiness. As far as Bollywood’s legacy with Russia goes, we have come a long way. In fact, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Russia’s love for Bollywood has come full circle from Raj Kapoor to Pushpa Raj,” she quips, reminiscing how Raj Kapoor was a craze in Russia once upon a time.

The National Award-winning makeup and prosthetic expert, along with her partner husband Mark D’souza, runs Da Makeup Lab; India’s No.1 makeup, hair and prosthetic studio based in the high-profile Versova locality of Mumbai.

Apart from Pushpa: The Rise, the state-of-the-art studio has designed transformational looks for movies such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, 102 Not Out, Housefull 4, Mom, Bala, Chhichhore, Bunty Aur Babli 2 as well as the Southern megahit Master. It is now working for Pushpa’s sequel titled Pushpa: The Rule.

Hailing from Bhopal, Abhinit Gupta is a renowned cosmetologist and trichologist and also famous as Bollywood’s anti-aging expert.

Dr Abhinit Gupta has won many awards for his medical and acting achievements and also for exemplary work in social welfare. Abhinit Gupta has been awarded by the who’s who of India, including former President Pranab Mukherjee, Former Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu, Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor and Bollywood actresses Karisma Kapoor and Madhuri Dixit.

The music video is shot in the beautiful landscapes of Srinagar, Kashmir, and directed by Rufy Khan, where the director also hails from. What’s more! The romantic story in the video is said to be based on a past experience of Abhinit Gupta.

With the video up on Zee Music’s YouTube channel, Abhinit Gupta has surely impressed everyone with his acting skills. The song is written by Sahil Fatehpuri and has soulful music by Avik Dojan Chatterjee, who has also sung the number with passion.