MUMBAI: Here are some fresh happenings from the world of Bollywood!

Richa Chadha happy to see films on women sports stars

Actress Richa Chadha, who will essay a kabaddi player with Kangana Ranaut in Ashwini Iyer Tiwari's Panga, finds it great that a number of movies are being written about women sports stars.

Richa has begun prepping for the movie, which will be one of the most physically challenging roles she has played in her Bollywood career. The film, also starring Pankaj Tripathi, will be about women kabaddi players and the trials they face.

‘It's great to see such a great number of films like 'Panga' being written on female sport athletes. It’s important to have representation and such diversity being shown on-screen. To show such stories helps create awareness both for the amazing women we have in the sports arena who are doing so well internationally and it also helps increase the popularity for the sport,’ Richa said in a statement.

‘It's great to see filmmakers like Ashwini Iyer Tiwari who are etching such roles for women that shows them as a figure of strength and vigour,’ she added.

Omung Kumar's Mary Kom on boxer M.C. Mary Kom brought the spotlight on women sportspersons, and now films are being made on icons like Saina Nehwal and Sania Mirza.

Bappi Lahiri’s stand on #MeToo

Veteran singer–composer Bappi Lahiri feels women should have shared their sexual harassment stories when they happened, as he feels they would have got due justice for it.

Bappi interacted with the media at the music launch of Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyar Ke, along with the film's cast Mukesh Bharti and Manju Bharti and director Partho Ghosh here on Monday.

On the #MeToo movement, Bappi said, ‘In India, we respect women -- whether it's our mother, sister, daughter or a wife. I live in the US for six months every year, but I don't think any country has such beautiful culture like our country. The MeToo movement has been happening in Hollywood as well, but in India, women are bringing out decade-old incidents in the media and social media.’

‘So, my point is that when it happened to those women, then why they didn't file FIRs immediately? If all these things would have been revealed earlier, they would have got due justice for it. Now we are launching the music of Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyar Ke, and if we talk about this film 10 years later, then it is of no use,’ he added.

On his association with Partho, Bappi said he is ‘brilliant’.

‘We have earlier worked together for Dalal, and now we have worked for this new film. I had a really great time composing music for Mausam Ikrar Ke Do Pal Pyar Ke. My son Bappa Lahiri also worked really hard to compose songs for this film. I think we have made a really good film and I hope it does well,’ Bappi said.

The movie features Ganesh Acharya, Mukesh Bharti, Manju Bharti, and Madalsa Sharma. It will release on November 2.

I could express love only because of Dharamji: Hema Malini

Veteran actress and politician Hema Malini, who turned a year older on Tuesday, says love is a very beautiful feeling, and she learnt to express the emotion because of veteran actor and her husband Dharmendra.

The actress spoke on her relationship with Dharmendra during a conversation with a radio channel. Asked about her memorable phone call, she said, ‘It was when Dharamji called me and said I love you.’

‘Back in those days, it was very difficult as there used to be landline phones and you had to find a proper place to speak over the phone. Romance is a very beautiful feeling. I could express the feeling of love only because of Dharamji,’ she added.

The actress continued, ‘It is not like you can express this to anyone. A lot of people might love you, but you can only reciprocate to the one who you truly love and that's how it has been between us. It never happened with anyone else.’

After giving a glimpse of their chemistry on-screen through films like Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, and Dream Girl, they got married in 1980.

The couple was later seen in movies like Alibaba Aur 40 Chor, Baghavat, Samraat, and Razia Sultan.

On the feeling of love, she said, ‘When you love someone, it comes from within. That is the most beautiful thing I believe every woman should experience. They should fall in love once. Love is such a beautiful expression. When you hear the person you love, express their love over the phone, it's a different feeling altogether, you just want to keep listening and not hang up.’

Producer Gaurang Doshi to reunite with Amitabh Bachchan

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is reuniting with producer Gaurang Doshi for a new project titled Happy Anniversary, for the first time after their 2002 release Aankhen.

The project is to be directed by writer-turned-director Neeraj Pathak, a statement said.

Doshi is making his comeback with this film and he considers himself lucky that he has got another opportunity to work with Big B.

‘His talent and performance is unmatched and has always received rave reviews. For him achievement is not only been a hallmark of success but is an example for many for sheer perseverance and determination,’ Doshi said.

‘The director is called the captain of the ship, and this man Neeraj Pathak is full of excellence and sheer talent,’ added Doshi.

Two songs have already been recorded with ace singer Sonu Nigam and one with Siddhant Madhav for the film.

‘We all have heard Sonu Nigam as an incredible, awesome singer. But this time buckle on as he is coming on the driving seat as music director to surprise everyone with his awesome sense of music,’ said Doshi.

YRF terminates key official over #MeToo allegations

Bollywood studio Yash Raj Films (YRF) on Tuesday said it has terminated the services of a key official amidst #MeToo allegations.

‘Yash Raj Films terminates the services of Ashish Patil, Vice President - Brand Partnerships and Talent Management and Business and Creative Head - Y-Films with immediate effect,’ read a statement on YRF's official Twitter handle.

Ashish came under the scanner after an aspiring actress anonymously accused him of sexually exploiting her.

On his part, Ashish had denied the allegation last week, calling them ‘untrue, fabricated, extremely defamatory and agenda-driven’.

‘I urge this woman in question to kindly step forward and produce all facts because I cannot prove my innocence to a nameless, faceless, anonymous person... I will fully cooperate in any inquiry from any authorities to bring the truth out and completely clear my name,’ he had said in a statement shared on social media on October 10.

My next with Dhanush is fantasy comedy: Director Ramkumar

Director Ramkumar, who is basking in the success of Tamil psychological thriller Ratsasan, says his next film with Dhanush will be a fantasy comedy, which he hopes to wrap up in six months.

‘The scripting work is currently underway. As Dhanush Sir is occupied with two other commitments, we hope to start shooting by December or early next year. This will be a fantasy-based subject with good scope for comedy. That's all I can reveal at the moment,’ Ramkumar told a leading publication.

It took Ramkumar around four years to make his second film Ratsasan, which has clicked at the box office. He hopes to wrap up his yet-untitled with Dhanush in six months.

‘Due to various reasons, my second film took a lot of time. It won't happen this time. We hope to wrap up Dhanush sir's film in six months flat after we go on the floors,’ he said, adding Dhanush will be seen in a very unique role.

‘It's a very unique character and I think only he (Dhanush) can pull it off. The energy that he brings to a character is unmatchable,’ he added.

Ramkumar also has plans to make a sequel to his first Tamil film Mundasupatti, an experimental comedy. He said he has the script ready.

‘The idea for the sequel was developed while we were shooting for the first part. The sequel is definitely on, and since I already have the script ready, it's just a matter of time before things fall in place. I don't want to force things to happen. They'll happen if they're meant to happen,’ Ramkumar said.

Dhanush, meanwhile, is gearing up to commence shooting for his fourth film with filmmaker Vetrimaaran. This project is believed to go on the floors from next week.

Vada Chennai, the third film in Dhanush and Vetrimaaran combination, hits the screens on Wednesday.

Aftab Shivdasani completes 19 years in Bollywood

Actor Aftab Shivdasani on Monday looked back at how life changed for him 19 years ago when he stepped into the world of Bollywood.

Aftab debuted in 1999 with Ram Gopal Verma's hit romantic movie Mast, in which he featured with actress Urmila Matondkar.

‘19 years ago today, a new life began for me. A life I always dreamt of. An opportunity to pursue a childhood dream of becoming an actor someday. Thank you Ram Gopal Verma for giving me this opportunity to realise my dream. Thank you to all those people who believed/believe in me,’ Aftab tweeted.

For Mast, Aftab had bagged multiple Best Male Debut awards.

The film is about a love story between an actress and a student. Its music, with songs like Mast and Ruki ruki thi zindagi, topped the charts.

Before Mast, Aftab had appeared as a child artiste in films like Mr. India, ChaalBaaz, and Insaniyat.

With around 40 films to his credit, the actor has also featured in films like Kasoor, Kya Yehi Pyaar Hai, Awara Paagal Deewana, Hungama and Masti.

Currently, Aftab is preparing for Setters, which also stars actors Shreyas Talpade, Sonnalli Seygall, Pavan Malhotra, and Vijay Raaz.