Actress Deepika Padukone, who is miles away from her home and family in Toronto for the shoot of her Hollywood flick xXx, is missing her home badly.

Also read: Deepika Padukone steps out with tennis player Novak Djokovic, foreign media identifies her as ‘leggy brunette’

Deepika, who has been out of the country for the past one month, took to Twitter to share an image of her comfort food – chakli and banana chips she has for company in Toronto. She wrote on Twitter that she is missing her home.

#MissingHome #ComfortFood pic.twitter.com/DqojMNOicR

— Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) March 10, 2016

Deepika has been training hard to get into perfect shape for her character in xXx, where she is paired opposite Vin Diesel.

Deepika’s photos with Diesel and other crew members from the xXx sets are making the rounds of social media and has managed to maintain a strong buzz around the film.

Along with Deepika and Diesel, xXx: The Return of Xander Cage also stars Nina Dobrev, Samuel L. Jackson, Ruby Rose, Jet Li and Tony Jaa. The film is slated to release in 2017.

Actor Arjun Kapoor, who will be seen romancing actress Kareena Kapoor Khan in director R. Balki’s upcoming film “Ki and Ka”, says he was 15 years old when the “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” actress made her film debut.

“I was 15 years old when Kareena made her debut and I was in 10th standard. I had met her before her debut so I knew her and she has not changed since then. I still make fun of her like I used to make fun of her before,” Arjun said.

Kareena made her Hindi film debut in the 2000 film “Refugee”.

“She is a phenomenal actor to work with, and to stand in front of her in a same screen is amazing because she is fantastic. She gives her 200 percent and she can switch on and off,” he added.

In “Ki and Ka”, Arjun will be seen playing an IIT graduate and a house husband to Kareena’s character Kia, an ambitious career-oriented woman.

Arjun reveals that his friendship with Kareena played a pivotal role in making their on-screen chemistry come alive.

“You need an actor whom you are very comfortable with because the marriage should look real on screen. Already, the concept is so bizarre, so you need to show that compatibility,” he added.

The romantic comedy is slated to hit the screens on April 1.

Abhishek Bachchan’s daughter Aaradhya is one of the wonderful blessings in the life of the Bachchan family. And the doting father Abhishek never leaves any opportunity to spend time with his daughter.

In one such happy time, Abhishek Bachchan took to Instagram to share an adorable moment with his daughter Aaradhya experiencing the soft touch of her little hands over his and wrote, “2 hands 1 heart.”

Also read: Abhishek Bachchan says want Aaradhya to retain the family connection with BHU

Abhishek along with his wife Aishwarya Rai are often seen with their daughter Aaradhya at parties and events. The happy family was recently seen enjoying a fun game time at a Pro Kabaddi match and in Maldives recently.

Actor Vishal Krishna is tipped to play a detective in filmmaker Mysskin’s upcoming Tamil fantasy thriller “Thupparivaalan”, which was officially launched here on Thursday.

“Vishal will be seen as a detective. While the film will be another thriller along the lines of most Mysskin’s films, the fantasy angle is something that audiences will find unique,” a source from the film’s unit told IANS.

The film’s regular shooting is expected to start later this month.

The rest of the cast, including the leading lady, is yet to be finalised.

Arrol Corelli, who had previously worked in Mysskin’s “Pisasu”, has been roped in to compose the tunes.

Vishal is producing the film under his home banner Vishal Film Factory.

Actress Madonna Sebastian, who is making her Tamil debut with “Kadhalum Kadhandu Pogum”, says that although she prefers being part of content-driven films that require her to perform subtly, she can’t say no to “masala” films.

“Personally, I enjoy being part of films where I’m not just a pretty face and have a solid role. I like to perform subtly, express using my eyes and smile. Though commercial cinema doesn’t offer you scope to do such things, I can’t say no to masala films,” Madonna told IANS.

She also said she can’t turn down an offer to work with a star.

“It’s in these masala films that you get to work with stars. How can I say no to working with them? My latest Tamil release ‘Kadhalum Kadhandu Pogum’ features Vijay Sethupathi who I really admire. I just couldn’t miss an opportunity to work with him,” she said.

“My next Malayalam release ‘King Liar’ is with Dileep, who is a much bigger star. It’s an out-and-out masala film,” she added.

In “Kadhalum Kadhandu Pogum”, which released in cinemas on Friday, she plays a role of Yazhini, who works in the Information Technology world.

“It’s a simple love story of a boy and a girl who, by the time they realise and fall in love, the film ends and they never get to live happily ever after. Still, this is a fun film and there’s nothing tragic about the story,” she said.

The film is the official remake of Korean entertainer “My Dear Desperado”.

Madonna has watched the original and she feels the Nalan Kumarasamy-directed Tamil version is much better.

“Nalan has made it livelier, which makes the remake not a frame-to-frame copy of the original. The localisation of the content has worked very well and even those who have watched the Korean version will love the Tamil remake more,” she said.

Talking about her co-star Vijay Sethupathi, she said: “It took time for both of us to get talking on the sets. I’ve learnt from him that it’s important to match the wavelength of one’s co-star while performing and his valuable input really benefited me.”

Most popular for playing the character Celine from last year’s Malayalam blockbuster “Premam”, Madonna feels the success of the film has already made her a known face in Tamil industry.

“We knew ‘Premam’ was a good film. However, none of us expected it to do so well. People still call me Celine wherever I go, which only shows how much they love me. Slowly, they are getting used to my real name,” she said.

Not in a hurry to sign new projects, she will join the sets of “Premam” Telugu remake from next week.

A nomination in the Best Actress Critics’ Choice category at the second edition of Times of India Film Awards (TOIFA) was “unexpected” and a “great surprise” for Kalki Koechlin, who says it’s because she “rarely gets nominated”.

“I never expected a nomination as I rarely get nominated. So yes, being nominated for TOIFA 2016 is a great surprise,” Kalki said in a statement.

Kalki portrayed a physically challenged character discovering her sexuality in “Margarita, with a Straw”, which was directed by director duo Shonali Bose and Nilesh Maniyar.

The TOIFA 2016 awards ceremony will be held in Dubai on March 18, where celebrated names like Ranveer Singh, Amitabh Bachchan and Anushka Sharma will be awarded for their contribution to Hindi Cinema.

Bollywood filmmaker Rohit Shetty, whose movies are packed with daredevil stunts, will tell tales of survival stints performed by celebrated “real life” champions on a new TV offering.

Starting March 21, Shetty will be seen presenting the TV series “Discovery Real Heroes”, featuring stories of survival experts who overcome the extreme adversity in the toughest terrains.

The journey of the individuals showcased in the series will be full of adventures, challenges and action. The line-up will include survival specialists like Bear Grylls, Les Stroud, Ed Stafford, Joel Lambert and more, who will share the tips and tricks to survive in the unforeseen situations.

Talking about his association with Discovery Channel, Shetty, director and presenter of the show, said in a statement: “It is the real danger that makes real heroes and Discovery Real Heroes make the perfect example of endurance both in reel and real life.”

“The special programme line-up will show these daredevils inspiring and demonstrating the right skills and creative thinking to keep one alive in the remote corners of the world.”

Himesh Reshammiya, he who can sing, compose and act is back on silver screens with his latest offering Teraa Surroor. The  actor, who does have a fan following especially in the single screen theatres, seems to have impressed his aficionados with his inimitable dialogue delivery in Teraa Surroor.

Watch: Himesh Reshammiya’s Teraa Surroor Gets Decent Response By The Audience

Also read: Teraa Surroor movie review: Himesh Reshammiya’s film is a mess 

The high point of the movie for viewers was the melodious songs scored by Himesh. The visually stunning locales and performances delivered by veterans Naseeruddin Shah and Shekhar Kapoor too kept audience entertained.

As far as Himesh the actor is concerned, audience felt he needed to improve a lot more on the acting front. Viewers felt he needed to let go his forlorn unidimensional expression. Nevertheless, the movie as a whole did give masses multiple moments of joy.

What remains to be seen is the moolah the movie will collect at the box-office. With the cricket world cup and school and college exams coinciding with the release, Teraa Surroor will have a tough fight ahead.

Actress Ruby Rose can not stop gushing about her “xXx: The Return of Xander Cage” co-star and Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.

The 29-year-old “Orange Is the New Black” actress was asked by Deepika’s fan about what she feels for the Indian beauty, who is playing Serena in the Vin Diesel-starrer.

Also read: Deepika Padukone missing home, eats chakli and banana chips for comfort

“Where do I start… She’s so humble, so beautiful. A talented actor and I adore her. You are a fan of a Wonder Woman,” Rose wrote in reply.

Where do I start… She’s so humble, so beautiful. A talented actor and I adore her. You are a fan of a Wonder Woman http://t.co/eAuHXIouNu

— Ruby Rose (@RubyRose) March 10, 2016

Deepika, 30, has received endless praise from her co-star Diesel and the film’s director DJ Caruso as well.

Rose essays the role of Adele Wolff in the third installment of the “xXx” franchise.

The film also stars Samuel L Jackson, Conor McGregor, Jet Li, Tony Jaa and Nina Dobrev.

The movie is slated for January 20, 2017 release.

When Russians have run over town, you might as well be the one calling the shots, preferably in big blonde hair and thin tall heels. This could be one reason why Kate Winslet took up the role of Irina, the wife of a Jew Russian ganglord who is locked up in gulag and on whose behalf she is now running the business in Atlanta, Georgia (the film helpfully adds United States, though this film could have been nowhere else). Winslet tries hard, really hard, including with pancake that flakes off her skin. However, there is only so much she can do in a film about dirty cops and lots of confusing shootouts.

Another person trying as hard is Affleck, as honest police officer Chris with a well-settled detective (Harrelson as Jeffrey) for uncle. He wears down more than the gum he constantly chews with his visible effort.

There are quite a few other known names populating this venture, but it never really lifts off the ground or get us interested in the proceedings. Only Michael (Ejiofor), who is basically the leader of a crew working for the Russians, has any kind of personal stake invested in how things go down. Michael was married to Irina’s sister, and Irina uses their son to make him bow to her wishes. Mackie and Collins Jr play policemen who are part of the crew, while the rear end comprises two brothers, including one played by Aaron Paul, who may as well be in Breaking Bad.

The graphic violence is worser for the fact that many children hang around the frame.

Trying to decipher whether all of it amounts to anything, you may appreciate the fact that Triple 9 is as mixed-race as it gets, with no obvious stereotypes.

Directed by John Hillcoat
Starring Casey Affleck, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Anthony Mackie, Woody Harrelson, Aaron Paul, Kate Winslet, Clifton Collins Jr

Waluscha De Sousa is making her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Fan” and the model-turned-actress says the superstar was patient with her during the shoot.

De Sousa said she was inspired to see the 50-year-old “Chennai Express” actor’s dedication and focus towards his work.

Also read: Shah Rukh is best co-star I have ever worked with: Alia Bhatt

‘”He’s so calm and dedicated, once he is on the sets, it’s just the film, everything else takes a backseat,” De Sousa said in a statement.

The model had previously worked with Shah Rukh in a few ads but was nervous to shoot her first film shot with the actor.

Also read: Shah Rukh Khan wants the t-shirt his Raees co-actor Mahira Khan is wearing, says on Twitter 

“He just looked at me calmly as if to say, don’t worry, I have all the time in the world. Fumble as many times as you want because that’s the only way to learn.”

“Fan”, directed by Maneesh Sharma, is scheduled to release on April 15.

The acting bug has bitten filmmaker Prakash Jha! After being lauded by the audience for his debut as an actor in “Jai Gangaajal”, he says he will be seen more on the silver screen.

Jha said that with all the appreciation that has come his way for portraying B.N. Singh, a corrupt police officer in “Jai Gangaajal”, he feels “encouraged” to face the cameras again.

“I am encouraged and humbled. All I can say is that it is amazing the way the people have reacted… I feel really humbled,” Jha told IANS over phone from Mumbai.

Would he be seen on the silver screen again?

“That is obvious. I mean, of course this encouragment will help me… What do you think should I be seen or not? You will see more,” he said in an affirmative tone.

Asked if “Jai Gangaajal”, which stars Priyanka Chopra as a tough police officer, received the kind of response he expected, Jha said: “I don’t have to tell you the audience has loved it. They are loving the film. It is doing steady business because of word of mouth.

“Otherwise a female-oriented film doesn’t take a huge kind of opening but it has had a decent opening… So it is doing well.”

Even by sport’s definition of a comeback, Lance Armstrong was unique. Surviving cancer and winning one of the world’s most gruelling tournaments, Tour de France, seven times made him a champion like none other.

Even by sport’s definition of a letdown, Armstrong remains unique. Indicted for running “one of the most sophisticated doping programmes in the history of sport”, he was stripped off all his tiles.

The Program is based on a book on him written by journalist David Walsh (here played by O’Dowd), who doggedly pursued his suspicion that Armstrong was using performance-enhancing drugs.

Foster plays Armstrong as a fanatically ambitious competitor, with a hunger so deep to win that it overruled everything else. Foster’s eyes wear this constant watchful look, taking on almost a gleam when he talks of winning.

The Program makes an equally compelling case of how even “the world’s most tested athlete” got away with cheating for so long. And of how a sport turns a willing blind eye and makes a cosy circle that few dare or want to break, and even how everyone wants a hero to believe in.

When Armstrong says he is only trying to stay “one step ahead of the others” — while either having his dirty blood taken out, or clean blood injected back in — you can see how it looks from his point of view.

Where The Program fails is in giving us a deeper insight into the man himself, beyond the athlete, and the moral compunctions he played down. Armstrong eventually decided to confess and not challenge his lifetime ban for what the controversy was doing to his children. However, but for one wedding scene, there is no sign of either his wife or those kids in the film.

In comparison, for a film so focused on just one aspect of the Armstrong story, there is a surprisingly protracted sequence of his cancer fight.

Plemons gets a fuller role than Foster as fellow cyclist and teammate Flyod Landis, who fights back his deeply religious background when the doping gets too bad. Apart from the physical toll the drugs are having on him, Landis struggles with what to tell his parents and finds it harder and harder to keep his doubts away.

Canet as controversial doctor/trainer Michele Ferrari is also pretty good, while O’Dowd makes no impact at all.

In the heydays of his Livestrong Foundation, Armstrong tells an appreciative audience of cancer patients in the film that “the will to survive is the biggest drug of all” and tells them to “write your own story”. There is an Armstrong story waiting to be told; The Program is just a part of it.

Directed by Stephen Frears
Starring Ben Foster, Guillaume Canet, Jesse Plemons, Chris O’Dowd

After delivering hits in romance and comedy genre, actor Varun Dhawan says he found the fight sequences in his next film “Dishoom” quite ‘difficult’ to shoot.

The 28-year-old “Badlapur” actor will be in forthcoming action adventure alongside John Abraham and Jacqueline Fernandez, directed by his brother Rohit Dhawan.

“It was not easy to shoot action part. As I am new to all this. Through action we are trying to push the boundaries and do something new. Once the trailer and look of the film is out we hope people like action sequences in it,” Varun told PTI.

Varun was talking on the sidelines of launch of latest backpack collection of VIP Skybags, of which he is the brand ambassador.

Actor Emraan Hashmi’s mother Maherahh Hashmi passed away on March 11 afternoon. She was admitted at a city hospital in Mumbai where she breathed her last. She was suffering from cancer.

Confirming the news to Indian Express.com, Emraan’s uncle and producer Mukesh Bhatt said, “She passed away this afternoon. She had cancer.”

Emraan, who was reportedly out-of-town, is currently on his way back to Mumbai.

RIP Maherahh Hashmi.

Akshay Kumar is someone who keeps family his first priority, takes responsibility and does what every man in the house should do for his wife and children. Being a big Bollywood star also, Akshay Kumar is often seen spending time with his family and treats his wife like a princess. And Akshay, who had a free day today, decided to babysit at home when his wife Twinkle had to go for a shoot.

Also read: Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan’s sons Aarav Bhatia and Ibrahim Ali Khan are the next Khiladis

Like a loving and caring husband, Akshay Kumar dropped by his wife’s shooting location with a lunchbox in his hand. He was also accompanied by his Desi Boyz co-star and friend John Abraham on the sets. Together, they had some fun time and spent some lovely time on the shoot. Akshay Kumar took to twitter to share the picture of the day.

Free day today, dropped by the wife’s shoot with a lunchbox in hand, joined in by buddy John. Feeling domesticated 😁 pic.twitter.com/PIk2EYolGS

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) March 11, 2016

With two hotties on the sets, all the girls present on the sets almost fainted after seeing the two desi boyz. Twinkle Khanna shared the amazing reaction in a tweet.

Also read: Akshay Kumar introduces his fans to the three women in his life, who are driving him ‘insane’

And all the girls on my set sort of fainted seeing these two amazing desi boyz ! http://t.co/AWCRDK9X65

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 11, 2016

Twinkle, who has impressed everyone with her book Mrs Funnybones, shared a picture of hers from the shoot location and wrote: “Today I am at a shoot and the husband is at home baby-sitting #rolereversal.”

Today I am at a shoot and the husband is at home baby-sitting #rolereversal pic.twitter.com/liSZmgxgPS

— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) March 11, 2016

Currently, Akshay Kumar is busy with the shoot of his upcoming film Rustom, in which he will be seen playing the role of a naval officer. The film also stars Barfi actres Ileana D’Cruz.

Model-actress Rochelle Rao says she is busy polishing her acting skills, and wants to explore opportunities in southern cinema.

After entering the glamour industry as a model, Rochelle created a steady pitch for herself in the world of cricket as a host, and also became a part of the popular reality TV show “Bigg Boss Nau” with her boyfriend and actor Keith Sequeira last year.

For the time being, she has put reality shows on a hold.

“Right now my focus is on the south. I am looking at some southern films. I’m also getting my acting skills more developed and then there are some calls for films for Bollywood. The reality shows are there, but the focus right now is definitely films,” Rochelle told IANS.

The actress shared her plans with IANS last month when she became a part of seven-day Delhi Walk Festival, which was launched by Delhi, I Love you, an independent socio-cultural movement in Delhi.

Till the time she zeroes in on a project to work on, the actress is enjoying all the love and appreciation that has come her way post the show.

“People always want to spend time with us, want to meet us, but it’s been so great,” she said.

Rapper Yo Yo Honey Singh wants to keep alive the mystery about his 18-month-long absence from showbiz, and says he will open up about it at the “right time”.

“It is a long story. I was missing from the industry for almost 18 months. A lot of rumours are doing the rounds about the disappearance, but this is not the right time. I will talk about it in an exclusive interview. That time is a very important phase of my life. I will talk about it soon,” Honey Singh said at the trailer launch of his Punjabi action romance film “Zorawar”.

Also read: Honey Singh feels Badshah is Nano in front of him

It was reported that the singer was hospitalised after a drug overdose. There were also reports that superstar Shah Rukh Khan had slapped him at the Slam Tour concert publicly, after which the rapper had gone into depression. But nothing was confirmed.

Asked about his differences with actress Deepika Padukone, who was also a part of the Slam Tour, Honey Singh said: “No, nothing like that happened between me and Deepika. I haven’t heard this before. Regarding Shah Rukh, we never fought. I still share a good relationship with him. I recently met Shah Rukh Khan after one-and-half years. I spoke to him when we met at an awards ceremony.”

Honey Singh’s famous song “High heels” has been used for the Arjun Kapoor-Kareena Kapoor Khan-starrer “Ki & Ka”.

Actor-comedian Krushna Abhishek, who now hosts a comedy show on a channel which earlier featured an entertainer by Kapil Sharma, hopes the latter’s new show on another channel does well.

Also read: Kapil Sharma and team is back with The Kapil Sharma Show

“God willing, let Kapil’s show get the ratings. I would say that both shows get good ratings. Kapil’s show will be a healthy competition, he will also enjoy it because we will give them tough competition, like we are currently giving, and we will also enjoy that he would give us healthy competition.

Also read: Kapil Sharma’s new comedy show likely to have new set-up

“What happens because of competition is that both will do good work.”

Krushna, who is currently hosting “Comedy Nights Live” on Colors, added: “Only we can give competition to Kapil, and only he can give it to us. No one else has been born for it – tell me if such people are there in television… Though I can’t say about the future.

Also read: Kapil Sharma says I am not insecure; was only hurt when Comedy Nights With Kapil was taken off from YouTube

“It’s a good thing that both of us are giving a tough fight to each other. One on side there is Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Devdas’ and on the other hand there is ‘Bajirao Mastani’, and if those two will clash, people will enjoy it.”

Also read: The Kapil Sharma Show trailer: Kapil takes an auto with team, Sidhu flies away in the chopper

Kapil’s show “Comedy Nights With Kapil” on Colors was replaced by the channel with “Comedy Nights Live” after Kapil had differences with the channel. Kapil is now coming up with “The Kapil Sharma Show”.

Comedienne Bharti Sharma made her hairdresser’s dream of meeting actress Alia Bhatt come true.

Alia came on the set of “Comedy Nights Bachao” to promote her forthcoming film “Kapoor & Sons”, and that’s where Bharti made her hairdresser come face-to-face with her.

In one of the acts, Bharti donned the character of a hairdresser and made fun of Alia’s make-up rituals. She said that for playing a hairdresser, she took inspiration from her own hairstylist Heena, who is a fan of Alia.

When Bharti shared that Heena has always wanted to meet Alia, the “Student Of The Year” actress demanded to meet Heena in person on the Colors show. And when her desired moment came, Heena said: “Main aapki bahut badi fan hun”.