For one of this year’s Variety Global Conversations Summit at Cannes, a group of leading women actors and filmmakers from around the world joined Variety’s Nick Vivarelli to discuss how they got into the business, what motivates them and some of the groundbreaking roles they’ve played.
Egyptian actor Salma Abu-Deif (“El-Asliyyin”) discussed her recent turn in the series “Highest Viewing Rate,” which tells the true story of a girl from a poor family who becomes obsessed with TikTok and uses the platform to escape her daily life.
According to Abu-Deif, the show has impacted some traditionally strict Arab parents who have watched it and gained a better understanding of some issues their children face. “I love that I saw Arab parents saying, ‘Oh, maybe we need to listen to our kids, even if it’s against how we were raised or how we think culture should be.
Egyptian actor Salma Abu-Deif (“El-Asliyyin”) discussed her recent turn in the series “Highest Viewing Rate,” which tells the true story of a girl from a poor family who becomes obsessed with TikTok and uses the platform to escape her daily life.
According to Abu-Deif, the show has impacted some traditionally strict Arab parents who have watched it and gained a better understanding of some issues their children face. “I love that I saw Arab parents saying, ‘Oh, maybe we need to listen to our kids, even if it’s against how we were raised or how we think culture should be.
- 5/21/2024
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Since welcoming her baby girl in February 2023, Swara Bhasker has been updating fans with precious moments. From celebrating six months to the recent Annaprashan ceremony, her Instagram stories have been a window into their joyous journey.
First Chaand Raat:
Swara Bhasker’s daughter Raabiyaa recently marked her first Chaand Raat, a momentous occasion for the family. Swara shared heartwarming images of her husband Fahad Ahmad holding Raabiyaa, introducing her to the moon—a cherished tradition preceding Eid celebrations.
Eid Festivities:
With Raabiyaa’s first Eid coinciding with the Chaand Raat, the celebration held special significance. Swara shared the tender moment on her Instagram, expressing gratitude and wishing her followers “Chaand Raat Mubarak.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Swara Bhasker (@reallyswara)
Family Bonds:
Fahad captured a beautiful moment of Swara and Raabiyaa, affectionately referring to them as his “two chand” (moon) with the Eid ka chand (moon...
First Chaand Raat:
Swara Bhasker’s daughter Raabiyaa recently marked her first Chaand Raat, a momentous occasion for the family. Swara shared heartwarming images of her husband Fahad Ahmad holding Raabiyaa, introducing her to the moon—a cherished tradition preceding Eid celebrations.
Eid Festivities:
With Raabiyaa’s first Eid coinciding with the Chaand Raat, the celebration held special significance. Swara shared the tender moment on her Instagram, expressing gratitude and wishing her followers “Chaand Raat Mubarak.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Swara Bhasker (@reallyswara)
Family Bonds:
Fahad captured a beautiful moment of Swara and Raabiyaa, affectionately referring to them as his “two chand” (moon) with the Eid ka chand (moon...
- 4/11/2024
- by Anshu Harvansh
- ReferSMS
Bollywood actress Swara Bhasker’s journey has taken a beautiful turn as she embraced motherhood alongside activist Fahad Ahmad. Celebrating their daughter Raabiyaa’s six-month milestone, Swara shared joyous moments with her social media followers. From tender images of Raabiyaa with her doting dad Fahad to cherished moments with her grandparents, Swara’s Instagram stories painted a picture of familial love and happiness.
The actress, known for her roles in films like “Tanu Weds Manu,” expressed her delight as she captured Raabiyaa’s bond with her father. Sharing an endearing snapshot, she captioned it, “This dad is 6 months old,” highlighting Fahad’s loving presence in their daughter’s life. Swara continued to spread the joy by showcasing Raabiyaa’s connection with her grandmother, Ira, whose radiant smile reflected her affection for her granddaughter.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Swara Bhasker (@reallyswara)
The series of heartwarming images didn’t stop there,...
The actress, known for her roles in films like “Tanu Weds Manu,” expressed her delight as she captured Raabiyaa’s bond with her father. Sharing an endearing snapshot, she captioned it, “This dad is 6 months old,” highlighting Fahad’s loving presence in their daughter’s life. Swara continued to spread the joy by showcasing Raabiyaa’s connection with her grandmother, Ira, whose radiant smile reflected her affection for her granddaughter.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Swara Bhasker (@reallyswara)
The series of heartwarming images didn’t stop there,...
- 3/24/2024
- by Anshu Harvansh
- ReferSMS
Kannan Iyer‘s sophomore, Ae Watan Mere Watan, currently streaming on Prime Video, narrates the tale of a courageous young girl in pre-independent India when the British government controlled all the newspapers and private radio stations. It was done with the sole intention of manipulating the perceptions of the Indians to suit their cruel and deceptive agenda. Most of the freedom fighters and political leaders were in jail. Those who were not arrested went underground. The situation was both intimidating and dangerous, and the government has partially curbed the freedom movement. In response to this despot approach, the protagonist and her friends embark on a bold endeavor. They aim to inspire and unite fellow Indians in their struggle against the empire and liberate the nation from the fetters of slavery. While the premise holds promise, the film serves as another example where a potential concept doesn’t always ensure an equally engaging output.
- 3/23/2024
- by Dipankar Sarkar
- Talking Films
New Delhi, March 22 (Ians)There may not be anything like an entirely historically accurate film. With liberties taken and not merely tweaked to make incidents more palatable or believable in order to tell a certain story, there could be numerous valid reasons for a storyteller’s dire need to change parts of history.
Unless incidents are altered completely, that may still be explicable or pardonable because contemporary accounts may be coloured by a particular ideology, and isn’t it every director’s prerogative to present his or her point of view? What filmmakers cannot afford to get away with is a shoddy narrative that struggles to stay afloat — or poor acting that fails to strike a chord.
We have all grown up studying (and not just reading) history and India’s fight for independence is firmly unshakable as a lesson. Director Kannan Iyer’s biographical ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ uses...
Unless incidents are altered completely, that may still be explicable or pardonable because contemporary accounts may be coloured by a particular ideology, and isn’t it every director’s prerogative to present his or her point of view? What filmmakers cannot afford to get away with is a shoddy narrative that struggles to stay afloat — or poor acting that fails to strike a chord.
We have all grown up studying (and not just reading) history and India’s fight for independence is firmly unshakable as a lesson. Director Kannan Iyer’s biographical ‘Ae Watan Mere Watan’ uses...
- 3/22/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Hindi cinema is filled with movies that delve into the Indian freedom struggle and other events that occurred in India post-Indian independence. The makers of such movies go ahead and take all the cinematic liberties they need to tweak the story and rely a lot of the narrative on jingoism. Just last week, there was Yodha, a movie about a soldier trying to avert the possibility of a conflict between India and its neighboring country. That film, incidentally, was produced by Dharma Films. Directed by Kannan Iyer, Ae Watan Mere Watan is the story of two freedom fighters who dared to make a difference for the sake of their motherland. The movie is based on two real-life freedom fighters who put a lot at stake to make sure their country received independence.
Spoilers Ahead
Who Was Usha Mehta?
Usha Mehta was a young, college-going girl from a family of means,...
Spoilers Ahead
Who Was Usha Mehta?
Usha Mehta was a young, college-going girl from a family of means,...
- 3/22/2024
- by Smriti Kannan
- Film Fugitives
Kannan Iyer has done an excellent job adding another patriotic film Ae Watan Mere Watan to the list. The amazing cast of the film has won us over with their brilliant on-screen presence. This film talks about the sacrifices that the revolutionaries made to see a free India. Sara Ali Khan has left us speechless, playing the role of Usha Mehra, an unsung hero who has sacrificed her life to propagate Congress Radio to influence the people and push them to seek freedom during the Quit India Movement. The film brings to the forefront the undying will of the revolutionaries, whose sacrifices have ensured our freedom.
Usha Mehta
Sara Ali Khan has done an excellent job of playing the character of Usha Mehta in the film. Usha’s undying love for her nation has been a significant factor driving her life since her childhood. She never backed off from her...
Usha Mehta
Sara Ali Khan has done an excellent job of playing the character of Usha Mehta in the film. Usha’s undying love for her nation has been a significant factor driving her life since her childhood. She never backed off from her...
- 3/21/2024
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
Ae Watan Mere Watan Movie Review Rating:
Star Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Abhay Verma, Sparsh Shrivastava, Emraan Hashmi, Alexx O’Nell, Sachin Khedekar, Anand Tiwari & others
Director: Kannan Iyer
Ae Watan Mere Watan Review Out: Sara Ali Khan Lives Usha Mehta On-Screen (Photo Credit –Amazon Prime Video)
What’s Good: An unheard tale from the pages of history that needs your acknowledgment, love, and applause.
What’s Bad: Nothing in particular, but the fact that the film doesn’t leave an impact as strong as it should have is underwhelming.
Loo Break: Anytime you want. Your screen, your Amazon Prime Video account, your rules.
Watch or Not?: Definitely Yes.
Language: Hindi with English subtitles.
Available On: Amazon Prime Video
Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes
User Rating:
Jai Hind. Two words. Seven letters. But hold 1.44 billion together. When you chant Vande Mataram or must have sung Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara in...
Star Cast: Sara Ali Khan, Abhay Verma, Sparsh Shrivastava, Emraan Hashmi, Alexx O’Nell, Sachin Khedekar, Anand Tiwari & others
Director: Kannan Iyer
Ae Watan Mere Watan Review Out: Sara Ali Khan Lives Usha Mehta On-Screen (Photo Credit –Amazon Prime Video)
What’s Good: An unheard tale from the pages of history that needs your acknowledgment, love, and applause.
What’s Bad: Nothing in particular, but the fact that the film doesn’t leave an impact as strong as it should have is underwhelming.
Loo Break: Anytime you want. Your screen, your Amazon Prime Video account, your rules.
Watch or Not?: Definitely Yes.
Language: Hindi with English subtitles.
Available On: Amazon Prime Video
Runtime: 2 hours 13 minutes
User Rating:
Jai Hind. Two words. Seven letters. But hold 1.44 billion together. When you chant Vande Mataram or must have sung Saare Jahan Se Accha Hindostan Hamara in...
- 3/20/2024
- by Trisha Gaur
- KoiMoi
Taking the internet by storm, James Gunn recently revealed the classic Superman stories that inspired him to make his hotly-anticipated Superman reboot. Although in his recent Instagram post, Gunn shared a ton of Clark Kent stories that heavily influenced his upcoming blockbuster, fans seemingly set their eyes on one particular panel.
James Gunn | image: Inside of You/YouTube
While James Gunn’s primary influences stem back to 1939 Superman #1, fans are hooked to the specific panel from All-Star Superman, which seemed to be a home run, if included in the upcoming movie. Witnessing the particularly enticing panel from All-Star Superman as an inspiration for Gunn’s Superman, fans almost forgave the DC CEO for booting Henry Cavill.
James Gunn Cited His Inspirations for Superman
Although we’re still more than a year away from when James Gunn’s Superman will hit the theatres, the DC head knows how to keep the buzz alive on the internet.
James Gunn | image: Inside of You/YouTube
While James Gunn’s primary influences stem back to 1939 Superman #1, fans are hooked to the specific panel from All-Star Superman, which seemed to be a home run, if included in the upcoming movie. Witnessing the particularly enticing panel from All-Star Superman as an inspiration for Gunn’s Superman, fans almost forgave the DC CEO for booting Henry Cavill.
James Gunn Cited His Inspirations for Superman
Although we’re still more than a year away from when James Gunn’s Superman will hit the theatres, the DC head knows how to keep the buzz alive on the internet.
- 3/7/2024
- by Krittika Mukherjee
- FandomWire
It is hard to fully capture into words the electrifying excitement of the room during the world premiere of Sean Wang's debut feature, “Dìdi (弟弟)”. Part of this might have been because of the audience; it seemed like half the crowd had been associated with Wang in some way, as cast, family, or friends. Part of it may have been because the film was the only Asian American entry this year in the US Dramatic Competition, which markedly departs from last year (which saw at least 3 selections). And, perhaps, part of it may be because of Sean Wang's own star on the rise. As a previous Sundance Institute Ignite Fellow and as a current Academy Award-nominated director (with short “Nai Nai & Wài Pó” in the running for this year's Oscars), Sean Wang has been at the forefront of attention of Asian American cinema as of late.
Accordingly, the audience was incredibly reactive.
Accordingly, the audience was incredibly reactive.
- 2/14/2024
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
A still from ‘Didi’ (Photo Courtesy of Sundance Institute)
Oscar nominee Sean Wang originally wrote Didi as a love letter to his friends, pulling memories from his childhood as inspiration for his feature film directorial debut. But along the way, Wang discovered Didi isn’t just a love letter for his friends, it’s also for his family, his hometown, and for anyone who feels they don’t belong.
Izaac Wang leads the cast as Chris Wang, also known as Wang-Wang to his friends and Didi to his mom Chungsing (Joan Chen), grandmother Nai Nai, and sister Vivian (Shirley Chen). Chris is 13 and preparing to enter the alien world of high school. Is he ready? No. Is anyone?
Sean Wang’s coming-of-age dramedy is set in 2008, which means Chris’s transformative summer comes at a time when Myspace is still a thing. Facebook and Dm’ing are busy attempting to push Myspace to the curb,...
Oscar nominee Sean Wang originally wrote Didi as a love letter to his friends, pulling memories from his childhood as inspiration for his feature film directorial debut. But along the way, Wang discovered Didi isn’t just a love letter for his friends, it’s also for his family, his hometown, and for anyone who feels they don’t belong.
Izaac Wang leads the cast as Chris Wang, also known as Wang-Wang to his friends and Didi to his mom Chungsing (Joan Chen), grandmother Nai Nai, and sister Vivian (Shirley Chen). Chris is 13 and preparing to enter the alien world of high school. Is he ready? No. Is anyone?
Sean Wang’s coming-of-age dramedy is set in 2008, which means Chris’s transformative summer comes at a time when Myspace is still a thing. Facebook and Dm’ing are busy attempting to push Myspace to the curb,...
- 1/29/2024
- by Rebecca Murray
- Showbiz Junkies
Writer-director Sean Wang is tough on himself in “Dìdi,” a fresh and funny summer-before-freshman-year flashback that provides an Asian American angle on that Sundanciest of indie-film genres: the semi-autobiographical coming-of-age movie. In what feels like a cross between Bing Liu’s “Minding the Gap” and Jonah Hill’s “mid90s” — courtesy of the young director’s teenage desire to make skate videos — Wang serves up some of his most wince-inducing adolescent memories, from an aborted first kiss to the realization that he’d been trying to downplay his Taiwanese heritage.
Hacky creative writing coaches are always insisting, “Write what you know.” And yet, when the result comes out as specific and self-effacing as Wang’s Fremont, Calif.-set time capsule, it’s hard to improve on that advice. As Wang reminds, the year 2008 (which also saw the financial crisis in precipitous fall) found thousands of teens making the transition from...
Hacky creative writing coaches are always insisting, “Write what you know.” And yet, when the result comes out as specific and self-effacing as Wang’s Fremont, Calif.-set time capsule, it’s hard to improve on that advice. As Wang reminds, the year 2008 (which also saw the financial crisis in precipitous fall) found thousands of teens making the transition from...
- 1/20/2024
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
The Deep State, streaming on Netflix, has been directed by Bashar Al-Shatti. The plot of the series focuses on the crash of an aircraft, in which two pilots are killed. The National Security Minister, Adnan, is to be blamed for the horrendous accident. Khaled and Bashar, two secret service agents, try to safeguard the minister, but when his real face comes to the forefront, they realize his motives and want to expose him. Will Khaled and Bashar be able to expose Adnan? What will eventually happen to them? Will Khaled and Bashar be able to revive their tarnished reputations? Why will they visit Cuba? Let’s find the answers to these questions!
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens After The Plane Crashes?
When a plane crashes, causing the deaths of two pilots, Minister of National Security Adnan is held responsible. The head of the secret service agency, Mutaib Doud, thought that it...
Spoilers Ahead
What Happens After The Plane Crashes?
When a plane crashes, causing the deaths of two pilots, Minister of National Security Adnan is held responsible. The head of the secret service agency, Mutaib Doud, thought that it...
- 1/5/2024
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
As a whole, the Asian horror scene in 2023 is typified by an unexpected shift in the landscape where the amount of content produced has been spread around more evenly that the past few years that counted on heavy-hitters from a few places to generate these kinds of lists. While there's still plenty of high-end quality on display, especially from Thailand which has seen a large quantity of quality titles emerge recently and is ably displayed here with the country scoring an impressive number of entries, the cultivated choices showcase the amount of quality working in the genre currently. As most countries are represented by at least one entry, the diversity on offer is impressive and helps to raise up a crop of genre fare that's quite enjoyable overall.
To that end, here are our selections for the Top 20 entries of the year. Some films may have premiered in 2022, but since...
To that end, here are our selections for the Top 20 entries of the year. Some films may have premiered in 2022, but since...
- 12/28/2023
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
ListicleBe it Malayalam or Tamil movies, Fahadh Faasil has been winning fans with his ability to play wide-ranging characters. Here are six of his movies you must certainly watch.With Maamannan’s release, actor Fahaad Faasil has once again shown Tamil audiences that he is just as good in Kollywood movies, as he is in Malayalam cinema. The ease with which he plays quirky characters, and his ability to take on wide-ranging roles instead of playing the conventional hero in both his own tongue Malayalam, and in Tamil, have won the actor fans in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu. His performance in Malayalam films like 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Amen (2013), Kumbalangi Nights (2o19), and Maheshinte Prathikaaram (2016) revealed him to be an excellent character actor capable of embodying the murkier side of human nature with terrifying accuracy. Fahaad's entry into Kollywood began with Velaikaran (2017), but it was his performance in Super Deluxe...
- 7/5/2023
- by NidharshanaR
- The News Minute
Mumbai, June 6 (Ians) Actress Swara Bhasker on Tuesday announced that she and her politician husband Fahad Ahmad are all set to welcome their first bundle of joy with a string on pictures.
She took to Twitter posting a picture with her husband and announced the news to her followers. She also shared a glimpse of her blooming baby bump.
“Sometimes all your prayers are answered all together! Blessed, grateful, excited (and clueless!) as we step into a whole new world! @FahadZirarAhmad #comingsoon #Family #Newarrival #gratitude #OctoberBaby,” she tweeted.
Swara and Fahad got married in February in court under the Special Marriage Act. The actor announced about her marriage to Ahmad on social media with a video of the couple.
In March, they had a series of celebrations with ceremonies, such as mehendi, sangeet and qawwali night events.
–Ians
dc/uk/...
She took to Twitter posting a picture with her husband and announced the news to her followers. She also shared a glimpse of her blooming baby bump.
“Sometimes all your prayers are answered all together! Blessed, grateful, excited (and clueless!) as we step into a whole new world! @FahadZirarAhmad #comingsoon #Family #Newarrival #gratitude #OctoberBaby,” she tweeted.
Swara and Fahad got married in February in court under the Special Marriage Act. The actor announced about her marriage to Ahmad on social media with a video of the couple.
In March, they had a series of celebrations with ceremonies, such as mehendi, sangeet and qawwali night events.
–Ians
dc/uk/...
- 6/6/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Mumbai, Feb 16 (Ians) Actress Swara Bhasker, who is known for her work in films like ‘Anaarkali of Aarah’, ‘Veere Di Wedding’, ‘Nil Battey Sannata’ and ‘Raanjhanaa’, has tied the knot with Fahad Ahmad, the president of Samajwadi Party’s youth wing in Maharashtra.
On Thursday, the actress shared a video with a montage of all their adorable moments while detailing their love story. The actress also shared that the couple had registered their wedding in court on January 6 under the Special Marriage Act.
The actress wrote in the caption, “Sometimes you search far & wide for something that was right next to you all along. We were looking for love, but we found friendship first. And then we found each other! Welcome to my heart @FahadZirarAhmad. It’s chaotic but it’s yours.”
The two met at a protest site in January 2020 and love took its course.
Fahad, who is a Mumbai-based political activist,...
On Thursday, the actress shared a video with a montage of all their adorable moments while detailing their love story. The actress also shared that the couple had registered their wedding in court on January 6 under the Special Marriage Act.
The actress wrote in the caption, “Sometimes you search far & wide for something that was right next to you all along. We were looking for love, but we found friendship first. And then we found each other! Welcome to my heart @FahadZirarAhmad. It’s chaotic but it’s yours.”
The two met at a protest site in January 2020 and love took its course.
Fahad, who is a Mumbai-based political activist,...
- 2/16/2023
- by News Bureau
- GlamSham
NewsActor Swara Bhasker posted a video on Twitter with glimpses of their relationship, which mentioned that their journey began at a protest. Swara Bhasker and Fahad Ahmad/Twitter Actor Swara Bhasker announced on Thursday, February 16 that she has married political activist Fahad Ahmad. Sharing a video depicting a few highlights from their relationship so far, Swara wrote on Twitter: “Welcome to my heart @FahadZirarAhmad. It’s chaotic but it’s yours!” Fahad Ahmad is a PhD scholar and Senior Research Fellow at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai. A former general secretary of the Tiss students’ union, Fahad joined the Samajwadi Party in August last year. He is currently the state president of Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha, the youth wing of Samajwadi Party Maharashtra Pradesh. Swara is known for her roles in movies such as Raanjhanaa, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Nil Battey Sannata, Anaarkali of Aarah and Veere Di Wedding.
- 2/16/2023
- by Jahnavi
- The News Minute
BTS's Jungkook debuted his new single for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, "Dreamers," at midnight last night before giving a rousing live performance at the World Cup opening ceremony.
"Dreamers" is a high-energy anthem about believing in oneself imbued with emotion, much like the FIFA World Cup songs that came before it, like "Waka Waka" by Shakira, "The Time of Our Lives" by Il Divo and Toni Braxton, and "La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life)" by Ricky Martin.
While the official track released on Spotify only features Jungkook singing lead vocals, Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi joined Jungkook during the live performance at the World Cup opening ceremony to sing a verse in Arabic, with both stars surrounded by dancers. Shortly after the performance, Fahad posted on Twitter about the experience, writing, "I can't express my gratitude and happiness for my participation in the biggest event of all...
"Dreamers" is a high-energy anthem about believing in oneself imbued with emotion, much like the FIFA World Cup songs that came before it, like "Waka Waka" by Shakira, "The Time of Our Lives" by Il Divo and Toni Braxton, and "La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life)" by Ricky Martin.
While the official track released on Spotify only features Jungkook singing lead vocals, Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi joined Jungkook during the live performance at the World Cup opening ceremony to sing a verse in Arabic, with both stars surrounded by dancers. Shortly after the performance, Fahad posted on Twitter about the experience, writing, "I can't express my gratitude and happiness for my participation in the biggest event of all...
- 11/21/2022
- by Noelle Devoe
- Popsugar.com
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