The latest Bollywood updates.
The trailer of Udta Punjab might have earned praise everywhere, but it has failed to impress Garam Masala actress Neetu Chandra.
She has penned an open letter to director Abhishek Chaubey and Alia Bhatt.
The 31-year-old actress, who hails from Bihar, slammed the Udta Punjab makers for a 'stereotypical' portrayal of a Bihari migrant, played by Alia.
'It's disturbing to see the way Biharis have been portrayed in Hindi cinema over the last few years, the recent example being Alia Bhatt's character from Udta Punjab and from whatever one understands from the promo of the film, director Abhishek Chaubey is guilty of strengthening the stereotype of Biharis by creating Bhatt's character the way it is, in Udta Punjab,' read the letter.
'Unfortunately, almost all the film made by Prakash Jha, who also hails from Bihar, have always stereotyped Biharis showing them corrupt politicians, cops and gangsters and in his movies, Bihar was always exaggerated to be the most dangerous place to visit as his films showed only either kidnapping and robbery and murders not realising that he himself along with leading Bollywood actors (part of his films) are maligning the name of Bihar whose history has been the richest in the world,' she wrote.
'The first educational university was set up in Rajgir, near Nalanda (Bihar) and several respected religions including Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism roots have developed in Bihar. Visionaries and scholars like Rajendra Prasad (first President of Republic of India), Ustad Bismillah Khan (Shehnai maestro), Bhikhari Thakur, Vatsyayana, Gonu Jha, Kunwar Singh, Maulana Mazhrul Haq, Seewosagar Ramgoolam, Aryabhatt who invented zero among several hundreds of stalwarts of the world belong to Bihar.
'So why none of the makers from Bihar and outside Bihar have ever made stories and films on these stories? Because they think that they will keep making fun of Bihars in their films and TV programs and no one will say anything against them.
'Stop stereotyping Bihar because you have seen Bihar through your ears not through your eyes.'
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Karisma back from mini-vacation with rumoured beau
Seems like Karisma Kapoor has come out of her divorce dispute, as she opted for a vacation with romoured boyfriend Sandeep Toshniwal.
As per a popular daily, the 41-year-old actress and Sandeep had also accompanied Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan to Bangkok, where Chotte Nawab was to shoot for a commercial.
Apparently, it was Toshniwal's 37th birthday and the two couples planned on ringing it in together.
The Kapoor sisters were clicked coming out of the Mumbai airport together, whereas Saif got into a separate car.
Reportedly, Toshniwal came out last and left unnoticed in a third car.
