Fresh off the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 fervour with Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla’s team Kolkata Knight Rider (KKR) winning the season, Indian cricketers are gearing up for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, 2024. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is facing a selection headache for the head coach position of the Indian men’s cricket team. While sifting through applications received by the May 27 deadline, the board has discovered a significant number – reportedly around 3400 – to be fake. These applications included names of prominent personalities like politicians Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, celebrities like Shah Rukh Khan, and even cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, and Virender Sehwag.

According to a report in India Today, this isn’t the first time the BCCI has encountered such an issue. Last year too, they received a similar influx of bogus applications. The ease of access through the online application form, available on the BCCI website, seems to be a contributing factor. Recognizing this, the board is contemplating alternative methods to minimize fake applications in the future.

“Since the application process is in the public domain, fans and many people can easily access the form,” a BCCI source revealed to India Today. “We may think of reducing all these things going forward. We may come up with some new processes of inviting applications which will rule out fake applications.”

With the genuine applications now under scrutiny, one name emerging as a frontrunner is Gautam Gambhir, the mentor of the recently crowned IPL 2024 champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, Gambhir faces competition. Earlier, discussions revolved around former Australian cricketers Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting, but both publicly expressed their disinterest in the demanding role.

The current head coach, Rahul Dravid, has decided to step down after the upcoming T20 World Cup in June, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. While Gambhir’s credentials are strong, other potential contenders could emerge. Former Indian cricketers like VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, and Ravi Shastri might also be considered.

Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan was in a celebratory mood this past weekend once his team won the IPL 2024 title after a decade. The actor was recently admitted in Gujarat due to heatstroke. On the work front, he plans to begin his next, King, in July 2024.
ALSO READ: KKR wins IPL 2024: Shah Rukh Khan gives forehead kiss to Gauri Khan, lifts trophy; Suhana Khan gets emotional hugging SRK, AbRam and Aryan, watch viral videos

MM Keeravani has moved on since his global triumph. “Everyone wants me to do ‘Naatu Naatu’ again. But repetition has always been death for me. I would rather be jobless than a clone of myself. My next project is a complete departure from RRR,” he said.

Prerna Arora, the producer known for backing successful films like Rustom, Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Padman and Pari, is all set team up with Oscar winning Baahubali and RRR fame music director and composer MM Keeravani for their upcoming project Hero Heeroine. The film stars Divya Khossla as the heroine and features a star-studded ensemble cast.

The shoot for the much-awaited film’s first schedule starts with Divya Khossla and Soni Razdan in June in Hyderabad. As Divya Khossla is promoting her film Savi, which is set to be released on the May 31. It is a modern adaptation of the mythology character ‘Sati Savitri’.

For Hero Heeroine, Prerna Arora and MM Keeravani are keen to incorporate romantic commercial numbers that will enhance the storytelling and emotional depth of the film. These songs will play a pivotal role in connecting the audience with the characters and their relationships, adding layers of depth and nuance to the narrative.

Also Read: Hero Heeroine producer Prerna Arora to join forces with Oscar-winning composed MM Keeravani? Here’s what we know!

Abhijeet Bhattacharya began his career as a playback singer in the 80s and from the 90s, he became a very important part of Hindi film music. He crooned highly memorable songs which were featured on some of the biggest of stars. Since the last decade, the number of songs featuring his voice has decreased. Hence, fans of Abhijeet Bhattacharya will be surprised to know that the singer has sung a beautiful track in the most awaited web show of the season, Panchayat Season 3.

The name of the song is ‘Thame Dil Ko’ and is composed by Lalit Pandit, of Jatin-Lalit fame. It is written by Alok Ranjha Jha. The solo romantic number appears at a cute juncture in the show and it adds to the impact. What is also appealing is that ‘Thame Dil Ko’ has a very 90s vibe. It won’t be surprising if those watching the show, at first, assume that the track is from a 90s film!

‘Thame Dil Ko’ marks Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s major comeback to Hindi film music. The last significant song sung by him for a Bollywood movie was ‘Dil Ka Jo Haal Hai’ from the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Besharam(2013). Incidentally, it was also composed by Lalit Pandit and had a 90s feel.

After Besharam, he voiced the recreations of ‘Shehar Ki Ladki’ in Khandaani Shafakhana (2019) and ‘Husn Hai Suhana’ in Coolie No 1 (2020). Abhijeet also sang songs in Mahayoddha Rama (2016), the OTT film Shukranu (2020), Love You Loktantra (2022) and The Purvanchal Files (2023). However, these songs didn’t get noticed. Interestingly, ‘Thame Dil Ko’ was also earlier used in another web show – Flames Season 2 (2019). But thanks to its placement in the highly popular Panchayat Season 3, ‘Thame Dil Ko’ now has the potential to work big time.

Panchayat Season 3 began streaming on Amazon Prime Video on May 28. It takes the story forward after the events of the second season and is set in a sleepy village in North India named Phulera. It stars Jitendra Kumar, Raghubir Yadav, Neena Gupta, Faisal Malik and Chandan Roy in leading roles.

Also Read: Abhijeet Bhattacharya and Neha Kakkar clash over singing at weddings: “No work is small”

India’s biggest content creator turned actor, Bhuvan Bam, known for playing multiple characters in his sketch videos under the title ‘BB Ki Vines’, has now officially trademarked one of his most popular characters, Titu Mama.

Titu Mama, a character beloved by millions, is known for his savage humour and distinctive style. Often featured in BB Ki Vines episodes, Titu Mama has become a cultural icon with a unique personality that resonates deeply with audiences.

“The journey of Titu Mama has been incredible. When I first introduced him in my sketches, I had no idea he would gain such immense popularity. Titu Mama’s distinct qualities and style have struck a chord with viewers, and it’s truly heartwarming to see the love and appreciation for him.” Said Bhuvan.

He further added, “In 2018, we took Titu Mama to a new level with ‘Titu Talks,’ where I had the privilege of hosting Shah Rukh Khan as my first guest, followed by international star Johnny Sins, Ramcharan, Junior NTR, and SS Rajamouli. The overwhelming response to Titu Talks reinforced the character’s popularity and potential. To protect and preserve this intellectual identity, we decided to officially register Titu Mama with Intellectual Property India. This step ensures that Titu Mama remains a unique and cherished part of our creative universe.”

This move by the BB ki Vines creator solidifies Titu Mama’s status as a trademarked entity and highlights his commitment to maintaining the originality of his content. His decision to trademark Titu Mama underscores the character’s importance of protecting creative content in the digital age.

Bhuvan Bam henceforth, continues to set new benchmarks in the entertainment industry, by combining creativity with strategic foresight.

Also Read: Bhuvan Bam draws inspiration from Shah Rukh Khan, reflects on collaborations and shared Delhi roots

Prepare to unravel the dark underbelly of secrets, betrayal, and forbidden truths as Neha Sharma takes centre stage in the powerful narrative of 36 Days. Directed by Vishal Furia, this series boasts an impressive ensemble that includes Purab Kohli, Shruti Seth, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sharib Hashmi, Sushant Divgikar, Shernaz Patel, Faishal Rashid, Chahat Vig, and Kenneth Desai. It promises to be an exciting ride filled with suspense and mystery.

36 Days is produced by Applause Entertainment in association with BBC Studios India. This series is the official Indian adaptation of the UK show 35 Days, originally produced by Boom Cymru for S4C and distributed by ITV Studios.

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Watch the teaser now and prepare for the countdown to 36 Days, streaming soon on Sony LIV!

Also Read: Aamir Khan’s niece Zayn Marie Khan opens up on her character in Illegal 3; says, “There is a lot of high-drama between Neha Sharma and me”

After a successful release, It seems the Global Star of India, Anushka Sen is gearing up for her next project in Bangkok. The talented actress recently took to Instagram to share a series of pictures from the picturesque city, hinting at an upcoming shoot.

Following the positive reception of her recent work, Dil Dosti Dilemma, Anushka Sen seems to be diving straight into her next venture. The young star’s social media post has sparked a wave of excitement and curiosity among her followers, who are eagerly anticipating more details about her upcoming project. Sharing a series of pictures, the actress said, “Shoot day in Bangkok.”

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With her captivating on-screen presence and dedication to her craft, fans can expect another compelling performance from the actress. As the anticipation builds, fans are eagerly awaiting further updates from Anushka Sen about her new project. With her recent Instagram post igniting speculation and excitement, all eyes are now on the talented actress as she embarks on this new chapter in her career.

On the work front, Sen was last seen in the series Dil Dosti Dilemma and will soon make her debut in the Korean industry with her upcoming international movie Asia.

Also Read: Bollywood Hungama Style Icons 2024: Ridhima Pandit, Anushka Sen, Avika Gor open up on trolling: ‘My manager advises me to stay away; But I am like ‘Kya bola, kyun bola’!”

I’d love to see Maya Rudolph cast in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

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Glen recalled: “I was like: ‘All these women put in these great performances,’ and it’s the legacy of these women. I was like: ‘I literally ruined this movie.’”

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Celine revealed that she’d been diagnosed with the condition back in 2022.

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