Vivah star Amrita Rao turned 45 on June 7. The Indian actress has delivered several relatable roles that connected with audiences quickly and cemented her status as a versatile star in the film industry.

Amrita Rao birthday special: Vivah, Main Hoon Na, Masti- 5 best films of the actress on Netflix, Prime Video and more

In 2003, the Bollywood film 'Ishq Vishk' was released, and soon became a cult classic of its own. The movie had launched actor Shahid Kapoor in the Hindi film industry. Nearly two decades later, the movie is getting a reboot, with actors Pashmina Roshan, Jibraan Khan, Rohit Saraf and Naila Grrewalas in the lead. Let's look at other popular franchises that are all set to get a reboot.

'Ishq Vishk Rebound' & more: Tracking most awaited reboots

<p>"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman,"&nbsp;Margaret Thatcher once said about women’s innate quality to act, not react. These resounding words hold true everywhere in the world, and more so in India.</p>

<p><br />
What started as a religious rebellion against removal of greased cartridges with one’s teeth—the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857—led to the overthrowing of British Raj from an angry, suppressed India. Everyone fought the good fight: some externally, others within.</p>

<p><img alt="Capt Laxmi Sehgal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e79ec26d-fe6f-441c-b91f-1a3d4b6bddca" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T182525.560.jpg" /><br />
Like men, women too have pelted stones and barked orders and sung praises of their motherland; demanding the 'Simons to go back'.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
Over generations, magically, leaders like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Azad adore the textbooks of Indian education system—both private and public—while Begum Hazrat Mahal and Aruna Asaf Alis linger on in the shadows of history.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Aruna Asaf Ali" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5bd283b-2cf2-4c13-9085-a775544b0a9e" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T181002.179.jpg" /><br />
"There is no occasion for women to consider themselves subordinate or inferior to men,"&nbsp;said another freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi, and yet, he is globally known as the Father of this Nation while Sarojini Naidu’s stature as the Mother, remains vastly unknown.</p>

<p><br />
We dare not think that the track record has enhanced with the changing time. One would be appalled to learn, if not completely astonished, that the first full-blown Hindi feature film on one of the few widely read figures attached to India’s freedom movement—Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi—was released only in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Kangaga Ranaut in 'Manikarnika'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5b804ff5-7d25-4d1d-a4ac-642cb342c924" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T181938.035.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
If Bollywood took a whole of 70-odd years to hash out the specifics for their first ever woman-centric film on the nation’s rebellion, how long before they make one on another significant Laxmi— Capt Laxmi Sehgal, a revolutionary in her own right? You do the math.</p>

<p><br />
In one of the Bhagat Singh movies—yes, there are at least seven of them—Indian actor Amrita Rao, then in the prime of her career, had played the role of Singh’s fiancée Mannewali in the National Award-winning film ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Ajay Devgn and Amrita Rao in 'The Legend of Bhagat Singh'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="117f8722-82ad-4d87-b677-a04d9a6e91e0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T182805.045.jpg" /></p>

<p>Only trivia that we should know is that no such character exist in reality, or so historians claim. It is strange that fictional first ladies find a space in the lives of those who fought, not the women freedom fighters themselves who were here in flesh and blood.</p>

<p><br />
The heavyweights of Bollywood, who had the gravitas to pull off meaty roles of women behind Independence, have either settled for the role of a lover in a brothel or that of a lonely wife at home.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="Begum Hazrat Mahal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4a624cff-65c7-4b41-afaa-d333a3980bbc" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T180904.573.jpg" /></p>

<p><br />
Ameesha Patel, then (relatively) fresh off the success of cross-border love story ‘Gadar’, wailed away swirling along the curtains in ‘Mangal Pandey’. As for Rani Mukerji, another sidekick in the film meant for Aamir Khan’s titular character, was the steamy affair outside of home.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
The film was largely criticised in the media, not once for lack of justifiable female depiction.</p>

<p><img alt="Ameesha Patel and Rani Mukerji in 'Mangal Pandey: The Rising'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c6db84df-28b6-41ad-824d-ccceb80872f6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-13T182435.070.jpg" /><br />
The rightly deserved school of female athletes have found their own biopic makers—the Mary Koms and Saina Nehwals of India; proud—but why has Bollywood and Indian cinema at large never shed light on those who cut the path out for these women to shine?</p>

<p><br />
For Savitri Bai Phule of Maharashtra, an educationist and social reformer, to carve a small place for herself, an entire university had to change its name. So much for recognition these days.</p>

<p><br />
This trend in cinema is in stark contrast with what poet Rumi had said centuries ago, “Woman is a ray of God… She is creative, not created.”&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
Bollywood needs to get on that boat of thought.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em><strong>(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)</strong></em></p>


"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman," Margaret Thatcher once said about women’s innate quality to act, not react. These resounding words hold true everywhere in the world, and more so in India.

"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman," Margaret Thatcher once said about women’s innate quality to act, not react. These resounding words hold true everywhere in the world, and more so in India. What started as a religious rebellion against removal of greased cartridges with one’s teeth—the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857—led to the overthrowing of British Raj from an angry, suppressed India. Everyone fought the good fight: some externally, others within. Like men, women too have pelted stones and barked orders and sung praises of their motherland; demanding the 'Simons to go back'. Over generations, magically, leaders like Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Azad adore the textbooks of Indian education system—both private and public—while Begum Hazrat Mahal and Aruna Asaf Alis linger on in the shadows of history. "There is no occasion for women to consider themselves subordinate or inferior to men," said another freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi, and yet, he is globally known as the Father of this Nation while Sarojini Naidu’s stature as the Mother, remains vastly unknown. We dare not think that the track record has enhanced with the changing time. One would be appalled to learn, if not completely astonished, that the first full-blown Hindi feature film on one of the few widely read figures attached to India’s freedom movement—Rani Laxmi Bai of Jhansi—was released only in 2019. If Bollywood took a whole of 70-odd years to hash out the specifics for their first ever woman-centric film on the nation’s rebellion, how long before they make one on another significant Laxmi— Capt Laxmi Sehgal, a revolutionary in her own right? You do the math. In one of the Bhagat Singh movies—yes, there are at least seven of them—Indian actor Amrita Rao, then in the prime of her career, had played the role of Singh’s fiancée Mannewali in the National Award-winning film ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’. Only trivia that we should know is that no such character exist in reality, or so historians claim. It is strange that fictional first ladies find a space in the lives of those who fought, not the women freedom fighters themselves who were here in flesh and blood. The heavyweights of Bollywood, who had the gravitas to pull off meaty roles of women behind Independence, have either settled for the role of a lover in a brothel or that of a lonely wife at home. Ameesha Patel, then (relatively) fresh off the success of cross-border love story ‘Gadar’, wailed away swirling along the curtains in ‘Mangal Pandey’. As for Rani Mukerji, another sidekick in the film meant for Aamir Khan’s titular character, was the steamy affair outside of home. The film was largely criticised in the media, not once for lack of justifiable female depiction. The rightly deserved school of female athletes have found their own biopic makers—the Mary Koms and Saina Nehwals of India; proud—but why has Bollywood and Indian cinema at large never shed light on those who cut the path out for these women to shine? For Savitri Bai Phule of Maharashtra, an educationist and social reformer, to carve a small place for herself, an entire university had to change its name. So much for recognition these days. This trend in cinema is in stark contrast with what poet Rumi had said centuries ago, “Woman is a ray of God… She is creative, not created.” Bollywood needs to get on that boat of thought. (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

India Independence: So many female freedom fighters, but so little screen space. Why?

<p>Bollywood actress Amrita Rao and her hsuband, RJ Anmol are now parents to a baby boy. The couple announced the arrival of the new born on Monday through a spokesperson. "Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol welcomed a baby boy this morning." Also sharing a health update, the spokesperson said,&nbsp; "Both the mother and baby are healthy and doing well. The family is ecstatic and both Amrita and RJ Anmol thank everyone for their wishes and blessings."<br />
<br />
Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol got married in 2016. They announced their pregnancy last month on social media when Amrita was in her final trimester.<br />
<br />
"For you it's the 10th month... But for us, it's the 9th. Surprise surprise... Anmol and I are in our 9th month already. Too excited to share this good news with you my fans and fiends (sorry had to keep it tucked in my belly all this long) but it's true. The baby is coming soon. An exciting journey for me, Anmol and our families... thank you universe and thank you all. Keep blessing."</p>

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<p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGgv-cBDg5K/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">For YOU it’s the 10th Month... But for US, it's THE 9th !!! 🥳 🥰🕺💃 Surprise Surprise ..Anmol and I are in our NINE'th month Already !! Too excited to share this good news with You my Fans 🤗 And Friends ( sorry had to keep it tucked in my Belly All this long ) But It's True ... the Baby is Coming Soon 😃... An exciting journey for me, @rjanmol27 and our Families... ... Thank you universe 💫 And thank you ALL Keep blessing 😌🙏... #2020baby #2020mom #2020parents</a></p>

<p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/amrita_rao_insta/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> AMRITA RAO🇮🇳</a> (@amrita_rao_insta) on <time datetime="2020-10-19T04:28:45+00:00" style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;">Oct 18, 2020 at 9:28pm PDT</time></p>
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<p>Amrita Rao is best known for her role in films such as 'Main Hoon Na', 'Ishq Vishk', 'Vivah', 'Welcome to Sajjanpur' among others. Rao was last seen in the 2019 political drama 'Thackeray'.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


Bollywood actress Amrita Rao and her hsuband, RJ Anmol are now parents to a baby boy. The couple announced the arrival of the new born on Monday through a spokesperson.

Bollywood actress Amrita Rao and her hsuband, RJ Anmol are now parents to a baby boy. The couple announced the arrival of the new born on Monday through a spokesperson. "Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol welcomed a baby boy this morning." Also sharing a health update, the spokesperson said, "Both the mother and baby are healthy and doing well. The family is ecstatic and both Amrita and RJ Anmol thank everyone for their wishes and blessings." Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol got married in 2016. They announced their pregnancy last month on social media when Amrita was in her final trimester. "For you it's the 10th month... But for us, it's the 9th. Surprise surprise... Anmol and I are in our 9th month already. Too excited to share this good news with you my fans and fiends (sorry had to keep it tucked in my belly all this long) but it's true. The baby is coming soon. An exciting journey for me, Anmol and our families... thank you universe and thank you all. Keep blessing." View this post on Instagram For YOU it’s the 10th Month... But for US, it's THE 9th !!! 🥳 🥰🕺💃 Surprise Surprise ..Anmol and I are in our NINE'th month Already !! Too excited to share this good news with You my Fans 🤗 And Friends ( sorry had to keep it tucked in my Belly All this long ) But It's True ... the Baby is Coming Soon 😃... An exciting journey for me, @rjanmol27 and our Families... ... Thank you universe 💫 And thank you ALL Keep blessing 😌🙏... #2020baby #2020mom #2020parents A post shared by AMRITA RAO🇮🇳 (@amrita_rao_insta) on Oct 18, 2020 at 9:28pm PDT × Amrita Rao is best known for her role in films such as 'Main Hoon Na', 'Ishq Vishk', 'Vivah', 'Welcome to Sajjanpur' among others. Rao was last seen in the 2019 political drama 'Thackeray'.

Amrita Rao and RJ Anmol become parents to a baby boy

<p>Amrita Rao is returning to films with 'Thackeray' and the actor believes with changing dynamics in showbiz, she is ready to experiment.</p>

<p>The actor became the epitome of 'the girl-next-door' in the early 2000s with films such as 'Ishq Vishq', 'Main Hoon Na' and 'Vivah'.</p>

<p>Her last cinematic outing was 2013's 'Satyagraha' and she did musical drama 'Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai' for the small screen three years later.</p>

<p>Rao said she turned down many big Bollywood projects as they did not meet her selection criteria.</p>

<p>"It has been a journey of sacrificing big films because I was not comfortable with the on-screen requirements. Trends change, on-screen demand of actresses change. Cinema is a slice of reality. You have school and college kids being intimate and marriage is not even in question and that is what they show in cinema. That kind of requirement of the character did not suit me. So I had to let go of those big offers with a heavy heart. The directors respected me and understood that I had certain restrictions which were sacred to me," she told PTI in an interview.</p>

<p>The actor plays Meena Thackeray, wife to late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray (portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) in the film.</p>

<p>She said the makers approached her to play the role as they believed that both the women have a 'pure' image.</p>

<p>"I have earned that image in the industry. Playing a mature role was challenging for me. I have played the girl-next-door and then to portray this part, where my character spans from a 28-year-old to a 60-year-old, was not easy," she said.</p>

<p>And now Rao wants to be part of something edgy.</p>

<p>"Discussions are on. I want to do something that I have not done before like a thriller, murder mystery or suspense film. I would love to play a negative role...Due to digitalisation, work opportunities and avenues have changed so much. Directors typecasting actors is passe," she said.</p>

<p>In 2016, the actor tied the knot with radio jockey Anmol and focused on her personal life. Rao said she had hinted at the hiatus before implementing it.</p>

<p>"I was not making presence anywhere... There are some actors who surrender themselves to the industry. I have always been a family person," she added.</p>

<p>In a comment on India's #MeToo tsunami that has crossed the boundaries of the film industry since last September, the actor said influential people would try to get their way, but 'accepting it or not' will always be a choice.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It is unfortunate when I hear about the #MeToo cases. There are girls and guys here who are ready to grab opportunities at any cost. People should respect themselves and their values," she said.</p>

<p>Rao said she was 'blessed' to never experience harassment. She believes it was because she became a star early on in her career despite being an outsider.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I had a wonderful entry into films without being a star kid. And you can't plan such things. My journey has been different. I arrived and I became a star so everybody was on their best behaviour with me. I have stuck to my personality, I have not done anything that is out of my personal zone," she said. &nbsp;</p>


Amrita Rao is returning to films with 'Thackeray' and the actor believes with changing dynamics in showbiz, she is ready to experiment. The actor became the epitome of 'the girl-next-door' in the early 2000s with films such as 'Ishq Vishq', 'Main Hoon Na' and 'Vivah'.

Amrita Rao is returning to films with 'Thackeray' and the actor believes with changing dynamics in showbiz, she is ready to experiment. The actor became the epitome of 'the girl-next-door' in the early 2000s with films such as 'Ishq Vishq', 'Main Hoon Na' and 'Vivah'. Her last cinematic outing was 2013's 'Satyagraha' and she did musical drama 'Meri Awaaz Hi Pehchaan Hai' for the small screen three years later. Rao said she turned down many big Bollywood projects as they did not meet her selection criteria. "It has been a journey of sacrificing big films because I was not comfortable with the on-screen requirements. Trends change, on-screen demand of actresses change. Cinema is a slice of reality. You have school and college kids being intimate and marriage is not even in question and that is what they show in cinema. That kind of requirement of the character did not suit me. So I had to let go of those big offers with a heavy heart. The directors respected me and understood that I had certain restrictions which were sacred to me," she told PTI in an interview. The actor plays Meena Thackeray, wife to late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray (portrayed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui) in the film. She said the makers approached her to play the role as they believed that both the women have a 'pure' image. "I have earned that image in the industry. Playing a mature role was challenging for me. I have played the girl-next-door and then to portray this part, where my character spans from a 28-year-old to a 60-year-old, was not easy," she said. And now Rao wants to be part of something edgy. "Discussions are on. I want to do something that I have not done before like a thriller, murder mystery or suspense film. I would love to play a negative role...Due to digitalisation, work opportunities and avenues have changed so much. Directors typecasting actors is passe," she said. In 2016, the actor tied the knot with radio jockey Anmol and focused on her personal life. Rao said she had hinted at the hiatus before implementing it. "I was not making presence anywhere... There are some actors who surrender themselves to the industry. I have always been a family person," she added. In a comment on India's #MeToo tsunami that has crossed the boundaries of the film industry since last September, the actor said influential people would try to get their way, but 'accepting it or not' will always be a choice. "It is unfortunate when I hear about the #MeToo cases. There are girls and guys here who are ready to grab opportunities at any cost. People should respect themselves and their values," she said. Rao said she was 'blessed' to never experience harassment. She believes it was because she became a star early on in her career despite being an outsider. "I had a wonderful entry into films without being a star kid. And you can't plan such things. My journey has been different. I arrived and I became a star so everybody was on their best behaviour with me. I have stuck to my personality, I have not done anything that is out of my personal zone," she said.

Directors typecasting actors is passe: Amrita Rao

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Directors typecasting actors is passe: Amrita Rao