Pankaj Tripathi is considered as one of the finest actors of the current times. A man who knows his craft impeccably well, it looks like Tripathi might be planning to dabble in other fine skills too. 
 
The actor is a passionate storyteller.

In pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-salman-khan-to-priyanka-chopra-indian-celebs-help-daily-wage-earners-amid-lockdown-289290" hreflang="en">From Salman Khan to Priyanka Chopra, Indian celebs help daily wage earners amid lockdown</a>

Reportedly, his friends in the industry asked him to take up writing seriously and now Pankaj has ample time to hone this skill. Whilethe world finds ways to spend time in isolation, Pankaj has quite a task at hand. 
 
Pankaj is currently at his&nbsp;Madh Island home for the last one week.

In pics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/contagion-to-simpsons-movies-shows-that-predicted-coronavirus-years-ago-289509" hreflang="en">'Contagion' to 'Simpsons', movies-shows that predicted coronavirus years ago</a> 
 
Speaking about the new found love of writing, Pankaj said,&nbsp;“Actors are often closely associated with writing, even in the projects that they are just acting in. As artists, we communicate to the audience what the writer is trying to tell through his body language, his ability to emote on screen. Writing is a creative extension of me and I am not doing it with the motive of writing a screenplay really. I started with penning down my thoughts for the sake of keeping my skills sharpened. Writing and acting are interconnected for me. I am writing to fulfil my own creative quest. Let me see how the finished product turns out and if it is my satisfaction, I will figure out what I want to do with it.”

Pankaj Tripathi is considered as one of the finest actors of the current times. A man who knows his craft impeccably well, it looks like Tripathi might be planning to dabble in other fine skills too.

Pankaj Tripathi is considered as one of the finest actors of the current times. A man who knows his craft impeccably well, it looks like Tripathi might be planning to dabble in other fine skills too. The actor is a passionate storyteller. In pics: From Salman Khan to Priyanka Chopra, Indian celebs help daily wage earners amid lockdown Reportedly, his friends in the industry asked him to take up writing seriously and now Pankaj has ample time to hone this skill. Whilethe world finds ways to spend time in isolation, Pankaj has quite a task at hand. Pankaj is currently at his Madh Island home for the last one week. In pics: 'Contagion' to 'Simpsons', movies-shows that predicted coronavirus years ago Speaking about the new found love of writing, Pankaj said, “Actors are often closely associated with writing, even in the projects that they are just acting in. As artists, we communicate to the audience what the writer is trying to tell through his body language, his ability to emote on screen. Writing is a creative extension of me and I am not doing it with the motive of writing a screenplay really. I started with penning down my thoughts for the sake of keeping my skills sharpened. Writing and acting are interconnected for me. I am writing to fulfil my own creative quest. Let me see how the finished product turns out and if it is my satisfaction, I will figure out what I want to do with it.”

Pankaj Tripathi takes this time of lockdown to work towards writing and developing content

The success of films like 'Dum Lagake Haisha', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and 'Stree' has served Bollywood a template. Put a love-struck couple in the backdrop of a small-town which may have got Google at its disposal but the society at large is still stuck in its orthodox ways- throw in some prominent faces from art-house cinema, add a bit of satire and garnish it with Pankaj Tripathi- and you get the perfect romantic comedy.

Cinematographer-director Laxman Utekar's 'Luka Chuppi' starring Kriti Sanon and Kartik Aaryan fall into the same template and takes a jibe at the right -leaning moral police brigade who are ever too quick to judge a couple's relationship and quicker to get them married.&nbsp;

Local reporter and star of sorts in his mohalla Guddu Shukla(Aaryan) is in love with Rashmi Tiwari(Sanon) and proposes her marriage. Rashmi feels she needs to first understand her man and take the plunge later and suggests Guddu a live-in relationship. The couple, on the pretext of covering elections, go to Gwalior with Guddu's friend Abbas Sheikh(Aparshakti Khurrana) and start living in. All is well until Guddu's snoopy relative Babulal (Pankaj Tripathi) finds out and the families get involved. Rashmi's father (Vinay Pathak) is the head of an organization called Sanskriti Raksha Manch, which propagates Indian culture and marriage and is anti-live-in relationships.&nbsp;

<img alt="Luka" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8835af96-8980-4e3a-81a3-f3b91baa935f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202019-03-01T141210.770.jpg" />

Despite a safe template, &nbsp;the plot of the film goes haywire ever so often with illogical plot twists and forced comical situations thrown in between. The genuinely funny moments come courtesy Khurrana and Tripathi- who appear sporadically in underwritten parts. I wish they had more these two actors on screen, they surely light up each of the scenes they are in and have perfect comic timing.&nbsp;

Although, one must give credit where its due as the film attempts to be progressive in many ways. The girl in the story is gutsier than the boy and even though predictability seeps in the second half, you root for the girl who gives the boy the courage to speak up and do right. It also takes a sly dig at the society where a frowning priest looks at Abbas, he says 'Dusri duniya se nahi hu, sirf Musalman hoon'(Not from a different world, I am just Muslim). In one scene the lead pair suddenly break into a monologue about what the youth actually wants to vis-a-vis what the leaders think they want.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-JLewvWBkCw" width="560"></iframe>

'Luka Chuppi', perhaps, tries a bit too hard to put in too many things in one film, thereby convoluting the plot by the end. Sure it has its moments, formidable performances by its lead pair with Kriti Sanon delivering a more nuanced performance than her last outing in 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and Kartik Aaryan underplaying his character- yet the film fails to create a lasting impression- almost playing 'hide and seek' with logic and humour.&nbsp;

The success of films like 'Dum Lagake Haisha', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and 'Stree' has served Bollywood a template. Put a love-struck couple in the backdrop of a small-town which may have got Google at its disposal but the society at large is still stuck in its orthodox ways- throw in some prominent faces from art-house cinema, add a bit of satire and garnish it with Pankaj Tripathi- and you get the perfect romantic comedy.

The success of films like 'Dum Lagake Haisha', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and 'Stree' has served Bollywood a template. Put a love-struck couple in the backdrop of a small-town which may have got Google at its disposal but the society at large is still stuck in its orthodox ways- throw in some prominent faces from art-house cinema, add a bit of satire and garnish it with Pankaj Tripathi- and you get the perfect romantic comedy. Cinematographer-director Laxman Utekar's 'Luka Chuppi' starring Kriti Sanon and Kartik Aaryan fall into the same template and takes a jibe at the right -leaning moral police brigade who are ever too quick to judge a couple's relationship and quicker to get them married. Local reporter and star of sorts in his mohalla Guddu Shukla(Aaryan) is in love with Rashmi Tiwari(Sanon) and proposes her marriage. Rashmi feels she needs to first understand her man and take the plunge later and suggests Guddu a live-in relationship. The couple, on the pretext of covering elections, go to Gwalior with Guddu's friend Abbas Sheikh(Aparshakti Khurrana) and start living in. All is well until Guddu's snoopy relative Babulal (Pankaj Tripathi) finds out and the families get involved. Rashmi's father (Vinay Pathak) is the head of an organization called Sanskriti Raksha Manch, which propagates Indian culture and marriage and is anti-live-in relationships. Despite a safe template, the plot of the film goes haywire ever so often with illogical plot twists and forced comical situations thrown in between. The genuinely funny moments come courtesy Khurrana and Tripathi- who appear sporadically in underwritten parts. I wish they had more these two actors on screen, they surely light up each of the scenes they are in and have perfect comic timing. Although, one must give credit where its due as the film attempts to be progressive in many ways. The girl in the story is gutsier than the boy and even though predictability seeps in the second half, you root for the girl who gives the boy the courage to speak up and do right. It also takes a sly dig at the society where a frowning priest looks at Abbas, he says 'Dusri duniya se nahi hu, sirf Musalman hoon'(Not from a different world, I am just Muslim). In one scene the lead pair suddenly break into a monologue about what the youth actually wants to vis-a-vis what the leaders think they want. 'Luka Chuppi', perhaps, tries a bit too hard to put in too many things in one film, thereby convoluting the plot by the end. Sure it has its moments, formidable performances by its lead pair with Kriti Sanon delivering a more nuanced performance than her last outing in 'Bareilly Ki Barfi' and Kartik Aaryan underplaying his character- yet the film fails to create a lasting impression- almost playing 'hide and seek' with logic and humour.

'Luka Chuppi' review: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon's film has its moments

Pankaj Tripathi to Shobhita Dhulipala: 7 actors who dominated the OTT space in 2019

It's the age of web series. Actor Jackie Shroff is the latest from Bollywood to have made his plunge into the digital medium. Shroff stars in a Hotstar web series called 'Criminal Justice' which is all set to stream from 5th April onwards. The show also co-stars Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi and Mita Vashisht.&nbsp;

The show captures Aditya Sharma`s (essayed by Vikrant ) journey after one incident completely turns around his life. It is produced by BBC Studios India.

Aditya Birla Group`s Applause Entertainment has worked on the official Indian version of the British television drama series 'Criminal Justice'. It has also been adapted for the US as 'The Night Of'&nbsp;and stars John Turturro and Riz Ahmed.

The trailer was released on Thursday and showcases a gripping drama with Massey playing the main protagonist.&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPyNH7mZkGc" width="560"></iframe>

"The intensity of the character required great preparation and research. From the nuances of Indian prisons to the life of criminals locked inside, every little detail was important. &nbsp;There were days when it got me emotionally drained, but that`s what all powerful stories do," Massey said to a news agency.&nbsp;

Directed by &nbsp;Vishal Furia and Tigmanshu Dhulia, the series will be available in seven languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.&nbsp;

It's the age of web series. Actor Jackie Shroff is the latest from Bollywood to have made his plunge into the digital medium. Shroff stars in a Hotstar web series called 'Criminal Justice' which is all set to stream from 5th April onwards.

It's the age of web series. Actor Jackie Shroff is the latest from Bollywood to have made his plunge into the digital medium. Shroff stars in a Hotstar web series called 'Criminal Justice' which is all set to stream from 5th April onwards. The show also co-stars Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi and Mita Vashisht. The show captures Aditya Sharma`s (essayed by Vikrant ) journey after one incident completely turns around his life. It is produced by BBC Studios India. Aditya Birla Group`s Applause Entertainment has worked on the official Indian version of the British television drama series 'Criminal Justice'. It has also been adapted for the US as 'The Night Of' and stars John Turturro and Riz Ahmed. The trailer was released on Thursday and showcases a gripping drama with Massey playing the main protagonist. "The intensity of the character required great preparation and research. From the nuances of Indian prisons to the life of criminals locked inside, every little detail was important. There were days when it got me emotionally drained, but that`s what all powerful stories do," Massey said to a news agency. Directed by Vishal Furia and Tigmanshu Dhulia, the series will be available in seven languages -- Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Jackie Shroff makes his digital debut in 'Criminal Justice' co-starring Vikrant Massey, Pankaj Tripathi

As the world celebrates World Theatre Day on 27th March, here are 4 accomplished Bollywood actors who have been trailblazers in their own right in the film industry talking about their days in theatre and how they learnt from it. They share their first professional theatre experiences and memories associated with it. From the first appearance at the age of 5 to working with stalwarts of NSD to performing in one's village- the experiences are varied and heartwarming.&nbsp;

Richa Chadha&nbsp;

<img alt="richa" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8dc274c3-2f9e-4c9a-a943-dd421754ef61" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/richa%20chadha.jpg" /> 
 
I remember my first play was when I was in the 11th grade I was cast in a professional play with some actors from NSD repertory. It was not my first experience on stage but I guess it was the first professional one. The play was titled 'Aur Kitne Tukde' and it was a Hindi play directed by Dr Kirti Jain.&nbsp; 
I was cast as an extra which worked well for me because I got to observe amazing actors from the National drama School at close quarters and learn from them. Also, I had braces and it was a period play so the less attention I do to myself the better it would be. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/richa-chadha-takes-on-12-avatars-for-shakeela-calendar-189339">Also read:&nbsp;Richa Chadha takes on 12 avatars for 'Shakeela' calendar</a>

Pankaj Tripathi

<img alt="p" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c2d365a5-6fb0-4798-99b7-6e853a4b656b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pankaj%20tripathi1.jpg" /> 
My first play was 'Leela Nandlal Ki Story' by Bhishm Sahani and director was Vijay Kumar- a National School of Drama pass out. The story is about a scooter that gets lost and the protagonist goes to police station to make a complaint. I was playing both the characters of a cop and a thief. It was my first play and for the first time I performed in front of Patna audiences who don't even know me and to my pleasant surprise they liked my performances in both the characters even though I was not a great performer at that time nor was &nbsp;I trained in diction but I open heartedly performed on my impulse and the audience liked my &nbsp;performance and even misjudged me as a NSD pass out since the director was from NSD.&nbsp; 
 
The next day in a local newspaper review of the play was printed and it mentioned about my performance and that I had a great potential and a possibility of being a good actor. That one line grabbed my attention the most- that in one play the critics and the newspaper figured out my potential and possibility as an actor which was quite huge for me, increasing my interest and confidence in acting further. This was in November-December 1996.&nbsp; 
 
In fact<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/pankaj-tripathi-bags-his-first-international-project-with-chris-hemsworth-196049"> my encounter with the theatre came much before in my village Gopalganj</a> during one of the festivals of Chatt. This play use to be organized by local drama group Raghav Saran Tiwari was my first director and it was a very amateur play. Even in that play the locals of my village liked my performance and appreciated a lot. Since then seed of acting was sown inside me, that now I have to learn acting. 5 years after that play I migrated to Patna where I did Bhism Sahani's 'Leela Nandlal Ki Story' .

Gulshan Devaiah

<img alt="g" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eb6ccc19-fc44-44ff-97db-59c87fb06d52" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202019-03-27T140617.461.jpg" /> 
I was 5 years old and my mother was already an actor on stage. She use to be a very fine actor and I use to travel with her wherever she performed and watch her perform. It was a Malayalam play and I did a guest appearance. My mother and I had to just walk past, look at this person who is making a Rangoli on the floor and appreciate it. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing it but I was over the moon that I was on the stage and all these people are watching me. That was my first experience of stage that I can remember of- I have a clear memory that I can still see I am wearing blue checked shirt and blue shorts with elastic and my mom wearing a chiffon saree. It was in the year 1982-83. The first time professionally I did a theatre was actually an English play called 'Kurukshetra Burning' in Bangalore in the year 2007.&nbsp; 
 
That was the first time after the play I felt I was good as an actor. I had that confidence I could say that I was good. It was a series of monologues. It was fictitious retelling of what happened after the Mahabharat war. I played Duryodhan. Each of the monologue was about 15 mins. So I performed that monologue. My father had come to see the play, he was in the audience. After I did that I had such a great feeling as everybody responded so well to my &nbsp;performance and I think I gave a lot to that performance. Thats when I decided that I can come to Mumbai and pursue my dreams. It was never my dream to be a theatre actor yet I learnt so much from theatre, theatre is my teacher and I am very grateful to theatre. That play and role gave me the confidence to pursue my career and dream in Mumbai. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/mard-ko-dard-nahi-hota-star-gulshan-devaiah-on-his-breakout-performance-and-why-he-doesnt-believe-in-sequels-206001">Also read:&nbsp;Would have regretted not doing 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota': Gulshan Devaiah</a>

Vijay Varma

<img alt="v" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1dbd52ac-1b70-4eda-8721-c9d1aecbce77" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20-%202019-02-19T132243.780.jpg" /> 
I was rejected at<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/zoya-told-me-moeen-is-a-rat-who-can-survive-even-a-volcano-vijay-varma-on-his-breakout-role-in-gully-boy-198255"> FTII and came back to Hyderabad dejected and broken</a>. I enrolled myself in a Theater group called Sutradhar and did a 4 month workshop at the end of which I had perform in a play. I went late for rehearsal one day and I was thrown out of that play after working so hard. I did backstage. Then after showing discipline and commitment, I got a part in the next play -' Kisi Aur Ka Sapna'. My first play as an actor on stage. It was probably the most exhilarating moment of my life when I went up first time on a dark stage with just a spotlight on me. But I had to work a lot in the dark first to be in that spotlight. Theatre trains you in dealing with darkness and finding yourself. I am eternally thankful to the stage and my teacher.&nbsp;

As the world celebrates World Theatre Day on 27th March, here are 4 accomplished Bollywood actors who have been trailblazers in their own right in the film industry talking about their days in theatre and how they learnt from it.

As the world celebrates World Theatre Day on 27th March, here are 4 accomplished Bollywood actors who have been trailblazers in their own right in the film industry talking about their days in theatre and how they learnt from it. They share their first professional theatre experiences and memories associated with it. From the first appearance at the age of 5 to working with stalwarts of NSD to performing in one's village- the experiences are varied and heartwarming. Richa Chadha I remember my first play was when I was in the 11th grade I was cast in a professional play with some actors from NSD repertory. It was not my first experience on stage but I guess it was the first professional one. The play was titled 'Aur Kitne Tukde' and it was a Hindi play directed by Dr Kirti Jain. I was cast as an extra which worked well for me because I got to observe amazing actors from the National drama School at close quarters and learn from them. Also, I had braces and it was a period play so the less attention I do to myself the better it would be. Also read: Richa Chadha takes on 12 avatars for 'Shakeela' calendar Pankaj Tripathi My first play was 'Leela Nandlal Ki Story' by Bhishm Sahani and director was Vijay Kumar- a National School of Drama pass out. The story is about a scooter that gets lost and the protagonist goes to police station to make a complaint. I was playing both the characters of a cop and a thief. It was my first play and for the first time I performed in front of Patna audiences who don't even know me and to my pleasant surprise they liked my performances in both the characters even though I was not a great performer at that time nor was I trained in diction but I open heartedly performed on my impulse and the audience liked my performance and even misjudged me as a NSD pass out since the director was from NSD. The next day in a local newspaper review of the play was printed and it mentioned about my performance and that I had a great potential and a possibility of being a good actor. That one line grabbed my attention the most- that in one play the critics and the newspaper figured out my potential and possibility as an actor which was quite huge for me, increasing my interest and confidence in acting further. This was in November-December 1996. In fact my encounter with the theatre came much before in my village Gopalganj during one of the festivals of Chatt. This play use to be organized by local drama group Raghav Saran Tiwari was my first director and it was a very amateur play. Even in that play the locals of my village liked my performance and appreciated a lot. Since then seed of acting was sown inside me, that now I have to learn acting. 5 years after that play I migrated to Patna where I did Bhism Sahani's 'Leela Nandlal Ki Story' . Gulshan Devaiah I was 5 years old and my mother was already an actor on stage. She use to be a very fine actor and I use to travel with her wherever she performed and watch her perform. It was a Malayalam play and I did a guest appearance. My mother and I had to just walk past, look at this person who is making a Rangoli on the floor and appreciate it. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing it but I was over the moon that I was on the stage and all these people are watching me. That was my first experience of stage that I can remember of- I have a clear memory that I can still see I am wearing blue checked shirt and blue shorts with elastic and my mom wearing a chiffon saree. It was in the year 1982-83. The first time professionally I did a theatre was actually an English play called 'Kurukshetra Burning' in Bangalore in the year 2007. That was the first time after the play I felt I was good as an actor. I had that confidence I could say that I was good. It was a series of monologues. It was fictitious retelling of what happened after the Mahabharat war. I played Duryodhan. Each of the monologue was about 15 mins. So I performed that monologue. My father had come to see the play, he was in the audience. After I did that I had such a great feeling as everybody responded so well to my performance and I think I gave a lot to that performance. Thats when I decided that I can come to Mumbai and pursue my dreams. It was never my dream to be a theatre actor yet I learnt so much from theatre, theatre is my teacher and I am very grateful to theatre. That play and role gave me the confidence to pursue my career and dream in Mumbai. Also read: Would have regretted not doing 'Mard Ko Dard Nahi Hota': Gulshan Devaiah Vijay Varma I was rejected at FTII and came back to Hyderabad dejected and broken. I enrolled myself in a Theater group called Sutradhar and did a 4 month workshop at the end of which I had perform in a play. I went late for rehearsal one day and I was thrown out of that play after working so hard. I did backstage. Then after showing discipline and commitment, I got a part in the next play -' Kisi Aur Ka Sapna'. My first play as an actor on stage. It was probably the most exhilarating moment of my life when I went up first time on a dark stage with just a spotlight on me. But I had to work a lot in the dark first to be in that spotlight. Theatre trains you in dealing with darkness and finding yourself. I am eternally thankful to the stage and my teacher.

World Theatre Day: Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi and others recall their first brush with acting on stage

The versatile actor Pankaj Tripathi has explored variety of platforms and mediums to entertain his audiences for more than a decade now. &nbsp;He is one of the best actors that Bollywood has currently. Now, after giving memorable performances in films like 'Newton', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', 'Stree' and others, Pankaj has set his eyes on Hollywood.&nbsp; 
 
The actor will soon start shooting for his first ever Hollywood film with none other than Chris Hemsworth aka Thor from 'Avengers' series. 
 
In November last year, Chris was in India to shoot debutante director Sam Hargrave's thriller film 'Dhaka'. Sam has been the second unit director for 'Avengers Infinity War', 'Atomic Blonde'. They shot principal portions of the film in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The film also stars Golshifteh Farahani, David Harbour, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee amongst many others. 
 
As per the sources Pankaj Tripathi will be joining the cast in Bangkok, Thailand to shoot for the next leg of the film. This would be the first time Pankaj will be seen in a Hollywood project working with an international crew.&nbsp; 
 
Pankaj will be seen in a pivotal character sharing screenspace with Chris. The film 'Dhaka', is a thriller and will be released on Netflix Originals.

The versatile actor Pankaj Tripathi has explored variety of platforms and mediums to entertain his audiences for more than a decade now. He is one of the best actors that Bollywood has currently.

The versatile actor Pankaj Tripathi has explored variety of platforms and mediums to entertain his audiences for more than a decade now. He is one of the best actors that Bollywood has currently. Now, after giving memorable performances in films like 'Newton', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', 'Stree' and others, Pankaj has set his eyes on Hollywood. The actor will soon start shooting for his first ever Hollywood film with none other than Chris Hemsworth aka Thor from 'Avengers' series. In November last year, Chris was in India to shoot debutante director Sam Hargrave's thriller film 'Dhaka'. Sam has been the second unit director for 'Avengers Infinity War', 'Atomic Blonde'. They shot principal portions of the film in Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The film also stars Golshifteh Farahani, David Harbour, Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee amongst many others. As per the sources Pankaj Tripathi will be joining the cast in Bangkok, Thailand to shoot for the next leg of the film. This would be the first time Pankaj will be seen in a Hollywood project working with an international crew. Pankaj will be seen in a pivotal character sharing screenspace with Chris. The film 'Dhaka', is a thriller and will be released on Netflix Originals.

Pankaj Tripathi bags his first international project with Chris Hemsworth

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has boarded the cast of Ranveer Singh-starrer '83'.

The sports drama, to be directed by Kabir Khan, will chronicle India's win under Kapil's captainship when the Men in Blue defeated West Indies in the final to clinch their first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983. The film will also <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/ranveer-singh-starrer-83-to-recreate-team-indias-historic-world-cup-winning-moment-in-1983-195722">recreate Team India's historic World Cup-winning moment in 1983.&nbsp;</a>

Ranveer is playing cricket legend Kapil Dev in the film.&nbsp;Pankaj will take on the role of former team India manager PR Man Singh.

Pankaj was sold by the script of the film and he said its reading session was an emotional journey for him.

"It was an emotional ride for me while going through the script. At some of the places, I was in tears. I am really inspired by the whole journey of Kapil Dev. From when I heard the script, I was certain that I wanted to be a part of this film," the actor said in a statement.

Pankaj said he is an admirer of Kabir's work, including his early documentary films.

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has boarded the cast of Ranveer Singh-starrer '83'. The sports drama, to be directed by Kabir Khan, will chronicle India's win under Kapil's captainship when the Men in Blue defeated West Indies in the final to clinch their first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983.

Actor Pankaj Tripathi has boarded the cast of Ranveer Singh-starrer '83'. The sports drama, to be directed by Kabir Khan, will chronicle India's win under Kapil's captainship when the Men in Blue defeated West Indies in the final to clinch their first-ever World Cup trophy in 1983. The film will also recreate Team India's historic World Cup-winning moment in 1983. Ranveer is playing cricket legend Kapil Dev in the film. Pankaj will take on the role of former team India manager PR Man Singh. Pankaj was sold by the script of the film and he said its reading session was an emotional journey for him. "It was an emotional ride for me while going through the script. At some of the places, I was in tears. I am really inspired by the whole journey of Kapil Dev. From when I heard the script, I was certain that I wanted to be a part of this film," the actor said in a statement. Pankaj said he is an admirer of Kabir's work, including his early documentary films.

Pankaj Tripathi joins Kabir Khan's film '83'

Actor Sanya Malhotra on Saturday said that she will soon start filming for director Anurag Basu' next venture.

The dark comic anthology, featuring a multi-starrer cast, is scheduled to release on September 6.

"I will soon start shooting for Anurag Basu's film. I am looking forward to it," Sanya told reporters here.

The as-yet-untitled film centres on unavoidable jeopardies of life and have four different stories set in a quintessential Indian metro.

Produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, the film's stellar cast includes Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Pankaj Tripathi.

Sanya is also excited about Ritesh Batra's 'Photograph', which features her opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film had its premiere at the ongoing Sundance Film Festival in the US.

"I just returned from Sundance Film Festival two days ago. The response to 'Photograph' was amazing. Now we are excited about the Berlin Film Festival," she said.&nbsp;

The film's story follows a struggling street photographer, pressured to marry by his grandmother. He convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee and the pair develops a connection that transforms them into ways that they could not expect.

At the Berlin Film Festival, which will be held from February 7 to 17, 'Photograph' will be presented under the 'Berlinale Special films' category.

Sanya was talking on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2019 where she walked the ramp for designer Narendra Kumar.&nbsp;

The collection was created in collaboration with Alcis Sports.

The range launched under the label Alcis X Nari is powered by R|Elan.&nbsp;

Titled 'My Earth My Style', the line aims to infuse "responsible fashion" through sustainable gym cum workwear.&nbsp;

Actor Sanya Malhotra on Saturday said that she will soon start filming for director Anurag Basu' next venture. The dark comic anthology, featuring a multi-starrer cast, is scheduled to release on September 6.

Actor Sanya Malhotra on Saturday said that she will soon start filming for director Anurag Basu' next venture. The dark comic anthology, featuring a multi-starrer cast, is scheduled to release on September 6. "I will soon start shooting for Anurag Basu's film. I am looking forward to it," Sanya told reporters here. The as-yet-untitled film centres on unavoidable jeopardies of life and have four different stories set in a quintessential Indian metro. Produced by Bhushan Kumar of T-Series, the film's stellar cast includes Abhishek Bachchan, Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur, and Pankaj Tripathi. Sanya is also excited about Ritesh Batra's 'Photograph', which features her opposite Nawazuddin Siddiqui. The film had its premiere at the ongoing Sundance Film Festival in the US. "I just returned from Sundance Film Festival two days ago. The response to 'Photograph' was amazing. Now we are excited about the Berlin Film Festival," she said. The film's story follows a struggling street photographer, pressured to marry by his grandmother. He convinces a shy stranger to pose as his fiancee and the pair develops a connection that transforms them into ways that they could not expect. At the Berlin Film Festival, which will be held from February 7 to 17, 'Photograph' will be presented under the 'Berlinale Special films' category. Sanya was talking on the sidelines of the Lakme Fashion Week Summer/ Resort 2019 where she walked the ramp for designer Narendra Kumar. The collection was created in collaboration with Alcis Sports. The range launched under the label Alcis X Nari is powered by R|Elan. Titled 'My Earth My Style', the line aims to infuse "responsible fashion" through sustainable gym cum workwear.

Sanya Malhotra to start shooting for Anurag Basu's film

One of the most talked-about web shows of 2018 was Netflix original 'Sacred Games'. The show that had Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The first season of the show ended as a cliff-hanger. Now the team has started shooting for its second season which will see actor Pankaj Tripathi in a significant role.&nbsp;

Tripathi has joined the team of 'Sacred Games' and commenced shooting of season 2 in South Africa. Khan who was in the country for a vacation with his family for New Years has already joined the team and started shooting for the show. In November, photos from the sets were leaked which featured Saif dressed as Sartaj. A part of the show was shot in Mumbai in November 2018.&nbsp; 
 
One would recall that Tripathi appeared at the end of season 1. There is a lot that his character has contributed to Gaitonde's life- as the story has suggested and Tripathi will be seen in a more fleshed out role in the second season.&nbsp;

According to sources, Pankaj will finish his first international schedule of 2019 in Cape Town and later will commence shooting the remaining portions in Mumbai.&nbsp;

Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, 'Sacred Games' season 2 will be releasing in later part of 2019.&nbsp;

One of the most talked-about web shows of 2018 was Netflix original 'Sacred Games'. The show that had Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The first season of the show ended as a cliff-hanger.

One of the most talked-about web shows of 2018 was Netflix original 'Sacred Games'. The show that had Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Saif Ali Khan in pivotal roles. The first season of the show ended as a cliff-hanger. Now the team has started shooting for its second season which will see actor Pankaj Tripathi in a significant role. Tripathi has joined the team of 'Sacred Games' and commenced shooting of season 2 in South Africa. Khan who was in the country for a vacation with his family for New Years has already joined the team and started shooting for the show. In November, photos from the sets were leaked which featured Saif dressed as Sartaj. A part of the show was shot in Mumbai in November 2018. One would recall that Tripathi appeared at the end of season 1. There is a lot that his character has contributed to Gaitonde's life- as the story has suggested and Tripathi will be seen in a more fleshed out role in the second season. According to sources, Pankaj will finish his first international schedule of 2019 in Cape Town and later will commence shooting the remaining portions in Mumbai. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, 'Sacred Games' season 2 will be releasing in later part of 2019.

'Sacred Games' season 2: Pankaj Tripathi joins cast and crew in South Africa

Bollywood and the Indian audience off late have explored a new medium of entertainment that has an instant reach across the globe. The digital platform is the new medium of entertainment that is quick and available at the click of a button for any smartphone user. More and more content is being written and developed to hook the audience on digital platforms. in 2018, several web series and video on demand shows, saw many top-billed actors exploring the medium to reach out the maximum people not just in India but also across the world.

The year 2018 saw several interesting video on demand shows on various OTT platforms that were dominated by many mainstream actors with their superlative performances. Let's have a look into the list of the actors who dominated the digital world with their performances par excellence.

The crime thriller drama ‘<a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/people-need-to-look-beyond-nudity-in-that-lovemaking-scene-in-sacred-games-rajshri-deshpande-153867">Sacred Games</a>’ on Netflix turned out to be the game changer on the digital platform. The series based on the novel by the same name by Vikram Chandra is the first original series on Netflix in India. The series saw a gamut of Bollywood actors playing characters which soon became popular. Following the success of ‘Sacred Games’, many actors, as well as makers, are now slowly venturing into the digital space.&nbsp;

 
As the year comes to a close, here’s a look back the Bollywood actors who created an impact on digital space.&nbsp;

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in ‘Sacred Games’

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/28j8h0RRov4" width="560"></iframe>

There is no doubt that in the coming years, ‘Sacred Games’ will be termed as a game changer for it not only paved a way for other Bollywood actors to explore digital medium but also highlighted the fact that good content is lapped up by the audience irrespective of the medium. While <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/nawazuddin-was-more-shy-about-filming-the-love-making-scenes-says-sacred-games-star-kubbra-sait-150942">almost all characters </a>created an impact, it was Nawaz's character ‘Ganesh Gaitonde’ took away the maximum applause for his performance. Ganesh Gaitonde memes, his dialogues suddenly went viral on the internet and made him instantly famous ruling the digital world to date. Nawazuddin is now all set with the season 2 of Sacred Games, once again geared up taking the digital world in the coming year.

Pankaj Tripathi in ‘Mirzapur’&nbsp;

The second show that rocked the digital world was ‘Mirzapur’. The power packed performances by all the characters created a huge stir with most actors playing their parts to perfection. Actors such as Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Vikrant Massey, Rasika Dugal, Shriya Pilgaonkar amongst many others gave their best performances. Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiyya was at his best. As a cool and calm dreaded gangster, Pankaj gave one of his best performances.&nbsp;

Ali Fazal in ‘Mirzapur’&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZNeGF-PvRHY" width="560"></iframe>

The suave actor Ali Fazal was the surprise element of ‘ Mirzapur’. &nbsp;Ali played the dreaded gangster Guddu Pandit, who is mean and loves killing people at the drop of a hat. To play his part Ali gained more than 10 kgs to look like a gigantic beast. Fazal’s character had shades of grey yet, his performance was loved by all. &nbsp;

R Madhavan in ‘Breathe’&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OstwwYcz8nI" width="560"></iframe>

The brilliant actor R Madhavan's first outing in digital space with web-series ‘Breathe’ on Amazon Prime left the audience spellbound and intrigued. The show also stars Amit Sadh as one of the protagonists but its Maddy who walks away with the maximum plaudits. Madhavan plays the role of a father whose son needs an urgent lung transfer or his son will die. The story weaves around Madhavan who in order to get the surgery done on time, goes on a murdering spree. Madhavan’s act as the anguished dad trying to save his child struck a chord with many.

Radhika Apte in ‘Ghoul’, ‘Sacred Games’

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/njXrARC9fxw" width="560"></iframe>

The list would not be complete unless there is a mention of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/entertainment/watch-netflix-india-posts-hilarious-video-of-radhika-apte-shuts-trolls-down-162059">queen of digital series-</a> &nbsp;Radhika Apte. The year 2018 saw some of the best works of Radhika both on the silver screen and on the digital world. The horror series ‘Ghoul’ on Netflix starring Radhika Apte as the protagonist along with Manav Kaul is one of the best horror series to have happened to the Indian audience in a long time. It ticks all the boxes for a great horror thriller and had &nbsp;Radhika delivering one of her strongest performances. Apte also earned praises for her performance as the no-nonsense cop in ‘Sacred Games’. The story may have been about two men, but Radhika in her limited screen time managed to create an impact.&nbsp;

Mithila Palkar in ‘Little Things Season 2’

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LhpA-_8cWv8" width="560"></iframe>

The sweet charmer Mithila Palkar has been there on the internet for quite a sometime and has a strong fan following on the digital space. All her digital shows have a good number of views making her one of the youngest YouTube sensations in India. Her web shows ‘Little Things season 2’ that released this year and was picked up global giant Netflix garnered a huge number of views. Earlier this show was released by Dice Media on YouTube but gauging the popularity of the show it was acquired by global OTT platform Netflix. ‘Little Things season 2’ took the story forward from its first season where an urban couple struggles to stay together and keep the spark alive as career, profession, and priorities take precedence.

Gulshan Devaiah in ‘Smoke’&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmMEWd-8OSA" width="560"></iframe>

Thriller, gang war, mysteries were the flavour of the digital world this year. Many web shows explored these categories. One such series ‘Smoke’ was released on video on demand platform Eros Now. It had some of the brilliant actors like Kalki Koechlin, Gulshan Devaiah, Jim Sarbh, Amit Sial, Mandira Bedi and Tom Alter and a plot that got the audience hooked. But it was Gulshan’s character as JJ a hitman from Bihar that stood out of all the characters in the series. As a gruesome killer, he also added a dash of humour to his character, bringing some much-needed happiness to the show.

Saif Ali Khan in ‘Sacred Games’

Would the list be complete without mentioning Sartaj Singh of ‘<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-sacred-games-review-saif-ali-khan-nawazuddin-siddiquis-new-series-is-an-edgy-thriller-thats-worth-your-time-149242">Sacred Games</a>’? Saif Ali Khan is perhaps the only Bollywood actor who has time and again re-invented. In his digital debut, Khan played a dissuaded Mumbai cop who chances upon a big scam that can lead to the destruction of epic proportions. While Nawaz’s character got more noticed due to the character he played, Saif’s restrained performance as the cop who is trying to make peace with his troubled past was also appreciated by the audience.&nbsp;

Bollywood and the Indian audience off late have explored a new medium of entertainment that has an instant reach across the globe. The digital platform is the new medium of entertainment that is quick and available at the click of a button for any smartphone user.

Bollywood and the Indian audience off late have explored a new medium of entertainment that has an instant reach across the globe. The digital platform is the new medium of entertainment that is quick and available at the click of a button for any smartphone user. More and more content is being written and developed to hook the audience on digital platforms. in 2018, several web series and video on demand shows, saw many top-billed actors exploring the medium to reach out the maximum people not just in India but also across the world. The year 2018 saw several interesting video on demand shows on various OTT platforms that were dominated by many mainstream actors with their superlative performances. Let's have a look into the list of the actors who dominated the digital world with their performances par excellence. The crime thriller drama ‘Sacred Games’ on Netflix turned out to be the game changer on the digital platform. The series based on the novel by the same name by Vikram Chandra is the first original series on Netflix in India. The series saw a gamut of Bollywood actors playing characters which soon became popular. Following the success of ‘Sacred Games’, many actors, as well as makers, are now slowly venturing into the digital space. As the year comes to a close, here’s a look back the Bollywood actors who created an impact on digital space. Nawazuddin Siddiqui in ‘Sacred Games’ There is no doubt that in the coming years, ‘Sacred Games’ will be termed as a game changer for it not only paved a way for other Bollywood actors to explore digital medium but also highlighted the fact that good content is lapped up by the audience irrespective of the medium. While almost all characters created an impact, it was Nawaz's character ‘Ganesh Gaitonde’ took away the maximum applause for his performance. Ganesh Gaitonde memes, his dialogues suddenly went viral on the internet and made him instantly famous ruling the digital world to date. Nawazuddin is now all set with the season 2 of Sacred Games, once again geared up taking the digital world in the coming year. Pankaj Tripathi in ‘Mirzapur’ The second show that rocked the digital world was ‘Mirzapur’. The power packed performances by all the characters created a huge stir with most actors playing their parts to perfection. Actors such as Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Divyendu Sharma, Vikrant Massey, Rasika Dugal, Shriya Pilgaonkar amongst many others gave their best performances. Pankaj Tripathi as Kaleen Bhaiyya was at his best. As a cool and calm dreaded gangster, Pankaj gave one of his best performances. Ali Fazal in ‘Mirzapur’ The suave actor Ali Fazal was the surprise element of ‘ Mirzapur’. Ali played the dreaded gangster Guddu Pandit, who is mean and loves killing people at the drop of a hat. To play his part Ali gained more than 10 kgs to look like a gigantic beast. Fazal’s character had shades of grey yet, his performance was loved by all. R Madhavan in ‘Breathe’ The brilliant actor R Madhavan's first outing in digital space with web-series ‘Breathe’ on Amazon Prime left the audience spellbound and intrigued. The show also stars Amit Sadh as one of the protagonists but its Maddy who walks away with the maximum plaudits. Madhavan plays the role of a father whose son needs an urgent lung transfer or his son will die. The story weaves around Madhavan who in order to get the surgery done on time, goes on a murdering spree. Madhavan’s act as the anguished dad trying to save his child struck a chord with many. Radhika Apte in ‘Ghoul’, ‘Sacred Games’ The list would not be complete unless there is a mention of the queen of digital series- Radhika Apte. The year 2018 saw some of the best works of Radhika both on the silver screen and on the digital world. The horror series ‘Ghoul’ on Netflix starring Radhika Apte as the protagonist along with Manav Kaul is one of the best horror series to have happened to the Indian audience in a long time. It ticks all the boxes for a great horror thriller and had Radhika delivering one of her strongest performances. Apte also earned praises for her performance as the no-nonsense cop in ‘Sacred Games’. The story may have been about two men, but Radhika in her limited screen time managed to create an impact. Mithila Palkar in ‘Little Things Season 2’ The sweet charmer Mithila Palkar has been there on the internet for quite a sometime and has a strong fan following on the digital space. All her digital shows have a good number of views making her one of the youngest YouTube sensations in India. Her web shows ‘Little Things season 2’ that released this year and was picked up global giant Netflix garnered a huge number of views. Earlier this show was released by Dice Media on YouTube but gauging the popularity of the show it was acquired by global OTT platform Netflix. ‘Little Things season 2’ took the story forward from its first season where an urban couple struggles to stay together and keep the spark alive as career, profession, and priorities take precedence. Gulshan Devaiah in ‘Smoke’ Thriller, gang war, mysteries were the flavour of the digital world this year. Many web shows explored these categories. One such series ‘Smoke’ was released on video on demand platform Eros Now. It had some of the brilliant actors like Kalki Koechlin, Gulshan Devaiah, Jim Sarbh, Amit Sial, Mandira Bedi and Tom Alter and a plot that got the audience hooked. But it was Gulshan’s character as JJ a hitman from Bihar that stood out of all the characters in the series. As a gruesome killer, he also added a dash of humour to his character, bringing some much-needed happiness to the show. Saif Ali Khan in ‘Sacred Games’ Would the list be complete without mentioning Sartaj Singh of ‘Sacred Games’? Saif Ali Khan is perhaps the only Bollywood actor who has time and again re-invented. In his digital debut, Khan played a dissuaded Mumbai cop who chances upon a big scam that can lead to the destruction of epic proportions. While Nawaz’s character got more noticed due to the character he played, Saif’s restrained performance as the cop who is trying to make peace with his troubled past was also appreciated by the audience.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pankaj Tripathi, Radhika Apte: Bollywood actors who created an impact on the digital space in 2018

Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade. Richa Chadha is going to play Shakeela in the untitled biopic while Pankaj Tripathi plays a prominent role.&nbsp; 
 
The actor for the first time ever will be seen as the overdramatic hero of the 90s, an era where films were massy and heroes were idolized because of their over the top style. In the film the 'Newton' actor who plays an actor/producer will be seen rocking not just the outfits like bell bottomed pants, multicoloured shirts and shoes but will take on the role of being a rambunctious hero who is overconfident, talented and knows he will get the girl. 
 
When asked Pankaj he said, "Its a role of a commercial superstar from the south film industry. When director Indrajit Lankesh narrated me the story, I was asked to visit Bangalore, Karnataka for the costume trial since the unit was from the south. After reaching Bangalore and seeing the costume I was in two minds and questioned myself whether I'll be able to carry such a colourfull dress. My character was supposed to behave larger than life like a south Indian commercial hero."

Tripathi revealed how he was nervous shooting a dance sequence. "I am supposed to dance with the heroine. I was scared on the first day of the shoot. Normally I don't see monitor after giving the shots, later in the evening when I checked one of the scenes I was surprised to see to myself how did I managed to pull these shots dancing with the heroine in swimming pool. It was quite convincing for me and didn't look fake at all. It is an interesting role and it was too fun playing the part and I really enjoyed the process from the second day onwards. I always wanted to dance and do some action in the film, the role of a superstar travelling in huge cars. My character is unpredictable in the film and audience will be surprised to see me in the role the way I am surprised to see myself in this role," the actor added.&nbsp; 
 
Tripathi was last seen in 'Stree' which earned great reviews and was a box office hit.&nbsp; 
 
After seeing Pankaj Tripathi play the meek panditji and nerdy, Rudra, it will be fantastic to watch him transform into a 90s hero. 
 
Shakeela is a directorial venture by Indrajit Lankesh and will release in 2019.&nbsp;

Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade.

Pankaj Tripathi is all set to play a 1990s hero in Shakeela biopic. The film that is based on 1990s star Shakeela, who ruled the Telugu film industry for more than a decade. Richa Chadha is going to play Shakeela in the untitled biopic while Pankaj Tripathi plays a prominent role. The actor for the first time ever will be seen as the overdramatic hero of the 90s, an era where films were massy and heroes were idolized because of their over the top style. In the film the 'Newton' actor who plays an actor/producer will be seen rocking not just the outfits like bell bottomed pants, multicoloured shirts and shoes but will take on the role of being a rambunctious hero who is overconfident, talented and knows he will get the girl. When asked Pankaj he said, "Its a role of a commercial superstar from the south film industry. When director Indrajit Lankesh narrated me the story, I was asked to visit Bangalore, Karnataka for the costume trial since the unit was from the south. After reaching Bangalore and seeing the costume I was in two minds and questioned myself whether I'll be able to carry such a colourfull dress. My character was supposed to behave larger than life like a south Indian commercial hero." Tripathi revealed how he was nervous shooting a dance sequence. "I am supposed to dance with the heroine. I was scared on the first day of the shoot. Normally I don't see monitor after giving the shots, later in the evening when I checked one of the scenes I was surprised to see to myself how did I managed to pull these shots dancing with the heroine in swimming pool. It was quite convincing for me and didn't look fake at all. It is an interesting role and it was too fun playing the part and I really enjoyed the process from the second day onwards. I always wanted to dance and do some action in the film, the role of a superstar travelling in huge cars. My character is unpredictable in the film and audience will be surprised to see me in the role the way I am surprised to see myself in this role," the actor added. Tripathi was last seen in 'Stree' which earned great reviews and was a box office hit. After seeing Pankaj Tripathi play the meek panditji and nerdy, Rudra, it will be fantastic to watch him transform into a 90s hero. Shakeela is a directorial venture by Indrajit Lankesh and will release in 2019.

Shakeela biopic: Pankaj Tripathi's look from the film revealed

Pankaj Tripathi gained recognition through his role in 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Fukrey', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', and of course, 'Newton', for which he also received a special mention at the National Film Awards.

Recently it had been declared that there would be a remake of several popular British television shows for Indian audiences. The top 2 shows up for the remake are The Office and Criminal Justice.

Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi has been selected for playing a character in 'Criminal justice'.

<img alt="paaaa.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="645" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/paaaa.jpg" width="1170" />

After getting the role Pankaj Tripathi said, " I am very excited to be part of the 'Criminal Justice'&nbsp;remake in India. This is my second Digital series and it is amazing how much audiences are loving the digital space. My role and the details of the show are still being chalked out but looking at both the British and American version, I know there is going to be a bit of everything in this show. I am looking forward to working with Tigmanshu Dhulia, Jackie Shroff, and Vikrant Massey. Tigmanshu and I worked on 'Gangs of Wasseypur'&nbsp;as actors, this time he will direct me and it has been my wish to be directed by him for the longest time. Now my wish is coming true." 
&nbsp;

There would be a remake of several popular British television shows for the Indian audience

Pankaj Tripathi gained recognition through his role in 'Gangs of Wasseypur', 'Fukrey', 'Bareilly Ki Barfi', and of course, 'Newton', for which he also received a special mention at the National Film Awards. Recently it had been declared that there would be a remake of several popular British television shows for Indian audiences. The top 2 shows up for the remake are The Office and Criminal Justice. Bollywood actor Pankaj Tripathi has been selected for playing a character in 'Criminal justice'. After getting the role Pankaj Tripathi said, " I am very excited to be part of the 'Criminal Justice' remake in India. This is my second Digital series and it is amazing how much audiences are loving the digital space. My role and the details of the show are still being chalked out but looking at both the British and American version, I know there is going to be a bit of everything in this show. I am looking forward to working with Tigmanshu Dhulia, Jackie Shroff, and Vikrant Massey. Tigmanshu and I worked on 'Gangs of Wasseypur' as actors, this time he will direct me and it has been my wish to be directed by him for the longest time. Now my wish is coming true."

Indian remake of 'Criminal Justice' to star Pankaj Tripathi

A book is a window to the world, to a writer’s soul and to any universe you want to possibly go to. Books have a very interesting way of influencing people’s lives, sometimes while they are reading it and many other times it is after they’ve finished the book and look back to think on the things they remember from it. Today, on World Book Day, a few of our favourite actors speak about their favourite books and how it influenced and affected them when they read it.

Pankaj Tripathi: The book that influenced me the most is Raag Darbari by Shiv Lal Shukla. The side of my personality that is satirical and humourous grew in leaps and bounds once I read this book. There are so many other books as well. That is the beauty of the book, every single one of them teaches you something or the other.&nbsp

<img alt="pankaj1.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/pankaj1.jpg" width="770" />

Richa Chadha: I read Autobiography of a Yogi at a delicate time in my life- my father introduced me to it. I read a chapter on faith and something shifted in me. &nbspIt was the first thick non-fiction book I completed after starting. I ended up gifting lots of copies to friends. I refer to it many times in a year.&nbsp

<img alt="richa1_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/richa1_0.jpg" width="770" />

Arunoday Singh: The book that changed my perspective on life was introduced to me by my middle school World Religion and Ethics teacher, Mr. John Chote. &nbspIt was a Collection of Poems by Jalaluddin Rumi translated by Coleman Barks. &nbspI had always loved reading since I was a very little boy, and I had read widely and voraciously. &nbspBut it wasn’t until that book, that I ever became aware of their ability to heal and comfort all the formless aches in our soul. &nbspIt was until that book that I believed words could weave magic spells too.

<img alt="arunoday1_0.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/arunoday1_0.jpg" width="770" />

Sumeet Vyaas: Animal Farm by George Orwell changed the way I see the world and ‘What I talk about when I talk about running’ by Haruki Murakami shaped the way I narrate a story(Pun intended)

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Ali Fazal: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. The book is a conversation between a gorilla and a man. And it has to be read to be comprehended. It made me realise how unimportant the human species is. It talks about everything and yet nothing at all. Nothingness and fullness and their coexistence. It was suggested to me by renowned stage director, Arghya Lahiri.

<img alt="ali fazal1.jpg" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="430" src="http://images.wionews.com/iniline-images/ali%20fazal1.jpg" width="770" />

Celebrities tell us about that one book that changed their perspective on life.

A book is a window to the world, to a writer’s soul and to any universe you want to possibly go to. Books have a very interesting way of influencing people’s lives, sometimes while they are reading it and many other times it is after they’ve finished the book and look back to think on the things they remember from it. Today, on World Book Day, a few of our favourite actors speak about their favourite books and how it influenced and affected them when they read it. Pankaj Tripathi: The book that influenced me the most is Raag Darbari by Shiv Lal Shukla. The side of my personality that is satirical and humourous grew in leaps and bounds once I read this book. There are so many other books as well. That is the beauty of the book, every single one of them teaches you something or the other. Richa Chadha: I read Autobiography of a Yogi at a delicate time in my life- my father introduced me to it. I read a chapter on faith and something shifted in me. &nbspIt was the first thick non-fiction book I completed after starting. I ended up gifting lots of copies to friends. I refer to it many times in a year. Arunoday Singh: The book that changed my perspective on life was introduced to me by my middle school World Religion and Ethics teacher, Mr. John Chote. &nbspIt was a Collection of Poems by Jalaluddin Rumi translated by Coleman Barks. &nbspI had always loved reading since I was a very little boy, and I had read widely and voraciously. &nbspBut it wasn’t until that book, that I ever became aware of their ability to heal and comfort all the formless aches in our soul. &nbspIt was until that book that I believed words could weave magic spells too. Sumeet Vyaas: Animal Farm by George Orwell changed the way I see the world and ‘What I talk about when I talk about running’ by Haruki Murakami shaped the way I narrate a story(Pun intended) Ali Fazal: Ishmael by Daniel Quinn. The book is a conversation between a gorilla and a man. And it has to be read to be comprehended. It made me realise how unimportant the human species is. It talks about everything and yet nothing at all. Nothingness and fullness and their coexistence. It was suggested to me by renowned stage director, Arghya Lahiri.

World Book Day: Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal on the book that changed their lives

Pankaj Tripathi who came to limelight after his gangster role in Anurag Kashyap’s film Gangs of Wasseypur, has now earned for himself a special mention at the 65th National Film Awards that were announced today.&nbsp;

Delivering great performances this year, Pankaj Tripathi won a special mention for his role in Newton which was the official entry from India to Academy Awards (although it didn’t end up winning). Pankaj played the role of a paramilitary commander in the film.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-shekhar-kapur-on-sridevis-national-film-award-dont-give-sridevi-an-award-because-she-died-its-unfair-on-the-other-girls-130254">Also Read:&nbsp;Don’t give Sridevi an award because she died, it's unfair </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-shekhar-kapur-on-sridevis-national-film-award-dont-give-sridevi-an-award-because-she-died-its-unfair-on-the-other-girls-130254">on</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-shekhar-kapur-on-sridevis-national-film-award-dont-give-sridevi-an-award-because-she-died-its-unfair-on-the-other-girls-130254"> other girls: Shekhar Kapur</a>

In a statement to a leading daily, Pankaj revealed how the feeling hasn't sunk in yet. He said, "The feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. See, I understand the craft, so I always wanted challenges as an actor. I will be more responsible now.” 
&nbsp; 
He added, “Saurabh Shukla told me about the award. I am in Lucknow right now. It just made my day that such a grand jury has recognized my work. Every actor wants the National Film Award, it was always in my list. I am happy and feeling really humbled.” 
&nbsp; 
He also vouched that he won't do any senseless movies from now on as he feels more responsible after the mention. He said, &nbsp;“I won’t do the films that won’t make sense. I will only do the films that would appeal me. I won’t get into the number game anymore. If the artist inside me would feel like doing a project then only I would do it. I am more serious about my work now.”

This year, Pankaj was seen in films like Anaarkali Of Aarah, Newton among others. 
&nbsp;

Pankaj Tripathi won special mention for his role in 'Newton' at the recently announced 65th National Film Awards

Pankaj Tripathi who came to limelight after his gangster role in Anurag Kashyap’s film Gangs of Wasseypur, has now earned for himself a special mention at the 65th National Film Awards that were announced today. Delivering great performances this year, Pankaj Tripathi won a special mention for his role in Newton which was the official entry from India to Academy Awards (although it didn’t end up winning). Pankaj played the role of a paramilitary commander in the film. Also Read: Don’t give Sridevi an award because she died, it's unfair on other girls: Shekhar Kapur In a statement to a leading daily, Pankaj revealed how the feeling hasn't sunk in yet. He said, "The feeling hasn’t sunk in yet. See, I understand the craft, so I always wanted challenges as an actor. I will be more responsible now.” He added, “Saurabh Shukla told me about the award. I am in Lucknow right now. It just made my day that such a grand jury has recognized my work. Every actor wants the National Film Award, it was always in my list. I am happy and feeling really humbled.” He also vouched that he won't do any senseless movies from now on as he feels more responsible after the mention. He said, “I won’t do the films that won’t make sense. I will only do the films that would appeal me. I won’t get into the number game anymore. If the artist inside me would feel like doing a project then only I would do it. I am more serious about my work now.” This year, Pankaj was seen in films like Anaarkali Of Aarah, Newton among others.

Pankaj Tripathi gets a special mention at National Film Awards, promises to not do senseless films

Nearly two months after her accidental death, actress Sridevi was awarded her first National Film Award for her performance in 'Mom'.

The announcement was made on Friday by by Jury Head Shekhar Kapur and other members of the panel.

Directed by Ravi Udyavar, Mom had Sridevi playing a mother who seeks revenge from those who raped her daughter.

Amit Masurakr's critically acclaimed film Newton- starring Rajkummar Rao- was adjudged Best Hindi Film of 2017. The film also fetched actor Pankaj Tripathi a special mention.

The film narrates the story of an honest election officer who succesfully conducts elections in Naxal area in Chattisgarh.

Young Bengali actor Ridhi Sen&nbsp; was declared the Best Actor for a film called Nagarkirtan.

SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Conclusion won adjudged Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment

Late actor Vinod Khanna, who died in 2017, was given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Other notable mentions were AR RAhman who won the all the music awards- Best Music for Mani Ratnam's Kaatru Veliyidai and Best Background Score for Mom.

Divya Dutta was awarded Best Supporting Actress award for Irada while Fahad Fazil got Best Supporting Actor for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum

Here is the full list of winners:

<ul>
	<li>Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Vinod Khanna</li>
	<li>Indira Gandhi Award For Best Debut Director: Pampally (Sinjar)</li>
	<li>Best Director: Jayaraj (Bhayanakam)</li>
	<li>Best Actor: Ridhi Sen (Nagarkirtan)</li>
	<li>Best Actress: Sridevi (Mom)</li>
	<li>Best Children's Film: Mhorkya</li>
	<li>Best Film on Environment Conservation: Irada</li>
	<li>Best Film on Social Issues:Aalorukkam</li>
	<li>Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment is Baahubali 2 (Telugu).</li>
	<li>Best Supporting Actor : Fahad Fazil for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum</li>
	<li>Best Supporting Actress: Divya Dutta for Irada.</li>
	<li>Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film for National Integration: Dhappa(Marathi)</li>
	<li>Best Male Playback Singer: Yesudas</li>
	<li>Best Child Artist: Anita Das for The Village Rockstar</li>
	<li>Best Screenplay (Original): Thondimuthalum Driksaakshiyum</li>
	<li>Best Screenplay (Adapted): Bhayanakam</li>
	<li>Best Cinematography: Bhayankam</li>
	<li>Best Female Playback Singer: Waang by Sasha Tirupathi (Kaatru Veliyidai)</li>
	<li>Best Sound Design: Walking With The Wind (Ladakhi Film)</li>
	<li>Best Location Sound Recordist: The Village Rockstar</li>
	<li>Best Music Director: AR Rahman (Kaatru Veliyidai)</li>
	<li>Best Song: Kaatru Veliyidai (AR Rahman)</li>
	<li>Best Background Score: AR Rahman (Mom)</li>
	<li>Best Makeup Artist: Ram Rajak</li>
	<li>Best Costume: Govinda Mandal for Nagar Kirtan</li>
	<li>Best Production Design: Take Off (Malayalam) Santosh Raman</li>
	<li>Best Editing: Village Rockstar (Assamese) - Reema Das</li>
	<li>Best VFX: Baahubali 2</li>
	<li>Special Jury Award: Nagar Kirtan</li>
	<li>Best Lyrics: March 22 (Kannada film) song: Muthuratna</li>
	<li>Best Telegu Film: Ghazi</li>
	<li>Best Gujarati Film: DHH</li>
	<li>Best Action Direction: Baahubali 2</li>
	<li>Best Choreography: Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (Gori Tu Latth Maar) by Ganesh Acharya</li>
	<li>Best Tamil Film: To Let</li>
	<li>Best Bengali Film: Mayurakshi</li>
	<li>Best Hindi Film: Newton</li>
	<li>Best Kannada Film: Hebbettu Ramakka</li>
	<li>Best Oriya film: Hello Aarsi</li>
	<li>Best Film in Jasari- Sinjar</li>
	<li>Special Mention Awards</li>
	<li>Marathi Film- Morkhya</li>
	<li>Oriya Film- Hello Mirror</li>
	<li>Parvathy, Take Off</li>
	<li>Pankaj Tripathi, Newton</li>
	<li>Best Film On Family Values- Happy Birthday</li>
	<li>Best Direction- Pravash Ch Nivandan, Nagraj Manule</li>
	<li>Best Cinematography- Eye Test,&nbsp; Don</li>
	<li>Best Investigative Film- 1984 When The Sun Did Not Rise</li>
	<li>Best Animation Film- Fish Curry, Maachar Jhol</li>
	<li>Special Jury Award: The Old Man, Monday</li>
	<li>Best Adventure Film: Ladakh Chale Rickshaw Waale.</li>
	<li>Best Critic On Cinema Award goes to Giridhar Jha, Special Mention to Sunil Mishra</li>
	<li>Best Short Film Fiction- Maiyat</li>
	<li>&nbsp;Best Critic On Cinema Award goes to Giridhar Jha, Special Mention to Sunil Mishra</li>
	<li>Best Short Film Fiction- Maiyat</li>
	<li>Non-Feature Films: Best Educational Film The Girls We Were and The Women We Are.</li>
</ul>

Vinod Khanna gets posthomous Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Nearly two months after her accidental death, actress Sridevi was awarded her first National Film Award for her performance in 'Mom'. The announcement was made on Friday by by Jury Head Shekhar Kapur and other members of the panel. Directed by Ravi Udyavar, Mom had Sridevi playing a mother who seeks revenge from those who raped her daughter. Amit Masurakr's critically acclaimed film Newton- starring Rajkummar Rao- was adjudged Best Hindi Film of 2017. The film also fetched actor Pankaj Tripathi a special mention. The film narrates the story of an honest election officer who succesfully conducts elections in Naxal area in Chattisgarh. Young Bengali actor Ridhi Sen was declared the Best Actor for a film called Nagarkirtan. SS Rajamouli's magnum opus Baahubali: The Conclusion won adjudged Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment Late actor Vinod Khanna, who died in 2017, was given the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Other notable mentions were AR RAhman who won the all the music awards- Best Music for Mani Ratnam's Kaatru Veliyidai and Best Background Score for Mom. Divya Dutta was awarded Best Supporting Actress award for Irada while Fahad Fazil got Best Supporting Actor for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Here is the full list of winners: Dadasaheb Phalke Award: Vinod Khanna Indira Gandhi Award For Best Debut Director: Pampally (Sinjar) Best Director: Jayaraj (Bhayanakam) Best Actor: Ridhi Sen (Nagarkirtan) Best Actress: Sridevi (Mom) Best Children's Film: Mhorkya Best Film on Environment Conservation: Irada Best Film on Social Issues:Aalorukkam Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment is Baahubali 2 (Telugu). Best Supporting Actor : Fahad Fazil for Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum Best Supporting Actress: Divya Dutta for Irada. Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film for National Integration: Dhappa(Marathi) Best Male Playback Singer: Yesudas Best Child Artist: Anita Das for The Village Rockstar Best Screenplay (Original): Thondimuthalum Driksaakshiyum Best Screenplay (Adapted): Bhayanakam Best Cinematography: Bhayankam Best Female Playback Singer: Waang by Sasha Tirupathi (Kaatru Veliyidai) Best Sound Design: Walking With The Wind (Ladakhi Film) Best Location Sound Recordist: The Village Rockstar Best Music Director: AR Rahman (Kaatru Veliyidai) Best Song: Kaatru Veliyidai (AR Rahman) Best Background Score: AR Rahman (Mom) Best Makeup Artist: Ram Rajak Best Costume: Govinda Mandal for Nagar Kirtan Best Production Design: Take Off (Malayalam) Santosh Raman Best Editing: Village Rockstar (Assamese) - Reema Das Best VFX: Baahubali 2 Special Jury Award: Nagar Kirtan Best Lyrics: March 22 (Kannada film) song: Muthuratna Best Telegu Film: Ghazi Best Gujarati Film: DHH Best Action Direction: Baahubali 2 Best Choreography: Toilet: Ek Prem Katha (Gori Tu Latth Maar) by Ganesh Acharya Best Tamil Film: To Let Best Bengali Film: Mayurakshi Best Hindi Film: Newton Best Kannada Film: Hebbettu Ramakka Best Oriya film: Hello Aarsi Best Film in Jasari- Sinjar Special Mention Awards Marathi Film- Morkhya Oriya Film- Hello Mirror Parvathy, Take Off Pankaj Tripathi, Newton Best Film On Family Values- Happy Birthday Best Direction- Pravash Ch Nivandan, Nagraj Manule Best Cinematography- Eye Test, Don Best Investigative Film- 1984 When The Sun Did Not Rise Best Animation Film- Fish Curry, Maachar Jhol Special Jury Award: The Old Man, Monday Best Adventure Film: Ladakh Chale Rickshaw Waale. Best Critic On Cinema Award goes to Giridhar Jha, Special Mention to Sunil Mishra Best Short Film Fiction- Maiyat Best Critic On Cinema Award goes to Giridhar Jha, Special Mention to Sunil Mishra Best Short Film Fiction- Maiyat Non-Feature Films: Best Educational Film The Girls We Were and The Women We Are.

65th National Film Awards: Sridevi wins Best Actress for 'Mom', 'Newton' Best Film

“The Play's the Thing, wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King,” said Shakespeare during Hamlet. We might be in the 21st Century but this statement still stands true. Ask any theatre aficionado or artist and they’ll agree that only in theatre do you get to see emotions in real time.

Bollywood has seen a steady stream of theatre actors making their way to celluloid and spread their gold dust on cinema screens. Here are what a few of these actors had to say, on World Theatre Day, about the lessons that theatre has taught them. 
&nbsp;

Pankaj Tripathi: Theatre is my beginning. Even after doing films for over a decade, there is a connection to the stage that will never go away. Apart from acting on stage, I have also done a lot of street theatre back in Bihar. It was that experience that truly taught me how to connect with the common man. My biggest take away and lesson from theatre, especially at NSD, was to always dive into a role and to take on a role that scared me. That is something I try and follow even now. If while reading a script, I get nervous, I will always say yes to the role. Theatre pushes everyone out of their comfort zone and theatre sirf actor nahi banata, aadmi banata hai.

<img alt="Pankaj Tripathi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4102e63f-f56f-428f-aeb8-2aff236e1a36" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pankaj%20Tripathi%20%283%29_0.jpg" />

Richa Chadha: Theatre is an actor's medium. From theatre, I learnt teamwork, discipline and the benefits of the practice. My theatre teachers Barry John and Saurabh Sachdeva taught me to think on my feet. Theatre is a privilege and an art form by itself and shouldn’t be viewed as a stepping stone into movies. There’s no high like that of being on stage.

<img alt="Richa Chadha" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4ed913ad-4773-4438-a57e-26b676ac57f2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Richa%20Chadha%203.jpg" />

Ali Fazal: The art of manoeuvring through life in a measured room. Happy and proud as always to have begun my journeys on stage. All began with me joining a school play trying to woo a girl. But theatre changed my life. I found an audience- an actor’s first love. Theatre has always had hardships in all regions of the world and yet been part of history. I am part of it. Hope actors take inspiration and promote more stage work. No matter what you say, it is what it is- it is the shrine.&nbsp;

<img alt="Ali Fazal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa802ae1-cccd-4c7f-832a-a1c85d3b2c48" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ali%20Fazal%20%284%29.jpg" />

Shweta Tripathi: Rehearsal is key. You have to be prepared because you get that one chance to show what you have, feel. And I take that forward in films as well. Even though there are retakes, but every take should be your best.

<img alt="Shweta Tripathi" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ed5fdf2d-8dd0-4d15-b3ba-df78b9eaa82b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Shweta%20Tripathi.jpg" />

Isha Talwar: Theatre keeps you rooted. It’s a place where you say your lines 500 times in rehearsals but can still keep room for spontaneity and improvisation on performance day and that makes one very sharp and gives a lot of room for experimenting, in general.

<img alt="Isha Talwar" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="23fc2982-87a1-49ea-a8da-ffd1b985efe4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Isha%20Talwar.jpg" />

Here are what a few of these actors had to say, on World Theatre Day, about the lessons that theatre has taught them.

“The Play's the Thing, wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King,” said Shakespeare during Hamlet. We might be in the 21st Century but this statement still stands true. Ask any theatre aficionado or artist and they’ll agree that only in theatre do you get to see emotions in real time. Bollywood has seen a steady stream of theatre actors making their way to celluloid and spread their gold dust on cinema screens. Here are what a few of these actors had to say, on World Theatre Day, about the lessons that theatre has taught them. Pankaj Tripathi: Theatre is my beginning. Even after doing films for over a decade, there is a connection to the stage that will never go away. Apart from acting on stage, I have also done a lot of street theatre back in Bihar. It was that experience that truly taught me how to connect with the common man. My biggest take away and lesson from theatre, especially at NSD, was to always dive into a role and to take on a role that scared me. That is something I try and follow even now. If while reading a script, I get nervous, I will always say yes to the role. Theatre pushes everyone out of their comfort zone and theatre sirf actor nahi banata, aadmi banata hai. Richa Chadha: Theatre is an actor's medium. From theatre, I learnt teamwork, discipline and the benefits of the practice. My theatre teachers Barry John and Saurabh Sachdeva taught me to think on my feet. Theatre is a privilege and an art form by itself and shouldn’t be viewed as a stepping stone into movies. There’s no high like that of being on stage. Ali Fazal: The art of manoeuvring through life in a measured room. Happy and proud as always to have begun my journeys on stage. All began with me joining a school play trying to woo a girl. But theatre changed my life. I found an audience- an actor’s first love. Theatre has always had hardships in all regions of the world and yet been part of history. I am part of it. Hope actors take inspiration and promote more stage work. No matter what you say, it is what it is- it is the shrine. Shweta Tripathi: Rehearsal is key. You have to be prepared because you get that one chance to show what you have, feel. And I take that forward in films as well. Even though there are retakes, but every take should be your best. Isha Talwar: Theatre keeps you rooted. It’s a place where you say your lines 500 times in rehearsals but can still keep room for spontaneity and improvisation on performance day and that makes one very sharp and gives a lot of room for experimenting, in general.

World Theatre Day: Richa Chadha, Pankaj Tripathi and others share the lessons they have learnt on stage

Pankaj Tripathi, a household name after performances in Bareily ki Barfi, Newton, Anaarkali ki Aara and Gangs on Wasseypur was seen spending time with the prisoners of the Gopalganj jail recently. 
 
Hailing from the same town in Bihar, Pankaj Tripathi was invited by the District Magistrate and the Jailer to interact with the prisoners. He was invited for an interactive session with the 300 convicts at the Chanawe prison. 
 
The actor spoke to the prisoners about &lsquo;putting in the effort of leading a better life once they are released from prison. He also informed them about the rehab centers all around the state to help prisoners re-join society.&rsquo;&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/pankaj%20tripathi%20at%20the%20jail-20180319011846.jpeg" />
<div class="media-description">
Pankaj Tripathi at the Gopalganj Jail. (WION)
</div>
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Calling the entire experience as &#39;humbling&#39;, Pankaj said, &ldquo;I was delighted when they invited me to spend the day at the jail. It isn&rsquo;t every day that prisoners ask and want to interact with someone. I was honoured and humbled that they listened to my suggestions and discussed their lives with me.&rdquo;&nbsp; 
 
He mentioned how it was an emotional experience meeting these prisoners that also included women prisoners with children.&nbsp; 
 
The District Magistrate, Rahul Kumar (IAS) invited Pankaj to visit the jail. Over 300 prisoners ate lunch with the &lsquo;Gurgaon&rsquo; actor as they discussed the state, the city and Pankaj Tripathi&rsquo;s success story.

The actor visited the jail in his hometown in Gopalganj recently and interacted with the inmates.

Pankaj Tripathi, a household name after performances in Bareily ki Barfi, Newton, Anaarkali ki Aara and Gangs on Wasseypur was seen spending time with the prisoners of the Gopalganj jail recently. Hailing from the same town in Bihar, Pankaj Tripathi was invited by the District Magistrate and the Jailer to interact with the prisoners. He was invited for an interactive session with the 300 convicts at the Chanawe prison. The actor spoke to the prisoners about ‘putting in the effort of leading a better life once they are released from prison. He also informed them about the rehab centers all around the state to help prisoners re-join society.’ Pankaj Tripathi at the Gopalganj Jail. (WION) × Calling the entire experience as 'humbling', Pankaj said, “I was delighted when they invited me to spend the day at the jail. It isn’t every day that prisoners ask and want to interact with someone. I was honoured and humbled that they listened to my suggestions and discussed their lives with me.” He mentioned how it was an emotional experience meeting these prisoners that also included women prisoners with children. The District Magistrate, Rahul Kumar (IAS) invited Pankaj to visit the jail. Over 300 prisoners ate lunch with the ‘Gurgaon’ actor as they discussed the state, the city and Pankaj Tripathi’s success story.

When Pankaj Tripathi met jail inmates in Bihar

There is no denying that the year 2017 will down in history as the year where newer stories and smaller films took precedence over big-budget formula films. Filmmakers became brave in storytelling in 2017. From illicit romances to erectile dysfunction to falling in love at 40 to a middle-class housewife finding her voice in the most unexpected manner- filmmakers tried to tell newer stories this year. And while a lot of these films got appreciated by critics and masses alike- here is a list of films that did not get its due credit. Presenting the most underrated films of 2017.&nbsp; 
 
Haraamkhor:

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A story of a student falling in love with her teacher would make a lot of people uncomfortable. But filmmaker Shlok Sharma dealt with the story in the most subtle, nuanced manner. Coupled with strong performances by its lead- Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Triptha-Haraamkhor was a different take on love. Sharma could have gone overboard showing a romance that most deem as scandalous but he broached the topic in a sensitive, mature manner making the film a compelling watch. 
 
Anaarkali Of&nbsp;Aarah

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If Anaarkali of Aarah had released a year back, Aniruddha Roy Choudhary&#39;s Pink would have appeared flawed. Journalist turned filmmaker Avinash Das&#39; film spoke about consent, but in a society where the term is almost alien. Centered around Anaarkali whose profession is to sing songs full of sexual innuendoes, the film highlighted the plight of many such women who may sing raunchy songs for a living but are not ready to give sexual favours to men. Anaarkali&#39;s battle may have been a lonely one, but it sure resonated with a lot of women across the country and drove home a very important point- that a &#39;No&#39; means a &#39;No&#39;. While the film was lauded by the critics, its the audience which overlooked the film. Perhaps because of its look or maybe because it did not have a big name in the star cast- but it was a film that will remain relevant in the times to come. &nbsp;

 
Meri Pyaari Bindu

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Ayushmann Khurrana had multiple releases this year- making him, along with Rajkummar Rao, the new poster boy of the middle-class. And while people loved him in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Bareilly Ki Barfi- his performance in Akshay&nbsp;Roy&#39;s Meri Pyaari Bindu almost went unnoticed. Which is unfortunate because of all the three films, Khurrana was absolutely brilliant as Bubla Roy, the wry, angsty novelist in this film. Paired opposite the vivacious Parineeti Chopra, the film took a fairly realistic approach towards modern romances and heartbreaks. With a beautiful soundtrack, Meri Pyaari Bindu was perhaps the most subtle love story of this year with endering performances by not just the lead pair but the entire supporting cast- who are mainly known faces of Bengali film industry.

 
Death In The Gunj

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Konkona Sen Sharma&#39;s film was in English and a bit of Bengali, which is perhaps the reason that the film had less commercial viability. But the actress-filmmaker should be given credit for making a film that will remain relevant for decades to come. At the onset, it looked like a mystery thriller about a death in McCluskiegunj where a family gathers for a vacation- but the story ultimately was so much more than that. The film dealt with how a society perceives masculinity and how we always succumb to stereotypes. It had a superlative cast - each performing their character with absolute ease. More importantly, the film made a lot of people sit up and take notice of a fine actor called Vikrant Massey- who as the central character Shutu - gave one of the best performances this year.&nbsp; 
 
Trapped

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2017 can easily be called Rajkummar Rao&#39;s year. Not only did the actor get critical appreciation, but also tasted commercial success. With as a many as 5 releases this year, Rao got to showcase his versatility in each of his films. Among those films, Vikramaditya Motwane&#39;s Trapped was perhaps the most different of the lot. It was a tricky film, to begin with- with just one character trapped in a confined space- but Rao performance and a fine screenplay written by Hardik Mehta made Trapped the most unconventional film of the year.&nbsp; 
 
Jagga Jasoos

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Ranbir Kapoor&#39;s ambitious film had been in the making for a long time and people were sceptical that how relevant would it be when it finally releases. Yet director Anurag Basu made the film thoroughly entertaining. Made like a typical musical- which is a first for Bollywood- Jagga Jasoos was endearing for many reasons. The music, its camerawork, the way the story was narrated and of course Kapoor and Saswata Chatterjee&#39;s performances made the film thoroughly enjoyable. Basu&#39;s tribute of sorts to Satyajit Ray and Herge&#39;s Tintin was lauded by critics but the storytelling method was not taken well by the audience.&nbsp; 
 
Tu Hai Mera Sunday

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Milind Dhaimade&#39;s little film with a big heart was almost overlooked when it released in October. Primarily because the film released on the same day as Saif Ali Khan&#39;s Chef and also because it did not have a big star in it. But word of mouth publicity ensured that the film got more screenings in the coming days and eventually gave Chef a tough fight at the Box Office. Featuring TV heartthrob Barun Sobti, Shahana Goswami and a bunch of theatre and TV actors- Tu Hai Mera Sunday was a story of a motley group in Mumbai looking for space to play football on Sundays. The film, in its own subtle way, highlighted the grave space problem in an ever-growing city like Mumbai. With some endearing performances and breezy narrative- it was a film that a lot of people in the big cities could relate to.&nbsp; 
 
Mukti Bhawan

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A film on death and afterlife should ideally be morbid, no? But director Shubhashish Bhutiani&#39;s film was uplifting and refreshing in more ways than one. A story of a busy son who takes his father to Varanasi as the old man desires to spend his last few days near the ghats, the film was a poignant take on life and the little things we tend to overlook in our daily lives. With superlative performance by Adil Hussain, the film not only dealt with death but also highlighted the importance of celebrating life.&nbsp;

Filmmakers tried to tell newer stories this year and while a lot of these films got appreciated- here is a list of films that did not get its due credit. Presenting the most underrated films of 2017.?

There is no denying that the year 2017 will down in history as the year where newer stories and smaller films took precedence over big-budget formula films. Filmmakers became brave in storytelling in 2017. From illicit romances to erectile dysfunction to falling in love at 40 to a middle-class housewife finding her voice in the most unexpected manner- filmmakers tried to tell newer stories this year. And while a lot of these films got appreciated by critics and masses alike- here is a list of films that did not get its due credit. Presenting the most underrated films of 2017. Haraamkhor: A story of a student falling in love with her teacher would make a lot of people uncomfortable. But filmmaker Shlok Sharma dealt with the story in the most subtle, nuanced manner. Coupled with strong performances by its lead- Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Shweta Triptha-Haraamkhor was a different take on love. Sharma could have gone overboard showing a romance that most deem as scandalous but he broached the topic in a sensitive, mature manner making the film a compelling watch. Anaarkali Of Aarah If Anaarkali of Aarah had released a year back, Aniruddha Roy Choudhary's Pink would have appeared flawed. Journalist turned filmmaker Avinash Das' film spoke about consent, but in a society where the term is almost alien. Centered around Anaarkali whose profession is to sing songs full of sexual innuendoes, the film highlighted the plight of many such women who may sing raunchy songs for a living but are not ready to give sexual favours to men. Anaarkali's battle may have been a lonely one, but it sure resonated with a lot of women across the country and drove home a very important point- that a 'No' means a 'No'. While the film was lauded by the critics, its the audience which overlooked the film. Perhaps because of its look or maybe because it did not have a big name in the star cast- but it was a film that will remain relevant in the times to come. Meri Pyaari Bindu Ayushmann Khurrana had multiple releases this year- making him, along with Rajkummar Rao, the new poster boy of the middle-class. And while people loved him in Shubh Mangal Saavdhan and Bareilly Ki Barfi- his performance in Akshay Roy's Meri Pyaari Bindu almost went unnoticed. Which is unfortunate because of all the three films, Khurrana was absolutely brilliant as Bubla Roy, the wry, angsty novelist in this film. Paired opposite the vivacious Parineeti Chopra, the film took a fairly realistic approach towards modern romances and heartbreaks. With a beautiful soundtrack, Meri Pyaari Bindu was perhaps the most subtle love story of this year with endering performances by not just the lead pair but the entire supporting cast- who are mainly known faces of Bengali film industry. Death In The Gunj Konkona Sen Sharma's film was in English and a bit of Bengali, which is perhaps the reason that the film had less commercial viability. But the actress-filmmaker should be given credit for making a film that will remain relevant for decades to come. At the onset, it looked like a mystery thriller about a death in McCluskiegunj where a family gathers for a vacation- but the story ultimately was so much more than that. The film dealt with how a society perceives masculinity and how we always succumb to stereotypes. It had a superlative cast - each performing their character with absolute ease. More importantly, the film made a lot of people sit up and take notice of a fine actor called Vikrant Massey- who as the central character Shutu - gave one of the best performances this year. Trapped 2017 can easily be called Rajkummar Rao's year. Not only did the actor get critical appreciation, but also tasted commercial success. With as a many as 5 releases this year, Rao got to showcase his versatility in each of his films. Among those films, Vikramaditya Motwane's Trapped was perhaps the most different of the lot. It was a tricky film, to begin with- with just one character trapped in a confined space- but Rao performance and a fine screenplay written by Hardik Mehta made Trapped the most unconventional film of the year. Jagga Jasoos Ranbir Kapoor's ambitious film had been in the making for a long time and people were sceptical that how relevant would it be when it finally releases. Yet director Anurag Basu made the film thoroughly entertaining. Made like a typical musical- which is a first for Bollywood- Jagga Jasoos was endearing for many reasons. The music, its camerawork, the way the story was narrated and of course Kapoor and Saswata Chatterjee's performances made the film thoroughly enjoyable. Basu's tribute of sorts to Satyajit Ray and Herge's Tintin was lauded by critics but the storytelling method was not taken well by the audience. Tu Hai Mera Sunday Milind Dhaimade's little film with a big heart was almost overlooked when it released in October. Primarily because the film released on the same day as Saif Ali Khan's Chef and also because it did not have a big star in it. But word of mouth publicity ensured that the film got more screenings in the coming days and eventually gave Chef a tough fight at the Box Office. Featuring TV heartthrob Barun Sobti, Shahana Goswami and a bunch of theatre and TV actors- Tu Hai Mera Sunday was a story of a motley group in Mumbai looking for space to play football on Sundays. The film, in its own subtle way, highlighted the grave space problem in an ever-growing city like Mumbai. With some endearing performances and breezy narrative- it was a film that a lot of people in the big cities could relate to. Mukti Bhawan A film on death and afterlife should ideally be morbid, no? But director Shubhashish Bhutiani's film was uplifting and refreshing in more ways than one. A story of a busy son who takes his father to Varanasi as the old man desires to spend his last few days near the ghats, the film was a poignant take on life and the little things we tend to overlook in our daily lives. With superlative performance by Adil Hussain, the film not only dealt with death but also highlighted the importance of celebrating life.

Yearender 2017: The most underrated films of this year

The opening credits of Fukrey Returns is promising. A sequel of 2013 sleeper hit Fukrey, the film begins with a catchy number which quickly gives the audience a round-up of what happened in the first film. A clever ploy from the director, Mrigdeep Singh Lamba who manages to get your attention on the story right in the first frame. A practice that perhaps a lot of films in Bollywood should follow while making a sequel.&nbsp; 
 
Soon after the opening credits end, the film- very slowly- and gradually keeps spiraling downwards making the film a sluggish affair, overall.&nbsp; 
 
A year after the four fukras- Choocha, Honey, Laali and Zafar- managed to bust Bholi Punjab&#39;s(Richa Chadha) empire and send her to jail, the lady don of trans-Yamuna in East Delhi is out of jail and in need of money and lost glory. With the help of local minister, Babulal Bhatia(Rajiv Gupta), Bholi manages to come out of jail- only on the condition of getting Bhatia Rs 10 crores in 10 days.&nbsp; 
 
The four slackers are called in by Bholi and given the responsibility to earn quick bucks in the stipulated time. The four, naturally use Choocha&#39;s &#39;superpower&#39; &nbsp;of dreaming and creating a unique number for a lottery to win hefty amount. But instead of winning the desired amount, the four face heavy losses and are charged of duping several people in a forged scam. As the four fukras make a run for their lives, they not only have money to return to the public but also to Bholi. 
 
Declared dead, the four boys are taken in by Babulal Bhatia himself, who in a ploy to garner public votes for the upcoming elections offers to help them out. But does he? Or does he dupe the four boys as well as Bholi and make them land in a bigger mess?&nbsp; Meanwhile, Choocha now has another super-power, of foreseeing the future. And his premonitions lead all of them on a wild-goose chase in search of a lost treasure.&nbsp; 
 
A convoluted story, which an overstretched climax, Fukrey Returns is a lazy attempt at making a sequel of an amazingly refreshing first film. The plot eventually sticks to the original formula, and you end up having a deja vu or deja choo- whichever you prefer.&nbsp;

Amid a predictable plot, it is Varun Sharma as Choocha and Pankaj Tripathi as Panditji who shine the most. Sharma plays the annoying yet endearing good-for-nothing fella to the hilt. You laugh along with him, at him and even get irritated at his stupidities- much like his friends. The ever talented Tripathi is always a delight to watch- give the man any role- and he makes it his own. Known for playing the Haryanvi&nbsp;Delhi NCR cop in many films, actor Rajiv Gupta gets a meaty role as the main antagonist in Fukrey Returns and manages to impress.&nbsp;

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The rest of the cast- Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh and Richa Chadha do not get ample opportunity to showcase their talent primarily because of poor writing. Chadha&#39;s Bholi Punjaban is far less feisty than what she was in the first film.&nbsp; 
 
The other two women- Priya Anand and &nbsp;Vishakha Singh- are barely there. They are almost forcefully placed in the climax.&nbsp; 
 
The supposed laugh-riot thrills in you in parts and those scenes mostly involve Sharma and Tripathi in them. 
 
But like Fukrey, Fukrey Returns also manages to keep its Delhi-flavour intact. There are a lot of lines that will be relatable to people living in the capital city and may make them chuckle.&nbsp; 
 
Does Fukrey Returns make a good sequel? Not quite. All it gives you is a &#39;deja-choo&#39;.&nbsp; 
 
Rating:2/5

&nbsp;

Varun Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi shine in an otherwise dull film

The opening credits of Fukrey Returns is promising. A sequel of 2013 sleeper hit Fukrey, the film begins with a catchy number which quickly gives the audience a round-up of what happened in the first film. A clever ploy from the director, Mrigdeep Singh Lamba who manages to get your attention on the story right in the first frame. A practice that perhaps a lot of films in Bollywood should follow while making a sequel. Soon after the opening credits end, the film- very slowly- and gradually keeps spiraling downwards making the film a sluggish affair, overall. A year after the four fukras- Choocha, Honey, Laali and Zafar- managed to bust Bholi Punjab's(Richa Chadha) empire and send her to jail, the lady don of trans-Yamuna in East Delhi is out of jail and in need of money and lost glory. With the help of local minister, Babulal Bhatia(Rajiv Gupta), Bholi manages to come out of jail- only on the condition of getting Bhatia Rs 10 crores in 10 days. The four slackers are called in by Bholi and given the responsibility to earn quick bucks in the stipulated time. The four, naturally use Choocha's 'superpower' of dreaming and creating a unique number for a lottery to win hefty amount. But instead of winning the desired amount, the four face heavy losses and are charged of duping several people in a forged scam. As the four fukras make a run for their lives, they not only have money to return to the public but also to Bholi. Declared dead, the four boys are taken in by Babulal Bhatia himself, who in a ploy to garner public votes for the upcoming elections offers to help them out. But does he? Or does he dupe the four boys as well as Bholi and make them land in a bigger mess? Meanwhile, Choocha now has another super-power, of foreseeing the future. And his premonitions lead all of them on a wild-goose chase in search of a lost treasure. A convoluted story, which an overstretched climax, Fukrey Returns is a lazy attempt at making a sequel of an amazingly refreshing first film. The plot eventually sticks to the original formula, and you end up having a deja vu or deja choo- whichever you prefer. Amid a predictable plot, it is Varun Sharma as Choocha and Pankaj Tripathi as Panditji who shine the most. Sharma plays the annoying yet endearing good-for-nothing fella to the hilt. You laugh along with him, at him and even get irritated at his stupidities- much like his friends. The ever talented Tripathi is always a delight to watch- give the man any role- and he makes it his own. Known for playing the Haryanvi Delhi NCR cop in many films, actor Rajiv Gupta gets a meaty role as the main antagonist in Fukrey Returns and manages to impress. The rest of the cast- Pulkit Samrat, Ali Fazal, Manjot Singh and Richa Chadha do not get ample opportunity to showcase their talent primarily because of poor writing. Chadha's Bholi Punjaban is far less feisty than what she was in the first film. The other two women- Priya Anand and Vishakha Singh- are barely there. They are almost forcefully placed in the climax. The supposed laugh-riot thrills in you in parts and those scenes mostly involve Sharma and Tripathi in them. But like Fukrey, Fukrey Returns also manages to keep its Delhi-flavour intact. There are a lot of lines that will be relatable to people living in the capital city and may make them chuckle. Does Fukrey Returns make a good sequel? Not quite. All it gives you is a 'deja-choo'. Rating:2/5

'Fukrey Returns' review: The film will give you a 'deja-choo', literally

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