Masala Bytes: HT City Daily News Wrap HT Smartcast

Actor Neha Dhupia admits that shooting through her third trimester comes with a lot of struggle.
But she’s putting all the energy into her work to set a precedent, with a hope of bringing about change in the business, so that there’s more work for pregnant women.
“Shooting during the Covid-19 times is hard. Plus, I’m in my third trimester, so the exhaustion is more. But, I’m doing this to prove that if I can do it, others can, too,” says Dhupia, who turns 41 today.
She points out that a lot of women are forced to choose between their personal or
professional lives.

“If I can strike a balance now, things might change in the business. I hope this would result in more roles, not just for women, but pregnant women as well,” says the actor.


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In light of the Afghan crisis, Tisca Chopra took to social media to share that she spent a major chunk of her childhood in Kabul. She tells us, “We were part of the Indian community there. My dad was the principal at the India School, Kabul. We spent 10 years there”. Her heart goes out to those who are stuck in the country or are leaving.

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Pedro Alonso aka Berlin from Money Heist is one character that gets under your skin. In an exclusive with HT, Pedro opens up about Money Heist's crazy following in India.

“In the recent years, in Spain, many Bollywood productions had a moment of presence. I was surprised to see the level of
production and the magnitude of Indian industry. I’ve seen Indian movies, but honestly, I don’t have a serious connect with Indian actors. I’m more connected with the mythology of your country.

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From taking a 200-member crew to the UK to shoot a film from start to finish amid the pandemic last year, to wrapping up five films since then, Akshay Kumar has been leading by example.

On what changes he sees in the business of filmmaking, theatres and the mood of the fraternity, Kumar says, “I can’t comment about others, but I am going about doing business as usual. I’ve already completed five films during the pandemic. And, I’m onto the next one, Cinderella, with the same team as BellBottom, directed by Ranjit Tewari. But then, this has always been the way I’ve worked — doing an average of four films a year. Yes, the avenues to showcase our films may change a little. I know even before shoot begins, that some films are being planned for an OTT release only. Also, another term I have recently learnt is hybrid release — when a film releases in theatres and on an OTT platform, simultaneously. One way or another, the show must and will go on.

Sidharth Malhotra shares a rather personal connection with his “labour of love”, Shershaah. Ask the actor about it and he says that the film hits home for more reasons than one. “My grandfather got injured at the Indo-China war and took an early retirement. My father is an Army brat and he has seen my grandfather serve. He’s just happy that one of his son has become a pretend Army soldier and is playing this amazing character,” he says.
While feedback from the audience and the critics matter, what he is looking forward to the most is a positive nod from his and Captain Vikram Batra’s family: “My father knows what sacrifices one has to make to serve their country. I hope Captain Batra’s family thinks that I’ve done justice to his story,” he reveals.

At his first Olympics appearance, Bajrang Punia gave his all on the mat, and won a bronze medal in the 65kg freestyle wrestling event in Tokyo. But the wrestler is not satisfied. “I have won a medal but it is not the one I wanted. Nonetheless, I am happy to have made my country proud,” says the 27-year-old, whose victory is part of India’s biggest medal haul at the quadrennial mega event. Punia’s bronze gave India its second medal from wrestling in Tokyo after Ravi Dahiya’s silver. Punia says, “I was struggling with a knee injury, but I knew that the hopes of my nation are pinned on me, so I moved past the pain and tried my level best.”

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