Ritika, you have a lot on your plate. A trilogy of films, an upcoming book, a women’s foundation & a full time sanyasi. What motivates you in all the different directions? I had always known, ‘my motivation comes from someone other than me.’ I mean, I’ve always been someone who is inspired and motivated in opportunities and experiences that bring joy to the other. By at least one other individual who will enjoy the experience too. To me there is no fun in enjoying fruits of labor alone. But as a sanyasin, and in the truths of life, my path is alone. Even in community, a path of evolution is alone. Such are the paradoxes of life. Even today my motivation comes from someone other than me. The magic of my master’s consciousness. It is a whole universe which includes me. So the motivation is much more but there is no personal goal. It’s like I’m a vehicle only and His consciousness is driving me. Even the motivation belongs to him. He may take it away tomorrow for my evolution. I have no control over it.

From acting & producing films to sanyas. How did that happen & where do they connect?

Well, it just happened. Don’t ask me how. I always hold faith in a divine presence greater than me and that presence takes me on a journey. A journey of evolution. Let’s just say, He wanted to play my game of life and He plays my game now. Haha. At first I couldn’t really find a connect but taking a couple years off from the outside world to dive within, helped me find the connect. Actually it is all the same. The deeper we dive within, the more all definitions of who we ‘think’ we are, disappear. So whether it’s producing films or writing books or meditating in sanyas; they are just different ways of expressing the celebration of the same life. I call it all a sharing. An expressed human experience of a spiritual being. There is no need to connect or find a connect. I enjoy the experience of it all. Life is a spontaneity to me, not a balance. As Krishna expresses. It’s crazy to the balanced mind, which is crazy to me. Haha

What was your biggest achievement from JL50’s success?

The experience of success itself. We had struggled hard for 15 long years before JL50 happened. It was time to experience some rewards. The moment success happened, I realized it felt no different than other smaller successes in life. It was a feeling of gratitude. Small success and big success, both felt the same amount of gratitude. That understanding was my greatest achievement. It allowed me to accept sanyas, even if worldly success dropped as a result, to take two years off my own life, for my own inner evolution. That too, at the height of my biggest worldly success yet.

It allowed me to return with no attachment to success and no fear of failure! Just to enjoy the journey. It’s simpler and better this way!

Tell us a little bit about your upcoming Trilogy, Brahmaputra. What made you back this project?

Actually, Brahmaputra happens at a very synchronized phase of my life’s journey. The first part of the trilogy is on Raja Prittu Rai, who’s war with Bakhtiyar Khilji, is a beautiful expression of humble courage in the face of arrogant ego. I am drawn to projects that resonate with my own experience of life on various levels. Even from the perspective of divide between spiritualism vs materialism, it sits with me well on where I am in the experience of life. Prittu Rai represents the humility & courage needed for a path of freedom & Khilji represents the ego identity we hold in the world as a barrier to true freedom. Ultimately the humility of the selfless self wins over the ego identity.

I am humbled to be working with Vijendra ji, at this stage of my experience of life, as I dive deeper into expressing through the written and spoken word myself. I’m learning from him just being in the project. I’m also very excited to work with Shailender again, who I’ve always maintained is a genius at telling stories; & the creative team of JL50. Humble courage is a central theme I find in all of us as individuals too. It’s a fun project.

It’s a very big jump in your career as a producer from JL50 to Brahmaputra, especially after an extended absence. You seem very confident to pull it off. What’s the secret?

Haha. This is a good question. Actually it’s not confidence at all. It is faith. Before Neo Sanyas and the reprogramming of my inner ‘self’;   It was confidence. I planned a lot. Everything was a project to me. Even relationships. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail; as they say. But now I don’t plan at all. What to plan? I don’t fear failing at all. I don’t desire success either. I don’t know the next minute. It is a mystery. So now I don’t plan. I show up and allow the work to be done as I go along. The task itself feels more alive in a sense. So I enjoy it more totally.

And yes, it is a big jump. But somehow I didn’t jump, I was carried and placed in the middle of it. So I’m learning as I move along. I’m enjoying it and I also know what needs to be done. I see it is easily getting done too. So I’m not complaining. The confidence is just the outward expression of faith. Faith essentially is confidence in that which is greater than me.

You are authoring your first book. Why is it called Being Selfish? Tell us a little about that.

Really I’m just having fun & enjoying everything that is being done through me. I’m quite the amazed witness myself, to be honest. Essentially the book, in a gist is my journey of transformation in Neo Sanyas, that has allowed me to learn an art of life. I’ve made many mistakes on the way & learnt from them too. Yet, it has required me to be selfish for my own evolution in a world full of advise and opinions. To turn knowledge I already had into wisdom of individual experience to find the way to true freedom in peace and purpose. Certain aspects of the Neo sanyas transformation, cannot be accessed without being a sanyasin. However, there are certain aspects of it that can be achieved by just a higher perspective shift on current realities of the self, which is truly ego less. Those are the aspects the book breaks down through my own understanding in the experience of sanyas transformation. However, no two experiences of life are the same and so ‘Being Selfish’ encourages individuality over personality. It’s a journey from ‘being selfish’ to ‘being selflessly selfish’. A journey of love and meditation to find true individuality amidst a world of personalities. It is a tribute to two of my greatest teachers, love and my master, Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh.

It’s called, ‘Being Selfish – A dreamchaser’s way home.’ I’m on the final draft now.

Would you say that acting took a back seat in all of this?

Actually yes, in a way you could say that. To me, today, all of life is a play, so we are all pretty much acting our way through life. I’m just getting more and more aware of it everyday. The characters I’d like to play, don’t get offered to me at this stage and doing all that it takes to get to them, has never been my cup of tea. It’s not really me. Ironically, I’ve been a student of acting all of my education years. But all that I gotta do to make it what puts food on my table, is too complicated for me. I can see this because I chased it for 15 long years within the systems in place. So instead I focus more on the film, the story, the creation and the telling of it. Then I find my place in it with characters I would enjoy playing. The talent gets expressed, this way or that. When I was just an actor, I said I can’t produce, I am an actor. A dear friend said to me, ‘then act like a producer.’ I learnt it, acting my way through it. I guess another way of saying it would be, ‘I am already satisfied with acting.’ quite unambitious wouldn’t you say ? Haha.

I enjoy creating creative work for my self and others, simultaneously. The character itself is so much more real for me to play, when I’ve seen her whole world grow with her in it, from the scripting phase.

Would you just act in a film or series without producing it?

Of course, if I enjoy the story and my character, why not? It would be simpler in other ways.

You are also the state co-ordinator for the RSSI in Goa to share awareness on meditation & are supporting the Osho movement in some ways. Will you share a little about that too?

Yes, it’s a recent development. I’m humbled to be appointed the state coordinator for Goa on behalf of the Rajneesh Sadhna Sangh International, By Swamiji Anand Arun, who is my initiating guru and the founder of the Sangh. Essentially I’m in purpose now on my spiritual journey. I am supporting the movement with everything that I’m allowing to be done through my being. A Neo Sanyasin. Just a seeker of ultimate truth and a lover of my master’s consciousness in this very world. On this journey I’m grateful for opportunities to share the gift of love and freedom I’ve found in meditation through the messages of my master. I’m enjoying writing for swamiji Anand Arun, the founder of the Tapoban International commune and the true medium of Osho. It allows me to express also the Neo sanyas movement, which has totally transformed my experience of life. I enjoy sharing my understandings of it.

Apart from that, once a week on Sundays, my favourite day of the week; on the advise and blessings of Swamiji Anand Arun, I am offering an Osho meditation & celebration retreat at my home in Goa. To me, it’s just a shelter as I call it the ‘Rajneesh Niwas Meditation Centre.’ We plan to bring in the instructors from the Tapoban international commune for residents and tourists of Goa, to be able to experience a glimpse into a different world of freedom and love in meditation, for a moment in time. It’s a shelter, So it’s free to attend but requires pre-registration. The centre is an extension of the Osho Tapoban International commune in Nepal & a centre of the RSSI itself. Just for people to experience Bhagwan’s meditations, discourses, books and celebration of life. A time to just chill with Bhagwan and me (and others from within the community from time to time).

I’m currently in talks to include these meditation & celebration retreats into curriculum for wellness and yoga centres and academies across Goa and beyond.

All in all, supporting by just having fun and enjoying the freedom of Sanyas and the love to share in meditation. Being available to my master as he is available to me.

You are also the president of a non profit organization, the We Women Foundation. What is the mission of this foundation and how does it help the liberation of women ?

The we women foundation, is inspired by my perspective shift on women’s liberation after I looked into the truth of Bhagwan’s discourse on The New Vision for Women’s Liberation. My own personal experiences of life gave me the knowledge needed to understand what the discourse was saying. It turned into the wisdom of experience and I adopted his way for the foundation. Compared to the work being done on the rest of Osho’s teachings, his genius understanding on the women’s liberation has been overlooked. I have faith that more people can experience this kind of liberation and joy that I am experiencing just with work on the inner ‘self’.

The foundation takes an inclusive approach to both women and men alike. It does not deal with the gender embodied woman at all. It deals with the feminine energy which is present in both men and women. We all have both energies within us. The mission of the foundation is to educate people on this feminine energy within themselves, regardless of their gender and to help them make this energy alive, thriving and leading within the self first. When the feminine is accepted, loved, nurtured and empowered within; the shift is bound to happen in the outside world too. We women is not concerned with any fight or Justice for liberation at all. Neither does it discourage it. However, we women is concerned with meditation and love and creativity for the rising of the feminine within all. Expression and manifestation will find its own way outward.

I look to launch it’s first campaign at the launch of my book in the next months.

Between all of this how do you find the time to meditate?

Haha. Time finds me to do all this between all my meditations. That is a truthful confession. I live in the opposite direction. Inward! I’m just showing up wherever life calls of me outside, then I go back inside. Today I enjoy this, tomorrow it may all be taken away, so I can enjoy that. So time finds me if it needs to be done through me. I need not find the time. I only meditate and be grateful. I just hope I make sense. If not, ‘Being Selfish’ should make it simpler. Haha.

Thank you.

Alia arrived at the ceremony along with her husband Ranbir Kapoor.
She added glamour to the event as she donned a beige-colored embroidered saree that complemented the Indian culture.

Alia has jointly won the Best Actor award with Kriti Sanon, who has won in the same category for her performance in the film ‘Mimi’.

Helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ revolves around a maiden sold by a suitor into prostitution and how she becomes a prominent and celebrated figure in the underworld and Kamathipua red-light district.

Alia’s stellar performance in the film helped her bag the Best Actress Award at IIFA 2023 and Filmfare Awards 2023. Director Sanjay Leela Bhansali has also bagged the National Award for Best Editing for the film ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’.

Meanwhile, Alia will be next seen in director Vasan Bala’s upcoming film ‘Jigra’ which she is also producing.
‘Jigra’ is all set to hit the theatres on September 27, 2024.

A Star-Studded Guest List

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the wedding venue was graced by the presence of some of the biggest names in Indian cinema and politics. The baraatis, who arrived earlier in the day on a picturesque boat, included Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Tennis sensation Sania Mirza, former cricket maestro Harbhajan Singh, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh, Shiva Sena leader Aditya Thackeray, and the renowned fashion designer Manish Malhotra all added a touch of glamour to this starry soirée. However, conspicuously missing was Parineeti’s cousin and global icon Priyanka Chopra, who, despite her absence, was well represented by her mother, Madhu Chopra.

A Musical Extravaganza

Before the grand wedding, Parineeti and Raghav set the tone with a vibrant sangeet ceremony, adhering to a nostalgic 90s theme. Punjabi sensation Navraj Hans enthralled the guests with his melodious tunes, while customized cassettes with heartfelt messages added a personal touch to this extravagant affair.

A Journey of Love

The love story of Parineeti and Raghav is one that has ripened over several years. Their paths may have converged in London, where they reportedly shared their college days.

As the festivities unfolded in Udaipur, it was evident that the couple’s distinctive personal style and love for each other illuminated the entire celebration. Their journey to becoming husband and wife is a testament to the magic of love.

On the Horizon

While the wedding bells continue to echo in their hearts, Parineeti Chopra is gearing up for an exciting lineup of projects in the world of cinema. She will share the screen with Diljit Dosanjh in “Chamkila,” directed by the illustrious Imtiaz Ali, a film that revolves around the lives of iconic Punjabi singers Amarjot Kaur and Amar Singh Chamkila. Additionally, she has “Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue,” alongside Akshay Kumar, awaiting her enthusiastic participation.

As the curtain falls on this enchanting Udaipur wedding spectacle, the world eagerly anticipates the beautiful journey that lies ahead for Raghav Chadha and Parineeti Chopra, a couple that has captured the essence of love and celebration in the grandest fashion imaginable.

Also Read: PM Modi Invites Students to G20 University Connect Finale on 26th Sept
Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX

Her wide spectrum of content has made her a prominent figure in the industry and even in today’s times, she continues backing such stories. The prominent figure who holds many achievements in her impressive career has clearly added another feather to her cinematic journey.

‘Thank You For Coming’ talks about self-love, and intimacy and is led by an ensemble female cast of Bhumi Pednekar, Shibani Bedi, Shehnaaz Gill, and Kusha Kapalia who will all join Ektaa for the grand gala screening of the film. Ektaa recently was in the news for another international feat as she was announced as the winner of an International Emmy Award.

She will be bestowed with the title of 2023 Directorate Award at the 51st International Emmy Awards Gala. Clearly 2023 is turning out to be quite a year for the producer.

Also Read: A Tale of Contrasting Journeys – Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon’s National Award win reiterates that star-kids and industry outsiders can coexist successfully when they possess undeniable talent

Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX

Among the many highlights of this prestigious event for which trophies will be handed out soon perhaps none shines as brightly as the co-sharing of the Best Actress Award – Female by Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon, two remarkable talents whose journeys to stardom couldn’t be more different.

Alia Bhatt, hails from a lineage deeply rooted in the industry. She emerged into the world of cinema with the undeniable advantage of having celebrity parents, Mahesh Bhatt and Soni Razdan. However, what truly sets Alia apart is her undeniable talent and her unwavering commitment to her craft. In the face of nepotism allegations and detractors, she has proved time and again that her success is a result of her hard work, dedication, and remarkable acting prowess.

Alia’s journey from a star-kid to a celebrated actress is a testament to her undeniable talent, and her National Award win further solidifies her place in the limelight.

On the other hand, we have Kriti Sanon, a shining example of a self-made artist. Hailing from a middle-class family in Delhi, Kriti embarked on her Bollywood journey as a clear outsider with no industry connections. Her debut marked the beginning of a remarkable ascent in the world of cinema. What’s truly commendable is that Kriti Sanon achieved the pinnacle of recognition in the form of a National Award just nine years into her career, a feat that is nothing short of extraordinary.

Her journey is a testament to the fact that raw talent, relentless hard work, and determination can pave the way to success, even without the support of industry insiders.

The co-sharing of the National Award for Best Actress by Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon sends a powerful message to the industry and the audience alike. It demonstrates that in the world of Indian cinema, both star-kids and industry outsiders can coexist successfully when they possess undeniable talent and dedication to the craft.

In a time when the film industry is undergoing significant transformation and introspection, the National Awards this year served as a beacon of hope and validation for young talents aspiring to make their mark. The recognition of both Alia Bhatt and Kriti Sanon reaffirms that in the world of cinema, talent is the true currency, and it knows no boundaries, be it lineage or background.

Also Read: ’Thank You For Coming’ becomes the first Indian Film to get a gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival; Ektaa R Kapoor leaves for the event

Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX

Also Read: North Korea’s Leader Kim Jong Un, Makes Arrival in Russia

Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX

Having entered the 400 crore club, ‘Gadar 2’ prompted Sunny Deol to express his gratitude in a video while on a flight. Taking to his Instagram, he thanked the audience for their overwhelming support. In the video, Sunny conveyed, “First and foremost, thank you all. I never imagined that you all would love ‘Gadar 2’ this much. We have crossed 400 crores because of all of you.”

Trade analyst Taran Adarsh, on his Instagram, previously shared the details, stating, “Crossing 400 crores… #Gadar2 embarks on its significant journey towards the ₹ 500 crore mark… Dominating in mass areas and the heartland of Hindi cinema, contributing to its substantial total… [Week 2] Earnings on Fri: 20.50 cr, Sat: 31.07 cr, Sun: 38.90 cr, Mon: 13.50 cr, Tue: 12.10 cr. Total: ₹ 400.70 cr. #IndianBoxOffice.”

Directed by Anil Sharma, ‘Gadar 2’ serves as a sequel to the 2001 hit film. In the movie, Sunny Deol portrayed Tara, a truck driver, while Ameesha Patel played Sakina, set against the backdrop of India’s partition in 1947. ‘Gadar 2’ follows Tara Singh’s daring mission to rescue his son (played by Utkarsh Sharma) from Pakistan after he is captured, continuing the storyline from the original film.

Also Read: After Explosion Kills 5, Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari Criticizes Mamata For Shielding Criminals
Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX

In this year’s context, Alia Bhatt and Kangana Ranaut’s names are circulating on social media as potential contenders for the Best Actress award, with ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’ and ‘Thalaivi’ being mentioned respectively. Notable contenders also include the Malayalam film ‘Nayattu’ and R Madhavan’s ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect.’ However, the confirmed nominees will only be unveiled on Thursday evening.

Last year, the Best Actor Award for 2020 was jointly won by Suriya for ‘Soorarai Pottru’ and Ajay Devgn for the Hindi movie ‘Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior.’ Aparna Balamurali secured the Best Actress award. Manoj Muntashir was recognized with the Best Lyrics award for the Hindi movie ‘Saina.’

Madhya Pradesh was honored with the ‘Most Film Friendly State’ award, while Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh received Special Mentions. ‘The Longest Kiss’ by Kishwar Desai was recognized as the Best Book on Cinema for the year, and the Malayalam book ‘MT Anunahvangalude Pusthakam’ and Odia book ‘Kali Paine Kalira Cinema’ received special mentions.

Also Read: Massive Landslide in Kullu District of Himachal Pradesh Causes Multiple House Collapses

Catch all the Latest Business News, Breaking News Events, and Latest News Updates on NewsX)

Musk tweeted, “And soon we shall say goodbye to the twitter brand and, gradually, all the birds.”

He said in another tweet, “If a good enough X logo is posted tonight, we’ll make go live worldwide tomorrow.” A few hours later, Musk tweeted an additional picture showing a flickering “X” that had been posted by one of the users.

Netizens respond to logo change

Internet users have responded to Musk’s tweets in a variety of ways.
Will miss little blue birdie, wrote one user on social media.
Another said, “Waiting to see how X will look.”
The name “X” has been on the billionaire’s mind for some time now.

Since Musk acquired Twitter in October, the company has changed its name to X Corp, indicating the billionaire’s ambition to develop a “super app” akin to China’s WeChat, according to the New York Post.
Musk previously shared a photo of himself creating a “X” with his hands and stated that he liked the letter.
He captioned the photo, “Not sure what subtle clues gave it away, but I like the letter X.”

The Dogecoin Shiba Inu dog temporarily took the place of the bird in April, which helped raise the market value of the meme coin by as much as USD 4 billion.

San Diego Comic-Con, 2023 will take place from 20th July 2023 to 23rd July 2023. Director Nag Ashwin will be accompanied by stars of the movie Kamal Haasan, Prabhas, and Deepika Padukone for the event.

According to Variety, Vyjayanthi Movies will kick start the SDCC, 2023 by unveiling the film’s title, trailer, and release date on the opening night of the convention which is being held on 19th July 2023. Followed by this, the team will host a panel titled “This is Project K: First Glimpse of India’s Mytho-Sci-fi Epic”. There are also speculations about the stars of the film performing on SDCC’s stage, showcasing India’s vibrant culture and the world of science fiction.

PROJECT K: All YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT
Starring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, and Disha Patani, Project K is an upcoming Indian Science fiction Action film. The film is a work of Vyjayanthi movies, being produced by C. Aswani Dutt and directed by Nag Ashwin. The film will be a multilingual movie being shot in both Tamil and Hindi.
The film was announced on the occasion of Vyjayanthi Movies’ 50th anniversary in February 2020. However, in pursuit of the Covid-19 pandemic, the movie faced a delay and the filming started in July 2021.

The filmmakers have planned to release the film globally in Telugu, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Kannada, and English languages.

Director Ashwin in a statement expressed his excitement about the movie and said that India’s storytelling traditions have ancient roots, with its epic serving as the origins for many civilizations worldwide. The director feels that Comic Con will be the perfect place to introduce the film to the world as it will be a place where the ‘honesty’ and ‘enthusiasm’ needed for the film will be found.

Emphasizing the participation of well-known Indian Superstars, Producer Ashwani Dutt emphasized the significance of this film’s journey for Indian Cinema in breaking ground.

Stars of the film like Amitabh Bachchan, have also tweeted about their excitement for the film and its launch on the occasion of SDCC,2023.