Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

AFGHANI ACTRESS WARINA HUSSAIN IS EXCITED ABOUT MAKING HER BOLLYWOOD DEBUT

by MOHNISH SINGH.

BORN in Afghanistan and brought up in various countries across the world, model turned


actress Warina Hussain is ready to set foot in Bollywood with the forthcoming film, LoveYatri.

The comedy drama, which also marks the acting debut of megastar Salman Khan’s brother-in-law Aayush Sharma, is a musical romance set during the festival of Navratri.

As LoveYatri races towards its theatrical release next Friday (5), Warina is looking forward to the next chapter of her life with excitement. She spoke to Eastern Eye about the debut dream role, what drew her towards Hindi cinema, favourite actresses and much more.

Your debut film LoveYatri is about to be released globally. Are you nervous or excited ahead of it arriving in cinemas? 

I am nervous and excited at the same time. I have that feeling you have during your final exams. What will be the result? You hope for good things. I still can’t believe it’s happening. And October is so close. There are all this mixed feelings.

How did you land the role?

I was auditioning for a couple of films and one day, at 3am in the morning, I was informed that I have to make a selfie video and send it to a casting coordinator. I then got a message from the coordinator to upload my introduction video on the Being In Touch app. So, I did that and after a month, I got a call from Mukesh Chabbra, the casting director. I went there and auditioned for my role. After that I met Aayush Sharma and director

Abhiraj Minawala.

Did you know you were auditioning for LoveYatria film to be produced by

superstar Salman Khan?

No, I didn’t, because when I got the script, it was blank and had no mention of the production house. Generally, when we get a script, we are told about the production house and entire details of the project. But as I said, this was a blank script.

So how did you feel when you found out that Salman Khan would be producing the film?

I still can’t believe that I am debuting with such a big banner. Everything is there in this movie. This is the perfect debut anybody could have ever wished for. You are getting a chance to work with all the best people and obviously, I am still very grateful and sometimes I feel this is not real.

Have you seen any of his films?

Of course I have seen them. My mom is a big Salman Khan fan and she made me watch numerous films. Since I am an only child, I never had any option but to watch movies with her. My favourite of his films is Andaz Apna Apna (1994).

What was it like working with your LoveYatri co-star Aayush?

I think he is very hard working. We started as complete strangers, and me being an introvert, it took us some time to open up and talk. We did our readings together and Abhiraj sir made sure that he provided us with an environment where we would do one hour of reading and two hours of chatting, talking about the film, sharing our ideas, and then we became friends.

Did you watch Bollywood films when you were growing up?

In Afghanistan, everybody is inspired by Bollywood. They follow Hindi films like anything. My grandfather used to rent a VCR and watch Hindi films and follow the fashion trends from the movies he would see.

The love for Bollywood has always been there. I grew up travelling around the world, so I

watched both Hollywood and Bollywood. I have watched Indian television also. I have grown up watching Sonpari and Shararat.

How did you get into acting?

I started with modelling six years back. At that time, modelling was a job for me. I have always been a creative person, but modelling started just as a job. But then looking back, I realised I had given way too much time to modelling. I had come far enough. But since I had no other qualification for any other career, this became my professional journey. Then I decided, why not polish myself and grow in this line only? After that, I started doing commercials and opted for some acting workshops.

How would you describe your life in Mumbai?

It’s tough because modelling has always been my bread and butter, it is my profession. Living alone in Bombay is not easy. You don’t get apartments. There is a lot of struggle.

Then comes the main part – whom to trust? Which audition to go for? Which meeting to avoid? Whom to meet? And every month, you have to make sure you save money from the work you did. But I am not complaining. I would say I am a self-made person. I am proud of what I have achieved today because I have achieved the best and that doesn’t happen every day.

Which are some of your favourite Hindi films and who are you inspired by in Bollywood?

I have a couple of favourite films like Margarita With A Straw (2014), and Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012). I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s films because he makes his movies with such perfection, and then there is Zoya Akhtar, who is my favourite. Talking about who I am inspired by, Hindi cinema is an institution in itself. My favourite actresses are Rekhaji and Srideviji. I watch their videos and dance. I try to learn their expressions. I always look back to them for inspiration.

Finally, do you believe in destiny?

Yes, I am here today just because of destiny and better things will be in store in my future. No matter how much I say I was modelling, doing this and doing that, it’s all destiny, it’s all written.

More For You

Heera Rajagopal's Blog Reignites Allegations Against Ajith Kumar

Ajith Kumar’s AK64 has become the most discussed Tamil film of the year

Instagram

How is Ajith Kumar’s 'AK64' salary deal changing Tamil cinema?

Highlights:

  • Reports claim Ajith opted for no-salary model in AK64
  • Actor allegedly set to earn from OTT and satellite rights instead
  • Srinidhi Shetty and GV Prakash linked to the film’s team
  • Production to begin in November under director Adhik Ravichandran

Ajith Kumar’s upcoming film AK64 has created a stir after reports suggested the actor has signed a unique “no-salary” deal, making AK64 a hot topic in Tamil cinema. The move has attracted attention not only for its scale but also for Ajith’s decision to forgo a traditional fee, instead securing rights revenue. The news follows the mixed response to Vidaamuyarchi and the blockbuster success of Good Bad Ugly, directed by Adhik Ravichandran.

Ajith Kumar’s AK64 has become the most discussed Tamil film of the year Instagram

Keep ReadingShow less
Thama

Thama marks the first love story in Maddock Films’ hit horror comedy universe

Instagram/maddockfilms

‘Thama’ teaser shows Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna in a bloody love story with Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s vampire twist

Highlights

  • Maddock Films unveils teaser for Thama, the first love story in its horror-comedy universe
  • Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna star as star-crossed lovers in a tale of passion and horror
  • Nawazuddin Siddiqui introduced as Yakshasan, the “King of Darkness”
  • Malaika Arora, Paresh Rawal and Faisal Malik add glamour and humour to the dark saga

The much-anticipated Thama teaser is finally out, and it has given audiences a chilling glimpse into Maddock Films’ next addition to its successful horror-comedy universe. Starring Ayushmann Khurrana and Rashmika Mandanna, the film has been pitched as Bollywood’s first “bloody love story”, bringing together romance with gothic horror. With Nawazuddin Siddiqui stepping in as a vampire overlord, and a surprise cameo from Malaika Arora, the teaser has set social media abuzz with excitement.

Thama Thama marks the first love story in Maddock Films’ hit horror comedy universe Instagram/maddockfilms

Keep ReadingShow less
Zakir Khan at Madison Square Garden in New York

Zakir Khan performs to a sold-out crowd of 6,000 at Madison Square Garden in New York

Instagram/zakirkhan_208

Zakir Khan makes history with Hindi comedy at Madison Square Garden as Hasan Minhaj hails milestone

Highlights:

• Zakir Khan becomes first Indian comedian to headline a Hindi stand-up show at Madison Square Garden
• Performed to a sold-out audience of 6,000 in New York City
• Hasan Minhaj praised the performance as a “historic night for comedy worldwide”
• Stars including Tabu, Vir Das and Arjun Kapoor congratulated him on social media

Zakir Khan has created history by headlining the first-ever Hindi stand-up comedy show at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Performing to a packed house of 6,000 fans, the Indore-born comic redefined the reach of Hindi comedy on the global stage. Fellow comedian Hasan Minhaj, who attended the show, called it a “historic night for comedy worldwide,” underlining the significance of the achievement.

Keep ReadingShow less
Tyler West and Molly Rainford

Tyler West drops to one knee to propose to Molly Rainford in Mykonos

Instagram Screengrab/tylerwestt/mollyrainford

Strictly Come Dancing stars Molly Rainford and Tyler West engagement confirmed after romantic Mykonos proposal

Highlights:

  • Tyler West proposed to Molly Rainford during a sunset holiday in Mykonos
  • The couple met on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 and began dating the following year
  • Molly’s EastEnders co-stars and celebrity friends flooded social media with congratulations
  • Strictly returns to BBC One this autumn with its 2025 line-up

BBC Strictly Come Dancing stars Molly Rainford and Tyler West have confirmed their engagement after a romantic sunset proposal in Mykonos, Greece. The announcement delighted fans, with the news spreading quickly across social media and drawing support from celebrity friends and Molly’s EastEnders castmates. The engagement marks a milestone for the couple, who first met on the BBC dance competition three years ago.

Keep ReadingShow less
Faissal Khan and Aamir Khan

Faissal Khan reveals shocking details about his feud with Aamir Khan and family

Getty Images/ Instagram/faissal.khan

Aamir Khan’s brother Faissal claims actor fathered Jessica Hines’ son Jaan

Highlights

• Faissal Khan, brother of Aamir Khan, says his family forced him to marry his mother’s cousin after his divorce in 2002
• He alleges Aamir Khan had an affair with British journalist Jessica Hines and fathered her son Jaan
• Faissal claims his family branded him mentally ill after he resisted their pressure to marry
• He has now cut ties with Aamir Khan and issued a public notice declaring independence
• Aamir Khan’s family earlier dismissed Faissal’s statements as “hurtful and misleading”

Keep ReadingShow less