Pooja Pillai is an entertainment journalist with Asian Media Group, where she covers cinema, pop culture, internet trends, and the politics of representation. Her work spans interviews, cultural features, and social commentary across digital platforms.
She began her reporting career as a news anchor, scripting and presenting stories for a regional newsroom. With a background in journalism and media studies, she has since built a body of work exploring how entertainment intersects with social and cultural shifts, particularly through a South Indian lens.
She brings both newsroom rigour and narrative curiosity to her work, and believes the best stories don’t just inform — they reveal what we didn’t know we needed to hear.
Ellen DeGeneres has officially wrapped up another chapter of her life in the United States, selling one of her last remaining homes in California. The former talk show host, and her wife, Portia de Rossi have been gradually moving away from their U.S. properties after settling into a new life in the English countryside.
Their latest sale, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom bungalow in Montecito, fetched $5.2 million—$200,000 over the asking price after just 10 days on the market. The couple originally purchased the mid-century modern home in 2021 for $2.9 million, making a significant profit in the sale. Located near Butterfly Beach, the 1,691-square-foot house features spa-like bathrooms, an enclosed patio, and a lush courtyard designed for privacy and relaxation.
Ellen DeGeneres' Montecito bungalow, sold for $5.2 million, marks one of her last real estate deals in CaliforniaGetty Images
DeGeneres and de Rossi, known for their keen eye for real estate, have a long history of flipping homes. Over the years, they’ve bought and sold more than 50 properties, often turning a substantial profit. However, their recent move to the U.K. marks a shift in priorities, with the pair now focusing on their new life in the Cotswolds, where they purchased an $18 million farmhouse.
The decision to relocate comes after DeGeneres ended her long-running daytime talk show in 2022, following allegations of a toxic workplace environment. Though she addressed the controversy in her 2023 comedy special, joking about how she was effectively "kicked out of show business," the move to England signals a fresh start for the couple.
The $5.2M Montecito home sold by Ellen and Portia features mid-century-modern design and a tranquil courtyardGetty Images
Despite their excitement for a quieter life abroad, settling into the English countryside hasn’t been entirely smooth. Their plans to extend their new home faced pushback from local officials and neighbours, who raised concerns about potential flood risks and historical preservation. However, authorities later confirmed that the modifications met planning standards and posed no significant issues.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi embrace a new chapter in the UK after years of flipping luxury propertiesGetty Images
The Cotswolds, known for its picturesque landscapes and affluent residents, has welcomed several celebrity homeowners, including David and Victoria Beckham, Kate Moss, and Elizabeth Hurley. The couple seems to be embracing their new surroundings, celebrating their 20-year relationship milestone with a heartfelt social media tribute. DeGeneres reassured fans that, despite stormy weather reports, their farmhouse had not been affected by flooding.
Ellen DeGeneres' Hollywood real estate empire shrinks as she offloads another California propertyGetty Images
As they bid farewell to their life in California, DeGeneres and de Rossi appear committed to their new home and future in England.
Raj almost wasn’t Indian, Tom Cruise was the idea.
The title? Kirron Kher just threw it out there.
Pigeon scene: Totally SRK winging it. Kajol freaked a little.
Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna got added last minute. Can you imagine?
Maratha Mandir. Playing. Every day. Since 1995. Fans love it.
You might think you’ve seen it all in DDLJ. Raj, Simran, the songs, yes, we all know them. But there’s a lot behind the camera that most people have no clue about. Some of it was luck. Some of it Shah Rukh Khan just winging it. And some… well, Aditya Chopra being a little crazy. Here’s the stuff nobody really tells you.
How Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a Bollywood legend: 10 untold stories Youtube Screengrab
1. Raj almost had a totally different face
Aditya Chopra literally imagined an American guy and an Indian girl and had Tom Cruise in mind. But then his dad, Yash Chopra, stepped in and said, “Nope, Indian boy.” And then the story completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t Hollywood, but NRIs, family, love, and all the cultural stuff that actually hits you in the gut.
2. Kirron Kher named the film
That long, unforgettable title? Shah Rukh Khan thought it was clunky. But the rookie director, Aditya, heard it from Kirron Kher and went with his gut. And yes, she got a credit in the opening titles.
3. Script written in a month
Three years of thinking, then all of a sudden, the final script was done in three or four weeks. Can you imagine? The blueprint for the biggest romantic film of the ’90s, completed in less than a month.
4. Accidental magic
That pigeon-feeding scene with Amrish Puri? Totally improvised by Shah Rukh. Even Kajol’s shocked face in Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane was not planned. Aditya kept it a secret to get a real reaction. And it worked big time. Fans don’t even know half the story behind that moment.
5. Director hiding in a car
During the Zurich car ride, Aditya wasn’t just lurking behind the camera. No. He was lying flat in the back of the red convertible, flat out of frame, watching every move. Can you imagine lying like that for hours? Wild.
6. Raj’s leather jacket wasn’t a costume
Raj’s iconic leather jacket? The one every guy copied? Uday Chopra just bought it from a Harley shop in California and cost 400 bucks. Not a big fancy wardrobe magic, it was just a cool jacket he found.
7. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhnaalmost didn’t happen
That wedding song everyone hums? Almost didn’t exist. It got added at the very last second, borrowed from another Yash Raj project. Imagine weddings without it!
8. Kajol’s towel moment
Kajol wasn’t a fan of that towel scene. She seriously didn’t want to shoot it, but the director insisted. And that white skirt in the song? The director said it looked frumpy. Manish Malhotra, the designer, had to take scissors and cut it shorter on the spot.
9. Shah Rukh’s prophecy
After reading the script, Shah Rukh told Yash Chopra: “This will define my stardom.” And he nailed it. Spot on.
10. The first “making of” documentary
Before YouTube, before making-of reels, they aired a half-hour documentary on Doordarshan.
Chaudhary Baldev Singh Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan Kajol www.easterneye.biz
24*7- for 365 days
And then there's Maratha Mandir. This old theater in Mumbai. It's still showing the film. Every. Single. Day. For 30 years. Tickets are 50 rupees. Fans go to watch it like a ritual, some book the gallery for birthdays or anniversaries. People even fly in from abroad. Iconic, right?
30 years later, Raj and Simran are on stage in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical in Manchester. 18 original English songs. Same story. Same magic. New audience. And people are loving it.
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