Last seen in the 2011 movie Tell Me O Kkhuda, actress Esha Deol is set to begin her second inning in showbiz, with an upcoming short film called Cakewalk. To be helmed by debutant Ram Kamal Mukherjee, the movie will see Deol in the role of a chef.
Esha reveals that Mukherjee got the idea of making Cakewalk while he was authoring a book on her mother Hema Malini. “The idea of making a film came into Ram Kamal’s mind while he was interviewing me for his book on my mother.”
“I always wanted to tell a story, it was just a matter of time,” says Ram Kamal. “It was actually Esha who inspired me to direct the film.”
Abhra Chakraborty, who has previously assisted National Award winning Bengali filmmaker Bappaditya Bandhopadhya in Elar Chaar Adhyay, will co-direct the film with Ram Kamal Mukherjee. “I have heard about dada (Ram Kamal) from Bappada. After Bappada’s sudden demise when I suddenly got a call from him to collaborate on a Hindi film, I immediately agreed,” says Abhra.
Model-turned-actor Tarun Malhotra will play the male lead in the short film. Talking about his selection, Ram Kamal says, “I met Tarun during my Stardust days, and since then I have seen his growth as a talent. He has worked with filmmakers like Pradeep Sarkar and Gaurie Shinde in commercials and played an antagonist in Jaanbaz Sindabad in ZEE TV. I wanted someone who can look young and matured at the same time.”
Cakewalk, which is being produced by Dinesh Gupta, Shailendra Kumar and Aritra Das, under the banner of Assorted Motion Pictures and S.S One Entertainments, will be shot extensively in Kolkata.
The singer jokingly texted Clairo saying, "Let's f**k her up," sparking an online frenzy
Why Charli XCX jokingly declared war on Peppa Pig after one viral comment
Highlights
What started as a playful celebrity game has turned into one of the internet's most unexpected viral moments, with Charli XCX jokingly threatening to "f**k up" Peppa Pig after the beloved cartoon character appeared to dismiss singer Clairo.
The exchange quickly spread across social media, drawing reactions from fans and fellow musicians, while turning an unlikely clash between a pop star and a fictional children's character into a trending talking point.
Peppa Pig's viral remark sparked the joke
The playful exchange began during Peppa Pig's appearance in Pitchfork's Over/Under game, where the animated character rated a selection of music artists.
While expressing admiration for acts including PinkPantheress and The Beatles, Peppa responded to Clairo by saying, "I don't know her," a line widely recognised as a reference to Mariah Carey's famous response when asked about Jennifer Lopez.
The remark, accompanied by a knowing glance at the camera, quickly gained traction online.
Charli XCX rushed to Clairo's defence
After seeing the clip, Charli XCX privately messaged Clairo, writing, "Let's f**k her up," alongside a screenshot of the viral post.
Clairo later shared the exchange on social media, prompting thousands of reactions from fans, many of whom responded with pig and bacon-themed jokes.
PinkPantheress, whom Peppa had praised in the original video, also joined the conversation, posting a message supporting Clairo.
As the exchange continued, Clairo responded to the growing attention with humour, replying to posts before eventually telling followers, "ok that's enoughhhhh lolllllllllll."
Some fans joked that the viral moment was the perfect opportunity for the singer to announce new music, though Clairo replied that she did not have anything ready to share.
Her most recent album, Charm, was released in 2024, with its accompanying tour concluding in 2025.
Charli XCX keeps her focus on new music
While the online joke continued to gather momentum, Charli XCX did not publicly add to the exchange.
Instead, the singer has been focusing on promoting her upcoming album, Music, Fashion, Film, which is scheduled for release on July 24.
Although fans speculated that one of the track titles could be a playful nod to the viral exchange, there has been no indication that the album references the light-hearted social media moment.