Actress Sonakshi Sinha fell in love with the script of Kalank the moment director Abhishek Verman narrated it to her. Another reason she said yes to the period drama was its stellar star cast which includes the likes of Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapur. “I have never been in a multi-starrer like this, of this magnitude. I am really happy to be working with these fine, fine actors and wonderful people,” exuberant Sonakshi tells Eastern Eye correspondent, Mohnish Singh.
Apart from spilling some beans on her character in Kalank, Sonakshi also talks candidly about the trend of multi-starrers making a comeback in Bollywood, what else she would love to explore professionally besides acting, and whether or not the digital media interests her at this point in her career.
How was it to work on a multi-starrer period film like Kalank?
It was great. I think from the moment Abhishek narrated the script to me and the world he had created, I was completely sold. He told me that these wonderful actors were going to be a part of the film as well. I was so happy.
The entire experience has been so surreal, because the film is so larger-than-life and the characters are so beautifully written. The look and feel of the film are so different. It is set in the 1940s, an era nobody from our generation can imagine. It has been a fantastic experience.
Tell us a little bit about your character in the movie.
I play a character called Satya Chaudhry. She is somebody who is very strong, very resilient and very sacrificing. She is somebody who holds the entire family together. All she wants is the best for her family and she is willing to put them, you know, in front of her need, her wishes and desires. It is a very, very strong character. Satya is a strong and silent type (smiles).
How did you prepare for your character?
I am an actor who does not really have a process. I am a spontaneous actor. I can only act when the camera is on. So when the camera starts rolling, I am ready to do my job. My main preparation happens when I speak to my director about my character. I try to understand from him what his vision is and how he has imagined my character. My job as an actor is to do what my director wants and what he has imagined. My job is to give at least 97% of what he has imagined.
In Kalank, almost every actor has one or two songs specially dedicated to them. Do you have any song shot solely on you?
In this film, no, I do not have any song, because my character is such and she is in such a situation that she cannot suddenly break into song and dance. I do miss it though. I really miss it. But it is okay. I am sure when you see the film, you will understand why I have no songs.
What is that one thing that you would like to take back from Kalank?
The entire experience. I have never been in a multi-starrer like this, of this magnitude. I am really happy to be working with these fine, fine actors and wonderful people. Varun, Aditya, and Alia have been my friends before we started shooting. Sanjay sir has been a part of the family. Madhuri ma’am is somebody we all have looked up to at some point in our lives because of how she is. It was an amazing experience overall, being a part of this film.
How do you look at the trend of multi-starrers making a comeback in Bollywood?
I think it is great. I myself have given a nod to quite a few, Kalank being the first film in the list. Mission Mangal is the next multi-starrer that I am doing. Then there is Bhuj: The Pride Of India also. So I feel it is great that multi-starrers are coming back in vogue. What I have noticed about multi-starrers being made today is that each and every character in them is so well etched out. At least the films which I am doing, nobody gets lost in other characters. So it is great.
How was it to work with other actors on the star cast?
Very well. As I said, Varun, Aditya and Alia have been friends of mine, so it was very cool to work with them. They are such nice actors. Sanju sir has seen me grow up, so we already had that bond there. With Madhuri ma’am, I have worked for the first time, so I am just really happy that I get to be in the same film as her. I really love and respect her.
Did you learn anything from her?
Unfortunately, I do not have any scene with her and that was my biggest complaint to Abhishek Verman, that he put me in the same film with Madhuriji and did not give me a single scene with her. So that was my biggest complaint to him. Having said that, you learn a lot by just watching her. During interviews and all, I just look at her and admire her the way she is. She is amazing.
Which is your favourite Madhuri Dixit film?
So many films are there. I think any film that she has done, any role that she has taken up, she owns it in its entirety. Whenever she comes on screen, she just lights up the entire place. So I do not think I can pick out any one film in particular.
Aaja Nachle (2007) was a film which I saw when I was in college and at that time I had not even thought of becoming an actor. But when I saw the film and I saw her dancing, I just told myself that if I ever become an actor, I should aspire to be like her. She is that kind of a person who can really inspire you.
Sonakshi, you are very active on social media? How do social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram help an actor?
For me, social media is something which I use to have a direct connect with my fans. My films are my films. That is my work. That is what I do. I use social media to inform them what I am doing, and also give them a glimpse of me as to who I am as a person in my real life, when I am not acting and not on the screen. I enjoy it that way.
It happened very organically for me. We have grown up in a time when these platforms had started coming, like Facebook, Twitter, etc. It just comes as second nature. It is not something that I think about consciously. I do not think that, “Okay, today I will post this at that time”. I post something when I feel like.
Apart from acting, is there anything else that you would like to explore professionally?
I hope that I continue to act as long as I can, because it is really something that I love to do. I cannot imagine doing anything else. But I have studied fashion designing, so I have that knowledge. It could be something that I can explore, but I have not thought of it now. I paint, so that is also something that can be explored.
Is anything happening on the digital front?
No, not yet.
Are you open to it?
Yes, I am open to it. I have read a few scripts, but nothing that struck me and made me say yes to it. I am waiting for something that has a very strong role for me. If the show revolves around my character, even better. I enjoy watching digital shows. I feel the kind of content that they are bringing up on digital is very, very good. Of course, I would love to do content which I can watch with my family as well. So, yeah, I want stuff like that.
Scarlett Johansson says early roles focused on “desirability” and male-centred narratives
Notes positive shift in how women are portrayed in Hollywood today
Recalls being hypersexualised and typecast as a young actress
Currently stars in The Phoenician Scheme, with Jurassic World Rebirth out on 2 July
Scarlett Johansson has reflected on how Hollywood roles for women have evolved, admitting that early in her career, most of her characters were written to serve male-driven storylines. Speaking in an interview, the actress said the landscape has changed, with more nuanced opportunities for women on screen.
The Black Widow star, who began acting at nine, noted a shift in the kinds of roles she’s being offered now. “When I was younger, a lot of the roles I was offered had their ambitions or arcs revolving around their desirability or the male gaze,” she said. “That is less frequent now; something has shifted.”
Scarlett Johansson opens up about breaking free from early typecastingGetty Images
Johansson says more complex roles are finally being written for women
The 39-year-old actress acknowledged that the film industry is slowly embracing more layered portrayals of women. “The messaging is different now; there are more role models, women in visible and powerful positions, and roles that aren’t just one-note,” she said.
Scarlett has long been vocal about the way she was sexualised early on in her career. In a 2022 interview, she admitted that being objectified in Hollywood made her fear she’d be stuck playing the same type of roles. “I kind of became pigeonholed… I remember thinking, ‘I think people think I’m 40 years old,’” she said.
Johansson reflects on her childhood stardom and evolving careerGetty Images
From child star to filmmaker, Johansson now takes control of the narrative
Having debuted in North (1994), Scarlett went on to star in Lost in Translation, The Horse Whisperer, Ghost World, and the Avengers franchise. Now, she’s not just acting; she’s also directing. Her first feature, Eleanor the Great, premiered at Cannes in May.
From Avengers to auteur Scarlett Johansson embraces creative control Getty Images
Alongside her current role in Wes Anderson’s The Phoenician Scheme, she has Jurassic World Rebirth, which hit theatres on 2 July. After decades in the business, Johansson seems to finally be stepping into a space where she can define her own story, both on and off the screen.
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Flying car mishap forces Beyoncé to pause Houston performance mid-song
Beyoncé stopped her Houston Cowboy Carter show after her suspended Cadillac prop tilted dangerously.
The singer was performing 16 Carriages mid-air when she yelled, “Stop! Stop!” to halt the show.
She was safely lowered to the stage and told fans, “If ever I fall, I know y’all will catch me.”
Parkwood Entertainment confirmed a technical mishap but said the show resumed without injuries.
Beyoncé stopped her Cowboy Carter tour performance in Houston after a mid-air prop began to tilt precariously during the penultimate song. The singer, perched in a suspended red Cadillac high above the crowd, abruptly cut the song 16 Carriages short when the vehicle began to slant.
The dramatic moment unfolded on Saturday night at NRG Stadium, where Beyoncé was performing a sold-out hometown show. The car, typically used as a soaring stage prop, began to tip sideways as she sang, prompting her to clutch a pole for stability and shout, “Stop! Stop, stop, stop!”
Fans gasped as the vehicle leaned further mid-song. Video clips posted online show Beyoncé remaining composed before being slowly lowered to the ground. Once safely back on stage, she smiled at the crowd and said, “If ever I fall, I know y’all will catch me.”
Beyoncé halts Cowboy Carter show after flying car nearly tips over crowd in HoustonGetty Images
Beyoncé’s production company, Parkwood Entertainment, later confirmed the incident was due to a “technical mishap” with the cables holding the Cadillac. “She was quickly lowered, and no one was injured,” the statement read. “The show continued without incident.”
This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has experienced prop malfunctions during a live show. Earlier this year, a robot bartender missed pouring her drink on cue, and during her 2018 On The Run II tour, a broken platform forced her to climb down a ladder while wearing heels.
Beyoncé fans react as ‘Queen B’ keeps cool mid-crisis
Fans quickly took to social media with reactions ranging from concern to humour, many quoting her old on-stage catchphrase: “Somebody’s getting fired.” Others expressed admiration for how calmly she handled the situation, finishing the concert without missing a beat.
The Houston show marked the 23rd stop on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour, which ends in Las Vegas next month. The three-hour spectacle, featuring country-infused ballads, fan favourites, and her daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi, continues to smash venue records worldwide.
With sharp wit, emotional honesty and a knack for turning personal crises into punchlines, Indian comedian Prashasti Singh is set to make her Edinburgh Fringe debut this August with her acclaimed stand-up show, Divine Feminine. Before taking on the world’s biggest arts festival, she will offer London audiences a sneak peek with previews at Soho Theatre from 23 to 26 July.
Prashasti, known globally for her appearances on Netflix’s Ladies Up, Comedy Premium League and Amazon Prime’s Comicstaan, uses this deeply personal new show to unpack the consequences of chasing a dream that might not have been hers to begin with. Raised in a patriarchal family, she once aspired to become a patriarch herself. Now, inching towards 40 and pretending to be 30, she wonders – was it all worth it?
A blend of silliness, angst, cultural insight and raw emotional truth, Divine Feminine is the Indian funny girl’s boldest, most introspective work yet. As she prepares for Edinburgh, she opens up about the journey, nerves and joy of revealing just a little too much on stage.
How do you reflect on your action-packed comedy journey so far?
Oh, it has been great! A lot of luck and of course some challenges. I stumbled upon stand-up at the verge of 30 while still at my marketing job. The stars aligned in a way that it became my profession before it truly became my passion. The initial years were mostly about getting on stage as much as possible and delivering what was expected of me. I think in the last couple of years, I have finally understood myself as an artist and performer, and with this show, I am at last finding my voice.
How much does the success of Divine Feminine mean to you? I have travelled with this show across India, Europe and Australia and have been overwhelmed by the love it has received. The Hindi version is 1.5 hours long and performing it has given me immense confidence and security as an artist. That is also why I wanted to break out of my comfort zone and write a version of the show in English to reach a more global audience. The process has been very enriching, and I am very curious to see how a more diverse audience will respond.
How much are you looking forward to taking the show to this year’s Edinburgh Fringe? Very, very excited. I have visited the festival a couple of times before and have always wondered how it would feel to be a performer at such a big and vibrant festival. This year I will get to experience that.
What can audiences expect from your show? Some very silly, some very angsty jokes, some cultural, some human insights and a lot of emotional truth.
Do you ever feel like you are revealing too much about yourself on stage? I do feel that I reveal a lot about myself, but I do not think it is a problem. I feel whatever inside me is finding expression in humour is no longer raw or volatile. It has been processed enough internally that I am able to laugh at it, and hence feel safe putting it out in front of people.
How do you feel when you are on stage in front of a live audience? It is always the best part of my day. I feel very good.
Does being at a festival like Edinburgh, with thousands of acts, put pressure on you or motivate you? I think it does both. I have seen some mind-blowing shows at the Fringe in past years, so I want my show to be a respectful offering in this amazing buffet. At the same time, the Fringe is a place where artists and audiences are most open to experiments. So I feel motivated to try new things and take some risks that I would otherwise shy away from.
What is the comedy master plan going forward? There is no master plan. I am working on a very simple philosophy – do work that I enjoy and people enjoy, and then find ways to grow that work and the number of people who enjoy it.
What inspires you creatively? Great work by other artists. The drive for excellence. People who are brave enough to put out their original, twisted thoughts in front of others. That is why being at the Fringe is so exciting.
Who is your comedy hero? Oh, this is a long list. So many people have done such great work before me. It is really very difficult to name just one.
Who is the funniest person you know in real life? One aunt of mine who has had a fairly tough life. She reminds me that humour is a great life skill beyond the stage.
Has being funny ever got you out of trouble? Absolutely never.
Why should we all come and watch Divine Feminine at the Edinburgh Fringe? See, if you have come this far, you are already hooked. Also, if you have ever thought that you could be losing your sanity or femininity, if you have ever felt old or joyless or lonely or not perfect in any way – the show is for you. It is funny, insightful and fairly honest. I am looking forward to seeing you all at the Fringe.
Charli XCX criticised certain fans for attacking her autotuned vocals at Glastonbury 2025.
Called the backlash “the most boring take ever” in a series of posts on X.
Defended her artistic choices, saying divisive art is often the most impactful.
Her Brat set clashed with Neil Young’s headline act, drawing polarising reactions.
Charli XCX has addressed criticism over her use of autotune during her Glastonbury 2025 performance, calling out the ageist tone of comments that questioned her authenticity as a performer. The singer clapped back on X, brushing off the noise as outdated and out of touch.
Charli XCX defends her Glastonbury set, calling autotune criticism outdated and dull BBC
Charli XCX defends Glastonbury set from autotune critics
During her Brat set on the Other Stage, Charli delivered fan favourites like “365” and “Von Dutch” to a roaring crowd. But online, some viewers slammed her use of autotune and lack of a live band. In a sharp response the next day, she posted: “The idea that singing with deliberate autotune makes you a fraud… is like, the most boring take ever. Yawn.”
— (@)
Charli has long been open about using autotune deliberately as an artistic tool. In earlier interviews, she said she intentionally includes “pitchy” moments in her vocals to add texture and imperfection. Responding to the online backlash, she added: “I enjoy the discourse… the best art is divisive and confrontational and often evolves into truly interesting culture.”
— (@)
Brat performance draws strong reactions, both love and hate
Charli’s set, held opposite Neil Young’s headline slot, split Glastonbury attendees and online viewers alike. Despite the criticism, her show was widely praised by critics.
— (@)
Highlights included a cameo from fellow performer Gracie Abrams during the viral “Apple” dance segment. Charli ended her performance drenched in stage rain, sipping white wine, with giant signs declaring “Brat is forever.”
— (@)
After her set, Charli joined her fiancé George Daniel, drummer of The 1975, for an intimate DJ session, keeping the Brat Summer spirit alive.
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Kareena Kapoor gets emotional discussing Saif’s stabbing incident in an interview with Barkha Dutt
Kareena Kapoor has spoken out for the first time about Saif Ali Khan’s stabbing.
Saif was attacked at home in January 2025 during a burglary attempt.
Their sons, Taimur and Jeh, witnessed the violent episode.
Kareena says the family is still coping but trying to move forward together.
Actor Kareena Kapoor has opened up for the first time about the terrifying night her husband, Saif Ali Khan, was stabbed by an intruder at their Mumbai home. In a deeply personal interview with journalist Barkha Dutt, Kareena admitted that the incident left her shaken and sleepless for months, especially with their children, Taimur and Jeh, present during the attack.
The January 2025 break-in at their Bandra residence ended with Saif being stabbed six times. The attacker, later identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, entered the flat during a failed burglary attempt and assaulted Saif in four-year-old Jeh’s room. The actor underwent emergency surgery to remove part of the knife lodged near his spine.
Kareena Kapoor says the incident left their children Taimur and Jeh shakenGetty Images
‘I still haven’t come to terms with it,’ says Kareena Kapoor
Kareena described the emotional aftermath of the attack as “something I haven’t fully processed.” She spoke about the trauma of watching a violent act unfold inside their own home, saying, “Seeing someone in your child’s room, that doesn’t leave you. For weeks, I couldn’t sleep.”
She said that such incidents felt “unthinkable in Mumbai,” where celebrity homes are considered secure. “It felt like something that happens elsewhere, not here. But it happened to us,” she said.
‘We’re stronger as a family, but my sons saw too much too soon’
Both of their sons witnessed the stabbing, something Kareena says forced her to balance her own trauma with parenting. “They’ve always lived a very protected life. Then this happened, and suddenly they saw blood, violence… I hope it teaches them resilience, but no child should have to go through that.”
Kareena and Saif are now focusing on healing as a family after the traumatic episodeGetty Images
Jeh, the younger of the two, has found his own way to cope. “He calls his father Batman and Iron Man. That’s how he sees him, like a superhero,” Kareena said, adding that the family has leaned on each other for strength and grown stronger as a unit.