Kangana praises SRK for 'Jawan': Bowing down to your perseverance, hard work and humility
Released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, Jawan is a pan-India thriller which outlines “the emotional journey of a man who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society”.
Shah Rukh Khan is the cinema god for not just hugs and dimples but also for world saving, says Kangana Ranaut, praising the superstar for his transformation into a "mass superhero" with the new movie Jawan.
The Atlee directorial, which is Shah Rukh's second release of 2023 after Pathaan, opened to a rousing welcome from audiences across India on Thursday.
Kangana posted a note on her Instagram Stories on Thursday evening and lauded Shah Rukh for hard work and perseverance.
"SRK is the cinema God that cinema needs not just for his hugs or dimples but for some serious world saving as well. Bowing down to your perseverance, hard work, and humility King Khan. @iamsrk," she wrote.
Kangana, 36, said SRK has emerged stronger out of his rough patch where his past few films -- "Zero", "Fan" and "Raees" -- didn't work at the box office.
"From being the ultimate lover boy of the nineties to a decade-long struggle again to reinvent his connection with his audience to his late forties to mid-fifties and ultimately rising as the quintessential Indian mass superhero at the age of 60 (almost) is nothing short of superheroic even in real life."
"I remember the time when people wrote him off and mocked his choices but his struggle is a master class for all artists enjoying long careers but must reinvent and reestablish (sic)," she added.
Released in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, Jawan is a pan-India thriller which outlines "the emotional journey of a man who is set to rectify the wrongs in the society". It also stars Vijay Sethupathi and Nayanthara.
Produced by Gauri Khan and co-produced by Gaurav Verma, Jawan also features Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Girija Oak, Sanjeeta Bhattacharya, Lehar Khan, Aaliyah Qureshi, Ridhi Dogra, Sunil Grover, and Mukesh Chhabra as well as Deepika Padukone in a special appearance.
From commanding television screens in powerful dramas to headlining box office hits, the acclaimed actor and producer has built a formidable reputation through instinct, charm, and a commitment to relatable storytelling. Along the way, he has picked up numerous awards, loyal audiences across the globe, and even crossed into international territory with his nuanced portrayal of Dr Hasnat Khan – Princess Diana’s real-life love interest – in the globally acclaimed Netflix series The Crown.
Now, Saeed returns to the big screen with this week’s Eid al-Adha release Love Guru. The romantic comedy, opposite Mahira Khan, features him as a matchmaker-turned-marriage-saboteur on a surprisingly unorthodox mission of love. Extensively shot in the UK and laced with a contemporary sensibility, the Nadeem Baig-directed comedy marks a distinct tonal shift for an actor best known for culturally rooted blockbusters.
Calm and composed during his recent London visit to promote the film, the massively popular star sat down with Eastern Eye to reflect on his celebrated journey, the making of Love Guru, reuniting with Mahira Khan, and the secret to his high success rate.
Humayun Saeed and Mahira Khangetty images
How do you reflect on your distinguished three-decade career? (Smiles) That is a tricky question. I do not have a short answer, Asjad. I have been fortunate to work across diverse genres in both film and television, as an actor and producer. I have been part of successful projects I believe in. Now, I feel ready to take on something really big – like an international production that the whole world will watch.
You have a high success rate. How do you choose your projects? I have always gone with my gut whenever possible, and it has served me well. I am instinctive and often have a sense of how an idea will take shape. I am drawn to stories that are emotionally relatable. For example, when I received the script for Mere Paas Tum Ho, I had a strong belief that it would resonate with audiences. It was emotional and grounded – that is essential for a television drama.
As a sought-after star and successful producer, what other key elements do you look for in a project? The story must be backed by strong writing, a talented cast, and a capable director. I consider all those factors. I always begin a project with the aim that it will succeed and connect with viewers. But at the heart of it, there must be a relatable story. Each character should serve a purpose – not just the lead.
Tell us more about that. You often see projects where some characters feel unnecessary – I do not believe in that. In strong dramas, every character, including those in smaller roles, must matter. If the idea is good, the story is relatable, and the cast is strong, the project will work.
Your drama serials are especially known for strong writing. Yes, that is very important. Writing comes first – the performances follow. Mere Paas Tum Ho was a massive success largely because of the powerful dialogues.
What attracted you to your new film Love Guru? Television dramas are usually serious, so I enjoy delivering fun, entertaining films for cinema audiences. I have noticed that the more entertaining a Pakistani film is, the better it performs. Love Guru is a fun, contemporary film.
This film is different from your usual work. Were you encouraged by the trailer’s positive response? Audiences enjoy my culture-specific films like London Nahi Jaunga and Punjab Nahi Jaungi, but this time I deliberately chose a contemporary romantic comedy. The trailer response gave me a lot of confidence. People said the visuals looked fresh and the cast looked great. The music and locations were also well received. It is very different from my earlier films, and I am hopeful audiences will turn out for it.
Love Gurugetty images
Tell us a little about the film. The trailer captures the essence. I play a love guru who helps people find love and get married – until he is tasked with breaking up the forthcoming wedding of the character played by Mahira (Khan). What happens next, you will have to see in the film.
What is Mahira Khan like as a co-star? She is very good and easy to work with. We have been friends and colleagues for a long time, and this is our third project together. That comfort level is there. She knows her craft, works hard, and never throws tantrums – which can happen with some co-stars. Mahira remains focused and professional, and that makes the entire process more enjoyable.
You have formed a dream team with Love Guru director Nadeem Baig, with all your films together doing well. What makes him stand out? He is a gifted storyteller and supported by a great team. We have strong mutual understanding – if I do not like something, he listens, and vice versa. I also share a strong rapport with the writer, so we have a solid creative team. Nadeem does not rely on flashy camera work for the sake of it – he focuses on content, making sure everything shown on screen feels real.
Could you elaborate on that approach? Even when a scene is far-fetched, he presents it in a believable way. In some comedies, things can become mindless – but with Nadeem, it still makes sense. That is his strength – presenting things in a way that feels like they could actually happen, which makes it more relatable.
What was it like shooting this film in the UK? (Laughs) Very expensive. Thankfully, many of our friends in the UK helped us. We had a brilliant production team who worked hard and kept us on schedule. Sometimes we travelled up to three hours for a shoot, but we always managed. The weather was a challenge – it was cold and raining – but it turned out well. We filmed in October and captured the beauty of autumn. The film has some stunning visuals.
How do you view the progress of Pakistani cinema in recent years? It was strong from 2015 to 2019. Then, it slowed down due to Covid. Films like London Nahi Jaunga and The Legend of Maula Jatt showed the potential of Pakistani cinema. If people like a film, they will come to the cinema. Streaming is great, but nothing compares to watching a film with 200–300 people on the big screen. Cinema still has that larger-than-life magic.
What was your experience like working on The Crown? I loved the entire experience. It was a completely different world. I have never seen such professionalism before. It was enriching, both as an actor and a producer. An interesting part was working on two separate episodes, each directed by different people. Season five had five directors, each handling two episodes. Each director focused only on their specific episodes, so it was fascinating to work on one role with two distinct directing styles.
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A post-screening Q&A that revealed how their off-screen camaraderie and improvisational skills helped
The world premiere of Deep Cover lit up the inaugural SXSW London Screen Festival on Wednesday night, with stars Bryce Dallas Howard, Orlando Bloom and Nick Mohammed attending a post-screening Q&A that revealed how their off-screen camaraderie and improvisational skills helped shape the film’s comic energy.
The crime caper, directed by Stath Lets Flats creator Tom Kingsley, was screened as the festival’s Centrepiece Headliner and will be available to stream on Prime Video from 12 June.
A story years in the making
The project began over a decade ago, when producers Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly came across a real-life story involving New York police using actors as decoys in criminal investigations. The idea evolved into a feature film script written by the British duo Ben Ashenden and Alexander Owen, adapting Trevorrow and Connolly’s original concept and relocating the story to London.
Deep Cover follows three improv performers who are enlisted by an undercover police officer to pose as hardened criminals and infiltrate London’s underworld. With comedy and action colliding in unexpected ways, the film balances high stakes with humour.
Action-comedy with an indie heart
Director Kingsley explained that while the film began as a straightforward comedy, the involvement of bigger stars gave the team the resources to explore more ambitious action sequences.
“I think maybe it started more as a comedy. Straight up,” Kingsley said. “As we went on, bigger and bigger stars joined us, and that meant we could aim higher.”
- YouTubeYouTube/ Primevideo
The film was produced independently in London under Trevorrow’s Metronome Film Co. banner. The producers emphasised that creating a film like Deep Cover without major studio backing was a challenge, particularly in today’s economic climate.
“It’s not easy. We’re at a time when getting films financed is harder and harder,” Trevorrow noted. He credited Amazon’s partnership and the dedication of the British crew with bringing the production to life on a competitive budget.
Real locations, real stakes
One of the defining aspects of Deep Cover is its use of real London locations. From Shoreditch to Barking, the film avoids glossy studio sets in favour of gritty, authentic settings.
“We wanted the movie to feel real. I think the comedy is funnier when you really believe in the stakes,” said Kingsley. “We needed London to look a little dangerous, not too picture postcard.”
He revealed that some night shoots required extra security, especially in industrial zones. “We shot in areas that needed some caution – but that’s what gave it a grounded feel.”
Strong chemistry on and off screen
The cast’s chemistry was clear both on screen and during the Q&A. Howard, Bloom and Mohammed all spoke about how much they enjoyed working together and how much that dynamic influenced the film’s tone.
“We all just genuinely get along,” said Howard. “We’re all at similar stages in life. We’ve got kids, so we connect over that.”
Bloom, better known for dramatic and action roles, said the project allowed him to explore a new side of acting. “I’m not known for comedy,” he admitted. “But the writing and direction really supported me in finding the humour through the character’s seriousness.”
For Mohammed, the shift was in the other direction. Best known for his work in Ted Lasso, he found the action element to be a new experience. “Overwhelming,” he said. “I’m a huge fan of action films and blockbuster hits. So working with Hollywood-level stars on this was surreal.”
Improv rooted in structure
Although Deep Cover is about improvisers, the film itself relied heavily on a carefully structured script. Kingsley noted that while improvisation did happen during filming, most of it was trimmed for pacing.
“It’s a really tightly worked out script,” he said. “It goes a mile a minute, and we had to stick to the rhythm.”
Howard praised the collaborative process, saying, “We were never treated like puppets. It was very organic. The improv was more about getting into the scene rather than driving it.”
Bringing comedy back to the big screen
Producer Colin Trevorrow reflected on the rarity of seeing comedy in cinemas, especially as more films are made for streaming platforms.
“We live in a day and age where we rarely get to see comedy in a packed theatre full of people laughing – something I loved as a kid,” he said. “This film is going to be on Amazon, and we’re grateful for that, but tonight was something special.”
Deep Cover also features British acting veterans Paddy Considine, Ian McShane and Sean Bean in supporting roles.
As it heads to its Prime Video release, Deep Cover offers audiences a blend of improvisational comedy, undercover drama and London grit, all anchored by a cast with genuine chemistry and comedic timing.
Thug Life brings together two giants of Indian cinema, director Mani Ratnam and actor Kamal Haasan, for the first time since their 1987 classic Nayakan. Hopes were understandably sky-high, especially following Ratnam’s recent success with the Ponniyin Selvan films. Unfortunately, the film struggles to match the weight of its own ambition.
A promising start with technical brilliance
The film opens with style. A gritty voiceover by Haasan sets the tone, followed by a black-and-white flashback in Old Delhi that is visually stunning and thematically rich. Ravi K Chandran’s cinematography and A. Sreekar Prasad’s editing stand out, creating a slick first act filled with betrayal, tension, and dramatic flair.
Kamal Haasan and silambarasan steal the show
Haasan delivers a strong performance as Rangaraya Sakthivel, a gangster who faces repeated brushes with death. His layered portrayal is matched by Silambarasan TR’s intense screen presence. Their performances are the film’s biggest strength, bringing emotional weight to an otherwise uneven narrative.
Supporting cast is underserved by thin writing
While the supporting cast includes notable names like Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, and Nasser, most characters are underdeveloped. Rajshri Deshpande’s brief but memorable appearance proves what could have been achieved with better character depth.
Second half slips into confusion
After the interval, the film loses direction. Key plot twists involving mistaken identities and romantic missteps feel unnecessary and slow the narrative. What begins as a gangster epic shifts into melodrama, undermining the gritty tone set earlier.
Stylised action, but lacking real stakes
The action sequences are well-shot and dramatic, but Sakthivel’s repeated survival through avalanches, explosions, and gunfire makes him feel more like a superhero than a vulnerable gangster. This hurts the film’s credibility and emotional impact.
A film that looks good but lacks heart
Despite its visual richness, Thug Life doesn’t pack the emotional punch expected from a Ratnam film. It touches on loyalty, revenge and power, but without the depth or payoff to leave a lasting impression.
Final verdict
- YouTubeYouTube/ Saregama Tamil
Thug Life is a beautifully crafted but uneven gangster tale. Kamal Haasan and Silambarasan shine, but weak storytelling and a faltering second half stop it from becoming a classic. It’s stylish but lacks the substance fans hoped for.
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The jacket tribute, blending personal sentiment with fashion
Actor Janhvi Kapoor recently paid tribute to her late mother, the legendary Sridevi, by wearing a custom denim jacket inspired by the 1990 Telugu cult classic Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari. Janhvi took to Instagram to share the look and express her admiration for the film and her mother’s performance, calling the experience deeply emotional and nostalgic.
In her post, Janhvi described the jacket and film as something she is “obsessed” with. She revealed she had watched the re-released version of the film a few days prior and was reminded of the cinematic magic that brought it to life. “Mumma is like an angel fairy princess and so funny and so cute,” Janhvi wrote, remembering Sridevi’s ethereal screen presence.
She also praised co-star Chiranjeevi Konidela, director K. Raghavendra Rao, and the late Amrish Puri, among others, highlighting the film’s humour, visuals, and overall impact. “The revival of this new print couldn’t have been executed by more able hands and is a gift to cinema lovers today,” she added, noting that it “felt like a visual spectacle that would give our contemporary films a run for their money.”
Jagadeka Veerudu Athiloka Sundari was recently re-released in cinemas, giving fans and the next generation of film lovers an opportunity to experience the classic once again on the big screen. The film, known for its fantastical elements and musical score, holds a special place in Indian cinema history and in Janhvi’s personal memories.
Sridevi, who passed away in 2018, was regarded as one of Indian cinema’s most celebrated actresses. The film remains one of her most iconic roles, and Janhvi’s tribute reflects the emotional bond the actor continues to share with her mother’s legacy.
On the professional front, Janhvi Kapoor is currently enjoying a successful run. She was recently seen in Devara: Part 1 alongside Jr NTR. Her upcoming projects include Param Sundari with Sidharth Malhotra, Homebound featuring Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari opposite Varun Dhawan, and Peddi alongside Ram Charan.
The jacket tribute, blending personal sentiment with fashion, has resonated with fans online, reinforcing Janhvi’s connection to her roots and her mother’s iconic cinematic journey.
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Beyoncé rose to fame in the 1990s with Destiny’s Child
Beyoncé is set to return to London as part of her Cowboy Carter tour, performing six dates at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The 43-year-old superstar will kick off her London shows on Thursday, with further performances scheduled for 7, 10, 12, 14, and 16 June.
The tour, supporting her eighth studio album Cowboy Carter, began in April in Inglewood, California, and follows her 2023 Renaissance World Tour, which also included five nights at the same London venue. Most recently, she performed five shows in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before heading to the UK.
Beyoncé’s current tour setlist features a mix of her classic hits such as Love On Top, If I Were A Boy, and Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It), alongside new tracks from Cowboy Carter. These include Texas Hold ’Em, 16 Carriages, and II Most Wanted, marking a move into country music. She has also included covers of Blackbird by The Beatles and Dolly Parton’s Jolene.
There has been no support act on the tour so far, and doors for the London shows are expected to open at 5pm.
Following her UK performances, Beyoncé will continue the European leg of her tour with three shows in Paris at the Stade De France, before returning to the US for the final dates.
The Cowboy Carter tour follows a significant Grammy win for the artist earlier this year. At the 67th Grammy Awards in February, Beyoncé secured her first Album of the Year award for Cowboy Carter. She also took home Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for II Most Wanted, a collaboration with Miley Cyrus.
Her win marked a breakthrough, having previously missed out on the top album honour with I Am... Sasha Fierce (2008), Beyoncé (2013), Lemonade (2016), and Renaissance (2022). During her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to Linda Martell, the first Black woman to perform at the Grand Ole Opry, who features on the album.
With a total of 35 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé remains the most decorated artist in the history of the ceremony. In March, King Charles III described her as “exceptional” during an episode of his radio programme The King’s Music Room.
Beyoncé rose to fame in the 1990s with Destiny’s Child and has since achieved six UK number one singles and five UK number one albums. She married rapper Jay-Z in 2008, and the couple have three children: Blue Ivy, Rumi, and Sir.