Pakhi Tyrewala, who began her career as an actress and starred in such films as Yeh Kya Ho Raha Hai (2002) and Jhootha Hi Sahi (2010), has now taken to direction. Her debut feature film Pahuna: The Little Visitors entered cinemas today, after doing a round of various film festivals across the globe. Produced by global star Priyanka Chopra under Purple Pebble Pictures, the movie tells a heart-warming tale three kids who get separated from their family while coming from Nepal to Sikkim. Recently, our Mumbai correspondent, Mohnish Singh, caught up with Pakhi at Purple Pebble Pictures’ swanky office for a freewheeling chat. In this interview, the writer-director opens up about what inspired her to make Pahuna, how did she manage to collaborate with Priyanka Chopra and her production house, and how does it feel to receive such overwhelming response at film festivals.
Tell us something about your film Pahuna: The Little Visitors. What is it all about?
Pahuna is a film about three kids who get separated from their family while coming from Nepal to Sikkim. There is certain unrest; we never specify what the unrest is. It could be anything. The movie follows how they survive without their parents.
What inspired you to make this movie?
Actually, real life! If you see, this is happening everywhere. People are getting displaced, may it be India, may it be Syria, may it be Mexico. Everywhere the same thing is happening and kids are the ones who suffer the most. Kids always suffer and the lies that we tell like this person is bad because he belongs to this community or so and so is evil because he believes in another God. What are we doing to our children? And that is the question that Pahuna asks. It’s not a very heavy or preachy film; it’s an entertaining film, but it does leave you thinking a little.
How did the collaboration with Priyanka Chopra’s production house Purple Pebble Pictures happen?
Oh! It was amazing. I had already been rejected by some 9 producers. Sikkim government had already agreed to take care of all the logistics or anything that we would spend in Sikkim, but nobody was ready to put the rest of the money. I didn’t want to make it a regional film; I wanted to make it an international film and everybody rejected me because it was a Sikkimese film, children film, first time director, women director. Then somebody told me about Purple Pebble Pictures that they were pushing regional films. When I reached out to them, they were very receptive to the script. They sent the script to Priyanka Chopra and she saw the vision that I had.
What made you base your film in Sikkim and not anywhere else in India?
For me, making this film was not only about making a film; it’s also about mainstreaming Sikkim to mainline India. If you actually asked, about three years back, about Sikkim to people, they would invariably ask if a passport is needed to go there. We wanted to change that and I can proudly say that Priyanka Chopra has changed that.
People have a certain mindset towards the people of Northeast India. How do you expect to broaden their thinking?
That’s why we made this film. See, they are crazy about Bollywood, they love to be Indians when they come over here and people ask them, ‘Chinese? Korean?’ they feel hurt. So, we are hoping that we can take this film to our children and they know that even if they are Mongolian to look at, they are still Indian and the next generation doesn’t end up calling them derogatory racist slang. We are hoping to change that. They are Indians.
Do you think Northeast India is really marginalised?
Absolutely, how much are they represented in the parliament? Two seats and that’s it. They are not important because of that, but as time is changing, Northeast India is also changing. I will give credit to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi; his biggest attempt is to mainstream Northeast India. He is trying really hard. That is one thing good about it that they are really working towards mainstreaming northeast and that’s why this film has been supported by the central government also.
How did you come to cast such adorable kids in the movie?
These kids are special because they can act so beautifully and they were so professional. They can make any actor look like a child compared to them and I found them by God’s grace. The kids I had initially chosen for the roles grew up in 6 months and these kids were not my first choice because they were so tiny when we first auditioned. By the time I started shooting, they were perfect.
When did you write the film?
I wrote the story 10-12 years back, but the final script I wrote just before 2016.
How are Priyanka Chopra and Dr Madhu Chopra as producers?
They are extremely hands-on producers but not interfering ones. They give solid good advice but always left the last choice to me. Dr Chopra is like a pillar. She has seen me through this whole process; she has taken me internationally to every place and she was by my side, truly holding hands. So, I have a really solid relationship with her.
Why did you choose to make the movie in Nepalese?
It wouldn’t do justice if it was in Hindi. See, as I said I wanted to tell their stories and if I tell their stories not using their language then it’s not their story at all. Though I don’t know Nepali, I made the effort because it is worth it to tell people’s story in their own language.
When did you decide to go behind the camera and helm a film?
I was writing already. I had shifted from acting and wanted to make my film. I was almost going to sign the contract on a romantic-comedy film, but then I remembered my promise to myself that my first film is going to be in Sikkim and I remembered Pahuna. It struck me that if I make this rom-com right now and if it’s a hit everybody is going to expect me to make another hit, every other producer would say that, ‘Why would I produce Pahuna when you have already made a commercial hit.’ Though if I flopped, there is no way anybody is giving me money to make a regional film in Sikkimese after I flopped at making a commercial film. So, I realized I have to put my romantic-comedy on hold. The producers were very upset with me and I started the journey on Pahuna.
Any future projects that you can tell us about?
I have already signed another film; it’s a political thriller. Again, because I think it’s an autobiography of a very strong person and I think her story is needed to be told. So, even though it’s going to be super difficult and scary it still needs to be told. The film would be in the Hindi language.
How did it feel to win so many international awards for your debut film Pahuna?
It was awesome. We had already gone through 3-4 festivals before we went to Germany, in the competitive section. This was the first festival we were competing in and when I got the critics award I was like ok, made sense because I always believed that Pahuna was about children and not for children. So, when I got that award, I understood, it was a film for adult and they get my nuances. I was completely humbled when I got the popular award because the jury was 14 children from 14 different countries and they said it was a unanimous decision. Within that speech, they told me what they loved about the film. It was the equality between two genders they loved, they understood the loss of money, they understood displacement, they understood the pain, they understood the teamwork and I was truly humbled. You think that children won’t be able to understand everything that I can think of but they got it.
The star revealed she was constantly judged for her career and clothing choices.
Malaika said she felt free when she stopped explaining herself to others.
She now sees confidence as moving forward with grace despite self-doubt.
The actor and model insists the only narrative that matters is her own.
Malaika Arora has defiantly addressed the lifetime of criticism she has faced for her personal and professional choices. The actor and model, known for her impeccable fitness and fashion sense, said being labelled “too bold” is something she now wears as a crown. In a new interview, she opened up about her journey to unshakeable self-acceptance and shutting out the noise.
Malaika Arora reveals judgement made her stronger and shaped her boldness Getty Images
What has Malaika Arora said about the criticism she faces?
It seems there is very little Malaika has not been judged for. She laid it all out in a chat with The Hindustan Times, stating, “I was judged for my career, my clothes, my relationships, you name it.” That constant scrutiny from the public and media would be enough to make anyone second-guess themselves.
But her approach changed completely when she decided to stop engaging with it. She called the moment she quit explaining herself the moment she truly felt liberated. Her philosophy is pretty straightforward now: “The only narrative that matters is the one you write for yourself.” It is a powerful shift from being defined to doing the defining.
Malaika Arora owns every label from bold to outspoken and calls them her strength Getty Images
How does Malaika Arora respond to being called 'too much'?
Honestly, she has turned it into a strength. Those very criticisms have become a part of her identity, and she owns them completely. “I have been called too bold, too outspoken, too everything. And honestly? I wear it like a crown now,” she stated.
She even has a sharp, modern clapback for her detractors: “If I am ‘too much’ for someone, they are probably not enough for me.” This mindset is not just for show. It feeds into everything she does, from her fashion collaborations to her fitness brand. She has never followed a template, believing real confidence is when you “stop performing for the world and start living for yourself.”
Malaika Arora insists the only story that matters is the one she writes herself Getty Images
Does Malaika Arora ever experience self-doubt?
Absolutely. It is a reminder that confidence is not about being bulletproof. She is human, after all. Malaika was candid about the fact that self-doubt “never really disappears,” admitting there are days she questions herself just like anyone else. The key difference now is how she handles those moments. Instead of meting out self-criticism, she practises kindness. For her, confidence is not the absence of doubt but the ability to “move forward with grace despite it.”
This nuanced take is a far cry from the perfect, curated images we often see, making her stance all the more relatable to her fans who navigate their own insecurities.
Malaika Arora says she stopped explaining herself and found true freedomGetty Images
What is the core of Malaika Arora's confident mindset?
It all boils down to ownership. Her recent work as the face of a beauty campaign titled Own It felt less like a job and more like telling her own life story. She has had to fight labels and expectations her entire career. This is not about arrogance; it is about a quiet certainty in her own choices.
Whether it is balancing motherhood with her career or navigating public relationships, she trusts her gut. Her message is clear: stop letting outside opinions write your story. The greatest freedom comes from writing it yourself, unapologetically and on your own terms.
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Paul Rudd and Jack Black gear up for jungle chaos in the new Anaconda
First look images reveal the meta comedy take on the 1997 creature feature.
The film sees the duo as fans trying to shoot their own version of the original film.
Director Tom Gormican applies his The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent formula.
The cast, including Thandiwe Newton and Steve Zahn, promises chaotic fun.
It is slated for a Christmas Day release, aiming for a box office strike.
The first photos from the wildly unexpected Anaconda remake have finally surfaced. This is not your typical Hollywood rehash, mind you. Jack Black and Paul Rudd are leading a brilliantly meta charge, playing superfans whose dream project goes horrifyingly wrong. The new images tease the comedic chaos planned for the big screen this Christmas.
Paul Rudd and Jack Black gear up for jungle chaos in the new Anaconda People/Courtesy of Sony Pictures
What is the new Anaconda movie actually about?
Right, so the plot is almost more interesting than the original film's premise. Black and Rudd play lifelong mates, Doug and Griff, who are utterly obsessed with the 1997 J.Lo and Ice Cube B-movie classic. They hit a midlife crisis and decide, you know what, let's actually do it. Let's go to the Amazon and remake Anaconda ourselves. The synopsis says their chaotic movie set gets turned upside down when a real, genuine giant anaconda decides to crash the party. So the film they're desperate to make might literally end them.
One name: Tom Gormican. He is the director behind The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, that brilliantly unhinged Nicolas Cage meta flick. He is bringing that exact same self aware, comedic energy here. Rudd himself said the script's clever meta angles appealed to him directly because he was a fan of The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. This is not some dour, serious reboot. It is like a knowing wink to the audience, a celebration of a so bad it's good film, all wrapped up in a proper action comedy. That angle is everything right now.
Sounds like an absolute riot, honestly. The chemistry between Black and Rudd is the main engine. Black said point blank that working with Rudd was the "main reason" he took the job, calling him "f---ing hilarious" and a "sweet pea". Rudd shared the same feelings, thrilled to finally work with Black properly for months. Even Steve Zahn, who is also in the mix, admitted to messing up takes because he could not stop laughing at them. When the cast is having that much fun, it usually bleeds through onto the screen.
Mark your calendars for a seriously unconventional Christmas Day. 25 December is the planned release date. Releasing a film about a giant killer snake on Christmas itself is a bizarre choice, you have to admit. It is going up against some family friendly stuff, but maybe that is the point, offering an alternative for those tired of the same formulaic content. Whether it becomes a festive box office gift or gets squeezed out remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: it will be a talking point!
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Raj Kundra names Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia in £5.6m Bollywood fraud probe
Raj Kundra questioned in India for five hours over alleged £5.6m (₹60 crore) fraud
He claimed money was paid as fees to Bollywood stars Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia
Investigators traced nearly £2.3m (₹25 crore) in direct transfers to actresses and Balaji Entertainment
Shilpa Shetty also under scrutiny as financial probe widens
Businessman Raj Kundra, husband of Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, has been questioned for nearly five hours by financial crime investigators in India in connection with an alleged £5.6 million (₹60 crore) fraud. During interrogation, Kundra reportedly said part of the disputed money was paid as professional fees to Bollywood actresses Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia. Authorities are now examining whether these transactions were legitimate or part of a larger scheme.
Raj Kundra names Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia in £5.6m Bollywood fraud probe Getty Images
Why has Raj Kundra been questioned?
The case began after Indian businessman Deepak Kothari, director of Lotus Capital Financial Services Ltd, filed a complaint alleging he had been cheated out of £5.6m (₹60 crore) between 2015 and 2023. Following this, police in Mumbai registered a case against Kundra, Shetty, and another associate in August this year.
Kundra appeared before investigators this week and was extensively questioned. Officials described him as evasive on several points, leading them to plan further rounds of questioning. He was also asked to provide video material from a project called Best Deal, which he claimed had already been submitted to another police department.
Raj Kundra grilled over £5.6m fraud, links Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia to paymentsGetty Images
What did Kundra say about the money trail?
According to officials, Kundra admitted that some of the disputed funds were paid as fees to Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia. He also confirmed transactions linked to Shilpa Shetty and the production company Balaji Entertainment.
Investigators have tracked nearly £2.3m (₹25 crore) in direct transfers to these accounts. They are now assessing whether these were legitimate professional payments or part of a fraudulent operation. Officials also noted suspicious fund movements during India’s 2016 demonetisation, when the country’s financial system was under severe strain.
Bollywood fraud case: Raj Kundra under scrutiny as Bipasha Basu and Neha Dhupia payments emergeGetty Images
What role do the actresses play in the probe?
Financial records show that accounts connected to Shilpa Shetty, Bipasha Basu, and Neha Dhupia received transfers from the company under investigation. Kundra insists these were legitimate payments for work, but investigators said his answers were incomplete.
Neither Bipasha Basu nor Neha Dhupia have commented publicly on the case. Authorities have not alleged wrongdoing on their part, but their names remain part of the money trail being examined.
Raj Kundra tells police £5.6m fraud funds went to Bipasha Basu and Neha DhupiaGetty Images
What happens next in the investigation?
Indian financial crime authorities have said the investigation is ongoing and that more individuals may be summoned in the coming days. They are also expected to re-examine video material linked to Kundra’s company to determine whether it was used as a front to move money.
In an official statement, Mumbai Police said: “Investigations are going on against actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra in an alleged fraud case of £5.6m (₹60 crore). A summon was issued to Raj Kundra, and he appeared before police for questioning.”
With financial records under fresh scrutiny, the case has become one of the most high-profile fraud investigations involving Bollywood figures in recent years.
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Robert Redford dies at 89 leaving behind a Hollywood and Sundance legacy
Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, dies at age 89 in Utah
Starred in classics including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men
Founded the Sundance Institute, transforming the landscape of independent cinema
Advocated for environmental causes and used his fame to highlight pressing global issues
Robert Redford dies at 89, leaving behind a legacy that bridged blockbuster Hollywood hits and groundbreaking independent cinema. Best known for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President’s Men, Redford was not only a matinée idol but also an Academy Award-winning director and the driving force behind the Sundance Film Festival, which changed the trajectory of global filmmaking.
Robert Redford dies at 89 leaving behind a Hollywood and Sundance legacy Getty Images
What happened to Robert Redford?
Redford’s publicist Cindi Berger confirmed that the actor-director died on 16 September 2025 at his home in Sundance, Utah. “Robert Redford died in the mountains of Utah, the place he loved, surrounded by those he loved,” she said in a statement. His family has requested privacy.
The actor had gradually stepped away from Hollywood in recent years, with his final acting role in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame, where he reprised his Marvel character Alexander Pierce. His last leading part came a year earlier in The Old Man & the Gun, a performance many considered a fitting farewell to his on-screen career.
Robert Redford became a household name in the late 1960s after starring alongside Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969). The film not only established him as a charismatic leading man but also inspired the name of his later Sundance Film Festival.
In the 1970s, he was Hollywood’s top box office draw, starring in films such as The Sting, The Way We Were, Three Days of the Condor and All the President’s Men. The latter, based on the Watergate investigation, cemented his reputation for balancing star power with politically charged storytelling.
His career took a new turn in 1980 when he directed Ordinary People, a family drama that earned him an Academy Award for Best Director.
Robert Redford dies at 89 remembered for Butch Cassidy and SundanceGetty Images
What is Robert Redford’s legacy with Sundance?
In 1981, Redford established the Sundance Institute in Utah, aiming to nurture new voices in cinema. What began as a modest filmmaker’s lab grew into the internationally renowned Sundance Film Festival, the premier platform for independent cinema in the United States.
Through Sundance, Redford helped launch the careers of directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh and Ava DuVernay. The festival became synonymous with bold, offbeat storytelling and gave independent filmmakers access to mainstream audiences.
Robert Redford dies at 89 as Sundance pioneer and Oscar winnerGetty Images
How did Robert Redford impact politics and the environment?
Beyond cinema, Redford was a committed activist. He was vocal on environmental issues from the 1970s onwards, helping to halt the construction of a Utah power plant and speaking at global climate forums. In 2015, he addressed the United Nations, urging urgent action on climate change.
His political work extended to his films, with projects like The Candidate and Lions for Lambs reflecting his engagement with social and civic debates. Former US President Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, praising both his artistry and activism.
U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Robert Redford Getty Images
How is Hollywood remembering Robert Redford?
Tributes have poured in from across the film industry. Meryl Streep described him as “one of the lions of cinema,” while Ron Howard hailed him as “an artistic game-changer.” Jamie Lee Curtis called him a symbol of “family, art, transformation, advocacy, creation and legacy.”
Robert Redford dies at 89 as Hollywood pays tribute to a cinema giantGetty Images
Redford is survived by his wife, Sibylle Szaggars, his daughters Shauna and Amy, and seven grandchildren. His passing marks the end of an era, but his work, from Hollywood classics to independent cinema breakthroughs, continues to inspire audiences and filmmakers worldwide.
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‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ trailer sparks festive wedding chaos with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor
The Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari trailer is out, offering a festive family entertainer.
Features a star-studded cast including Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, and Sanya Malhotra.
Set against a vibrant Indian wedding backdrop with romance, comedy, and music.
Directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Dharma Productions and Mentor Disciple Entertainment.
The Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari trailer has finally landed, giving audiences a glimpse of what promises to be one of 2025’s most joyous family films. Bursting with romance, humour, and festive charm, the trailer sets the tone for a big fat Indian wedding story, rooted in togetherness and celebration, a hallmark of Dharma Productions’ signature family entertainers.
‘Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari’ trailer sparks festive wedding chaos with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor Instagram/dharmamovies
What can viewers expect from the Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari trailer?
The trailer showcases a colourful wedding filled with laughter, heartfelt moments, and musical celebrations. Fans get to see an ensemble cast including Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Akshay Oberoi, and Maniesh Paul, each adding their own flavour to the story. From playful banter to emotional family sequences, the trailer hints at a film designed to appeal to all generations.
Directed by Shashank Khaitan, known for his successful family-centric films, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari reunites him with Dharma Productions. Producers Karan Johar, Hiroo Yash Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Shashank Khaitan have worked together to ensure the film combines humour, music, and emotion seamlessly. Karan Johar described it as “a film that celebrates togetherness, love, and laughter in the most festive way possible.”
Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari hits theatres on 2nd October 2025, just in time for Dussehra. The timing adds to the film’s appeal as a seasonal treat for families looking to enjoy a mix of romance, comedy, and celebration on the big screen. Early reactions to the trailer already suggest it could be a major festive box-office draw.
Why the Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari trailer is special
Beyond the vibrant wedding visuals and ensemble cast, the trailer stands out for its humour and nostalgia. Director Shashank Khaitan has focused on crafting moments that will make viewers smile and perhaps even reminisce about their own family celebrations. With music, laughter, and heartwarming interactions, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari promises to be a cinematic experience that celebrates the joy of coming together.