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.
Sonakshi Sinha recently addressed the speculation surrounding her marriage to Zaheer Iqbal, pointing out that their union was never about religion but about love, respect, and understanding. The couple, who tied the knot in June 2024, chose to marry under the Special Marriage Act, a conscious decision that allowed them to honour their individual beliefs without compromise.
In a candid conversation, Sonakshi shared, “We never focused on religion. We’re two people in love who wanted to spend our lives together, and that’s what we did.” She made it clear that neither she nor Zaheer felt the need to impose their religious practices on each other. “He doesn’t push his beliefs on me, and I don’t push mine on him. We respect each other’s traditions and cultures, and that’s what matters.”
Sonakshi and Zaheer’s union proves that relationships thrive on mutual respect, not societal expectationsInstagram/ aslisona
The couple’s decision to marry under the Special Marriage Act was deliberate. Sonakshi explained, “It was the best way for us. I didn’t have to change my religion, and he didn’t have to change his. We simply wanted to celebrate our love, and that’s what we did.” She also dismissed rumours about being asked to convert, stating, “The question of conversion never came up. Our love was enough.”
Their relationship, which remained private for years, had been under public scrutiny since they began dating seven years ago. Despite constant media attention, Sonakshi and Zaheer chose to keep their bond away from the limelight until their wedding day. The ceremony, held at Sonakshi’s home in Bandra, was an intimate affair attended by close family and friends.
The couple shares a heartfelt moment during their wedding under the Special Marriage ActInstagram/ aslisona
Addressing speculation about her father Shatrughan Sinha’s approval, Sonakshi revealed that he was fully supportive of her decision. “My father has always stood by me. At the end of the day, he just wants me to be happy.”
On the professional front, Sonakshi continues to balance her acting career with her personal life. She was last seen in Kakuda and has several upcoming projects lined up. Meanwhile, she and Zaheer are embracing their new journey as husband and wife, proving that love transcends any boundaries.
Sonakshi Sinha stands strong, embracing love on her own termsGetty Images
Their story is a proof that relationships thrive on mutual respect, trust, and admiration beyond societal expectations and religious norms. For Sonakshi and Zaheer, their bond is about love, and in the end, that’s all that truly matters.
Dakota Johnson steps behind the camera for her first feature film
Charli XCX and Jessica Alba in talks for lead roles
Vanessa Burghardt pens script and may appear on screen
Filming starts next month in Los Angeles with a £10m (₹1.38 billion) budget
Drama follows an autistic teen seeking independence after high school
Dakota Johnson is stepping into direction with A Tree Is Blue, a coming-of-age drama attracting attention for its ensemble. Charli XCX and Jessica Alba are reportedly joining the cast. Burghardt, Johnson’s Cha Cha Real Smooth co-star, wrote it and could take a part. Production begins next month in Los Angeles under a £10m (₹1.38 billion) budget, funded by Rivulet.
'A Tree Is Blue' will mark Dakota Johnson’s directorial debut with Charli XCX and Jessica Alba starring in a teen coming-of-age story Getty Images
Why A Tree Is Blue matters for Dakota Johnson
Johnson, who has acted in The Materialists and produced Splitsville, has been quietly preparing to move behind the camera. She previously directed the short Loser Baby, which premiered at TIFF last year. A Tree Is Blue is her leap into full-length features, produced under her TeaTime Pictures banner alongside Ro Donnelly and Sam Racanelli. Rob Paris and Mike Witherill are producing for Rivulet, with Hyunji Ward and Rick Steele executive producing.
“It’s really close to my heart,” Johnson said at Karlovy Vary, hinting at the project last summer. “Vanessa played my daughter in Cha Cha Real Smooth. She’s incredible and the story deserves care.”
Dakota Johnson directs A Tree Is Blue as Charli XCX and Jessica Alba join a story about autism and freedomGetty Images
What is the story about?
The film follows a teen on the autism spectrum seeking independence. Burghardt wrote the script from her own experience. It’s a story about independence, friendship, and some summer mayhem.
How Charli XCX and Jessica Alba fit in
Charli XCX has been exploring acting alongside her music, appearing in Faces of Death, I Want Your Sex, and A24’s The Moment. She’s also been working on film scores. Alba, meanwhile, has Netflix’s Trigger Warning behind her and is set to appear with Anthony Hopkins, Andy Garcia, and Al Pacino in Maserati: The Brothers.
Charli XCX and Jessica Alba sign on for Dakota Johnson’s first feature A Tree Is Blue about teenage independenceGetty Images
When and where filming starts
The main filming phase begins in November in Los Angeles. CAA Media Finance is handling sales, with California tax credits of £2.4m (₹275m) helping keep costs low. Hard not to notice the mix of fresh talent and seasoned actors, it already feels like a project that could quietly make waves. Representation is sorted for Johnson, Burghardt, Charli XCX, and Alba, with CAA, UTA, and other agencies confirming talks. Small-scale, carefully assembled, but it has a certain weight already.
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