Fazal will play the lead role in two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag's upcoming film that is based on an all-girl robotics team. Bollywood actor Ali Fazal is set to work in another Hollywood project. The film titled 'Afghan Dreamers' is directed by two-time Oscar winner American film director Bill Guttentag. The film is a true story about a programme started by Afghan tech entrepreneur Roya Mahboob in 2017 as a way to help young women develop their skills in science and technology, despite their patriarchal society. The majority of the film will be across Morocco and Budapest. The shoot has already started and is expected to be completed within 50 days. Produced by Laura Overdeck, Samudrika Arora and Bill Guttentag, the film will also star Canadian actress Nikol Boosheri, who was last seen in The Bold Type.

Hours after the former VJ posted a post 'I said YES', netizens were left thinking if the wedding bells are on cards. But Malaika has now confirmed in an Instagram post that she said yes to OTT debut. Details inside... There is a reason why people say don't believe everything that you see on social media. What better can suffice this than what happened earlier today. Actress Malaika Arora took to Instagram and posted a picture of hers with a caption 'I said YES'. The post caught attention of media and fans and soon assumptions were made that she is set to tie a knot with beau Arjun Kapoor. But hours after her post, she announced on Instagram on making her OTT debut with a series on Disney+ Hotstar. The series titled 'Moving In With Malaika' will see the actress get up, close and personal like never before. Produced by Banijay Asia, the reality show will see guest appearances. It will air from December 5.

Nora Fatehi will collaborate with Nicki Minaj for the FIFA 2022 anthem 'Light the Sky'. Nothing can stop dancer-cum-actor Nora Fatehi in collaboration game this year. The actress has left no stone unturned to work with international singers. After collaborating with Zack Knight for Dirty Little Secret and Fnaire for Dilbar Arabic, Fatehi will soon be featuring in Light the Sky, the official anthem for FIFA World Cup 2022. She will be lending her voice along with international rapper Nicki Minaj at the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. With this collaboration, Fatehi will perform live at the FIFA World Cup and represent India at the international platform. Though sharing stage with Minaj is a big feat, featuring in an official anthem isn't new for Fatehi. She had earlier featured in the official Qatar World Cup anthem as well. Light The Sky has been produced by RedOne, who has previously worked with Shakira on Waka Waka and La La La. The opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2022 will take place at the Al-Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar on November 20.

Actor Siddharth Malhotra, who recently completed a decade in the film industry, shared his journey so far and tips to those coming in the industry from non-film background. A decade in the Hindi film industry is long. What has kept you going? Acting is a demanding and challenging profession. I have always been stubborn since I was a child. When I was young, my mother scolded me for being too stubborn. But now, I use this quality and it has kept me going. Share the memories you cherish the most. For any newcomer, who is coming from a different city to Mumbai, the first thing to cherish is when people notice me as an actor. There have been several occasions when people have recognised me in public places. I still remember that after completing two years in the industry, I went on a vacation with my family to Sri Lanka. People on the airport spotted me and asked for autographs. That was the moment when my family realised that I have done good work in the industry and gained immense love and that’s one memory that I cherish the most. What’s your biggest weakness? I think anger. But I also feel that it’s also my strength. Anger has motivated me to achieve my dreams. There have been times when I was without work and that bothered me. But it was my anger that pushed me to achieve my dreams. You started your journey as an assistant director before getting your big break as an actor. Do you think upcoming actors from non-film background too should follow your footsteps? There’s no set rule or roadmap for an outsider who wants to be an actor. When I came to Mumbai 15 years ago, I had given several auditions. But unfortunately, nothing fruitful came out of them. I felt that I was not learning/growing at that time. That’s when I thought to be a part of a production unit. Becoming an assistant director helped me learn a lot from actors on the set. I feel that my desperation paid. Every person should be determined and open to learn. An actor’s life is not for a few years but several decades. Learning more things can help expand your avenues.

This is the first time Arjun Kapoor, Tabu and Naseeruddin Shah will work together. The film also stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Kumud Mishra, Radhika Madan and Shardul Bhardwaj. Arjun Kapoor is set to work with Tabu and Naseeruddin Shah in Vishal Bhardwaj's next Kuttey. Ever since the release of its poster, there has been buzz surrounding the film's unusual name and its storyline. The makers have now announced the film's release date in an Instagram post. According to the official handle of Vishal Bhardwaj Films, the film will release on January 13, 2023. "Bring in the New Year with 'Kuttey', releasing in cinemas on 13th January, 2023," the post said. Kuttey is a dark comedy that also stars Konkona Sen Sharma, Kumud Mishra, Radhika Madan and Shardul Bhardwaj in prominent roles. The film is directed by Aasman Bhardwaj and will be presented by T-series. It will be produced by Luv Ranjan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Ankur Garg and Rekha Bhardwaj.

Women artists from Meghalaya explored the nuances of birth, motherhood, matriliny and its myriad possibilities in a series titled ‘Her Art’. Amidst a packed house at the Meghalayan Age – The Store, women artists from Meghalaya showcased their artworks in different mediums ranging from charcoal, coffee, cloth, clay, limestone and wood. The series titled ‘Her Art’ explored the themes of birth, motherhood and matriliny. The concept of womanhood was explored threadbare through deeply personal art work that tried to encapsulate the beauty and fragility of being a woman in a society known for its matrilineal tradition. Each artwork bears cultural motifs of the region and is derived from lived experiences of the four women artists being featured. These works will be on display at the store till November 26. Artworks on display The 'Her Art' series is dedicated to the women of Meghalaya and their contribution to a diversity of practices including art, craft, literature, performance and entrepreneurship. Art installation 'Birth' is the product of a collaboration between Careen Joplin Langstieh and Ridahunlang Gatphoh. "Birth' is inspired by two different traditional practices relating to birth and motherhood while the depiction is symbolic of a khasi folklore around the same subject. On one side are the nine traditional clay pots that are generally used to make offerings to Mother Nature and to bathe the new-born child and on the other, is a series of seven artworks that put emphasis on motherhood in contemporary times revolving around the 'jain-it'. Both the black clay pots and the jain-it are an integral piece of the Khasi culture. Talking about the significance of the ‘jain-it’, a strip of cloth used as a baby sling wrap, Langstieh said, “I did not realise the value of this cloth till I had my own children. It is an integral piece of Khasi culture and a precious piece of cloth that is the first gift to a new born child from the paternal grandmother.” The show also features Balaiamon Kharngapkynta’s art series 'Mawbyrsiew - Lithography & Woodcut Prints'. Through her artwork 'the Screaming Egg', the Shillong-based visual practitioner has depicted the pain women bear but refrain from showing it. “Often women go through pain silently and do not voice their anguish. Through this egg, I have tried to depict the silent scream of women,” she explains. The show's opening day saw the presence of several renowned personalities. Those spotted included actress Pavleen Gujral (seen in Angry Indian Goddesses and Gehraiyaan), photographers Pablo Bartholomew and Sarang Sena, Mrs Indian Worldwide 2019 Alisha Madan and actor Avijit Dutt (seen in Jolly LLB 2), among others.

They say gratitude and success go hand in hand. If you believe in this but haven’t shown thankfulness to others in your life, you can do it now. Aashmeen Munjaal through her Shukrana Gratitude Foundation is hosting a Shukrana conclave to help people understand their inner worth and inner beauty. For celebrity makeup and beauty expert-turned ontologist Aashmeen Munjaal, gratitude is a magic potion. But she feels that in the race of achieving dreams, people have forgotten to acknowledge and show gratitude towards their wins. With an aim to make them understand their inner worth and to help them draw closer to their goals, Munjaal’s Shukrana Gratitude Foundation recently rolled out a 30-days programme under the Shukrana conclave. The idea behind the programme is to motivate and guide people to help them achieve their dreams. “Our theme is to beautify humanity internally and externally,” shares Aashmeen. To guide the participants, the foundation has roped in a panellist of prominent personalities from different industries. These include Bollywood actors Aman Verma and Ritu Shivpuri, Study by Janak’s Director Vandy Mehra, Star Makeup and Hair Academy’s Director Annie Munjaal, business and life coach Ramon LLamba, relationship and family coach Vivek Behl, personality coach Rita Gangwani and fashion designer Preeti Ghai, to name a few. These personalities will share a list of dos and don’ts with participants free of cost basis their expertise and experience. Every day, a few members on the panel will host a one-hour session with participants to help them draw closer to their dreams. All the sessions will be conducted on Zoom. In case a participant misses a session after registering with the foundation, he/she can view the discussion on Shukrana Gratitude Foundation’s YouTube channel. But what will include in these sessions? Annie Munjal, Director, Star Academy, explains, “These sessions are like guidelines. They will include discussions and panellists will also give assignments to participants to allow them to practice gratitude in the real sense. These sessions will be a get-together for everyone as one will be able to listen as well as practice their learnings.” Who can join? People of any age can join this programme, including children. Aashmeen stresses that the programme has the potential to help children combat mental health issues from a young age. “The problem with today’s children is that they don’t feel optimistic and thankful for what they have. When things are given to them, they take them for granted. That’s why when they don’t achieve something, they face mental health problems. I feel that there is a need to teach children about importance of gratitude and optimism in smallest achievements. These sessions will help them,” she shares.

A case has been filed over the contractual dispute in respect of the film and for the act of breach of trust. Actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s film ‘Sangeen’ has landed in a legal soup. A legal notice was sent to Golden Era Films, Onkarjit Singh and Gurjit Singh, the producers of this film followed by filing of a case and notice of motion for stay on the film bearing registration numbers 385/2022 and 1913/2022 before the City Civil Court, Dindoshi. The case has been filed and handled by the law firm LAWKHART LEGAL Advocate Raghavendra Mehrotra and Advocate Nitish Mawkin on behalf of Y-Star Films Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai based production house, over the contractual dispute in respect of the film and for the act of breach of trust. Speaking about the issue, Aditya Bharadwaj of Y-Star Films said, “We have sent the legal notice to the producers earlier and following that have filed a dispute case and notice of motion for stay on the film with respect to the film’s rights against them.” The copy of the legal notice has also been sent to Producers Association IMPPA seeking for appropriate action and Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association considering the merit had also issued a show cause notice upon Golden Era Films. Nawazuddin and his co-actor in the film, Elnaaz, have reunited in this project. They were previously seen in Netflix original series Sacred Games. The film is directed by Jaideep Chopra. Earlier the film's poster was also shared by the actors on their social media account.

Designers eye trunk shows to enhance sales, create brand awareness and gather more footfalls. Here's an insight into what a trunk show is and its offerings... It is usual for five-star hotels to witness large footfalls on weekends. Seldom do visitors come there to shop. But a five-star hotel in Delhi recently became a hub for shoppers as it hosted a trunk show. The hotel provided shoppers a platform to purchase apparels, food, cosmetics, jewellery, watches, shoes, home décor items and other accessories, among other items, under one roof. That's the magic of trunk shows. These shows allow shoppers to purchase products without causing them hassle to travel to different cities to shop. Though ‘trunk show’ sounds like taking out items from trunk, its meaning cannot be taken literally. A high fashion trunk show includes what's curated or is in vogue like a sample piece. Anubhav Bhasin, who has been hosting the S&S Trunk Shows, explained the concept as small, curated exhibitions. “At a trunk show, shoppers can purchase several designer products. It minimises buyers' time and efforts as well as offers variety, as everything is available under one roof,” he says. Trunk shows allow shoppers to personally connect with the brands. For people, it's more about staying personally connected with the brand, touching and feeling the outfit and purchasing outfits that they feel comfortable in. Agrees Dipalli Sarin Bhasiin, who has organised trunk shows. "When we organise a trunk show, we cater to women in their 40s and 50s. It's the age group that likes to touch and feel everything they buy because comfort is the key for them. Trunk shows allow buyers to interact with the brands directly, offering them satisfaction and value for money," she adds. Any brand, irrespective of its presence, be it online or offline, and base (city-based or Pan-India) can participate in a trunk show. Many small and medium designers eye such shows as they help generate maximum footfalls. Sherry Kathuria, Founder, Amulets, an online jewellery brand, considers participating in a trunk show as a sales enhancement tool. Calling these shows a game-changer, she says, “Trunk shows have always helped us in generating sales. Thanks to digital marketing, the word-of-mouth spreads easily. We get more footfalls and repeated buying.” But it's not the participation alone that turns out to be fruitful. Kathuria shares that brands also leave no stone unturned for buyers. "Brands also prepare for a trunk show well in advance. We, for instance, offer something for everyone. A part of our collection is dedicated to new launches that we bring out every time we participate in a trunk show," she adds. Some brands also eye such shows to create brand awareness. Shivam Gupta, founder of Delhi-based online sustainable brand ‘Loudless’, faced the aftermath of the pandemic so badly that he was forced to delay the launch of his brand. Gupta feels that his brand’s participation in trunk show would help him make Loudless visible among masses. “I think this show would create brand awareness as people will be able to see our designs and the intricate work that goes in their designing. The response, so far, has been good,” he says. Planning a trunk show Every trunk show features a range of designers as sellers. The work for hosting a trunk show starts months ahead of the d-day. Designers are chosen based on a theme or the category that the host caters to address. Months ahead of the show, a host invites applications from sellers based upon a list of pre-requisites that may vary in terms of category, products or brand sales. Products are normally segmented under three categories, namely, luxury, affordable or affordable luxury. Each category varies in terms of price. "Brands are shortlisted based on their products and the segment they cater to. We also invite brands that are present pan-India to allow buyers to shop easily across the length and breadth of the country without being physically going to different cities," shares Bhasiin.

The actor said that OTT platforms are a little different from the cinema's business model and liberating in many ways. The emergence of streaming platforms has provided opportunities to storytellers to express and explore narratives like never before. Most filmmakers have done justice to their job and brought forth narratives that showcase reality. Actor Gulshan Devaiah, who was a part of one such series ‘Shiksha Mandal’ feels that actors and filmmakers are able to think out-of-the-box due to the coming of OTT platforms. “I've always said that with OTT platforms, there is more work for everybody now. It is empowering to storytellers. It is a little different from the cinema business model and liberating in many ways,” he said. Shiksha Mandal revolved around the Vyapam scam. It revealed how corruption, fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy affected vulnerable students in India. Since Devaiah’s last role generated huge applauds, he no longer feels stressed of the box office collection. “I don't have the pressure of the sword of the box-office (BO) collection hanging on my head, but I have other smaller daggers that are hanging. That being said, I feel people have so much outrage in them and they waste it on things like Bollywood. I think they should direct it to scams, as these matters have not been solved yet and make it relevant,” he added.