Ten years and about 20 movies into his career, Vikrant Massey says he is grateful to have gained the “privilege of choice”. It is something that an actor like him would like to utilise to continue to be the voice of the voiceless. He credits writers, filmmakers and producers for their belief in his calibre. “I recognise that I now have the privilege of choice. I want to utilise this privilege to do the work I want to, which is act, tell stories and entertain people, but also represent the common man,” Massey said in an interview. The privilege, however, doesn’t change his course of action. Massey said he will continue to look for characters that inspire him.

Not too far from home

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Actor Manoj Bajpayee says he tapped into his experience of growing up in a small village to essay the role of a displaced man on the run, in Joram. The hard-hitting survival drama is directed by Devashish Makhija of Ajji fame. 
“I come from a village, so my journey has been long. I’ve interacted with lakhs of people; such has been the journey that I don’t need to go to the slums to play a ‘jhopadpatti’ guy.”

The green signal 

The third part of the Tiger franchise—starring Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif—has been cleared by the CBFC with a U/A certificate. While no visual cuts were requested, the board demanded changes in the audio, and subtitles, as per reports. In certain dialogues, the use of appropriate abbreviations was demanded. The runtime of the film has been set at 153 minutes. The film will release on November 12. 

Heaping praise on hubby

After her husband’s film UT69 hit the theatres yesterday, Shilpa Shetty complimented Raj Kundra for his act. “My dearest Cookie, I know I say many things, but, this is something I want you to remember—You are special and brave, and I am so proud of you.” In the film, Kundra plays himself and narrates his time spent in the Arthur Road prison, where he was kept as an under-trial in a pornography case. In July 2021, the businessman was booked under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Indecent Representation of Women (Prevention) Act, and Information Technology Act for allegedly distributing and transmitting pornographic videos. He was granted anticipatory bail by the Supreme Court after serving 45 days at Arthur Jail.

Punjabi film wins hearts

Sarabha, the Punjabi film on young Indian revolutionary Kartar Singh Sarabha, who was hanged by the British at the age of 19 in Lahore in 1915, has drawn a huge response from audiences in Canada and the US after it hit theatres worldwide. Directed by Los Angeles-based director Kavi Raz, Sarabha is the first-ever Punjabi film to open in a record 55 theatres across the US alone. In Canada too, the movie is being screened at multiple theatres in Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and other cities. Raz said: “Sarabha isn’t your typical Punjabi film. It is a historical document on the role of Gadar heroes in India’s independence. Sarabha was a young boy of just 19 who gave his life for his motherland. He inspired the great revolutionary, Bhagat Singh.”

Building women the right way

The story of a father and daughter had singer Neeti Mohan reminiscing about her life story. Mohan, a judge on a singing reality show, was moved by the story of a father who celebrated his daughter’s return home following an abusive marriage. Mohan, who has three sisters, including choreographer Shakti, and actor Mukti, was reminded of how her father raised his daughters to stand up for themselves and never endure injustice. She said her father ensured his daughters were never bound by a different rulebook, merely because they are girls. “I want to thank you because you have encouraged people by taking this big step, and the world has seen it,” she told the duo on the show.