Priyadharshni Rahul, a Supreme Court lawyer, has dedicated her career to fighting against dowry demands and ensuring justice for women. Her journey began when her own wedding was called off due to dowry demands at the age of 24. Motivated by this experience, she decided to study law and pursue the case in the Madras High Court and eventually the Supreme Court. With the intervention of the Supreme Court, the matter was settled last year. Despite being offered compensation, Priyadharshni refused to accept it and instead donated the amount to the Supreme Court Advocates Welfare Fund.
Since then, Priyadharshni has been providing legal assistance to various organizations, corporations, and politicians. She has also established an NGO that focuses on training political aspirants across party lines. Her goal is to inspire young people to join politics and fight against dowry demands. Priyadharshni continues to take up cases related to dowry demands and remains committed to fighting for justice.
In a recent incident, a Supreme Court advocate and his family were attacked near the Kal Bhairav temple in Ujjain. The attack occurred after they refused to purchase prasad from a kiosk. The incident resulted in injuries, and arrests have been made in connection with the case. The advocate and his family had visited the temple after attending Bhasmarti at the Mahakal temple. When they returned to their parked vehicle near a shop, the kiosk owner started forcing them to buy prasad. When they refused, the owner threw the packet into the vehicle and demanded Rs 200. This led to a heated argument, and the family was thrashed. One woman was dragged out of the car, and minors were touched inappropriately. The accused did not allow the family to go to the hospital and threatened them. The accused has been arrested, and a case has been registered against him. The advocate suffered head injuries and is undergoing treatment at the hospital [56752457].
In other news, Madhuri Dixit, the renowned Bollywood actress, refused to do a molestation scene during the shoot of her 1989 movie Prem Pratigya. Veteran actor Ranjeet revealed that Madhuri cried on the sets and refused to do the scene. The scene involved a handcart and Madhuri's character's father. Ranjeet was waiting for Madhuri but nobody informed him about what was happening. Eventually, Madhuri agreed to do the scene. Ranjeet argued that such scenes are a part of their job and are compulsory for every heroine. Prem Pratigya is a romantic film released in 1989, starring Mithun Chakraborty, Madhuri Dixit, Ranjeet, Vinod Mehra, and Satish Kaushik [1320b89a].
Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri praised a Pakistani doctor, Hamd Nawaz, who criticized Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Agnihotri highlighted Bollywood's tendency to romanticize courtesans and brothels and questioned the freedom of creativity. He also recommended watching Shyam Benegal's film Mandi to understand the reality of brothels. Agnihotri's tweet sparked reactions from internet users, with some agreeing that there should be a balance between creative freedom and reality in movies. The Pakistani doctor had previously pointed out inaccuracies in Heeramandi, such as the incorrect setting and portrayal of Lahore. Heeramandi is Bhansali's debut web series and explores the cultural reality of courtesans through the stories of its characters. It features actors like Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, and Richa Chadha and was released on Netflix India on May 1 [6c98e847].
Manisha Koirala, known for her powerful performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, recently opened up about motherhood in a candid interview. She revealed that she has 'made peace' with not being able to become a mother and has thought a lot about adoption. Manisha acknowledged that there are dreams that she realizes will not happen and has accepted her reality. She also mentioned that she has aging parents whom she cherishes and spends time with. The actress also discussed her battle with ovarian cancer and how it impacted her mental health. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, in which she stars, is currently streaming on Netflix [7601f22f].
New-age producer Jhanvi Narang, granddaughter of renowned filmmaker Narayan Das Narang, discusses her role in the film industry. She is currently handling the production of the big action flick Kubera, being made with over ₹100 crore. She emphasizes the importance of being judicious with spending and understanding the creative aspect behind each rupee spent. Jhanvi has also worked with Tamil superstar Dhanush and director Sekhar Kammula, learning humility and patience from them. She has teamed up with actor-producer Rana Daggubati to produce a new age romantic comedy. Jhanvi comes from a lineage of illustrious filmmakers, with her grandfather and father being involved in the industry. She has a graduate degree in Commerce and a Masters in Marketing, which have helped her in financial management and marketing. Jhanvi aims to make thematic films with novel content for the new-generation Telugu audience [b196cfdc].
Kiran Rao, director of 'Laapataa Ladies', discussed her experiences as an assistant director on the film 'Lagaan'. She described her role as a 'logistical nightmare' involving coordination of a large cast, with no creative control. She was responsible for coordinating with two cricket teams and managing makeup, hair, and wardrobe. She recalled being constantly yelled at and having to deal with the challenges of shooting on live sound and outdoors. Kiran Rao recently directed 'Laapataa Ladies', a film about two brides who accidentally get switched during a train ride. The film stars newcomers Nitanshi Goel and Pratibha Ranta alongside established actors like Ravi Kishan [907afa5e].
AM Turaz, the songwriter of the web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, has accused actors of stealing the limelight and not giving credit to technicians in the Bollywood industry. Turaz demands respect for writers and urges actors to speak about them in interviews. He claims that writers in Bollywood aren't paid well, affecting their creativity. Sanjay Leela Bhansali has also previously said that actors tend to 'hijack' a project. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Segal Mehta, Farida Jalal, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman in key roles. The show explores the trials and tribulations of women. Heeramandi is currently streaming on Netflix [c5dc70b2].
Taha Shah, who rose to fame after playing the role of Tajdaar in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, revealed that before he found popularity, he had to beg and plead with designers and stylists for clothes. However, Manish Malhotra always stood by him even when he hadn't tasted success. Taha Shah now has several stylists and designers who willingly give him clothes for events, but he recalls the time when he had to beg for the same. He mentioned that Manish Malhotra would always invite him to events and dress him up, and he never had to pay for any of it. [cd1283e2].
Tahira Kashyap, a writer and director, criticizes societal double standards and argues that men should face the same scrutiny as women when they prioritize work over family. She questions why men, including her husband Ayushmann Khurrana, are not held to the same standards. Tahira emphasizes the importance of being financially independent and having her own source of income. She shares her struggles with identity and feeling overshadowed by her husband's fame. Despite societal perceptions, Tahira takes pride in her relationships and mutual support with Ayushmann. They have been together since high school and are each other's biggest cheerleaders. Tahira highlights the importance of being secure in one's individuality while supporting each other in shared roles. Tahira and Ayushmann married in 2008 and have two children. Through her journey, Tahira continues to challenge societal norms and advocate for equality in the work-family balance.
Zari Hassan's husband Shakib Cham admits to pursuing her for a long time before they started dating. He followed her car to her destination and approached her, eventually meeting at a birthday party where Zari was the guest of honor. They went to an after party, and Shakib asked for a dance. Despite opposition from family members and jealousy from other men, they exchanged numbers and got together. However, they had to cut off contact for five years due to family pressure. They eventually reunited at a party in Uganda and have been planning things together. Zari Hassan tells her husband that women like him because he is with her. Zari is a Ugandan-South-African-based businesswoman [ea213d4d].