Never leaving ‘Anupamaa’
Rupali Ganguly
Television star Rupali Ganguly says she never saw herself as a star despite a long career and hit shows like Sarabhai vs Sarabhai, Parvarrish and Kkavyanjali but Anupamaa, with its unprecedented popularity, changed the way people perceived her. She said, “I was never a star before Anupamaa. I was just an actor until then, but people realised that I was doing my work well, that’s about it.”
Can’t get enough ‘Toxic’
Kiara Advani has described her role as Nadia in Yash-starrer Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups as the “most creatively fulfilling” of her career. Calling the character emotionally layered, the actor told Femina that she was “mesmerised” after hearing the narration and felt the role offered “all the meat an actor longs for”. Addressing the film’s ensemble, Kiara added that “every woman brought her own energy and individuality” to the project, amid online criticism over its promotional material. Directed by Geetu Mohandas, ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups’ is scheduled to release in cinemas on 19 March 2027.
Costume chaos
Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi and Sai Pallavi as Sita
Ever since the trailer of Ramayana: Part 1 dropped on July 30, social media has been divided over the film’s costumes. While some praised the visuals, others criticised the styling of key characters as being too contemporary. Sai Pallavi’s Sita drew flak from a section of users over her sleeveless blouse, with many arguing it did not reflect traditional depictions of the character. Lara Dutta’s Kaikeyi also came under scrutiny, with viewers calling her saree, green blouse and open hairstyle “too modern” and likening the look to a television soap rather than a mythological epic.