Radhika Apte praises for making social issue based entertaining PadMan!

Well-known actress Radhika Apte’s last release Padman was a huge success at the box-office. The actor received a lot of praise for her role in the film starring Akshay Kumar. On her experience of working with Akshay Kumar and director R Balki, Radhika revealed a tabloid, “I am glad to be a part of something that made a difference to the society. It is not every day that such social issues are blended so well with entertainment. I am happy I could be part of the project.”

On the film front, Radhika has an interesting line up of movies this year as Sriram Raghavan’s Shoot The Piano Player, Bazaar with Saif Ali Khan and Vikramaditya Motwane’s Bhavesh Joshi.

She is presently shooting for Michael Winterbottom’s next with Dev Patel.

Arunachalam Muruganantham gave thumbs-up for maximum reality in the Padman!

Arunachalam Muruganantham, Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna

Akshay Kumar, Radhika Apte and Sonam Kapoor starrer film PadMan is running successfully on the box office. The movie is based on the story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, inventor of low-cost sanitary napkins for women in rural areas.  Film PadMan is helmed by R Balki and produced by Twinkle Khanna under her home banner Mrs Funnybones Productions.

Arunachalam Muruganantham, in a media chat with a tabloid, was questioned if he had ever thought of making a movie on sanitary pads. On this, he revealed, "I had been getting queries from regional filmmakers to do a movie based on my work. But I did not want my work and mission — to create awareness on menstrual hygiene — to be restricted to only a part of the country. In fact, I wanted to do the movie in Hollywood. But I realised that it would take at least a decade to become a reality. So, I went ahead with a movie in Hindi."

In choosing Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar for this film, he revealed, "There were offers from a few Bollywood filmmakers, but I was skeptical as to whether those films will do justice to my vision or even my life. I was also apprehensive because what if I sign an agreement and give the rights to some filmmaker, and he shelves the project? The purpose might get lost. That’s when Twinkle spoke to me. She had written a story on me and their terms were transparent. They stuck to their words, and in fact, completed the film in nine months."

About the response on the film, Arunachalam said "Yes, indeed. Eighty-five per cent of the things shown in the movie are true. Probably this is the only movie in the world, which has thrown light on menstrual hygiene and a hero holding or wearing a sanitary napkin. This has created a conversation, which means, people have started talking about female personal hygiene. This helps to create awareness. Since the movie is in Hindi, it helps reach out to more audience. I have been working in north Indian villages, so I know the truth. Compared to the south Indian states, north India is less developed and there’s little awareness on menstrual hygiene. That’s why we decided to select Madhya Pradesh, central India, as the setting for the movie. We wanted the movie to reach out to a larger population. Though we were apprehensive of facing some issues in the Arab countries, the movie has released in all places, except Pakistan. It’s a great achievement for us."

Talking about his own experience, he said, "I suffered a lot when I tried to make sanitary napkins and promote the idea. My family — including my mother and wife — deserted me. Villagers even tied me to a tree and beat me. But after seeing me successful now, they come and say that they all knew that I would become famous one day. Some say I have wide forehead and that’s why I got name and fame; some others say, the lines in my palm indicated popularity, and so on. To sum up, they are all now proud of me and my work. The film could achieve which I could not in the last 18 years, to create a conversation on menstrual hygiene. That said, the only drawback the film has brought to me, personally, is that I’m not able to convince my wife that I never had a love affair. The film shows my character having a lover and she believes that it’s true. Till now, she remains unconvinced."

Sonam Kapoor feels pain for Girls from rural areas!

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor will be next seen in PadMan with Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte. The movie is helmed by R Balki and produced by Twinkle Khanna. The movie is based on Arunachalam Muruganantham, inventor of low-cost sanitary napkins for women in rural areas.

In a media chat with a tabloid, Sonam spoke about the problems women in rural areas face during their periods and the concept of the movie.

About taking up the movie, Sonam revealed, "I have been brought up beautifully by my parents. My parents have never made me feel that something is wrong with me one because I am a girl or I get my period or I am an actress. I went to an amazing school where I had equal education on everything including sex and period. Everybody is not privileged like me. I can create awareness. Lots of girls will be scared to do a film on periods, but I didn’t even think before signing."

About the tale of film, Sonam revealed, "I think whatever anybody does is all because of love, that emotion drives us. The film is about that emotion. Any extraordinary achievements come out of love. The story is about a man who created sanitary napkins at a cheap price of Rs 2, but it is also the story about what made him do this because he loved his wife"

Sonam also said how girls in rural areas are treated badly during their periods and how less number of women in this country use sanitary pads. The actor revealed, "To know only twelve percent of women have access to sanitary napkins is very disheartening. We are only fifty percent of the population and in that only twelve percent of women have access to sanitary napkins. We haven’t seen anything or faced harsh things during our period because we live in the metropolitan city. Hardly we have faced the stigma of not going temple during our period or not touch pickles. I don’t understand what will happen to that pickles but anyway, the girls from rural areas have been treated awfully during their period and that’s the real problem. The substitute for a pad for them is ashes, leaves, dirty clothes and what not."

Big B in trailer during Akshay’s PadMan!

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have acted together in numerous movies before. Both of them are really gifted and are also fond of each other.

After a long gap, they will come together. But, Big B and Akshay won't share the screen space together anytime soon.

Amitabh's 102 Not Out trailer will be attached to Akshay Kumar's PadMan. The news was verified by 102 Not Out's director Umesh Shukla at a latest talk.

As per report, Big B also has a cameo in Akshay's PadMan.

Our grandmother asked us not to go to the temple or in the kitchen during periods, reveals Sonam Kapoor!

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor will next be seen in Padman along with Akshay Kumar. The film narrates the life story of Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised the concept of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkins machine.

Sonam was shooting for the movie in Madhya Pradesh and in a chat with a news agency, she spoke about the subject of menstrual hygiene. She told, "For city girls, it is normal, but when we were shooting in Maheshwar [in Madhya Pradesh], [people's] ignorance was shocking".

"We remember our grandmother asking us to not go to the temple, or in the kitchen. Despite being city girls, we get to hear such things. So, one can only imagine what girls living in smaller villages may be going through," further added Sonam.

Previously, in a chat with a tabloid, when Akshay was questioned about starring in a film which delves with the topic of menstruation, the actor specified, "If you change nothing, nothing will change. It’s not about being bold, but about breaking taboos that hold us back. I have lived with women all my life, yet I have learnt more about the topic while making this film than ever before. I do not mind who I offend or whose stomach I turn by being bold, this is not the Stone Age; menstruating is natural."

Padman is scheduled to release on January 26, 2018.

Akshay Kumar is the first superstar in the world to talk about menstrual hygiene, reveals Padman Arunachalam Muruganantham!

Bollywood star Akshay Kumar is gearing up for the release of his forthcoming movie PadMan. Akshay will soon start promoting the movie as it is set to hit the screens in January 2018. Film PadMan is a biopic based on Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of low-cost sanitary napkins for women in rural areas.

Recently, Arunachalam tweeted a photograph where he is seen holding a clapperboard as Akshay is about to give his shot. He tweeted the picture stating, "@akshaykumar ji is the first super star in the world to talk about menstrual hygiene and taboos surround it. I’m happy that he is portraying my story as #Padman @mrsfunnybones @sonamakapoor @PadManTheFilm"

Akshay quote tweeted his tweet and responded, "I'm more than glad to portray the reel #Padman and bring your amazingly inspiring story to life. Hope we manage to spark a change and start a conversation. Period."

I really like horror comedy, reveals Akshay Kumar!

Evergreen star Akshay Kumar has given numerous movies that had social messages in it such as Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, Oh My God, Gabbar Is Back, and several others. The actor, in his next movie PadMan will also be depicting a character that can help the society to know the importance of sanitary napkins for females.

During the IFFI 2017 closing ceremony, Akshay Kumar opened up about the significance of movies and the social messages they give. As stated by a tabloid, Akshay told, "I think it is very important to do films that talk to people and give them a message in a commercial way. When I did Toilet: Ek Prem Katha, we commercially sent a message to each and every member of the audience that it is important for every house to have a toilet. We showed it in a comic way. We also showed a love story."

He further said, "When a documentary is made, not many people watch it. So, I thought it is more important today than ever to do something for my country and this (making films with a social message) is the best way to do it. Since I am in the industry, I want to show people something new."

The actor also told the kind of movies he would also like to do apart from such social message-driven movies. He told that he would like to work in a horror comedy. Akshay specified, "I really like horror comedy. I want to do a film like Bhool Bhulaiyaa. I want to work in a film like that. I am looking for a good script."

PadMan’s shooting in New York with Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor!

Evergreen star Akshay Kumar is set to step into the shoes of Arunachalam Muruganantham (the inventor of low-cost sanitary napkins for women in rural areas) in PadMan. Directed by R. Balki and produced by Twinkle Khanna's home production Mrs. Funnybones Productions, PadMan also stars Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte.

Bollywood stars Akshay and Sonam are in New York shooting for the final schedule of the film. We have received a photo from the sets where Akshay and Sonam are seen posing together along with their team.

Akshay looked attractive in a white shirt, olive green pants and a grey hoodie while Sonam looked endearing as a button in a maroon dress with a faded baby pink jacket along with black spectacles and her hair was tied in a middle-parted bun.

Sonam feels different experience with Akshay!

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Sonam Kapoor have been paired opposite each other in their forthcoming movie, PadMan. The movie tells the life story of Tamil Nadu-based social activist Arunachalam Muruganantham, who revolutionised the idea of menstrual hygiene in rural India by creating a low-cost sanitary napkins machine.

Speaking about working with Akshay, Sonam said a famous agency, “This the second time I am working with Akshay and it was a completely different experience. I respect Akshay for doing relevant and content-driven films. As an actor, he is honest to his work and as a person, he is very disciplined."

The movie is directed by R Balki and Sonam is blessed to work with him. She told, “I feel blessed to be working Balki sir. I am going to miss him after the shoot, he is a positive and crazy person. He doesn’t yell at anybody.”

Sonam is going an extra mile for her forthcoming movie, PadMan. According to reports, she took lessons to play the instrument from the 28-year-old renowned tabla player and percussionist Mukta Madan Raste. A source was quoted tellinh, "As Sonam plays a tabla player in Padman, she is making time to learn the nuances of playing the instrument. Even while travelling, she takes a music book along and finds time to practise on her own. Mukta also has a small role in the film and she plays a sarangi player and trains Sonam, too."

Now Sonam becomes a Table Player!

Sonam is geared up for her next movie PadMan which stars Akshay Kumar and Radhika Apte. The movie is helmed by R.Balki and is based on Arunachalam Muruganantham, the inventor of low-cost pads for women in rural areas. While Akshay and Radhika, who plays his wife in the movie have already shot for a couple of scenes in Indore, Sonam too will be joining the team shortly.

While we knew what characters Akshay and Radhika are playing, we were not sure about Sonam. Now, according to a leading daily, we finally have an answer.

Sonam will be playing a tabla player and has been practising for two months under the guidance of 28-year-old tabla player and percussionist Mukta Madan Raste.

Mukte confirmed the news and said, "Sonam has been learning how to play the tabla from me."

An insider revealed to the daily, "As Sonam plays a tabla player in Padman, she is making time to learn the nuances of playing the instrument. Even while travelling, she takes a music book along and finds time to practise on her own. Mukta also has a small role in the film and she plays a sarangi player and trains Sonam, too."

"It is noteworthy that she is learning an instrument for a film when she does not really need to. In any case, it takes anyone years to properly learn the instrument, " a source said as Sonam will be one of the first top actresses to who will be shown playing an instrument (tabla) in the movie. 

Akshay Kumar’s cycle romance with Radhika Apte!

Evergreen star Akshay Kumar, who will be seen working with R. Balki for the very first time in Padman, started shooting for the movie a couple of days back and we came across some special stills from the sets.

In the stills that we have come across, Akshay is seen wearing a white shirt and grey trousers as he takes Radhika Apte on a cycle ride with him. From what we have heard, Apte will be seen playing the role of his wife in the movie, which also stars Sonam Kapoor.

Directed by R. Balki, Padman revolves around Arunachalam Muruganantham, who finds a way to make cheaper sanitary napkins that could be afforded by women in his village, after watching his wife save dirty rags during her menstruation periods.

Akshay Kumar walks hand-in-hand with wife Twinkle Khanna for Padman!

Bollywood stars Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna make for one of the most romantic couples in the tinsel town. 

Twinkle, the actor turned writer will next be donning a producer's hat for her maiden project Padman, which stars hubby Akshay Kumar in the lead. 

The shooting for Padman had begun a few days ago in Madhya Pradesh. Joining the crew today, Akshay Kumar shared a picture of the husband-wife duo embarking on the new journey together. 

Taking to Twitter, Khiladi Kumar wrote, "Embarking on a new journey, this time with the Mrs. First day of @mrsfunnybones' #Padman directed by R. Balki, need ur love & luck as always."

In the photo, Akshay-Twinkle can be seen walking hand-in-hand with each other, as they begin this new journey- with Tina turning producer for the first time. Well, we are totally in love with the picture!

Apart from Akshay Kumar, the film also stars Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte. But, it is not clear when Sonam and Radhika would begin filming for the film.

Padman will be a fictional account of the life of a social entrepreneur, Arunachalam Muruganantham, who took it up to himself to provide low-cost sanitary napkins to women from poor economic strata across rural India. 

The film will be directed by R Balki and is said to be shot in a start-to-finish schedule.

Padman is anticipated to release later this year.