Shabana Azmi’s Sheer Qorma for the LGBTQI community’s struggles!

Veteran Shabana Azmi has always batted for the queer community.

The actress did Fire at a time when no one wanted to play gay, and now she’s also signed Faraz Arif Ansari’s Sheer Qorma. The lesbian drama will star Divya Dutta and Swara Bhaskar as a couple who want acceptance from their families and from society as a whole, and Shabana will play the role of Divya’s mom. The veteran actress was very moved by the script which highlights the LGBTQI community’s struggles, and didn’t hesitate to say yes. I know she’ll be her usual fantastic self in it!

BFF’s Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhasker have fight for this?

Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor

Bollywood’s best friends and actresses Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhasker first met during the shoot of their film Ranjhaana. Both later even shared screen space in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo along with Salman Khan.

Their latest film together Veere Di Wedding has been well received at box office with the movie making a business of around Rs 73 crores in just 11 days.

But, did you know that the best of friends usually disagree on this specific thing.

As per a daily, Sonam Kapoor and Swara Bhasker usually disagree on their favourite actors.

Sonam revealed, “I am a huge Salman fan whereas Swara is crazy about SRK. So we keep having these little fights between us.”

I never feared taking risks, confesses Swara Bhasker!

Actress Swara Bhaskar has explored a lot of characters in films such as heroine's best friend in "Tanu Weds Manu", a middle-aged mother of a 15-year-old in "Nil Battey Sannata", a prostitute in "Anaarkali of Aarah" and a buddy in women-centric film "Veere Di Wedding" etc. Actress Swara Bhaskar has explored characters that an image-conscious budding actress would fear to do.

She tells breaking stereotypes is the best way to set her own rules for her acting career.

"I never feared to take a risk. When I came to the film industry, since I had no idea of how to go about it, people gave me a lot of advice on what not to do... I was told not to play any character of a sister or best friend of the protagonist as then people would only offer me second lead. I was told not to play vamp and mother at a young age... Now you know what are the characters I have played in films. I thought if those are the rules to get the lead role, why not break them? Why not get rid of stereotypes to set my own rules?" Swara revealed a media agency in a media chat.

"I think the best way to deal with stereotypes is by taking a risk, by trying new things without fearing the failure," further added Swara.

Sonam Kapoor to see positives in Swara Bhasker being trolled!

Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor

Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor

Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor

Film Veere Di Wedding has opened to optimistic reviews and has broken box-office records by registering the third highest opening day collections in 2018.

Swara Bhasker has always taken a stand about numerous issues and has voiced her opinion on social media. Swara was trolled after she wrote an open letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali after seeing Padmaavat.

Lately, in a media chat, Swara responded to the ban of her movie Veere Di Wedding in Pakistan. She has been trolled heartlessly for her remarks. Close friend Sonam Kapoor who was in Delhi recently to meet fans at a theatre revealed, “I think people just like to troll her because she has an opinion & a point of view & I guess that shows how much they love her because the other side of hate is always love, so Swara you have a lot of lovers!”

Swara also explained her stance in a tweet that read, “I believe there should be a distinction between States/ Governments of a country and the civilians of that country. My regard for and goodwill towards the people of Pakistan remains unchanged. Some of my closest friends are Pakistani. Lahore remains one of my soul cities."

Deepika jibes at Swara over her open letter!

Bollywood trio Deepika Padukone-Shahid Kapoor-Ranveer Singh starrer Padmaavat has been breaking all the box-office records of Hindi Film Industry. The movie has opened to packed theatres and movie-lovers have been going gaga over the movie.

Swara Bhasker lately wrote an open letter to Sanjay Leela Bhansali claiming that she felt like a vagina at the end of the movie. She wrote a long post and clarified why she felt so.

When questioned about feminists criticizing the film, Deepika told in a media chat, “I think people miss the fact that this movie was set in an era- in the 12th and 13thcentury when rituals like this were practiced.”

When questioned about Swara Bhasker’s letter specially, she told, “She probably missed the disclaimer at the beginning of the film.”

She explained, “You probably went out to buy some popcorn and missed the initial disclaimers that come out. I think, secondly, the fact that it is important to view a film in totality and to see in which period it was set in. Third of all, I think for me this film is not just about the act (jauhar) that they all committed, but it stood for so much more. For me, it’s a celebration of women and their strength, power & dignity.”

Sonam Kapoor opens up about her closest friends!

Bollywood’s fashion icon Sonam Kapoor has been busy with her forthcoming movies, PadMan with Akshay Kumar and Veere Di Wedding produced by sister Rhea Kapoor, in which Sonam will star with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania.

Lately, when Sonam was questioned about her close friends, she told, “Three of my closest friends are in this industry. I have like 5 friends and out of them three of them are Jacqueline Fernandez, Swara Bhaskar and Bebo. I can tell them anything and vice versa and that says a lot about women. I think women, when they stick together, they can make the most amount of change”

She had also spoken about the need for women to support each other and had told, “A woman cannot be another woman’s enemy; we have to be supportive of each other, otherwise it’s so callous and we’re only bringing everyone down."

Swara Bhaskar opens up about harassment on a film’s set!

Actress Swara Bhaskar who is presently shooting with Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sonam Kapoor for Veere Di Wedding made appalling disclosures in an interview with a tabloid. Swara spoke about how a director harassed her when she was new in Bollywood.

“Of course. I’ve been propositioned by men who were in a position to cast me. I lost a few roles because I didn’t give in. It made me vulnerable, nervous. Some people even stopped responding to my messages because they knew I would not give in. Being an articulate, educated girl they sensed that I would not take things lying down," Swara revealed.

"There have been catcalls during shoots and eve-teasing on one of my sets. I’ve been groped by a mob during promotions and during a 56-day outdoor at a remote location, when I was still fairly new, the director harassed me with texts and dinner invites. He stalked me during the day and called me through the night. I was asked to go to his hotel room on the pretext of discussing the scene and would find him drinking. During the first week itself, he started talking about love and sex and one night, arrived in my room, drunk, and asked to be hugged. It was scary!," she further added.

"I was young and alone. I would switch off the lights after pack-up and remove my make up in the dark so he would think I was asleep and stop calling me,” Swara said. She also spoke about that the best way for an actress to deal with such kind of harassment. "Lose the part but don’t get on the couch. It’s not a feminist choice and it’s certainly not a liberating choice. It’s like giving a bribe and that is succumbing to a wrong," Swara revealed.

I am not at all a part of Gold, says Swara Bhaskar!

It would have been a casting coup of sorts if Swara Bhaskar and Akshay Kumar featured in a movie together. There were big chances of it to happen, but unfortunately! This hottest piece of news broke our hearts! As per newest reports doing the rounds in tinsel town, the actress is not doing the movie. Upon being approached, Swara confirmed the news telling, “While I would LOVE to work with Akshay sir who I’m a fan of and with Reema Kagti whose work I admire deeply; sadly, the fact is I am not at all a part of Gold. I know it’s a great script and I wish the team well for the shoot.” 

For those of you who don’t know, Gold is a sports based drama, a biopic on Balbir Singh, the hockey champion who helped India win three consecutive gold medals in the 1948, 1952 and 1956 Olympics. The biopic is being directed by Reema Kagti. 

While Akshay Kumar has been finalized for the role, the team, we hear had almost finalized on Swara Bhaskar as the female lead. A famous daily quoted an insider as telling, “The team was looking for someone with acting prowess. After considering a few names, they chose Swara Bhaskar. They have approached her and she will soon sit for a narration and decide.” 

It was after watching her stellar performance in Nil Battey Sannata that Gold’s team wanted to cast her. The insider told, “Swara’s last film Nil Battey Sannata did well critically and commercially, the makers feel she’s got the perfect mix for a movie like Gold.” 

Swara Bhaskar's Anaarkali of Aarah in court against torrent sites!

Actress Swara Bhaskar's Anaarkali of Aarah has grabbed eyeballs because of its content and bold scenes. It has been in news ever since the trailer has hit the web. The movie hit the headlines for a few bold scenes which got leaked and went viral. CBFC asked the filmmakers to chop off those scenes, but those cuts from the movie went viral. 

Post this facade of leaked scenes on the web, producer Sandiip Kapur has obtained an anti-piracy John Doe order from Madras High Court to prevent the film being available on the torrent sites and not affecting the business of the movie further.

He clarified it to a famous daily, “It means an action against over 1800 torrent and other websites covering more than 95 percent of the piracy spectrum. For an independent producer like me, every penny matters. For a Friday release, the pirated version is available online within a few hours. With this order, 1750 sites and 40 ISPs (internet service providers) will be restrained from downloading the film.”

He also further added, "Even if the scenes are deleted from the movie, none should get exclusive footage of our film. Web sites, which aren't covered by our order, have also been taken into account. Taking a cue from Dangal and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, both of which leaked on Facebook and YouTube on the day of release, adequate measures will be taken to ensure that doesn't happen to us, a team of software engineers has been deputed to ensure the sites are blocked immediately.”

Film Anaarkali of Aarah revolves around an erotic singer (Swara) from Arrah in Bihar, who sings double meaning songs. One day things take an ugly turn when Anaarkali has a confrontation with a very powerful man who molested her and instead of bowing down she chooses to fight back against the misogynistic beliefs of her society.

The movie also gathered attention when it faced trouble with the people of Veer Kunwar Singh University situated in Bihar as the trailer has an item number which they think is maligning the image of freedom fighter Kunwar Singh.

Hope, this step by the producer makes the path to the film's release a little easier. 

Swara Bhaskar’s No to play mother for dwarf son SRK!

Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar is presently gearing up for her forthcoming film Anaarkali of Aarah where she essays the role of an erotic singer. 

But, the actor again hit headlines after various reports suggested that she had turned down Aanand L Rai's offer to essay the role of Shah Rukh Khan's mother in his next film, wherein SRK will be seen playing a dwarf.

News even suggested that Swara made it clear to the director that she loved SRK and wants to romance him, and not play the role of his sister or daughter.

When we contacted Swara to know the truth behind the hearsays, she told, "It was jokingly offered to me... The report is a conversation between Shahrukh sir, Aanand Rai sir and me from Aanand sir's bday party. The role was offered in banter and jest and turned down in seriousness.. :) That's all!" 

Swara was last seen in Nil Battey Sannata and is presently busy promoting Anaarkali of Aarah. Since the trailer of her movie was released, Swara has been receiving huge appreciation from fans and members of the film fraternity.

But, a few leaked scenes from the movie found their way to the Internet upsetting the makers. The makers have even lodged a FIR regarding the same at Malviya police station in Delhi. They suspect the role of one of the crew members behind the leak.

The film is set to hit the theaters on March 24, 2017.

Found love in 'enemy territory': Swara Bhaskar

Human relations are greater than politics. That's what actor Swara Bhaskar has learned after two "unforgettable" visits to what she once thought was "enemy territory" but where, after two visits to Pakistan, she was showered with warmth, hospitality and free 'chai and samosas' for being an Indian.

Her first visit to Pakistan was in 2005 with a friend. It was, as she describes, "two college girls who just decided to liven up their lives by visiting enemy territory".

"I think that trip taught me that people are always more important than some policies or actions of their government," Swara said, post her second visit last month.

This time, she went there for "work".

"I had gone for some meetings over a potential international film project that would require me to play a Pakistani immigrant, but also it was a chance for me to visit friends I have not met in 10 years as I visited Pakistan in 2005 and made some lasting friendships.

"Both my visits to Pakistan were made beautiful and memorable by the hospitality, warmth and friendship of my hosts, friends and even random strangers I met," she further added.

The talented actress, who has featured in Bollywood films like "Tanu Weds Manu" and "Raanjhanaa", recollected how in 2005, on the bus to Lahore, when some of their Pakistani fellow travellers learnt that she and her friend were travelling alone to Pakistan for the first time, they made "three serious offers to stay in their houses".

"In fact, traders in Lahore's iconic Anarkali market fed us samosas and tea and biscuits when they learnt that we were Indian," she said.

After both her visits, she says "the one stereotype of Pakistanis that is true is that they are the best hosts ever and are generous and magnanimous to a fault with their guests".

"My own experience was that Pakistan, the place and its people were very different from my imagination of them. I think the internet and social media can play a very positive role in enabling the people of both countries to reach out and connect with each other on a human and more personal level," added Swara, who will soon be seen in "Tanu Weds Manu Returns" on the big screen.