Romance is a thing of beauty. Memory is a thing of joy. Romance is a never-fading piece of memory which never grows old. It is true about Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, one of the most popular Bollywood romantic films, which celebrated its 20^th anniversary yesterday. Since its release in October 1995, this movie starring Shah Rukh and Kajol, one of the most celebrated onscreen couples, has been a rage with Indians of all ages. Mumbai seems to have had not enough of romance as Maratha Mandir Theater in the city has been screening Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge for 1000 weeks. It is not just a romance but also a family drama. It is a travel movie to some extent, too.

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge has become an iconic entertainment in Indian Cinema and has been ruling our hearts for several reasons including portrayal of beautiful landscapes from London to Switzerland to Punjab, and depiction of cultural traditions in India apart from the evergreen love story and melodious music. The song, “Ghar aaja pardesi, tera desh bulayere” (O’ migrants, come back home; your home, your country is missing you), has finely captured the nuances of nostalgia that every NRI experiences and relates to. The picturization of the song featuring a few colorfully dressed Punjabi girls running through the sprawling mustard fields is full of emotional vibes which touch the Indian hearts to the core despite migration to foreign lands.

The story of the movie begins in London and ends in Punjab connecting NRIs back to their roots in India. It depicts that an NRI family living in London for years does not break loose from their cultural identity and Indian values. It is not a myth but a reality that Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge holds to. Though NRIs assimilate the foreign culture, they do not camouflage themselves with it. The movie also populated the idea that wearing a foreign outfit does not mean changing the inner self which knows where you belong to and does not let you forget it.

The movie depicts Indian cultural traditions through pre-wedding rituals in the Punjabi community, to say the Karva Chauth ceremony. This very essence of Indianness which the visual frames of the story have emotively captured is a key to the success and popularity of the movie among Indians as well as NRIs. The musical and cultural extravaganza of Indian weddings has found a place in the song, “Mehendi lagake rakhna, doli sajake rakhna”, which, still the friends and siblings of brides and grooms groove to during pre or post wedding celebrations in India.

If you literally miss your native home, native friends and whatever you have grown up with in India while watching Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge once again, don’t miss booking cheap flights to India at Indian Eagle.

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With Cannes on the French Riviera rolling out the red carpet for its annual film festival commencing on May 11, we at IndianEagle leafed through the history of Indian Cinema at Cannes Film Festival from 1946 to 1999. Iconic films by legendary filmmakers like Bimal Roy, Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Goutam Ghose and Chetan Anand won prestigious awards at Cannes and depicted India to a global audience from different perspectives. Let’s rejoice in the golden moments of Indian Cinema at Cannes from the last five decades of the 20th century, once again.

Chetan Anand’s Neecha Nagar at Cannes 1946

The Festival de Cannes had lifted the curtain in 1946 after a six-year-long break for the Second World War. Chetan Anand’s acclaimed Neecha Nagar among the Indian films at Cannes Film Festival 1946 earned the top award, Grand Pix du Festival International du Film, and shared it with David Lean’s Brief Encounters. Starring actress Kamini Kaushal and danseuse Zohra Sehgal, Neecha Nagar was the first Indian film to shot to prominence on a global stage. The Grand Pix award has been renamed Palme d’Or. Based on a short story by Hayatulla Ansari, Neecha Nagar depicts social realism through a grim picture of chasm between the rich and the poor in the then Indian society.

Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram’s Amar Bhupali at Cannes 1952

In 1952, filmmaker Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram’s Amar Bhupali (The Immortal Song) represented Indian Cinema at Cannes Film Festival. A Marathi biopic on a poet and a musician Honaji Bala, Amar Bhupali is a poignant tale of the last few days of the Maratha Confederacy in the early 19th century. The film portrays the poet as a lover of the musician and as an admirer of the Lavani dance form. Though nominated for the prestigious Grand Prix du Festival International du Film, it managed to an award for Excellence in Sound Recording.

Bimal Roy’s Do Bigha Zameen at Cannes 1954

In the history of Bollywood at Cannes Film Fest, 1954 was the year of Bimal Roy’s classic Do Bigha Zamin (Two Acres of Land). It won the illustrious Prix Internationale at the Cannes 1954. A critical take on social realism in post-independence Indian society, Do Bigha Zamin depicts the eventful journey of a poor farmer from rural Bengal to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in a futile attempt to save his land from a greedy zamindar. It established Bimal Roy as a pioneer of the neo-realist movement in Indian Cinema.

Also Check Black & White Calcutta in 1960s

Bimal Roy’s Biraj Bahu at Cannes 1955

Again it was Bimal Roy whose Biraj Bahu glorified Indian Cinema at Cannes Film Festival 1955. Though it was in competition with Raj Kapoor’s Boot Polish and films from other countries, it bagged the most coveted Palme d’Or. However, Baby Naaz was honored with a Special Distinction Award for her powerful performance in Boot Polish. Based on a Bengali novel by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay, Biraj Bahu is the story of a Bengali couple who goes through hard times due to an unexpected deceit by a family member. It stars Kamini Kaushal in a lead role.

Satyajit Ray’s Pather Panchali at Cannes 1956

Image Credit: The Hindu.com

In 1956, legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray was the glorious face of Indian Cinema at Cannes Film Festival. Pather Panchali, the first film in Satyajit Ray’s Apu Trilogy, brought the Palme d’Or for Best Human Document to India. One of the greatest Indian films of all time, Pather Panchali depicts the struggle of a family in rural Bengal. Ray was the first to use lyrical realism in Bengali Cinema.

Mrinal Sen’s Kharij at Cannes 1983

Image Credit: NJISACF.org

Of all Indian films that the 1983 Cannes Film Fest screened, Mrinal Sen’s Kharij (Case is Closed) bagged the Special Jury Prize. It was a far more offbeat film than other films in competition. Mrinal Sen exposed the exploitation of underprivileged working classes in the 1980s’ India by depicting how accidental death of an underage servant affected the family where he worked. It was a successor to social realism that Bimal Roy pioneered.

Indian Films at Cannes from 1957 to 1982

The period from 1957 to 1982 saw screening of several Indian films at Cannes Film Festival, but neither of them brought any award to India from Cannes. Parash Pathar and Devi by Satyajit Ray, Sujata by Bimal Roy, Nishant by Shyam Benegal, Ek Din Pratidin by Mrinal Sen, Pardesi by Khwaja Ahmed Abbas, and Garam Hawa by M S Sathyu traveled to Cannes during this period.

Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay at Cannes 1988

Image Credit: Clickker.in

In 1988, New York based Indian Filmmaker Mira Nair’s Salaam Bombay stole the show with the jury of Cannes Film Festival. It won both the Camera d’Or and the Audience Award at Cannes 1988. Mira Nair’s first feature film in documentary style, Salaam Bombay penetrates the glittering picture of Mumbai, which is often called a city of the high and mighty, to expose the ordeals of children from the streets of Bombay. For the first time, some of Bombay’s street children were cast and trained to portray their bleak lives in a seedy world which was unknown to a majority of global audience. It was also nominated for the Academy Award in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

The 1988 Cannes also screened the National Film Award winning ‘Antarjali Jatra’ by Kolkata based filmmaker Goutam Ghose in the Un Certain Regard section. This Bengali film was adapted from a novel titled ‘Mahayatra’ by Kamal Kumar Majumdar. – IndianEagle

Satyajit Ray’s Ganashatru at Cannes 1989

Image Credit: Zulm.net

From 1989 to 1996, the regional cinemas of India replaced Hindi or Bollywood films at Cannes. Satyajit Ray’s Ganashatru, a Bengali film from Kolkata, had a special screening (out of competition) in 1989. Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma’s Ishanou was the first to represent Northeast Indian Cinema at Cannes in 1991. Indradhanura Chhai, an Oriya film, competed with other regional films of India for the Grand Prize at Cannes in 1995.

Also Read Story of Hand-Pulled Rickshaws from Calcutta to Kolkata

Asif Kapadia’s The Sheep Thief & Goutam Ghose’s Gudia in 1997 

Out of the Indian films at Cannes in 1997, The Sheep Thief by Asif Kapadia, an NRI filmmaker from London, walked away with the Cinéfondation Award. Based on a Biblical story and shot in Rajasthan, The Sheep Thief is a 24-minute short film, which Asif Kapadia made in his final year of graduation at London’s Royal College of Art. It depicts the travails of a sheep stealer in rural India. Bengali filmmaker Goutam Ghose’s Hindi film Gudia based on a play by Mahasweta Devi, a renowned writer and social activist, was screened in the same year.

Murli Nair’s Marana Simhasanam at Cannes 1999

The 1999 Cannes screened Murli Nair’s Marana Simhasanam (The Throne of Death), a Malayalam film from Kerala. It was a milestone in the 20th century’s history of Indian Cinema at Cannes Film Festival. Inspired by the first execution by electric chair in India, Murli Nair’s Marana Simhasanam shows how class oppression and political manipulation victimizes a poor villager in Kerala, who steals some coconuts to feed his family. Told through relatively fewer dialogues in the script, the film touched the raw nerves of audience and walked away with the Camera d’Or at Cannes 1999.

Also Check India’s Official Entry to Cannes 2016

Travel Beats is a fast-growing digital portal for Indians and NRIs by IndianEagle, a leading international travel organization. It publishes the latest news, interesting features and inspirational stories from different walks of life in India and the US.    

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Prince William and Kate Middleton had a royal Indian dinner in the company of Bollywood biggies and business tycoons at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on Sunday evening. The Taj Hotels and Resorts had arranged the dinner gala in reception of the Royal Couple from Cambridge, England. The glittering evening of 10^th April was full of entertainment for the Duke and Duchess as well as VIP invitees from Mumbai’s film industry and business niches.

An Indian dance show on a number of songs from Bollywood films and an Indian fashion show were organized to introduce the Royal Couple to the cultural flavors of India. But it was the dinner menu that stole the show with Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.

The dinner menu had the best of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from different Indian cuisines including some of the delicacies cooked in the kitchens of India’s royal palaces in the bygone eras. The menu started with an amuse bouche with orange caviar, which was followed by a Maharaja Thali in the next course.

It was a most delicious feast for non-vegetarians among the guests at the reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton in Mumbai. The main course dishes on the royal dinner menu included Ajwaini Macchli, Shahi Murg ka Soyota, and Kundan Kalia. These were served with Awadhi Gosht Biryani and Lucknowi Vegetarian Biryani. Shahi Murg ka Soyota is a dish of chicken morsels cooked in saffron-rich gravy of cashew nuts and sweet corns. Kundan Kalia is a spicy dish of boneless lamb with gold varq. The biryani was accompanied by boondi and mint raita.

Since some of the invitees abide by the customary tradition of eating only veg food on nine days of Navratri festivity, they were served a grand vegetarian menu with mouthwatering dishes including Dal Langarwali, Paneer Shahi Korma, Khumb Makhana Mattar, Chhonka Palak, Subz Gandheri Kebab and likes. Subz Gandheri Kebab is a popular dish from the cuisine of Hyderabad while Paneer Shahi Korma is a delicacy from the kitchens of Nawabs in Lucknow City.

The royal Indian dinner of Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel ended with such traditional Indian desserts as Chhenna Payesh, Sharifa Kulfi and Dodha with Rabdi. Chhenna Payesh is one of the most popular Bengali delights from Kolkata.

A team of 228 people including chefs and culinary experts made the dinner a memorable one for the Royal Couple and other premium guests. They did their best in everything from selection of ingredients, meticulous cooking and eye-catching presentation to courteous serving. Though it was a small menu with a limited number of main course dishes and desserts, the team made sure that each and every item tasted the best. The guests were served on silver platters with silver cutlery as per the royal dining traditions.

The dinner with traditional delicacies from Lucknow and Hyderabad was meant to wow Prince William and Kate Middleton with a flavorful taste of our rich Indian food culture in the eras of Nawabs and Nizams. The Royal Couple is vegetarian, so we served moderately spiced vegetarian dishes to them. – Executive Chef Amit Chowdhury at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The sumptuous feast in the reception of the Duke and Duchess was attended by Bollywood biggies from the entertainment industry of India, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Rishi Kapoor, Karna Johar, Sonak Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and likes.

Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the India Gate and the Gandhi Smriti Museum in New Delhi. Read more about the Royal Couple’s itinerary in India.  

Travel Beats is a digital portal for Indians and NRIs by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization. Travel Beats publishes interesting stories and news about travel, culture, entertainment, lifestyle and aviation from India and the US.

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Bollywood has traveled to the US capital for an exhibition, one of the most waited Washington DC events this year. The life-size wax statutes of popular Bollywood actors including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kareena Kapoor have been put on display at the Madame Tussauds Museum in Washington DC. The display is part of the Bollywood Exhibition, which will continue till September 2016.

The wax statues of these Bollywood stars were not launched together. Madame Tussauds unveiled their wax figures at different times. That’s why the museum has put them on a tour to its locations across the world. The wax figures have recently been brought to Washington DC after an exhibition in London and New York.

Bollywood Exhibition is one of the next big Washington DC events for Indian Americans after the Holi festival celebration. A video featuring a team of artists from Madame Tussauds in the process of capturing facial dimensions, skin tone, eye shades and hair of those Bollywood actors will also be displayed during the exhibition.

Each of the wax figures is attired in the outfits inspired by what Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan had worn on different occasions in the past.

The lilac gown which Aishwarya Rai had worn for her head-turning appearance on the red carpet of Cannes Film Festival in 2010 has been recreated for her wax figure. The dress of Shah Rukh’s wax statue is inspired by the black tuxedo that he was seen wearing at the International Rome Film Festival in 2010.

The statue of the 63d National Award winning Amitabh Bachchan is dressed in a long velvet coat which the Indian superstar had donned at Salon du Cinema in 2009. The wax statue of Kareena Kapoor for the Bollywood exhibition in Washington DC features a black outfit that she donated during her first meeting with the artists from Madame Tussauds. Hrithik himself donated a pair of faded jeans and an unbuttoned sleeveless red shirt for his wax figure.

Madame Tussauds in Washington DC has already kicked off the exhibition of the wax statues of Indian film stars. It will continue till September 2016. Don’t miss it! – IndianEagle

Read More Madame Tussauds Exhibit Narendra Modi Fashion

Travel Beats is a digital portal by IndianEagle for Indians and Indian Diaspora. IndianEagle, a leading US-India travel organization, publishes interesting stories and news about travel, culture, events, festivals and entertainment from India and USA.

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With the announcement of the 63^rd National Film Awards winners today, movie buffs and fans of film stars heaved a sigh of ease over the end of a long waiting period. Now is the time for them to rejoice in the achievements of their favorite actors and directors who are among the winners of the 63^rd National Film Awards.

In the main categories of the National Film Awards, S S Rajamouli’s Baahubali is selected the Best Film. Baahubali starring Prabhas and Rana Daggubati is the most expensive Indian film. Baahubali 2 will be released in April 2017.

Among the 63^rd National Film Awards winners, Bollywood filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is named the Best Director for his latest blockbuster Bajirao Mastani starring Ranvir Singh, Priyanka Chopra and Deepika Padukone in the lead.

Legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan is chosen for the National Film Awards in Best Actor. He was nominated for playing a 70-year-old whimsical Bengali father of a lonely, working girl in Piku, a box office success and a favorite of film critics.

Actress Kangana Ranaut from Himachal Pradesh, who has been hailed as the Queen of Bollywood since tremendous success of her film Queen in 2014, is titled Best Actress for her notable acting in Tanu Weds Manu Returns. It is her third National Film Award in Indian Cinema.

Among the other winners of National Film Awards, Masaan by Neeraj Ghaywan is named the Best Directorial Debut in 2015. Masaan depicts the nuances of life in Varanasi, a small town, where one’s personal freedom is crushed under the pressure of societal norms and where there is no escape from the toil of running in a circle.

The “Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment” title goes to Kabir Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan starring Salman Khan in the lead. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is the story of a Hindu wrestler who braves all odds of the India-Pakistan border to help a young Muslim girl go back her home in the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir region (POK).

Dum Laga Ke Haisha is named the Best Feature Film in Hindi among the 63^rd National Film Awards winners. Shot in Agra, a heritage tourist place in Uttar Pradesh, Dum Laga Ke Haisha depicts how the arranged marriage of an illiterate boy and an educated girl with inflated figure comes at the verge of breakup and how the bride takes the stand of her right to dignity.

The Special Jury Award goes to Kalki Koechlin, who plays a differently abled, bisexual girl in Margarita with a Straw by Indian American filmmaker Shonali Bose. Kalki Koechlin was critically acclaimed for essaying the protagonist’s physically challenged existence and sexual fantasies in a society which is biased towards homosexuality.

The list of the National Film Awards winners has Monali Thakur as the Best Female Playback Singer for the song “Moh Moh Ke Dhaage” in Dum Laga Ke Haisha. The same song is also selected in the Best Lyrics category.

The National Film Award in Best Choreography goes to Remo D’Souza for his choreography of the song “Deewani Mastani” in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Bajrao Mastani.

Nanak Shah Fakir is the Best Feature Film on National Integration among the 63^rd National Film Awards winners. Nanak Shah Fakir is a Punjabi film on the life and teachings of the Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak Dev. It was premiered and appreciated at the Cannes Film Festival 2014. Tuomas Kantelinenm, a renowned Hollywood music director, composed the original score of the film.

The Other 63^rd National Film Awards Winners in Regional Languages of India:

• Shankhachil: Best Feature Film in Bengali
• Thithli: best Feature Film in Kannada
• Pathemari: Best Feature Film in Malayalam
• Ringan: Best Feature Film in Marathi
• Visaranai: Best Feature Film in Tamil
• Kanche: Best Feature Film in Telugu
• Chauthi Koot: Best Feature Film in Punjabi
• Pahada Ra Luha: Best Feature Film in Oriya
• Kothanodi: Best Feature Film in Assamese
• Eibusu Yaohan Biyu: Best Feature Film in Manipuri

Travel Beats is a fast-growing digital portal by IndianEagle in culture, entertainment, travel, tourism, aviation, food and news for Indians at home and abroad. IndianEagle is a leading international travel organization operating from the USA. 

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The current generation of Indians and NRIs who have grown up watching the popular TV series Mowgli based on Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle book has eagerly been waiting for the release of Disney’s 3D animation film The Jungle Book starring 11-year-old Indian-American Neel Sethi from New York. The Hindi version of Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book will be released on April 8 in India and the English version will hit screens across the United States on April 15.

The film has already fired up excitement of the Indian audience around the voicing of the animal characters in the Hindi version by none other than such popular Indian actors as Priyanka Chopra, Nana Patekar, Irrfan Khan, Shefali Shah and Om Puri. The latest attraction of The Jungle Book is its dialogue writer and lyricist Mayur Puri, who has worked on several projects produced by Disney India, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company in the United States.

Mayur Puri (left) in the picture

Disney India has roped in lyricist and screenwriter Mayur Puri to pen dialogues and lyrics for the Hindi version of The Jungle Book. Mayur Puri who got a break as assistance director in the entertainment industry of India debuted into screenwriting with Bollywood film Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai by Yash Raj Films in 2002. Born in Ajmer, Rajasthan and brought up in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, Mayur Puri had an adventurous beginning when he decided to move from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Naturally, he connects with the adventures of Mowgli in The Jungle Book.

However, Mayur came into limelight as screenwriter of blockbuster Om Shanti Om starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in 2007. His screenwriting for Om Shanti Om catapulted him to fame as some of the dialogues like ‘Ek Chutki Sindoor’ and ‘Picture Abhi Baaki Hai Mere Dost’ became a huge hit. These dialogues are still very popular.

For the first time, he has donned the hat of a screenwriter and lyricist for the Hindi version of such a topnotch 3D animation film as Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book made in Hollywood though he worked as creative director for an animation film named Jumbo in 2008 and co-wrote the screenplay of Blue, the first Indian film about an underwater adventure. He is full of excitement also because his dialogues have been voiced by Priyanka Chopra, Nana Patekar, Irrfan Khan, Shefali Shah and Om Puri.

As a kid, I was captivated by the adventures of Mowgli and other characters in the animated world of forests. Obviously, it’s a great opportunity for me to write the Hindi dialogues of The Jungle Book. I have penned the dialogues and lyrics keeping the Indian audience in mind. – Screenwriter Mayur Puri

What he found the most challenging about his work in the Hindi version of The Jungle Book is penning Hindi songs for the film. He had to make sure that the songs would resonate with today’s children and teens. He hopes that the audience will feel a strong connect with Mowgli through his dialogues and lyrics which are replete with humor in the Indian context.

The screenwriter of Salman Khan’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a 2015 Bollywood blockbuster, is none other than Mayur Puri. He founded a storytelling institute for young children named Story Circus. Currently Mayur is working on his directorial debut film alongside keeping a watch on the countdown for the release of The Jungle Book in India.

Neel Sethi, an 11-year-old Indian-American boy from New York, plays the human character Mowgli in Walt Disney’s The Jungle Book. It is his debut film. Read more about Neel Sethi. – IndianEagle

Travel Beats is a fast-growing digital portal by IndianEagle in travel, tourism, aviation, culture, entertainment and news for Indians and NRIs. IndianEagle publishes the latest news and interesting stories on Travel Beats.

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Indian Actress Priyanka Chopra is on a roll in the United States. After having hit the jackpot with her debut on the American Television, she is all set to enter Hollywood. Priyanka is in talks with filmmaker Seth Gordon to join the cast of Baywatch, an upcoming Hollywood film based on the popular TV show “Baywatch” in the 1990s. Priyanka will be seen sharing the screen space with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron in the cast of Baywatch.

Interestingly, she will play Victoria Leeds, a villain in Baywatch, drawing a sharp contrast to her portrayal of an FBI agent in the “Quantico” TV series. Baywatch is the story of California lifeguards whose leader teams up with a young Olympian to save their beloved bay. To be produced under the Paramount banner, the upcoming Hollywood film Baywatch will also star Alexandra Daddario and Kelly Rohrbach.

Victoria Leeds in Baywatch is not her first villainous character in reel. She donned the hat of villains in Bollywood films like Aitraaz and 7 Khoon Maaf. She is excited about playing a negative role in Seth Gordon’s Baywatch after a long time. “Thank u guys! Being a bad girl after so long! Playing a villain will be fun!” Priyanka wrote on Instagram.

The shoot of Seth Gordon’s Baywatch is in conflict with Priyanka’s schedule for “Quantico”, which is yet to be worked out. Seth Gordon is an American filmmaker, producer and screenwriter. Grew up in Illinois, he came into spotlight of the showbiz world with his documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters. Seth Gordon debuted into mainstream American cinema as director of Horrible Bosses in 2011.

Though Seth Gordon’s Baywatch is the latest feather to the cap of Priyanka Chopra in America, she has been basking in the glory of having achieved a People’s Choice Award for her performance in the American TV series “Quantico.” She is also playing a tough cop in clash with goons and law breakers in Bollywood film Gangaajal 2 directed by Prakash Jha.

Seth Gordon’s Baywatch will be an interesting watch for Priyanka’s villainous character in contrast to her heroic portraits: FBI agent in “Quantico” and honest police superintendent in Gangaajal 2. – IndianEagle

Priyanka Chopra is not the only Indian actor to rock in Hollywood. Deepika Padukone, Priyanka’s co-star in the recently released Bajirao Mastani, has got a lead role in XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, and actor Anupam Kher who is also an honorary citizen of Texas will be seen with Gerard Butler in The Headhunter’s Calling. Also, Bollywood’s Saroj Khan is choreographing a Hollywood film on the killing of Mahatma Gandhi.

Read More Interesting Hollywood News

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More and more Indian celebrities from the entertainment industry are making their way to Hollywood. Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan is the latest Bollywood entrant in Hollywood after Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah made it big in Hollywood. Saroj Khan is busy choreographing for an upcoming Hollywood film on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation. 

The upcoming Hollywood film on the killing of Mahatma Gandhi is a story of three men who were aware that Gandhi was going to be killed but they did not intervene to stop the assassination. The project is yet to be titled. However, Saroj Khan is the first Bollywood choreographer to work directly in a Hollywood film.

Saroj Khan was born Nirmala in India after her parents migrated to India after the Partition in 1947. She debuted as a child artist at the age of three and started her career as a background dancer in the late 1950s. Geeta Mera Naam, one of the yesteryear Bollywood films, was her first break as an independent choreographer in 1974. Saroj Khan’s career journey from a background dancer to a Hollywood choreographer is full of inspirational events.

Saroj Khan’s choreography in popular Bollywood blockbusters including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Chandni, Tezaab, Pardes, Hum Dil CHuke Sanam, Lagaan, Devdas, Swades, Mangal Pandey, and Guru has catapulted her career to international levels. Among the best Indian choreographers in Hindi Cinema, she did choreography for more than 2000 films. She choreographed the moves of many Bollywood actresses like Madhuri Dixit, Sri Devi and Aishwarya Rai in popular dance numbers.

Though the upcoming Hollywood film on the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi is her first international project, Saroj Khan won the American Choreography Award from the Academy of Dance on Film in Los Angeles, for her outstanding choreography in Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India.  – IndianEagle

Since actor Anupam Kher became an honorary citizen of Texas and bagged a role in The Headhunter’s Calling, India has been hitting headlines of Hollywood news. Recently, Deepika Padukone got a role in Hollywood film XXX: The Return of Xander Cage and Quantico-star Priyanka Chopra became the first Indian to win a people’s Choice Award.

The Saroj Khan choreography in Hollywood is expected to click with Indian Americans whose favorite American Bollywood choreographer is Nakul Dev Mahajan who made Michelle Obama dance to his beats and choreographed America’s popular TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

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• Duane Adler’s Heartbeats stars Tamil Actor from Chennai
• Upcoming Hollywood Biopic on Life of Tagore

Travel Beats is a news portal for Indian Diaspora by IndianEagle, a U.S. based international travel agency. Travel Beats publishes the latest stories about India, USA, Canada and NRIs.

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Actor Anupam Kher will be seen in a Hollywood film, The Headhunter’s Calling, to be directed by Mark Williams, who is an actor, comedian and screenwriter. Mark Williams is best known for playing Arthur Weasley in Harry Potter films. Anupam Kher, a maverick Indian actor who made his acting debut in Bollywood in 1982, will play an Indian-American oncologist in the upcoming Hollywood film.

Anupam Kher will share space with actor Gerard Butler on the screen. Gerard Butler is also co-producer of the movie. Kher is quoted saying, “Gerard Butler is a great actor. It’s nice to work with him.” Willem Dafoe, Alison Brie and Alfred Molina are other actors in the cast. Bill Dubuque, an eminent screenplay writer, penned the script. The shooting has already begun in Toronto.

Anupam Kher is not a new face in Hollywood. Besides several hundred Indian films, he has a few Hollywood movies to his fame. He acted in in award-winning Hollywood films like Silver Linings Playbook, Bend It Like Behckham, Lust, and Caution. Lust directed by Ang Lee won the Golden Lion award in 2007. David O. Russell’s Silver Linings Playbook won the Academy Awards in 2013.

Kher played Dr. Chris Patel in Silver Linings Playbook. His immaculate portrayal of the character earned him critical acclaims in Hollywood. He shared space with Robert De Niro, an Academy Award winning actor and producer. Anupam Kher has such a good rapport with Robert De Niro that the latter visited his acting school, “An Actor Prepares,” in Mumbai.

Born in Shimla in the Himalayan region of India, actor Kher has donned different hats and added multiple feathers to his cap. He earned India’s National Film Award for Maine Gandhi Nahin Mara (2005), which he produced and acted in. He has acted with superstar Shah Rukh Khan in several Bollywood films, including Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, and Veer-Zara. He was also cast in Bride and Prejudice in 2004 and The Mistress of Spices in 2006.

Anupam Kher is the only Indian actor to have received honorary citizenship of Texas as a tribute to his play Mera Who Matlab Nahi Tha, which he staged across the USA and Canada in August this year. The American audience liked his performance and the play so much that the Mayor of Houston declared August 7 as Anupam Kher Day. The Mayor of Las Vegas did the same on September 10, 2015.

Travel Beats is a Cultural publication by Indian Eagle, a Texas based international travel organization. Travel Beats publishes news about the latest and upcoming events in the US, Canada and India. Indian Eagle books travel to India from USA and Canada.

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Paheli, one of the offbeat films in Indian Cinema, celebrated its 10^th anniversary this June 24. Directed by Amol Palekar, and starring Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukherjee in the lead, Paheli is a cinematic epic adapted from a short story by author Vijayadhan Detha. The movie is a visually appealing portrait of Rajasthan and its desert, folk culture, ethnic fashion as well as traditions. Each frame of the movie brought the colors of Rajasthan alive on the silver screen through the emotive story of a newly married bride under the veil and her defiance to the restrictive norms in the patriarchal society. Indian Eagle takes a look into what makes Paheli an inspiration for travel to Rajasthan and what makes it a favorite of Indian Americans even after 10 years.

In the history of Indian Cinema, Paheli is one of the few Hindi movies shot across the vast expanse of sands in Rajasthan. It provides a mirror to the beauty of rural India in general and holds a prism to reflect the hues of Rajasthan in particular. Paheli is a visual illustration of “Beauty is only skin deep,” one of the Shakespearean maxims, which is much true about Rajasthan. Both the throat-chocking aridity and the colorful beauty of this Indian state are so intricately blended in the cinematic frames that the gleaming beauty of golden sands in bright sunshine is apparently invisible to pairs of ordinary eyes.

Paheli is an ode to the folk culture – music and dance – of Rajasthan. The song “Laaga Re Jal Laaga” featuring traditionally clad Rani Mukherjee and other rural belles perform Ghoomar, a most popular folk dance, on the stairs of a baori (stepwell) is one of the iconic sequences in Indian Cinema. Ghoomar is equally popular with the women of aristocratic families and the Kalbeliya women of the Gypsy tribe in Rajasthan. The premier of Paheli at some of the renowned international film festivals brought this Indian folk dance to limelight the world over.

Watching the Ghoomar dance by a bevy of beautiful women, draped in ghagra of different colors, at the 18^th century heritage mansion Bagore Ki Haveli is one of the things to do in Udaipur. – Indian Eagle

Among the most popular mediums of entertainment in the country life of Rajasthan, camel race and puppet dance find their place in the script of Paheli. Unique to the folk culture of Rajasthan, camel race and puppet dance are interwoven into the social life of the natives. These two are among the most popular tourist attractions of Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Mewar and Jodhpur.

Camel race is part of the cultural extravaganza during the Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. Held in Thar Desert during winter (November), the Pushkar Fair is India’s biggest cattle fair. It is famous for spectacular camel race and other entertaining activities including folk dance, folk music, snake dance, hot air ballooning, mustache contest and breaking of pitchers. – Indian Eagle

Paheli was the first Indian film to showcase the ethnic fashion of Rajasthan in true colors on the big screen. It was followed by the period drama Jodhaa Akbar showing the traditional Rajput fashion, in 2008. As the story of Paheli revolves around a rich merchant’s family in the upper strata of society, the characters of the leading cast are seen in the best of traditional attires, more refined and distinguished, which is a far cry from what the rural people of Rajasthan wear in day-to-day life.

Rani Mukherjee’s character Lachchi is a newly married damsel with an embroidered veil over the head and wearing heavily embellished ghagra. Adding to the ethnic style quotient of the movie is the colorful turban that Shah Rukh Khan’s mustached character keeps wearing as the native male folks do. Even superstar Amitabh Bachchan flaunts a crimson red turban during his cameo in Paheli.

Rajasthan is a beautiful land of brave Rajputs, heritage palaces, historic forts, haunting stories, and offbeat fairs & festivals like Gogamedi Fair, Gangaur Festival, Camel Fair, Elephant Festival, etc. The list of things to do and things to see in Rajasthan is simply endless! October to April is the best time to visit this colorfully beautiful Indian state of desert. Travel to India and explore the kaleidoscopic culture of Rajasthan! – Indian Eagle

Indian Eagle, a most trusted travel partner of Indian Americans and Americans, books cheap flights to Rajasthan with major international airlines.

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