Mumbai: Actress Sonali Bendre has revealed that she never planned anything in life, but likes taking up challenges. “I always like challenges, in fact I have never thought I would become an actor. So it was a challenge and it is always fun to overcome the challenge and to achieve that. I prefer to do new things, but never planned for anything,” Sonali said here at an event of food brand Fun Foods.

The actress, who is currently judging a television reality show “India’s Best Dramebaaz Season 2”, revealed that although she attempted doing theatre, she didn’t find it exciting enough. “Yes, I have attempted theatre but I was not satisfied.

Theatre means you have to do a same thing again and again with lot of different nuances. As I am trained in film acting, didn’t find theatre exciting for me. I am a spontaneous actor and get slightly bored by doing the same thing,” she added. Sonali is known for her roles in films like “Diljale”, “Sarfarosh”, “Hum Saath Saath Hain” among others.

Nandamuri Balakrishna is taking a major risk for his next film Dictator. Apparently, Balayya is doing a high-octane fight sequence without any dupe in the film. The action episode is said to be highlight of the film and it comes towards film’s climax. Over 150 fighters are working rigorously for the fight sequence.

At 55-year-old, Balayya doing a stunt without any dupe is not an easy task. Though the makers asked Balayya to use a body-double, the Legend star refused to use a dupe. Currently, the film’s shoot is going on at brisk pace in Yusufguda of Hyderabad. Action choreographer Ravi Varma is composing the stunts.

Directed and co-produced by Sriwass, the movie is going to release on Jan 14, on the eve of Sankranthi. Meanwhile, the music rendered by SS Thaman will be unveiled on Dec 20th in Amaravati in a grand gala way.

Super star Mahesh Babu’s brother-in-law Sudheer Babu is currently under severe pressure. He is waiting from a long time to get the much-needed success to survive in the industry. Already he faced two flops this year and now he is coming up with another film. But one sentiment is worrying him.

After the success of ‘Swamy Ra Ra’, many directors came up with the concept of crime comedy. But only a few films succeeded. In this year, the films of this genre became disasters and not even a single film became a hit.

Films like ‘Gaddam Gang’, ‘Bandipotu’, ‘Dochay’ and recent ‘Shankarabharanam’ are some of the examples. Even Sudheer’s ‘Mosagallaku Mosagaadu’ had the same fate this year. Now he is once again coming up with crime comedy film ‘Bhale Manchi Roju’ this Christmas. Will this film put an end to the flop run of this genre films in 2015?

Mega menalludu Sai Dharam Tej is looking forward to seal a proper blockbuster next time. He has joined hands with Harish Shankar recently for Subramanyam For Sale, but the result wasn’t as amazing as expected. While he proved as 20 crore worth hero, in the end few distributors are left with small bruises. What’s in store for him now?

Apparently Sai Dharam teamed up with “Pataas” maker Anil Ravipudi this time. They are coming up with “Supreme”, where our hero will be seen in a Gangleader inspired cab driver role, while Raashi Khanna will be donning cap of a police officer.

Currently Sai Dharam and Raashi are romancing under the hot sun in Thar desert and other locales in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. We heard that a romantic song is being shot on lead pair, and Raashi’s glamour is competing with Sai Dharam’s dance moves.

If “Supreme” scores a blockbuster, repeating both the successes of Pataas and Subramanyam For Sale, then it is going to be a festival for Saidharam. His position at Box Office will be cemented first place after the likes of Charan and Bunny, who are ruling roost from Mega troupe.

Mega Prince Varun Tej and Maverick director, Puri Jagannadh’s latest offering, Loafer had taken a decent to good opening on its release day. The movie had amassed 3.5 Crore share in Andhra Pradesh and Nizam states on the first day.

This is the highest in Varun Tej’s little career. So far Mukundha is highest in Varun Tej’s career. Loafer bettered it by a little over 20 Lakhs. Given the Word of Mouth is not that great, we will have to see if the film sustains going further.

Here is the breakup of Loafer First day collections: 

Nizam: 1.2 Crore
Ceeded: 50 Lakhs
Uttarandhra: 38 Lakhs
East:37.8 Lakhs
West: 23.5 Lakhs
Krishna: 25 Lakhs
Guntur: 38 Lakhs
Nellore: 18 Lakhs

AP+Nizam: 3.5 Crore

More revelations are coming in about the much awaited Megastar Chiranjeevi’s prestigious comeback film, Kaththi. The film, an official remake of the Tamil blockbuster, will be directed by VV Vinayak and jointly produced by Ram Charan’s Konidela Productions and Robo 2.0 makers Lyca Productions.

However, apart from the film’s director and producers, nothing much has been revealed about the film’s other cast and crew until now. Recently, there were speculations that Milky Beauty Tamannaah will romance Chiru. Now, latest reports reveal that the team has finalized Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi for the villain’s role.

If reports end up becoming true eventually, Vivek will be seen playing a greedy industrialist whom Chiru will oppose to save his village from encroachment of its resources. In the original, Neil Nitin Mukesh nailed his role to perfection. Vivek is well known to Telugu audiences through films like Rakta Charitra and Krrish 3.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Bajirao Mastani”, based on the novel “Rau” authored by N.S. Inamdar, is a fictionalised romance drama that encapsulates the 20 year reign of the Maratha warrior Bajirao and his relationship with his second wife Mastani. The film begins with Bajirao’s appointment as Peshwa in the court of Chhattrapati Shahu in Satara. The narration thereafter leads you into his expeditions, his encounter with Mastani and their subsequent, intense romance.

Mounted on a magnificent scale with well-etched characters, resplendent sets and period costumes, the director, intricately and flawlessly, transports you to the era of the Peshwas, circa 1720-1740. What makes the film stand out is Bhansali’s direction. He astutely manages to guide his team to deliver the best. Be it in performances, music, visuals or action, his inimitable stamp is written over every frame of the film. Prakash Kapadia’s screenplay is water-tight and engaging, keeping you riveted to the screen for over 2 hours. His dialogues are colloquial, yet, power-packed. There is no iota of excess, and embellished with the right amount of Marathi words, these sharp and taut dialogues are full of wit, messages and equally hard-hitting.

The performances by the characters are captivating. Bajirao Mastani is Ranveer Singh’s canvas. With his well-chiselled physique, bald pate with a single lock of hair, he slips into Bajirao’s hide perfectly. His energy and intensity on screen is palpable. You empathise with him when he is honest with both his wives and you root for him when he rebels against his widowed mother Radhabai and the high priest. And most of all, your heart beats for him when he pines for Mastani. The last scene of the film is powerful and Ranveer’s presence and competence, takes it a rung higher. Deepika Padukone as the defiant and confident warrior Mastani, madly in love with Bajirao, is effortlessly convincing. Her performance resonates with the right attitude, both as a warrior and as Bajirao’s love interest, making her stand out.

Priyanka Chopra in her navaris — the nine yard saris, as the obviously hurt Kashibai — Bajirao’s first wife, though a bit dramatic, is herself, glossed-up and pretentious. But nevertheless, she essays her role ably. Tanvi Azmi as the obtrusive Radhabai is remarkable, with the right amount of drama and restraint in her performance. The others in supporting roles, too, are perfectly handpicked and deliver outstanding performances. Visually, the film is mesmerising. The computer generated images seamlessly interlace cinematographer Sudeep Chatterjee’s frames. With his wide angle shots, he not only captures the locales, but also the intricate details of the tale, to perfection. His atmospheric lighting lends authenticity to the period depicted in the film. He has also managed to portray the battle scenes brilliantly, making it look natural and real.

Bhansali’s music, with its theatrical background score and soulful songs, integrates well with the narration. The well-choreographed dance sequences are a treat to watch, though the song “Pinga” seems a bit forced and is reminiscent of his “Dola re Dola” in Devdas. The action sequences by Shyam Kaushal are easily one of the highlights of the film. Overall, “Bajirao Mastani” is a spectacular masterpiece which will stay with you much after you leave the cinema hall.