MUMBAI: The cute, talented and bubbly 21-year-old actor Saba Ali Khan who has done several regional movies particularly in the South (Tamil and Telugu) and Bhojpuri is now once again back with a bang.

She has been signed on by director Maneesh F Singh for a movie inspired by the sensational and horrific murder story of Shraddha Walkar – who was murdered (and her body cut up into several pieces) by her live-in boyfriend Aftab Poonawala. Singh had announced the movie a year ago, but it hit a roadblock after a court threw a spanner into the making of the movie script. Now with all permissions in place, Singh is all set to take his project to the ultimate conclusion and begin shooting for the film next month.

Coming back to Saba Ali Khan, she is not new to controversy. The actress who has done hundreds of music videos, besides films, left a lucrative and flourishing career to get married to a businessman – something which was widely reported in the press.

However, what was not mentioned or covered later on was the fact that the actress divorced after less than 10 days of her marriage in very depressing circumstances; and while she has refused to speak about it, her close friend revealed that Saba was trapped in a Love Jihad-like situation with a fanatic man who lied to her from day one.

Luckily, her parents and family supported her and she was able to get a divorce and is now back to work. According to director Maneesh F Singh, “when I heard about her situation and divorce, I immediately decided to sign her on as the main lead for my movie, which is inspired by the dastardly murder of Shraddha Walkar that stunned the nation last year.”

For those who came in late, Singh had announced the movie last year, but was forced to put it on the back-burner after a case was filed about the privacy rights of the murder accused Aftab Poonawala. Now with the stay lifted and the case dismissed, Singh will start shooting the movie after Diwali next month, he said, adding that Saba Ali Khan has been signed on in the main lead role.

MUMBAI: Turkish-Iranian origin Muslim actor Rayya Labib observed a fast on Saturday Maha Shivaratri and visited a Shiva temple in the morning at Andheri West in suburban Mumbai and did puja.

She performed Abhishek with milk and water and offered different items to the Shiva Linga including bilva leaves, bilva fruit and dhatura and other items, said one of her team members who accompanied her. She is also expected to visit another prominent Shiva temple in Mumbai in the late evening for darshan.

She refused to have any photos clicked at the temple. She said did not want any publicity as it was a private and personal act. She apparently stayed up the entire night meditating, our source said.

Rayya who calls herself a devout Muslim and says namaz five times a day, also does puja and follows Hindu rituals on several auspicious festivals including Diwali, Durga Puja, Maha Shivaratri and Holi.

She was once quoted as saying in an interview, that she also does Shani Dev puja as advised by an astrologer. According to her, it helps her to keep away misfortune, reduces mental stress and anxiety and induces optimism and positivity.

Rayya was born, brought up and completed her education in Assam and has a military family background.

After finishing her inter-high school, she moved to Mumbai to join the film industry and pursue her dream of acting and modeling.

Rayya’s ancestral links are still enshrined in Turkey and Iran and the actor recently said she lost 5 distant family members or relatives in the earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria.

PANAJI: A Mumbai-based 24-year-old Goan woman’s ex-boyfriend has been booked for leaking and circulating her nude images on a social media platform.

The model who originally hails from Aldona in North Goa and is presently based in Mumbai, since the last few months, approached the cops after her friends informed her about the private and personal intimate images on social media. As per Supreme court guidelines, names and identity of the complainant victim have not been revealed here in this report.

The accused is also from Goa and is on the run, police said. He had clicked the photos when the duo were in a relationship two years earlier.

When the woman broke up the relationship as she wanted to pursue an acting and modeling career in Mumbai, the youth threatened her with dire consequences.

He followed her to Mumbai and created a ruckus at the apartment where she was living with a flat mate at Andheri West in suburban Mumbai.

In spite of forgiving him for the trouble and embarrassment caused, the woman was shocked to find her personal nude images posted on social media with vulgar comments.

She approached the cops who have registered a complainant and are searching for the accused.

MUMBAI: Actor and Kathak exponent Rayya Labib at a function in Mumbai on Friday paid respects to Padma Shree awardee and Kathak legend Sitara Devi, under whom she had studied the Indian dance form several years ago.

Rayya Labib, was honoured with the Vishwa Bharat Gaurav Puraskar award on 26th January, Republic Day, presented by an Indore-based NGO.

In addition, the Global Citizens Action Forum presented Rayya Labib a special citation for promoting Kathak and other dance forms in North-east India. She had originally learnt Kathak under Padma Shree awardee and Kathak guru Sitara Devi before the latter passed away years earlier.

At the Award Function, she paid glowing tributes to her guru and teacher for initiating her in the world of Indian classical dance and music.

MUMBAI, (ANI): Filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri, on Friday, officially confirmed that his upcoming film ‘The Vaccine War’ will be headlined by none other than Nana Patekar. “At ‘I Am Buddha’ we are committed to working with the best talent of Indian Cinema.

For the vaccine war, the protagonist had to be powerful, credible and underplayed. And when we were thinking to cast somebody whose performance is unquestionable the only name we thought of was Nana Patekar. He is one of that rare breed of actors who in any role shines and who has never compromised with his craft, with his performances,” Agnihotri informed.

He added, “I am extremely glad that Pallavi Joshi (producer) and I made this choice of Nana Patekar leading the film. He has given one of the most powerful, credible, and amazing performances of his career. He surrendered himself to the script and the character which is a very very rare quality among stars. And we are so happy and delighted that Nana Patekar is acting in one of the most important films of our times. Most inspiring & honest film of our times, the most sincere and truthful film of our times The Vaccine War”. Being helmed by Agnihotri, ‘The Vaccine War’ revolves around India’s contributions in the race to produce a Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

Pallavi, too, expressed happiness about having Nana Patekar on board.

“Nana is probably that rare breed of actor who is crazy about cinema. His entire focus is always on the betterment of the project. He gets so involved in the script that sometimes the lines between Nana the person and the character he plays, get blurred. Every take of Nana is different. He actually offers a buffet of choices within the given brief and parameters. This kind of commitment is a rarity in these days of quick fix fame. As an actor it makes me proud that Nana Patekar and I belong to the same profession. It was sheer magic to see his character unfold on screen with every single shot,” Pallavi shared.

Anupam Kher and ‘Kantara’ star Sapthami Gowda are also a part of ‘The Vaccine War’. (ANI)

MUMBAI: Responding to Tv actor Sheezan Khan’s lawyer’s statement regarding the so-called Tinder date of late actor Tunisha Sharma, actor Rayya Labib who was Tunisha Sharma’s friend quipped she is expecting more ‘bhelpuri’from the lawyers tomorrow (Wednesday) during the bail hearing.

“The lawyers are making a mockery of the legal proceedings. They should stick to points of law related to bail. They are cooking up fairy tales. I am expecting a lot of masala tomorrow and it is likely that many more Alis’ could appear on the scene or take birth overnight.

Refuting all the allegations made by Sheezan Khan’s lawyer before the Vasai Sessions court on Monday while arguing for bail for his client, actor Rayya Labib claimed that the so-called Tinder date ‘Ali’ is none other than a hairstylist and is supposedly gay.

“Tunisha always consulted Ali about her hair. He was known to her for several months. This Tinder date conspiracy theory is all false. This is a new ploy by the accused to sidestep the investigation and confuse the police and the courts, Rayya said.

MUMBAI: Actor Rayya Labib who visited the Oshiwara police station in suburban Mumbai on Friday evening to submit her written complaint, has directly accused Tv actor Sheezan Khan’s family of hacking her Instagram account and also posting abusive and threatening comments on her timeline, to dissuade her from speaking out in the matter.

Speaking to this reporter, after meeting with police officials, Rayya said, “They have done it,” referring to Sheezan Khan’s family. “The threatening and abusive posts are put or posted on their insistence and initiative, so as to deter me from speaking up in the matter,” she alleged.

She also said she has heard from several media sources that Sheezan Khan’s family is desperately calling up journalists in Mumbai and Delhi, requesting them not to run negative stories and to help Sheezan to get bail. “I have already said it before, big money is involved in this matter. Senior journalists and police officials are offered financial gratification to keep quiet in this case and ignore the investigation or look the other way,” Rayya Labib said.

MUMBAI: Speaking to media persons in Mumbai on Monday afternoon, actor Rayya Labib alleged that attempts are being made by ‘vested interests’ to influence the ongoing police investigation at the Waliv police station in the Tunisha Sharma suicide case, as well as present alternating and confusing narratives to browbeat the courts and judiciary and requested senior Maharashtra police and other officials to look into the matter.

Taking to Twitter, Rayya wrote:

Attempts being made to influence police investigation & courts by vested interests in #TunishaSharmaSuicide case. Requesting sr police authorities to look into the matter @DGPMaharashtra @Dev_Fadnavis @OfficeofPoonamM @Devendra_Office @mieknathshinde @monica_anchor @ABPNews

— Rayya Labib (@iRayyaL) January 2, 2023

According to her, the narratives are being changed everyday by taking press conferences and media interactions. There are two main opposing parties who are accusing and blaming each other. Now fingers are being raised against Tunisha’s mother Vanita Sharma and there are more players in the game like Pawan Sharma and Sanjiv Kaushal and their role in the life of Tunisha Sharma needs to be probed, Rayya claimed.

In another Twitter post, she asked:

Was #TunishaSharma upset with her family as alleged by #SheezanKhan? What was the role of #PawanSharma & #SanjeevKaushal? How much truth is there in the allegations made by Sheezan’s family? Police must get to the bottom of this case. There could be a sudden twist!

— Rayya Labib (@iRayyaL) January 2, 2023

Based on allegations by Sheezan Khan’s family, Rayya asked what was the role of Pawan Sharma and Sanjeev Kaushal in the entire case. Was Tunisha upset with her family, she asked?

In a press conference, Sheezan Khan’s advocate claimed that Tunisha’s “so-called” uncle Pawan Sharma was her former manager, he was fired four years ago because he used to interfere a lot and behave harshly with her, Times Now reported.

“Tunisha and Sanjeev Kaushal (an uncle in Chandigarh) had terrible relations. Sanjeev Kaushal and her mother, Vanita used to control Tunisha’s finances. Tunisha often pleaded in front of her mother for her own money,” said Sheezan’s lawyer.