Politician or movie maker
Filmmaker Mira Nair has revealed she first wanted her son, US politician, Zohran Mamdani, to star in A Suitable Boy (2020). Speaking to THR India, she said, “I really wanted Zohran in it, as he had all the right qualities” for the role that eventually went to Ishaan Khatter. However, Zohran declined, and Mira explained why. “He said, ‘A lot of people die to be offered these things, but I don’t,’” she recalled, calling him the “most reluctant actor”. However, Mira also revealed that Zohran had assisted her during workshops for Monsoon Wedding (2001).
Rewriting history for today
Riteish Deshmukh
The shooting of Raja Shivaji has been completed, the makers confirmed on Tuesday (December 16). The multilingual historical film is directed by Riteish Deshmukh. Based on the life of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the film has been shot over the past year across locations including Wai, Mahabaleshwar, Satara, and Mumbai. Sharing an image from the sets, Riteish shared details about the shoot. He wrote, “The shoot is officially wrapped! For over 100 days, our team poured its heart, soul, and unwavering dedication into this dream. Now, filled with invaluable experiences and true memories, we are ready to unveil a magnificent cinematic tribute to India’s greatest warriors, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj!” Raja Shivaji, also starring Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, and Bhagyashree, is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on May 1, 2026.