There aren't many good offers that come my way: Konkona

Agencies
June 8, 2019

Mumbai, Jun 8: In her close to 15-years-long career, Konkona Sensharma has mostly featured in projects which have pushed the envelope but the actor says there are still a very few people who are ready to back something unconventional.

When the actor was offered to feature in the short "A Monsoon Date", it gave her the opportunity to play someone she had never played before: a transsexual.

"I had never done anything like this before. That was a huge draw for me. The subject was dealt so beautifully, it was so nuanced, and was written with a lot of compassion. I was very lucky to be offered something like this because there aren't so many good offers that come my way," Konkona said.

The actor says she isn't sad over lack of good offers as she feels fortunate to work with some of the best people in the business.

"It doesn't sadden me. I have been lucky enough to get some good projects also, 'Talvar', 'Lipstick Under My Burkha', my upcoming 'Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare'. I'm very happy to have worked with the kind of people I have in the past and the ones I'm working with now."

Directed by Tanuja Chandra and written by Gazal Dhaliwal, "A Monsoon Date" released on Eros Now.

Konkona says she prepared for the role by talking to Tanuja and Gazal.

"The story opens at a time where a lot has already happened in her life. I wanted to bring myself up to speed about that. So I sat with Tanuja and Gazal to understand what is the backstory, what all has happened to her, so at some level I can try to process that.

"Gazal has lived that life. Because she has written it herself, she was able to communicate her experiences. That was very helpful for me. The three of us really collaborated on this."

The actor says though it's wonderful that there are films like "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga", "Aligarh" among others, the representation of LGTBQ community is "far away from enough."

"By and large, we shy away... There's an under-representation of this community on screen," she says.

Asked what could be the reason, the actor says, "it's a question more for people who produce and finance films but there are a very few people ready to back something unconventional.

"Many times people want to finance films which follow a certain formula. There's a lack of imagination when it comes to doing things which are slightly different."

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News Network
January 30,2020

Mumbai, Jan 30: A day after a woman filed a complaint against Ganesh Acharya alleging that he had forced her to watch pornography, actor Tanushree Dutta said Bollywood should boycott the choreographer.

A 33-year-old woman, an assistant choreographer, has written to the National Commission for Women (NCW) alleging that Acharya used to make her watch porn videos whenever she visited his office in suburban Andheri.

She also alleged that Acharya and two women assaulted her during a function of the Indian Film and Television Choreographers Association (IFTCA) held in suburban Andheri on Sunday. A complaint has been filed in this regard with Amboli police.

"It's time Bollywood and the other Indian film industries boycott choreographer Ganesh Acharya completely. Hiding behind the male superstars who work with this despicable man, he has been abusing his power and position to harass, bully and take advantage of vulnerable young newcomers to the industry," Dutta said in a statement here.

Dutta had alleged that her co-star Nana Patekar harassed and misbehaved with her while shooting for a song for their 2008 film "Horn Ok Pleasss", and Acharya, who was the choreographer, introduced new steps which were "intimate".

Recalling the trauma she faced, Tanushree said even though Acharya was party to all the harassment she faced on the 'Horn ok Pleasss" set, he went on to spoil her name and reputation.

"Nobody had any regard for me and how much I had suffered psychologically and financially because of the turmoil I went though due to these people. I left the industry because I was so scared and hurt over the atrocious treatment meted out to me on 'Horn ok Pleasss' set.

"I had worked very sincerely to get to where I got in life and so went in shock for many years, over the whole episode on that set almost 12 years ago, that led to an attack on my car. They didn't just break my car, they broke my spirit that day," Dutta said, in reference to the attack on her car in 2008.

She expressed her displeasure over how "leading men" and "heroes" of Bollywood continued working with Acharya, whose most recent work includes "Simmba", "Zero", "Sanju" among others.

"Even after all the information of fraud, non payment of dues, sexual harassment of dancers, bullying and intimidation and even physical abuse of dancers is coming out about Ganesh Acharya in the media, if the actors, directors and producers still work with him, it would mean that they themselves are engaging in such acts also.

"It's a warning to the film industry to stay the hell away from Ganesh Acharya otherwise your own reputation will be joined to his character. I'm sure many more girls and boys will come out about his misbehaviour and shady business, opening floodgates in the future," she added.

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News Network
June 2,2020

New Delhi, Jun 2: Actor Anushka Sharma on Tuesday exhorted people to maintain hygiene and advised to stop open defecation in a bid to avoid coronavirus spread.

As the country is grappling with the coronavirus crisis, the 'PK' actor has joined the initiative with the Swachh Bharat Mission, which aims to tell the people that the contagion can be curbed through strict sanitation process.

"When women all over the country had decided that they would educate everyone on the lesson of close the door, shun the disease, no one had thought that their initiative would turn into such a huge wave!," the actor was seen saying in a video posted in the official Twitter handle of Swachh Bharat I #IndiaFightsCorona.

"Today, in the time of coronavirus pandemic, we all have to again remember and remind others about the lesson of cleanliness," she added.

"If we take care of cleanliness around us, by not defecating in the open, we will keep ourselves healthy and India clean. We will become strong to fight against any kind of disease," the 32-year-old star said.

The 'Sultan' actor noted that by stopping defecating in open and closing the toilet door at all times can be a solid measure to drive the disease out of the country.

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News Network
January 14,2020

Indore, Jan 14: Yoga guru Ramdev has said that Deepika Padukone should hire persons like him for offering correct advice, days after the actress had visited Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi following the violence at the campus earlier this month.

"Deepika Padukone needs to study about political, social and cultural issues. She should understand more about our country. Only after gaining knowledge, she should take decisions. I feel she should have persons like Swami Ramdev for correct advice," Ramdev said at an event here on Monday.

On January 7, Padukone joined the protest at JNU after a masked mob entered the varsity campus and attacked the students and teachers with sticks and rods on January 5.

Several BJP leaders questioned the support extended by Padukone. On the other hand, the Congress threw their weight behind the actress for her stand.

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