Stargazer: Akshara Singh, Habiba Nosheen and Amol Parashar
Bhojpuri Brio
Akshara Singh is a superstar in Bhojpuri cinema and Hindi cinema has no qualms about appropriating audiences. Akshara, 32, danced with Akshay Kumar to the song, ‘Ghis Ghis Ghis’ in the new film Welcome to the Jungle. And now, she has a significant part in Maddock’s forthcoming biopic ‘Eetha’ with Shraddha Kapoor. Akshara is understandably in awe of her much older and considerably more famous dancing partner in Welcome to the Jungle and properly grateful that she has a speaking part in her next Hindi film. Behold the rise of a Bhojpuri star in Mumbai.
Courage from Karachi
The Gymnasts of Fisherman Colony, directed by Habiba Nosheen is a lovely documentary on an all-girls gymnastic team from Karachi. The team’s effort to enter the National Women’s Gymnastics Competition in Pakistan drives the story. Its producers include Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and filmmaker Trish Adlesic. Nosheen is an award-winning, New York-based Pakistani filmmaker and journalist. Her film premiered at the Tribeca Festival to much applause.
The Good Doctor
Amol Parashar has won praise for his role as a doctor in Prime Video series Gram Chikitsalay. Parashar says he feels portrayals like Dr Prabhat are important for good people to know they are not alone. He adds that the triumph of shows such as Gram Chikitsalay tells him that “creatively people want to watch and listen to stories where they can see themselves”.