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Republic Day in India observed annually on January 26, holds profound significance, symbolizing the nation's transformation into a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. The day unfolds with the unfurling of the national flag and national anthem echoing through the air. The day is a testament to India's commitment to pluralism and democratic values. Amidst the grandeur of parades and cultural events, Bollywood celebs celebrate the occasion by hoisting the flag and extending wishes to their followers. From Salman Khan to Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal to Hrithik Roshan, everyone shared photos and videos on their respective social media platforms.

SALMAN KHAN

Wishing A Very Happy Republic Day To All — Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) January 26, 2024

KATRINA KAIF & VICKY KAUSHAL

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RAKUL PREET SINGH

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AMITABH BACHCHAN

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SHILPA SHETTY

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KAJOL

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HRITHIK ROSHAN

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SONU SOOD

Happy Republic Day ???????? pic.twitter.com/pFrpMuirak — sonu sood (@SonuSood) January 26, 2024

ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan celebrates Republic Day 2024, shares photo with Indian flag: “May the Tiranga always fly high”

Republic Day in India is celebrated on January 26 each year. The day is also marked by the hoisting of the national flag, the singing of the national anthem, and various cultural programs across the country. The day also serves as a reminder of India's transition to a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic. On this occasion, Shah Rukh Khan wished the country along with a photo of himself hoisting the flag.

Taking to social media on Friday, Shah Rukh Khan wrote, “Wishing you all a very Happy Republic Day…. May the Tiranga always fly high, symbolising the unity, strength and pride of our nation. As Indians, let’s contribute towards the progress and prosperity of our country. Jai Hind!”

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Meanwhile, on the work front, the year 2023 witnessed the resounding success of Shah Rukh Khan, as he emerged triumphant with blockbusters Pathaan, Jawan, and later had a decent success in Dunki. The silver screen was graced by Khan's charismatic presence, leaving audiences enthralled and box office records shattered.

While he is yet to announce his next, reports have claimed an exciting project is in the works involving Shah Rukh Khan, his daughter Suhana Khan, and the filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan shoots with Rakesh Roshan for the documentary The Roshans; Karan Arjun director says: “Thank you SRK for your love, warmth & contribution”

EXPATS is the story of a family dealing with a tragedy. Margaret (Nicole Kidman) lives in Hong Kong with her husband Clarke (David Tee), daughter Daisy (Tiana Gowen) and son Philip (Bodhi del Rosario). They lost their other son, Gus (Connor James), in a tragedy some time back and are still trying to cope with the loss. As part of their plan to move on, they decide to throw a party on Clarke's 50th birthday. Margaret invites her neighbour Hilary (Sarayu Blue), who reluctantly agrees, keeping aside their past differences. Meanwhile, Mercy (Ji-young Yoo), who has moved to Hong Kong from New York, is dabbling in catering gigs. She is asked to serve snacks to the guests at Clarke's bash. Mercy takes up the job, not realizing that it's a party organized by Margaret and Clarke. The moment Mercy realizes, she feels nauseated. On top of it, Margaret sees her and all hell breaks loose. What happens next forms the rest of the series.

EXPATS is adapted from the novel 'The Expatriates' by Janice Y K Lee. The story is intriguing and has a lot of mystery. Alice Bell and Lulu Wang's screenplay is pretty engaging but the writing is stretched at several places. The dialogues are conversational and straight out of life.

Lulu Wang’s direction is neat. There are several characters with a past and their paths have crossed each other at some point. The simple narrative is of big help in understanding how the people in the story are connected to each other. The biggest strength of the show, however, is its relatability, especially for the Indian audience. It talks about motherhood, women having to sacrifice careers, the pros and cons of having house help etc. All these factors appeal more to our audience than the one in the West and therefore, the show has an edge. The tragedy, meanwhile, is unveiled gradually and that also adds to the impact. In fact, the tragedy is quite different from the one that the audience expects and this also goes in favour of the show.

On the flipside, the first two episodes still leave a lot of basic questions unanswered like where Margaret and Clarke originally belonged to, etc. The first two episodes total 100 minutes and could have been shorter. Except for the tragedy sequence, nothing in the show leaves you feeling amazed or stunned and one can only hope that the subsequent episodes take care of this aspect.

Speaking of performances, Nicole Kidman hits the ball out of the park. She plays the complicated character with ease and the manner in which she depicts her various moods and shades are impressive. The scene where she breaks into an impromptu dance in an eatery is lovely. Sarayu Blue comes next and she puts up a superb performance. Ji-young Yoo, too, puts her best foot forward. David Tee and Jack Huston (David; Margaret's husband) leave a mark. Tiana Gowen and Bodhi del Rosario are decent. Connor James is cute. Ruby Ruiz (Essie) is fair and her track is quite interesting. Amelyn Pardenilla (Puri), Gabrielle Chan (Jing; Clarke's mother) and others are okay.

Alex Weston's music has a web show-feel and it works. Anna Franquesa-Solano's cinematography is terrific as she captures Hong Kong most spectacularly. Yong Ok Lee's production design. Malgosia Turzanska's costumes are appealing and rich, as per the demands of the script. Matthew Friedman and Alex O'Flinn's editing is uncomplicated but also unhurried.

On the whole, EXPATS (the first two episodes) is an intriguing mystery drama that works due to the plot, relatable moments and Nicole Kidman’s compelling performance.

Rating – 3 stars

Deepika Padukone, the epitome of grace and glamour in Bollywood, has once again captured the hearts of fans with her stunning promotional looks for the much-anticipated film Fighter. Released on January 25th, the film has created a buzz in the industry, and Deepika's promotional appearances have only added to the excitement surrounding the movie.

She chose a white knit jumper from Louis Vuitton with chain accents that carries the brand's logo as part of her ensemble. She accessorised the look with gold embellishments and wore it with relaxed-fit denim. These comprised a Cartier watch linked with a bracelet, various gold rings, and delicate yet statement-making hoop earrings. She opted for a bronzed appearance with delicate curls in her hair and nude lips and mocha nails for her makeup.

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In order to promote Fighter, Deepika Padukone shared photos of herself looking like a glitzy boss chick on Instagram. It is from The Frankie Shop apparel label's shelves. Regarding Deepika's enormous look, the blazer features notch lapel collars, front button closures, a loose fit, full-length sleeves, and front pockets in addition to a plunging V neckline. She wore it with black trousers that had a flared design, a high-rise waist and straight legs. Black high-heeled heels with rhinestone bows and striking diamond rings were Deepika's accessories for the look. Lastly, she went for a dewy base, mascara on the lashes, rouge on the cheekbones, delicate eye shadow, winged eyeliner, and feathery brows for her glam options. Her centre-parted untidy bun, matching black manicure, and striking red lip tone gave her a promotional look a finishing touch.

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At the premiere of the movie Fighter, which also stars Hrithik Roshan and Anil Kapoor, Deepika Padukone looked comfortably chic dressed in a brown sweater vest thrown over white long-sleeved shirt and khaki-coloured trousers. The neutral pants and pointed heels added a stylish edge to her overall fit. She left her tresses open and the minimal nude glam perfectly added to it.

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Also Read: Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter falls prey to piracy; full movie gets leaked on torrents

Known for her fashionable avatar in her debut film The Archies, daughter of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan continues to retain the glamorous look even in real life. The actress is currently holidaying in the capital city of Paris in France and she is also expected to be accompanied by her mother Gauri Khan. In fact, Suhana is also said to have attended the Paris Haute Couture Week which had Ananya Panday walking down the ramp and making her debut at the fashion event. The actress took to social media to share a few pictures from her recent vacay.

Suhana Khan took to Instagram to share photos which not only included showcasing the multiple looks that she sported as she explored Paris in her uber-chic and trendy ensembles, she also shared a few photos of the picturesque and quaint locations within the city. She captioned it in “Paris In Rain” and also gave a shoutout to her best friend Ananya Panday. The actress shared a photo of Panday taking the ramp by storm during the fashion show. After she posted these photos, she also got loud cheers from both her besties. While Ananya was one of the first to comment and said, “My suizieeee pie”, her other BFF Shanaya Kapoor dropped heart eye and heart emojis as she wrote, “Wowww” showering her love on the post.

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Not too long ago, Ananya Panday had also posted photos of her with Gauri Khan from Paris. The celebrity designer too is expected to have accompanied her daughter to the Parisian vacation and she too posted some photos on the platform.

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Suhana Khan made debut in 2023 with the coming-of-age teen drama The Archies, inspired by the comic series. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the film marked the debut of other star kids like Khushi Kapoor, daughter of Sridevi and Boney Kapoor, as well as Agastya Nanda, grandson of Amitabh Bachchan.

Also Read: Suhana Khan cheers for younger brother AbRam at school Sports Day; Gauri Khan shares adorable snaps

In a grand gesture of honour and recognition, the makers of Fighter organised a special premiere for the Indian Air Force in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Over 100 decorated Indian Air Force officers from across India who made their presence felt with patriotism in the air.

The special premiere for the Indian Air Force marshals was a star-studded affair attended by Director Siddharth Anand and Fighter Producer Mamta Anand along with the star cast Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari, looked elated at the patriotic fervour of the befitting cinematic tribute to the Indian Air Force in Fighter.

The momentous event saw the IAF officers react with overwhelming enthusiasm; they not only loved the film but deemed it the "best film ever," offering a standing ovation. This heartfelt endorsement was also prevalent when the Indian Air Force Band played their rendition of Vande Mataram. Taking to Instagram, Marflix Pictures handle shared, “Tune that echoes in the skies ????????. We’re honoured to have the Indian Air Force Band uniting hearts by playing their powerful rendition of #VandeMataram #SpiritOfFighter”

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Directed by Siddharth Anand, the aerial action drama has garnered attention for its portrayal of the bravery and dedication of IAF officers who safeguard the nation's skies with unwavering courage. To pay tribute to these valiant individuals, the makers organised this special screening in Chanakyapuri, Delhi, where the dedicated IAF officers had the opportunity to witness the cinematic salute to their efforts. The film is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the makers and the Indian Air Force who have extended their support to make the inspiring tale of Fighter come to life.

Presented by Viacom18 Studios in association with Marflix Pictures, Fighter seamlessly blends heart-thumping action with patriotic fervour. The special screening for the IAF officers in Delhi highlights the filmmakers' commitment to honouring the real-life heroes who inspire the narrative.

Also Read: Fighter SUSPENDED in UAE after Gulf countries ban Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer

Fans hoping for a crossover between two of Raj and DK's popular series, The Family Man and Farzi, might have to adjust their expectations. In a recent interview, the lead actor of The Family Man, Manoj Bajpayee, poured cold water on the idea of the two universes merging.

Following the release of Farzi, starring Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi, viewers were quick to spot potential connections to The Family Man, leading to speculation about a shared universe. However, Bajpayee, who plays Srikant Tiwari in the espionage thriller, expressed his doubts in a conversation with Lallantop.

"I don't think this will happen," stated Bajpayee. "Right now, we have a commitment to complete the four seasons of The Family Man. But I don't think these universes will be merged because The Family Man itself is a very big universe. I don't think Raj and DK and Amazon would want to mix it with something else."

Fuelling the crossover buzz were Easter eggs in Farzi, such as a cameo by The Family Man's Chellam sir and a phone conversation with a character named "Tiwari," speculated to be a reference to Srikant Tiwari. However, Bajpayee's comments suggest creators might be focusing on building their worlds for now.

The third season of The Family Man is still awaiting its filming schedule.

Speaking of the professional front, Manoj is currently bagging praises for his performance in Netflix’s latest series, Killer Soup. Besides this, he is also hosting the third instalment of the Secret franchise. The docu-series, Secrets of the Buddha Relics, is already available on Discovery+ and will premiere on Discovery Channel on February 26.

Also Read: Manoj Bajpayee shares The Family Man 3 shooting details; calls it, “Bada sundar aur bhayanak”