Aamir Khan says his next acting and production venture is 'Sitaare Zameen Par'
New Delhi (PT): Superstar Aamir Khan on Tuesday said he will star in and produce an upcoming feature film titled "Sitaare Zameen Par".
The 58-year-old actor shared some details about the project during a session at News18 India's "Amrit Ratna 2023" event here.
"I'm starring in and producing this film 'Sitaare Zameen Par'. We are going ten steps ahead with the theme of 'Taare Zameen Par'. That film made you cry, this one will make you laugh. In 'Taare...' I helped Darsheel's character, but in this film nine people, with their own set of problems, will help me," Aamir said.
"Taare Zameen Par" followed an eight-year-old gifted boy Ishaan. Aamir played the role of his art teacher who discovers that the child has dyslexia and helps him realise his true potential.
The superstar, who has been on an acting break since the release of his 2022 film "Laal Singh Chaddha", said he is currently busy with his production ventures.
"I'm doing 3 films as a producer. There is Laapata Ladies' directed by Kiran (Rao). It comes out on January 5. Another one with my son Junaid (Khan), and 'Lahore 1947' with Rajkumar Santoshi and Sunny Deol. I'm looking forward to them," he said.
"Laal Singh Chaddha", directed by Advait Chandan, was the official remake of Hollywood classic "Forrest Gump". The film had a dull run at the box office, following which Aamir had said that he would be taking a break from acting to focus on his family.
At the event, the actor also announced that his son Junaid Khan is making foray into the film industry as a producer.
"Like his grandfather (filmmaker Tahir Hussain), Junaid is joining films as a producer with 'Pritam Pyaare'. I'm a a cameo in the film. And then he is acting in 'Maharaj'," he added.
Inspired by true events, "Maharaj" is set in the 1800s and centres on a regular man, journalist by profession, who takes on a powerful role-model of society, hailed by many as a messiah for the masses. The fearless reporter uncovers a series of incidents that shake the very foundation of society.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
EC transferred over 50 officials, it's political interference of highest order: Mamata
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday expressed alarm over the "arbitrary removal of more than 50 senior officials" in the poll-bound state, terming it a "political interference of the highest order".
Continuing with her tirade against the Election Commission, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo claimed that such action amounted to "systematic politicisation of institutions" and a "direct assault on the Constitution".
After announcing the schedule for the assembly polls, the Election Commission has ordered several reshuffles of senior officers, including the transfer of Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, Home Secretary Jagdish Prasad Meena, and the removal of DGP Peeyush Pandey and Kolkata Police Commissioner Supratim Sarkar.
On Wednesday, the poll body ordered a fresh reshuffle of senior officers, posting two secretaries to other poll-bound states as observers, and deploying 13 IAS and five IPS officers in key poll management roles.
Slamming the poll body, Banerjee took to X to claim that more than 50 senior officials had been "summarily and arbitrarily removed" even before the formal notification of elections.
"The manner in which the Election Commission has singled out and targeted Bengal is not just unprecedented -- it is deeply alarming.
"Even before the formal notification of elections, more than 50 senior officials... have been summarily and arbitrarily removed. This is not administrative action; this is political interference of the highest order," she said.
Banerjee alleged that senior officers from agencies such as IB, STF and CID were being "selectively removed" from the state.
She further alleged "contradictions" in the poll panel's actions, claiming that officers removed from their posts were being assigned as election observers.
"This is not governance. It reflects chaos, confusion, and sheer incompetence being passed off as authority," she said.
Describing the situation as "nothing short of an undeclared emergency", Banerjee alleged that there was a "deliberate design to seize control of West Bengal through coercion and institutional manipulation".
"I stand in complete solidarity with every officer of the Government of West Bengal and their families… Bengal has never bowed to intimidation, and it never will," she added.
Along with the post, the chief minister also attached images of the Election Commission's notifications, ordering the removal and transfer of top state officials to substantiate her claims.
The TMC supremo described the special intensive revision of electoral rolls as "deeply flawed" and went on to say that at a time when the process is underway and "over 200 lives have already been lost, the conduct of the commission reflects a clear bias and an uncomfortable submission to political interests".
Banerjee also claimed that supplementary electoral rolls were yet to be published "in clear disregard of the Supreme Court's directions..
Questioning the intent of the ruling BJP at the Centre, she said, "Why is the BJP so desperate? Why this relentless targeting of Bengal and its people? What satisfaction do they derive from forcing citizens, even after 78 years of Independence, to stand in queues and prove their own citizenship?"
