FIR lodged against Salman, Shilpa for using ‘Bhangi’

An FIR has been lodged against Bollywood superstar Salman Khan and actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra for using the word 'Bhangi' on a public platform as it hurt the sentiments of Scheduled Caste community.

The complaint was lodged on Saturday at the Andheri Police station by Navin Ramchandra Lade, the general secretary of Rojgar Aghari Republican Part of India and a member of Scheduled Cast(MAHAR).

The statement released by Lade's lawyer read: "Salman along with Katrina Kaif on a TV Show stated insulting word 'Bhangi' against the member of the scheduled cast."

"Actor Shilpa Shetty stated in her interview 'I look like bhangi'. it appears from her statement that she is encouraging and spreading ill-feeling among the entire society, he also intentionally insulted members of schedule cast... Both actors have committed offence U/s 3(1)(r)(u) of The SC/ST (POA) Amendment Act 2015, w.e.f 26/1/2016, 7 (1)(c) (d) Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1995."

Lade also mentioned, "I felt insulted and humiliated being a member of Scheduled Caste myself. I feel very pained and hurt due to the insulting statement made by Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty."

Khichdi, Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai to merge

The makers of Khichdi and Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai are merging the popular shows for the upcoming season of Khichdi.

The Star Plus show will have the cast of Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai starring alongside the Parekh family, read a statement.

"Both the shows are my babies and nothing gets better than merging them together. Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai and Khichdi both have received immense amount of love from the audiences whenever they have been on air," JD Majethia, producer of both the shows, said in a statement.

"Getting both the shows together will certainly leave the audiences asking for more. It will be a treat for the audience to see what happens when the mad-hatters Parekhs meet the upper middle class Maya and her family, The Sarabhais. A laughter riot for sure," he added.

Salman gets 'extraordinary' opening with Tiger Zinda Hai

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan, who failed to enthrall his fans with Tubelight earlier this year, has bounced back strongly at the box office with his latest release Tiger Zinda Hai which received an extraordinary opening on Friday, according to trade gurus.

Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the action thriller is a sequel to Kabir Khan's 2012 film Ek Tha Tiger. It marks the return of Salman and Katrina Kaif onscreen after five years.

A few morning shows of the film were however disrupted in many cinema halls across Rajasthan after members of the Valmiki community raised slogans, tore and burnt posters of the film over the alleged use of a pejorative word by Salman during a promotional event.

But that did not stop Salman's fans from watching the film.

Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based film distributor and general secretary, Motion Pictures Association, told IANS: "Tiger Zinda Hai has received an extraordinary opening pan-India. The film has released in almost every screen. The seat occupancy for morning shows was about 60 to 70 per cent, which is good. It will increase in afternoon and night shows."

According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, Tiger Zinda Hai, which has been made on a budget of Rs 150 crore including advertising and publicity, released in 4600 screens in India and 1100 screens abroad.

"Finally… Packed morning shows greet ‘Tiger Zinda Hai'. Box office on fire," Adarsh tweeted on Friday.

Trade expert Komal Nahta also took to the micro-blogging site and wrote: "As expected, Tiger Zinda Hai off to a flying start".

With no other film in competition, Tiger Zinda Hai is expected to break various records at the box office.

"We are hoping that the New Year will start on a good note for the film industry. The film has been showcased well as there was no other movie in competition. We are expecting the film to collect around Rs 50 crore in India, which will be the highest," Mahajan said.