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Juhi Chawla recently shared a touching incident from her wedding preparations with industrialist Jay Mehta, revealing how her mother-in-law’s support helped her during a challenging time. Speaking at an event hosted by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Juhi recounted how difficult it was to feel happy about her wedding since her mother had passed away just a year before.

She explained that the thought of losing her mother and fearing the end of her career made it hard to celebrate. Juhi tearfully confided in her mother-in-law, who remarkably responded with understanding and compassion. “It’s okay,” she said, and took the extraordinary step of convincing the family to cancel the grand wedding plans, even though 2,000 invitations had already been sent out.

Instead, the wedding was held at home, attended by only the closest family and friends—around 80-100 people. Juhi expressed her deep gratitude for this gesture, marveling...

By Durga Chakravarty

New Delhi, March 9 (Ians) Ridhi Dogra features in the new web series, "The Married Woman", which revolves around the topic of same-sex love or lesbianism -- a topic considered taboo by many. The actress agrees that a lot of things are forbidden in India and that there are a lot of things the country feels uncomfortable about.

Over the years, Hindi film industry has seen several films and show that have focussed on same-sex love, such as "My Brother... Nikhil", "Dostana", "Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan", "Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga", "Made In Heaven" and "Four More Shots Please!". In "The Married Woman", Ridhi and Monica Dogra play a lesbian couple.

"A lot of things are taboo in our country. There are a lot of things that have happened but they are taboo. I think that is just the climate -- that is how we are as people.

Over the past few weeks, a petition started by some of the biggest names in Indian parallel cinema (the name given to the cinema that runs parallel to the glitz-and-glamour Bollywood film industry and other major regional film industries) has garnered over 6,000 signatures. Among the petition's backers are Oscar-winning sound engineer Resul Pookuty ("Slumdog Millionaire"), Oscar-nominated directors Ashutosh Gowariker ("Lagaan") and Ashvin Kumar (the short film "Little Terrorist"), and actress Shabana Azmi ("Fire").  These low-budget filmmakers are sending the petition to the President, Vice President and Information and Broadcasting Minister of India as well as to the Director General of Door Darshan, the state television network. Driving the effort is filmmaker Onir, who has directed the indie features "My Brother... Nikhil" (2005) and "I Am" (2010), winner of the Best Hindi Feature Film at the National...

Bollywood director Onir Anirban has strongly denied sexual assault claims made against him by 28-year-old actor Yuvraaj Parashar. Parashar, who appeared in last year's commercially underperforming Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun alleges that the filmmaker coerced him into a sexual encounter, after agreeing to meet the actor to discuss potential film roles. Onir, who has won acclaim for his socially relevant work in projects such as My Brother... Nikhil, Sorry Bhai and Bas Ek Pal...

Bollywood director Onir Anirban has strongly denied sexual assault claims made against him by 28-year-old actor Yuvraaj Parashar. Parashar, who appeared in last year's commercially underperforming Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun alleges that the filmmaker coerced him into a sexual encounter, after agreeing to meet the actor to discuss potential film roles. Onir, who has won acclaim for his socially relevant work in projects such as My Brother... Nikhil, Sorry Bhai and Bas Ek Pal...

Bollywood director Onir Anirban has strongly denied sexual assault claims made against him by 28-year-old actor Yuvraaj Parashar.

Parashar, who appeared in last year’s commercially underperforming Dunno Y... Na Jaane Kyun, alleges that the filmmaker coerced him into a sexual encounter, after agreeing to meet the actor to discuss potential film roles.

Onir, who has won acclaim for his socially relevant work in projects such as My Brother... Nikhil, Sorry Bhai and Bas Ek Pal, denied the charges. Rejecting Parashar’s claims, the filmmaker said that the actor had stayed the night at his Versova residence by mutual consent.

Onir commented: “This has been a nightmare. For me, the only thing that I want to add, is that my orientation is not my definition, nor am I ashamed of it. But I cannot let anyone use it against me and malign me and my integrity.”

Following the allegations Onir,...

Actress Juhi Chawla, who has given voiceover for Sita's character in 3D animation film Ramayana - The Epic, said she hasn't quit the film industry and will soon make an appearance in director Onir's I Am. "There may be gaps in between, but I am not going anywhere. I have a film called I Am. It has four short stories and in one of the short stories called Medha, Manisha and I are playing the lead. It's Onir's film," Juhi told Ians. This will be her third film with Onir after My Brother... Nikhil (2005) and Bas Ek Pal(2006). The actress was ...