Actor Sonu Sood has come out in support of Alia Bhatt after the actress faced heavy trolling on social media over her recent appearance at the Cannes Film Festival 2026. While Alia attended the prestigious event as the global ambassador for L'Oréal Paris, sections of the internet criticised her red carpet looks and public appearances, leading to widespread online discussions. Amid the criticism, Sonu Sood took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a strongly worded message encouraging positivity and support instead of negativity. Without directly addressing the trolls, the actor highlighted the importance of celebrating Indian artists representing the country on international platforms. “When one of our own walks onto an international stage, it should be a moment of pride, not a reason to search for flaws. Not every achievement needs validation from cameras, headlines, or strangers to be meaningful. The courage to stand there, represent your craft, and carry your journey with grace is ...
Vishal Bhardwaj and Shaunak Sen join new film fund initiative supporting independent cinema
May 15, 2026 at 02:30PM
What are the vital ingredients an aspiring filmmaker needs when they have a story to tell but no outlet? Beyond a script, they need financial stability, production expertise, and industry access. Addressing this gap, Humans of Cinema and Safarnaama Pictures have launched a landmark feature film co-production fund of Rs 40,00,000 designed to back an emerging filmmaker with a distinct voice and a clear vision. In a significant boost to the independent ecosystem, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Shaunak Sen (All That Breathes) and globally acclaimed auteur Vishal Bhardwaj have joined the initiative as mentors. Sen is also attached to the selected project as an Executive Producer. The high-profile jury for the fund includes actor Imran Khan, filmmaker Arati Kadav (Cargo, Mrs), producer Aman Mann (All That Breathes), and renowned author and festival director Aseem Chhabra. Harshit Bansal, Founder of Humans of Cinema, shared that the idea took shape when Nazim Momin of Safarnaama Pictures—...