Bird Bites E-feed: Priyanka Chopra’s baby news; ‘RRR’ release update and Lana Mangeshkar’s recovery in hospital

By Mamie Colfox

Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas welcome first child

PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS has welcomed her first child with husband Nick via a surrogate, she announced over social media.
The baby, she reported, was born in Southern California on January 15. Born at 27 weeks, it arrived three months before its due date in April. Chopra and Jonas both shared the news on their Instagrams, which read “we are overjoyed to confirm that we have welcomed a baby via surrogate. We respectfully ask for privacy during this special time as we focus on our family. Thank you so much.”
Jonas’ brothers Joe and Kevin congratulated the couple with heart emojis, as did writer-actor-comedian-producer Mindy Kaling. US chat show host and Youtube star Lilly Singh wrote “AYE!!!!!!!! Can’t wait to cuddle them,” and Hollywood star Kal Penn offered to babysit.
Recently Chopra has been seen on the big screen in Hollywood film ‘The Matrix Resurrections’ which was released in late 2021, and will star in the Hindi film Jee Le Zaraa with Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. She also features in a new UNICEF Indian music video raising awareness for covid, with actor Amitabh Bachchan, singers Shankar Mahadevan and Harshdeep Kaur, as well as Olympic medalist PV Sindhu.
Chopra and Jonas married in December 2018 in traditional Hindu and Christian ceremonies.

Blockbuster ‘RRR’ sets new release date for March

SS RAJMOULI’S period action film ‘Rise Roar Revolt’, more widely described now by just its initials, ‘RRR’, is now set to be released on March 18. Written on the film’s Twitter handle, the makers have given an alternative date of April 28 if further coronavirus restrictions force another postponement, after two scrapped release dates in 2020.
SS Rajmouli is one of India’s best known film directors and often described as an auteur as he is a writer-director whose films are bold and imaginative. He came to international prominence with the release of two instalments of the epic mythological fantasy, ‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ and ‘Baahubali: The Conclusion’. In 2019, he and several members of the cast including star Prabhas attended a live screening at the Royal Albert Hall in London – with a full orchestra playing the music in the film, devised by MM Keeravani. Prabhas and stars Anushka Shetty and Rana Daggubati spoke to www.asianculturevulture.com about the experience of making the films and responding to the huge international interest (see below for link). In this latest film made in Rajamouli’s native Telugu, it features four big stars.
Junior NTR plays freedom fighter Komaram Bheem in the film, and has worked in Telugu cinema for 20 years. He is referred to as the Young Tiger of Tollywood and has received two state Nandi Awards, two Filmfare Awards South and four CineMAA Awards. He is the grandson of one of India’s best-known regional actors NT Ram Rao, who later become a hugely successful politician and ran the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Ram Charan plays Alluri Sitarama Raju who fought against the British Raj, and is working with SS Rajmouli for the second time after making ‘Magadheera’.
Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt plays strong-willed Sita, and is Allure Sitarama Raju’s love interest, and this film marks her Telugu debut.
Ajay Devgn plays the onscreen mentor to Ram Charan and Junior NTR’s characters, and has an extended cameo, appearing in several flashback scenes.

Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar responding well to treatment

THERE have been many many rumours over the last 24 hours about legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar dying after contracting covid. She was admitted to the ICU in Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai two weeks ago, but the record has been set straight after her doctor, Pratit Samdani, shared a note earlier today: “Lata Didi is showing positive signs of improvement from earlier and is under treatment in the ICU. We are looking forward and praying for her speedy healing and homecoming.” The family have requested no further rumours be spread and stated that she is “responding well” to treatment. Politician and former TV actor Smriti Irani retweeted Dr Samdani’s post, and added “request from Lata Didi’s family to not spread rumours. She is responding well to treatment and god willing will return home soon. Let us avoid speculation & continue to pray for Lata Didi’s speedy recovery and wellbeing.” Mangeshkar is a household name, known as the nightingale of India, charming the world with her voice, and singing over 50,000 songs in at least 14 languages.

Links
‘Baahubali: The Beginning’ at the Royal Albert Hall
Interview