Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

‘Just on hearing their names, audience goes to buy tickets:’ Ms Marvel’s Mohan Kapur on Farhan Akhtar and Fawad Khan’s cameos grabbing more attention

‘Just on hearing their names, audience goes to buy tickets:’ Ms Marvel’s Mohan Kapur on Farhan Akhtar and Fawad Khan’s cameos grabbing more attention

Plenty of surprises are in store for South Asian fans of Marvel as the Marvel Cinematic Universe is going a little desi. Ms Marvel, the upcoming streaming show from the home of Marvel Studios, is introducing its first-ever Pakistani female superhero- Kamala Khan, played by Pakistani-Canadian actor Iman Vellani.

In addition to her, the series will see three Indian actors playing her family members. Veteran TV and film actor Mohan Kapur will be seen in the role of her father Yusuf Khan, Zenobia Shroff plays her mother Muneeba, and Indian-American actor Saagar Shaikh gets into the character of Kamala’s older brother Amir.


Talking to an Indian daily, the trio shared how their immediate families and friends reacted to their casting in an MCU project. They also spoke about Fawad Khan and Farhan Akhtar’s cameos.

Mohan says that his nieces and nephews were the happiest when they shared the news of him bagging a role in the MCU with his family. He says, “The elderly were like ‘good but what is Marvel’. But my nieces and nephew went crazy. They were like ‘Mamu, do you know what you have done?’ And them getting excited got me more excited and it hit me ‘really, that’s what I am in now’.”

Zenobia stated, “A lot of my showbiz friends got it and they were beyond thrilled. But my family and general friends are not that much into pop culture or don’t know the impact of the Marvel Universe. I fielded questions like: ‘Is it the comic book?’ and ‘Are you animated?’”

She shares that her parents have still not quite grasped what it means to be in an MCU project. “Six months into the shoot, my father called and asked any good news on your end. And I said, ‘What more good news do you need? I am in the Marvel Universe!’ Only Indian parents are like ‘it’s been six months, give us something more’,” she says.

Saagar, who has never done a project of such scale before, says that telling his family about it was an emotional moment. “My mom didn’t want to know anything when I screen-tested. When I told her, she said ‘kuch nahi batana mujhe, jab naukri mil jaati hai to batana (don’t tell me anything except when you get the job).” There have been so many times when I almost got a job but then I didn’t get it and I saw her pain, and so when I got this, I called her. We face-timed and we cried together because this is my first big job. It was a really special moment. My dad finally said to me after this, “Ab kuch ban sakte ho (Now you can be someone). You’ve finally got a good job,” he recalls.

And apart from Mohan, Zenobia, and Saagar, the show has Fawad Khan and Farhan Akhtar both in small roles on the show.

When asked if they felt it was unfair the focus was on the two stars’ small roles over their more substantial roles, Mohan says, “They are stars. Just on hearing their names, the audience goes to buy tickets. They have earned that. We are making their mark. They are actually helping us. When we heard that Fawad and Farhan are doing it (the show), we were so excited. Imagine the flip the show is going to get in South Asia and the world over because they have fans all over. It’s a huge thing. It’s very small if you start thinking ‘I am in more episodes, so why are they talking about them’. That’s a very small way of thinking. They propped us up.”

Zenobia adds that in such situations, the artiste must focus on the product and not themselves. “You have to stay on the side of the product. You can’t be on your side. The product matters. The individual doesn’t,” she says.

The first two episodes of Ms Marvel begin streaming on Disney+ globally and on Disney+ Hotstar in India from June 8. The subsequent episodes will release weekly.

Mohan Kapur, Zenobia Shroff, and Saagar Shaikh will also appear in small roles in the upcoming Captain Marvel sequel The Marvels, reprising their Ms Marvel roles. The film is due on July 28, 2023.

Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.

More For You

Michael Theo

The Love on the Spectrum star makes his acting debut in BBC One’s new comedy

Getty Images

BBC star Michael Theo opens up about workplace bullying before ‘Austin’ debut

Michael Theo, star of BBC One’s new comedy Austin, has opened up about the difficult experiences he faced before breaking into acting. The Australian actor, who first gained recognition on Love on the Spectrum, described one of his previous jobs as the most stressful period of his life due to relentless bullying.

Theo recalled working at a kitchen manufacturing company, where he spent long hours sanding doors and handling hazardous chemicals. Instead of support from his colleagues, he was met with cruel insults. “I was called names every day. One person even told me I was a waste of oxygen,” he revealed. The experience took a toll on his mental well-being, but he never gave up on his dream.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salman Khan

Salman Khan’s £32,000 Ram Temple edition watch sparks controversy as a Muslim cleric calls it ‘haram and illegal’

Getty Images

Salman Khan slammed by Muslim cleric for wearing £32,000 Ayodhya Ram temple watch, calls it 'haram'

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has found himself at the centre of a religious controversy after wearing a limited edition watch featuring the Ram Janmabhoomi temple design. The accessory, which was noticed during the promotions of his upcoming film Sikandar, has drawn criticism from Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat.

Maulana Razvi has expressed strong disapproval, stating that as a Muslim, Salman Khan should avoid symbols associated with other religions. He referred to the act as “haram” (forbidden) under Islamic law and urged the actor to be mindful of his influence, especially given his large Muslim fan following.

Keep ReadingShow less
Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar breaks down on Dance Jodi Dance Reloaded 3 as she reveals being abused by six people as a child

Instagram/Varalaxmi Sarathkumar

Varalaxmi Sarathkumar reveals she was abused by six people as a child

In a deeply emotional moment on the sets of Zee Tamil’s dance reality show Dance Jodi Dance Reloaded 3, actor Varalaxmi Sarathkumar broke down while recounting her traumatic experience of being sexually abused as a child. The revelation came after contestant Kemy shared her own story of surviving harassment by family members. Moved by Kemy’s words, Varalaxmi revealed that she, too, had suffered similar abuse, with five to six people assaulting her when she was young.

The actor, known for her work in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films, explained that her parents, veteran actor Sarathkumar and Chaya were working at the time, leaving her in the care of others. “Your story is my story,” she told Kemy, hugging her in solidarity. “I don’t have children, but I always tell parents to teach kids about ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch.’ It’s so important.”

Keep ReadingShow less
The curse of Karan Johar: How Bollywood’s ‘star maker’ keeps failing newcomers

Karan Johar

The curse of Karan Johar: How Bollywood’s ‘star maker’ keeps failing newcomers

A LOT has been said about Karan Johar being a brilliant mastermind when it comes to launching new talent, including children of famous film stars.

While he deserves some credit for working with newcomers, Johar’s track record with aspiring actors is poor, and for many, it has turned out to be more of a curse than a blessing. A strong first film typically sets up a debutant for a solid career in cinema, but when it fails, the individual is often left swimming against the tide. This is exactly what has happened with Ibrahim Ali Khan, whose recently released disastrous debut movie Nadaaniyan has been a major setback.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sofia Carson’s ‘The Life List’ Has Viewers Rethinking Their Relationships

Sofia Carson in The Life List – The Netflix rom-com that’s making viewers rethink their relationships

Instagram/netflixfilm

Sofia Carson’s new Netflix rom-com 'The Life List' is making viewers dump their partners

Sofia Carson’s latest romantic comedy, The Life List, is doing more than just entertaining audiences. In fact, it’s making them question their love lives. The Netflix film, set to release this Friday, has reportedly led several test viewers to break up with their partners after watching it.

Directed by Adam Brooks and based on Lori Nelson Spielman’s novel, the story follows Alex Rose, played by Carson, a woman at a turning point in her life. When her mother, portrayed by Connie Britton, passes away, Alex discovers an unusual condition in her will. To claim her inheritance, she must first complete the childhood bucket list she wrote at 13. The list includes challenges like performing stand-up comedy and diving into a mosh pit, but one task proves far more difficult: finding true love!

Keep ReadingShow less