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Women show the power of community in Lotus Beauty

Women show the power of community in Lotus Beauty

LIVE PERFORMANCE

PRIYA PURUSHOTHAMAN – LIVE


When: Saturday June 11

Where: Rose House, Barningham Way, off Kingsbury Road, London NW9 8UP

What: An Indian classical and semiclassical vocal concert headlined by an upcoming music star, who has received specialised training.

www.eventbrite.com

BOTOWN: THE SOUL OF BOLLYWOOD

When: Saturday June 11

Where: Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton WV1 4AN

What: The Bollywood band of multicultural musicians perform classic Hindi film music with a groovy and unique soul funk twist.

www.eventbrite.com

SWATI NATEKAR

When: Sunday June 12

Where: St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR

What: The UK-based classical, ghazal and world music singer, songwriter and composer headlines a concert where she will show off her remarkable range in the Indian musical genres. She is accompanied by acclaimed musicians Sunil Jadhav (keyboard) and Alok Verma (tabla).

www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk

MUMBAI MASALA

When: Saturday June 18 – Sunday August 28

Where: Proud City, 1 Mark Lane, Opposite Fenchurch Street Station, London EC3R 7AH

What: Spicy new immersive Bollywood musical experience, featuring hip shaking dances, heart breaking romance, hilarious comedy, and delectable cuisine.

www.proudcabaret.com

SHAAN: LOVE – IN CONCERT

When: Saturday June 18 and Sunday June 19

Where: Indigo at The O2, 205 Peninsula Square, London SE10 0ES; and De Montfort Hall, Granville Road, Leicester LE1 7RU

What: The popular Indian singing star returns to the UK for two exclusive shows where he will perform his biggest hits and great classics.

www.rockonmusicuk.com

SAMARPAN MAHOTSAV

When: Saturday June 18

Where: Arena Theatre, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SE

What: An enchanting evening of Indian classical dance featuring acclaimed British Asian performers, which has been curated by leading company Jaivant Patel Dance.

www.wlv.ac.uk/arena-theatre

LIVE PERFORMANCE JUBIN NAUTIYAL 936 n Jubin Nautiyal

JUBIN NAUTIYAL

When: Saturday June 25 and Sunday June 26

Where: Morningside Arena, 31 Charter Street, Leicester LE1 3UD; and OVO Arena, Arena Square, Engineers Way, London HA9 0AA.

What: The popular Indian singer behind songs like Lut Gaye, which has been viewed over a billion times on YouTube, delivers a hit-filled concert with a full live band.

www.ticketmaster.co.uk

LIVE PEFORMANCE PT. SANJAY MUKHERJEE03 Pandit Sanjay Mukherjee

PANDIT SANJAY MUKHERJEE

When: Saturday June 26

Where: The Bhavan, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 9HE

What: Classical musical recital by leading tabla exponent Pt. Sanjay Mukherjee, who will be accompanied by Sri Hiranmay Mitra on harmonium.

www.bhavan.net

USTAD SHAHID PARVEZ KHAN

When: Friday July 1 and Saturday July 2

Where: St George’s Bristol, Great George Street, Bristol BS1 5RR; and Kings Place 90 York Way, London N1 9AG

What: The globally acclaimed sitar maestro embarks on a UK tour. Accompanied by Sanju Sahai on tabla, he will deliver a culturally rich concert connected to Indian musical tradition. Check website for further tour dates.

www.asianartsagency.co.uk

SEVENS

When: Tuesday July 5

Where: Curve Theatre, 60 Rutland Street, Leicester LE1 1SB

What: An ensemble cast of UK-based Indian classical dancers and musicians share the stage in this triple bill show conceptualised by award-winning Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer Nina Rajarani MBE, which explores the sacred, and sometimes sinful, significance of the number seven.

www.curveonline.co.uk

THEATRE

LOTUS BEAUTY

When: Until Saturday June 18

Where: Hampstead Theatre, Eton Avenue, London NW3 3EU

What: Salon set comedy drama written by Satinder Chohan and directed by Pooja Ghai, which follows the intertwined lives of five multigenerational women and looks at the power of community.

www.hampsteadtheatre.com

THE FATHER AND THE ASSASSIN

When: Until Saturday June 18

Where: Olivier Theatre, National Theatre, Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX

What: The new play by Anupama Chandrasekhar follows the real-life story of Nathuram Godse over 30 years during India’s fight for independence, from being a devout follower of Mahatma Gandhi to assassinating him.

www.nationaltheatre.org.uk

MRS KAPOOR’S DAUGHTER’S WEDDING (REBOOT)

When: Saturday June 11

Where: The Alexandra, Suffolk Street Queensway, Birmingham B5 4DS

What: The acclaimed stage comedy continues the tour of its reboot and invites audiences into an Asian household preparing for a wedding, but this time with social distancing, Zoom events and adapting to the new normal.

www.mkdw.co.uk

UK MARATHI NATYAMAHOTSAV

When: Sunday June 19

Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE

What: Two Marathi language plays will be staged in one day. Tu Mhanshil Tasa, which revolves around a married couple, will be staged at 12.05pm. Sarkha Kahitari Hotay, which is a comedy about a fearful man, is staged at 4.30pm.

www.becktheatre.org.uk

COMEDY

BRING THE LAUGHTER

When: Tuesday June 12

Where: Frog and Bucket Comedy Club, 102 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LJ

What: Laughter filled comedy show featuring stand-up talents Tez Ilyas, Anuvab Pal and Nabil Abdulrashid.

luventertainment.co.uk

ROMESH RANGANATHAN – THE CYNIC’S MIXTAPE

When: Tuesday June 14 – Wednesday June 15

Where: Leeds Grand Theatre, 46 New Briggate, Leeds LS1 6NU

What: The stand-up comedian delivers a brutally honest laughter-filled show about all the things he finds unacceptable, including why trying to save the environment is a scam and why none of us are truly free. Check website for further tour dates.

www.romeshranganathan.co.uk

THE MUSLIMS ARE COMING

When: Friday June 17

Where: Beck Theatre, Grange Road, Hayes, Middlesex UB3 2UE

What: The halal-arious comedy show continues its tour with top stand-up talents Tez Ilyas, Eshaan Akbar, Nabil Abdulrashid and Kae Kurd.

www.becktheatre.org.uk

CLASSES

FREE BHARATNATYAM CLASSES

When: Wednesdays June 15, 22, 29 and Thursdays June 16, 23, 30

Where: Gamgee House, 2 Darnley Road, Birmingham B16 8TE

What: The Consulate General of India in Birmingham is organising free and weekly dance classes on its premises. Participants need to register beforehand and will be allocated places on first come first serve basis.

www.eventbrite.com

FULL DAY INDIAN VEGETARIAN COOKERY COURSE

When: Saturday June 11

Where: Hounslow, London

What: A trip to the local Indian shop to learn about ingredients will be followed by a hands-on cooking course learning how to make a variety of Indian dishes.

www.cookingwithmonisha.com

SRI LANKAN COOKERY CLASS

When: Thursday June 16

Where: Holdspace Wynford Hall, Risinghill Street, London N19SY

What: Chef Jahan will teach delicious, authentic Sri Lankan dishes followed by a sit-down meal, with a fun, laidback homestyle cooking experience.

www.eventbrite.com

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Kareena’s tribute began with her physically transforming into her grandfather. Dressed in an outfit reminiscent of Raj Kapoor’s iconic look from the movie Shree 420 (1955), Kareena sported the classic jacket, black trousers, black cap, and shoes that Raj Kapoor famously wore in the song "Mera Joota Hai Japani." This song, a timeless anthem of pride in India's identity, was the perfect selection for the tribute as it captured the essence of Raj Kapoor’s larger-than-life persona.

As the familiar notes of "Mera Joota Hai Japani" filled the air, Kareena’s transformation into Raj Kapoor was complete. Her dance, filled with the same energetic movements and carefree joy that her grandfather was known for, was an emotional highlight of the IIFA 2025 Awards. The tribute was not only a personal homage from a granddaughter to her legendary grandfather but also a gift to millions of Raj Kapoor fans around the world, who still hold his memory close to their hearts.

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Raj Kapoor, known for his acting, directing, and producing, played a crucial role in shaping Indian cinema. His contributions to Bollywood spanned decades, with films like Awaara (1951), Shree 420 (1955), and Mera Naam Joker (1970) cementing his place as one of the greatest filmmakers in Indian history. His movies often touched on themes of social justice, poverty, and human emotion, wrapped in a unique blend of music and humour that resonated with audiences across generations.

Through her tribute, Kareena reminded the audience of Raj Kapoor’s immense cultural significance. His songs, stories, and screen presence defined an era of Bollywood cinema that continues to inspire filmmakers and actors today. Kareena, herself a major force in the industry, carries forward her family's legacy in her own right, but her tribute reflected the strong emotional connection she maintains with her family’s cinematic roots.

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Kareena’s tribute was just one of many shining moments at the IIFA Awards 2025, an event that brings together the biggest names in Indian cinema to celebrate the best of Bollywood. Actors, filmmakers, and musicians gathered to recognise outstanding achievements in the film industry, with awards for categories ranging from Best Actor and Best Film to technical awards that honour the artistry behind the scenes.

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For Kareena, this tribute was deeply personal. As a member of the Kapoor dynasty, one of the most illustrious families in Bollywood, she has always had a strong connection to her grandfather’s legacy. Raj Kapoor was not just an icon to the world but a beloved figure in her own life, someone whose work she grew up admiring. Kareena, along with her cousins Ranbir Kapoor and Karisma Kapoor, represents the third generation of actors in the Kapoor family, and the continued success of the Kapoor lineage is a testament to Raj Kapoor’s enduring influence.

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