Wamiqua and Trisha audition for KH 234 - Online betting ad in Suriya film - No ban on Actors

The auditions for the movie "KH 234" have commenced, and Director Mani Ratnam oversaw the audition of Trisha and actress Wamiqua Gabbi, both in their respective costumes for the film. The outcome of the auditions is yet to be disclosed. Currently, Wamiqua Gabbi is working alongside Jeyam Ravi in the movie "Genie," which is produced by Vels. She has also appeared in the film "Malai Nerathu Mayakkam," directed by Gitanjali, the wife of Director Selvaraghavan. Among Kerala film enthusiasts, she gained popularity for her role in "Godha," where she starred opposite Tovino. Hindi audiences are familiar with her for her portrayal of an actress from the 1950s era of Bollywood in the web series "Jubilee." Additionally, in the Tamil anthology "Modern Love Stories Chennai," she portrayed the character of Sam.

The advertisement for the online gambling site Khiladi.com, which was featured at the beginning of the trailer for Suriya's upcoming film "Kanguva," released on July 23rd, has sparked controversy among fans. Many people on social media have expressed their displeasure, arguing that Suriya, known for taking a stance on social issues and contributing to causes like free education and dialysis through his Foundation, should not endorse an online betting site. Tamil Nadu has already banned online betting due to a rise in suicides among players who faced losses. The glimpse video on YouTube has garnered 2 million views. The appearance of the online betting advertisement was likely a result of YouTube's advertisement policy, and it was shown on the Saregama Tamil channel.

FEFSI's general secretary clarified that the decision to exclusively cast Tamil actors in Tamil films was primarily aimed at supporting those working on daily wages, commonly referred to as junior artistes. He pointed out that the Tamil workforce, especially light men and junior artistes, has been severely impacted by this issue. The Mumbai-based company Lite and Lite, which is a major supplier of lights and shooting equipment, tends to bring their own staff and doesn't hire local workers, unlike in Andhra where 50% of Tamil workers are employed for action and song sequences. FEFSI requested a similar approach in Tamil films, but the production company did not agree, resulting in a no cooperation situation. As the trend of multilingual films starring Tamil heroes rises, it has been observed that local workers are often not utilized. However, FEFSI emphasizes that they do not intend to interfere with the director's artistic choices for their films. Their main concern is to ensure fair opportunities and support for Tamil workers in the industry.