Hindustan

Hindustan (Hindi: हिन्दुस्तान ; Urdu: ہندوستان‎ ; IAST: Hindustān ; [ɦɪnd̪ʊˈst̪aːn];  pronunciation ;) is a common geographic term for the northern/northwestern Indian subcontinent.

Etymology

Hindustan is derived from the Modern Persian word Hindū. In Old Persian, the region beyond the Indus River was referred to as Hinduš (the Iranic equivalent of Sanskrit Sindhu), hence Modern Persian Hind, Hindū. This combined with the Persian suffix -stān (meaning literally "place", and having the same origin as the Sanskrit word sthān and the English word "stand") results in Hindustan, "land of Hind". By about the first century BC, the term "Hein-tu" was used by the Chinese to refer to North Indian people. The term came into common use under the rule of the Mughals, who referred to their dominion, centered on Delhi, as 'Hindustan'.

Current usage

Geographic area

The term "Hindustan" has been historically applied to the Gangetic Plain of North India, between the Himalayas and the Vindhyas and the Indus river basin in Pakistan.

Hrithik Roshan

Hrithik Roshan (/ˈrɪtɪk ˈrɒʃən/, born 10 January 1974) is an Indian film actor. He has established a successful career in Bollywood, has won six Filmfare Awards, and has been cited in the media as one of the most attractive male celebrities in India.

After making small appearances as a child actor in several films throughout 1980s, Roshan made his film debut with a leading role in his father Rakesh Roshan's romantic thriller Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (2000). His performance in the film earned him Filmfare Awards for Best Actor and Best Male Debut. He followed it with leading roles in Fiza (2000) and Mission Kashmir (2000) and the ensemble blockbuster Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). After several critically and commercially unsuccessful films, he starred in the science fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya (2003) and its sequel Krrish (2006); the former won him the Filmfare Award for Best Actor. Roshan received his third Filmfare Award for Best Actor for his performance in the adventure film Dhoom 2 (2006), and his fourth win was for the historical romance Jodhaa Akbar (2008). He received acclaim for his work as a paraplegic in Guzaarish (2010). His other notable films include the drama Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011), the revenge film Agneepath (2012), and the superhero film Krrish 3 (2013); the latter two rank among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time. These accomplishments have established him as a leading actor in Bollywood.

Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor (pronounced [kəˈriːnaː kəˈpuːr]; born 21 September 1980), also known by her married name Kareena Kapoor Khan, is an Indian actress who appears in Bollywood films. She is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and the younger sister of actress Karisma Kapoor. Noted for playing a variety of characters in a range of film genres—from romantic comedies to crime dramas—Kapoor is the recipient of several awards, including six Filmfare Awards, and is one of Bollywood's most popular and highest-paid actresses.

After making her acting debut in the 2000 war film Refugee, Kapoor established herself in Hindi cinema with roles in the historical drama Aśoka, and the blockbuster melodrama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham... (both 2001). This initial success was followed by a series of commercial failures and repetitive roles, which garnered her negative reviews. The year 2004 marked a turning point for Kapoor when she played against type in the role of a sex worker in the drama Chameli. She subsequently earned wide critical recognition for her portrayal of a riot victim in the 2004 drama Dev and a character based on William Shakespeare's heroine Desdemona in the 2006 crime film Omkara. She went on to receive Filmfare Awards for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress for her performances in the 2007 romantic comedy Jab We Met and the 2010 drama We Are Family, respectively. Kapoor achieved further success by featuring as the female lead in four of India's top-grossing productions—the 2009 comedy-drama 3 Idiots, the 2011 romantic drama Bodyguard, the 2011 science fiction Ra.One, and the 2015 social drama Bajrangi Bhaijaan—and received praise for her roles in the 2009 thriller Kurbaan and the 2012 drama Heroine.

Ajay Devgan

Vishal Veeru Devgan (born 2 April 1969), known as Ajay Devgan and sometimes spelt Ajay Devgn, is an Indian Bollywood actor, film director and producer. He is widely considered as one of the finest and most popular actors of Hindi cinema. He has won numerous awards, including two National Film Awards as Best Actor. He has been honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 2016. He is the son of director and action director Veeru Devgan.

Devgan began his professional career with Phool Aur Kaante in 1991 and received a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance. He then starred in successful films such as Jigar (1992), Dilwale (1994), Suhaag (1994), Naajayaz (1995), Diljale (1996) and Ishq (1997). In 1998, he appeared in a critically acclaimed performance in Mahesh Bhatt's drama Zakhm and he received his first National Film Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie. In 1999, his most-talked-about film was Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in which he played Vanraj, a man who tries to unite his wife with her lover.

Sunny Leone

Karenjit Kaur Vohra (born May 13, 1981), better known by her stage name Sunny Leone (pronounced /ˈsəniːliːˈoʊnˈiː/), is an Indo-Canadian Bollywood actress and model, and former porn actress. She has also used the stage name Karen Malhotra. She was named Penthouse Pet of the Year in 2003, was a contract performer for Vivid Entertainment, and was named by Maxim as one of the 12 top porn stars in 2010.

She has played roles in independent mainstream events, films and television shows. Her first mainstream appearance was in 2005, when she worked as a red carpet reporter for the MTV Video Music Awards on MTV India. In 2011, she participated in the Indian reality television series Big Boss. She hosts the Indian reality show Splitsvilla.

In 2012 she made her Bollywood debut in Pooja Bhatt's erotic thriller Jism 2 (2012) and shifted her focus to mainstream acting which was followed up with Jackpot (2013), Ragini MMS 2 (2014) and Ek Paheli Leela (2015).

Apart from her acting career she has been part of activism campaigns including the Rock 'n' Roll Los Angeles Half-Marathon to raise money for the American Cancer Society and has also posed for a People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) ad campaign with a rescued dog, encouraging pet owners to have their cats and dogs spayed and neutered.