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Priyanka Chopra shared that her security team know that she loves when people come and talk to her.
Priyanka Chopra was last seen in the action thriller Heads of State. (AP)
Actor Priyanka Chopra has opened up on why she needs security around her. Speaking with Variety, she also revealed that she likes it when fans approach her.
Priyanka Chopra talks about having bodyguards around her
The report mentioned that the actor had bodyguards at the recently held 83rd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California. Priyanka shared that her security team know that she loves when people come and talk to her. “I am ok with being approached by anyone and taking photos, and they (guards) know that I love people coming to talk to me. They were there to make sure we’re not being recorded without consent,” she said.
“That’s my biggest thing with everyone having cellphones. It happens often, especially with my daughter. We’re in the park or having ice cream, and suddenly I’ll see it online. My security is for that reason. Otherwise, I don’t need it. Nobody’s gonna kill me,” Priyanka added.
Priyanka was seen at the Golden Globes recently
Priyanka and her husband-singer, Nick Jonas, attended the Golden Globe Awards 2026. She presented the award for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series – Drama alongside global pop star Lalisa Manobal, popularly known as Lisa of South Korean girl band BLACKPINK. The duo announced actor Noah Wyle as the winner for his performance in the medical drama series The Pitt.
Priyanka shares edited pic of her daughter
Priyanka often shares pictures with her daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, on her social media platforms. However, she edits her face and covers it with an emoji. The actor had, however, earlier revealed Malti’s face on Instagram and her other social media platforms.
About Priyanka’s family
Priyanka got married to Nick Jonas in 2018 in Rajasthan. They had a traditional Christian wedding followed by a Hindu ceremony. They welcomed their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, in January 2022.
According to reports, Udit Narayan married Deepa Jha in 1985 without divorcing his first wife, Ranjana. Now, in the latest development, she has accused him of getting her uterus removed in 1996 during treatment at a Delhi hospital. Ranjana claimed that she wasn’t told about it back then.
Meet Udit Narayan’s first wife who accused him of getting her uterus removed
Udit Narayan landed in another controversy. The veteran singer’s first wife, Ranjana Narayan Jha, has accused him of getting her uterus removed without her permission. She filed a police complaint at Bihar’s Supaul Mahila Thana, Ranjana Jha, alleging that his two brothers and second wife Deepa took her to a hospital in Delhi for the procedure under the guise of medical treatment. The complaint was lodged on February 10. Ranjana claimed that her uterus was removed in 1996, and she learnt about it recently when she visited a doctor for other health concerns. Udit married Deepa (nee Gahatraj) in 1985 in Mumbai, a year after tying the knot with Ranjana.
Who is Ranjana Narayan Jha?
Ranjana, a resident of Balua Bazar in Supaul, marriedUdit before he became a successful singer in the Hindi film industry. They were living together in Bihar after their marriage. However, Udit left Bihar to pursue a career in music in Bollywood and came to Mumbai. In 1985, he married Deepa in Mumbai, reportedly without divorcing Ranjana. The 61-year-old woman had filed a maintenance case against Udit in 2025. He appeared before the Supaul Family Court.
Court case with Udit Narayan
During the hearing at the Supaul Family Court, Udit refused to settle with Ranjana and decided to contest the case. In her lawsuit, Ranjana claimed that the singer abandoned her in Bihar and when she visits him in Mumbai, she is tracked by goons. She also alleged that he kept Rs 18 lakh away from her after the sale of a property in Nepal. Demanding her rights as his legal wife, Ranjana expressed wanting to live with him amid deteriorating health.
In addition, the matter was escalated to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Bihar Human Rights Commission (BHRC), where S K Jha argued that under Indian law, a second marriage without divorcing the first wife is illegal under the Hindu Marriage Act. By this, Udit’s marriage to Deepa was considered unlawful. The veteran lawyer further emphasised that the singer disrespected and disregarded Ranjana’s human rights.
Udit Narayan’s defence
On the other hand, sources close to Udit claimed that the veteran singer reportedly paid Rs 15,000 per month as maintenance, which was increased to Rs 25,000 in 2021. Besides this, Narayan gifted her agricultural land, a house worth Rs 1 crore, jewellery, and another piece of land worth Rs 25 lakh.
Following the threat, security has been increased outside Ranveer Singh’s residence as a precautionary measure.
Ranveer Singh
Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh received a threatening WhatsApp voice note demanding crores of rupees, following which Mumbai Police increased security outside his residence and launched an investigation to trace the sender, officials said. The threat emerged in the backdrop of the firing incident at filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence in Juhu, which is currently under investigation by the Mumbai Crime Branch.
Police launched a search to identify the sender of the threatening voice note. Sources told News18 that the person who sent the message claimed to be associated with the Bishnoi gang. The claim is being verified as part of the ongoing probe.
Ranveer Singh was last seen in the 2025 spy thriller Dhurandhar, directed by Aditya Dhar. The film, released on December 5, 2025, went on to become a major box-office success, grossing over Rs 1,305 crore worldwide and emerging as the first Indian film to cross Rs 1,000 crore in domestic net collections in a single language, Hindi. Ranveer Singh played Hamza Ali Mazari, whose real identity is revealed as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, in a narrative built around covert intelligence operations and global geopolitical tensions.
A sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is slated for release this year. The teaser shows Ranveer Singh reprising his role as Hamza, with flashbacks to his younger self as Jaskirat Singh Rangi. The returning cast includes Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan and Arjun Rampal. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on March 19.
Firing Outside Rohit Shetty’s House
The Crime Branch continues to investigate the firing outside Rohit Shetty’s residence. Five people- Aman Marote (27), Aditya Gayaki (19), Siddharth Yenpure (20), Samarth Pomaji (18) and Swapnil Sakat (23)- have been arrested in connection with the incident. Lawrence Bishnoi gang member Shubham Lonkar has been named as a wanted accused.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh celebrated its century-long journey. The event saw prominent figures, including Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
Actor Salman Khan arrived at the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Mumbai Vyakhyanmala event on Saturday. (PTI)
A fresh debate erupted after Bollywood superstar Salman Khan attended the ‘100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons’ event in Mumbai, drawing both praise and criticism on social media. As conversations intensified online, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stepped forward to defend the actor, framing the issue as one of citizenship rather than politics.
Eknath Shinde defends Salman Khan presence in RSS event
Salman’s presence at the RSS-led function, where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat shared the stage with film industry names like Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal, quickly became a talking point. Critics questioned the optics of the actor’s participation, while supporters dismissed the controversy as unnecessary.
Speaking to ANI, Shinde rejected the backlash, emphasising Salman’s identity as an Indian citizen over any political interpretation of his appearance. “Salman Khan attending the RSS event or not attending it, what kind of question is this? Salman Khan is an Indian citizen. He has Lord Ganesha at his home, respects our culture, and his family does too,” Shinde said, underscoring that public figures should not be boxed into political narratives for attending cultural events.
#WATCH | Mumbai | Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, “Salman Khan attending the RSS event or not attending it—what kind of question is this, and isn’t Salman Khan an Indian citizen? Salman Khan is an Indian citizen; he installs Lord Ganesha at his home, does everything,… pic.twitter.com/4AIVAIO4uW
The event itself marked a milestone for the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, reflecting on its century-long journey and future direction. During his address, Mohan Bhagwat highlighted the influence Bollywood stars hold over young Indians, citing Khan as an example. “College students copy Salman Khan’s fashion. When asked why, they say they don’t know—Salman is doing it. The context of good values in society should become a fashion,” Bhagwat remarked, suggesting that celebrities could channel their popularity toward positive social messaging.
More about the RSS event
The two-day celebration drew a significant presence from the film fraternity. On the first day, Salman Khan and Ranbir Kapoor were joined by filmmakers Mohit Suri, Subhash Ghai, Nitesh Tiwari, Mahaveer Jain, Om Raut, Vikram Malhotra, and lyricist Prasoon Joshi. Day two saw actors Akshay Kumar and Vicky Kaushal in attendance, along with filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Ananya Panday.
After Rajpal Yadav surrendered in Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case, fans’ attention has now shifted his net worth and earnings.
What is Rajpal Yadav’s net worth? Everything about his fees and earnings REVEALED (Credits: Rajpal Yadav’s IG)
Rajpal Yadav is among the well-known faces in the entertainment industry. The actor is popular for his comic roles and has delivered several memorable performances so far. However, recently, the 54-year-old has hit the headlines in connection to a severe financial distress and is currently at Tihar Jail. Many actors and renowned personalities have come forward to help him.
While the entire development has come as a shock to his fans, netizens are also curious about Rajpal Yadav’s financial condition and nnet worth. From his earnings from films to other assets, here’s everything that you must know.
According to India Today, Rajpal has received a handsome paycheque for his recent works. Talking about his fees in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, he reportedly earned Rs 1.25 crore and received Rs 2 crore for Chandu Champion. Going by the reports circulating online, his net worth ranges from Rs 50 crore to Rs 80-85 crore. Publicly available information suggests that he usualy charges Rs 1-2 crore per project.
Apart from his earnings from the movies, one of the sources for the Hungama actor’s income is the brand partnerships. So, keeping other sources such as regional industries and property investments, Rajpal Yadav’s annual income lies somewhere around Rs 30–35 lakh. Other reports claim that he owns luxury cars, including Audi and BMW.
Coming to his upcoming projects, he has various films in the pipeline for 2026. Rajpal will be seen in major roles in Bhooth Bangla and Welcome to the Jungle, featuring Akshay Kumar. His latest film was Interrogation, a suspense thriller film directed by Ajoy Varma Raja.
President Donald Trump claims investigators are very close to cracking the kidnapping case of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie.
While speaking with reporters on Air Force One Friday night, Trump said investigators have made a lot of progress, and may even have a suspect.
When a journalist specifically asked if someone had been identified as a suspect, Trump said, “Yeah. Could be definitive,” according to TMZ.
President Donald Trump claims investigators are very close to cracking the kidnapping case of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy Guthrie. Instagram/savannahguthrie
And he made it very clear he wasn’t referring to a search but rather a “solution” to the ongoing case.
“A lot’s taken place in the last couple of hours. A lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation,” he concluded.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department, however, told Page Six, “At this time, investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case.”
The update comes less than 24 hours after it was reported that authorities were reviewing another potential ransom note related to Nancy’s case.
The message was shared with KOLD 13 News, a local outlet in Arizona. However, the outlet did not share any further details about the note’s contents.
Nancy, 84, was reported missing on Sunday after she missed church services.
The “Today” show co-anchor’s mom was last seen on Saturday around 9:30 p.m. when she was dropped off at her home by her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, after having dinner with him and her daughter, Annie Guthrie. Investigators believe Nancy was abducted in her sleep.
On Monday, authorities declared that Nancy’s home was being treated as a crime scene. And earlier this week, cops addressed reports of a “possible ransom note” after several outlets — including TMZ — reported receiving letters.
Savannah Guthrie took to social media again on Saturday with an emotional plea for her mother Nancy Guthrie’s alleged captors.
“We received your message and we understand,” the “Today” anchor said, alongside her brother Camron and sister Annie.
“We beg you now to return our mother to us, so that we can celebrate with her,” she added. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings spoke out again in a social media. Instagram/Savannah Guthrie
Nancy Guthrie, 84, was last seen on Saturday evening. She was reported missing after failing to show up at church on Sunday.
The last known person to see her was Annie’s husband, Tommaso Cioni, who dropped her off at her home in Tucson, Arizona.
On Monday, police said the home of the Guthrie matriarch was being treated as a crime scene. Authorities believe she “taken from the home against her will.”
On Saturday, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said: “This remains an active and ongoing investigation, which includes the review of multiple pieces of evidence.
“At this time, we will not confirm or release additional details regarding what is being analyzed.”
“As mentioned, numerous times, it is standard practice to seek any video available from nearby residences or businesses, that is part of the ongoing investigation.”
Also on Saturday, police seized a vehicle parked inside Nancy’s garage, as well as a camera on her roof, after a neighbor submitted a tip.
A tow truck removed the vehicle — a blue Subaru SUV believed to be Nancy’s — on Friday, according to Fox News. The vehicle was said to have been taken to an impound lot near the Pima County Sheriff’s Office.
TMZ also reported on Saturday that a floodlight was seemingly removed from her back door.
Film-maker Vishal Bharadwaj clarified through an affidavit that the film is not a biopic on Husain Ustara but merely a work of fiction with the necessary prominent disclaimer present in the film.
O Romeo film
A Mumbai court on Friday refused to stay the release of filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj’s upcoming Shahid Kapoor-starrer movie O’Romeo [Sanober Shaikh v. Sajid Nadiadwala & Ors.]
A City Civil Court in Mumbai dismissed the interim application by Sanober Shaikh, daughter of late journalist and encounter informer Hussain Shaikh alias Hussain Ustara who moved the Court seeking to stop the release of the film.
The interim application was filed by the Shaikh against producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s company, director Vishal Bhardwaj and others associated with the film.
The movie starring Shahid Kapoor is slated to hit theatres on February 13.
Additional Sessions Judge HC Shende clarified that his observations are prima facie and will not influence the final adjudication of the suit, which has been adjourned to March 12 for filing of written statement (response by the defendants).
Sanober Shaikh claimed that the movie is a biopic inspired by her father’s life and that the makers have misappropriated his persona and defamed him without consent. She moved the court seeking to stop the release till her suit is finally heard, and also sought a pre-screening of the film.
She alleged that the film was based on the life of her father, portrayed in the book ‘Mafia: Queens of Mumbai’, and would violate personality, privacy and reputational rights of the deceased and his family.
In a detailed affidavit filed on February 6, Bhardwaj termed the suit “false, frivolous, vexatious and misconceived.”
He raised preliminary objections of non-joinder of the producer company, lack of locus standi, and gross delay in approaching the court. He elaborated that the film had been announced in December 2024 and completed in August 2025, all of which were reported in the media widely.
“The instant suit filed by the plaintiff is nothing but a coercive tactic so as to exert pressure on the owners of the film to extract a financial settlement at the eleventh hour before the release of the film”, Bhardwaj claimed.
He pointed out how Shaikh had sent multiple legal notices demanding between ₹2-5 crores for alleged violation of privacy and personality rights, which demonstrated how Shaikh considered monetary compensation as an adequate remedy.
Bhardwaj also stressed that O’Romeo is not a biopic but a work of fiction merely inspired by themes from the book and supported by a prominent disclaimer stating that any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, was purely coincidental.
It was further contended that under settled law, personality, privacy and defamation claims do not survive the death of an individual.
Additionally, neither the deceased nor his daughter ever challenged the 2011 book ‘Mafia Queens of Mumbai’ in over a decade of its circulation.
With the interim plea now dismissed, the film can be released even as the suit continues before the court.
Advocates Ashwin Bhalekar briefed by team from Saikrishna and Associates including Thomas George, Tanvi Sinha, Navankur Pathak, Neeti Nihal and Bargavi Bharadwaj. appeared for Vishal Bharadwaj.
Sunil Thapa’s demise left Priyanka Chopra heartbroken. She penned an emotional note to pay tribute to her May Kom co-star and revealed how he helped her deal with father’s loss. PeeCee also shared some memories she shared with Thapa on the sets of the film on social media. Read full story here.
Nepali actor Sunil Thapa passed away today (February 7) at the age of 68. He breathed his last at the Norvic Hospital in Thapathali, Kathmandu, Nepal. Sunil Thapa’s demise has indeed left the entire Nepali and Indian fan base in deep shock and sorrow. The late veteran actor had worked in some of the popular Bollywood films and web series. Priyanka Chopra, who shared screen space with Sunil Thapa in Mary Kom, has mourned his demise on social media with an emotional post. In the heartwarming note, PeeCee mentioned that Sunil helped her deal with her father, Ashok Chopra’s loss during the shoot of the Omung Kumar-directed film.
Priyanka Chopra Mourns Sunil Thapa’s Demise
Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram handle and shared some moments from Mary Kom featuring the late actor Sunil Thapa, who played the role of her coach in the film. In an emotional note, the global actress mentioned that Thala will always be her coach.
The Dostana actress stated, “You kept me together when I had just lost my dad. You loved me and helped me through many tough days without even realizing.” (sic) Moreover, Priyanka also remembered warm hugs and infectious laughs of the late actor.
Priyanka Chopra also stated that Sunil Thapa will never be forgotten. The diva stated that her condolences and prayers will always be with the departed soul’s family.
Sunil Thapa Death Reason
According to The Kathmandu Post, the doctors conducted an ECG at 7:55 AM to find out the cause of his death. They suspect a cardiac arrest. Sunil Thapa stayed in Nepal, but his family members live in Mumbai. He was the renowned actor in the Nepali film industry. The actor had also worked in Hindi, Bhojpuri and Telugu films.
All You Need To Know About Sunil Thapa
Sunil Thapa was born in Dang. Sunil Thapa made his big screen debut with the Hindi film Ek Duuje Ke Liye (1981), starring Kamal Haasan and Rati Agnihotri in the lead roles. Before taking up acting, he worked as a model in the Nepali film industry.
In his younger days, Sunil Thapa worked as a photojournalist for JS Magazine (Junior Statesman) and covered the Bhutan Coronation in 1974.
Vikrant Massey was rumoured to play Meghanad in Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana, but reportedly didn’t join the project, with Raghav Juyal stepping in for Ramayana: Part 2. Later, on Saturday, Vikrant called out a media portal for “irresponsible” coverage on Instagram, clarifying he was never part of the film, though he later deleted the story for unknown reasons.
Vikrant Massey On Raghav Juyal Replacing Him In Ramayana | Photo Via Instagram
Actor Vikrant Massey was earlier rumoured to be part of the Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Ramayana, where he was reportedly set to play Meghanad (also called Indrajit), the eldest son of Ravana and crown prince of Lanka. However, things apparently did not work out, and the makers brought Raghav Juyal on board to replace Massey. According to Variety India, Juyal will feature in Ramayana: Part 2, which is scheduled for a Diwali 2027 release.
Vikrant Massey On Raghav Juyal Replacing Him In Ramayana
Amid the reports, Vikrant reacted to the news of Raghav supposedly replacing him and lashed out at the media portal Pinkvilla for publishing the story. He shared a clarification on his Instagram story, stating that he was never a part of the movie.
On Saturday, February 7, Vikrant wrote, “OK. To put things to rest, I was never a part of this movie. Am not, never was. Such irresponsible media coverage from “respectable” media houses is kinda appalling. Nonetheless, wishing everyone on Ramayana all the very best. Will surely buy a ticket and watch it in cinemas.”
MRA Marg Police registered an FIR against Dhurandhar 2 location manager Rinku Valmiki for allegedly flying a drone without mandatory permission in Mumbai’s high-security Fort area. The incident occurred during a shoot featuring actor Sanjay Dutt. Police said the act violated the Commissioner’s prohibitory order on unauthorized drone operations.
MRA Marg Police have registered a case against the location manager of the film Dhurandhar 2 for allegedly flying a drone without the mandatory permission in South Mumbai’s high-security Fort area. | File Pic
MRA Marg Police have registered a case against the location manager of the film Dhurandhar 2 for allegedly flying a drone without the mandatory permission in South Mumbai’s high-security Fort area.
FIR Details
An FIR was registered on February 1 at MRA Marg Police Station against Rinku Rajpal Valmiki (39), the film’s location manager, under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for allegedly disobeying lawful orders issued by public authorities.
According to police, a drone was used during the shooting of a scene without obtaining official clearance. The violation came to light during the film’s shooting schedule in the Fort area, which is considered a sensitive and high-security zone.
Sources said that actor Sanjay Dutt and the entire film crew were present at the location on February 1. It was the third day of the shooting schedule. Since January 30, parts of the historic Fort locality had been specially dressed up for the shoot to resemble an old, crowded Pakistani street.
Exact Location
The incident reportedly occurred between 2 pm and 2.30 pm near Kohinoor Hotel on Bora Bazaar Street, Fort. Despite an existing prohibitory order banning drone operations in the Brihanmumbai area, the accused allegedly flew the drone without legal permission.
In July 2025, several shots were fired at a newly opened cafe in Surrey, British Columbia, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma and his wife, Ginni Chatrath.
Kapil Sharma jokes about gangster Lawrence Bishnoi at Netflix event.
Comedian Kapil Sharma left the audience in splits at Netflix’s What’s Next event in Mumbai on Tuesday after making a remark that many interpreted as a subtle dig at gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. The moment unfolded when Netflix India CEO Monika Shergill took the stage to interact with Sharma, praising his long association with the platform.
While speaking about how Netflix had been keen to collaborate with him for a long time, Shergill quipped in Hindi, “Hamari nazar, India ki nazar toh bahut time se aap par hai, Kapil. Hopefully 11 mulko ki police ki nazar nahi hone chahiye,” drawing loud laughter from the audience.
However, Kapil, known for his quick wit and spontaneous humour, immediately said, “Ek do mulkon ke gangster bhi lage hue hai aaj kal,” hinting at the recent headlines surrounding Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang. Realising the sensitivity of the comment, the comedian jokingly urged the media to cut that line from their coverage. However, the situation turned even more amusing when Sharma realised that the event was being broadcast live, making any edits impossible.
Kapil Sharma’s Cafe Attacked By Lawrence Bishnoi
In July 2025, several shots were fired at a newly opened cafe in Surrey, British Columbia, owned by comedian Kapil Sharma and his wife, Ginni Chatrath. The cafe- named Kaps Caffe- had just celebrated a soft opening, drawing attention for its elegant pink-and-white interior, floral accents and a menu of artisan coffee and desserts. However, celebrations turned to chaos when the eatery was vandalised. While no injuries were reported, the property suffered damages.
Later, Goldy Dhillon of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang claimed responsibility for the shooting and sent a stern warning to the comedian. “JAI SHRI RAM, Satshriakal ram sare bhaiyo ko aj jo y kapil sharma k kaps cafe..Surrey m firing hui iski jimevari, Goldy dhillon, Lawrence bishnoi gang lete h isko hamne call ki thi isko ring nhi Sunai di to karwai krni pdi ab b ring n sunegi to next karwai jaldi hi Mumbai krege,” he wrote on social media.
Singer Palash Sen talked about his first film, Filhaal and recalled how he was perceived as a threat in the industry.
Palash Sen backs Arijit Singh’s decision to retire from playback singing.
Singer Arijit Singh recently shocked everyone after announcing his decision to retire from playback singing. While some supported his move, others urged him to reconsider. In a recent social media post, singer and actor Palash Sen revealed that he understands why Arijit made the decision and recalled a time when he himself was once perceived as a threat in the industry.
Palash Sen says he knows reason behind Arijit Singh’s retirement
On Monday, Palash took to Instagram and shared a long note reflecting on his first film and how the industry reacted to him at the time. He wrote, “Twenty-four years ago today, or perhaps on February 2, my first film as an actor, Filhaal, was released. It was a flop. I was written off badly by most critics and trolled by many in the film industry. There was a particular model-turned-actress who lectured me on why I shouldn’t act in films, as did several others. I wasn’t interested in films to begin with. I did this one only because I wanted to sing a song written by the greatest poet-writer of all time, Gulzar saab. That the song was to be composed by the legendary Anu ji was another dream come true. And that was it. ”
He added, “I really don’t know why I was perceived as a threat. I just went to have fun and do my job to the best of my ability. Getting to work with the amazing Sush, Tabu and Sanjay was my reward. Being directed by the wonderful Meghna is a cherished experience of a lifetime. I have nothing but beautiful memories, and I am so proud of this ahead-of-its-time film. In fact, now that it has become such a success on television, it makes me very happy and grateful. The truth is, I know why my brother Arijit is quitting film playback. I was there years ago, and I chose my own path — the path that I know Arijit will now walk on.”
Palash further recalled that he was nominated for several Best Newcomer awards that year but did not win any. While he missed out on trophies, he said the love from fans meant everything to him.
The interim order was passed in a defamation suit filed by Khan over a series of interviews and podcasts in which Kashyap allegedly made derogatory comments about the actor and his family.
Mumbai sessions court , Salman khan
The City Civil Court at Mumbai on Friday restrained filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap and YouTube hosts of the channel Bollywood Thikana from making or circulating defamatory statements against Bollywood actor Khan and his family [Salman Khan v. Abhinav Kashyap & Ors.].
The interim order was passed in a defamation suit filed by Khan over a series of interviews and podcasts in which Kashyap allegedly made derogatory comments about the actor and his family.
The channel, owned by Komal Mehru and hosted by Khushboo Hazare, had published interviews on YouTube and other social media platforms.
Justice PG Bhosale observed that the statements flagged by Khan were “defamatory, derogatory, abusive and insulting in nature and harmful to the reputation of the plaintiff.”
The Court held that such remarks lowered Khan’s image in the eyes of the public.
Hence, it rejected Kashyap’s claim of protection under free speech.
“Each individual has his privacy and image to be protected. The argument that Kashyap has a right to freedom of speech and expression cannot be accepted,” the Court said.
Accordingly, the Court restrained Kashyap and the hosts from making, uploading, or circulating any defamatory or slanderous content concerning Khan or his family on social media.
On the limits of freedom of expression, the Court said that “nobody can make and nobody should make defamatory statements against the family of anybody.”
Advocates PD Gandhy, Parag Khandhar, Chandrima Mitra, Tapan Radkar, and Zara Dhanbhoora briefed by law firm DSK Legal appeared for Salman Khan.
Ram Charan and his entrepreneur wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela have welcomed twins. The official update about the twins’ birth was shared by Chiranjeevi on his social media handle.
Ram Charan and wife Upasana Konidela welcome twins
In a recent post on social media, Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Kamineni Konidela announced the birth of their twin babies. The actor and his entrepreneur wife are now proud parents to a baby boy and a baby girl.
Sharing the update, Chiranjeevi wrote, “With immense joy and a heart full of gratitude, we are happy to share that Ram Charan and Upasana Konidela have been blessed with twins – a baby boy and a baby girl.”
“Both the babies and the mother are healthy and doing well. Welcoming these little ones into our family is a moment of pure joy and divine blessing for us as grandparents. We sincerely thank everyone for their prayers, love, blessings and good wishes. – Chiranjeevi & Surekha,” the actor added.
Here’s the official post:
With immense joy and a heart full of gratitude, we are happy to share that @AlwaysRamCharan and @upasanakonidela have been blessed with twins – a baby boy and a baby girl.
Both the babies and the mother are healthy and doing well. ✨
Earlier, the couple welcomed their first child, Klin Kaara Konidela, on June 20, 2023. Later, on October 23, 2025, Ram Charan and Upasana officially confirmed that they were expecting again, marking another milestone in their growing family.
The update was shared through a video during their Diwali celebrations at home. As the couple announced the happy news, several celebrities extended their congratulatory messages as they prepared to become parents once again.
Initially, Upasana’s mother, Shobana Kamineni, confirmed that the couple was expecting twins. Now, the couple are proud parents to two daughters and a son.
Mumbai Police are investigating after four gunshots were allegedly heard near Rohit Shetty’s Juhu residence. The filmmaker alerted the authorities, and fortunately, no injuries or casualties have been reported. Read on to know more..
Rohit Shetty House Surrounded By Mumbai Police After Fire Shots
Mumbai Police reached filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence after four gunshots were reportedly heard late on the night of January 31. The Juhu area has now been secured, with investigators and forensic teams examining the spot to identify those responsible. According to sources, the inspection is still underway with no injuries have been reported so far. Though further information on the incident is still awaited, and the investigation is currently going on. On the professional front, Rohit Shetty last directed Singham Again, starring Ajay Devgn in a primary role.
Rohit Shetty’s house hears fire shots
A video from outside Rohit Shetty’s residence is going viral, showing Mumbai Police surrounding the filmmaker’s Juhu home after four gunshots were allegedly heard nearby. The area is now under professional surveillance. No injuries have been reported so far, and an official statement is awaited. Take a look at the video below:
Rohit Shetty’s work front
On the work front Rohit Shetty’s last direction was Singham Again in 2024 which stars Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, and Jackie Shroff among others. Ajay Devgn’s character is based on Shri Ram whereas Kareena Kapoor’s Avni is the film’s Sita. Akshay Kumar’s Sooryavanshi is symbolic of Jatayu. Tiger Shroff embodies the traits of Lakshman. Arjun Kapoor, the antagonist, has Ravan’s qualities. The film’s worldwide box office collection was around Rs 400 crore after being made on a budget of nearly Rs 350 crore. This actioner is jointly backed by Rohit Shetty Picturez, Reliance Entertainment, Jio Studios, and Devgn Films.
The FIR was filed in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur after a local court’s order. The actors named in the case were purportedly involved in the endorsement of Ghaziabad-based company Maxizone Touch Private Limited.
The FIR was ordered by a court in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur.
Veteran actors Govinda, Shakti Kapoor, Chunky Panday and Manoj Tiwari, who is also a sitting BJP MP, have been named in a cheating case filed in connection with an investment firm that allegedly defrauded its investors of several hundred crore rupees.
The FIR was filed in Jharkhand’s Jamshedpur after a local court’s order. The actors named in the case were purportedly involved in the endorsement of Ghaziabad-based company Maxizone Touch Private Limited.
The firm had allegedly promised people a hefty return upon investing in it. However, when the company failed to pay the assured interest and principal amount, the investors approached the court.
On Friday, the Jamshedpur court ordered that provisions related to cheating, criminal conspiracy, and other offences be invoked against the aforementioned celebrities.
Others have also been named in the case. The complainant has alleged that the actors were responsible for luring unsuspecting people towards the scheme with promises of 15 per cent monthly interest.
The complainant had invested over 30 lakh rupees in the company. The firm, on the other hand, has claimed that it lost the investors’ money as a result of huge financial losses.
Last month, Chander Bhushan Singh and his wife, Priyanka, both directors of Maxizone Touch Pvt Ltd, were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate as part of the wider probe into the company and its activities.
Heshel, Arijit Singh’s family-run restaurant in Murshidabad, serves affordable Indian meals priced as low as Rs 40 to support local communities.
Arijit Singh’s restaurant Heshel is a haven for foodies, especially those who love authentic cuisines.
Arijit Singh’s retirement from playback singing sent shockwaves among fans. On January 27, the beloved artist shared a post on Instagram, announcing that he will not be taking up any “new assignments”. However, Arijit’s creative pursuits extend beyond his musical career. Did you know that last year, the artist also opened a restaurant, Heshel, in his hometown, Jiaganj, in Murshidabad, West Bengal? If you are wondering what sets Heshel apart from other celebrity-owned restaurants, it is worth noting that the dining establishment reportedly serves wholesome meals for Rs 40.
Heshel, a long-standing family business, is run by Arijit Singh’s father. The restaurant is known for offering a wide range of delectable Indian dishes at incredibly low prices – a charitable initiative by the singer to provide budget-friendly meals for the masses.
All About Arijit Singh’s Restaurant Heshel
According to reports, Heshel serves food for Rs 40 to a certain section of people, including students, labourers, daily wagers, and elderly residents who require reliable, nutritious food at reasonable rates.
The menu comprises a vibrant spread of vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, prepared in Punjabi and Bengali styles. The veg thali is available for approximately Rs 40, while for students, the amount is reportedly reduced to Rs 30.
Heshel is devoid of flashy decor, over-the-top interiors and a fancy ambience, reflecting Arijit Singh’s grounded approach and focus on simplicity. It features a basic design that prioritises comfort, functionality and the warmth of a community space over visual extravagance.
What Is On The Menu At Heshel
Heshel is a haven for foodies, especially those who love authentic cuisines. Apart from the thalis, the vegetarian menu includes items like mix veg (Rs 150), veg handi (Rs 170), Navratna Korma (Rs 80), aloo jeera (Rs 100) and shahi paneer (Rs 190), among others.
The non-vegetarian menu comprises items such as chicken korma (Rs 180), chicken chaap (Rs 200), chicken rezala (Rs 180), chicken kassa (Rs 160), chicken patiala (Rs 200) and chicken tikka masala (Rs 370).
That’s not all. Other special items on the menu include veg pulao (Rs 150), Kashmiri pulao (Rs 200), veg biryani (Rs 150), Heshel special chicken biryani (Rs 200) and Heshel special mutton biryani (Rs 250).
Apart from that, there are different types of veg and non-veg kebabs, a wide variety of breads (roti, naan, parathas) and papads. Customers can also enjoy beverages such as coffee, tea and cold drinks, along with ice cream.
Heshel remains open from 10:30 am to 10:30 pm every day.
Based on the advances, the Rani Mukerji starrer is looking to open around Rs. 3 crore to Rs. 3.50 crore net at the Indian box office, which is in line with the Pinkvilla Predicts forecast.
Rani Mukherjee in Mardaani 3 (image courtesy of YRF)
Mardaani 3, starring Rani Mukerji in the lead role, is about to hit the big screens in a couple of hours. The cop action drama has wrapped its advance sales by selling around 15,000 tickets in the top two national chains, PVR Inox and Cinepolis, for the opening day. Of this, around 11,500 tickets were sold at PVRINOX, while the remaining 3500 admissions were recorded at Cinepolis.
Other than the National chains, the Abhiraj Minawala movie sold around 500 tickets in MovieMax for the opening day. Overall, the film has Rs. 75 lakh nett in advance sales for the first day. The bulk of advances and then the collections will come from the national chains, which is perfectly fine, as the film does not need to do well everywhere.
What’s positive for Mardaani 3 is that it is made on a controlled budget. Moreover, it will be a tight release, which is a good strategy. Since the makers have already cracked a good deal at non-theatrical mediums, the movie doesn’t have much burden. However, it will have to prove its worth on the content front.
If the movie manages to impress the audience tomorrow and receives a positive reception among the audience, it will see an instant boost in its collections. Based on the advance bookings and current trends, the Rani Mukerji starrer is looking to open around Rs. 3 crore to Rs. 3.50 crore net at the Indian box office, which is in line with the Pinkvilla Predicts forecast.
The complainant has alleged that actor Ranveer Singh’s actions were deliberate, malicious, and intended to insult religious faith, outrage religious feelings, and promote disharmony among communities.
According to the complaint, Ranveer Singh allegedly mimicked the divine expressions associated with Panjurli/Guliga Daiva in a crude and humorous manner (Photo: Video screengrabs)
A complaint has been filed against actor Ranveer Singh at a Bengaluru police station, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments by allegedly mocking the Chavundi Daiva tradition. The complaint relates to an incident during the closing ceremony of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) held in Goa on November 28, 2025.
According to the complaint, Singh allegedly mimicked the divine expressions associated with Panjurli/Guliga Daiva in a crude and humorous manner while on stage, and referred to Chavundi Daiva as a “female ghost” in the presence of actor Rishab Shetty, the lead of Kantara: Chapter 1. It further claims that Singh continued the act despite being requested not to perform any Daiva-related portrayal.
The complainant, Bengaluru-based advocate Prashanth Methal, has said that he is a devotee of Chavundi Daiva, which is worshipped in the traditional Bhoota Kola rituals of Coastal Karnataka and is also his family deity. He alleged that Singh’s actions were deliberate, malicious, and intended to insult religious faith, outrage religious feelings, and promote disharmony among communities.
Methal emphasized that Chavundi Daiva is revered as a guardian spirit representing justice, protection, and divine feminine energy, and holds deep religious and cultural importance in Coastal Karnataka. He said that describing the deity as a ghost is offensive and amounts to a serious insult to Hindu beliefs.
Arijit Singh announced his retirement from playback singing, sending fans in a shock. He did not reveal the reason behind his decision.
Singer Chinmayi Sripaada has reacted to the decision of Arijit Singh to retire.
Fans of Arijit Singh were left stunned on Tuesday (January 27) after the singer announced he would step away from playback singing. The singer shared that he will not be taking on any new assignments. Chinmayi Sripaada, who has collaborated with Arijit on songs like Mast Magan and Sooiyan Si, has now reacted to the decision and shared her memories of recording songs with him.
What Chinmayi said
Taking to her X account, Chinmayi wrote about the time she worked with Arijit on a couple of songs. She began, “I remember meeting Arijit when he recorded me for Pritam sir – and I remember telling him how he is not rulling Bollywood or something – Tum Hi Ho hadnt released then. I worked with him a few times after he became the most in demand singer and nothing had changed.”
I remember meeting Arijit when he recorded me for Pritam sir – and I remember telling him how he is not rulling Bollywood or something – Tum Hi Ho hadnt released then. I worked with him a few times after he became the most in demand singer and nothing had changed.
She went on to add, “He is one of my favourite musicians, singers, and over all, one of the finest, and I daresay, spiritually evolved human beings I have come across. I always felt he is someone who worked and operated from a higher calling; whatever he has planned for himself as a musician would be nothing short of divine.”
Chinmayi and Arijit have collaborated on Bollywood romantic songs, like Mast Magan from 2 States, Sooiyan Si from Guddu Rangeela and Piya Tu Piya from Dongri Ka Raja.
About Arijit Singh’s retirement
Meanwhile, Arijit took to his social media accounts to drop the big announcement. “Hello, Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey,” read his note.
Arijit Singh reveals the real reasons behind stepping away from playback singing, saying he wants to explore new sounds and hear voices that inspire him.
Arijit Singh Tops Spotify Wrapped 2025 In India, Breaks Into Global Top 10
Arijit Singh’s era as a playback singer has come to an abrupt and emotional close, leaving fans and the music industry in disbelief. The announcement arrived at a time when listeners were still soaking in three of his recent releases — Gehra Hua, Ghar Kab Aaoge, and Maatrubhumi — making the news even more unexpected.
Despite having several projects already lined up for the year, Arijit has made it clear that he will not be taking on any new playback assignments going forward. The singer formally shared his decision through social media, first posting on his private account on X before issuing a detailed statement on Instagram.
The announcement triggered a wave of reactions online, with fans urging him to reconsider and fellow musicians expressing shock and sadness. While Arijit has clarified that he will honour all his existing commitments, his decision marks the end of an era that redefined modern Hindi film music.
What prompted Arijit Singh to step away from playback singing
In a candid tweet explaining the reasons behind his decision, Arijit revealed that the move was neither impulsive nor driven by a single incident. He wrote, “There isn’t just one reason for this; there are multiple factors, and I have been contemplating this for quite some time. Ultimately, I have mustered the necessary courage.”
Opening up about his creative restlessness, the singer added, “One of the reasons is quite straightforward: I tend to lose interest quickly, which is why I frequently alter the arrangements of my songs and perform them live.” He then made a striking admission: “So, here’s the truth: I’ve grown weary. I need to explore different music to thrive.”
Arijit also pointed to his desire to make space for new talent in the industry, writing, “Another factor is my eagerness to hear new singers who can inspire me genuinely.”
In his retirement statement shared on social media, the singer expressed gratitude and clarity about his future. “Greetings, Happy New Year to everyone. I want to extend my gratitude for the immense love you have shown me over the years as listeners. I am pleased to share that I will not be accepting any new projects as a playback singer moving forward. I am putting an end to this chapter. It has been an incredible journey.”
However, Arijit was quick to reassure fans that music will always remain central to his life. “I have been truly blessed. I am a fan of quality music and will be focusing on learning more and creating independently as a small artist in the future. Thank you once more for all your support.”
He further clarified, “I still have some outstanding commitments to fulfill, and I will complete them. So, you may
still see some releases this year. Just to clarify, I won’t cease making music.”
President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
Dharmendra, Shibu Soren, Rohit Sharma will be awarded Padma awards this year. (File images)
Padma Awards 2026: The Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday unveiled the names of recipients who will receive the prestigious Padma Awards, the country’s civilian honours. President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of 131 Padma Awards, comprising five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards.
In the list of awardees, 19 were women and six were from the category of foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI. At least 16 people were awarded posthumously.
The Padma awards, among the country’s highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.
Padma Vibhushan
Bollywood’s ‘He-Man’ Dharmendra, former Kerala chief minister VS Achuthanandan are among those who have been awarded Padma Vibhushan (posthumously).
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan awardees include former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, US-based Dr Nori Dattatreyudu, late advertising legend Piyush Pandey, businessman Uday Kotak, veteran BJP leader VK Malhotra, actor Mammootty, singer Alka Yagnik, among others
Border 2 has already crossed the ₹100 crore mark at the box office in India, in 3 days of release. The film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, and Ahan Shetty.
Sunny Deol and Ahan Shetty greeted fans at the iconic theatre.
Border 2 is running to packed houses in theatres nationwide. The war drama was released in theatres on January 23, and has already managed to cross the ₹100 crore mark within its first 3 days (January 25).
Sunny Deol meets fans
On Sunday evening, star Sunny Deol made a surprise visit at Gaiety Galaxy in Mumbai, much to the amazement of fans and viewers who had gathered to watch the film in the iconic theatre. They greeted Sunny and cheered for him. Ahan Shetty also joined him and the two stars thanked fans for the outpour of love to the film.
In pictures and videos from Gaiety Galaxy that have now surfaced on social media, Sunny was seen arriving at the theatre in his car. He stood and greeted fans who were pleasantly surprised to see their favourite star out in the public.
Many fans rushed to the entrance of the theatre and chanted Sunny’s name as he came in. Inside the theatre, he met Ahan Shetty as the two waved at fans and expressed their gratitude for the love to Border 2. Fans cheered loudly and shared that they loved the film.
About Border 2
Meanwhile, Sunny also met the family of Param Vir Chakra awardee Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, whose bravery is portrayed in the film Border 2 by Diljit Dosanjh.
Directed and co‑written by Anurag Singh, Border 2 is a sequel to Border, the iconic 1997 war film directed by J.P. Dutta. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta under the banners of T‑Series Films and J.P. Films, the movie expands the scale of the original, showing a multi‑front war narrative involving the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy.
The film stars Sunny Deol as Lt Col Fateh Singh Kaler, a commanding officer and mentor to young soldiers played by Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana play pivotal roles.
Marathi actor-producer Vidnyan Mane accused Palash Muchhal of of a ₹40 lakh fraud and cheating Smriti Mandhana.
Palash Muchhal has alleged that the accusations were made with ‘deliberate intent’ to malign his reputation.
Music composer and singer Palash Muchhal, who was recently in the news after his wedding with batter Smriti Mandhana was called off, found himself in soup again. Marathi actor and producer Vidnyan Mane alleged that he was cheated by Palash of ₹40 lakh and also accused of being unfaithful to Smriti. Palash has now taken the legal route to respond to these allegations. He has filed a ₹10 crore defamation case against him for making ‘false’ and ‘outrageous’ accusations.
Palash files defamation notice
Palash took to his Instagram account on Saturday evening to share, “A legal notice of defamation of ₹10 crore has been sent by my lawyer Shreyansh Mithare to Sangli based Vidnyan Mane for his false, outrageous and highly defamatory accusations made with the deliberate intent to malign my reputation and character.”
All about the allegations
A few days ago it was reported, as per news agency PTI, 34-year-old actor and producer Vidnyan Mane approached police in Maharashtra’s Sangli district alleging that he was cheated by Palash of ₹40 lakh. No First Information Report has been registered in the case so far.
On Wednesday, Priyanka Chopra took to Instagram to jump on the viral “2026 is the new 2016” trend, and walking down the memory lane.
In her post, Priyanka Chopra once again had a laugh at the armpit controversy by posting a picture proudly showing off her armpit.
Actor Priyanka Chopra has joined the internet’s latest nostalgia-driven trend, taking a trip back to 2016. And it was a year that clearly had “firsts” written all over it for her, from bagging her very first People’s Choice Award to attending her first-ever White House dinner with the Obamas, and even making her debut outing at the Oscars.
Priyanka Chopra revisits her 2016
On Wednesday, Priyanka took to Instagram to jump on the viral “2026 is the new 2016” trend, walking down memory lane and sharing several pictures from 2016.
Sharing the carousel, Priyanka wrote, “The one where everything happened all at once. 2016.”
Her post highlighted that the year was special for her both professionally and personally. The carousel opened with a moment where she is receiving her Padma Shri award and went on to capture different phases of her career.
From being appointed UNICEF’s Global Goodwill Ambassador and winning her first People’s Choice Award to posing backstage with Vin Diesel and making her debut appearance at the Oscars, Priyanka shared several pictures capturing these milestone moments.
Another striking throwback featured a photograph from her first White House correspondence dinner with former US President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
There were also snapshots from her time at the Billboard Music Awards, behind-the-scenes moments on the Quantico set, fun clicks with Dwayne Johnson while filming Baywatch, and pictures with the cast of her Bollywood film Dil Dhadakne Do. Priyanka also mentioned that it was one of her first times on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
On the personal front, Priyanka shared a picture with her family and revealed that she lost her nani in 2016.
The actor also shared a cheeky picture addressing the armpit controversy that surrounded her that year. At that time, Maxim India came under fire for allegedly photoshopping the Quantico star’s armpits to look more smooth on their June/July 2016 cover, naming Priyanka the “Hottest Woman in the World”. Priyanka once again had a laugh at the controversy, posting a picture proudly showing off her armpit.
Social media users couldn’t stop gushing over Priyanka’s journey, flooding the comment section with admiration.
“Winner of the trend,” one wrote, with another sharing, “It’s safe to say PC has won this trend”. One shared, “Mic drop. Owned the trend”, with one writing, “Woooaaaahhhh”. “What a journey,” one posted.
Emraan Hashmi starrer Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web has started streaming on Netflix. The Free Press Journal interacted with Emraan and spoke to him about the response he has received for the show, shift to OTT, The Bads of Bollywood viral dialogue, and a lot more…
Emraan Hashmi | Instagram
Emraan Hashmi starrer Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web has started streaming on Netflix. The actor plays the role of a customs officer in the series, which is created by Neeraj Pandey. The Free Press Journal interacted with Emraan and spoke to him about the response he has received for the show, shift to OTT, The Bads of Bollywood viral dialogue, and a lot more…
What response are you getting for Taskaree?
Great stuff so far! I like to surround myself with people who would give very constructive criticism, and they are always honest; they have all loved it. People have binge-watched it in one night, and not with the intention of doing it; they just felt they would watch it through the weekend, but it’s one of those shows you start once, and you don’t want to stop. I have seen that for myself. I started it yesterday, but by default, I had a heavy day with promotions, so I had to watch the last two episodes today. It’s just a show that keeps you hooked.
You play the role of a customs officer. So, for the prep, did you meet any real-life customs officers?
I have met a lot of them over the course of so many years of travelling. After signing the show, I met people, and I spoke to them while I was travelling during this time. Before I started shooting, I made it a point to go to the airports and talk to them. It was very important for me to get the body language right. Also, I think most of the stuff was there in the script, and there was a support system from the entire team.
We are sure that you haven’t done any smuggling. But have you faced any issues with customs officers at the airport in real-life?
No, they’ve always been extremely sweet and cordial, even before I became an actor. And of course, as you said, I’ve never tried to do smuggling, so there’s never been a problem. But, you know, I made a joke during the press conference that there’s always a fear that you might have something that would be dutiable, because you don’t know. Maybe it could be a laptop or whatever, even if it’s below the dutiable amount, there’s always a fear. But, otherwise, I’ve never had a situation with a customs officer where they felt there was any problem.
You are a prominent name in the Hindi film industry. The OTT boom happened during the pandemic in 2020. But you started working in web series even before that. Your first series, Bard of Blood, was released in 2019. So, what made you think that it is time to switch to OTT?
I don’t think there’s anything to switch. I used to watch a lot of Netflix and different content. I don’t have too many people in the industry hawking over me. I don’t take advice; I do what I feel like. Anything new that happens, our industry inculcates or accepts it very late. So when OTT started, it became this thing that ‘you’re a cinema star, theatrical star, you shouldn’t be doing OTT’. But when I heard that, it was my reason to do it. I feel it’s always nice to take a risk and try something new, that’s why I did Bard of Blood in 2019.
The way sales started yesterday, it seemed like the Sunny Deol starrer would be aiming for 200-250K final sales at national chains, but now 150K seems more probable.
Sunny Deol in Border 2 (image courtesy of T Series)
Border 2 is recording good pre-sales at the box office. The military action drama, directed by Anurag Singh, sold around 36,000 tickets in the top two national chains, PVRInox and Cinepolis, for the first day of advances. The sales will hit the 40,000 mark by tomorrow morning. The film is expected to see a surge in its advances closer to release, possibly tomorrow onwards.
While the numbers are healthy, expectations were considerably higher given the legacy of the Border franchise and the nostalgia attached to it. The way sales started yesterday, it seemed like the Sunny Deol starrer would be aiming for 200-250K final sales at national chains, but now 150K seems more probable. In comparison, Gadar 2 had sold 274K tickets in national chains.
Headlined by Sunny Deol, the movie is projected to take an opening in the 30s. As per Pinkvilla Predicts, Border 2 is targeting an opening in the vicinity of Rs. 30 crore to Rs. 37 crore, with a pinpoint forecast of Rs. 32 crore net at the Indian box office.
Besides Sunny Deol, the much-awaited war action drama stars an ensemble cast that includes Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Medha Rana, Anya Singh, and others. Backed by Nidhi Dutta and Bhushan Kumar, Border 2 is among the biggest bets of Hindi cinema this year.
A speeding Mercedes collided with an autorickshaw and Akshay Kumar’s security vehicle in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Monday evening. The driver of the speeding car was arrested for rash driving. Two people were injured, but all are safe. At the time, Akshay stepped out to help the autorickshaw passengers.
Driver accused in Akshay Kumar’s security vehicle accident arrested
Akshay Kumar’s security vehicle witnessed a dramatic accident on Monday evening near the Silver Beach Café in Juhu when a speeding Mercedes collided with an autorickshaw, which then hit the escort car of the actor, damaging his SUV. In the latest development, the driver of the Mercedes, identified as Radheshyam Rai, was arrested on Tuesday. The registration of a case for rash and negligent driving at Juhu Police Station, ANI reported. He has been charged under Sections 281, 125(A), and 125(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Driver booked in Akshay Kumar’s security vehicle accident case
As per reports,the incident occurred as Akshay Kumar and his wife, Twinkle Khanna, had just returned to Mumbai from an overseas trip. While two people were injured in the chain collision, all involved – including the autorickshaw driver and passengers – are reported to be safe. Eyewitnesses stated that Akshay immediately stepped out of his vehicle to assist the autorickshaw occupants, who were momentarily trapped under the entourage vehicle after being struck by the Mercedes.
Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau Director General Vishwas Nangare Patil was also seen at the scene, overseeing the situation as investigations into the accident commenced. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported so far.
In videos shared online, a large crowd had already gathered nearby due to an event attended by Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Local residents and bystanders described the situation as frightening but expressed relief that no serious injuries were sustained by anyone in Akshay Kumar’s convoy.
Family of autorickshaw driver appeal for medical attention
The family of the autorickshaw driver has appealed for both medical attention and compensation for the destroyed vehicle. Mohammed Sameer, the driver’s brother, told ANI, “The entire rickshaw was destroyed, and my brother is in very serious condition. My only request is that my brother receives proper treatment and that compensation is provided for the damage to the rickshaw.” According to him, the accident took place between 8:00 and 8:30 pm on Monday.
Akshay Kumar’s convoy vehicle was hit by an auto rickshaw involved in an accident with another car. The actor and his wife Twinkle Khanna were in a different car ahead, which suffered a minor impact.
Akshay Kumar’s convoy car was hit after a Mercedes crashed into an auto in Juhu.
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar’s convoy vehicle was hit by an auto rickshaw involved in an accident with a Mercedes car on Monday night in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The actor and wife Twinkle Khanna were in a different car ahead, which suffered a minor impact and they are reportedly safe. Sources confirmed that the accident happened around 9 pm, wherein the Mercedes accelerated and bumped into the auto rickshaw, which further crashed into Akshay’s convoy car, an Innova.
The police arrived at the spot and started investigation. As of now, no official report has been filed. The auto driver and the passenger were rushed to medical aide. There were no casualties reported, but the vehicles were severely damaged. Akshay’s team is yet to issue a statement. More details are awaited regarding the incident.
On the work front, Akshay is set to appear in Priyadarshan’s upcoming film Haiwaan, alongside Saif Ali Khan and Sayami Kher. The project, produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, is reportedly aiming for a theatrical release in 2026.
The actor will also host the show Wheel of Fortune India. Wheel of Fortune’s India edition marks another expansion of the globally popular game show format. With Akshay Kumar at the helm, the show is expected to attract long-time fans as well as new viewers, leveraging both the star’s comic legacy and the enduring appeal of word-based challenges.
Rani Mukerji also spoke about the viral moment where she was seen helping Shah Rukh Khan wear his National Film Award medal.
Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji picked up their National Award at the ceremony held in Delhi last year. (PTI)
Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji set major BFF goals when they received their first National Awards at a ceremony held in Delhi last year. Looking back at the moment, Rani shared that winning the honour alongside Shah Rukh, someone she has admired since the very start of her career, made the occasion truly special for her.
Rani on receiving first National Award with Shah Rukh Khan
Rani recently joined a podcast as part of Spotlight Sessions which was posted on Zoom’s YouTube channel. The actor revisted the moment when she received her first National Film Award along with Shah Rukh.
Looking back at the viral moment where Rani was seen helping Shah Rukh wear his medal, the actor shared, “I think all students here (in the audience) today will understand… If you’ve been on a journey with your friends from a very young age, school, college, helping each other through life, then achieving something together on a platform like that becomes extra special. You’re sharing it with someone who started the journey with you.”
“There’s so much that I imbibed and learned from Shah Rukh – as a professional, as a person, and as an actor. Winning it on that day felt even more special because he has been in the industry for 35 years and I’ve been for 30. With or without National Awards, we’ve never stopped wanting to do our best for our films. I’m a horse in the Chinese calendar. I believe I keep my blinkers on—I don’t look left or right. I always look ahead and focus on what lies forward,” she added.
Shah Rukh and Rani are among Bollywood’s most beloved on-screen duos, having given audiences special moments in films such as Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Chalte Chalte, Paheli, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, and Veer-Zaara. Apart from professional work, Shah Rukh and Rani are also close friends.
Kangana Ranaut has detailed what went down during this particular incident when she was told that Masaba Gupta does not want her to wear her brand’s saree.
Kangana Ranaut questioned why Masaba Gupta did not let her wear her brand clothes for Ram Janmbhoomi event.
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut did not mince her words as she talked about one particular incident from the past when she was not told not to wear fashion designer Masaba Gupta’s clothes. Kangana had talked about the incident earlier today on her Instagram Stories. On Saturday evening, she added more comments on the issue and said that the ‘prejudice’ still makes her sick to the stomach.
What Kangana said
After many raised questions on the shocking example presented by Kangana, the actor herself added more comments via her X account. She wrote, “Designers get very excited whenever their brands get seen on celebrities, have you seen Masaba or her brand handles use these images ? These images were all over the Internet. Can you explain why won’t she use these images or why won’t the stylist tag her? Those days Tejas was about to release so I wanted to go for Ramjanm Bhumi darshan, I requested the same stylist who was styling me for Tejas events (they are hired by the production houses ) to help me with the darshan trip as well.”
Designers get very excited whenever their brands get seen on celebrities, have you seen Masaba or her brand handles use these images ? These images were all over the Internet. Can you explain why won’t she use these images or why won’t the stylist tag her?
Those days Tejas was…
She went on to add, “I don’t care many stylists and designers have banned me from their handles as well but this particular incidence hurt me the most, because Masaba sent the clothes to the stylist for my promotions but when she was told it’s for Ram Janmbhoomi she told the stylist not to use her clothes, stylist is a very kind and genuine woman she was so embarrassed that she discreetly told me not to tag Masaba or her brand and mentioned that she has already paid for the sari from her own pocket so not to feel bad about it but by the time I got to know about all this it was too late, I was ready and was on my way to Ram Janmbhoomi but it was too much to process. The hate the bitterness the prejudice, ewwww how ugly !! Still makes me sick to my stomach !!”
Actress Khushi Mukherjee has been slapped with a Rs 100 crore defamation case following her remark about Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Faizan Ansari called her out for “false and damaging” statement which she said during a public event recently. Details about the case and controversy.
Khushi Mukherjee is in trouble for her remark on Suryakumar Yadav
Actress Khushi Mukherjee is in trouble over her recent remark about Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav. Social media influencer Faizan Ansari has filed a Rs 100 crore defamation case against Khushi following the latter’s appearance in an interview where she claimed that Suryakumar “used to message me a lot.” Her statement landed her in rough waters, and she is now facing a police complaint for her allegedly “false and damaging” statement. Khushi has worked in the South industry, along with participating in popular reality shows like Splitsvilla X, Love School Season 3, among others. She was also seen with Arbaaz Khan in Mutra Visarjan Varjit Hai last year.
What did Khushi Mukherjee say?
Trouble erupted when Khushi, during a public event replied to a question about dating cricketers. She told paparazzi that while she had no plans of dating one, she claimed that many cricketers were interested in her. Taking Suryakumar’s name, the actress alleged that though he used to message her in the past, they were no longer on talking terms, and hence she didn’t want to see her name getting linked with him.
Defamation case for remark on Suryakumar Yadav
Soon after her comment went viral on social media, Mumbai-based Faizan Ansari lodged a complaint at the Ghazipur police station against Khushi’s claims on January 13. Infact, Ansari reportedly travelled all the way from Mumbai to Ghazipur to file an FIR in the matter. According to Times of India, Ansari accused Khushi of deliberately making defamatory statements about Suryakumar Yadav, calling it a publicity stunt. He said this can cause harm to the reputation of the sportsman who represents the nation. Ansari even demanded strict action against Khushi and a jail term of at least seven years.
Ansari posted a video on his X (formerly Twitter) handle where he speaks to the reporters, stating “We want an FIR to be registered immediately against Khushi Mukherjee. I have mentioned this in my written complaint as well and requested strict action. At the very least, serious charges should be applied. More than two million people follow me on Instagram, and crores of people watch my videos.”
Responding to China’s reaction to Battle of Galwan, the MEA said it has no involvement in issues related to film projects. China’s Global Times claimed the Salman Khan-starrer distorts facts about the 2020 Galwan Valley clash.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has responded to the controversy surrounding Salman Khan-starrer Battle of Galwan after China’s state media reacted, calling it a film that “distorts facts”.
“We understand that a film of this nature is being planned. Issues related to filmmaking in India are handled by the relevant authorities. As far as we are concerned, MEA has no role in this or in such ventures,” the MEA said during the weekly press briefing.
#WATCH | Delhi | On the movie ‘Battle of Galwan’, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “We understand that a film of this nature is being planned. Issues related to filmmaking in India are handled by the relevant authorities. As far as we are concerned, MEA has no role in this… pic.twitter.com/jCpWR5d5D1
Earlier in December, China’s Global Times newspaper claimed, “A Chinese expert said on Monday that Bollywood films at most provide an entertainment-driven, emotionally charged portrayal, but no amount of cinematic exaggeration can rewrite the history or shake the PLA’s determination to defend China’s sovereign territory,” as reported by news agency PTI.
“The film has also drawn other controversies online, with users pointing to issues such as the appearance and costumes of extras, actors’ hairstyles that do not match their military roles or the extreme cold implied in the storyline and most importantly, a portrayal of events that does not align with the facts,” the report read.
Punjabi singer B Praak has received a Rs 10 crore death threat, allegedly from a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, with police launching a probe in Mohali.
B Praak (Credit: Instagram/bpraak)
Punjabi and Bollywood singer B Praak has received a death threat demanding Rs 10 crore, allegedly from a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang, prompting a police investigation in Mohali.
According to the complaint, a call was made to Punjabi singer Dilnoor, who is associated with B Praak. Dilnoor received two calls on January 5 but did not answer them. On January 6, he received another call from a foreign number. When he answered, the conversation sounded suspicious, and he disconnected the call. Shortly after, a voice message was sent to him.
In the audio message, the caller identified himself as Arju Bishnoi and demanded Rs 10 crore for B Praak. “Pass this message to B Praak that we want 10 crore. You have one week’s time. Go to any country you want, but if anyone associated with him is found nearby, we will cause damage,” the caller said. He added that if the demand was not met, they would “reduce him to dust.”
Following the threat, Dilnoor submitted a written complaint to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Mohali, on January 6. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
B Praak is a prominent name in Bollywood, with several of his songs becoming major hits.
The Free Press Journal interacted with Mithila Palkar, and spoke to her about her upcoming film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, starring in a comedy movie, Imran Khan’s comeback, working with Aamir Khan and more…
Mithila Palkar |
Actress Mithila Palkar, who has impressed us with her performance in many OTT series and movies, will next be seen in Aamir Khan’s production venture, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos. The film, which also stars Vir Das, is all set to release on January 16, 2026.
The Free Press Journal interacted with Mithila, and spoke to her about the film, starring in a comedy movie, Imran Khan’s comeback, working with Aamir Khan and more…
How excited or nervous are you for Happy Patel?
Very excited! Because it’s my first big-screen Hindi release after 7 years. The last Hindi film that released on the big screen was Karwaan. After that, this is my first Hindi movie in the theatres. So, very excited!
While you have been part of the slice-of-life stories, Happy Patel looks like a hardcore comedy film. So, how easy or difficult was it for you to get into this genre?
It was tough in the beginning. I was like, okay, now this is going to be an out-and-out comedy that I have never done before. So, it was a new genre that I was willing to explore and who better than Vir to actually do that with?
Your character in the film looks very bindas. So, are there any similarities between your character and the real Mithila, or are they both very different?
Oh, very different! Like, I am bindas, but I am not like her. I call her theeki mirchi. So, we are very different. Like, I always say that Rupa’s anger is external, and my anger is internal. Like, if Rupa gets angry, then she slaps someone. If I get angry, I cry. So, very different. But it was actually very fun to play her.
How was it to be a part of the song (Banda Tere Liye) where the male lead is dancing for the female lead, and she is just sitting and watching?
What fun, no? How incredible is that! It’s a new concept. There is a backstory to why he is dancing, but you will get to know better when you watch the film. The fact that I am just sitting there, throwing money at him, and enjoying the dance, it was great. It was quite enjoyable.
Imran Khan is making a comeback with this film. His last film, Katti Batti, in 2014, was with you, and now he is making a comeback with a movie starring you. So, how does that feel?
I am so glad and so happy that I got to be part of his comeback. Because, as you said, the last time he was on a film set was Katti Bhatti, and that was my first ever Bollywood film. And now that he is making a comeback, it is with Happy Patel. I am happy that I got to be part of it. So, it’s fun to know that he is back now in the movies.
Your film is produced by Aamir Khan. So, have you met him? Did he give any feedback or review about your performance?
I met him soon after I auditioned for the film. He is very hands-on as a producer. So, I was like, unless he approves, obviously, I am not going to be able to be a part of the film. And then I got told that I was on board, and I met him after that. He told me that he liked my audition, and that was just such a big acknowledgement because you look up to Aamir sir. He is such an incredible actor. He is like an institution. So, it was just so nice to know that he appreciated my performance.
From 2022 to 2025, there was a gap during which we didn’t see you in any project. So, what was the reason behind it?
No, there has not been a gap. The thing is that I have been working, but a lot of my stuff hasn’t come out. So, the belief was that I was not doing anything because, naturally, you are not seeing the work that I have been doing. So, I have shot a lot. Like, even this year, I have a Telugu show. One of Netflix India’s first Telugu shows that is coming out, which I worked on. So, there is a lot of work that I have been doing. It’s just that the release hasn’t happened. So, that is why the impression is that I have not been around. But now, obviously, I am here to change that.
A lot of times, we have heard that the actors who have done web shows or web movies are tagged as ‘OTT actors’, and they aren’t considered by filmmakers for theatrical movies. So, have you faced any such thing, as you have mainly worked in OTT projects?
Not at all. In fact, after a lot of things on OTT, I auditioned for a film, and I got Karwaan. So, it was never restricted. Because the thing is, very soon enough, those lines became blurry; for example, Saif Ali Khan is also doing a web show like Sacred Games. Now, if you see, everybody has the freedom to be everywhere. So, no, I don’t think I have personally faced any of that.
So, what’s happening next? Where do we see you after Happy Patel?
Hopefully, in the web show that I spoke about, and I am also doing a film with Priyadarshan sir called Bhooth Bangla.
A Singapore court was told that singer Zubeen Garg was severely intoxicated when he drowned off Lazarus Island after refusing to wear a life jacket. Police said Garg went swimming alone during a yacht party and later went limp in the water. A post-mortem confirmed drowning as the cause of death, with no foul play suspected.
Zubeen Garg | File Pic
In a major development in the Zuben Garg case, a Singapore court was told on Wednesday that the singer was “severely intoxicated” and drowned off Lazarus Island after declining a life jacket. Notably, Singapore police reiterated that they do not suspect any foul play in his death.
“At the time, he was also severely intoxicated and several witnesses saw him trying to swim back to the yacht when he went limp and began floating with his face in the water,” Channel News Asia reported, citing the investigating officer.
Garg was at a yacht party on 19 September when he drowned, a day before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival in Singapore.
The court was further told that the 52-year-old had a history of hypertension and epilepsy, with his most recent recorded epileptic attack occurring in 2024.
However, it remained unknown whether he had taken his prescribed epilepsy medication on the day of the incident, as eyewitness accounts were insufficient to confirm this.
The singer had initially worn a life jacket but removed it and later refused to put on a second one offered to him, the chief investigating officer told the court at the opening of the inquiry, Channel News Asia reported.
Police told the court that their probe revealed Garg and around 20 others on board the yacht, including friends and colleagues, had consumed snacks, drinks, and alcohol during the outing.
Reportedly,Garg was seen drinking alcohol, with one one the eyewitnesses claiming he consumed several cups of liquor, including gin and whisky.
According to the chief investigating officer’s reconstruction of events, Garg later went for a swim during which he removed his life jacket.
Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web builds toward a tense finale where Arjun Meena faces his toughest test yet against a powerful smuggling syndicate. As betrayals surface and risks escalate, the ending focuses on strategy, sacrifice, and moral choices. Was he able to beat Chaudhary at his own game or did someone die in the finale? Read on to know.
Taskaree The Smuggler’s Web Ending Explained
Neeraj Pandey’s Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web builds steadily towards a tense finale, placing honesty, betrayal, and institutional rot at the heart of its narrative. Set within the sprawling chaos of Mumbai airport, the Netflix series tracks a group of principled customs officers battling a powerful international smuggling network. Led by Emraan Hashmi’s Arjun Meena, the show explores how crime syndicates survive not just through brute force but by quietly infiltrating the system meant to stop them. The final episode brings long-simmering conflicts to a head and answers the central question: does justice finally prevail?
The road to the finale
Throughout the series, Arjun Meena is established as an incorruptible officer whose refusal to bend the rules puts him directly in the crosshairs of Bada Chaudhary, the mastermind running a vast smuggling operation across multiple countries. With the support of fellow officers Ravi Gujjar (Nandish Singh Sandhu) and Mithali (Amruta Khanvilkar), Arjun begins dismantling the syndicate piece by piece, even as internal corruption repeatedly derails their efforts.
Chaudhary’s strategy relies on fear and manipulation. When bribery fails, intimidation follows. Threats against officers and their families become routine, exposing just how deeply the syndicate has embedded itself within the system. The stakes rise sharply when Ravi, driven by rage and duty, intercepts a smuggling attempt despite explicit warnings. His murder becomes the emotional turning point of the series, pushing Arjun from restraint to resolve.
Betrayal within the system
The show’s biggest twist comes from within the department itself. A senior official (Prakash), previously presented as a symbol of reform and integrity, is revealed to have struck a deal with Chaudhary for a cut of the profits. This betrayal reframes the entire investigation.
In the final act, Chaudhary prepares what he believes is his safest and boldest move yet. A massive consignment of gold is planned to pass through the airport under the guise of legitimate cargo. Arjun and his team initially follow false leads, falling into a carefully laid trap designed to distract them.
Hema Malini also revisited chatter around a family rift, which had surfaced after two separate prayer meets were organised in Dharmendra’s honour.
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 last year at his residence in Mumbai.
Actor Hema Malini has revealed that she hasn’t yet found the courage to watch the final film of her late husband and actor Dharmendra. She shared that she will watch Ikkis once the wounds begin to heal.
Hema Malini on whether she has watched Ikkis or not
Hema spoke about her late husband and cinema icon Dharmendra in an interview with Screen. She revealed that she still hasn’t found the courage to watch his final film.
When asked whether she has watched Dharmendra’s final film Ikkis, Hema shared, “I came to Mathura when it was released. I have to do my work here. Also, I can’t see it now, it will be too overwhelming. That’s what my daughters are also saying. Maybe I will watch it later when the wounds start healing.”
Directed by Sriram Raghavan and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, Ikkis is a tribute to the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra. The film stars Agastya Nanda as Arun, alongside Simar Bhatia, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Dharmendra.
During the interview, Hema revisited the chatter around a supposed family rift, which had surfaced after two separate prayer meets were organised in Dharmendra’s honour: one hosted by Sunny Deol and the other by Hema Malini.
“It has always been very nice and cordial. Even today it is very nice. I don’t know why people think something is wrong with us. It is because people want gossip. Why should I answer them? Is it necessary for me to give an explanation? Why should I? It’s my life. My personal life, our personal life. We are absolutely happy and very close to each other.That’s it. I don’t have anything more to say about this. I don’t know what stories people are making up. So sad that people use other’s grief to write a few articles.That is why I don’t answer (such speculation),” Hema said.
About Dharmendra’s death
Dharmendra passed away on November 24 last year at his residence in Mumbai. He was 89 years old. The actor was discharged from Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital earlier in the month after a health scare, and was recuperating at home. He was cremated in Mumbai on November 25.
His sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol organised a prayer meet in Mumbai on November 27, which was attended by several prominent names from the industry, including Salman Khan and Amitabh Bachchan. However, Hema Malini and Esha Deol did not attend the event. Later, it was revealed that Hema Malini and her daughters had organised a separate prayer meet at her Mumbai residence on the same day.
Jason Shah said, “Freedom of speech with technology is the deadliest combination of them all”
Jason Shah plays a key role in Vijay’s Jana Nayagan
Thalapathy Vijay’s Jana Nayagan, scheduled for theatrical release on January 9, remains stuck at the Censor Board over a certification issue. On Monday (January 12), the makers approached the Supreme Court, challenging a Madras High Court division bench order that stayed a single judge’s direction to grant the film a UA certificate.
Jason Shah, known for his role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Netflix series Heeramandi, plays a key role in Vijay’s film.
Addressing the censor-court row—which has stalled the film’s release until January 21—Jason Shah told Screen, “I was really excited that the film was releasing on the 9th. I am not 100 percent sure about the certification or what goes on. I have never fully understood the process; it’s not my department.
“But religion and politics always have something to do with movies. Whoever is voted in as the ruling party has been given the country in their hands to decide what happens. Your voting causes these kinds of decisions, so if you have done that, then also sit back and be happy.”
Jason also shared that films and actors are often targeted for manufactured smear campaigns in this era of technology-driven creativity.
“Freedom of speech with technology is the deadliest combination of them all,” he said.
“As an actor, you also put yourself in the line of fire and accept that you are a public figure up for public scrutiny. If you don’t like it, don’t be an actor. A lot of actors look at the money, fame, and all the nice things, but they also need to be ready to get scrutinized from head to toe. People will say what they feel about you when they pay for it, so why not?” he asked.
Jana Nayagan Makers Approach Apex Court
The producers approached the Supreme Court following the Madras High Court’s interim decision to halt implementation of its earlier single-judge order, which had instructed the CBFC to issue a UA certificate.
The division bench passed the stay after the Censor Board sought an urgent hearing on the same day the original direction was delivered.
The film, directed by H. Vinoth and fronted by actor and TVK party founder Vijay, was slated for a January 9 release. However, the stay order means the certificate remains on hold until the matter is fully adjudicated.
Tamang is survived by his wife Geeta Thapa and four-year-old daughter Ariah Tamang.
Prashant Tamang Credit: X/@ranojpeguassam
New Delhi: Prashant Tamang, who rose to fame as the winner of Indian Idol 3and was praised for his turn as a cold-blooded assassin in Paatal Lok 2, died on Sunday following a cardiac arrest. He was 43.
Tamang’s close friend, singer Mahesh Sewa, told PTI that the singer-actor died at his residence in Janak Puri.
“He (Tamang) passed away this morning around 9am due to cardiac arrest at his residence in Delhi. He was taken to the hospital by his family but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. I’m shocked by his untimely demise. I spoke to him a few days ago and he was hale and hearty,” he said.
“His body is still at the hospital. The family is yet to decide whether to perform the funeral in Delhi or Darjeeling,” he added.
The news of Tamang’s death was first shared by another friend Rajesh Ghatani on social media.
“My heart is heavy while writing this very sad news!! May you live in Baikuntha !! Heartfelt tribute Prashant brother,” Ghatani wrote on Facebook.
Tamang was born on January 4, 1983, in Darjeeling into a Nepali-speaking Gorkha family. His father served with the West Bengal Police and died while in service, after which Tamang left school to take up his father’s post.
Encouraged by friends, he auditioned for the reality singing show “Indian Idol” in 2007, where he went on to win the competition. Tamang’s victory triggered unprecedented celebrations across the Darjeeling hills, Sikkim and parts of Nepal.
Mahhi Vij opens up on trolls linking her with Nadim Nadz, lashing out at people who spoke ill of their friendship.
Mahhi Vij breaks silence to being linked with Salman Khan’s team member Nadim Nadz (PC: Mahhi Vij, IG)
Mahhi Vij recently made headlines after she was linked with Salman Khan’s friend and CEO Nadim Nadz. As trolling became rampant, the actress finally reacted to the ongoing rumours, lashing out at people spreading false narratives.
Mahhi Vij breaks silence on trolls linking her with Nadim Nadz
Taking to her social media handle, Mahhi Vij shared a video hitting out at those who linked her with Nadim Nadz. The actress began the video by pointing out that many people had advised her not to address the situation, but she felt compelled to speak up.
Mahhi said, “Jo log humare baare mein jaante hain, unhe yeh sab ridiculous lag raha hai. Just because humne bina koi controversy ke divorce liya hai, aap logon ko hazam nahi ho raha. Aapko gandagi chahiye.”
She added, “Nadim mera best friend hai aur hamesha mera best friend hi rahega. Aapne ‘Abba’ shabd ko ganda kar diya hai. Shame on you… thu on you people for writing such shitty stuff about me and Nadim. It’s not just about me, itne saare log hain jo usse respect karte hain. Aap itne level tak gandagi mein jaa sakte ho.”
The actress further questioned whether people never say “I love you” to their best friends and lashed out at those spreading such comments with malicious intent and trolling her.
Grok’s Duplicity Exposed: AI Fact-Checks Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt And Shraddha Kapoor’s Viral Party Photos But Complies With Bikini Prompts
Recently, a series of seemingly candid photos featuring Bollywood actresses Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt and Shraddha Kapoor sparked widespread attention online. Shared across social media, these images showed the stars in what appeared to be relaxed party settings and even in bikinis — and many users initially assumed they were real. However, scrutiny quickly followed, and digital experts, including the AI tool Grok, flagged the visuals as manipulated or AI-generated rather than authentic snapshots from an actual gathering.
The viral posts claimed to capture Deepika, who just turned 40 on January 5, celebrating her birthday with close friends Alia and Shraddha. In the purported images, Deepika was seen in a yellow and black outfit, casually holding a cigarette, while the trio lounged together as if at a private celebration. But upon inspection, none of the actresses shared these pictures on their verified social media accounts, and no other credible sources corroborated that such a party took place.
When the AI chatbot Grok was asked to assess the photos, it identified inconsistencies — including odd timestamps and telltale artifacts typical of AI-generated content — and labelled the viral images misleading. “These images appear to be AI-generated or edited. There’s no verified reports of Deepika Padukone, Alia Bhatt, and Shraddha Kapoor attending a birthday party together on Jan 5, 2026,” it stated, underscoring that the pictures were not genuine.
‘Jana Nayagan’ Censor Dispute: Madras HC Directs CBFC To Grant U/A Certificate, Appeal Filed
The Madras High Court on Friday ordered the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to grant a U/A certificate to the much-anticipated Tamil film Jana Nayagan, starring actor-turned-politician Vijay, clearing a major legal hurdle in its release. The film, which had been scheduled to hit cinemas on January 9, 2026, faced last-minute postponement after the CBFC failed to issue its censor certificate in time, prompting its makers to move the High Court.
The dispute began when the examining committee of the CBFC recommended a U/A certificate for Jana Nayagan after the producers complied with suggested cuts and modifications. However, one member of the committee later submitted a complaint to the Board chairperson alleging issues with brief portrayals of religious sentiments and other sensitive content. The chairperson then referred the film to a Revising Committee, delaying the certification process. The filmmakers argued this was arbitrary, noting the film had not been publicly screened and challenging how a complaint could be raised under such circumstances.
During the hearing, Justice P.T. Asha questioned why the film was sent for re-examination after it had already been communicated that certification would follow subject to cuts, effectively reopening settled matters. The court found in favour of the producers and directed the CBFC to issue the U/A certificate forthwith, emphasising that a late complaint should not derail an otherwise concluded process.
Priyanka Chopra is reportedly on Disney’s wishlist to play iconic Power Rangers villain Rita Repulsa in the upcoming series. Though unconfirmed, the buzz has excited fans. Known for embracing bold and experimental roles, Chopra’s recent projects like The Bluff and SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi highlight her fearless turn towards action-driven characters.
Priyanka Chopra To Play Main Villain In Disney’s Power Rangers Series?
Speculation is rife that Priyanka Chopra could be gearing up for another high-profile Hollywood turn, this time as an iconic supervillain. According to latest reports, Disney+ is developing its own version of the Power Rangers series, and the global streamer’s creative team has reportedly shortlisted Chopra for the role of Rita Repulsa, the franchise’s legendary antagonist. If this materialises further, Priyanka might be looking at her next big commitment after SS Rajamouli’s Varanasi.
Priyanka Chopra as Rita Repulsa
While official casting details for the Disney+ series remain tightly under wraps, a source with connections to the Power Rangers universe has sparked excitement among fans. As per The DisInsider , “Rita Repulsa is the villain and the studio has Chopra on their wishlist.” Although this information has not yet been independently confirmed, the buzz alone is enough to prove that our Desi Girl is in the biggest leagues in Hollywood.
If the casting does materialise, it would mark yet another bold move in Chopra’s international career. The actress has never shied away from playing unconventional or morally grey characters. She previously embraced a villainous turn in Baywatch (2017), where her icy performance as Victoria Leeds stood out against the film’s sun-soaked spectacle. Her comfort with darker roles makes her a compelling choice to portray Rita Repulsa, a character known for her theatrical menace and commanding screen presence.
The upcoming Power Rangers series is being shepherded by Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, the creative duo behind Disney+’s hit fantasy show Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The pair will serve as writers, producers and showrunners, raising expectations for a more character-driven and polished reimagining of the long-running franchise. With Disney+ backing the project, the series is expected to lean into world-building while reinventing familiar characters for a new generation.
Priyanka Chopra’s The Bluff pics go viral
Meanwhile, Chopra is already pushing boundaries with her forthcoming action-adventure film The Bluff. The actress steps into completely new territory by playing a fierce pirate in a gritty, R-rated narrative set in the late 1800s. Directed by Frank Ewen Flowers Jr and co-starring Karl Urban, the film promises a raw and brutal take on piracy, far removed from romanticised high-seas adventures.
The High-Octane Pirate Epic Starring Global Icon Priyanka Chopra Is Set To Release On 25 February 2026
Global Icon #PriyankaChopra has set the internet ablaze after unveiling the first look from her upcoming Hollywood film The Bluff, introducing audiences to one of her most raw, intense and blood-soaked avatars yet. Taking to Instagram, the Queen Bee shared striking visuals from the film with the caption: “Mother. Protector. Pirate. Meet Bloody Mary #TheBluff February. 25. 2026 Only on @primevideo @KarlUrban @primemovies.”
The images reveal Priyanka as Ercell “Bloody Mary” Bodden — fierce, battle-worn and unflinching — signalling a character rooted in survival, rage and strength. Locked in brutal combat alongside co-star Karl Urban, her look and physicality reflect a film that promises to be darker, bloodier and far grittier than the traditional pirate tale.
Almost instantly, netizens flooded social media with praise, applauding her commanding screen presence and fearless transformation. Many hailed her look as “terrifyingly powerful,” while others celebrated her ability to continually push boundaries with every global project she takes on.
The court observed that the Board appeared to have “acted solely on the basis of a complaint,” even though all objections raised earlier had been addressed.
Kanchipuram: TVK leader Vijay greets the gathering during a public meeting, in Kanchipuram, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (File photo/PTI )
Producers of actor-politician Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan on Wednesday deferred its January 9 release after the Madras high court reserved its judgment on their petition against the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) delay in issuing a censor certificate.
The film’s producer, KVN Productions LLP, announced the postponement in a post on X, stating: “The release of Jana Nayagan has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances beyond our control. We deeply understand the anticipation, excitement and emotions surrounding this film, and the decision was not easy for any of us. The new release date will be announced at the earliest.”
Earlier in the day, justice PT Asha, before reserving her verdict, questioned the CBFC’s move to reopen the certification of the film after the Examining Committee had already cleared it, subject to cuts. The court observed that the Board appeared to have “acted solely on the basis of a complaint,” even though all objections raised earlier had been addressed.
The judge noted that the Examining Committee had suggested certain excisions and muted words, which the producers accepted and implemented. Despite this, the CBFC withheld the certificate.
When asked why he changed the ending for release in India, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said it was out of “foolishness.”
Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor starred in Delhi-6 together.
Director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Delhi-6, which starred actors Abhishek Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor, released in 2009. Now, after nearly 19 years, speaking with SCREEN, the filmmaker revealed that there is a different version of the film. He revealed that the unreleased version opened with the death of the film’s protagonist, Abhishek Bachchan.
Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra talks about Delhi-6’s original story
Rakeysh, however, said that the country isn’t ready for the film’s original version. “The original film opens with the ashes immersion of Abhishek’s character in the Ganges. And over that, a voiceover comes, in Abhishek’s voice, saying, ‘These are my ashes.’ That’s how the story begins, and in the very opening frame, you are told that your hero is dead. That’s the original version. I still have it with me. That’s the one that went to the Venice Film Festival. They saw the film, they freaked out, they said ‘wow,’ and they gave it a lovely reception out there.”
Rakeysh shares why he changed it
When asked why he changed the ending for release in India, Rakeysh said it was out of “foolishness.” “Out of foolishness. Sheer foolishness. We, filmmakers, are foolish people, mad, foolish, all of that. I think there was so much dark humour in the film. There was so much going on that everybody who saw the cut said, ‘Leave it with some hope,’ and all that. And I fell for it. I shouldn’t have,” he added.
Rakeysh was asked if he has plans to release the original version. He said he isn’t sure, as he feels “the time isn’t right” and that “the nation hasn’t evolved; in fact, we have gone down the hole in many ways.”
About Delhi-6
Delhi-6 also stars Waheeda Rehman, Aditi Rao Hydari, Rishi Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Atul Kulkarni, Pavan Malhotra, Deepak Dobriyal, Divya Dutta, Vijay Raaz and Om Puri. The film was a commercial failure at the box office but received mixed reviews from critics.
Film critic Anupama Chopra has been facing a lot of backlash on social media after her Dhurandhar review went viral. Now, on Wednesday, she took to X to share her review of Ikkis, and she is getting trolled once again. Read on to know more…
Dhurandhar / Anupama Chopra / Ikkis |
Film critic Anupama Chopra made it to the headlines last year for her review of Dhurandhar. She didn’t like the film, and she received a lot of backlash on social media for her review. Even actor Paresh Rawal had slammed her. Now, on Wednesday, she took to X to share her review of Ikkis. Anupama praised Sriram Raghavan’s film, and she is getting trolled for it.
She tweeted, “Wept through #Ikkis, a war film that asks us to consider the cost of war. Sriram Raghavan gives us courage & patriotism laced with empathy & compassion. Agastya Nanda imbues valor with innocence. Jaideep Ahlawat is towering & Dharam ji breaks your heart with his grace. #dowatch (sic).” Check out the tweet below…
Netizens Troll Anupama Chopra For Her Ikkis Review
While last month she was trolled for giving a negative review to Dhurandhar, this month, she is getting trolled for giving a positive review to Ikkis.
A netizen tweeted, “You cried through ‘Ikkis’. Now its producers are crying at the box office. A ₹60 crore film that hasn’t even crossed ₹25 crore in a week says it all. And you’re still rattled after abusing Dhurandhar, an industry hit and the highest single-language grosser in India. We don’t buy ‘Aman Ki Asha’ propaganda anymore. We will reject any film that asks us to romanticise those who butchered us, carved up our land, and killed our jawans across multiple wars (sic).”
Another X user wrote, “Awwwiee ! Pakistan se galey mil lo jaa kar (sic).” One more netizen tweeted, “This was so predictable could see it coming from miles away. Aman Ki Asha Entire left wing will praise this tamasha. Dont worry Dhurandhar 2 is coming soon (sic).” Check out the tweets below…
Katrina Kaif And Vicky Kaushal Reveal Baby Boy’s Name, Share First Glimpse Of Their Little ‘Ray of Light’
Bollywood’s beloved couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal have delighted fans by revealing the name of their baby boy and sharing the very first glimpse of their little one on social media. The pair, who tied the knot in 2021, welcomed their son on November 7, 2025, bringing an abundance of joy into their lives. After keeping details about their child private for some time, they chose January 7, 2026 to introduce him to the world with a heartfelt announcement.
In a joint Instagram post, Katrina and Vicky shared a touching photograph that captures them holding their son’s tiny hand. Alongside the image, they revealed his name: Vihaan Kaushal. Katrina lovingly described their baby as “the ray” of their lives and conveyed how much happiness he has brought to their world. In their caption, they wrote:
“Our Ray of Light, Vihaan Kaushal. Prayers are answered. Life is beautiful. Our world has changed in an instant. Gratitude beyond words.”
The couple also explained the significance of the name Vihaan, which is rooted in Sanskrit and signifies sunrise, dawn, or the beginning of a new era—a fitting tribute to their new chapter as parents.
Alongside the joy of naming their son, Vicky spoke about how transformative fatherhood has been for him. He shared that embracing this new role has been magical and that he’s even picked up skills like changing diapers—something he now jokingly notes he’s become better at than acting.
‘Game of Thrones’ actor Sophie Turner has joined the long list of international stars who have openly admired Bollywood, showering praise on Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.
Sophie Turner shares love for SRK and Deepika
The global admiration for Bollywood continues to grow as international stars recognise the influence and reach of Indian cinema. Recently, Sophie Turner, known for her role in Game Of Thrones, expressed her appreciation for Bollywood actors Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. Turner’s remarks, made public in a recent interview, have garnered attention from fans and the entertainment industry alike, highlighting the ongoing cross-cultural appreciation between Hollywood and Bollywood.
In a recent interview with Firstpost, Turner shared her thoughts during a discussion about international cinema, highlighting her respect for Indian actors, particularly Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone. She did not hesitate to praise their contributions and impact on global audiences, adding to the growing trend of Western recognition for Indian talent.
“My gosh, that’s tough! I mean, Shah Rukh Khan is the GOAT, right? But I love Deepika Padukone, I think she’s amazing. I loved watching RRR,” she said.
Having said that, the actor even shared her desire to be a part of a Bollywood film soon. “I’d actually love to be in a Bollywood movie. I’d love to do the dance. I think it’s such a spectacle and they’re so beautiful. The production design is so unlike anything I think we will ever see on a Western film set. I’d love to be in a Bollywood movie,” she added.
Although Sophie hasn’t worked in Indian cinema, she did visit India in 2018 for the wedding celebrations of her former brother-in-law, Nick Jona,s and Priyanka Chopra. This event drew global celebrities as well as major Bollywood stars.
This cross-continental appreciation illustrates the evolving dynamics of the entertainment industry, where international stars are increasingly vocal about their admiration for Bollywood.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, actor Taapsee Pannu looks back at her journey in the film industry as an outsider, and how her challenges have changed.
Taapsee Pannu got married to Mathias Boe in 2024. (Instagram)
It has been over 15 years since Taapsee Pannu entered the film industry as an outsider with no backing from a film family. The actor admits she has come to accept that things will never be easy for her, but remains convinced that owning her voice and standing her ground through the stories she tells will define her legacy in the long run.
On being an outsider
Over the years, Taapsee has carved her own path by choosing both conventional and unconventional projects, with films such as Pink, The Ghazi Attack, Mulk, Manmarziyaan, Mission Mangal, Saand Ki Aankh, Haseen Dillruba and Dunki shining bright in her filmography.
When asked about her biggest learning while navigating the industry as an outsider, Taapsee tells us, “That it will never be easy.”
“But then if you want something no one has ever gotten, you have to do something no one has ever done. I have to remember that my work is for posterity so whatever I do, I should be able to own it up at every stage of my life. I’m not here to be a clone of somebody because then my entire life will be about being a first copy. Everyone is blessed with a unique voice and presence so I should find mine because that’s the best way to leave a lasting impact,” adds the actor, who was last seen in Mudassar Aziz’s Khel Khel Mein. The film also starred Akshay Kumar, Vaani Kapoor, Ammy Virk, Aditya Seal, Pragya Jaiswal and Fardeen Khan.
Looking back at how she picked projects, Taapsee says, “I chose the conventional obvious projects in the beginning of my career in the south only to realise that the expected conventional path is not probably what is meant for me.”
On projects that changed it all for her
Here, she candidly admits that a phase marked by “a streak of flops and heartbreaks” ultimately helped her discover her true calling as an actor and the kind of stories she wanted to tell.
“It required a streak of flops and heart breaks for me to eventually find my calling. I realise I do best in films where my heart and mind is totally aligned to what I’m projecting and that project has a far bigger connection with the audience. So now I only listen to my instinct and my gut. I don’t probably choose the projects which will push the envelope of the bank account but the envelope of my artistic capability to carve a new path which isn’t walked too often,” she mentions.
The Baby actor continues, “There were a lot of obvious projects and roles I was doing that I was told are the obvious choices if you want to make it to the top. Most of them didn’t work.”
“Then there was one project in particular that I said yes to, going against a lot of opinions. It wasn’t a project that A-listers would pick up according to many people. I somehow had a gut feeling that it will ring a bell with the audience and my part will have a significant impact too. When that project worked, I realised that I should only rely on my gut feeling without bothering about the conventional formula or trend because those don’t seem to cater to someone like me. I made my own algorithm,” says Taapsee.
On her challenges
One might assume that after nearly two decades in the industry, the challenges would have eased for her. However, Taapsee points out that every phase of a career brings with it a fresh set of hurdles to navigate.
“Challenges are different at different stages. At the beginning, the challenge is to get your foot in the door without anyone having your back. Then the next one is to be able to build your own eco system from scratch because you are not given a phone book of existing contacts which will be useful to grow,” says the actor, who recently teamed up with Dove for its new campaign, Reclaim Your Curls.
She asserts, “You fall, you stumble and you have to pick yourself up so you need to make failure your coach to eventually have a life you can take full credit of. So it’s a long drawn out process which limited words will never be able to define.”
The producers argued that the CBFC referred the film to a Revising Committee based on a complaint by a person who had not seen the film.
Jana Nayagan movie poster, Madras High Court
The producers of actor-turned-politician Vijay’s upcoming Tamil film Jana Nayagan have approached the Madras High Court challenging the Central Board of Film Certification’s (CBFC) decision to have a relook at the certification to be given to the film, by referring the matter to a Revising Committee [KVN Productions LLP Vs CBFC].
Jana Nayagan is touted to be Vijay’s last film, following his recent foray into politics through the party he founded, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The film is scheduled for theatrical release on Friday (January 9). However, the CBFC has not yet issued the final certificate permitting its release.
The CBFC’s Examining Committee had earlier recommended that the film be given ‘UA 16+’ certification, subject to specified cuts that the filmmakers complied with.
However, the matter was later referred to a Revising Committee following a complaint by an individual regarding the film’s alleged contents.
This has been challenged before the High Court by the film’s producers, who have sought directions for the grant of the final censor certificate.
Justice PT Asha heard the matter today.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ARL Sundaresan, appearing for the Central Board of Film Certification, sought time to file a response. The Court has adjourned the hearing till tomorrow.
The makers of the film have told the Court that they applied for censor certification on December 18, 2025.
Following a personal hearing, the Examining Committee, by communication dated December 22, 2025, recommended grant of certification under the ‘UA 16+’ category, citing depictions of violence, fight sequences, gory visuals, and brief references to religious sentiments as the basis for the age restriction.
The Committee directed certain excisions and modifications. The producers state that these were fully complied with and a revised version of the film was resubmitted on December 24, 2025.
The modifications were verified on December 29, 2025, after which the producers were informed that the film would be granted ‘UA 16+’ certification.
Despite this, the producers received an email dated January 5, 2026, stating that the film was being referred to a Revising Committee under Rule 24 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules on the basis of an alleged complaint relating to religious sentiments and the portrayal of armed forces.
The producers argue that the certification rules do not permit reopening a concluded certification process on the basis of undisclosed complaints, particularly after compliance with all mandated cuts.
They contend that the identity of the complainant, the contents of the complaint, and any supporting material have not been disclosed, rendering the CBFC’s decision arbitrary and violative of principles of natural justice.
The plea also questions how any complaint could arise when the film has not been screened or exhibited to the public and has only been viewed by the production team and statutory authorities.
During the hearing today, Senior Advocate Satish Parasaran, appearing for the producers, submitted that nearly ₹500 crore is riding on the film, which is slated to release across more than 5,000 screens worldwide.
“Mujhe Logon Se Koi Lena Dena Nahi”: Sudha Chandran Breaks Silence After Viral Bhajan Video Sparks Trolling
Veteran television actress Sudha Chandran has finally responded after videos from a recent Mata Ki Chowki bhajan night went viral on social media and triggered a wave of trolling and criticism. The footage shows her appearing wholly immersed in devotion during the religious event she hosted on January 3, where she was seen in a trance-like state and emotionally overwhelmed. In some clips, those around her try to support her as she seems to lose control, and it was reported that she even bit someone in the crowd during the intense spiritual moment.
Following the spread of these clips and the mixed reactions online — with some claiming it was staged or fake — Sudha Chandran addressed the situation in an interview, making clear she won’t justify herself or her spiritual experience to critics. She described the moment as deeply personal and powerful, saying, “It is a moment everyone wants to live in. Maa Shakti aapke andar aake voh energy de rahi hai … it is the happiest moment in my life.”
Reacting to trolls, Sudha said: “Mujhe logon se koi lena dena nahi hai. Joh troll karte hai, acchi baat hai, khush rahe apne zindagi mein … What about those millions of people who could connect and resonate with it? Mere liye voh important hai.” She emphasized that she has her own perceptions and spiritual connections, and that devotion is a personal issue for her.
Nearly three decades after Border, Sandese Aate Hain returns as Ghar Kab Aaoge, reminding us why one of Hindi cinema’s most enduring patriotic songs still captures absence, longing, and the silent grief of soldiers and home.
The iconic song ‘Ghar Kab Aaoge’ has been revamped for ‘Border 2’.
At a stark, symbolic location near the Tanot India-Pakistan border in Jaisalmer, the makers of Border 2 chose to relaunch one of Hindi cinema’s most emotionally indelible songs. Titled Ghar Kab Aaoge in its new incarnation, the melody reworks Sandese Aate Hain — the song that once gave a generation its emotional vocabulary for patriotism. The number has been reimagined with new lyrics and additional voices, and raises a larger, unavoidable question: what is it about this composition that still works, still wounds, still comforts, nearly three decades later?
The answer probably lies in how deeply and beautifully it understands emotion as India’s most powerful cinematic language. Ghar Kab Aaoge is not loud, triumphant, or declarative. It is thoughtfully soaked in absence. It aches with longing and carries the weight of sacrifice without ever naming it as heroism. The song also captures the emotional reality of soldiers and families separated by duty — where love for the nation coexists with the unrelenting pain of distance from home.
At its heart, the song is a complete emotional experience. The music, originally composed by Anu Malik, moves with restraint, allowing silence and space to do as much work as melody. The lyrics, written by Javed Akhtar and Manoj Muntashir Shukla, pierce so strong, but at the same time resist grandeur. They speak of relationships: “jo gudiiyon se khele vo gudiya yaad aaye” referring to a little daughter playing with her doll; “Main raasta dekhoongi mujhe na tadpaana”, referring to a wife who promises to wait and keep watching the road; “Main peeche chhod aaya, duaaein karti maa”, referring to a mother whose prayers follow her son to the border. These are not abstract ideas of family — they are intimate, recognisable, universal images that cut across generations.
Consider these lines:
“Ye pucho aankhon ke chhalakte paani se,
Bichhadta hai koi kahaan asaani se.
Main peeche chhod aaya duayein karti maa,
Ki usse bhi pyaari mujhe ye dharti maa”
Loosely translated, they ask us to listen to the tears that know how difficult separation truly is. They speak of a mother left behind, praying endlessly, and of a son who loves his mother deeply, but chooses the motherland despite that love. The song never resolves this tension. It lets it exist, raw and unresolved. It talks of sleepless nights, unfinished promises, unspoken words — all of them keep asking a single, devastating question: When will you return home?
That is exactly why the song endures. It does not seep in victory and keeps waiting and faith in the highest regards.
Back in 1997, when Border released, Sandese Aate Hain emerged as a defining patriotic song for a generation shaped by volatile geopolitics and an emotional idea of the nation. It became a landmark because it humanised nationalism, and continued to do the same.
The song also carries hope, though never cheaply. There is an unspoken promise that one day the waiting will end — that festivals will be celebrated together, that ordinary joys will return. But its greatest power lies in what it withholds: reunion, closure, assurance. Homecoming is not guaranteed, and while most patriotic songs try to anoint that spirit as bravery, this one simply respects that truth.
In that sense, Ghar Kab Aaoge belongs in the lineage of Hindi cinema’s most emotionally resonant patriotic compositions, alongside Ae Mere Watan Ke Logo, the Lata Mangeshkar classic said to have moved Jawaharlal Nehru to tears. Much like the 1963 song by C Ramchandra and Kavi Pradeep, Sandese Aate Hain reshaped how patriotism could be articulated through vulnerability. It marked a shift in the late 1990s, when Hindi cinema briefly allowed patriotism to be soft, painful, and personal.
The new version, Ghar Kab Aaoge, attempts to carry this legacy forward. It brings together five voices: Sonu Nigam and Roop Kumar Rathore, who lent their voices to the original, joined now by Vishal Mishra, Arijit Singh, and Diljit Dosanjh, who sings for his character in the film. The choice of voices itself feels deliberate: a sturdy bridge between memory and the present, what the song once meant and what it hopes to mean today.
Visually, the song is anchored by Sunny Deol, returning to the Border universe, alongside Varun Dhawan, Ahaan Shetty, Parmvir Singh Cheema, and others. Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Nidhi Dutta, daughter of JP Dutta who helmed the original film, Border 2 positions the song as a callback, yes, but also as an emotional inheritance.
A video from a Pakistani wedding has gone viral, showing two women dancing to Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar item song Shararat. The duo recreated Ayesha Khan and Krystle Dsouza’s hook steps, drawing strong reactions online. While one netizen commented, “They cannot do without Bollywood,” another remarked, “Music is a language of the universe,” sparking discussion on social media.
Photo Via X
The buzz around Dhurandhar is no longer limited to Indian cinemas, as the hype surrounding Ranveer Singh’s film has clearly crossed borders. A viral video circulating on social media shows a choreographed dance to the film’s title track, not from India, but from a wedding in Pakistan.
In the clip, two women are seen dancing to the hit item song Shararat, featuring Ayesha Khan and Krystle Dsouza. The performance has quickly grabbed attention online.
Pakistani Women Dance To Dhurandhar Song Shararat At Wedding
In the video shared on X by an user @rose_k01 shows two women dressed in shararas, similar to Ayesha and Krystle’s looks in the song, were seen performing in front of wedding guests, moving in perfect sync and recreating the same dance steps, including the hooksteps featured in the track.
Netizens React
Soon after the video went viral on social media, netizens reacted, with several also criticising the women for performing to a Bollywood track despite ongoing tensions between the two countries.
A user commented, “They cannot do without Bollywood.” Another user joked, “Pakistan literally crossed 1.8 million pirated downloads of Dhurandhar. Ban nahi hota toh Dhurandhar would have easily crossed 1800 crores by now.” Another added, “Well done, this song is made for a great dance. Music is a language of universe.”
Dhurandhar is inspired by real-life events and crime syndicates in Karachi’s Lyari area, the film draws on true incidents to depict India’s fight against terror in Pakistan.
Directed by Aditya Dhar of Uri: The Surgical Strike fame, the film also features Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, and Gaurav Gera, among others.
The Jana Nayagan trailer left many viewers surprised, given that the overall plot mirrors several key points that were present in Bhagavanth Kesari.
Jana Nayagan is the final film of Thalapathy Vijay.
It has long been rumoured that Vijay’s final film, Jana Nayagan, is a remake of the Telugu film Bhagavanth Kesari, starring Balakrishna. Now that the makers of Jana Nayagan have released the trailer, viewers are feeling more convinced that the rumours are true. Many users expressed their reactions on social media, sharing how the plot of Vijay’s film mirrors several points from Nandamuri Balakrishna’s 2023 release, directed by Anil Ravipudi.
Bhagavanth Kesari remake?
Viewers noticed that in both Jana Nayagan and Bhagavanth Kesari, the protagonist attempts to enlist the female character in the army, although she does not approve of this decision. However, he is angered when she is beaten and thrashed by the villainous antagonist. He then seeks revenge.
Honestly, it would’ve been better if they hadn’t released it at all. It feels like a reworked version of Bhagavanth Kesari, and not even an upgrade. Everything looks basic and generic. pic.twitter.com/MzmrPoOyD2
Reacting to the Jana Nayagan trailer, a fan commented, “#JanaNayagan trailer is extremely disappointing! Honestly, it would’ve been better if they hadn’t released it at all. It feels like a reworked version of Bhagavanth Kesari, and not even an upgrade. Everything looks basic and generic.”
Another said, “So this is #BhagavanthKesari adaptation with over the top elements and a humanoid robo. Will work in TN for the politics-induced highs it’s gonna deliver at points. Other than that… Sathya did well, and action blocks are top tier. Hopefully something to celebrate on.”
A comment read, “Scenes, Weapons, Dialogues, Set Locations, Character Name…Everything in #JanaNayagan copied straight from #BhagavanthKesari!” Another user noted, “Calling it a scene-to-scene remake feels a bit stretched. Yes, a few sequences and emotional beats are clearly adapted from Bhagavanth Kesari, but the trailer also shows enough restructuring to suit Thalapathy Vijay’s image and Tamil sensibilities. It looks more like an official adaptation with retained core moments rather than a carbon copy.”
What the director said
For the unversed, talking about the film, Jana Nayagan director H Vinoth recently said, “This is a Thalapathy padam (film). Some people might think this is a remake and wonder why they should come and watch it. A few might even get angry. To them, I’ll say just one thing: Please wait until one show ends. You’ll get your answer.”
He also added, “People who are coming to watch the film don’t need to worry about whether it’s a remake, whether a few scenes are inspired, or whether it’s just one scene.”
Anurag Kashyap recalls Bombay Velvet flopped despite Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, with studio blaming Ranbir’s hair for poor audience response and low box office earnings.
Directed by Anurag Kashyap, Bombay Velvet starred Ranbir Kapoor and released in theatres in 2015.
Once upon a time in Bollywood’s not-so-distant past, there was a film that arrived with sky-high expectations, glossy posters, and the promise of something bold and different. Bombay Velvet was meant to mark a turning point — a lavish, star-led leap for filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. Instead, it became one of Hindi cinema’s most talked-about misfires, remembered as much for its ambition as for the curious reasons later offered for its failure.
Released in 2015, Bombay Velvet was Kashyap’s first full-scale studio-backed project after years of critically acclaimed independent films. Backed by a hefty budget of around ₹118 crore and headlined by Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma, the neo-noir period drama was expected to make a strong impact at the box office. That, however, did not happen. The film went on to earn only ₹43 crore worldwide, falling far short of expectations.
In a recent interview with Screen, Kashyap revisited the post-release discussions surrounding the film’s poor performance and shared a reason offered by the studio’s research team that left him stunned. “The debacle of the film was such that when they did the research, the shocking thing was, people didn’t like Ranbir’s hair. They said that audiences got upset with Ranbir’s hair, because he had curled it up. And it was a choice that we all made; we designed it like that. And when I heard this, I was like, that’s the most absurd reason I can hear. One can say, ‘Oh, the film didn’t work for me,’ but coming up and saying hair didn’t work, and because of that it didn’t get an opening, and people didn’t go to see the film because they were put off by the hair, was absurd,” Anurag recalled.
The film featured Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma in the lead, with Karan Johar playing a key role. It also included Kay Kay Menon, Manish Choudhary, Vivaan Shah, Siddhartha Basu, and a then relatively unknown Vicky Kaushal in supporting parts. Directed and co-produced by Kashyap, Bombay Velvet was based on historian Gyan Prakash’s book Mumbai Fables and was set against the backdrop of a transforming Bombay.
Sai Pallavi will have a promising 2026 as she’ll be seen in the highly anticipated Ramayana. The VFX-heavy, star-studded film will release in cinemas on Diwali.
Salman Khan’s Battle Of Galwan Release Pushes Junaid Khan-Sai Pallavi’s Mere Raho
Salman Khan is one of the top actors in Bollywood today, he has been ruling millions of hearts for decades. His recent release Sikandar did not land well with critics but still managed to earn a decent amount at box office. The actor’s releases are what his fans wait and crave time and again and finally, there’s an update on his next. Khan has now teamed up with Apoorva Lakhia for a feature film on the Indian Armed Forces of the 2020 Galwan Valley Clash, titled Battle Of Galwan. The film is based on the novel – India’s Most Fearless 3 and will be released in April 2026. Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan’s next, Mere Raho, was also supposed to drop in the same month but, according to the latest reports, it has now been pushed to July to avoid the clash.
Mere Raho Avoids Clash With Battle Of Galwan
A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Until recently, the makers had locked April 24 as the release date for Mere Raho. They felt that it would be an ideal time for the flick to hit cinemas. But now, there have been reports coming in that Mere Raho will be pushed to July 2026.”
“July offers better leg room for a film like Mere Raho. It needs time, repeat value, and controlled screen density. The summer corridor allows the film to breathe without the noise that comes with the festive and holiday rush,” added the insider.
More About 2026 Releases
“The producer, Aamir Khan Productions, has been very secretive about the release date. It may be released on April 24, or it may not. But since the news of the July release has come to the fore, many have wondered if the film is being pushed due to Battle Of Galwan. The Salman Khan-starrer has been locked for release on April 17. May 1, meanwhile, will see Raja Shivaji and The Devil Wears Prada 2 arriving on the big screen. As a result, the makers may have thought of moving the film to a less-crowded window,” they concluded.
Justin D’Cruz Breaks Silence After Viral Video With Girlfriend Sakshi Shrivas Is Mislabelled As ‘Leaked MMS’
Splitsvilla X4 stars Justin D’Cruz and his girlfriend Sakshi Shrivas recently found themselves at the centre of online controversy after a video featuring the couple went viral with claims that it was a leaked MMS. The short, casual clip — which showed Justin shirtless and talking with Sakshi — began circulating on social media and was widely shared with captions suggesting that an intimate video had been leaked.
As the clip gained traction, people across platforms started asking for links to what they believed was the full MMS, prompting both Justin and Sakshi to address the matter directly. Fans and followers were quick to react, and the duo eventually chose to clarify the situation on their official Instagram handles.
In their clarification video, Justin pointed out that the viral footage was not any kind of MMS. He explained that the clip was taken from one of their regular vlogs, and had been edited and misrepresented to look scandalous. Justin also criticised how fast misinformation spreads online, especially when accounts attempt to attract attention by labelling ordinary content as something sensational. According to him, this trend says a lot about how quickly people believe and share false content without verification.
Akshay Kumar and Amit Rai, the duo brainstormed on the idea, and also discussed possible new routes that could be taken in OMG 3 as they plan to take the third part on floors in 2026.
PC: Pinkvilla Archive/YRF Instagram
Pinkvilla has exclusively learnt that Rani Mukerji has joined the cast of Oh My God 3, marking one of the biggest casting coups in recent times and bringing together two iconic stars of the 90s, Rani Mukerji and Akshay Kumar, for a much-anticipated project.
According to a source close to the development, “This is easily one of the biggest castings in recent years. Oh My God is among Akshay Kumar’s most loved franchises, and it’s only getting bigger with Rani Mukerji joining the film. Her presence will add immense gravitas and freshness to the narrative.”
The source further revealed that the film is currently in the pre-production stage and is expected to go on floors by mid-2026. “Director Amit Rai has cracked a story that is bigger, more relevant, and hard-hitting than the previous installments. Akshay was clear that OMG 3 had to scale up in every aspect, from story, emotions, to performances, and Rani coming on board has made the film even bigger,” the source added.
After the massive success of OMG and OMG 2, Akshay Kumar is all set to return with the 3rd installment of the franchise, once again collaborating with director Amit Rai. Known for thought-provoking stories with strong entertainment, the Oh My God franchise has carved a special place in Hindi cinema, and the makers are now aiming to raise the stakes even higher.
The engagement has drawn warm reactions online, with many extending their best wishes to the couple as they begin a new chapter together.
Priyanka Gandhi’s son got engaged (Credits: X)
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and businessman Robert Vadra’s son, Raihan Vadra, has got engaged to his long-time girlfriend Aviva Baig. The engagement took place on Monday and was announced publicly by Raihan through a social media post.
Raihan shared the news on Instagram, posting two photographs to mark the occasion. One picture shows the couple together after their engagement, while the second is a childhood photograph of Raihan and Aviva, offering a glimpse into their long-standing bond. Keeping the announcement simple, Raihan captioned the post with just the date, “29.12.25″.
The post quickly gained attention, with friends, followers and well-wishers flooding the comments with congratulatory messages.
The engagement was held at an intimate, private gathering in Ranthambore. The first photograph shared by Raihan captures the couple standing together during the evening celebration, both dressed in traditional Indian outfits. Raihan is seen wearing a dark-coloured sherwani, while Aviva opted for an elegant, embellished sari.
Raihan Vadra is a visual artist and photographer who has been capturing images since he was ten years old. According to his profile on the APRE Art House website, his work covers a wide range of subjects, including wildlife, street life and commercial photography. His approach reflects a keen interest in observing everyday moments as well as the natural world.
In 2021, Raihan held his first solo exhibition, Dark Perception, at Bikaner House in New Delhi. In the same year, his work was also featured in The India Story exhibition held in Kolkata, marking an important phase in his growing artistic career.
Sudhir Mishra took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to praise Aditya Dhar and his film Dhurandhar.
When a social media user said that Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar is a “propaganda”, Sudhir Mishra responded with a measured and calculated reply.
Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra acknowledged that his sensibilities come from a very different school of cinema than Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar, but that didn’t stop him from praising the Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna–starrer spy thriller. He applauded Aditya’s choices in casting and the film’s execution, and defended against the propaganda label.
Sudhir Mishra praises Aditya Dhar
The filmmaker took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to praise Aditya Dhar and his film Dhurandhar. It began when one social media user asked whether any filmmaker from Indian cinema will make a film on the Unnao rape case.
Responding to this, Sudhir wrote, “One of us has the guts. There is a film. You’ll see it soon. Also please stop lumping us all under one brand, called Bollywood. We belong to the Indian Film Industry and we are all different. By the way Dhurandhar is a well made film . Aditya Dhar is extremely skilled.”
“The acting is terrific. The most difficult thing in film making is a directors ability to make us , the audience smell the place and Aditya Dhar with the help of his brilliant Cinematographer and Production Designer manage to do just that. The casting , including the minor parts is bang on. I am of course, a filmmaker, from another school,” he added.
When a social media user accused the film of being propaganda, Sudhir responded with a measured and calculated reply.
The social media user wrote, “Dhurandhar is a propaganda sudhir Sir, with an evil intent to monetise on pop nationalism & sectarian mindset.” To this, Sudhir replied, “Make a powerful film , with all the virtues of a great cinema experience which counters it.”
Hardik Pandya confirmed his relationship with Mahieka Sharma in 2025.
Hardik Pandya shares romantic photos with Mahieka Sharma on Instagram.
Hardik Pandya and Mahieka Sharma’s relationship is no secret. The two are often spotted together and even drop romantic photos with each other on social media. Recently, Hardik and Mahieka also celebrated the New Year together. On the special occasion, the cricketer took to his Instagram handle and shared several glimpses of his romantic moments with his lady love.
The first few pictures featured Hardik and Mahieka striking a pose as they sported matching maroon outfits. The photos are from their recent Christmas celebration. While one of the videos featured Mahieka flaunting a recently received award, she was seen seemingly enjoying herself at a wedding with some of her friends in another clip. The couple was also seen spending time with their furry pets in some of the other pictures. Check it out here:
Soon after the post was shared, several fans reacted to it and called them ‘best jodi’.
Hardik Pandya confirmed his relationship with Mahieka Sharma in 2025. Recently, the cricketer dedicated his T20I victory to his ladylove and showered praises on her. Hardik expressed gratitude towards Mahieka for being his biggest support and shared that ever since she came into his life, he has been achieving success.
“A lot of credit goes to the loved ones which I had. Special mention to my partner as well. She’s been nothing but best to me since she has entered my life and a lot of great things have happened since she has arrived,” he said.
“I think I’ve been a very honest and very real person in life as well, which has helped me a lot. I don’t really sugarcoat a lot in my life. It’s never about the other person, it’s never about how others think or how others perceive. It is always about how I feel inside. Now it’s time where Hardik Pandya wants to just play the sport and enjoy every second on the ground. Bigger and better will be the motto in my life,” Pandya added.
Manish Gupta Alleges Akshaye Khanna Breached Section 375 Contract, Raised Fee And Delayed Shoot By Six Months
Amidst the ongoing Drishyam 3 controversy, filmmaker Manish Gupta has levelled serious accusations against actor Akshaye Khanna regarding their earlier collaboration on the 2019 legal thriller Section 375. Gupta, who was originally set to direct and write the film with producer Kumar Mangat, spoke to Bollywood Hungama about what he describes as unprofessional conduct by Khanna.
Gupta recalled that in 2017 Akshaye had formally signed on to Section 375 with his fee agreed at ₹2 crore. “His fee was fixed at Rs 2 crore. He took an advance of Rs 21 lakh, and he signed a contract with us,” Gupta said, emphasising that the actor had legally committed to the project.
However, the filmmaker claims the situation changed abruptly when Khanna allegedly gave up the dates he had promised to the Section 375 team and chose to work on another film, The Accidental Prime Minister, instead. “He gave away the dates he’d committed to us … and he flew off to London to shoot that movie, leaving me and my crew waiting idle for six months,” Gupta added.
Upon returning, Khanna is said to have sought a fee increase to ₹3.25 crore—far above the original agreement—leading Gupta to assert that the actor breached his contract. “He started demanding Rs 3.25 crore … He thus breached his contract,” he stated.
Gupta also alleged that Khanna attempted to exert creative control over the project, a demand he resisted. “He wanted to fully control the film … but I am not the sort of director who gives in to the whims of any actor,” he said, underlining that his refusal contributed to rising tensions on set.
According to one of the organisers, Leone was scheduled to attend a programme in which she was supposed to play a DJ on January 1
Sunny Leone Credit: Instagram/sunnyleone
Actor Sunny Leone’s New Year programme at a local bar in the temple town of Mathura was cancelled with organisers calling off the event following objections from local seers.
According to one of the organisers, Leone was scheduled to attend a programme in which she was supposed to play a DJ on January 1.
“We have written a letter to the District Magistrate. Lord Krishna performed ‘leela’ here. Seers come to offer prayers here.
“In such a place, Sunny Leone is invited for a programme. Some people, by calling her to Mathura, want to defame Brij Boomi and Sanatan Dharma. They will propagate vulgarity; such people should be kept away from Brij Bhoomi,” Dinesh Falahari of Sri Krishna Janambhumi Sangharsh Nyas said.
The organisers said they have decided to cancel Leone’s programme at Mathura, the land of Krishna Janmabhoomi — birthplace of Lord Krishna.
Replying to objections, Mithul Pathak, partner at The Trunk Bar, and one of the organisers of Leone’s programme, said, “Considering the emotions of local seers, we have decided to cancel the programme (of Sunny Leone). We have initiated the refunds of tickets.
Kannada TV actress Nandini CM was found dead at her PG accommodation in Bengaluru. The cops recovered a note in her diary where she mentioned that her family didn’t understand her wish to do acting. The cops have begun the investigation behind her mysterious death. Read full story to know more
Nandini CM found dead at her PG in Bengaluru. (Credit: Instagram)
Kannada TV actress Nandini CM was reportedly found dead at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Kengeri, Bengaluru. The local police have recovered a note from her diary. They have registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR No. 76/2025) under Section 194 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, 2023. The incident took place on the second floor of the PG in Kengeri. The FIR was registered on the same day. As per reports, the incident is believed to have occurred between December 28’s 11:16 pm and December 29’s 12:30 am. The case was filed on December 29 at 9:15 am.
Nandini CM Dies By Suicide
According to the FIR filed in Kengeri Police Station, Nandini CM completed her PUC education in Ballari in 2018. She later joined engineering at RR Institute, Hesaraghatta. However, she had an interest in acting. Hence, she discontinued regular college attendance and underwent training in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. She had acted in several Kannada TV shows.
In August 2025, she moved to the PG in Kengeri. Although Nandini CM was offered a government job after her father’s death in 2023. However, she refused to join and preferred her acting career. Thus, she had disagreements at home.
Today (December 29) at 3:45 am, Kengeri Police informed the complainant about her daughter’s demise. The family arrived in Bengaluru at 8 am and gathered details regarding the incident. Last night, Nandini came back to her PG at 11:23 pm from her friend Puneeth’s house. She locked herself inside the room. When Puneeth tried to call her later, she didn’t respond. Later, Puneeth informed the PG manager, Kumar, and the in-charge, Kiran, at 11:50 pm about Nandini CM.
When they forcefully opened the door, they found Nandini hanging from the window grille using a veil cloth. After they informed police, they arrived immediately and confirmed that she had died on the spot.
Filmmaker Sajid Khan was injured on a Mumbai film set over the weekend when he suffered an accident during a shoot for a project backed by Ekta Kapoor. According to reports, Khan fractured his foot during the incident on Saturday, prompting immediate medical attention and his subsequent hospitalisation.
Doctors decided that surgery was necessary, and Sajid was taken into the operating theatre on Sunday. The procedure was completed without complications, and he is now recovering under medical supervision. His sister, acclaimed filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan, spoke to the media after the operation, confirming the outcome and offering reassurance to fans and well-wishers. “The surgery is done, he is absolutely fine now,” she said, emphasising that his condition is stable and that he is on the mend.
Sajid’s accident came at a time when he was gearing up for a return to directing after a long hiatus. He last helmed the comedy Humshakals in 2014, and before that had made his mark with films such as Darna Zaroori Hai and the commercially successful Heyy Babyy, Housefull and Housefull 2.
Katrina Kaif Drops First Photo After Welcoming Baby Boy, Celebrates Christmas With Husband Vicky Kaushal & Family
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif shared her first photo as a mother following the birth of her baby boy, celebrating her first Christmas with husband Vicky Kaushal and family. The picture, posted on her Instagram, offers fans a warm glimpse of the intimate festive moment from their home, making the occasion even more special now that Katrina is a mom.
The snapshot shows Katrina dressed in a bright red outfit, smiling alongside Vicky Kaushal, his brother Sunny Kaushal, and Katrina’s brother Sebastian Laurent Michel in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree. All four are wearing red-and-white Santa hats, reflecting the cheerful and cozy mood of their family celebration. Katrina rested her hand on Vicky’s shoulder as they posed together, marking the festival with close loved ones.
In her caption, Katrina wrote, “Love joy and peace to all… It’s a Merry Merry Christmas!”, sharing heartfelt wishes with her followers and reinforcing the joyful spirit of the day. This post is particularly significant as it is Katrina’s first since embracing motherhood following the couple’s announcement of their son’s arrival in November 2025. While they have shared news of the birth, the baby’s name and face have not yet been revealed publicly.
For a hefty chunk of 2025, it felt like one flop after another — and not only at the box office.
Hotly anticipated new films from brilliant directors, such as Bong Joon Ho (“Mickey 17”), Kathryn Bigelow (“A House of Dynamite”) and James L. Brooks (“Ella McCay”) fell far short of their creators’ standards.
Sexy-sounding projects starring Jennifer Lopez (“Kiss of the Spider Woman“), Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (“Smashing Machine“) and Julia Roberts (“After the Hunt“) turned out to be a dud parade.
On the flip side, plenty of genuinely fantastic movies like “Twinless,” “The Ballad of Wallis Island” and “Hamnet” failed to catch on with viewers because of meh marketing, lack of interest and the growing tendency of holding out until quality adult fare hits a streaming service.
But there was some cinematic schadenfreude. Superheroes — Hollywood’s dominant genre for more than a decade — finally crashed down to earth with a deafening thud.
Marvel’s “Fantastic Four: First Steps,” “Thunderbolts*” and “Captain America: Brave New World” were OK-to-miserable and got a well-deserved “thank you, next!” from audiences worldwide. Warner Bros.’ superior “Superman” performed better, sure, but not by much. The exhausting trend has gone on far too long.
And some of the past 12 months’ boffo hits were puerile sludge: “A Minecraft Movie” had Jack Black sing a stupid song about a chicken shack, and “Jurassic World Rebirth” was an asteroid-level assault on the planet.
But a glimmer of hope came from a double act of Warner Bros. horror films — “Sinners” and “Weapons.” Written and directed, respectively, by Ryan Coogler and Zach Cregger, they were smart, exciting and, praise be, actually popular. Critics loved them, audiences flocked and everybody was talking about the hits for months. They still are. It’s like being back in 1998 when this stuff mattered.
Lifeless sequels and reboots may still be our biggest draws for now. But bold originality will always be Hollywood’s greatest weapon.
Timothée Chalamet stars in “Marty Supreme.” Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Marty Supreme’
The best movie of the year arrived fashionably late. Writer-director Josh Safdie’s cinematic lighter fluid starring Timothée Chalamet as a 1950s New York pingpong wizard named Marty Mauser throbs with youthful passion and rebellion as the arrogant spitfire jets around the globe to fulfill his dream of getting to the top of table tennis.
“Supreme” is the strangest thing — mixing “Rocky,” “Catch Me If You Can,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Moonstruck” and a 5-Hour Energy drink into one white-knuckle thrill ride of fun, nervous wincing and real heart. And, at the center of the madness is a career-best Chalamet, who’s turning into Hollywood’s last great movie star.
In theaters.
Jessie Buckley is devastating in “Hamnet.” AP
‘Hamnet’
While there are countless reasons to check out “Marty,” the No. 1 draw of “Nomadland” director Chloé Zhao’s intensely moving Shakespeare riff is its marvelous lead actress Jessie Buckley. Trust me — her powerhouse performance will blow you away. Buckley is breathtaking as the Bard’s wife, who endures the greatest tragedy that can possibly befall a mother. As her poetic husband, Paul Mescal is sensitive and tortured, and Zhao is among our best filmmakers at turning glorious nature into a character all its own. But Buckley is not to be missed.
In theaters.
“Weapons,” starring Amy Madigan, was one of the year’s biggest surprises. AP
‘Weapons’
One of the most rewarding things about being a movie critic is insider trading. You attend an early screening of something that you have zero expectations for, and you leave saying, “Buy! Buy! Buy!” That was best exemplified this year by Cregger’s sensational “Weapons,” starring Julia Garner as a maligned teacher and a tricky Amy Madigan as scene-stealing Aunt Gladys. It’s freaky, funny, mysterious and ingeniously plotted. “Weapons” should get a best picture nomination, but Hollywood is too pretentious for that.
On HBO Max.
“It Was Just an Accident” is filmmaking at its most dangerous. AP
Hrithik Roshan burnt the dance floor with his two sons, Hrehaan and Hridaan on Ishq Tera Tadpave at the wedding of cousin Eshaan Roshan. The War 2 actor has now reacted to the viral video, while also sending a beautiful message to original singer Sukhbir.
Hrithik Roshan danced with sons Hredaan and Hrihaan at Ehsaan Roshan’s wedding
Hrithik Roshan and his sons Hrehaan and Hridaan have taken the internet by storm with their perfectly synced dance performance during the wedding of the actor’s cousin Eshaan Roshan who got married to Aishwarya Singh in Mumbai on December 23. Soon after, videos of the father-sons started going viral and have now flooded the internet. In what started as a handful of clips of their dance as ladkewale, turned into a full blown discussion as to how the boys have inherited Hrithik’s perfect genes. Now, the War 2 actor himself has posted a better version of the clip, and reacted too.
Hrithik reacts to the viral video and wrotes to singer Sukhbir
On December 24, Hrithik gave his fans a Christmas gift by sharing the video on his official Instagram handle. He wrote in the caption, “Damn. Gotta get lighter on my feet to keep up.” His good friend and Krrish co-star Preity Zinta replied, “Love it.” Also seen in the performance are Hrithik’s girlfriend Saba Azad, cousin Pashmina Roshan and Suranika Soni.
Original singer Sukhbir and Hrithik’s heartwarming exchange
Original singer and Punjabi legendary artist Sukhbir also posted the video on his Instagram with the text, “25 Years of Oh Ho Ho Ho and still rocking! @hrithikroshan does justice & rocks with his family!” Resharing the post in his Instagram stories, Hrithik replied, “It’s your music my friend Subhbir. Just our fav track!”
Hrithik Roshan dances with sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan at cousin’s wedding | Watch pic.twitter.com/xqTPJfJkqX
The viral video also received a lot of reaction on X (formerly Twitter). One user wrote, “Like Father, Like Sons!” Another one said, “This just made the timeline a little brighter today – such a wholesome moment.” A fan wrote, “Wow Can’t believe in my eyes. Still you can Dance like 20 year kids ever Green Hrithik Roshan.” A second fan said, “Hrithik Roshan’s kids have inherited all the right things” One user commented, “The innate sense of happiness, every time is see this man groove, has been the same for 25 years now.”
Former Bigg Boss contestant Hindustani Bhau lashed out at veteran actress Jaya Bachchan over her controversial remarks against paparazzi. Speaking at a Mumbai event on Tuesday, he mocked her, saying, “Kya naam hai uska? Jaya Prada?” He added, “Aapki wajah se hi yeh log dikh rahe hain, warna inko koi kutta bhi nahi jaanta,” urging paps to stop chasing her.
Hindustani Bhau, Jaya Bachchan |
Former Bigg Boss contestant and social media personality Vikas Jayaram Phatak, popularly known as Hindustani Bhau, recently lashed out at veteran actress Jaya Bachchan over her controversial remarks against paparazzi. She had said that they wear ‘drainpipe-tight, gande pant’ and insulted them. On Tuesday, December 23, at an event in Mumbai, Bhau slammed Jaya, claiming that she herself wears a Rs 150 saree, and even mocked her by mistakenly calling her ‘Jaya Prada.’
Hindustani Bhau Slams Jaya Bachchan
He was heard saying, “Kya naam hai uska? Amitabh Bachchan ki wife ka? Jaya Prada? Jaya Bachchan… Woh khud Chor Bazaar se Rs 150 ki saree pehenti hai, aur phir in logon (paps) ko ‘gareeb’ bolti hai, ki kaise gande kapde pehen kar aate hain.”
‘Inko Koi Kutta Bhi Nahi Jaanta’
Further, he was heard saying, “Arre, aise logon ke peeche jaate hi kyun ho jahan aapko izzat hi nahi milti? Inko inki aukaat tab pata chalegi jab aap inko dikhana band karoge. Aapki wajah se hi yeh log dikh rahe hain, warna inko koi kutta bhi nahi jaanta.”
Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna praises Ranveer Singh for his acting in Dhurandhar. Read on to know more of his thoughts.
Mukesh Khanna Lauds Ranveer Singh’s Performance In Dhurandhar, Is Still AGAINST Actor Playing Shaktimaan
Mukesh Khanna is popularly known for his performance in Shaktimaan. He also played the role of Bhishma on the TV show Mahabharata and received a lot of praise. The veteran actor is known for speaking his heart out loud; he has often criticised celebrities for their behaviour and especially Ranveer Singh, who wanted to play the lead in the Shaktimaan movie. Khanna has now lauded Singh’s performance in Dhurandhar, leaving fans shocked. The Aditya Dhar directorial stars Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, R. Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, among others.
Mukesh Khanna Lauds Ranveer Singh
In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Khanna said, “I would like to praise this film’s hero Ranveer Singh. Now you will cross question me by saying that you have disapproved him for the role of Shaktimaan. However, even if I have denied him, he remains one of the best actors. I have always maintained this stance. His infectious energy and courage are visible in the film.”
Further, he added, “If you make him Shaktimaan, people may enjoy it because he makes you dance, but the role needs someone mature enough.”
Rumours had been abuzz about Ranveer Singh playing Shaktimaan, on the matter, Mukesh Khanna earlier shared, “Ranveer came to my office, sat with me for three hours. Very nice meeting, very nice actor and human being. Itna interested tha ki teen ghante tak convince karne ki koshish ki. Ultimately, I always felt that he can’t be cast in Shaktimaan’s role. I am still rigid on that point.”
Vicky Kaushal said that the success of films like Dhurandhar and Chhaava cannot be chalked down to any box office formula.
Dhurandhar and Chhaava are the two highest grossing Indian films of 2025.
The two highest-grossing Hindi films this year have many things in common. Both are patriotic films with strong undercurrents of nationalism. Both are led by Millennial stars, and both use violence to depict the sacrifices made by India’s heroes. Dhurandhar and Chhaava both grossed over ₹800 crore worldwide, leading many to think if patriotism is a ‘formula’ that can effectively guarantee safe returns at the box office.
Vicky Kaushal on Dhurandhar and Chhaava
But Vicky Kaushal, the star of Chhaava, does not agree. In an interaction with NDTV, the actor spoke about the success of the two films, and the reasons behind it. “I think patriotism can’t be a formula and saying it is a formula is an insult to the emotion. Patriotism is our truth, which we will keep showing through our movies, literature and sports,” he said.
The actor said that making patriotic films was a way for makers to showcase their pride in the country. “This is the way we can put our foot in the door and say that we are proud of the diversity, legacy and the truth of our country. I am so proud that I am a little part of this big moment where we are fearlessly representing India on a global map,” Vicky added.
About Dhurandhar and Chhaava
Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, told the story of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his battles with Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The film starred Vicky as Sambhaji Maharaj and Akshaye Khanna as Aurangzeb. It grossed ₹807 crore worldwide.
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records.
Sixteen years into the “Avatar” saga, Pandora is still abundant in box-office riches. “Fire and Ash,” the third film in Cameron’s science-fiction franchise, launched with $88 million domestically and $257 million internationally. The only film to open bigger in 2025 was “Zootopia 2” ($497.2 million over three days). In the coming weeks, “Fire and Ash” will have the significant benefit of the highly lucrative holiday moviegoing corridor.
But there was a tad less fanfare to this “Avatar” film, coming three years after “Avatar: The Way of Water.” That film launched in 2022 with a massive $435 million globally and $134 million in North America. Domestically, “Fire and Ash” fell a hefty 35% from the previous installment. Reviews for “Fire and Ash” were also more mixed, scoring a series-low 68% “fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Yet those quibbles are only a product of the lofty standards of “Avatar.” The first two films rank as two of the three biggest box-office films of all time. To reach those heights, the “Avatar” films have depended on legs more than huge openings.
“Avatar” (2009), opened with $77 million domestically but held the top spot for seven weeks. It ultimately grossed $2.92 billion worldwide. “The Way of Water” also held strong to eventually tally $2.3 billion globally.
“The openings are not what the ‘Avatar’ movies are about,” said David A. Gross, a film consultant who publishes a newsletter on box office numbers. “It’s what they do after they open that made them the no. 2 and no. 3 biggest films of all time.”
For “Fire and Ash” to follow in those footsteps, it will need robust ticket sales to continue for weeks. Working in its favor so far: strong word-of-mouth. Audiences gave it an “A” CinemaScore.
In interviews, Cameron has repeatedly said “Fire and Ash” needs to perform well for there to be subsequent “Avatar” films. (Four and five are already written but not greenlit.) These are exceptionally expensive movies to make. With a production budget of at least $400 million, “Fire and Ash” is one of the costliest movies ever made.
“James Cameron is not known for his low budget movies,” said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for Comscore. “You can’t exactly create the world of Pandora on the cheap. If you’re going to have a 3D movie, an epic film that’s three hours and 17 minutes, it’s a huge buy-in of money, time, resources, and then you have to hope the audience wants to once again go along on that ride.”
“Fire and Ash” was especially boosted by premium format showings, which accounted for 66% of its opening weekend. A narrow majority of moviegoers (56%) chose to watch it in 3D.
The “Avatar” films have always been especially popular overseas. “Fire and Ash” was strongest in China, where its $57.6 million opening weekend surpassed the two previous movies.
‘David’ overperforms and ‘Marty Supreme’ sets a record
“Fire and Ash” didn’t have the weekend entirely to itself. A trio of other new wide releases made it into theaters in hopes of offering some counterprogramming: Lionsgate’s “The Housemaid,” Angel Studios’ “David” and Paramount Pictures’ “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.”
In the race for second place, “David” came out on top. The animated tale of David and Goliath collected $22 million from 3,118 theaters, notching the best opening weekend for Angel Studios, the Christian-oriented studio that emerged with 2023’s surprise hit “Sound of Freedom.”
“The Housemaid,” Paul Feig’s twisty psychological thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, opened with $19 million 3,015 theaters. The Lionsgate release, which cost about $35 million to make, is set up well to be one of the top R-rated options in theaters over the holidays. Based on Freida McFadden’s bestselling novel, it stars Sweeney as a woman with a troubled past who becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy family.
Trailing the pack was “The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants,” which collected $16 million from 3,557 theaters. The G-rated film, based on the Nickelodeon TV series, is the first “SpongeBob” theatrical movie since 2015’s “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water.”
All of this weekend’s new films will hope the ticket sales keep rolling in over the upcoming Christmas break. Starting Dec. 25, they’ll need to contend with some new wide releases, including A24’s “Marty Supreme,” with Timothée Chalamet; Focus Features’ “Song Sung Blue,” with Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson; and Sony’s “Anaconda,” with Jack Black and Paul Rudd.
In an interview with Hindustan Times, Rakesh Bedi discusses the sequel to Dhurandhar, working with Ranveer Singh and Akshaye Khanna and more.
Rakesh Bedi clicks a selfie with Aditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh on the sets of Dhurandhar.
Actor Rakesh Bedi is on a high following the success of Dhurandhar, which has grossed over ₹700 crore worldwide in just two weeks. The actor who plays Pakistani politician Jameel Jamali in the film says that nobody in the team expected this kind of response. “Every film comes with its own fate and a lot of things are responsible for its success,” he says in an interview with Hindustan Times.
“I also think they played well with people’s psyches with no over-the-top promotions before release. It was a good gimmick that paid off because the audience was left in suspense,” he adds candidly. Rakesh talks to us about everything, from how he landed the role and the progression of his character in the film, to the upcoming sequel and the gore. Excerpts.
Playing Jameel Jamali in Uri to Dhurandhar
Rakesh had a scene in Aditya’s debut film, Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019), as an ISI agent, which led to a full-blown role in Dhurandhar. “Aditya called me last year to offer me the role of Jameel, who has so much more to him. He’s going to be worse in the sequel, and it 100% gave me the chance to do something different. I’m in seventh heaven,” says the actor known for his comedic roles.
The villainous turn is something Rakesh longed for after being confined to playing comic roles for years, he says. “Somebody, at last, was trying to extract something else out of me. Aditya knew that in 50 years, there hadn’t been a month when I hadn’t performed on stage. He knew I had seen all colours of people in life to play this role that looks straight but isn’t. Jameel is cunning, scheming, sly… there are so many layers to him,” explains the actor.
Working with Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna and Sara Arjun is also something Rakesh cherished. “I never met Ranveer before this film, but I have seen his work. He grew up seeing my shows and films and was really excited to work with me. Our scenes were filled with mutual consideration and respect, not just as actors, but people too,” says the actor, adding, “As for Akshaye, we discussed theatre and a lot of other things. Sara was in awe of everyone, but there’s an uncanny confidence about her.”
Dhurandhar 2 and its violence
Dhurandhar 2 is slated for release on March 19, 2026, and Rakesh says that there’s a lot more in store. “Despite fierce opposition from Rahman Dakait (Akshaye) and other political bigwigs, you’ve seen how Jameel has been able to place Hamza at the helm of affairs. Although now that he realises Hamza is working according to his fancy, he might pull his strings…he might pull the carpet also (laughs). I won’t tell you more than that,” he chuckles.
Dhurandhar has seen an outpouring of love and a smidge of criticism over the violence in the film, which involves driving hooks through people’s skin, crushing heads with weights and drowning them in a vat of broth. “Did Ram kill Ravan without any violence? Now there’s a villain who’s fierce, and people are terrified of him, of course, there’ll be violence on both sides, na?” reasons Rakesh, adding, “You’re not telling a story, you’re showing it. If you’re basing it on real events, it can’t be wrapped up in a day.”
Rakesh also states that Dhurandhar is the kind of film that doesn’t glorify violence but needs it to tell the story. “Vo kya seeti marne se mar jayega? (Can he be killed by a whistle?) One must understand that violence in the film serves a purpose. Even the way the villains kill their opponents in Lyari is scary. If you’re killing a man like that simply, what do you need Ranveer for? Mujhse hi marwa dete, main hi kar deta (Get him killed by me, I’d do it),”
It’s A Boy! Bharti Singh And Haarsh Limbachiyaa Welcome Their Second Child, Three Years After Son Gola’s Birth
Comedian and TV personality Bharti Singh and her husband, writer-producer Haarsh Limbachiyaa, have joyfully announced the arrival of their second child, a baby boy, bringing immense happiness to their family and fans. The couple, who are already proud parents to their first son Lakshya (affectionately called Gola), welcomed their newborn on Friday, December 19, 2025.
Bharti, widely recognised for her impeccable comic timing on shows like Comedy Circus, Comedy Nights Bachao and The Kapil Sharma Show, has built a strong presence on Indian television over the years. Haarsh, her partner both personally and professionally, has worked alongside her as a screenwriter and producer on several projects.
The couple shared the news of their second child’s birth on social media, where fans and fellow celebrities quickly poured in their congratulatory messages. This new addition marks a special milestone for the duo, who had previously announced Bharti’s pregnancy in October 2025 with a heartwarming Instagram post featuring the expectant mother’s baby bump and the caption “We are pregnant again.” The announcement garnered widespread love and excitement from followers across platforms.
On Thursday, Shilpa Shetty’s advocate Prashant Patil issued a statement to refute buzz around an income tax raid at her home in Mumbai.
Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra’s names have emerged in the ₹60 crore cheating case.
After reports began doing the rounds that income tax officials had conducted a search at actor Shilpa Shetty’s Mumbai home in connection with a ₹60 crore fraud probe, the actor’s legal team has come forward to dismiss the claims.
Shilpa Shetty’s advocate denies
On Thursday, Shilpa Shetty’s advocate Prashant Patil issued a statement to refute buzz around an income tax raid at her home in Mumbai, claiming it was merely a “routine verification” conducted by authorities.
“On behalf of my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra I can confirm that there is no Income Tax “ Raid “ of whatsoever nature against my client . There is a routine verification by the income tax officials pertaining to follow up with my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra,” Prashant said in the statement.
He added, “Whomsoever has mischievously claimed in public domain that these developments have anything to do with the alleged Economic Offence Wing case shall face legal consequences before the appropriate court of law. At the cost of repetition, my client Mrs Shilpa Shetty Kundra states that there is no income tax “ RAID “ at her place.”
However, her lawyer firmly maintained that no searches were conducted and described the visit as a “routine verification.”
The statement came after several reports suggested that Income‑Tax searches were underway on entities owned or operated by Shilpa Shetty and her husband, Raj Kundra, across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Pune and Mumbai. Earlier on Thursday, sources claimed that income tax officials had searched Shilpa’s residence in connection with a case linked to her restaurant brand, Bastian.
The developments come in the wake of action by the Bengaluru police, who recently booked two pubs, including Bastian Garden City, co-owned by Shilpa Shetty, for allegedly operating beyond permitted hours. Bastian Pub was founded by Bastian Hospitality, owned by businessman Ranjit Bindra, with Shilpa acquiring a 50 per cent stake in the venture in 2019.
What do we know about the case
Raj Kundra and his actor-wife Shilpa Shetty are facing Mumbai police probe in a ₹60-crore criminal breach of trust case. Recently, they were also charged with cheating, officials said on Wednesday. Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW), probing the case, has invoked a cheating charge against the high-profile couple in addition to criminal breach of trust.
According to an official, earlier the case was registered under section 406 of the IPC (punishment for criminal breach of trust) against the celebrity couple, and after investigation, section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) has been added. They were booked under the IPC as the case was filed before the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) came into force on July 1, 2024.
The case was registered on a complaint filed by a 60-year-old businessman, Deepak Kothari, a resident of Mumbai’s Juhu, alleging he was duped of ₹60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal linked to the now-defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd (where Raj and Shilpa were directors). The EOW has already recorded statements of Raj and Shilpa in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Raj, on his verified X handle, denied allegations against him and his wife, and dubbed them baseless. “We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated. The issues sought to be raised are being given a criminal colour without any lawful basis,” he said in a post.
Veteran actor Rakesh Bedi, who appears in Dhurandhar, has reacted to the criticism surrounding his video with co-star Sara Arjun. A clip from the trailer launch showed Bedi kissing the 20-year-old actress’s shoulder as she greeted him, which sparked backlash online and has now prompted a response from the actor.
Rakesh Bedi On Viral Video With Sara Arjun
Dhurandhar actor Rakesh Bedi has addressed the online criticism over a video featuring him and his onscreen daughter, actress Sara Arjun. The clip, filmed at the actioner’s trailer launch, showed Bedi kissing the 20-year-old actor’s shoulder while greeting her. Fans claimed she appeared visibly uncomfortable before moving from beside Bedi to stand in the middle with others. The moment quickly went viral, drawing backlash across social media. Now, Bedi has clarified his stance.
Rakesh Bedi BREAKS SILENCE On Backlash Over ‘Kissing’ Sara Arjun
He told Hindustan Times, “Sara is less than half my age and plays my daughter. Whenever we met during the shoot, she would greet me with a hug, just as a daughter would with her father. We share a nice rapport and camaraderie, which is also reflected on screen,” says an incensed Rakesh.
“It was no different that day, but people are not seeing the affection there. The affection of an elderly man towards a young girl. Dekhne wale ki aankh mein gadbad hai to kya kar sakte ho (What can you do when people perceive it wrongly)?” he added.
The Yess Boss actor also questioned why he would behave with any ill intent towards her on a public stage, especially when her parents were present. He said people tend to exaggerate such moments on social media and create controversies out of nothing. Clarifying that he was not trying to defend himself, he added that his long body of work and the connection it has built with audiences speaks for him. He said fans’ admiration matters far more to him than online criticism.
The video shows the Pakistan Peoples Party chief welcoming people on stage. The song “FA9LA” by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi was originally released on May 30. Ironically, Bhutto’s own Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has filed a legal challenge against the film in a Karachi court, questioning the use of images of the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
Left: Bilawal Bhutto Right: Akshaye Khanna |
Ranveer Singh–starrer Dhurandhar, which has been banned in Pakistan and several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, has nevertheless gained massive popularity in Islamabad, particularly the song FA9LA featuring Akshaye Khanna.
On one hand, politicians in Pakistan are filing cases against the film over its alleged “anti-Pakistan” stance; on the other, a video has surfaced on social media showing a song from the film being played at a party in Pakistan. Former Pakistani foreign affairs minister Bilawal Bhutto is also seen at the event. The video shows the Pakistan Peoples Party chief welcoming people on stage. The song “FA9LA” by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi was originally released on May 30.
A song from #Dhurandhar was played during the entry of Pakistani politician Bilawal Bhutto — and that alone says a lot.
On one hand, cases are being filed against this film in Pakistani courts.
On the other hand, they’re openly playing its songs at public events. 😭
Ironically, Bhutto’s own Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has filed a legal challenge against the film in a Karachi court, questioning the use of images of the late former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Bilawal Bhutto’s mother. The petition seeks the registration of an FIR against the cast and crew of the film.
Avatar: Fire and Ash, directed by James Cameron, is set to become the 3rd installment in the sci-fi epic franchise, releasing on December 19, 2025.
Avatar Fire and Ash (PC: Avatar, X)
Avatar: Fire and Ash pre-sales in India are looking for momentum. The James Cameron-directed threequel has sold nearly 100K tickets at the national chains for the first day. If the film doesn’t breach it tonight, it should get there by tomorrow morning update. The sales are spread well over the weekend, with nearly 225K tickets sold.
Although these numbers are big, they kinda pale in comparison with Avatar: The Way of Water. At the same point before release, Avatar 2 has sold 230K tickets at the national chains for the opening day. It eventually finished at 330K tickets. Avatar 3 seemed to have gotten some momentum during the weekend, from where 200K final sales appeared to be achievable. However, since then, it hasn’t gone that way, and now looking more likely to close around 150-165K tickets, depending on what sort of pick it gets tomorrow.
Avatar 3 was expected to drop from Avatar 2, but not to this degree. For first-day sales, the film is trailing behind The Conjuring 4 this year, which sold over 225K tickets at national chains. For the weekend, it will be ahead because sales are better spread, but it should be well ahead on the first day as well, because Avatar is a huge franchise in India, likely the second biggest after the MCU.
In an exclusive conversation with Times Now’s Editor-In-Chief Navika Kumar, Dhurandhar’s FA9LA song singer Flipperachi called Indians ‘best people’.
Flipperachi, who sang FA9LA from Dhurandhar. (Credit: Instagram)
Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar has taken the entire country by storm. The film has so far crossed the Rs 430 crore mark at the box office. Apart from action, the film’s FA9LA song sung by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi has been trending on the internet ever since its clip from the film went viral on social media. Now, Flipperachi recently had an exclusive conversation with Times Now Group Editor-in-Chief Navika Kumar, where he revealed that he has been getting offers from India.
FA9LA singer Flipperachi loves Indians
During a candid conversation with us, rapper Flipperachi confessed that he has been receiving a lot of offers from India to perform after the big success of his song, FA9LA, in Dhurandhar. For the unversed, the song became even more famous due to Akshaye Khanna’s amazing dance performance on it in the Aditya Dhar-directed film.
When asked whether he is getting any offers from India, Flipperachi said, “I have been getting a lot of invitations to perform in India after FA9LA’s success after Dhurandhar’s release. We are just looking for the right time to come to India and rock the stage.”
While expressing his love for India and Indians, the rapper further stated, “Our entertainment is being appreciated. You guys know art. Indians are the best people who know art in the region. To be honest, you guys are the masters of entertainment.” Now, fans are eagerly waiting to see FA9LA performing live on Indian soil.
Known for fiercely guarding his personal space, Akshaye Khanna is not active on social media and is seldom spotted at public events or industry gatherings. Unlike many of his contemporaries, the actor prefers to let his work speak for itself, making such appearances, albeit indirect, particularly noteworthy for fans
As Dhurandhar continues its phenomenal run at the box office, actor Akshaye Khanna marked the moment on a personal note by performing a Vastu Shanti Hawan at his bungalow in Alibaug. Reportedly, visuals from the religious ceremony were recently shared on Instagram by priest Shivam Mhatre. The videos offered a rare glimpse into the actor’s otherwise extremely private life.
Known for fiercely guarding his personal space, Akshaye is not active on social media and is seldom spotted at public events or industry gatherings. Unlike many of his contemporaries, the actor prefers to let his work speak for itself, making such appearances, albeit indirect, particularly noteworthy for fans.
Over the last few years, Akshaye has quietly built an impressive body of work, consistently earning praise for his nuanced and powerful performances. With Dhurandhar, the actor has once again proved why he is regarded as one of the most dependable performers in the industry. His portrayal of Rehman Dakait has emerged as one of the film’s biggest highlights. He has been receiving praise from both audiences and critics.
Adding to the film’s buzz is the song FA9LA, which has gone viral on social media. Akshaye’s screen presence in the track has struck a chord with viewers. Fans have been flooding social media platforms with clips and reactions, calling his performance chilling, restrained, and unforgettable.
In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, she speaks about unexpected audience reactions, working with Kunal Kemmu, trusting silences as an actor, and why fulfilment on set matters as much as applause outside it.
Three days after Single Papa dropped on OTT, actor Aisha Ahmed is still processing the wave of emotion the show has stirred among viewers. Known for her grounded, relatable performances, Aisha plays Dr Shreya, a calm, non-judgmental presence in a story that explores single parenting, relationships, and emotional responsibility without preaching. In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, she speaks about unexpected audience reactions, working with Kunal Kemmu, trusting silences as an actor, and why fulfilment on set matters as much as applause outside it.
Q. It’s been three days since Single Papa released. What’s been the most unexpected reaction or message you’ve received so far?
One of the most unexpected reactions was a reel I came across just yesterday. It showed two very young kids, a brother and sister, I’m guessing, around five or six years old, sitting and crying while watching the last scene.
I know the show is emotional, and even while shooting that scene, all of us were tearing up. But seeing such young children not just watch the show, but connect with it emotionally, really touched me. They may not fully understand the social commentary, but they felt something, and that felt very special.
Q. The show presents relationships in shades of grey. Did working on Single Papa change how you look at partnership, parenting, or emotional responsibility?
Honestly, I had never thought about it so deeply before. Like most people, when I imagined parenting, I only thought of the cute parts: playing with my baby, watching them grow up.
But watching the show made me realise how difficult it really is. What stood out for me was the portrayal of a single father. I grew up with a single mother, and for me, that experience was wonderful. I never felt like I was missing out.
After watching Single Papa, I thought that even having a single father wouldn’t be a bad thing. You see so much love in Gaurav’s character for the baby. It definitely shifted my perspective and made me think differently about family structures.
Q. Did portraying Dr Shreya challenge any preconceived notions you had about relationships or family?
It actually helped me more than it challenged me. Shreya is divorced, and Gaurav’s character is also divorced and chooses to be a single parent. Because of my own life experiences, these things were always normal for me.
I never saw divorce as the end of someone’s life, which society often tends to do. That openness really helped me play Shreya. She is not judgmental. She likes Gaurav for who he is: open-minded, kind, and charming. My personal experiences made it easier to bring that honesty to the character.
Q. The show lets silences speak instead of over-explaining emotions. Was it difficult to trust those pauses as an actor?
Not emotionally, no. The emotions were quite simple and clear. Shreya is very straightforward; she even says she prefers straight lines over circles. That part came naturally.
What I was unsure about was that everyone else was playing into the comedy, while my character was very serious and normal. I kept asking the directors if it was okay that I wasn’t being funny. I worried that people might not even notice me.
One of the directors, Hitesh, told me that Shreya is like the audience observing everything. Once he said that, I completely let go and trusted the writing and direction.
Q. Was there a scene that stayed with you even after the shoot wrapped?
Definitely the last scene, when Mrs Nehru takes baby Amul away. We were all very attached to the baby, Hami Ali Hamil, who played Amul. Everyone held him every day.
While shooting that scene, the entire set was emotional. Kunal actually broke down, and it felt very real. I remember looking at Suhail, who was my closest friend on set, and his tears just wouldn’t stop. That scene stayed with all of us, even after watching the final cut.
Q. Your scenes with Kunal Kemmu rely more on chemistry than confrontation. How did that equation develop?
I met Kunal briefly during the readings and then directly on set. We weren’t friends before, and that taught me something important: acting is acting.
I used to believe that personal bonding was necessary for chemistry on screen, but this experience proved otherwise. We just did our scenes sincerely. The writing was simple and honest, and we trusted that. I think that’s what made it work.
Q. You often play emotionally grounded characters. Is that a conscious choice?
I think it happens organically. Maybe because that’s who I am, auditions for such roles work out for me. It’s also about how people perceive you as an actor.
My friends often tell me I look very mature on screen, even though I’m not like that in real life. I think it’s a mix of my own personality and how the industry sees me.
Q. Do you think Indian storytelling has moved beyond stereotypes for women?
I think this shift started years ago, especially after the OTT boom. Even Adulting focused on women beyond clichés. Being modern was never reduced to just drinking or smoking.
Today, it also depends on the makers what story they want to tell. Sometimes, just letting a woman exist without explaining her choices is powerful.
Q. After intense shoots, how do you unwind?
I need one video call with my three-person group chat. That’s my therapy. Every small and big thing is shared there. I don’t think I could function without it.
Ranveer Singh Kantara Controversy: Rishab Shetty reacts to Kantara Chaundi imitation, stressing the sacredness of Daivas and urging respect for Tulu and Bhoota Kola traditions.
Rishab Shetty says he feels uncomfortable when sacred daiva rituals are mimicked.
Ranveer Singh Kantara Controversy: Weeks after Ranveer Singh apologised for mimicking daivas during an event, Kantara director-actor Rishab Shetty has now said that it makes him ‘uncomfortable’ when somebody tries to enact his culture and tradition aspects. Shetty was speaking at an event recently when he explained that Daivas are sacred and therefore, people must not mock them by trying to perform them without guidance.
“That makes me uncomfortable. While much of the film is cinema and performance, the daiva element is sensitive and sacred. Wherever I go, I request people not to perform it on stage or mock it. It is emotionally deeply connected to us,” he said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
Even though Shetty did not name anyone, it should be noted that his comment comes days after Ranveer Singh faced backlash for breaking into an imitation of the popular Chaundi moment from Kantara during a session at IFFI. Singh referred to the character as a “female ghost”, crossed his eyes, stuck his tongue out, and added his own “primordial scream” as Rishab Shetty laughed beside him. He even joked, “Anybody here want to see me in Kantara 3? Tell this guy,” pointing at Shetty.
The clip went viral quickly, following which, netizens expressed disappointment. Singh also issued an apology and said, “I intended to highlight Rishabh’s incredible performance in the film. Actor to actor, I know how much it would take to perform that particular scene in the way that he did, for which he has my utmost admiration. I have always deeply respected every culture, tradition and belief in our country. If I’ve hurt anyone’s sentiments, I sincerely apologise.”
Ranveer Singh’s Old ‘Kar Lo Thodi Zyada Shooting’ Remark Resurfaces Amid Deepika Padukone’s 8-Hour Work Shift Row
Amid ongoing debates in Bollywood about working hours on film sets, an old video of Ranveer Singh discussing long shooting schedules has gone viral. The clip, originally from a 2022 conversation with Bollywood Hungama, resurfaced recently as his film Dhurandhar enjoys major box-office success. In it, Ranveer talks candidly about shooting beyond the typical eight-hour day, saying that when the desired work can’t be completed within eight hours, people should “just shoot a bit more.”
At the time, he acknowledged that fellow artists and their teams often joke he “ruins everyone” by sometimes working 10–12-hour shifts, which then sets an expectation for others on set. Still, he emphasised that his approach isn’t transactional; if more time is needed to get the job done well, he doesn’t mind putting in the extra hours.
The resurfacing of this video comes amid a controversy sparked by his wife, Deepika Padukone, who has recently been in the news for advocating eight-hour work shifts, especially after becoming a mother. Reports say she walked away from high-profile projects like Spirit and the Kalki 2898 AD sequel when producers could not accommodate this request.
Actor Anuj Sachdeva shared a shocking video on Instagram, showing him being attacked by a resident in his Goregaon society. The man, claiming his dog had bitten him, was seen abusing Anuj and repeatedly hitting him with a stick. Security intervened, but the resident continued to abuse and even threatened to kill him. Anuj wrote, “I’m bleeding from my head.”
Actor Anuj Sachdeva, known for his roles in hit TV shows Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai, Saath Nibhaana Saathiya, and Mann Kee Awaaz Pratigya, shared a shocking video on his Instagram on Sunday evening, December 14, showing him being attacked by a resident of his Goregaon, Mumbai, society. The resident, alleging that Anuj’s dog had bitten him, became angry and repeatedly abused him.
Anuj Sachdeva Attacked In Goregaon
The video further showed the man picking up a stick and aggressively hitting Anuj while continuing to abuse him. In anger, the man was heard saying, “Kutte, se katwayega?” A woman’s voice in the background called out for watchmen. Soon after, two security guards rushed in and pulled the man away from Anuj.
As Anuj recorded the entire incident, the man threatened to kill him. Later, an injured Anuj spoke to the camera, saying that he had been assaulted.
Anuj Sachdeva: ‘I Am Bleeding From My Head’
Sharing the video, Anuj wrote, “I am posting this evidence before this person tries to do any damage to me or my property. He tried hitting my dog and me for parking wrong place in the society. Harmony mall residency. Goregaon w This person is from A wing flat 602. Kindly share with ppl who can take action. I am bleeding from my head.”
Celebs React
After Anuj shared the video on his Instagram, several celebrities expressed concern for the actor by commenting on the post. Actress, content creator Nauheed Cyrusi wrote, “Are you ok? Also he needs to get help…seriously.” Ishitta Arun said, “@apnanuj are you ok ? Please update us. Praying for your safety also we need to identify this man! Anyone who knows pls tag or share widely.”
Vivan Bhathena said, “Naam de de..police case kar de.” Kishwer Merchant commented, “Omg .. This is insane .. are u ok?” While many celebrities also urged Anuj to file a complaint against the man and even tagged the Mumbai Police under his post, seeking immediate action.
Lionel Messi’s GOAT India Tour 2025 begins in Kolkata on December 13, followed by a visit to Hyderabad later the same day. The football legend then travels to Mumbai on December 14 before concluding his India tour in New Delhi on December 15.
Lionel Messi | Instagram/IFFI
Lionel Messi kickstarted his much-anticipated ‘GOAT India Tour 2025’ with a visit to Kolkata on December 13. The football icon is scheduled to travel to Mumbai on December 14, followed by a stop in New Delhi on December 15. The Argentine legend’s India visit is expected to be attended by several prominent Indian celebrities. Here’s a look at who all are likely to be present:
Shah Rukh Khan met and felicitated Lionel Messi during his Kolkata visit. The football icon also met the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, later in Hyderabad. Messi received a grand welcome from Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy at the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad.
In Mumbai, Bollywood stars Tiger Shroff and John Abraham are expected to join the Argentine legend. According to Sporting News, a paddle game may also be organised, featuring cricketers Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Sachin Tendulkar.
As per Filmfare’s report, Kareen Kapoor is also expected to meet Messi in Mumbai. Many are speculating this since the actress is often seen discussing about her sons Taimur and Jeh being fond of Messi.
On December 15, Messi is scheduled to visit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence. The GOAT India Tour will conclude with a celebrity match.
At the Red Sea Film Festival, Salman Khan joked that he “can’t act” and believes fans laugh when he cries on screen.
Salman Khan jokes about his acting at the Red Sea Film Festival 2025.
Salman Khan may have walked the Red Sea International Film Festival red carpet like a global superstar, but once on stage, he dropped a revelation that instantly had the audience protesting. Known for his larger-than-life image and superstardom across generations, Salman surprised fans by openly laughing at his own acting skills — triggering a moment that quickly became the highlight of the festival conversation.
Instead of speaking about fame, legacy or hits, the actor chose to poke fun at himself, admitting he doesn’t see himself as a great performer and even believes people laugh when he cries on screen. The crowd disagreed loudly, turning the interaction into a heart-warming mix of humour, honesty and fan love.
Salman Says He Isn’t a ‘Great Actor’
During the session, Salman openly joked about his skills, insisting he never tries to “act.”
He said, “Acting has also left this generation. Toh mujhe nahi lagta ki main koi bahut hi kamaal ka actor hoon. You can catch me doing anything, but you can’t catch me acting. Woh hoti hi nahi mujhse. Jaisa feel hota hai, waise karta hoon. Bas yahi hai.”
When the host asked the audience if they agreed, the entire hall loudly said “no,” prompting Salman to share another moment of self-deprecating humour.
He added, “Kabhi-kabhi jab main rota hoon, mujhe lagta hai aap log mujh par hans dete ho.”
SRK Praises Alia Bhatt at the Same Event — and So Does Salman
Salman also spoke on the red carpet about attending the festival, saying he enjoys visiting Saudi Arabia and appreciates the cultural exchange the festival creates.
“I love it here. I like Saudi. A lot of people here like the culture. It’s nice. I keep on visiting this place quite a bit nowadays. So it’s good.”
Sharvari also spoke about the best part of being an actor. She made her Bollywood debut with Bunty Aur Babli 2 and has worked in Munjya, Maharaj, and Vedaa.
Fans will see Sharvari and Alia Bhatt in Alpha.
Actor Sharvari has opened up on working with “superstar” Alia Bhatt in their upcoming film Alpha. Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar India, Sharvari said by sharing screen space with Alia, she has learnt “so much.” Talking about working with Alia in Alpha, Sharvari said that it was a “dream come true for me as I got to understand her process.”
Sharvari opens up about being an actor
She also spoke about the best part of being an actor. “Every role has definitely taught me something. The best part about being an actor is that you get to learn something new every time, whether that’s a skill set, broadening your emotional quotient, or just meeting new people—you get to learn every single day on a film set,” she said.
Sharvari talks about working with Alia Bhatt
Sharvari added that she can’t wait to use the skills she learnt from Alia in a different set. “Just to share screen space with a superstar like Alia Bhatt has taught me so much that I’m actually itching to go on different sets and be able to use the kind of skills that I have seen or learned from her. It was a dream come true for me as I got to understand her process and know her as a person,” Sharvari added.
Dhurandhar bases its story in Pakistan to dissect terror attacks in India, which makes it unique. The film traces the trail of the 26/11 carnage from Lyari to Mumbai.
Ranveer SIngh in Dhurandhar (Film still)
Love it or hate it, if you have watched Dhurandhar you’ve noticed it comes across as a different Hindi film. You realise it is a violent drama, a spy thriller and a film that highlights cross-border terrorism within the mainstream space, yet you might just struggle over what exactly makes Dhurandhar a different viewing experience within its genre of pop patriotism.
The answer actually is simple: Dhurandhar is the first Hindi film that looks at India’s terror problem from the other side of the border.
View from the other side
It’s a film based in Pakistan about terror attacks in India, which makes it unique. Never mind writer-director Aditya Dhar went scouting in Thailand for locations, his fictional universe in Dhurandhar unfolds a fascinating picture of Lyari, Karachi, while laying bare the nefarious planning, execution, and supply of manpower and illegal arms associated with a real-life tragedy like 26/11 in India. There have been many Bollywood films about the Mumbai attacks of November 2008 but all such efforts so far have looked at carnage and courage with India as a backdrop.
Aamir Khan’s Sarfarosh an early film to name Pakistan
While most commercial Bollywood films dealing with terrorism before Dhurandhar attempted to understand the menace from an Indian perspective, one of the first prominent films to look Pakistan in the eye was Sarfarosh in 1999. The John Matthew Matthan directorial shook off the pretence of referring to the source of terror as “pardesi mulk” or “dushman desh” or “sarhad paar”, and squarely named Pakistan as a significant source of terror activity in India. That was the start, and the film did a credible job of showing how weapons are illegally smuggled from across the border and delivered to destructive forces in the country. The plot broadly dealt with a top team of special operatives, led by Aamir Khan’s ACP Ajay Singh Rathod, tracking and busting the trail.
Sarfarosh was a start, a film that set off the trend of Bollywood screenplays with terrorism as a subject, packaging to keep the drama real. John Matthew Matthan’s screenwriting did away with larger-than-life vibes – especially while imagining Aamir’s Ajay Singh Rathod, a usually shy guy who seamlessly transforms into a fiery cop, and Naseeruddin Shah’s wolf-in-sheepskin act as ghazal maestro Gulfam Hassan, who turns out to be an ISI agent and conduit for weapon traffickers.
It is important to talk of Sarfarosh to understand where Dhurandhar is coming from. The Ranveer Singh-starrer, put simply, takes to the next level what Sarfarosh openly started in Bollywood all those years ago – a conversation around Pakistan’s involvement in terror carnage striking India. Only, Aditya Dhar takes his lens to the source of such activity and doesn’t desist from depicting gore as never before.
Kandahar to Lyari: Genesis of the war on terror
Aditya Dhar makes it clear right at the outset that Dhurandhar intends to understand India’s terror problem from the viewpoint of its foreign origin. The film starts with a shot of IC 814, the Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked by members of Harkat-ul-Mujahideen in December 1999. The aircraft, originally flying from Kathmandu to Delhi, was forced to land in Kandahar, Afghanistan, after detours. Many reports have claimed there might have been the involvement of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
Among India’s negotiators during the real-life saga was Ajit Doval, who is said to have inspired R. Madhavan’s character Ajay Sanyal in Dhurandhar. In a pivotal scene at the end of the film, Sanyal lays out the genesis of Operation Dhurandhar: “Jab bhi Pakistani ISI kisi terrorist organisation se India pe hamla karwati hai, kaam aati hai unke underworld. Isi liye in gangs ko infiltrate karne se ISI ki involvement ki intel humein first hand milti rahegi (whenever the Pakistani ISI uses any terrorist organisation to attack India, their underworld is of use. So, infiltrating these gangs will let us obtain intel on ISI involvement first hand).”
The line explains most of what happens throughout the film, justifying the course of action that Ranveer Singh’s Hamza Ali Mazari resorts to once he lands in Lyari.
Lyari’s gang war sets tone for Dhurandhar
For most of its runtime, Dhurandhar unfolds as a gang war saga set in Lyari, with a focus on the unholy nexus between politicians, gangsters and businessmen. The drama and action, at times ranging from parkour to gore, come alive in the crowded locality with dusty bylanes and an assortment of shops, juicewallahs, sweetmeat sellers, and an unending cluster of kuccha-pucca houses. Real places like Kakri Ground find mention, as does a Lyari’s tradition of football in a scene where Ranveer tries a quick Ronaldo flip with the ball. Erstwhile Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto finds mention in the news on radio and her face features next to fictitious politicians on screen.
Cricket and pop culture references thrive in the lairs of Lyari, too, blending with the violence. Whiffs of Usha Uthup’s Rambha ho! from the 1981 film Armaan waft through the air and a poster of Imran Khan, a global superstar cricketer back then, appears on an auto. These are instantly identifiable and define the milieu where Hamza quietly arrives and settles down.
Lyari would seem like the old section of any metropolitan city except, the film tells you, it isn’t just that. Beneath its dingy old-world madness bustles an illegal weapon factory that caters to, among others, what a Pakistani character in the film refers to as “Azaad Kashmir”. Lyari is also shown to be the root of a counterfeit trail for Indian currency in the film, from Karachi to Uttar Pradesh, via Nepal and other borders.
Rehman Dakait and ISI
This world of chaos is one Rehman Dakait will rule. The idea is simple: Hamza impresses Rehman Dakait, Sher-e-Baloch to his people, in the gang war against the Pathans, and helps him wrest power in Lyari. This way, he wins the Baloch leader’s trust. As the operative line in the film goes: Whoever rules Lyari, rules Karachi; and whoever rules Karachi rules Pakistan. So, when Rehman, played with characteristic elan by Akshaye Khanna, comes to power, Hamza is automatically escalated to the proximity of the power points that use Lyari’s gangsters to wreak havoc in India.
“ISI ke khidmad mein hum hamesha tayyar khade hain (we are always ready to serve the ISI),” Rehman tells Arjun Rampal’s Major Iqbal, an intelligence bigwig who comes seeking Dakait’s help for a 26/11-type action the next year around Independence Day in Amritsar.
Bleed India motto and 26/11 massacre
Arjun Rampal’s Iqbal gets to carry out what is arguably the film’s most gory scene – the one that opened the trailer – where he brutally skins a captured Indian spy. The scene, in its wake, highlights the Pakistani military doctrine, “Bleed India with a Thousand Cuts.” Iqbal mouths the line in the scene with relish. Dhurandhar suggests it all perhaps started with the motto.
Lionel Messi will be visiting India as part of the GOAT India Tour.
Shah Rukh Khan to meet Lionel Messi in Kolkata on Dec 13.
Shah Rukh Khan has confirmed that he will be meeting football legend Lionel Messi during his visit to Kolkata. On Thursday, the Bollywood superstar took to his X handle and revealed that he will be meeting Messi at the Salt Lake Stadium on December 13.
“This time round not planning my Knight in Kolkata… and hoping the day ride is completely ‘Messi’. See you guys on the 13th at the Salt Lake Stadium,” he wrote. For the unversed, Lionel Messi will be visiting India as part of the GOAT India Tour.
This time round not planning my Knight in Kolkata…. and hoping the day Ride is completely ‘Messi’.
See you guys on the 13th at the Salt Lake Stadium.
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan’s post about meeting Messi has left fans super excited. Reacting to the post, one of the users wrote, “Sir, you just show up… Bengal’s crowd will take care of making the day truly ‘Messi’!” “Meet up of both biggest megastars of their respective fields,” added another. “Salt Lake Stadium is about to witness magic!” a third comment read.
Shah Rukh Khan’s Upcoming Project – King
Shah Rukh Khan will soon be seen in King, which will also star Suhana Khan in the lead. Among others, Raghav Juyal Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Rani Mukerji, Jaideep Ahlawat, Arshad Warsi, Akshay Oberoi, Jackie Shroff and Karanvir Malhotra will also feature in the movie. Munjya star Abhay Verma will also play a key role in the film.
Ranveer Singh’s spy thriller Dhurandhar has been banned in six Gulf countries due to its anti-Pakistan messaging. Despite the ban, the film continues to perform strongly at the Indian box office.
Despite the Gulf setback, Dhurandhar continues to perform strongly at home. (Screengrab – Youtube/JioStudios)
Ranveer Singh’s new spy thriller Dhurandhar may be drawing crowds in India, but its international journey, especially in the Middle East, has hit a wall. The film has been blocked across six Gulf countries — Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — after authorities reportedly objected to its anti-Pakistan messaging.
The sweeping ban has revived a familiar debate over how Indian films dealing with cross-border themes face heightened scrutiny in the Middle East.
According to reports, the makers attempted to secure a theatrical release across the Gulf, a crucial market for Bollywood, but clearance was denied everywhere.
“There were apprehensions that this would happen as the film is perceived as an ‘anti-Pakistan film’. The team still made an attempt, but none of the countries approved the film’s theme. That’s why Dhurandhar hasn’t been released in any Gulf territory,” a source told Bollywood Hungama.
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier, films such as Fighter, Sky Force, The Diplomat, Article 370, Tiger 3 and The Kashmir Files have faced similar restrictions across parts of the Middle East. Even Fighter, initially released in the UAE, was pulled within a day, and a revised cut was rejected.
Despite the Gulf setback, Dhurandhar continues to perform strongly at home. The film has crossed the Rs 200 crore net mark in India within a week and earned Rs 44.5 crore overseas, excluding the Gulf market.
After six years away from direction, director Aditya Dhar returned with Dhurandhar, his first film since the 2019 hit Uri: The Surgical Strike. The project stirred rumours that it was based on Major Mohit Sharma, but Dhar pushed back, saying the story comes from real geopolitics and covert R&AW missions.
‘He Was Nothing In Front Of Aslam’: Noreen Aslam Criticizes Rehman Dakait’s Portrayal In Dhurandhar
Noreen Aslam — widow of late Karachi police officer Chaudhry Aslam — has expressed strong objections to how Rehman Dakait is depicted in the film Dhurandhar. While the movie is garnering widespread attention, especially for the intense performance of Akshaye Khanna as Rehman, Noreen insists the portrayal is wildly exaggerated and misleading.
On a Pakistani podcast, she stated bluntly:
“Rehman is not as big a don as portrayed in the movie. He was nothing in front of Aslam. Everyone knows about the murders he did in public view but still he wasn’t a big deal. He was powerful only in a specific area.”
Noreen reiterated that although Dakait was indeed a criminal — involved in extortion and kidnappings — he was never the larger-than-life figure the film makes him out to be. She contrasted this with her husband’s legacy: Chaudhry Aslam was a courageous and respected police officer whose name struck fear in criminals and terrorists alike.
Moreover, she took issue with derogatory language reportedly used in the film to describe her husband — words she called disrespectful not only to him, but also to his mother. She added that if she finds any misrepresentation or what she considers propaganda in the movie, she will not hesitate to take legal action.
The film presents Rehman Dakait (born Sardar Abdul Rehman Baloch) as a ruthless gangster from Karachi’s Lyari area who allegedly committed heinous acts — including the murder of his own mother, and even more gruesome acts of violence. After his death at age 34 in a police shootout, his cousin Uzair Baloch is said to have taken over the gang.
Sachet-Parampara Hit Back At Amaal Mallik Over Copying Allegation, Say ‘Shame On You’ In Response
Amaal Mallik is currently under fire after Sachet‑Parampara publicly refuted his claims that their hit song Bekhayali from Kabir Singh was lifted from one of his earlier tracks.
Amaal had asserted — in a candid interview — that the tunes in “Bekhayali” drew heavily from his old melodies, expressing frustration at what he described as the “politics” of the music industry, where labels and certain influential singers dictate whose work sees the light of day. According to him, despite being locked in to score six songs for “Kabir Singh”, only one made it to the final release — a situation he felt was unfair.
But Sachet-Parampara didn’t take the allegations lightly. They released a seven-minute video clip with what they claim is solid proof — including message screenshots — showing that Amaal had earlier congratulated them on “Bekhayali” and praised it. They strongly denied ever borrowing from his songs. Their message was clear: “This place is only for those who deliver good work … Not that we comment on someone else, take someone else’s credits … or defame someone else for something.”
Taylor Swift was spotted heading to dinner at Chez Margaux on Tuesday evening in New York City. BACKGRID
Taylor Swift and Este Haim were spotted stepping out for a stylish dinner on Tuesday evening.
The “Opalite” songstress and Haim were pictured arriving at the upscale eatery Chez Margaux in the Big Apple, just days before Swift’s 36th birthday.
Swift rocked a black high-necked top, layered with an oversized black Louis Vuitton coat and knee-high black boots for the outing.
The bride-to-be finished the look with a pair of sheer black stockings, a cranberry manicure and discreet hoop earrings.
The “Cruel Summer” hitmaker, 35, wore her signature bright red lipstick and styled her hair in loose waves. Fellow hitmaker Haim, 39, donned a navy blue trench coat over what appeared to be a black dress, pairing the look with copper-toned stiletto heels. She wore her hair in a casual ponytail.
In a social media clip circulating on X, the pair was seen emerging from a silver SUV to an explosion of camera flashes before heading into the restaurant.
The girls’ night out is the latest in a string of high-profile outings for the pop icon. Last month, Swift was spotted stepping out with Sabrina Carpenter for dinner at The Corner Store, during which she precariously balanced a pair of platform Gucci heels.
She was also seen stepping out in November with pal Gigi Hadid to members-only club Zero Bond in New York City.
Prior to that, Swift was photographed with friend Ashley Avignone, sparking fan rumors that the dinners were a way to ask her closest pals to be her bridesmaids when she marries fiancé Travis Kelce in June.
“all these dinners with her girls… it’s giving collecting your bridesmaids,” one fan remarked in an X post featuring pics of Swift and Carpenter stepping out.
Another fan commented on Swift on separate outings with Carpenter, Avignone and Hadid, “Wait… are we really witnessing the bridesmaid dinners? Lol.”
Later that month, the US Sun reported that Swift selected Hadid and BFF Selena Gomez to be her first two bridesmaids.
Akshaye Khanna’s Dhurandhar co-star Danish Pandor recalled how the actor left everyone stunned on set with his improvisation in Fa9la song.
Akshaye Khanna’s Dhurandhar co-star reveals everyone was stunned with the actor’s improvisation in the movie.
Bollywood actor Akshaye Khanna has everyone obsessed with his viral dancing entry to Flipperachi’s Fa9la in Dhurnadhar. Now, in an interview with Filmygyan, Akshaye’s co-star and on-screen brother, Danish Pandor, has opened up about how he improvised that dance, confirming that it wasn’t part of the script.
Akshaye Khanna’s improvisation left everyone stunned
Danish recalled how Akshaye improvised his entry scene on the song and said, “We shot this in Leh Ladakh, and Vijay Ganguly was choreographing the whole song. We all heard the track and were stunned by how amazing it was. So, Aditya sir was explaining the shot to Akshaye sir. The whole choreography was happening, and in the middle of that, Akshaye sir asked Aditya, ‘Can I dance?’ Aditya sir said, ‘Do whatever you like.’”
He added, “Then there’s a take, and we all enter, and he looks at everyone dancing, and he starts dancing on his own. There’s no choreography for him. Everyone was stunned, like kya kar diya yeh inhone (what has he done). People started applauding so much after the shot, the frames were looking so good. He did it all on his own. He is terrific.”
The dance sequence in question is Akshaye’s entry scene to the hip-hop track Fa9la, performed by Bahraini rapper Flipperachi. It shows Akshaye’s Rehman Dakait meeting his Balochi people for a deal with ISIS. As soon as the clip went viral, the makers released the full song from the film. Danish essays the role of Akshaye’s cousin in the film, Uzair Baloach.
Esha Deol shared a tribute to Dharmendra on his birth anniversary, recalling his love and guidance. Dharmendra, father to Esha, Ahana, Sunny, and Bobby Deol, died on 24 November.
Dharmendra died on November 24.
A little over ten days after veteran actor Dharmendra’s death, his daughter Esha Deol — born to Hema Malini — has shared an emotional note on Instagram. Dharmendra, who was also father to Ahana Deol and, from his first marriage with Prakash Kaur, father to Sunny and Bobby Deol, passed away on 24 November. It would have been the actor’s 90th birthday today.
Earlier in November, the 89-year-old actor had been admitted to Mumbai’s Breach Candy Hospital after his health deteriorated. Though he was discharged and brought home under medical supervision, his condition did not improve, and he died at his residence.
In her post on his birth anniversary today, Esha shared a picture with her father and began by writing, “To my darling Papa. Our pact, the strongest bond . ‘us’ through all our lifetimes, all the realms and beyond ….. We are always together papa . Be it heaven or earth . We are one .”
She continued, “For now I have very tenderly, carefully & preciously tucked you in my heart … deep deep inside to carry on with me for the rest of this lifetime.”
She then reflected on what he meant to her. “The magical precious memories….. life lessons , the teachings, the guidance , the warmth, the unconditional love , the dignity and the strength you have given me as your daughter cannot be replaced or matched by any other.”
Describing how deeply she misses him, Esha went on to add, “I so painfully miss you papa … your warm protective hugs that felt like the cosiest blanket , holding your soft yet strong hands which had unspoken messages & your voice calling out my name that followed with endless conversations , laughter & shayaris . Your motto ‘always be humble , be happy, healthy & strong’. ”
Esha ended her message with a promise. “I promise to continue your legacy with pride & respect. And I will try my best to spread your love to the millions who love you as I do .
I love you papa. Your darling daughter, Your Esha , your Bittu.”
Salman Khan became emotional during the Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale as a throwback video of the late Dharmendra was played on stage. The host was seen teary-eyed while paying a heartfelt tribute to the veteran actor.
bigg boss 19 | hotstar
Every moment of the Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale is grabbing attention, but one particular instance stood out when Salman Khan appeared visibly emotional on stage. The host got teary-eyed as he fondly remembered the late veteran actor Dharmendra, leaving the audience touched by the heartfelt tribute.
During the Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale, a throwback video of Dharmendra was played, leaving host Salman Khan teary-eyed as he paid an emotional tribute to the late veteran actor.
Megastar Salman Khan Sir paid a deeply heartfelt tribute to the legendary Dharmendra ji on the Bigg Boss 19 finale ❤️🙏. Their bond was nothing less than that of a father and son, and seeing Salman Sir remember him after his recent passing was truly heartbreaking 🕊️💔.
The throwback clip showed Salman addressing Dharmendra ji as an “older brother” and a “fatherly figure” to him. Salman said, “Mere sabse favourite hero, like an elder brother, like a father figure, har season mein woh iss show mein aaye hain. And iss season mein he could not be here… (sic).” He then showed all the eliminated contestants a clip of Dharmendra ji enjoying his time on the Bigg Boss stage.
In the throwback clip, late actor Dharmendra says, “Salman ka show ho aur Dharmendra na aaye (sic).” Seeing this, Salman got teary eyes and were visibly emotional while seeing Dharmendra promise that he will come back in the next season.
As the video ended, Salman paused for a moment and sighed. With his eyes welling up, he said, “Jab aap log andar the, we lost our He-Man, we lost the most amazing man. I don’t think Dharam ji se better koi aadmi hai, aur jo unhone apni life jii hai, king size jii hai… (sic).” His words left the remaining contestants in the house- Gaurav, Farrhana, and Pranit visibly shocked. Salman then continued, reflecting on Dharmendra’s iconic roles and his immense contribution to the entertainment industry.
On Rajinikanth’s 75th birthday on December 12, Gulshan Grover flashbacks to their many interactions
His flight to Mumbai is endlessly delayed and so too is our conversation till Gulshan Grover finds a quiet corner in the airport to open up on a subject close to his heart. “The first thing that comes to mind when I think of Rajinikanth Garu is his niceness. I have come back with a warm feeling after every interaction because of his simplicity, humility and magnanimity,” asserts the ‘Bad Man’.
He worked with the South supremo for the first time in cinematographer Sudarshan Nag debut directorial, Insaf Kaun Karega. The 1984 superhit was written by KC Bokadia and produced by his son Suresh, with Rajinikanth as Inspector Vikram, Dharmendra as Veeru and Gulshan as Baggad. It was followed, the next year, by Nyayam Meere Cheppali, the Telugu remake of Ravi Chopra’s Hindi vigilante drama Aaj Ki Awaz, and another action film, SS Ravichandra’s Mahaguru.
“Rajini Garu was a warm and courteous co-star, but in Chennai, he was always surrounded by people, so it wasn’t till Tyagi, which we shot in Mumbai, that I got to know him well,” informs Gulshan, who plays, Prem, Rajini’s wayward brother, in this 1992 action drama.
On the last day of the schedule, producer-director KC Bokadia suggested that Rajinikanth check-out of the hotel in the morning and after pack-up, drive straight to the airport, expecting the shooting to continue. But to everyone’s surprise, they were done in a couple of hours, and since they were shooting on the road, in Versova, there was nowhere for the superstar to go.
“Since we were friends now and I lived close by, I told him he could come home with me, take a shower, have some lunch and relax in comfort there. When it was time for him to leave, I would drive you to the airport myself. He agreed immediately,” Gulshan recounts, describing it as a “wonderful experience” for both his young son Sanjay and him to spend some quality time with the superstar.
Some years later, when Gulshan was in Chennai, for the shoot of another KC Bokadia film, Rajinikanth invited his co-star, Shatrughan Sinha, and him over to his place for dinner. His house is located in one of the poshest areas of the city, Poes Garden, but Gulshan, who had visited the ostentatious homes of many Bollywood stars, was surprised at how simply the superstar lived. “The décor is tasteful and minimalistic, and we were served a healthy, wholesome, pure South Indian meal. He was the perfect host, but bhabhi (wife Lata) was 10 times more caring and courteous as a hostess. It was an unforgettable evening!” he reminisces.
What impressed him even more is that Rajinikanth, who is a Shatrughan Sinha fan, was fulsome in his praise of the actor. “This man, who was a mega star himself, worshipped by people across the globe, had no hesitation in admitting to me how much he had learnt from watching Shatruji’s films, many of them more than 20 times. His humility was heartwarming and has stayed with me all these years,” says an awed Gulshan, who also remembers being escorted to a room with mirrors, where Rajinikanth practises and perfects his much-imitated trademark gestures.
In 2015, the superstar was a guest at the wedding reception of Shatrughan Sinha’s son, Kush. Gulshan, as usual, was one of the early birds, along with Amitabh Bachchan, who is also known for his punctuality. He was chatting with Bachchan and wife Jaya when their host entered the VVIP room with Rajinikath and in his booming baritone asked him where he wanted to sit. Glancing around the room, Rajinikanth spotted a familiar face, and beaming, he turned to Shatrughan Sinha, saying, “There is Grover—that is how he always addresses the actor. I have found my friend and I will hang out with him. You can go and attend to your other guests.”
Gulshan recalls that they had a blast, with Sonakshi Sinha, who had recently co-starred with Rajinikanth in the Tamil film Lingaa, swinging by for a while. Since he rarely makes public appearances, his presence in Mumbai created quite a flutter with all the other stars wanting a keepsake photograph with Rajinikanth. Gulshan also captured the moment by getting one of the photographers to click him with Rajnikanth and Amitabh Bachachan. “It’s a blockbuster picture, with me in the centre, flanked by two superstars on either side!” he says proudly. Incidentally the ‘Thalaiva’ and the ‘Shahenshah’ have done four films together, including Andhaa Kaanoon in 1983, Geraftaar two years later, Hum in 1991, and more recently, the 2024 Tamil action drama, Vettaiyan. Gulshan points out that they are both humble, with a mutual respect for each other.
