Tag: Bollywood

Madhur Bhandarkar has wrapped up filming his next, ‘The Wives’, but the buzz around its casting has been just as lively as the shoot itself. Speculation had long suggested that Fatima Sana Shaikh was one of the leads, but the filmmaker has now set the record straight – she was never part of the project.
“The reports around her casting were all untrue. She never signed the film or was roped in to play one of the wives,” Bhandarkar clarified in an interview with Hindustan Times, putting weeks of chatter to rest.
‘The Wives’ features Regina Cassandra, Sonali Kulkarni and Mouni Roy in pivotal roles, with Arjan Bajwa also on board. The film, true to Bhandarkar’s style, dives once again into the glitzy and complex world of show business, a space he has previously explored in ‘Page 3’, Heroine and Calendar Girls.
Speaking about the wrap, Bhandarkar said, “The shoot of the film has been wrapped up, and I can’t wait to see the audience reaction. The film has come out well and will start post-production soon.”
As for Fatima, she continues to build a diverse filmography with recent appearances in ‘Metro… In Dino’ opposite Ali Fazal and ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’ alongside R Madhavan.
With ‘The Wives’ now heading into post-production, an official release announcement is expected in the coming months.

Shah Rukh Khan’s children, Aryan and Suhana, have joined his fans and admirers in celebrating the Bollywood superstar’s maiden National Film Award.
Aryan and Suhana shared a heartfelt tribute to their father in a joint post on Instagram on September 23 evening.
“You always said you never win silver, only lose the gold but This Silver is Gold. Our hearts are so happy seeing you receive the prestigious National Award, congratulations papa we love you,” they said. Their post featured two pictures of Shah Rukh from the 71st National Film Award ceremony where he was presented the honor for best actor by President Droupadi Murmu for his performance in the 2023 film “Jawan”.
He shared the Best Actor honour with Vikrant Massey, who was recognised for his role in Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s “12th Fail”.Earlier, Shah Rukh’s wife Gauri Khan congratulated him on receiving the National Award.
“What a journey it’s been @iamsrk. Congratulations on winning the National Award!!! So deserving… it’s a result of your years of hardwork and dedication. Now I’m designing a special mantle for this award,” she said on Instagram.
“Jawan”, which minted over Rs 1,100 crore at the worldwide box office, was a high-octane thriller that featured SRK in the dual role of Army officer Vikram Rathore and his jailor son Azad. It also starred Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi.
Aryan recently made his directorial debut with the Netflix series “The Ba***ds of Bollywood”, while Suhana started her acting journey with 2023 movie “The Archies”, which was also released on Netflix.

Bollywood star couple Vicky Kaushal and Katrina Kaif are gearing up to embrace parenthood.
In a joint post, the couple announced the pregnancy news on Instagram, bringing much joy and excitement among their fans and friends. “On our way to start the best chapter of our lives with hearts full of joy and gratitude,” they wrote in the caption. They also shared a picture of their hands holding onto a black-and-white snap from what appears to be Katrina’s maternity photoshoot. Vicky could be seen caressing Katrina’s baby bump as the two shared an adorable candid moment.
As soon as the announcement was made, fans flooded the comment section with congratulatory messages.
Celebrities like Zoya Akhtar, Angad Bedi, Sonam Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, Janhvi Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Varun Dhawan, and Huma Qureshi also reacted to the post, sending blessings and greetings to the couple.
Over the past few days, a lot of anticipation has been making buzz surrounding Katrina Kaif’s pregnancy. The actor’s absence from public appearances added fuel to the speculations.
Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan.
On ‘Koffee With Karan’, Katrina revealed that she met Vicky at Zoya Akhtar’s party ,and that’s when romance started brewing between them.
Sharing the details of her relationship with Vicky, Katrina shared how Vicky was never on her ‘radar’.She said, “I did not even know much about him. He was just a name I had heard of but had never associated with. But then, when I met him, I was won over!” Source: ANI

Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna’s ‘Cocktail 2’ is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated films of the year, and Shahid has now teased the start of the shoot. The actor shared a selfie on Instagram, captioning it: “New Beginnings!!! ‘Cocktail 2’ (sic).”
He tagged Rashmika and Kriti in the post, giving fans their first glimpse of the trio together on set. In the picture, Shahid looked effortlessly dashing, sporting a neatly trimmed beard and a smart hairstyle.
Rashmika also shared a sneak-peek of her look, posting a picture with the caption, “gand where you at (sic),” tagging Shahid and Kriti in the process.
The sequel is produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films and written by Luv Ranjan. While plot details remain under wraps, the makers are aiming for a theatrical release in the latter half of 2026. The buzz surrounding the film intensified when Anaita Shroff Adajania, wife of Homi Adajania, shared a glimpse of the ‘Cocktail 2’ script on her Instagram Story, alongside Kriti’s look from the film. Shahid and Rashmika have also teased their respective appearances, further heightening excitement.
The original ‘Cocktail’ was a contemporary love triangle starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty. The film was widely appreciated for its fresh take on friendship and romance, its memorable soundtrack, and Deepika’s standout performance, which solidified her position as one of Bollywood’s leading stars.

Nobody really knows what to make of it but Sydney Sweeney is apparently in talks to make her Bollywood debut. And no we don’t mean a cute, little stereotyped cameo. A full-fledged role as a desi heroine.
It could be the varied portfolio of projects, her ‘great jeans’ controversy or just that very strong it-girl factor that seems to be batting off every controversy flying in face, somebody does in fact believe that Sydney stepping foot in Bollywood could mint them the big bucks — and yes, bigger than ?530 crores, because that’s reportedly the pay cheque being offered up to the actor, as reported by The Sun.
What’s the plot you ask? Sydney, as per a News18 report, will be playing the role of an American star who falls in love with an Indian celebrity. The film will reportedly be shot across Paris, New York City, London and Dubai and is believed to start “early next year”.
Now, safe to say, everybody is baffled. Comments expressing the sentiment read, “Why would anyone from Bollywood pay her £45m. This sounds bs”, “She got $2 million for Anyone But You, there’s no way someone will ofer her £45 million for a bollywood movie.”, “Huge money laundering scheme if true, she won’t get paid this much even in Hollywood” and “That would be disastrous. Even SRK or Prabhas don’t deserve that kind of pay, forget this girl” to quote a few.
If you think it’s just us lot that’s shocked, know that The Sun has also reported how Sydney herself too was quite taken aback with the alleged offer. The Sun reported that the actor too, was in fact, shocked…but the project is intriguing, and it could elevate her global profile even further…Nothing has been decided yet, but it is a huge opportunity and Sydney is weighing her options carefully”.
So would you be interested in watching Sydney make her Bollywood debut or is this a hard pass?

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is balancing two big projects at the same time: the new season of ‘Bigg Boss 19’ and his upcoming film ‘Battle of Galwan’.
The actor gave his fans a surprise glimpse of the movie on Tuesday when he shared a behind-the-scenes picture from the set on Instagram.
In the photo, Salman is seen peeking through a clapperboard while preparing for a scene. According to the details on the board, it was the 86th scene of the film, and Salman was giving his first take. He is dressed in full military uniform, wearing the old Personal Camouflage Disruptive Pattern Material (PC DPM), which was the Indian Army’s official pattern until 2021. The makers have kept the costume true to the time period since the Galwan clash took place in June 2020. For authenticity, the team did not use the current New Battle Dress Uniform (NBDU) of the INCAM pattern. It was introduced later in January 2022 during the Army Day Parade in New Delhi. That design was developed in partnership with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
In the picture, Salman’s look also includes a wound across his face, hinting at the intensity of his role. Sharing the post, he kept the caption simple and powerful: “#BattleOfGalwan.”
The film is inspired by the Galwan Valley clash that shocked the nation in 2020. The incident happened during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic when Indian and Chinese troops came face-to-face in eastern Ladakh.

Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has won a big legal battle to protect her name and image. On Thursday, Sept 11, the Delhi High Court ruled that no one can misuse her identity, especially through new technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), deepfakes, and face morphing.
Justice Tejas Karia, who gave the order, said that using Aishwarya’s name, pictures, or likeness without her permission is not just a matter of money but also about her dignity and reputation.
The court said such misuse could mislead people into thinking that she supports or promotes certain products or services when she actually does not.
The court made it clear that every person has “personality rights.” This means that individuals, especially public figures, have control over how their name, face, and personal identity are in use.
In its order, the High Court restrained several parties, both known and unknown, from using Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s name, initials ‘ARB’, photos, or any digital likeness for personal or commercial benefit.
The order also applied to content already circulating online. The court directed Google LLC to remove all the links (URLs) listed in the case within 72 hours.
The actress had approached the High Court after online platforms started circulating AI-generated content that misused her identity, including pornographic material. She argued that such actions caused her emotional distress. In addition, they damaged her reputation, and put her at risk of being wrongly linked with things that she had nothing to do with.
Aishwarya is not the first celebrity to face such problems. Many public figures across the world have complained about the misuse of their identity. The concern has grown especially after the rise of deepfake and AI technology.
Recently, her husband Abhishek Bachchan also reached the court for the same.

Actor Manoj Bajpayee is not a fan of film producers and studios throwing around box office numbers to promote their titles. The actor, who balances commercial and independent cinema, says this obsession with box office is a monster that will ‘eat up’ its own creators.
The actor is gearing up for the release of Jugnuma, directed by Raam Reddy. The film has earned acclaim worldwide as The Fable and is finally getting a release in Indian theatres this month. Ahead of the release, the National Award winner sits down with Hindustan Times to talk about the state of independent films in the country and the newfound obsession with the box office.
Over the last few years, box office numbers have turned into promotional tools to leverage buzz for films. Talking about the phenomenon, Manoj says, “It’s a monster that is created by the producers themselves, the commercial producers, for their own game. Very soon, this monster is going to eat you up. You have created Bhasmasura. Just wait for the day you are going to put your hand on your own head, and you will be ruined. This has been created by our own successful people, and one day it will eat them up.”
Equating box office success with quality has particularly hurt smaller, independent films, as their low collections are now considered a sign of bad quality. Manoj argues, “The small, independent films always experience struggle. Then came a very brief time when OTT had just entered the country, and they were welcoming. But very soon, they changed their stance, and all of them started focusing on mainstream subjects and faces. One feels sad, because I am of the opinion that if you finish independent movement, your cinema will become just a product and nothing more. If the art is taken out, it has no value.”
He gives the example of Amitabh Bachchan, a rare superstar who also did smaller films during the peak of his stardom. “Mr Bachchan has also done a few fabulous (small) films like Abhimaan and Mili. He has done many more. Only Don, after a point, will be boring. He is Mr Bachchan also because of the kind of films he has done earlier in his career,” says the actor.
He mentions OTT platforms, the streaming giants that occupy a large chunk of India’s entertainment space now, and laments that even they have given in to commercial compulsions now.

Actors Tamannaah Bhatia and Diana Penty have teamed up for their upcoming dramedy series ‘Do You Wanna Partner’. The duo play friends who begin their own start-up by going against all odds.
The trailer of ‘Do You Wanna Partner’ kicks off with a foot-tapping beat, giving us a peek into the lives of best friends Shikha (Tamannaah Bhatia) and Anahita (Diana Penty), who take the plunge into the start-up world with one bold idea — launching their own craft beer brand. What follows is a funny, high-energy ride through beer barons, mobsters, and the kind of jugaad (a flexible approach to problem-solving that uses limited resources in an innovative way.) they never dreamt of. The trailer shows the duo battling stereotypes while untangling themselves from a messy web amid their pursuit for a dream start-up.
While speaking about the show, Tamannaah said, “‘Do You Wanna Partner’ is one of the most layered, emotionally complex yet fun shows I’ve ever been a part of. What makes it truly special is how it celebrates female friendships and the spirit of sisterhood without turning it into a women-versus-men narrative.”
“It’s a story that celebrates friendship, hustle, and the courage to turn the craziest ideas into reality. For me, playing the role of Shikha and working with the incredible cast and crew has been a transformative experience. I’m thrilled to be back with Prime Video, and I can’t wait for audiences across the world to join us on this wild, exciting and courageous ride,” she added. The actor was last seen in the Telugu supernatural-thriller ‘Odela 2’. Diana reflected on her on-screen chemistry with Tamannaah and said, “When I first came across the story of ‘Do You Wanna Partner’, what immediately drew me in was the authentic chemistry between the two female leads – something we so rarely get to see portrayed with such depth on screen. The show doesn’t just explore the entrepreneurial journey, it also beautifully captures the magic of collaboration and female friendship, making it deeply relatable.”
“Playing Anahita – a woman who pursues her dreams with resilience while standing by her best friend and navigating the many challenges of being an entrepreneur – has been both exciting and empowering,” she added.

Manish Malhotra’s upcoming productions ‘Bun Tikki’ and ‘Saali Mohabbat’ have been officially selected for the 16th Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) 2025. Malhotra shared the news on social media as he unveiled the film posters. “It’s a proud moment for us at @stage5production in collaboration with @officialjiostudios that our next two films are both showing at the @csaffestival,” Malhotra wrote on Instagram. Directed by actor Tisca Chopra in her directorial debut, ‘Saali Mohabbat’ has been chosen as the Opening Night film at CSAFF 2025. A hard-hitting drama set against the backdrop of domestic violence and emotional betrayal, the film explores a woman’s struggle to reclaim her voice on the blurred borders of rural and urban India.
Produced by Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra, and Manish Malhotra, the film’s cast includes Radhika Apte, Divyenndu, Sharat Saxena, Anshumaan Pushkar, Sauraseni Maitra, and Anurag Kashyap. Malhotra’s second offering, ‘Bun Tikki’, is a soulful coming-of-age story that delves into themes of family, love, and personal identity. Directed by Faraz Arif Ansari, the film stars veteran actors Shabana Azmi and Zeenat Aman, alongside Abhay Deol, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and newcomer Rohaan Singh.

In a big relief to Akshay Kumar and Arshar Warsi’s upcoming movie Jolly LLB 3, the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition seeking action against the song ‘Bhai Vakeel Hai’ from the movie and demanding a stay on its release for allegedly defaming the judiciary and legal profession.
A Division Bench of Justice Sangeeta Chandra and Justice Brij Raj Singh observed that they found ‘nothing objectionable’ in the song’s lyrics or even in the film’s trailer or teaser. “We did not find any objectionable matter to warrant interference by this Court. We have also gone through the lyrics of the song “Bhai Vakeel Hai” and we do not find anything which may interfere in the practice of the legal profession by genuine Advocates,” the court said.
Therefore, the court dismissed the plea without imposing any costs.
Jolly LLB 3 Faces Another Case In Pune
On August 20, a Pune court issued notices to Bollywood actors Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi regarding their movie, Jolly LLB. These notices followed a complaint filed by lawyer Wajid Khan Bidkar, who claimed that the movie mocks the legal system and court proceedings.
objected to a scene in the film where judges are referred to as “mamu” (a colloquial slang word).
The court has asked Akshay Kumar and Arshad Warsi to appear before it on September 28.
In May 2024, the film encountered legal issues again when Chandrabhan, the President of the Ajmer District Bar Association, lodged a complaint against the filmmakers. He claimed that the franchise disrespects the Indian judiciary system.
In his complaint, Chandrabhan asserted that the film portrays lawyers and judges in an “inappropriate” manner, which he described as “humorous and indecent.” He also requested the court to halt the shooting of Jolly LLB 3. “This decision has been taken considering the first and second parts of Jolly LLB. It seems that the filmmakers, directors and actors do not respect the dignity and prestige of the judiciary of the country’s Constitution at all. The shooting of Jolly LLB 3 is going on in the surrounding villages and areas including the DRM office of Ajmer, which will continue for several days. Even during the shooting of this film, the actors of the film do not seem to be at all serious about the image, prestige and dignity of the judiciary including the judges,” Chandrabhan had said as quoted by NBT.

Actors Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan have reunited on screen after nearly two decades. The duo has teamed up with veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan for an upcoming thriller titled ‘Haiwaan’. The film, which officially began production today in Kochi, Kerala, is reportedly the Hindi adaptation of the 2016 Malayalam hit ‘Oppam’, which originally starred Mohanlal.
Akshay shared a behind-the-scenes video from the film’s set, playfully teasing co-star Saif. Sporting a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Saint”, he quipped, “I know this devil very well,” hinting at the camaraderie the two actors share. The video has already sparked nostalgia among fans, who fondly remember the duo from films like ‘Main Khiladi Tu Anari’, ‘Yeh Dillagi’, ‘Tu Chor Main Sipahi’ and ‘Tashan’.
Sharing the video, Akshay wrote in the caption, “Hum sab hi hain thode se shaitaan Koi upar se Saint, koi andar se ‘Haiwaan’ :)) Starting the shoot for #Haiwaan today with my absolute favourite captain of the ship, @priyadarshan.official Sir. Great to be working with Saif after nearly 18 years. Let’s get the haiwaniyat rolling!! (sic)”
In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, the actor expressed his excitement about reuniting with both Priyadarshan and Saif Ali Khan. “It’s great that I’m working again with Priyadarshan ji. And the best part is that I’m working with Saif Ali Khan again. After such a long time, we’re teaming up once more, and I can’t wait to start shooting with him,” he said. On the film’s title, Akshay added with a laugh, “This was written in my destiny. First, I did Insaan, then Jaanwar, and now Haiwaan. So, the trilogy is complete, Insaan, Jaanwar, Haiwaan. It wasn’t planned that way.”
Produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, ‘Haiwaan’ is jointly backed by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn. The shoot will span across locations including Kochi, Ooty, and Mumbai.

The makers of the upcoming film ‘Baaghi 4’ released a dance number titled ‘Akeli Laila’ featuring actor Sonam Bajwa. After ‘Guzaara’ and ‘Bahli Sohni’, the song is the third track to be released from the film.
Choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, the song features the actor dancing in a sequinned lehenga. She completed her look with wavy hair and minimal makeup.
Singer Payal Dev has both sung and composed the track alongside Aditya Dev. The rap section of the song is performed by Paradox, who has written the lyrics with Danish Sabri.
Along with Bajwa’s dance, the song also gives a glimpse into the high-octane action sequences by Tiger Shroff.
Interestingly, this is the first time the actor has done a solo dance number in a glamorous avatar. Although she appeared in dance numbers in ‘Housefull 5’, Bajwa was joined by other actors in the film.
Directed by A Harsha, ‘Baaghi 4’ has been produced and written by Sajid Nadiadwala. The film, which also stars Harnaaz Sandhu and Sanjay Dutt, is set to release in theatres on September 5. This film continues the successful ‘Baaghi’ franchise and will blend action with romance and drama.
Bajwa is a known face in the Punjabi film industry. Some of her popular Punjabi films include ‘Punjab 1984’, ‘Sardaar Ji 2’, ‘Carry On Jatta’, ‘Guddiyan Patole’ and Honsla Rakh’.
After ‘Baaghi 4’, the actor will be seen in the film ‘Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat’ opposite Harshvardhan Rane. The film is slated for release on October 21.
She will also star in the much-anticipated film ‘Border 2’. Slated for a release later next year, the war drama will star Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty.

Bollywood actor Govinda and his wife Sunita Ahuja recently grabbed headlines due to reports of trouble in their marriage. Several reports claimed that she has filed for divorce. The couple dispelled these rumours as they put up a united front on Wednesday to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi. Speaking to the media, Sunita said that Govinda will always remain her husband and nobody can break their relationship.
Sunita spoke to the media and said, “Aaj itna close, close… agar kuch hota toh hum itne nazdeek hotey? Humaari dooriyan hoti! Koi hum dono ko alag nahi kar sakta hain, chahe upar se koi aa jaaye bhagwan aa jaaye, koi shaitaan nahi aa jaaye. Koi nahi alag kar sakta hai. Ek picture tha na ‘Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai’ waise hi mera Govinda sirf mera hi hai aur kisi ka nahi hai. Jab tak hum moonh na khole tab tak aap please aap log koi bhi cheez mein na boliye (If something had happened, then we would have been so close today. There would have been a distance between us. No one can separate us, not even if God comes from above… My Govinda is only mine and no one else’s. Until we open our mouths, please do not say anything on this matter).”
On Wednesday, August 27, Govinda was seen celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi at his residence. Sunita was seen wearing a purple saree, while Govinda donned a red kurta. Their son, Yashvardhan Ahuja, was also captured in the visuals, joining in the festivities. Govinda and Sunita were seen distributing sweets to paparazzi gathered outside their residence.
A few days ago, Govinda’s manager, Shashi Sinha, dismissed the speculation about the divorce and called it outdated and misleading.
Sunita and Govinda tied the knot in an intimate ceremony and kept their marriage a secret until the birth of their daughter, Tina Ahuja, in 1989.