Indus Chronicles

The casting of Siddharth P Malhotra’s upcoming period biopic Kamal Aur Meena has been a subject of speculation for several months, with Kiara Advani’s name being linked to the role of legendary actor Meena Kumari. While the filmmaker has not yet revealed the identities of his actors, he has confirmed that the principal cast has been finalised.

Malhotra, who directed Maharaj (2024), is gearing up to tell the story of Meena Kumari and filmmaker Kamal Amrohi’s relationship in Kamal Aur Meena. Speaking to Mid-Day, the director confirmed that his leads have already agreed to be part of the project.

“I have put together my cast. They have said yes,” said Malhotra. He explained that finalising the actors was a lengthy process, largely because the scale and subject of the film required established names. “It’s Meena Kumari’s story officially. If you don’t get stars, you won’t be able to mount the film,” he added.

The filmmaker has not confirmed whether Kiara will portray Meena Kumari, despite the ongoing reports linking her to the role. The identity of the actor playing Kamal Amrohi has also been kept under wraps. Kamal Aur Meena demands a large-scale production With the casting reportedly locked, Malhotra’s immediate priority is securing the finances for the ambitious project. The filmmaker acknowledged that recreating the world associated with Meena Kumari will require considerable resources.

“The film requires us to put up the Pakeezah [1972] and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam [1962] set. Plus, [we need] the songs’ rights. So, automatically the bar is high,” he said.

Kamal Aur Meena will be produced by Bilal Amrohi and will explore the relationship between Meena Kumari and Kamal Amrohi. The project is expected to revisit an important chapter in the life of one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated performers.

Meanwhile, Malhotra is currently occupied with promoting Shaque: Trust No One. The Netflix series stars Parineeti Chopra in her OTT debut and is scheduled to begin streaming on September 24, 2026.

Also Read: Pakeezah 4K Restoration to premiere at Festival Lumière and BFI London Film Festival; Meena Kumari classic gets new lease of life

The team of Hanuman Ansh is on cloud nine and Namrata Singh of SacredIP Trans Media Tech is no exception. She is one of the investors, producers and IP owners of the devotional film, which has become a historic success. Earlier, she worked at Sony Pictures, Friday Filmworks, Yash Raj Films and on the cult TV show, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah. She has also worked on digital voter enablement campaigns with the Government of India and on Kumbh mobilization as part of Ministry of Commerce last year. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Namrata Singh spoke about Hanuman Ansh's miraculous success and a lot more.

Hanuman Ansh released exactly a month ago, on August 7. Did you imagine last month that your life will change this way? Not at all (laughs)! On August 6, we did the premiere. On August 7, I went to Delhi to my home to be with my mother. On August 8, we were doing theatre visits. Nobody was coming to watch our film in the theatre! We had no audience. We then sent underprivileged kids and cancer kids. In fact, some 3000 kids saw the film in the first week, funded by Team Computers, who are the distributors of Apple. One such screening happened at PVR Promenade Vasant Kunj where I was present. The kids loved the film. That is my memory of August 8 (smiles).

How do you look at the way the film has achieved success? This is an unprecedented kind of a situation, right? You can't plan it. We made a film with all our heart and whatever we could gather. The craziness began from the third week. Now Hombale Films has come to do the international release. When you release overseas, there are multiple things to take care of. Moreover, I am a first time producer while Vishal Chaturvedi is a first time writer-director. Hence, we are all learning in the go how to release the film internationally. The amount of censor processes to be done and assets to be created were overwhelming. We are also devotees and it's very important for us to release overseas on September 11 because it is Mahasamadhi day for Maharaj ji. That's the day Maharaj ji left his body in 1973. Hence, the race against time to release on September 11 ne poori jaan le li! Thankfully, we managed and the release is happening this Friday.

I am an IP expert. I am ex-Sony ex-YRF. So, I understand IP really well. We have retained the IP. I, Vishal, Ragini S and Anupriya A Nagar have the rights.

We are also developing a game. It's made by the company which has developed FAU-G. We are also working on a comic book, for which we are talking to one of the biggest comic book publishers in the country.

I am not a traditional producer. So, I don't think that film bana di, ab part 2 aur part 3 banao. When we made this film, we were very clear that we'll take this film to 1% of the population. The main emotion in the movie is calmness. There's so much external chaos and ambiguity in the world as eras have changed. From industrial, we have entered the knowledge era. Hence, you need to find areas which are calm and where you'll feel courage and hope. That is what this film is about.

I keep saying this that Maharaj ji is the world's CTO! He gave us Facebook, he gave us Apple (Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook is a devotee of Neeb Karori Baba and so was late Steve Jobs of Apple)! He is also the world's doctor. He helped eradicate small pox through Larry Brilliant. So, healing can happen in multiple ways. Doctors can heal, so do human stories. Technology can be humanized.

To answer your question, what is happening is just Maharaj Ji's kripa and grace. The audience is completely on the film and hence, it's amazing. Hence, the 1% dream now looks possible. Agar aap picture na dekhe, toh game khel le. Game na khele toh gaane sun le, gaane na sune toh comic book padh le. We are even dubbing the film in South languages. Trivikram Srinivas (of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo fame) is on board for the Telugu version. Times Spiritual is our music partner. They are supporting us fully on music. Cinepolis, our distributors, have also supported us.

I was talking to Devang Sampat and Mayank Shroff of Cinepolis and suggested that if we can convert cinemas into temples, distribute laddoos, play 'Hanuman Chalisa', place a picture of Baba ji, etc. At first, we couldn't do it but now, that's happening everywhere.

There's too much work. No one ever told me that it's so hard (laughs)! Of course, I am not complaining.

What will be the overseas screen count? We'll get an idea by Wednesday, September 9. But Hombale Films are extremely ambitious. Phars Film, who release YRF movies and many other biggies, are also on board. Every territory has a major sub distributor along with Hombale.

Has there been any update on the OTT release? I don't think like a producer. I think like an IP owner. Everything we do is for the devotee, ensuring we keep the emotion intact. We can't cheat with it. Like we are developing a game based on the film and it's about Hanuman kavach. It is in sync with the film's truth. I could have gone with anybody but I went with the partner that understands it.

Similarly, we went with Hombale Films as they understood the value of September 11 release for the devotee. They were ready to work day and night for it. Down South, we chose Trivikram Srinivas as they are devotees of Hanuman ji. So, such energetic alignment happening is like Maharaj ji's work. He's connecting us with the right people.

Of course, everybody is talking to us (for OTT rights). But I keep saying that my objective is to make the maximum amount of people see the film in their language. Language shouldn't be a barrier. The partners need to come with that intent. It's not about the best offer. It's about the person who gets your sensibility.

Also Read: Trade experts talk about Hanuman Ansh’s HISTORIC run: “Abhi toh bas shuruaat hai. Even Rs. 300 cr or Rs. 400 cr lifetime can’t be ruled out…it can collect more in Week 6 than Week 5”

After several years away from the silver screen, Preity Zinta returned to acting with Rajkumar Santoshi’s Batwara 1947. The period drama, which also stars Sunny Deol, was released theatrically on August 14, 2026, during the Independence Day weekend. However, despite its ensemble cast and the significance of its subject, the film received decent-to-mixed reviews and did not make a significant impact at the box office.

Speaking exclusively to Mid-Day, Preity opened up about the film’s performance and whether its box office underperformance affected her. The actor maintained that she remains proud of the project and believes an actor can only control the effort they put into a film, rather than its eventual reception.

She said, "First of all, I am very proud of the film, and it's a very overwhelming experience. And as an actor, I am always managing expectations. Once I am working, I put in my 100 per cent. As I said earlier, I believe in karam (deed). You do your karam and then leave the rest to god. You can't control what happens. So, you work as hard as you can on every film; I give my 1000 per cent and then leave the rest to God."

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What is Batwara 1947 about? Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, Batwara 1947 is set in Lahore during the Partition of British India. The film is adapted from Asghar Wajahat’s acclaimed play Jis Lahore Nai Vekhya, O Jamya E Nai and centres on a Muslim refugee family that moves from India to Lahore after Partition.

Sunny Deol plays the head of the refugee family, who is allotted a haveli in Lahore. However, the family discovers that an elderly Hindu woman, played by Shabana Azmi, continues to live in the house. The story explores how the two communities navigate their circumstances, while focusing on humanity, empathy and resilience amid the upheaval caused by Partition.

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The film features Preity Zinta, Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Ali Fazal, Karan Deol and Abhimanyu Singh, who plays the antagonist Yaqoob Pehalwan. The music has been composed by A. R. Rahman, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar, while Santosh Sivan serves as the cinematographer.

Also Read: Preity Zinta on working 16-18 hour shifts for Vibe amid 8-hour workday debate: “I wanted to finish my work and go back to America to be with my kids…didn’t go out even for one evening”

Actress Nora Fatehi has reportedly landed in a legal dispute after aviation company Dunes Aviation filed a Rs 3 crores civil defamation suit against her at a Gandhinagar court over comments she allegedly made about one of its chartered aircraft on social media.

According to a PTI report, Dunes Aviation has accused Nora of making “derogatory and reckless” remarks after she shared videos from inside the company’s aircraft during a Mumbai-Jaipur flight in December last year. The company has alleged that the actress referred to the aircraft as a “miniature”, a “toy” and a “Lego airplane” in the videos posted on her Instagram account.

The matter is reportedly scheduled to come up before senior civil judge R Agarwal on September 25. Dunes Aviation claims social media posts affected business In its suit, Dunes Aviation has reportedly claimed that Nora’s remarks reached a substantial audience because of her social media following, which the company puts at more than 4.6 crores followers.

The aviation firm has alleged that the posts caused reputational and commercial damage, including booking cancellations and a decline in business. According to the company, its bookings dropped by 15 to 20 per cent following the controversy, while cancellations increased.

Dunes Aviation has described Nora’s alleged comments as “reckless, irresponsible, and made without any technical knowledge, verification or factual basis”. The company has further claimed that the remarks resulted in “serious reputational damage, loss of goodwill and adverse commercial impact”. Company defends aircraft’s certification and operation Dunes Aviation has also addressed the comments about the aircraft itself. According to the suit, the Cessna Citation CJ2 used for the Mumbai-Jaipur journey was a standard aircraft and appropriately sized for the flight.

The company has stated that the aircraft was fully DGCA-certified and airworthy and was being operated legally under a valid Non-Scheduled Operator’s Permit (NSOP). What Dunes Aviation has sought from Nora Fatehi Apart from Rs 3 crores in damages, Dunes Aviation has reportedly asked the court to direct Nora to remove social media posts and other online content containing the alleged remarks or references to the aircraft.

The company has also sought a public clarification from the actress over the comments.

Also Read: Guru Randhawa supports Nora Fatehi after podcast comments: “So many young kids are inspired from you on a daily basis”

Hanuman Ansh is on an unstoppable run. The film collected just Rs. 1.07 crores in Week 1 and then dropped to Rs. 50 lakhs in Week 2. Surprisingly, it then earned Rs. 11.09 crores and a whopping Rs. 62.15 crores in its third and fourth week, respectively. Many expected the film to drop in the fifth week. Instead, it has collected Rs. 49.51 crores in the fifth weekend, with the fifth Sunday collections being Rs. 22.73 crores. As of September 6, it has earned Rs. 124.32 crores. We asked trade experts about this unbelievable box office performance of the historic film.

Trade veteran Taran Adarsh said, “Look at the jump. It collected Rs. 9 lakhs on day 1 and now has crossed Rs. 100 crore mark. The first week was bad, while the film had a total collapse in the second weekend. I am sure the producers were so disheartened, looking at the second week numbers. They must have thought ki film ka pack-up ho gaya. But then it picked up and how.”

On Friday, Bollywood Hungama reported that on the day of release, the makers had to resort to a BOGO (Buy One Get One) Ticket offer. Taran Adarsh explained, “What option did they have? Now they don’t need it as it’s running on the basis of the content. The audience has become the brand ambassadors and they are carrying it forward.”

He added, “There were hardly any pre-release promotions. The makers are now visiting cinema halls. However, it is purely riding on content. As a child, my mother and I went to see Jai Santoshi Maa (1975). Many people had come with the pooja ki thali and some of them left their shoes outside the auditorium. During the song ‘Main Toh Aarti Utaaru Re’, people used to sing along, clap, or fold their hands. For Hanuman Ansh, I saw similar visuals – some people were barefoot and standing in devotion. It’s a rare phenomenon.”

Girish Johar, producer and film business analyst, revealed when he realized Hanuman Ansh is a sleeper success, “I realized in the middle of the second week. Despite low collections, the film was hanging in theatres. The producers were pushing the word of mouth. The third weekend did the trick, after which there has been no looking back.”

Distributor and exhibitor Raj Bansal, meanwhile, replied, “I realized it in the third week. In the first week, no one cared about the film. In the second week, its trending caught attention. But in the third week, I realized that it’s going the Mahavatar Narsimha (2025) way. I was also reminded of Jai Santoshi Maa.”

Lifetime predictions

After the fifth weekend’s collections, trade experts believe it won’t be a surprise if Hanuman Ansh collects more in Week 6 than Week 5. Taran Adarsh opined, “Yes, there’s a possibility. Now it’s in the hands of the public. Where the public takes it now is up to them. It’s a case study.”

Trade analyst Atul Mohan said, “It may collect more next week than this week. Abhi toh bas shuruaat hai. It can go anywhere – Rs. 200 crores, Rs. 300 crores and even Rs. 400 crores lifetime can’t be ruled out. Now, several schools are planning to take kids to watch the film.”

Raj Bansal explained, “It’s difficult to predict for such films. The sky is the limit. Who would have imagined that it would collect Rs. 20 crores plus on the fifth Sunday? There’s a lot of demand and urgency to see the film. I get so many calls requesting for tickets because its shows are sold out in every theatre here.”

Girish Johar said, “It all depends on how it tracks during the weekdays. But anything can happen in today’s times. When an Obsession can do such numbers, why not Hanuman Ansh? So why restrict it to Rs. 200 crores? At the same time, why even burden it with such numbers? At the end of the day, it’s making a huge ROI, making profits for everyone concerned. It’s getting the audiences back to the theatres. That’s critical.”

To conclude

Atul Mohan hinted that devotional films are having a dream run at present, “Two years ago, Hanuman (2024) also worked. Mahavatar Narsimha was a hit. Laalo (2025) was a sleeper blockbuster. And now, Hanuman Ansh is on a historic run.”

Girish Johar signed off by saying, “It’s a beautiful film that rests on emotions. It once again shows that emotion is the critical element the audience wants, be it in any genre – action, horror, romance, animation, etc. If the audience connects with that emotion in a film, they don’t mind who the actor, director or producer is.”

Also Read: Aditya Dhar extends support to Hanuman Ansh as the film continues breaking records at the box office

Legendary singer Asha Bhosle passed away earlier this year on April 12 at the age of 92. Today happens to be her 93rd birth anniversary. She left behind a legacy which will be celebrated for eternity. But apart from singing thousands of songs in various languages, Bhosle also acted in the Hindi film Mai, where she played the titular role.

Interestingly, the movie starred Bhosle’s niece and veteran actor Padmini Kolhapure as her daughter. Kolhapure spoke about Bhosle and her experience of acting with her in an exclusive interview she gave Bollywood Hungama at the end of May this year.

Kolhapure shared why Mai means a lot to her. “Thanks to Asha aatya that I got my first film Ishq Ishq Ishq as a kid,” she said. “I came a full circle when I did Mai with her. We worked together. She said that she will only work in that film if Padmini is a part of it. We interacted so much. She was very close to my father. So, she would tell me all those wonderful stories of their young and masti days. So, whether it was her or Lata (Mangeshkar) ji, they would just keep telling me all those wonderful stories.”

She added, “It was great working with her. If you see the film, she has done such a brilliant job.”

Kolhapure said that Bhosle and Mangeshkar are always going to be immortal. “When I think of Asha aatya, so many things come to my mind. There’s not just, 1, 2, 20 or 50 things. When we say she is not with us, it just doesn’t seem real. The persona and work of Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle, who have been my aunts, has been so great that it’s just going to be there for eternity. For me, they are like living legends only because we still hear their songs every single day.”

Sharing an example, she said, “I met Ashutosh Gowariker recently and he said my mornings begin with Asha ji’s and night ends with Lata ji’s songs. He said that is there and that’s never going to change.”

Shortly after the passing away of Asha Bhosle, Bollywood Hungama spoke with Mahesh Kodiyal, the director of Mai, on his experience of directing the singing legend in her first and only film. After narrating how he cast Bhosle, he said, “At times, Asha tai used to feel how she would enact such an emotional scene. At that time, I used to ask Padmini to make her comfortable. She used to give a fantastic take. But still she didn’t used to be happy with it. She used to say, ‘Nahin re, maine barabar nahin kiya’. I used to say just that she did is a big thing.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mahesh Kodiyal on approaching Asha Bhosle to act in Mai, “She looked sternly and asked, ‘Gana gaane bulaya tha na?’”; director also shares why it wasn’t challenging for the late legend to act

After impressing audiences in Tu Yaa Main (2026), Shanaya Kapoor will next be seen in Student Of The Year 3. Bollywood Hungama has now learned some interesting details about the upcoming venture, backed by Karan Johar’s Dharmatic Entertainment.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “To begin with, while Student Of The Year (2012) and Student Of The Year 2 (2019) were films, the third installment of Student Of The Year will be a web series. Secondly, the first two parts were candyfloss and light-hearted entertainers. Student Of The Year 3, meanwhile, is in an altogether different space.”

The source explained, “Student Of The Year 3 is darker, edgier and far more intense than the previous two instalments. Tonally, it is being envisioned as a Class-meets-Euphoria kind of show — blending the privileged, high-pressure world of young students, complicated friendships and relationships seen in Netflix’s Indian series Class with the bold, provocative and emotionally turbulent treatment associated with the globally popular Euphoria. Viewers will be pleasantly surprised by the conflicts, relationships and overall genre of the third part. Moreover, this kind of youth-driven, edgy content has an audience across markets, which could further widen its appeal and viewership.”

The source also stated, “Student Of The Year 3 is expected to release this year, on JioHotstar.” There were also reports that Student Of The Year 3 will be called Student Of The Year 3 – After The Dark but the source said that it may or may not be the final title. The official announcement will give a clearer idea about the same.

Student Of The Year 3 is directed by Reema Maya. As per reports, Shanaya Kapoor will be seen in a double role. The first part marked the debut of Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra, and was directed by Karan Johar. Student Of The Year 2, on the other hand, starred Tiger Shroff and launched Ananya Panday and Tara Sutaria. It was helmed by Punit Malhotra. Alia appeared in a song in the second part.

Also Read: Shanaya Kapoor to make Telugu debut with Zombie Reddy 2 opposite Teja Sajja; Suparn Varma directs franchise sequel: Report

Boxing champion Mary Kom has entered the Bigg Boss 20 house, and she received a special message from Priyanka Chopra ahead of her new reality show journey. Priyanka, who portrayed the boxing legend in the 2014 biographical film Mary Kom, wished her luck while also giving the other contestants a playful warning.

In a video message, Priyanka spoke about Mary’s discipline and competitive spirit before addressing the contestants. “Inka knock out na bhot bhari padta hai,” she said, reminding them that the boxing champion is not someone to be taken lightly.

Priyanka then addressed Mary directly and encouraged her to stay true to herself during her time on the show. “Mary bas aap jaisi hain waisi rahiye, khule dil se kheliye. I am so looking forward to your journey.”

The actress also sent Mary lots of love and said she was looking forward to seeing how her journey unfolds inside the Bigg Boss house. Priyanka Chopra and Mary Kom’s connection Priyanka and Mary share a connection that dates back to the making of Mary Kom. Directed by Omung Kumar, the 2014 film was based on the life of the six-time world champion boxer, with Priyanka taking on the lead role.

While preparing for the part, Priyanka met Mary and spent time with her family in Manipur. She also underwent extensive boxing training and worked on understanding Mary’s mannerisms and personality. Mary’s involvement in helping Priyanka understand her life added a personal dimension to their association.

More than a decade after the film's release, Priyanka’s message for Mary marks another public moment between the actor and the sportsperson, this time as Mary begins a very different kind of challenge on Indian television.

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Mary Kom joins Bigg Boss 20 Mary is among the contestants participating in the ongoing season of Bigg Boss 20. The season features a mix of actors, television personalities, digital creators and other public figures.

The current line-up includes Mahhi Vij, Kanika Mann, Amrapali Dubey, Aasif Khan, Qazi Touqeer, Kushal Tanwar, Arishfa Khan, Isha Rikhi, Rhiti Tiwari, Yung Dsa (Yeda Yung), Aman Gandhi, Uditi Singh, Rohed Khan and Love Gill.

Bigg Boss 20 airs on Jio Hotstar at 9 pm, while the television broadcast is available on Colors TV at 10.30 pm.

Also Read: Bigg Boss to premiere across six languages on the SAME NIGHT as franchise marks 20 years

Masaba Gupta has praised Bipasha Basu after the actress featured as Elle India’s Digital Cover Star, calling her one of the last original stars of her generation. However, a portion of Masaba’s post has caught the attention of social media users, with several interpreting her comments about Bipasha’s muscular physique as an indirect response to remarks previously made by Mrunal Thakur.

Re-sharing a post featuring Bipasha, Masaba wrote, “I am very happy to see Bipasha on a cover. You see, she is the last of the OGs.” She went on to praise the actress for standing apart from what she described as increasingly similar beauty and fashion standards.

“There won't be another Bipasha because everything is a cookie cutter template today,” Masaba wrote. She also compared Bipasha with actresses from the current generation, describing some of them as “boring and dull” and saying that the present generation “does not inspire one bit of confidence.” Masaba Gupta’s comment about Bipasha’s physique goes viral Masaba’s remarks about Bipasha’s fitness, however, became the most discussed part of her post. Praising the actress for her athletic build, she wrote, “And @bipashabasu- I love your athletic build. I love the muscle- and I want more thanks to the standard of fitness you set.”

She added, “Too bad if someone doesn't see that as feminine.”

While Masaba did not mention Mrunal Thakur by name in the post, her reference to Bipasha’s muscular physique led some social media users to connect the remarks with an old interview featuring Mrunal. Why are netizens linking Masaba’s post to Mrunal Thakur? The conversation stems from a throwback interview from Mrunal’s television days, when she appeared alongside her Kumkum Bhagya co-star Arjit Taneja. During a discussion about fitness and the kind of physique one might prefer in a partner, Mrunal referred to Bipasha and said, “Do you want to marry a girl who is manly with muscles? Go marry Bipasha. Listen, I am far better than Bipasha, ok.”

The clip resurfaced online in 2025 and drew criticism, with several social media users accusing Mrunal of body-shaming Bipasha. Later, Mrunal issued an apology for body-shaming Bipasha.

Also Read: Mrunal Thakur issues heartfelt apology over resurfaced Bipasha Basu comment: “I truly wish I had chosen my words differently”

Komal Nahta had a conversation with Adnan Sami, in which he gave a detailed answer about plagiarism in music. He began by saying, “I am against plagiarism in any form. But I feel bad for the composers who emerged in this millennium; they have been unfairly targeted. If you are only criticizing them for copying and forgiving the rest, that is unfair. In the last 20 years, there has been a lot of access to information thanks to the internet. So, if a composer gets ‘inspired’ and composes a tune, he gets immediately caught.”

Adnan continued, “Some people tend to hail our yesteryear musicians. They’d say ‘Woh toh kaafi genius log the’. And there’s no doubt that they were indeed geniuses. I am their biggest fan. But what happens is that a child may think that his father is a superhero. When the child grows up, he realizes that mera baap jo hai, aakhir woh insaan hai. You still respect him because he’s your father. Hence, you can’t single out new composers and assume that the rest were doodh ke dhoole hue.”

Adnan confessed, “Whether it's Shankar-Jaikishan, Naushad, S D Burman, R D Burman or Bappi Lahiri, I am their biggest fan and have learned a lot from them. But each one of them lifted songs. Yet, I still love and respect them as they made a beautiful version of that song.”

Adnan Sami remarked that the composers should have given due credit, “Dean Martin’s famous song ‘Sway’ was inspired by an Italian song. But he gave credit to the original composer. Our problem is that our composers did not. They just gave their own name to the track, without acknowledging the original creator. Aap kahin se chhote nahin ho jaate by acknowledging.”

Adann continued, “Even today, I enjoy the song ‘Mehbooba’ from Sholay (1975). But it's not R D Burman’s original composition. It was inspired by Demis Roussos’ song ‘Say You Love Me’. Agar aap Demis Roussos ka naam daal dete, toh aapke shaan mein koi kami nahin aati (smiles). People would have respected you more if you gave due credit. Later, the same happened with them as well and they felt about it.”

He added, “This happened even with films. Kaala Patthar (1979) is a great film, but it was originally Gold (1974), featuring Roger Moore (smiles).”

Also Read: Adnan Sami opens up about reinventing in music: “It’s always important to keep changing and evolving”

There is something entirely royal about hand chains, those that are making a strong comeback now. Whether in western or traditional outfits, hand chains are becoming a staple accessory, adding a statement touch to both basic outfits or elevated ones. And Bollywood is defining this comeback trend once again! Take a look:

Diana Penty: Diana Penty elevates a ribbed saree with contemporary, minimal jewellery, where the dainty golden hand chain with minimal charms places itself as a scene-stealer.

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Sonam Kapoor: Sonam Kapoor brings a royal touch to her ensemble by donning an embellished, encrusted hand chain with multi-coloured gems and floral patterns, leaning heavily to the ethnic side.

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Shanaya Kapoor: Shanaya Kapoor makes her ethnic ensemble even more dazzling by donning a silver hand chain with beaded patterns that make it a standout.

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Rashmika Mandanna: Rashmika Mandanna brings golden power to her ensemble by donning a golden hand chain with stacked beaded patterns, bringing contrasting styles to the accessory and her ensemble.

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Manushi Chhillar: Manushi Chhillar taps into golden aesthetics by donning a dramatic hand chain that aligns with the mood of her overall jewellery.

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Handchains are making a comeback, and these actresses are leading the trend.

Also Read: Kroll Celebrity Brand Valuation 2025: Nearly half of the Top 25 are actresses; no South male star in rankings

Endemol Shine India, part of Banijay Entertainment, has established itself as one of India’s leading entertainment production houses, consistently delivering blockbuster scripted and non-scripted content across television and digital platforms. Further strengthening its legacy in the reality entertainment space, the production house is all set to bring back one of India’s biggest and most iconic reality franchises, Bigg Boss, this time with a historic twist that promises to redefine the show yet again. The show will be launched simultaneously in six different languages across India, making it the first-of-its-kind reality show to do so.

As Bigg Boss completes 20 glorious years, Endemol Shine India has achieved something truly extraordinary and historic. The production house has made it possible to launch the audience’s favourite reality show across six different languages on the same night. Bigg Boss is already a renowned reality show with editions in multiple languages, each enjoying a massive and loyal fan base.

For the first time, India will watch Bigg Boss together in their own languages, with their favourite hosts appearing on screens simultaneously. Never before in the history of reality television has a single format been launched across multiple languages on the same evening. Moreover, for the first time, all the hosts from the different language editions will appear on screen alongside the Bigg Boss of their respective languages at the same time, creating a truly unprecedented television moment.

While Bigg Boss Hindi is hosted by Salman Khan, Bigg Boss Bangla is hosted by Sourav Ganguly, Bigg Boss Kannada is hosted by Kichcha Sudeep, Bigg Boss Telugu is hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni, Bigg Boss Tamil is hosted by Vijay Sethupathi and Bigg Boss Malayalam is hosted by Mohanlal.

As Bigg Boss enters its milestone 20th season, Salman Khan returns not only as the host but also as the mentor who will once again take charge during the much-awaited Weekend Ka Vaar episodes. The new season promises fresh contestants, intense rivalries, and entertainment on an even grander scale.

Produced by Endemol Shine India, Bigg Boss Season 20 premieres on September 6, 2026, airing every day at 9:00 PM on JioHotstar and at 10:30 PM on Colors TV, promising viewers a season packed with drama, strategy, emotion, and blockbuster entertainment.

Also Read: Endemol Shine India’s Khatron Ke Khiladi: Darr Ka Naya Daur becomes no. 1 non-fiction launch of 2026

Kartik Aaryan has begun shooting for Shimit Amin’s Captain India in London. The actor recently shared a glimpse of his journey on social media, giving fans an update on the upcoming film.

Kartik posted a travel picture in which he was seen holding the shooting draft of Captain India. The cover also features the name of director Shimit Amin. Alongside the picture, the actor wrote, “VABB to EGLL ✈️ #CaptainIndia 🇮🇳”, seemingly referring to his journey from Mumbai to London as he starts work on the film.

The post also offered a glimpse of Kartik’s injured foot. The actor had recently undergone knee surgery after sustaining an injury while performing an action sequence for his upcoming sports drama with director Kabir Khan. He was subsequently advised to take time to recover.

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With Captain India, Kartik will be seen playing a pilot in a story inspired by a historic evacuation mission. The film marks his collaboration with Shimit Amin, known for films such as Chak De! India and Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year.

Captain India is being produced by T-Series, Baweja Studios and Dopamine Studios. The film is scheduled to release in theatres on August 13, 2027.

Also Read: Captain India: Bhushan Kumar film starring Kartik Aaryan to go on floors in London on September 1

Priyanka Chopra Jonas celebrated emerging fashion talent following the 2026 LVMH Prize ceremony in Paris. The actor, who presented the Karl Lagerfeld Prize at the event, shared a note on social media reflecting on the importance of giving young designers a platform to develop their work.

Sharing pictures from the event, Priyanka wrote, “There’s something really special about watching young designers bring their ideas to life and seeing those ideas find a bigger stage.”

She went on to highlight the role of the LVMH Prize in supporting new talent, adding, “The @lvmhprize has been doing this for years, giving new talent the opportunity, support and recognition to take their work further.”

Priyanka concluded her post by congratulating this year’s winners, writing, “So happy to celebrate this year’s winners. 🤍” Priyanka Chopra Jonas’ look for the LVMH Prize For the Paris event, Priyanka opted for a striking black ensemble featuring a sleeveless, pleated silhouette. The outfit was detailed with contrasting black-and-white floral elements and long fabric panels around the skirt, giving the otherwise minimal look a sculptural finish. She paired it with a sheer black drape, black footwear and a structured black handbag.

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Priyanka Chopra Jonas presents the Karl Lagerfeld Prize The LVMH Prize ceremony took place at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris on September 4. Priyanka presented the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, while Jennifer Lawrence presented the main LVMH Prize and Urassaya ‘Yaya’ Sperbund presented the Savoir-Faire Prize.

Belgian designer Julie Kegels won the 2026 LVMH Prize, while Zane Li of Lii received the Karl Lagerfeld Prize. Anil Padia of Yoshita 1967 won the Savoir-Faire Prize.

The 2026 edition featured nine finalists from countries including Belgium, the United States, France, Georgia, China, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Spain and Kenya. The LVMH Prize winner receives a €400,000 grant and a year of tailored mentorship, while the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and Savoir-Faire Prize each come with a €200,000 grant and mentorship.

Priyanka’s post comes after an evening that brought together established names from entertainment and fashion while keeping the spotlight on the next generation of designers.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas to present Karl Lagerfeld Prize at LVMH Prize Ceremony in Paris

Making Operation Safed Sagar was not simply a matter of recreating the 1999 Kargil War on a large scale. For director Oni Sen, the challenge was to make the audience believe what they are watching might have actually happened. And that meant pushing the production far beyond conventional filmmaking.

So how did they achieve it? By simply keeping it real, says Sen. “We wanted the audience to feel the grit, the danger, and the raw physics of combat. Every visual choice had to be rooted in ground truth,” the director says to Bollywood Hungama. “So, when it came to conceptualizing and executing our sequence architecture, whether complex aerial action scenes or high-stakes ground engagements, my discussion with our cinematographer, Setu (Satyajit Pande) and the entire VFX team was simple: 'Let's keep it real.’”

That philosophy shaped everything from the way aircraft were filmed to the texture of a cockpit and even the movement of sunlight at 30,000 feet. “Setu and our visual effects team executed it with extraordinary craft. They seamlessly blended practical footage with visual effects, creating a unified visual language where, while we stayed 'real,' we managed to make our viewers 'feel,'" Sen adds.

The ‘make it real’ rule was approached even to bring the aerial action to the screen, which is inherently difficult to dramatize because much of it happens at enormous distances and incredible speeds. Every ground scene involving jets, including actual taxiing, takeoffs, and landings, featured real aircraft on real airfields. For the high-octane flying sequences, the makers developed exhaustive animated previsualisation scenes that were reviewed and approved by aviation experts.

“To capture the raw physical intensity inside the cockpit, our production design team built a photorealistic MiG-21 cockpit,” reveals the director. “We mounted this cockpit onto a high-grade motion base, custom-programmed to mimic the exact motion of the aircraft based on our previous sequences. We synchronized this with programmable lighting rigs that dynamically simulated shifting sunlight as the jet maneuvered through the sky.”

Actors also underwent rigorous training under the guidance of active fighter pilots. They learned the physical strain of flying, breathing techniques, and operational controls to make their performance convincing. Preparing the cast was an extensive journey in itself. Several of them had the profound privilege of meeting directly with the actual individuals or their families, while for characters based on political figures or Pakistani leadership, where direct access wasn't possible, the makers established an exhaustive archive of archival video footage, news broadcasts, and historical records.

“Historical research was only the foundation. I worked closely with each actor to map out their character’s emotional graph across the entire series, carefully calibrating their psychological trajectory from scene to scene,” adds the filmmaker.

Operation Safed Sagar was an exceptionally ambitious production from its inception. Long before Oni Sen came on board as a director, its showrunner Abhijeet Singh Parmar and his dedicated research and writing team had spent a few years laying a rock-solid foundation. They didn't just study the details of the IAF’s role in the Kargil war; they absorbed the lived reality of IAF pilots — their interpersonal dynamics, their subtle behavioural traits, their daily routines, and the intricate science of combat flying. Every page of the script was meticulously examined by Air Force consultants, including decorated veterans who had personally flown missions during the actual operation.

Every single day on set meant coordinating with actual fighter jets, transport aircrafts, attack helicopters, ordnance, and complex radar systems. To ensure absolute precision, the makers worked hand-in-hand with IAF technical experts and consultants who guided every move on the tarmac.

“From day one, our team carried a deep sense of responsibility to respect the history we were bringing to life. We were exceptionally fortunate that the Indian Air Force placed their trust in us, graciously opening their doors and granting us unprecedented permission to film within real and active Air Force installations,” Sen signs off.

Created by Abhijit Singh Parmar and Kushal Srivastava, and starring Siddharth, Jimmy Shergill, Abhay Varma, Dia Mirza, Mihir Ahuja, Adil Hussain and Prajakta Koli, Operation Safed Sagar is streaming on Netflix India.

Also Read: The Making of Operation Safed Sagar: How director Oni Sen turned a war epic into an intimate human story

A new star kid is ready to enter the Bollywood fold. Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora’s son Arhaan Khan is set to make his big-screen debut with an action love story, and Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learned that Salman Khan also features in a cameo role in this film.

Details of the plot are kept closely guarded, but sources reveal that Salman will play a small but crucial role in the narrative, supporting his nephew’s first film to get more visibility with his star power. Salman is expected to shoot for 10 days for his extended cameo appearance.

The yet-untitled film will be directed by Anirudh Iyer, who previously helmed Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat-starrer An Action Hero (2022). Ashwin Varde, whose previous producing credits include Kabir Singh, OMG 2, Khel Khel Mein and The Diplomat, will produce this project.

Arhaan has been preparing for his film debut for several years now. He studied filmmaking in the United States and later worked with Vikram Phadnis and also assisted Karan Johar on Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani. He currently hosts a podcast on his YouTube channel, Dumb Biryani. “Arhaan has been preparing himself for cinema for a while. When Ashwin Varde approached Arbaaz with this project to launch Arhaan on the big screen, it felt like the right film at the right time. Arhaan is happy to have found the kind of debut he was looking for and is excited to face the camera as a leading man,” a source close to the development told us.

The makers are currently casting for the female lead and are said to be looking for a fresh face to complement Arhaan and bring a sense of freshness to the young romantic drama. Shooting is being planned for early next year, though the exact shooting timelines will be locked only after the remaining logistical details are sorted.

The project will mark Anirudh Iyer’s second directorial project following An Action Hero. Although he was also supposed to helm Lakshya and Rasha Thadani in an action romance last year, the film was shelved for reasons unknown. He has since been developing multiple projects and is finally set to return to the director’s chair with this new-age love story. As for Ashwin Varde, his next production is an untitled Johnny Lever film directed by Farhad Samji.

Also Read: Before Karna with Salman Khan, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra to direct Vikrant Massey in a Love Story

Priyanka Chopra Jonas is set to take on a presenter role at this year’s LVMH Prize ceremony in Paris. The actor will present the Karl Lagerfeld Prize at the event, joining Hollywood actor Jennifer Lawrence and Thai actor Urassaya ‘Yaya’ Sperbund in the presenter line-up.

The ceremony will take place at the Fondation Louis Vuitton and will recognise emerging talent in the fashion industry. Nine designers have been shortlisted for three prizes at this year’s event. Priyanka Chopra Jonas to present Karl Lagerfeld Prize Priyanka will present the Karl Lagerfeld Prize, which includes a €200,000 grant along with a year of mentorship. The programme covers areas including sustainability, communication, marketing, manufacturing and financial management.

Jennifer Lawrence will present the €400,000 Grand Prize, while Yaya Sperbund will present the Savoir Faire Prize.

Priyanka's role at the ceremony comes as she continues her association with the international fashion and luxury industry. The actor has represented Dior as an ambassador and has regularly appeared at major fashion events in Paris and other global fashion capitals.

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Nine designers compete for LVMH Prize honours The finalists for this year's LVMH Prize include Julie Kegels, Petra Fagerström, De Pino, Ponte, The Vxlley, Institution, Lii, Colleen Allen and Yoshita 1967.

The winners will be selected by a jury comprising prominent figures from the international fashion industry. The jury includes Celine’s Michael Rider, Loewe’s Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, Pucci’s Camille Miceli, and Pietro Beccari, chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton and LVMH Fashion Group.

With Priyanka, Jennifer and Yaya presenting the three awards, the ceremony will bring together established names from entertainment and fashion while putting the focus on the next generation of designers.

Also Read: Priyanka Chopra Jonas sends Rakhi from LA to Parineeti Chopra for the latter’s son Neer on behalf of daughter Malti

Jeevan Ya Bheema Con, featuring Arshad Warsi in a double role, releases in cinemas today, that is, September 4. Interestingly, the film was earlier titled Jeevan Bheema Yojana. The name was changed just three days before the film was released. It has now come to light that the film had to undergo a title change due to a directive from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The CBFC passed Jeevan Ya Bheema Con with a U/A 16+ certificate. However, the film had to undergo certain changes. To begin with, 'inappropriate' references were suitably modified in four places. An 'obscene' hand gesture and visual were asked to be replaced in two places. One more 'obscene' visual was asked to be suitably modified in the second half. Similarly, an 'obscene dialogue' was suitably modified, again in the film's post-interval portion.

Lastly, the CBFC's Examining Committee instructed the makers to replace the film's title from Jeevan Bheema Yojana to Jeevan Ya Bheema Con.

According to trade sources and an article in News9Live, the makers were asked to alter the title to eliminate its phonetic similarity to the government-backed life insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana.

Once the changes were made, the CBFC passed Jeevan Ya Bheema Con on September 1. The length of the film, as mentioned on the censor certificate, is 119.56 minutes. In other words, the quirky comic caper is 1 hours, 59 minutes and 56 minutes long. Besides Arshad Warsi, Jeevan Ya Bheema Con stars Sanjeeda Shaikh, Vijay Raaz, Brijendra Kala, Pooja Chopra, Madhu Anand Chandhock, Atul Parchure, Jaywant Wadkar and Dimple Srivastava. It is directed by Abhishek Dogra of Dolly Ki Doli (2015) fame.

Also Read: Arshad Warsi’s Jeevan Bheema Yojana gets a twist as its official title is revealed as Jeevan Ya Bheema Con?

Actor and filmmaker Sayani Gupta has filed a Rs 9 crores defamation suit before the Mumbai City Civil Court against filmmaker Vinita Negi over allegations surrounding her directorial debut, the short fiction film Aasmani. The case, titled Sayani Gupta v. Vinita Negi & Ors., has also named Meta, Reddit and Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited as defendants.

An application seeking an urgent hearing and interim relief was likely to be listed before additional sessions judge Shudhirkumar Murlidharrao Bukke on September 3.

The dispute began after Negi, an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), accused Gupta of copyright infringement and breach of trust. Negi had alleged that Aasmani drew substantially from her unfinished documentary Prabha, with both projects featuring an elderly woman and a vintage car.

Gupta has now denied the allegations and claimed in her suit that they were false, misleading, unsubstantiated and defamatory. Her plea argued that copyright law protects original expression rather than broad or abstract ideas.

“The mere presence of an elderly woman, a car, a driver or any other generic element in a creative work does not confer upon Negi a monopoly over such ideas or concepts,” the suit stated.

According to Gupta’s plea, Negi approached the Screenwriters Association (SWA) with a complaint in April 2026. While the proceedings were pending, Negi allegedly circulated a “Statement of Support” on WhatsApp and social media seeking backing from members of the film fraternity. The suit claimed that the campaign received more than 250 signatures.

Gupta further alleged that the controversy resulted in professional damage, including the withdrawal of Aasmani from the Indian Film Festival of New Zealand (TIFFNZ).

She has sought Rs 9 crores in damages, along with directions to Meta, Reddit and Deccan Chronicle to remove allegedly defamatory content. She has also sought an unconditional apology and public retraction from Negi.

Also Read : Sayani Gupta’s directorial debut Aasmani pulled from Indian Film Festival of New Zealand amid copyright dispute

The Hindi film industry is known for its interconnected film families, with several prominent surnames sharing both professional and personal ties. From the Kapoors and Bachchans to the Salim Khan, Allu, Konidela, Akkineni and Daggubati families, relationships between members of different film clans have often brought them closer. A similar connection between Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan came to light during a recent episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).

Saif Ali Khan and Akshay Kumar appeared together on the popular quiz show to promote their upcoming crime thriller Haiwaan, directed by Priyadarshan. During the episode, host Amitabh Bachchan revealed a family connection between himself and Saif, leaving both actors surprised.

Amitabh Bachchan explains his connection with Saif Ali Khan

While speaking to Saif, Amitabh Bachchan said, “Many people don’t know this, but he is related to me.” Saif appeared surprised and responded, “Me?” Akshay Kumar was also taken aback by the revelation.

Explaining the connection, Amitabh said, “Raj Kapoor’s daughter Ritu Kapoor’s son, Nikhil Nanda, is married to my daughter, Shweta Bachchan.”

The connection stems from Saif’s marriage to Kareena Kapoor Khan. Kareena is the daughter of Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and Randhir is Raj Kapoor’s son. This makes Kareena and Nikhil Nanda first cousins, linking Saif’s family with the Kapoor family through marriage and, consequently, creating a connection with the Bachchan family.

Amitabh then added a humorous question, saying, “So, now I want to know, how should I address Kareena? What will Kareena call me?” Saif responded with a witty remark: “Thank god that’s not a question (on KBC screen),” leaving Amitabh and Akshay laughing.

Amitabh and Kareena have previously worked together in films including Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Dev (2004) and Satyagraha (2013). He has also shared the screen with Saif in Eklavya: The Royal Guard (2007) and Aarakshan (2011).

About Haiwaan

Directed by Priyadarshan, Haiwaan also stars Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Pahal Chaudhary and Manoj Joshi in key roles. The film is a remake of Priyadarshan’s 2016 Malayalam film Oppam, which starred Mohanlal in the lead role.

The upcoming crime thriller features music by Pritam, cinematography by Divakar Mani, production design by Sabu Cyril and editing by Aiyappan Nair MS. Haiwaan is scheduled to release worldwide on Friday, September 11.

Also Read : Adnan Sami shares WILD Amitabh Bachchan studio story: “We got bedsheets, kept the speakers on and recorded him live…this was NEVER done before”