Indus Chronicles

Richa Chadha has described 2026 as a particularly significant year for her husband, actor Ali Fazal, as she reflects on the professional journey that has brought him recognition across both streaming and theatrical projects. While Richa has been taking a slower approach to returning to acting after becoming a mother to their daughter Zuneyra Ida Fazal, she has continued to support Ali and celebrate his recent work.

Richa is currently balancing motherhood with her professional commitments. She is shooting for a Netflix India show and is also set to launch her travel series Musafiri on her new YouTube channel Phull Stop on September 25. The weekly series, which she has written and narrated, explores Mumbai through its cultural, architectural and anthropological history.

Speaking to SCREEN in an exclusive interview, Richa explained how motherhood influenced her decision to finally bring the project to life. “Questioning the world also comes from motherhood. That’s why people ask, ‘What will we leave behind for our children?’ This is a big reason for me to do the show. I’ve had this research document for 12 years, but I finally acted on it after becoming a mom,” she said.

Richa also opened up about the challenges of managing motherhood alongside her production company, Pushing Button Studios, which she runs with Ali. She admitted that balancing parenting, production, acting and her own well-being has been difficult. “It’s very difficult. I cry out of frustration. I’ve come back from something so transformative, and now have to multitask like a pro. “This is just that phase of my life where I have to raise a child, run a production company, focus on my acting career, and get back to my own health,” she said.

Despite stepping back from acting for a while, Richa has remained vocal about Ali's recent professional achievements. His work across Raakh, Lust Stories 3 and Mirzapur: The Movie has brought him both critical attention and commercial success. “What a year he’s having! How can I not champion him?,” she said.

Reflecting on their long relationship, Richa said she has witnessed Ali's struggles before his current phase of success. “Of course, it’s more complex than just being supportive, but not this year. We’ve been together for a long time. We’ve been married for six years. When I see the culmination of all the hard work he’s done over the years in 2026, there’s no complexity. There’s just pure happiness. I’ve seen him at the time when he lived in a shanty and owned a bicycle. He’s not only my partner, but also my friend. To see him overcome everything is just a very different feeling. I feel like maine iss din ke liye isko paal pos ke bada kiya hai,” she said.

Richa also recalled how some people from the industry had doubted Ali's prospects when they began their relationship. “When I announced my relationship, two members from the film industry called me and said, ‘Iss ladke ka kuchh nahi hoga‘,” she recalled. She further pointed to the response to his Hollywood film Victoria & Abdul, adding, “I can tell you that two people had said about that film, ‘Isko kaise mil gaya?’ To hold your own in front of Judi Dench is very hard,” she said.

Also Read : Udta Teer team fondly remember Mukul Dev at trailer launch; Ayushmann Khurrana SIGHS, “We SADLY underutilized him”; Aakash Kaushik assures, “This is Mukul Dev’s BEST work!”

Shah Rukh Khan has retained his position as the richest Indian actor in the Hurun India Rich List 2026. According to the latest ranking, the actor’s estimated net worth stands at Rs 10,000 crores. His wealth includes his business interests, including production company Red Chillies Entertainment and his involvement with Knight Riders Sports.

While Shah Rukh Khan continues to lead the list, his reported net worth has declined compared to the previous year. The Hurun India Rich List 2025 had estimated his net worth at Rs 12,490 crores. This marks a drop of Rs 2,490 crores, or around 20%, in the latest estimate. Earlier this year, the Hurun Global Rich List had placed his net worth at Rs 10,800 crores. A significant part of Shah Rukh Khan’s wealth is linked to his business ventures. Red Chillies Entertainment, which he runs with his wife Gauri Khan, is among his key business interests. The company has been involved in film production as well as visual effects through its associated ventures. The actor is also associated with Knight Riders Sports, the group behind cricket franchises including Kolkata Knight Riders. His involvement in the sports business forms another part of his overall financial portfolio. Shah Rukh Khan has been away from the big screen since 2023, when he starred in Pathaan, Jawan and Dunki. All three films were released in the same year and marked his return to leading roles following a period away from the big screen. The actor is now preparing for his next theatrical release, King. The film is directed by Siddharth Anand and stars Shah Rukh Khan alongside his daughter Suhana Khan. King is scheduled to release on December 24. With his latest reported net worth of Rs 10,000 crores, Shah Rukh Khan remains at the top among Indian actors featured in the Hurun India Rich List 2026. His reported wealth, however, is lower than the estimate recorded for him in the previous edition of the list.

Also Read : SHOCKING: Sameer reveals, “Nadeem Saifi heard Zamaana Deewana’s script and told Ramesh Sippy, ‘Aisi WAHIYAAD kahani maine nahin suni’!”

This year, December is going to be a treat for moviegoers. Shraddha Kapoor’s much-awaited period drama, Eetha, will release on December 4. Two weeks later, December 18 will witness the epic clash between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three. A week later, on December 24, Jumanji: Open World will clash with Shah Rukh Khan’s highly anticipated flick, King. While there’s tremendous excitement among audiences to watch these four diverse films during the holiday season, there’s also concern over how screen-sharing will play out. Many expect an intense tussle for screens, especially at single-screen cinemas.

Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke with Kamal Gianchandani, Chief Business Planning & Strategy at PVR INOX Limited and CEO of PVR INOX Pictures Limited, about this aspect. When asked whether he expects screen-sharing problems to arise, he replied, “It’s a good problem to have! We have a very experienced team who have been doing it for ages. We’ll handle it. There’s no problem with respect to capacities. In India, we have enough and more capacity to now handle 2 or 3 big releases in the same week. We’ll handle it easily.”

Two days from now, on Friday, September 25, Avengers Endgame: Encore will release and is expected to open with a bang. Kamal Gianchandani predicted, “The advances are fantastic. It’ll smash all re-release records without a doubt.”

Interestingly, the hype surrounding the re-release of Avengers Endgame: Encore also indicates the enormous anticipation for the next film in the franchise, Avengers: Doomsday, which is expected to put up a huge number on its opening day.

Kamal Gianchandani agreed, “It’s a foregone conclusion. If Endgame is having this sort of a response, you can imagine the response that Doomsday will have. It’ll be a monstrous December with Doomsday, Dune: Part Three, Jumanji: Open World and King. December is shaping up to be absolutely massive this year.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: PVR INOX’s Kamal Gianchandani on Hollywood’s record-breaking India run: “People are tired of consuming films at home”; predicts Avengers Endgame: Encore will “SMASH all re-release records”; CONFIRMS India releases of Godzilla Minus Zero, Artificial

President Droupadi Murmu has urged film celebrities to be more mindful of the products they endorse, particularly those that could have harmful effects on public health. Addressing the 72nd National Film Awards ceremony in Gujarat on Tuesday, September 22, she highlighted the influence popular artists have on children and young people and encouraged them to promote healthier lifestyles.

The 72nd National Film Awards, which recognised achievements in Indian cinema for 2024, were presented by Murmu at Ekta Nagar, Kevadia. The ceremony brought together several leading names from the Indian film industry. The awards were held outside New Delhi this year, marking a departure from the recent tradition of hosting the event at Vigyan Bhawan. Droupadi Murmu on celebrity influence Speaking about the reach of film personalities, Murmu pointed out that successful artists can have a strong impact on the choices and habits of younger audiences. She said, "When successful artists speak about the benefits of a disciplined lifestyle, millions of children and young people emulate them. I urge popular artists not to endorse products that are harmful to people's health. A true star is the one who spreads light, not darkness," Murmu said.

The President also urged the film fraternity to ensure that workers, assistants, small-scale artists and those trying to establish themselves in the industry receive respect and social security. Murmu also called for greater representation of women on juries responsible for selecting films for the National Film Awards. She said, "I would like to see women's participation ensured in every regional jury."

She further said, "Incorporating the female perspective in any field makes it possible to form a holistic human outlook." Murmu's remarks come amid Vimal Elaichi ad row The President's comments on celebrity endorsements come days after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration issued show-cause notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over their association with a Vimal Elaichi advertisement.

The Maharashtra FDA has alleged that the campaign could amount to indirect or surrogate promotion of Vimal Pan Masala, a product prohibited in the state. The notices sought explanations from the actors regarding their participation in the campaign.

The matter has also reached the courts. The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition by PB Agro LLP challenging the Maharashtra FDA's notices, which were issued over the alleged surrogate promotion of pan masala through the Vimal Elaichi campaign.

Also Read: 72nd National Film Awards to be held in Gujarat; President Droupadi Murmu to present honours on September 22

Nani, Sonali Kulkarni, Raghav Juyal and Kayadu Lohar attended the press meet of The Paradise in Mumbai. On September 21, it came to light that the action entertainer was passed by an ‘A’ certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Nani was asked about it and he explained the rationale behind the rating.

Nani said, “Of course, when your film has received an ‘A’ certificate, you’ll miss out on kids and a chunk of moviegoers. But I also understand where it's all coming from. There’s a lot of violence in The Paradise.”

He continued, “There are some films, which are fully focused on violence and have violence for the sake of violence. The Paradise is not like that. Our film is a solid drama. It’s an emotional, commercial film and everybody will relate to it very well, regardless of the age group. Even families can come and watch it. You can go with your parents and watch it. You’ll enjoy it completely. But children can’t view the film because there’s a lot of violence.”

Nani further stated, “Everything that happens in the film is what we see around and what we can relate to. There’s drama, emotions and a love story; that is, everything which films, in general, have. But the violence portions are a little higher than other films.”

Did the makers try to secure a U/A rating? Nani replied, “No. We were prepared while shooting itself that we would receive an adult rating.”

The Paradise releases in cinemas on September 24.

The censor cuts

The makers were asked to replace alternate visuals of crow on National Flag. The visuals of a pregnant woman in the beginning were asked to be modified. A foul word was allowed in one place and muted in the rest of the scenes. A scene of a character having a tattoo with a foul word was covered with CGI. The word 'denotified tribe' was asked to be deleted.

The duration of violent stabbing visuals was reduced. In fact, ten other violent scenes replete with torture and blood spills were removed. In three places, words on armed struggle against the country were modified or muted. A reference to a real-life assassination and historical event was muted. Similarly, a reference to a real-life cigarette brand was asked to be censored.

Also Read: High DRAMA before The Paradise Mumbai press meet; Raghav Juyal’s driver ‘STEALS’ fellow resident’s car by mistake; confusion causes delay

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar attended the 72nd National Film Awards with wife and actor Yami Gautam, as their 2024 film Article 370 emerged as one of the major winners at the ceremony. The film won Best Feature Film, while Yami was honoured with Best Actress for her performance. Article 370 also won Best Music Direction for Shashwat Sachdev.

However, when Aditya Dhar was asked about his much-anticipated film Dhurandhar during a red carpet interaction, the filmmaker kept the focus firmly on the film being celebrated that evening. Aditya Dhar says, “Today, it is all about Article 370” During the interaction, Aditya Dhar was asked about making what was described as one of the biggest films in the Indian film industry. While the question referred to Dhurandhar, Dhar pointed out that the occasion was about Article 370 and its National Award recognition. “We are here for Article 370, we will discuss Dhurandhar hopefully if we come next year also. But, today, it is all about Article 370,” he said.

The comment comes as Dhurandhar continues to remain a major talking point around Dhar’s upcoming work. Since the current National Film Awards recognise films from the 2024 eligibility cycle, Dhurandhar is not part of this year’s awards. The film could be considered for a future edition, subject to the applicable eligibility rules.

Watch | We will discuss Dhurandhar if we come next year also, but today it's about Article 370: Dhurandhar Maker Aditya Dhar at Ektanagar in Gujarat for National Film Awards with his Actress Wife Yami Gautam pic.twitter.com/AxsgUcaMBV — DeshGujarat (@DeshGujarat) September 22, 2026

Yami Gautam Dhar calls National Award the “biggest validation” For Yami Gautam, the evening marked a major milestone as she received her first National Film Award for her performance in Article 370. Speaking about the honour, the actor said, “It feels great. We were just discussing, this is the biggest validation for any artist. I think it is the highest honour presented to you by your country. I don't think I will be able to express right now. I am smiling, but from inside I am feeling like an energy of a newcomer for whom everything is so big, everything is so new and special,” Yami said.

The actor's win came alongside Article 370 being named Best Feature Film and Shashwat Sachdev receiving the award for Best Music Direction. Article 370’s National Film Awards recognition Directed by Aditya Suhas Jambhale, Article 370 was among the films recognised at the 72nd National Film Awards. The ceremony was held on September 22, 2026, in Ekta Nagar, Kevadia, Gujarat. It marked the first time the National Film Awards ceremony was held outside Delhi.

Also Read: Aditya Dhar teases wife Yami Gautam over Nayyi Navelli poster; says, “So this is what i married into”

Richa Chadha has praised Salman Khan for speaking out against online trolling and body-shaming during the latest Bigg Boss 20 Weekend Ka Vaar episode. Salman’s remarks on age, weight, appearance and motherhood have sparked conversations about the scrutiny faced by women, particularly new mothers, over their bodies.

Salman addressed the issue without naming anyone. Speaking about the tendency to troll people over different aspects of their lives, he said, “Why do you want to troll? Uske wazan par, uske looks par, uske khaandaan par, kisi ke smile par, kisi ke flop par, kisi ke maa banne par, aap apni upbringing dikha rahe ho."

His comments came amid online discussion around the trolling faced by Katrina Kaif following her appearance at the Ambani family's Ganpati celebrations with husband Vicky Kaushal. Katrina, who recently became a mother, was subjected to comments about her postpartum appearance and weight. Richa Chadha REACTS to Salman Khan’s comments Reacting to Salman’s remarks, Richa Chadha told News18 that she welcomed the actor addressing the issue. She also spoke about the role of men in online trolling and the scrutiny directed at women's bodies. “I didn’t know he spoke about it but it’s great! It’s a magnanimous thing to do. One shouldn’t pay heed. Poor men are so limited in their thinking capacities and they’ll never have the profound experience of giving birth," Richa said.

The actor also criticised people who mock women, particularly mothers, over changes in their bodies after childbirth. “They cannot exist without us. All of them came from a womb. In the natural order of things, if you start to make fun of mothers, it backfires very badly. Every single individual, who sat with a stupid paunch and a receding hairline and made comments on women’s bodies, is unhappy with their own body."

Richa's comments come from her own experience of dealing with body image pressures in the film industry. The actor has previously spoken about facing body-shaming and battling an eating disorder amid pressure to fit the conventional image associated with a Bollywood heroine.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Richa Chadha reveals how Musafiri evolved from being festival-centric to Mumbai-centric: “I realized there are a lot of topics to cover”

Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has opened up about how films portray patriotism differently, comparing her 2018 directorial Raazi with the more action-driven Dhurandhar. According to Meghna, the difference lies in the stories being told rather than the level of patriotism displayed by their characters.

The filmmaker discussed the subject during her appearance on the podcast Learn By KK Create. Asked about Dhurandhar and whether her approach to patriotism differs from that seen in other films, Meghna said that the characters in Raazi are not less patriotic simply because their patriotism is expressed differently on screen.

“The difference is in the story. I don't think Raazi's characters aren't any less patriotic than Dhurandhar's characters. It is their actions because of the way the story is. That is how they are depicted. One does not have to be right, and the other has to be wrong. Patriotism and prayers don't need volume. And they aren't expressed in one particular way. Every individual has their own way of expression,” she said. Meghna Gulzar on patriotism and moral choices in Raazi Released in 2018, Raazi starred Alia Bhatt as Sehmat, a young Indian woman who is recruited as an undercover operative and sent to Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. The film explores her mission through personal relationships, sacrifice and the moral consequences of her actions.

For Meghna, the character's patriotism does not necessarily translate into an absence of moral conflict. When asked whether there was a limit to the kind of patriotism she would portray on screen, she said the character's own boundaries were what mattered. “There is no limit. If the character does not have a limit, how will I have a limit? And there was no limit of Raazi's character's patriotism. She had a limit when it came to her moral compass,” Meghna said.

On the professional front, Meghna Gulzar is currently gearing up for her latest directorial, Daayra, which stars Kareena Kapoor Khan and Malayalam actor Prithviraj Sukumaran.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Meghna Gulzar gave me a character that had real weight; sharing screen space with Kareena Kapoor was an experience,” says Upendra Chauhan on Daayra

The makers of The Vvaan: Force Of The Forrest have acquired the sync rights to a recording of ‘Aigiri Nandini’ after musician Sargam Vaish alleged that his master recording was used in the film’s trailer without his permission.

Vaish had raised the issue on September 20, when he took to Instagram and claimed that a recording of ‘Aigiri Nandini’ created by him had been used in the trailer of the Sidharth Malhotra-starrer without obtaining his consent. The recording, according to Vaish, was originally created for a Ram Gopal Varma film, and he holds the master rights to it. Balaji Motion Pictures legal team meets musician Within 24 hours of Vaish publicly raising the issue, Balaji Motion Pictures’ legal team met with the musician. Vaish told Mid-Day that executives and lawyers from Ektaa R Kapoor’s production house met him on the evening of September 21 and subsequently acquired the sync rights for the recording.

Speaking about the meeting, Vaish said, “Balaji’s executives and lawyers have been cooperative. We met them today; they were kind and apologetic, even though they didn’t cause [the leak]. They are taking the sync rights for the track. I am grateful for the fact that we were able to resolve it so smoothly.” Sargam Vaish says he was not approached for permission Vaish recalled being surprised when he heard his version of Aigiri Nandini in the trailer of the Deepak Kumar Mishra-directed feature. “This is the version I had created for Ram Gopal Varma’s film. I own the master rights. No one had approached me for an NOC or permission,” he said. Source of recording leak remains unknown While the sync rights have now been acquired, Vaish said that he and the concerned parties are still trying to determine how his recording reached the Vvaan team in the first place. “The source of the leak is not known to us yet. We are trying to trace how this happened,” he added.

The Vvaan: Force Of The Forrest stars Sidharth Malhotra in the lead and is directed by Deepak Kumar Mishra. The film is backed by Balaji Motion Pictures and is scheduled to release on September 25.

Also Read: Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia bring their dance moves to The Vvaan’s ‘Thummak Thummak’; song out now

Veteran artiste Raghubir Yadav’s Om Ka Hari recently released in theatres. While speaking about the film in an exclusive chat with Bollywood Hungama, he also touched upon the success of his long-running web show Panchayat, which has already had four seasons with the fifth one in the making.

Yadav said that he could instantly relate with Panchayat when he was offered the first season since he has lived in such a scenario closely. “I have stayed in a village where there was no school,” he said. “My nanaji (maternal uncle) then made a school over there. I studied there. I have seen sarpanch and everyone over there; it was a beautiful atmosphere. Over there, I didn’t feel anyone was like a villain. People used to go about their lives in their own ways. They picked others’ mistakes but never wished anything bad happens to anyone.”

It was also the language of the script that impressed Yadav. “It was beautifully written. The language of Panchayat is so real that it doesn’t appear caricature. If they had made it caricature-ish, it wouldn’t have been such fun. Because of this, families are watching this show together. Kids are amazed to see this era,” he said.

The team of Panchayat, as Yadav said, didn’t think much about the response before the release of the first season. When asked how sure they were about the show’s success, Yadav said, “It was around 55%. Definitely more than 50%. We hadn’t thought about it becoming a hit. We just felt that this is a very rare kind of a show. We realized that if we didn’t make it like a caricature comedy and be truthful to it without making it look like acting, then it can become impressive. We managed to do that. We kept that atmosphere alive and that’s why people started liking it.”

Yadav has played various characters in his decades long career. About his selection criteria over the years, he said, “It should be something I have never done before. It should challenge me. I don’t enjoy if I am able to do it easily. It should give me sleepless nights (laughs). Doobne mein maza aata hai mujhe.”

When asked how he looks back at his enormous journey, the veteran said, “I just kept on learning. I didn’t think about reaching any goal because once you achieve it, it’s the end for you. I just felt like learning and having fun with it.”

Created by The Viral Fever, Panchayat also stars Jitendra Kumar, Neena Gupta, Sanvikaa, Faisal Malik, Chandan Roy among others.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Raghubir Yadav on the personal reason for choosing Om Ka Hari, “I have stayed in UP, MP and Bihar villages and seen such conflicts”; also shares his simple yet effective role selection criteria

Rohed Khan’s stint in the Bigg Boss 20 house may have come to an end, but the contestant walked out with words of appreciation from none other than host Salman Khan. Rohed has become the first contestant to be eliminated from the season.

As Rohed prepared to bid farewell to the house, Salman Khan acknowledged his journey and appreciated the way he carried himself during his time on the show. Salman praised Rohed for maintaining his dignity through the highs and lows of the Bigg Boss experience.

Addressing him, Salman said, “Job well done. Well played with dignity. Your are a good man.”

The appreciation made Rohed’s final moments on the show particularly meaningful. During his stint, he found himself navigating changing equations, nominations and different dynamics inside the house, while getting the opportunity to showcase his personality to the audience.

The farewell also turned into a memorable exchange when Rohed opened up about his desire to work with Salman in the future. Expressing his admiration for the superstar, Rohed said, “I really want to work with you.”

Salman’s response left the door open for a possible collaboration someday. Salman Khan told Rohed, “One day we will work.”

The encouraging exchange added an emotional touch to Rohed’s exit and gave his Bigg Boss journey a positive closing moment.

Although his Bigg Boss 20 journey has concluded, Rohed’s exit was marked by Salman’s appreciation for the way he conducted himself with dignity. With Salman Khan's words of encouragement and the possibility of working together in the future, Rohed left the show on a memorable note.

Also Read: Bigg Boss 20: Mahhi Vij, Mary Kom lock horns after Love Gill provokes boxer over ration task, watch promo!

Bigg Boss 20 contestant Kanika Mann received a special shoutout from Sidharth Malhotra during the latest Weekend Ka Vaar episode. The actor, who appeared on the show with Tamannaah Bhatia to promote their upcoming film The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest, spoke to the contestants and had a few words of appreciation for Kanika.

During his interaction with the housemates, Sidharth praised Kanika's personality and the way she has been conducting herself inside the Bigg Boss house. He referred to her as a “true alpha” and also revealed that his mother has been following her journey on the reality show.

The shoutout came as Kanika continues to navigate the various equations and disagreements inside the Bigg Boss house. The actress has frequently expressed her opinions during conversations with fellow contestants and has been involved in several discussions as the season progresses.

Sidharth's mention of his mother watching Kanika's journey added a personal touch to the interaction. His appreciation also gave Kanika a moment of recognition during the Weekend Ka Vaar episode.

Meanwhile, Sidharth and Tamannaah appeared on the show as part of the promotions for The Vvaan: Force of the Forrest. Their appearance included interactions with Salman Khan and the contestants, with Kanika's shoutout emerging as one of the highlights for the actress.

For Kanika, the moment marked a notable interaction with Sidharth, particularly after the actor acknowledged her presence and personality on the show.

Nikkhil Advani began his career as an assistant director before making a smashing directorial debut with Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). After helming several significant films, he switched gears and carved a niche for himself in the OTT space with shows like Mumbai Diaries, Freedom at Midnight and the recently released The Revolutionaries. He has also produced acclaimed shows such as The Empire, Rocket Boys and Adhura, along with films like Airlift (2016) and Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway (2023), further adding to his impressive body of work. In a recent interview, Nikkhil opened up like never before about his family migrating from Sindh during the Partition and also spoke about how younger generations are reacting to his films.

After Kal Ho Naa Ho, Nikkhil Advani’s next directorial was Salaam-E-Ishq (2007), followed by Chandni Chowk To China (2009). The latter, starring Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone, didn’t receive a favourable response from the audience at the time. However, Nikkhil revealed that Gen Z viewers have since appreciated the film, with many even asking him to make a sequel to Chandni Chowk To China.

Nikkhil Advani told Mumbai Mirror, “The people asking me for a Chandni Chowk sequel today were four years old when it was released (laughs). They didn’t care about narrative structure; they just saw Akshay Kumar [who plays a chef in the film] fighting a giant potato and somehow it worked for them.”

In the same interview, the acclaimed filmmaker revealed that in the summer of 1947, just before the Partition, his great-grandfather flew with his whole family from Sindh to Mumbai, before the former became a part of Pakistan.

Nikkhil Advani also revealed that during the journey, his grandfather carried a heavy money belt strapped around his waist. The money was not his savings. According to the article, “He worked for Habib Bank, which was shifting its headquarters to Karachi at Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s behest”. Hence, he was entrusted to deliver the cash to its Bombay branch. And his grandfather "handed over every rupee".

Also Read: Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah’s Samuk takes authenticity to another level in London; makers use REAL helicopter for dramatic sequence instead of VFX

Lyricist Sameer had a conversation with Komal Nahta and spoke about the banners and filmmakers he particularly enjoyed working with over the years. Sameer said, “I had a wonderful time working with Yash Chopra and his production house. I haven’t done a lot of work with them; I wrote songs for Aaina (1993), Yeh Dillagi (1994), Dhoom (2004), Dhoom 2 (2006) and Dhoom 3 (2013). Unke yahaan kaam karne ka mazaa hai kyunki bahut sensibility ke saath kaam hota hai. While working with them, you’d feel like you are a part of their family. They understand cinema, the craft, lyrics, poetry, etc.”

Sameer continued, “I wrote 3 films for B R Chopra – Kal Ki Awaz (1992), Baghban (2003) and Baabul (2006). I can’t tell you the contribution of Chopra saab during Baghban. I had a good time working with Karan Johar. I only did two films with him – Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001). Lekin jo kaam karne ki samajh uss aadmi mein hai, khaas kar music ko leke, it's praiseworthy.”

Sameer revealed, “At one point, Jatin-Lalit almost quit Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. They were pressurized by the presence so many stars of different generations. I told them, ‘Yeh film aap log mat chodo. Bas Karan ko follow karo’. That’s what I did. The song ‘Say Shava Shava’ was difficult as it had so many actors – Amit ji bhi hai, Jaya ji bhi hai, Shah Rukh bhi hai, Rani bhi hai, Kajol bhi hai. But that man (Karan Johar) narrates so minutely that it became very easy. Mujhe pata bhi nahin chala maine Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ke gaane kab likh diye!”

Sameer then started, “The first song of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which was released, was, ‘Tum Paas Aaye, Yun Muskuraaye’. David Dhawan heard the song. He called and told me, ‘Bada ganda gaana likha hai tune, yaar. Meri picture mein aisa gaana likhna mat’ (laughs)! I asked him, ‘Teri picture ka gaana hai? Tu kyun pareshan ho raha hai? Jaane de na’. He said, ‘Meri film ke gaane bhi release hue hain. Uss film ke music ko khatam nahin kar diya toh tu mujhe bata’!”

The film David Dhawan mentioned was Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (1998) and Sameer wrote the songs for it as well. Sameer added, “Both films (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan) were released on the same day and the songs of both the movies were blockbusters.”

Also Read: Subhash Ghai celebrates Ishita Deshmukh as Gondhal becomes India’s official Oscar entry

Lyricist Sameer had a conversation with Komal Nahta, during which he went down memory lane and shared several anecdotes related to prominent films and stars. He also spoke about the importance of music in cinema.

Sameer said, “A film can become a hit even without a song. For example, a film like Kanoon (1960) did work. But viewers will go to watch such films once. Film ki repeat value gaana hota tha. Once you see the film and know it story, toh aap baar baar kya wohi dekhne jaoge? During Aashiqui (1990), I witnessed viewers entering the theatre to see the song. Once the song would end, they would go out, have tea and then come back again to catch the next song. They had calculated the gap between the two songs and would enter the theatre accordingly! Imagine the importance of music. Also, in the 90s, we gave maximum hits with newcomers. Phool Aur Kaante (1991) was Ajay Devgn’s first film. Kya music tha uss film ka.”

He then spoke about music director Nadeem Saifi of Nadeem-Shravan fame, “Nadeem saw Ajay Devgn and told director Kuku Kohli, ‘Isko mat leke aana. Mujhe depression ho jaayega. How will we be inspired to write songs? Tumko yehi ek actor mila tha.’ But when he saw him in the film, he congratulated him. He accepted that (he made a mistake). I don’t know if Kuku ever told Ajay about this episode!”

Sameer continued, “That’s how Nadeem is. He would not mince words. Ramesh Sippy offered a film to us, Zamaana Deewana (1995; starring Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon). We did the film eventually. Ramesh ji narrated the film to us for 2 ½ hours and then asked him, ‘Nadeem bhai, kaisa laga?’. Any other person would hesitate, especially when sitting in front of such a big director. But Nadeem told him, ‘Aisi wahiyaad kahani maine nahin suni’ (laughs)!”

Also Read: Kajol talks about AI vs human creativity: “A machine has thoughts already in a library”

Hema Malini recently opened up about changing trends of stardom and also touched upon being dignified while ageing gracefully. In an interview with Mumbai Mirror, she said, “Today there is too much exposure. We were never exposed like this. Now, before stepping out of the house, an actor has to think about what to wear, what bag to carry, how to walk, because somebody is photographing you from every angle. You go to the airport and people immediately click photographs with their mobile phones. Even if you’re not dressed properly, nobody cares. The picture is everywhere.”

She also remarked, “Youngsters today want quick fame. For publicity, they are ready to do anything. We never had to do all that. We worked for 60 or 70 days on a film and then waited to see the result on screen. I always knew I had done my best. Whether the film became a hit or not was a different matter.”

We are living in times of cosmetic procedures are fairly common. Hema Malini endorsed the idea but with terms and conditions.

She remarked, “Ageing gracefully is very important because you have to maintain yourself. If there is something genuinely necessary for your appearance, one can definitely try it. As long as you are in the public eye, you have to be presentable. That’s all. But don’t overdo anything.”

She then added, “Even if you wear something simple, be dignified. Women should dress up nicely. They don’t have to expose too much. Nowadays, young girls expose so much. Being a woman and being a mother, I don’t like it. It really hurts.”

Two weeks before this interview, Hema Malini, in a rare instance, revealed why she had declined Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978), admitting that she was uncomfortable with the bold portrayal of the female lead.

She revealed, “After Sapno Ka Saudagar (1968), I always wanted to work with Raj Kapoor saab again. After some years, he wanted me to do Satyam Shivam Sundaram. But he himself told me, ‘I know you won’t do it.’ I told him that I would love to work under his direction, but I wouldn’t be able to do this film.”

Also Read: Hema Malini opens up about life after Dharmendra’s passing; says, “I’m living with his memories”

Ajay Devgn is currently gearing up for the much-awaited Drishyam The Conclusion. The thriller releases in cinemas on October 2 and marks the veteran actor’s second release of the year after the super-hit Dhamaal 4. His next film, tentatively-titled Ranger, co-starring Sanjay Dutt and Tamannaah Bhatia, was expected to arrive in cinemas on December 4. However, since last month, there have been reports that the film has been pushed to 2027.

Bollywood Hungama has now learned that the film has indeed been postponed and will release only next year. A source told us, “The film should release after Eid, which falls in March 2027. Hence, expect Ranger to be a summer release, which would be apt. It’s a jungle adventure and would be an ideal film to release during the school and college holidays.”

December 4, meanwhile, will now see the release of Akshay Kumar-Vidya Balan-Raashii Khanna’s untitled comic caper, directed by Anees Bazmee. It will clash with Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Eetha. There’s also a possibility of Prabhas’ period action drama, Fauzi, releasing on December 3. However, as per trade sources, it’s unlikely and like Ranger, it maybe pushed to 2027.

This means Ajay Devgn will have just two releases in 2026. According to an August report in Mid-Day, Ranger features Ajay as a forest officer determined to protect tigers. However, his mission is made increasingly difficult by an inefficient team, corrupt superiors and a ruthless gang of poachers led by Sanjay Dutt, who plays the antagonist.

The Mid-Day report also said that the climax was shot last month in Mumbai, after which the makers plan to film a special dance number with Tamannaah Bhatia and Ajay Devgn.

Ranger is produced by Luv Ranjan and directed by Jagan Shakti. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama in January 2026, Luv said, “Ajay sir and Sanju sir have worked together so many times in these 25 years. Yet, they have never done an action film together. It is very shocking. It is extremely exciting that we’ll get to see them in an action film for the first time.”

Also Read: Alia Bhatt REACTS to Ajay Devgn’s Drishyam The Conclusion trailer: “Hat-trick incoming”

Katrina Kaif has opened up about her evolving skincare journey, revealing how post-pregnancy changes made her routine more careful and intentional. Her comments to The Hollywood Reporter arrive at a time when the actress has faced extensive trolling over her recent post-pregnancy appearance, making her beauty insights particularly resonant for fans navigating similar concerns.

Katrina explained that her skin’s needs changed significantly after becoming a mother. “Post-pregnancy, my skin became even more sensitive, so it was a really tricky time because I had to understand what products were working for me. I found myself looking for products that felt soothing, calming and restorative,” she said.

This phase led her to prioritize barrier health in her regimen. Speaking about her own range of products, Kaif added, “It reinforced my belief that focusing on your barrier support and repair is so important, as it’s our skin’s first line of defence to environmental stressors.”

Reflecting on how her approach to beauty has evolved over the years, Katrina noted a shift from external stereotypes to internal well-being. “It’s changed a lot. When I started out early through my modelling and acting career, there were a lot of stereotypes about what the beauty standards were. Now for me, looking my best is really about feeling my best, and that comes from taking care of myself as a whole,” she stated.

She listed several non-negotiables that influence how her skin behaves: “A healthy diet, keeping the inflammation in your body under control, staying active, meditation, a phone-free daily hour of your morning and getting natural light first thing in the morning. It all makes a huge difference to how I feel, and ultimately how my skin behaves. I think when you feel healthy, that confidence naturally reflects on the outside.”

Katrina also emphasized the importance of being responsive to her skin’s changing needs. “I’ve learnt to be adaptable and responsive to what my skin needs at a particular phase or time. Stress, inflammation and environment all play a big factor. Sensitive skin can behave very differently from one day to the next,” she said.

At present, her focus is on hydration and resilience. “Right now, in this phase, I’m focusing on deep cellular hydration, supporting and strengthening my skin barrier and keeping it calm and resilient. Even makeup application is hugely improved when the skin is cared for,” Katrina added.

With her candid breakdown, the actress offers a blueprint that goes beyond products—centring on barrier care, lifestyle balance and self-trust in a phase of life that many women find confusing and highly scrutinized.

Also Read: Katrina Kaif expands Kay Beauty into skincare with Hydra Glaze Essence and Hydra Base Water Crème

Lyricist Sameer Anjaan recently revisited a difficult chapter from the early stages of his career during an appearance on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers: The Music Series. The lyricist recalled an incident involving a music director, who he chose not to name, and revealed how the encounter became a moment of self-doubt before eventually motivating him to continue pursuing songwriting.

Sameer, son of veteran songwriter Anjaan, recalled that the incident took place before he met music director Usha Khanna. He said the unnamed music director was a good acquaintance of his father. After listening to several of Sameer’s songs, the music director reportedly questioned his decision to pursue songwriting.

Sharing details of the interaction, Sameer said, "There was an incident before I visited Usha Khanna. I will not disclose the name of the music director, but he was a good acquaintance of my father.” He further recalled, “I showed him a few of my songs. After listening to 15–20 songs attentively, he said, 'You have a good education, you had a job, and you are the son of such a good ‘Shayar’; why would you ruin his reputation? I can give you in writing that you will never become a songwriter. Don’t waste your time here. If you need money, I will give it to you; go back to Banaras.' In anger, he threw my music diary from the third floor,” he shared.

The incident left Sameer questioning his abilities as a songwriter, particularly because the criticism had come from someone who knew his father. However, he said he remembered a line from his father’s work, which gave him the motivation to continue.

He went on to add, “While I was going down to retrieve it, I had so many questions in my mind. This music director was a friend of my father. He had listened to my songs for 45 minutes to an hour, and if his reaction was like this, was there a problem with my skills? Then I remembered a line from my father’s work: 'Jag abhi jeeta nahi hai, tu abhi haara nahi hai. Faisla hone se pehle haar mat swikaar karna.' I found new motivation in those words. I picked up my diary and went straight to Santa Cruz, to Usha Khanna’s house in Khar Road."

Sameer Anjaan is among the prolific lyricists in Indian cinema and holds a Guinness World Record for writing the highest number of film songs. His appearance on Game Changers: The Music Series offered a glimpse into the struggles that preceded his established career.

This version keeps the focus on the incident and Sameer’s recollection, while avoiding unverified conclusions about the unnamed music director or adding details beyond the supplied material.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “Don’t know if Hera Pheri 3 will be made, there is no clear picture,” says Sameer Anjaan

Akshay Kumar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah’s Samuk is continuing to build an eclectic ensemble, and we hear acclaimed actor-filmmaker Rajat Kapoor is the latest name to come on board the sci-fi action thriller.

According to sources, Kapoor is said to be playing a pivotal part in the Kanishk Varma directorial, which is being produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures and co-produced by Aashin A Shah. The film, currently being shot in the UK, is being mounted as a large-scale theatrical spectacle combining science fiction, action and survival elements.

Kapoor is known for bringing a certain assured nuance and intelligence to his performances. Over the years, he has moved fluidly between character-driven parts and mainstream Hindi cinema, with performances in films such as Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bheja Fry (2007), Kapoor & Sons (2016), Mulk (2018), Drishyam (2015), Drishyam 2 (2022), Gehraiyaan (2022), etc., thus forming part of an unusually varied body of work. Recently, Rajat Kapoor was part of the ensemble of Netflix’s Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025) and was also seen in Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026).

Rajat Kapoor brings a very different quality to the ensemble. He has the ability to deliver an assured performance which amps up the movie, and that is important for a film like Samuk. The role has weight within the story, and the makers felt he was the right fit.

Kapoor’s reported addition gives Samuk yet another interesting casting, bringing together performers with very different screen energies around Akshay Kumar.

Samuk marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah after a gap of 13 years. The project has been in development for over two years and is being mounted on a large scale for theatrical audiences.

Also Read: BREAKING: Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah’s Samuk takes authenticity to another level in London; makers use REAL helicopter for dramatic sequence instead of VFX