Poonam Pandey lands in legal trouble for 2020 nude photoshoot

Poonam Pandey has once again landed in legal trouble. A complaint has been registered against the model-actress and her ex-husband Sam Bombay by the Canacona Police in Goa. A charge sheet has been filed before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Canacona for committing an obscene act in 2020. The chargesheet claims that Poonam participated in a nude photoshoot at Chapoli Dam in Goa.

The incident which happened in 2020 led to several people complaining about the model-actress for posing nude in public space. A video of Pandey's photoshoot had also gone viral on social media. Thereafter the police registered a case against Poonam and Sam Bombay for obscene acts in public, vulgar videography, and dancing and singing in an open public space.

The said incident happened before November 2020 when Poonam Pandey and Sam Bombay were on a holiday in Canacona in Goa. Poonam and Sam who got married in Mumbai in September 2020 got separated in 2021. Sam was arrested by the police after the actress accused him of physically assaulting her.

ALSO READ: Lock Upp: Poonam Pandey reveals about losing her sense of smell after she was assaulted

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Brahmastra trailer to be released on June 15, see new teaser

Superstar Ranbir Kapoor, the legendary S.S. Rajamouli, and director Ayan Mukerji have surprised the eagerly waiting fans of India by announcing the much-awaited trailer date of magnum opus Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva. The trailer arrives on June 15.

Produced by Star Studios, Dharma Productions, Prime Focus and Starlight Pictures, the magnum opus will release theatrically on September 9, 2022 across 5 Indian languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada with a stellar ensemble cast of Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Mouni Roy, and Nagarjuna Akkineni.

Presented by SS Rajamouli in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

ALSO READ: “I am in Ranbir’s heart," says Alia Bhatt in special video message as Ranbir Kapoor, Ayan Mukerji, and SS Rajamouli attend a special event for Brahmastra in Vizag

IU, South Korean actress & singer, named global ambassador of Gucci

South Korean actress and singer IU, real name Kim Ji Eun, has been announced as the global brand ambassador for Gucci. The actress attended Cannes Film Festival 2022 for her movie Broker where she wore the brand's outfit for the red carpets

On May 30, Gucci shared a photo of IU on the red carpet and captioned the post, “Global Brand Ambassador IU was captured at the 75th Annual Cannes Film Festival wearing a Gucci gown with lace rebrodé petal details on the cuffs, as well as sequin flowers and crystal embellishments on the skirt.”

 

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According to the website, "IU wears key looks from the Aria collection while highlighting distinctive styles including the Jackie 1961 embellished with colorful geometric patterns, and the Gucci Diana and boots featuring a maxi GG monogram, all part of this year’s Gucci Gift selection. Bamboo handle bags in various colors and materials take center stage alongside other accessories and ready-to-wear round out the selection of gift ideas for everyone’s holiday wish list."

IU has the brand ambassador of Gucci since 2020 but announced as a global brand ambassador by the brand itself on May 30, 2022. She becomes the fourth Korean star to be with the grand after EXO singer Kai, actors Shin Min Ah and Lee Jung Jae.

IU will be seen in Broker, which waswas nominated for the Palme d’Or at 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Also Read: IU exits from upcoming drama Money Game due to scheduling conflicts; Chun Woo Hee to replace her

Aditya Chopra invested 2 years on VFX to make Akshay Kumar starrer Samrat Prithviraj a visual extravaganza

Akshay Kumar’s next is Yash Raj Films’ first historical, Samrat Prithviraj, which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan. He is essaying the role of the legendary warrior who fought valiantly to protect India from the merciless invader Muhammad of Ghor in this visual spectacle. Akshay reveals that the producer of Samrat Prithviraj, Aditya Chopra, has invested 2 years on VFX to make the film into a must watch big screen spectacle!

Akshay says, “Retelling the legend of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan on the big screen is a huge task for any producer, director or an actor like me. From the word go, we were sure that we will tell his life story in its full glory because we were honouring the courage and sacrifice of the mighty king who stood up against the merciless invader Mohammad of Ghor to protect our country.”

He adds, “Elaborate war sequences were designed keeping in mind that audiences should have the biggest and the best theatrical experience when they step in to watch the life of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan unfold before their eyes. Expansive sets were created and we shot in majestic locations to add as much visual appeal as possible. We want this film to be the grandest tribute to the fearless king.”

Akshay further says, “VFX adds magic to the movie-watching experience and we knew we could scale up the film if the brilliant YFX team at YRF would have adequate time to work on the footage. The pandemic resulted in this team getting about 2 years to work on the footage. So, you can only imagine the scale that has been achieved through VFX. I can’t wait for people to see the film because it is truly a visual extravaganza for audiences to be thoroughly entertained!”

Samrat Prithviraj has been directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who is best known for directing the television epic Chanakya and the critically acclaimed film Pinjar. The ethereally gorgeous Manushi Chhillar plays the role of King Prithviraj’s beloved Sanyogita and her launch is definitely one of the most awaited debuts of 2022. The film is set to release on June 3 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

Also Read: Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar, and Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi perform Ganga puja in Varanasi ahead of the release of Samrat Prithviraj

Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha garners 62 million views in 24 hours

The trailer of Aamir Khan's much-awaited Laal Singh Chaddha has been released and it is the hottest topic of conversation in the country today. With the trailer of the forthcoming release garnering 62M views in just 24 hours, Laal Singh Chaddha has taken the cinema world by storm.

It is said that the Aamir Khan starrer will pull the audience back to the cinemas and will play a crucial role in revamping the box office from the post-pandemic trauma.

Post the release of the trailer at the T-20 finale, Laal Singh Chaddha is being praised nationwide. Not many people are aware that Laal Singh Chadda is Aamir Khan’s 14-year-long labor of love and the actor has given his heart and soul to the film. After a decade-long of hard work, persistence, and patience, the film is now ready to serve its audience with its simplicity and serenity.

'Laal Singh Chaddha', produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios, was played in the IPL finale and several people watched it live on Monday. Starring Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, and Chaitanya Akkineni in the lead, the film is set to release in 2022

 

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ALSO READ: “What I have learnt in last 12 years, I learnt from Aamir Khan in 45 days” – Naga Chaitanya on Laal Singh Chaddha

Kartik Aaryan refutes report of fee hike post Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 success - "Promotion hua hai, increment nahi"

Kartik Aaryan has been riding on cloud nine ever since Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 released as the actor has been creating various records ever since, from delivering the biggest opening weekend to crossing the Rs. 100 crore mark in just 9 days. Post the release of the film and the success, reports have been stating that the actor has hiked his fees. Now, refuting the same, the actor recently said that these rumours are untrue.

Taking to Twitter, the actor directly responded to a report that mentioned the fee hike. He said, “Promotion hua hai life mein/ Increment nahi ????/ Baseless.”

Recently, on being asked about such success of the film, Kartik shared, "During a time like this, having delivered a 100 crore collection within the first 9 days of release alone is the most surreal feeling as an actor. I knew the film would do well, but couldn't have imagined it like this. I owe the success to the team of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, who worked on it so passionately for 3 years, secondly, the makers who delivered their vision of this entertainer so phenomenally and most importantly, the ones who have been pouring it with so much love- the audience, as they have accepted us with their whole hearts."

With Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 now out, Kartik will next be seen in Shehzada, Captain India, Freddy and Sajid Nadiadwala's untitled next.

ALSO READ: Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani to host success bash for Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 as film enters Rs. 100 crore club

Bridgerton star Ruby Barker on her hospitalisation due to her mental health - "Sometimes you just got to take a break"

Bridgerton star Ruby Barker has reportedly been hospitalized after struggling with mental health issues. The actress openly talked about her mental health and encouraged others to more carefully consider their mental health and get support when they need it.

In a video of over 5 minutes, posted via Instagram on May 26 (Thursday), the 25-year-old actress revealed she was recently hospitalized for an undiagnosed mental health condition after realizing she had been “really unwell for a long time.” She captioned the video, “Mental health week is every week for me. Off my chest. I feel like I’ve not been completely honest so this is for my followers. Time to be transparent. I’ve been struggling since Bridgerton, this is the truth. Thank you all for supporting me, your love holds me up”

In the video shared, Barker shared that she was about to be discharged from a mental health facility and was planning to take some time away. “I just want to be honest with everybody, I have been struggling,” she said at the beginning of the clip. “So I’m in the hospital at the minute and I’m gonna get discharged soon and hopefully get to continue with my life."

“I’m gonna take a little bit of a break for myself and I want to encourage others if you are struggling, please do yourself a favor. Take a break. Stop being so hard on yourself.” Barker noted that while she had to previously drop out of a West End production of Running with Lions after contracting Covid-19 in addition to dealing with mental illness, while also reassuring fans that she was "on new heights" since getting support. She recalled being "rage-filled, frustrated, angry" and "carrying the weight of the world on my back," before getting a diagnosis. “All this intergenerational trauma bundled up inside me and I was carrying the weight of a world on my back,” she explained.

“Now I’m at a point where I have a diagnosis and I will talk to you about that at another time,” she added. “But I have a diagnosis and I am relinquishing myself. I’m forgiving myself and drawing a line in the sand. I can’t carry on the way that I’ve been carrying on. I need to change. So that’s what I’m trying to do. I was trying to hold together my mental health like this, just adding so much pressure. Like my brain was just gonna go boom, and that’s basically what happened. Sometimes you just got to take a break. You’ve got to say, ‘I can’t do this right now. I need support.'”

The Bridgerton star, who plays Marina Thompson in the first and second seasons of the Netflix and Shondaland series, also took a moment to thank the various people who helped her “have a job, work, have a purpose, have a reason, you know, make me feel like I matter.” She thanked her friends and mentors, along with Netflix and Bridgerton executive producer Shonda Rhimes. “I need to thank Netflix and Shonda Rhimes and Shondaland for giving me an opportunity, for saving me,” she said.

The actress concluded her video assuring that she’s now “better” and “cannot wait to fulfill all of my engagements and to have a good career and a good life. I do not want my diagnosis to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I want to survive and I will survive and I’m going to and so are you,” she said. “That’s the beauty of it. So are you.”

 

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Also Read: Bridgerton season 3 to spotlight Nicola Coughlan and Luke Newton’s Penelope and Colin Bridgerton’s regency romance

Amazon Prime Video collaborates with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment; announces worldwide-exclusive, multi-year licensing slate

Amazon Prime Video today announced a worldwide-exclusive, multi-film licensing collaboration with Sajid Nadiadwala’s Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE). This association marks the coming together of India’s most loved entertainment hub – Amazon Prime Video, and one of the country’s favourite entertainment brands – Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment (NGE). This collaboration will bring the biggest and best of Bollywood movies to audiences across the length and breadth of the country and to fans in over 240+ countries and territories. As part of the association, the streaming service will be the worldwide home to NGE’s upcoming slate of movies, soon after their theatrical launch. NGE’s movie slate includes many much-anticipated titles such as Bawaal, Sanki, Baaghi 4, Kartik Aaryan’s untitled project, among others and promises to bring Sajid Nadiadwala’s trade-mark larger-than-life, immersive cinema to viewers across the globe, on a screen of their choice.

The films, post their theatrical release, will be available on Amazon Prime Video for all Prime members. Additionally, the films will also be available ‘to-rent’ on Amazon Prime Video for all Amazon customers (Prime or otherwise) in the ‘Early Access Rental’ window.

These films will feature some of Bollywood’s most popular, as well as, versatile talent, including Varun Dhawan, Tiger Shroff, Kartik Aaryan, Ahan Shetty, and many more. The slate also brings together some of the most respected, powerhouse directors including national award-winning directors like Nitesh Tiwari (Chhichhore, Dangal) Ravi Udyawar (Mom), Sameer Vidwans (Anandi Gopal) Saket Chaudhry (Hindi Medium) and many more.

Sajid Nadiadwala, Managing Director of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Producer & Director said, “We have been entertaining the audience for the last 70 years with our movies, contributing to the Indian culture and today it’s a new era in entertainment with OTT becoming such an integral part of our lives. Amazon Prime Video has been instrumental in breaking all barriers in entertainment – geographical, linguistic, or otherwise. In Prime Video, we believe we have found a partner that not only shares our vision of offering immersive cinematic experiences, but also provides global distribution to the best stories from the Indian entertainment ecosystem. This collaboration marks NGE’s first-ever, worldwide exclusive, multi-film, multi-year deal with Prime Video – we are confident that this partnership of inclusive cinema will enable our upcoming titles to travel beyond geographies and add further value to Prime Video’s stellar content selection. As the world of storytelling evolves across genres, I believe this association will pave the way for more collaborations between the two brands to follow.”

“We are excited to venture into this milestone collaboration with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, that is known to create films that connect instantly with audiences. By inking this partnership, we will bring some of the most entertaining narratives and stories soon after their theatrical releases exclusively to our viewers’ screens worldwide,” said Manish Menghani, Director – Content Licensing, Amazon Prime Video India. “At Amazon, we start with the customer and work backwards and this collaboration is another step towards fulfilling that promise. Prime Video has played a key role in significantly enhancing the audience base for Indian films, across languages, both within the country and internationally. I am certain that this slate of much-anticipated movies will prove to be an absolute delight for our consumers,” he added.

ALSO READ: Sajid Nadiadwala’s Bawaal starring Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor goes on floors

IIFA 2022: From Kartik Aaryan, Shahid Kapoor, to Nora Fatehi, here is the list of celebs who will be performing at IIFA Rocks and IIFA Awards on June 3 and 4

The grandest celebration of Indian Cinema, the International Indian Film Academy and Awards (IIFA) is here to thrill fans with its 22nd edition in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi on June 2, 3, and 4. Several celebrities from the Hindi film industry will be setting the stage on fire with their performances. While the main event on June 4 will be hosted by Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Maniesh Paul, the IIFA Rocks event which will be held on June 3 will be hosted by Farah Khan Kunder and Aparshakti Khurana.

The IIFA Rocks 2022 will be no less a grand spectacle than the main awards night on June 4. There will be power-packed performances by Devi Sri Prasad, Tanishk Bagchi, Guru Randhawa, Honey Singh, Neha Kakkar, Dhvani Bhanushali, Zahrah S Khan, Dhvani Bhanushali, and Asees Kaur on June 3 in Abu Dhabi.

This will be followed up by the IIFA Awards 2022 hosted by Salman Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Maniesh Paul. Shahid Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Kartik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Ananya Panday, Divya Khosla Kumar, and Nora Fatehi, will be shining on stage with their performance on the award night. Ananya Panday will be making her live stage performance debut at IIFA 2022.

Also attending the awards will be stars like Mithun Chakraborty, Boney Kapoor, Madhuri Dixit, Lara Dutta, Tamannaah Bhatia, Nargis Fakhri, Bobby Deol, Urvashi Rautela, Arjun Rampal, and Sanya Malhotra, among others.

ALSO READ: Jacqueline Fernandez allowed by court to fly to Abu Dhabi for IIFA awards

Nitesh Tiwari And Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari join hands for the film Bas Karo Aunty!

Based on Varun Agarwal's bestselling book ‘How I Braved Anu Aunty and Co-Founded a Million Dollar Company’, Bas Karo Aunty is directed by debutant Abhishek Sinha and stars Ishwak Singh & Mahima Makwana. Nitesh Tiwari, who has made films like Dangal, Chhichhore, Chillar Party, will be joining hands with wife Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari along with Star Studios, Ronnie Screwvala and Siddharth Roy Kapur to produce this young-adult comedy drama.

 Bas Karo Aunty! is about a real-life experience of millennials and today’s youth and their dilemma, the thrills, risks, and romance of embarking on a new life path and chasing one's dreams; it tells a hilarious and inspiring story through witty millennial banter and capturing the zeitgeist and entrepreneurial spirit of young India.  The powerhouse makers have reunited after Dangal for this fun venture. The film is helmed by debutant filmmaker Abhishek Sinha and written by Nitesh Tiwari and Nikhil Mehrotra. Speaking about it, a source close to the film added, “this film will be filled with fun, emotional and inspiring coming of age moment.”

Talking about the film, producers Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari said, "We found Varun Agarwal's journey quite captivating, and I'm thrilled about mounting this film on the story of a budding entrepreneur. Our film captures the mood and zeitgeist of the nation: India is young, jubilant, and enterprising, and Bas Karo, Aunty! Is the perfect response to anyone trying to impede this spirit of enterprise!”

“With Star Studios, we aim to collaborate with the best creative minds and present unique stories that will resonate with wider audiences. Bas Karo Aunty! is a joyous story with a young fresh appeal, and we are happy to associate once again with leading content forces - Nitesh Tiwari, Ronnie Screwvala, Siddharth Roy Kapur and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari to present this fun entertainer!” said Bikram Duggal, Head of Studios, Disney Star.

Siddharth Roy Kapur of Roy Kapur Films added, "Bas Karo Aunty! is a film that has the potential to resonate across the young generation that has embraced the hustle culture worldwide. While most people of this generation are navigating their careers and figuring out their skill set, they're pitted against powerful odds. The meddlesome Anu Aunty is a personification of those obstacles. This is a story of joy and triumph, and I'm happy to have aligned forces with Bikram, Nitesh, Ronnie and Abhishek to tell this story.”

"I'm happy to reunite with Star Studios, Siddharth and Nitesh for Bas Karo Aunty! This premise on a funny and inspiring story is sure to hit it off with people who have an entrepreneurial streak," said Ronnie Screwvala, RSVP.

Debutant director Abhishek Sinha spoke about the film adding, "Nothing beats the thrill of bringing a relatable story to the audience for a filmmaker. I'm excited to be directing a film written by my mentor and one of the closest friends Nitesh Tiwari in collaboration with Nikhil Mehrotra along with stalwart producers like Star Studios, RSVP, Sid Roy Kapur films, and Earthsky productions helmed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari and Nitesh Tiwari. As a team they gauged the merit of this hilarious, heart-warming and inspiring story. This film is our cinematic salute to everyone brave enough to go after their dreams."

Produced by Star Studios, RSVP, Roy Kapur Films and Earthsky Pictures, Bas Karo Aunty! has already gone on floors. The film will be set in Mumbai and will be shot extensively across the city.

Also Read: Huma Qureshi to star in Tarla Dalal’s biopic; Ronnie Screwvala, Nitesh and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari to produce

EXCLUSIVE: Mahaveer Jain Films and Boundless Media come on board as co-producer for Rajshri Productions’ Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Uunchai

Sooraj Barjatya is considered one of the greatest filmmakers of Bollywood. He debuted with the romance saga Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). His 1994 family film, Hum Aapke Hain Koun is a historic blockbuster while the 1999 fare, Hum Saath Saath Hain, turned out to be a smashing success too. Vivah (2006) won hearts all over while his last directorial, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015) too succeeded at the box office. Therefore, there’s a lot of excitement for his next film, Uunchai. It stars Amitabh Bachchan along with Parineeti Chopra, Sarika, Boman Irani, Anupam Kher, Danny Denzongpa and Nafisa Ali and is about a story of friendship, as per reports.

Bollywood Hungama has now exclusively learnt about a significant development with regards to Uunchai. Mahaveer Jain has got associated with the film as a co-producer. His production house, Mahaveer Jain Films, along with Natasha Malpani Oswal’s Boundless Media are now also the producers of Uunchai along with Sooraj Barjatya’s Rajshri Productions.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Sooraj Barjatya is a one-of-a kind filmmaker in Bollywood. He was looking for a suitable partner for Uunchai. When he met Mahaveer Jain, he realized that the latter understands his filmmaking sensibilities. This is how both decided to work together on this special project. Later, Natasha Malpani Oswal too came on board.”

Mahaveer Jain has made films like Malaal (2019), Khandaani Shafakhana (2019), and the National Award-winning film Dekh Indian Circus (2012), and is also a part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next on Balakot airstrike. He became a known personality after he was seen in the viral picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Bollywood celebrities. In fact, he was the one who managed to get this meeting conducted successfully. Natasha Malpani Oswal, meanwhile, has produced popular web series like Adulting, Little Things, etc.

Bollywood Hungama in October 2021 revealed that Parineeti Chopra plays the role of a tourist guide from Nepal in Uunchai and that the film is a tale of four friends trying to scale the Everest. In October last year, the film was shot at Lukla airport, located near the Everest Base Camp, Nepal. It is considered the most dangerous airport in the world.

Also Read: Anupam Kher touches younger brother Raju Kher’s feet on Uunchai sets: ‘He was awkward but I got cheap thrills’

Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani to host success bash for Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani starrer Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 as film enters Rs. 100 crore club

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is unarguably the family entertainer of the year. Becoming the second film of producer and actor  Bhushan Kumar and Kartik Aaryan, it marks their second Rs. 100 crore film after Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. The film, produced by Bhushan and Murad Khetani, also stars Kiara Advani, Tabu and Rajpal Yadav. The cast has all reasons to be flying high as the film raked in over Rs. 100 crores in less than 10 days since the release of the film.

Now, to celebrate the milestone, producers Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani will host a success bash. The event will take place on Monday, May 30 in Mumbai and many big names are expected to be in attendance for the celebrations.

Post Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Kartik Aaryan has an array of line-up like Shehzada, Captain India, Freddy and Sajid Nadiadwala's untitled next. Meanwhile, Kiara Advani will star in Jugjugg Jeeyo next,  Govinda Mera Naam and RC 15.

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan flaunts his ‘Rs. 100 crore waali smile’ as the actor celebrates Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 milestone

Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moose Wala shot dead a day after security withdrawn

Popular Punjabi singer and rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who recently joined the Congress before the Punjab elections, has been reportedly shot dead. The incident allegedly took place in Jawaharke village of Mansa district on Sunday, May 29.

The news reportedly comes in a day after the Punjab Police reportedly withdrew security of 424 people. This included singer Sidhu Moose Wala. As per apart from being a controversial rapper, Sidhu Moose Wala had contestant this year's election in Punjab on Congress ticket. He was defeated by AAP candidate Vijay Singla by a huge margin of 63,000 votes in Mansa.

Sidhu Moose Wala shot to fame in 2017 with his track ‘So High’. He is regarded as one of the most popular independent rappers.

Rohit Shetty weighs in on North vs South debate - "Bollywood kabhi khatam nahi hoga"

Rohit Shetty has dished out a first of its kind action-packed commercial thriller titled Made In India. This drama has all the hallmarks of a Rohit Shetty film – cars, comedy, villains, fights, lots of masala and a larger than life hero – none other than the Desi superstar, Ranveer Singh! At the press conference for the Ching's Secret ad campaign launch, Shetty was asked about the ongoing North vs South films' debate has taken over the internet.

 

Addressing the ongoing debate, Rohit said, “The trend of Bollywood khatam (Bollywood is over) will never happen. In the 80s, when VCRs came to the forefront, people said that theatre will go out of business, and Bollywood is finished. Then recently with the boom of OTT, many people said that Bollywood is finished. So… Bollywood kabhi khatam nahi hoga (Bollywood will never end).”

Taking an interesting Bollywood storytelling route for this dhamakedar commercial, the plot is filled with twists and turns. The villains are after a secret Hakka Noodles formula that only Ranveer knows. While the baddies will go to any length to find the formula, our Desi Chinese hero will stop at nothing to safeguard it.

 

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On the work front, Rohit Shetty will be helming Cirkus starring Ranveer Singh and Indian Police Force starring Sidharth Malhotra, Vivek Oberoi and Shilpa Shetty. He will return to hosting duties of Khatron Ke Khiladi 12.

ALSO READ: Ranveer Singh and Rohit Shetty reunite for massy Ching’s Secret campaign, see behind-the-scenes action-packed video

Steven Spielberg had introduced Aamir Khan to Tom Hanks as ‘James Cameron of India’; Tom revealed that he has seen 3 Idiots as many as 3 times!

Aamir Khan is known for entertaining as well as making thought-provoking cinema. Not just in India, but his films are enjoyed by moviegoers across the world. It’s common knowledge that Aamir Khan is a superstar in China and that his films like Dangal (2016) and Secret Superstar (2017) have done blockbuster business in the neighbouring country. Dangal, in fact, collected Rs. 1000 crore plus at the Chinese box office. However, even in the West, Aamir Khan has carved a niche. And Hollywood stars too enjoy his films.

It has recently come to light that Tom Hanks is an admirer of Aamir Khan as well. Aamir Khan happened to meet him somewhere in 2014 or 2015 when he flew down to Germany to have a meeting with acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg. It so happened that Aamir Khan wished to remake Forrest Gump (1994) whose rights rested with its director Robert Zemeckis. Robert, however, refused to meet Aamir. Aamir tried a lot to set up the meeting but in vain.

Left with no choice, he decided to meet Steven Spielberg, who was then shooting for his film Bridge Of Spies (2015). Interestingly, the film starred Tom Hanks, who also starred in Forrest Gump and whose role Aamir wanted to essay in the remake. Robert Zemeckis held Spielberg in high regard. As a result, Aamir felt that if Steven Spielberg would convince Robert, the latter would part with the remake rights of Forrest Gump.

Aamir Khan reached the sets of Bridge Of Spies and met Steven Spielberg along with Tom Hanks. Steven Spielberg introduced Aamir to Tom Hanks as ‘James Cameron of India’. This is because according to the filmmaker, just like how James Cameron breaks his own box office records, so does Aamir! Tom Hanks, however, made it clear that he knows Aamir very well. He also admitted that he loved Aamir’s 2009 film 3 Idiots and that he has seen it as many as 3 times!

Aamir Khan then told Steven Spielberg about his predicament about Robert Zemeckis. To which Spielberg told Aamir that his relationship with Zemeckis was like that of a father and a son. And like most fathers and sons, they don’t always get along well! He also revealed to Aamir that Robert Zemeckis was refusing to meet the superstar as he didn’t want to say ‘no’ to Aamir’s face.

Nevertheless, Aamir Khan kept on trying. At last, he won the remake rights. The remake of Forrest Gump came to be known as Laal Singh Chaddha. It is all set to release on August 11, 2022, and is one of the most awaited films of the year.

Also Read: Steven Spielberg to develop new movie about Steve McQueen’s ‘Bullitt’ character

Karan Johar and Fox Star Studios to launch Ibrahim Ali Khan in Hridayam remake?

One of 2021’s most successful Malayalam films Hridayam  which  featured the legendary Mohanlal’s son Pranav Mohanlal in the lead will be remade into Hindi by Karan Johar and Fox-Star studios (now Star studios.)

And from what one hears, Karan intends  to launch Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh’s eldest son Ibrahim Ali Khan in the Hridayam remake.

A  source informed Bollywood Hungama, “It is the best project  for Ibrahim’s launch. For some time now, Karan  is looking for a  suitable launch film for Ibrahim. The character in Hridayam of a brash student maturing into marriage and fatherhood , is  just right for Ibrahim.”

In fact Karan was to launch Ibrahim’s sister Sara Ali Khan  as well. But the project kept getting delayed and she ended up being launched by Abhishek Kapoor in Kedarnath. This time Karan will ensure that he gives the Khan scion the best possible launch.

Also Read: Karan Johar opts for a five-tier cake for his 50th birthday bash

YRF opens advance bookings of Akshay Kumar starrer Samrat Prithviraj, plans widest ever release for a Hindi film of the superstar’s 30 year career

Akshay Kumar’s next is Yash Raj Films’ first historical film, Samrat Prithviraj, which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan. He is essaying the role of the legendary warrior who fought valiantly to protect India from the merciless invader Muhammad of Ghor in this visual spectacle. The film has been mounted on one of the all-time biggest superstars of Hindi cinema, Akshay Kumar, and, of course, there is a huge expectation from this film. We can now confirm that YRF has opened advance bookings of Samrat Prithviraj today - May 29th, 2022.

Rohan Malhotra, Vice President - YRF Distribution says, “Samrat Prithviraj is a big screen spectacle based on the life of the great warrior King Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan. The film has been conceived, devised and shot in a manner that’s best experienced on the biggest possible screen. YRF is leaving no stone unturned to make it the widest ever release for a Hindi film of superstar Akshay Kumar’s 30 year career. Tickets will go on sale from today for Hindi, Tamil and Telugu versions.”

As advance bookings open, Akshay hopes that parents across India would take their kids to watch Samrat Prithviraj and that the king’s life is saluted in schools as ‘a part of the curriculum’. Akshay says, “Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan’s life is truly inspirational. The values he stood for, the courage he wielded, the purity he had in his heart and the love he had for his motherland, makes him an exceptional human being. He is a great example of what an Indian should be. He only lived to stand up for truth and honour and justice and I feel these are the virtues that we should all aspire to uphold in our daily lives.”

He adds, “I want all kids to watch Samrat Prithviraj and I hope it becomes a part of the curriculum in schools. It is a film that can teach us many things and it is also a film that tells us about our glorious history. I feel we should all get to know the tales of heroism and bravery of those who stood up for our country and the life of Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan is a glowing example of this. It is a story that needs to be told to the kids and the youth of our country. I’m honoured to be bringing the story of this legendary warrior to them.”

Samrat Prithviraj has been directed by Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi, who is best known for directing the television epic Chanakya and the critically acclaimed film Pinjar. The ethereally gorgeous Manushi Chhillar plays the role of King Prithviraj’s beloved Sanyogita and her launch is definitely one of the most awaited debuts of 2022. The film is set to release on June 3 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

ALSO READ: BREAKING: CBFC passes Akshay Kumar-starrer Samrat Prithviraj with a U/A certificate; asks for changes in dialogues at 4 places

Jacqueline Fernandez allowed by court to fly to Abu Dhabi for IIFA awards

Jacqueline Fernandez, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate in a Rs. 200 crore money laundering case, has been granted permission by a Delhi Court to travel abroad. Earlier, this year, the actress was stopped from leaving the country owing to her being investigated in a money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. Earlier this month, Jacqueline had approached the court with a plea to travel abroad for IIFA Award and a few other events. While it was later reported that she briefly withdrew the petition, she has now been allowed to attend the IIFA Awards in Abu Dhabi on June 2 ,3, and 4.

On Saturday, the Delhi Court allowed her plea but set a few conditions for the same. "Considering the facts and circumstances, the application at hand is allowed. The applicant is granted permission to travel to Abu Dhabi, UAE from 31.05.2022 till 06.06.2022 and for this given period, the LOC against the applicant issued in this case shall stand suspended," Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh said in the court.

The actress has also been asked to submit Rs. 50 lakh as a guarantee of her return to the country. "The applicant shall submit an FDR to the tune of ₹50 lakhs along with an undertaking that in case of her non-return, the FDR shall stand suspended and shall also provide a surety of ₹50 lakhs, The applicant shall submit her itinerary, place of stay and the number at which she can be contacted. On her return, the applicant shall inform the investigating agency about her return," the court said while imposing the conditions.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Jacqueline was last seen in the film Attack: Part 1. She will next be seen in the mystery thriller Vikrant Rona. The movie will be released in six languages -- Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Hindi, and English and is set to hit the theatres on July 28.

ALSO READ: Jacqueline Fernandez Looks Gorgeous in a Saree, Asks Fans If They Have Heard Her Latest Song RaRaRakkamma

Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi adds warning card for scenes of violence involving children in light of Texas shooting

The opening episode of the newly dropped Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi now carries a warning label that may be triggering for some viewers after the recent mass school shooting at Texas. The move follows Netflix's decision to place a similar warning note to Stranger Things 4, that runs before the prior season recap, over a scene that featured potentially insensitive content regarding violence against minors.

As noted by The Hollywood Reporter, before viewers are brought to the present time in the show starring Ewan McGregor, there is a scene from 10 years prior when Order 66, aka the near eradication of the Jedi, is carried out.

In particular, the scene opens with a group of Force-sensitive younglings being trained in the Jedi Temple just before Clone Troopers burst into the building, shooting at the Jedi and children. While no child is hit by the blaster fire, the moment is still intense and triggering for some viewers, given how raw emotions are nationwide over the unspeakable Texas tragedy.

“Although this fictional series is a continuation of the story from Star Wars movies filmed many years ago, some scenes may be upsetting to viewers in light of the recent tragic events,” reads a note in the “details” area of the show. “Warning: Contains violence involving children.” However, the message does not appear on all Disney+ accounts under the “details” area for the show. And it does not show onscreen prior to the episode beginning but comes after a lengthy recap of the events.

The message was added just hours after Obi-Wan Kenobi debuted. “In light of recent tragic events, we recognize there are certain scenes in this fictional series that some viewers may find upsetting and a content warning has been added to the show page. We are also working to add an advisory in front of the series as quickly as possible,” a Disney spokesperson said.

Also Read: Disney’s Obi-Wan Kenobi first official poster reveals first look of Ewan McGregor’s Star Wars return; series premieres on May 25

Lata Mangeshkar’s Dream Project of an Old Age Home for aged Indian actors to be taken forward by family

Lata Mangeshkar has left her legacy behind after she passed away. She has also passed on a dream that her family is trying to fulfill.

About four months ago, Lata Mangeshkar passed away. However, she wanted to build an old age home for the aged retired or ailing  actors  of  the Indian film industry.

Shortly before her passing, Lataji had spoken to about her dream project with Bollywood Hungama. “It is such a  joy,  blessing and  comfort  to have one’s family with you in old age. But what about those  who  are old alone in their twilight years? My heart reaches out to  the veterans  of  our film industry who have died alone. Maine suna hai Lalita Pawarji aur Achla Sachdevji, jo kitne mahaan kalaakar the, unke saath  koi bhi nahin tha (I’ve heard that  two great actresses Lalita Pawar  and Achala Sachdev died alone.) Kitne sharm  aur dukh ki baat hai (how shameful and sad).”

Lataji wanted  to build a vridh ashram where the  old and abandoned from the industry could spend  their last years in peace and comfort.

We now hear  that Lataji’s family is going ahead with the project and that the Maharashtra government has already allotted land for the project, probably in Thane.

Also Read: Lata Mangeshkar sprang a surprise for her family at 92

BREAKING: CBFC passes Akshay Kumar-starrer Samrat Prithviraj with a U/A certificate; asks for changes in dialogues at 4 places

Period films have been crowd-pullers for a long time in all industries, including Bollywood. Some of the biggest hits in recent times have been historicals. As a result, there’s a lot of excitement and hype for Samrat Prithviraj. Starring Akshay Kumar, it is directed by Dr Chandraprakash Dwivedi and marks the debut of Manushi Chhillar. As the name suggests, it is based on the life of brave king Prithviraj Chauhan.

It has now come to light that Samrat Prithviraj was passed by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) way back in January 2022. This is because the film was ready in 2021 and was supposed to be released on January 21 this year. Due to the third wave, it was postponed and will now hit screens on June 3.

Samrat Prithviraj has been passed with a U/A certificate with five cuts and modifications. The examining committee asked for a disclaimer to be added which states that the filmmakers or any person involved with this film do not encourage or promote the act of Johar, Sati or any such practice. The remaining four changes were with regards to the dialogues. The word ‘haran’ was replaced with ‘waran’. ‘Nana’ was removed and replaced with ‘sage’ while ‘kabza’ was changed to ‘hamla’. In the end slate, the word ‘antim’ was deleted and ‘mahaan’ was inserted in its place.

After these changes were carried out, Samrat Prithviraj was given a censor certificate on January 12, 2022. The duration of the film as mentioned on the certificate was 135.39 minutes. In other words, Samrat Prithviraj is 2 hours 15 minutes and 39 seconds long.

Yesterday, the film’s title was changed from Prithviraj to Samrat Prithviraj due to the pressure from Karni Sena. Interestingly, the censor certificate mentions the name of the film as Prithviraj. An industry expert told Bollywood Hungama, “The makers would not have to re-apply for certification after the name change. A form needs to be filled out and submitted to the CBFC officials. Then the film can be released with the new title and with the existing censor certificate.”

Also Read: Akshay Kumar-starrer Prithviraj makers change film’s name to Samrat Prithviraj

Sriya Lenka becomes first Indian K-pop star, joins the lineup of South Korean group Blackswan

Odisha born Sriya Lenka has become the first Indian K-pop star. The 18-year-old has joined as the new member of  the South Korean group Blackswan. She joins new member Gabi Dalcin from Brazil after the duo trained for months under the group’s label, DR Music.

Following the departure of member Hyeme in November 2020, DR Music announced global auditions to find new members to join Blackswan. As per reports, Lenka and Dalcin were scouted from over 4,000 applicants. They moved to Seoul in order to begin their training. The news was announced on May 26 via Instagram account of the label. "Sriya and Gabi were finally selected as members of Blackswan after participating the global audition program for last 6 months. With their debut, we will be back with the new Blackswan," the statement read.

 

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Blackswan comprises the leader Youngheun from Korea, Belgium-based Senegalese rapper Fatou, Judy from Korea and Brazilian-Japanese singer Leia. The group was formerly known as formerly known as RANIA as they debuted in 2011 and then underwent a revamp as BP RANIA in 2016. After final set of members were locked in, the group debuted on October 16, 2020 with the full album Goodbye Rania. On October 14, 2021, Blackswan released their first single album Close to Me.

Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar head to Somnath Temple, Varanasi and Rai Pithora with Samrat Prithviraj’s flag to salute his valour

Akshay Kumar’s next is Yash Raj Films’ first historical, Samrat Prithviraj, which is based on the life and valour of the fearless and mighty King Prithviraj Chauhan. He is essaying the role of the legendary warrior who fought valiantly to protect India from the merciless invader Muhammad of Ghor in this visual spectacle. We have learnt from sources that Akshay Kumar, director Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi and YRF is planning to give the grandest salute to Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan in the release week of the film.

 

As per our informers, Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chhillar and the director will be visiting Somnath Temple and Varanasi with Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan’s flag and seek blessings post which they will travel to Rai Pithora, the king’s fort, in New Delhi to put the flag there in his honour!

Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi confirms this saying, “Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan was the last Hindu Samrat of our country who stood up to protect Bharatmata’s freedom and dignity from merciless invaders who wanted to plunder India. We made this film to salute his glorious spirit and we are now travelling with Samrat Prithviraj’s flag to the Somnath Temple and Varanasi to seek blessings with the flag that represented freedom for our country.”

He adds, “Once we put the Holy water of Ganga on the flag and take blessings at the Somnath temple, we will visit Rai Pithora – Samrat’s fort – and place the flag there in his honour. The mighty king taught us never to bow down in front of invaders and evil and we hope that our film will inspire the youth of India to imbibe the same spirit of undaunting courage.”

The Somnath temple is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites for Hindus and is believed to be first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. The temple was reconstructed several times in the past after repeated destruction by multiple Muslim invaders and rulers, including Mahmud of Ghazni, who reportedly attacked the temple 17 times. Incidentally, Prithviraj’s arch enemy Mohammad of Ghor also ruled over Ghazni. He laid the foundation of the Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent which lasted for several centuries.

Manushi Chhillar plays the role of King Prithviraj’s beloved Sanyogita in Samrat Prithviraj. The film is set to release on June 3 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

ALSO READ: "Working out with Akshay Kumar at 4 am was definitely better than sleeping" - Kapil Sharma shares hilarious video ahead of Samrat Prithviraj release

NCB gives Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan a clean chit in the cruise drug bust case

Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan's son Aryan Khan was embroiled in a drug case in October last year post the Narcotics Control Bureau conducted a raid on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. Aryan was taken into custody on the night of October 2 along with a few others. He was kept under judicial custody for 28 days before he was let go on bail. Now, the NCB has given Aryan a clean chit in the cruise drug bust case.

In March this year, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), had reportedly found that Aryan Khan was not a part of the larger conspiracy. It was reported that the SIT stated that there is "no evidence that Aryan Khan was part of a larger drugs conspiracy or an international drugs trafficking syndicate".

According to the initial report in Hindustan Times, officials said, "Aryan Khan was never in possession of drugs hence there was no need to take his phone and check his chats; the chats do not suggest Khan was part of any international syndicate; the raid was not video-recorded as mandated by the NCB manual, and the drugs recovered from multiple accused arrested in the case shown as single recovery."

ALSO READ: Aryan Khan refrains from social gatherings; was coaxed to attend Karan Johar’s party

Netflix adds warning note to Stranger Things 4 premiere in the wake of Texas school shooting

Netflix has added a last-minute content warning card to the opening episode of the latest season of Stranger Things, following the mass shooting on Tuesday at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that left 21 people dead including 19 children.

“We filmed this season of ‘Stranger Things’ a year ago. But given the recent tragic shooting at a school in Texas, viewers may find the opening scene of episode 1 distressing,” the content warning will reportedly read for the viewers in the U.S. “We are deeply saddened by this unspeakable violence, and our hearts go out to every family mourning a loved one.”

This warning will appear before the prior season recap that auto-plays at the beginning of Stranger Things 4 Episode 1 for viewers in the U.S. only. As Variety reports, the streaming giant also changed episode 1 description, which now includes the following note: “Warning: Contains graphic violence involving children.”

The first episode of the newly dropped season opens on a flashback scene that features young Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) in the Hawkins laboratory, having used her telekinetic powers to kill everyone else in the lab, including the other children being experimented on there, showing the dead bodies of those children covered in blood.

A Netflix spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter, “We decided to add the card given the proximity of the premiere to this tragedy – and because the opening scene is very graphic.”

Per the report, Netflix’s move is the latest in a series of actions taken in Hollywood in response to the mass school shooting. Others include Lifetime pushing the release of Mckenna Grace’s The Bad Seed Returns, CBS pulling the season finale of FBI, and plans changed for the red-carpet premieres of Physical and The Orville: New Horizons. Meanwhile, the first seven episodes of Stranger Things 4 are set to debut on Netflix on Friday, May 27 while Volume 2 of the show, which consists of Episodes 8 and 9, will debut on July 1.

Also Read: Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo returns to broadway for Dear Evan Hansen

House of Cards actor Kevin Spacey charged with four sexual assault charges in the UK

Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey, who was previously dropped from the show House of Cards following the allegations of sexual assault, has now been charged with four counts of sexual assault and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.”

“The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men,” said Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division. “He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation. The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against Mr Spacey are active and that he has the right to a fair trial.”

According to Variety, the decision was unveiled Thursday by the U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which has spent over a year reviewing a file passed to them by the Metropolitan Police. The charges are the latest in a series of legal battles both civil and criminal that Spacey has been fighting since allegations of his sexual assault and misconduct were first publicly exposed in 2017 by actor Anthony Rapp.

As per Buzzfeed News, when he was 14, Spacey made a non-consensual sexual advance toward him at a party. Spacey, who has denied Rapp’s claims, is still embroiled in a civil suit over the allegations after Rapp sued him in New York for sexual abuse.

The Crown Prosecution Service said it had “authorised criminal charges” against the Oscar-winning actor and he will be formally charged once he returns to Britain to face the charges. While criminal proceedings against the actor have begun, the police force said that Spacey “will be formally charged at a later date”. If Spacey doesn’t return to Britain, prosecutors could begin extradition proceedings. One complainant has alleged that Spacey sexually assaulted him twice in London in March 2005, according to ABC News. Another has alleged that the actor assaulted him in 2008 and a third person has alleged that Spacey sexually assaulted him in April 2013 in Gloucestershire.

Rosemary Ainslie who heads the special crimes division said, “He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.” Spacey also continues to fight a $31 million arbitration claim related to his time on the Netflix show House of Cards. In 2020, MRC, which produced the show, won an arbitration ruling saying the actor owed them $31 million in lost profits as a consequence of Spacey’s removal from the show, per the report. In January this year, Spacey attempted to block the arbitration award by filing a request in civil court for a judge to set aside the arbitration ruling.

Also Read: Kevin Spacey ordered to pay $31 million in arbitration to House of Cards producer for breach of contract

After a DISASTROUS Week 1, Kangana Ranaut's Dhaakad discontinued from nearly all cinemas; NO shows in Mumbai

The Kangana Ranaut-starrer Dhaakad was released last Friday, May 20. Despite the limited buzz and strong competition from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, it was expected that the actioner would take a respectable opening at the box office. However, its day 1 collections were a mere Rs. 50 lakhs. It showed no growth on the weekdays, and it crashed in the weekdays. The first week's collections will be in the range of Rs. 2.15 crores.

Dhaakad has today entered its second week. As expected, the screen count has reduced to a shocking low. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Dhaakad was released on May 20 with around 2100 screens. By Sunday, May 22, around 300 screens discontinued it, especially the single screens. The screen count was reduced even more from Monday onwards. By Thursday, it was out of many cinemas as Tom Cruise-starrer Top Gun: Maverick had an early release on May 26.”

The source continued, “In Week 2, Dhaakad is playing in only 25 cinemas in India. In other words, it has been removed from nearly 98.80% of theatres that were playing the film in Week 1. Delhi is the biggest city that is still playing Dhaakad, in four theatres. In Mumbai, it’s not playing in a single cinema hall.”

An industry expert commented, “Mostly, when a film fails miserably, it still finds some shows, especially in the multiplexes in the bigger cities, in Week 2. In the case of Dhaakad, the footfalls were just not there even in the first weekend. Hence, multiplexes decided to wash their hands off it from the second Friday, or rather from first Thursday, after the release of Top Gun: Maverick. Also, there are too many hit films running successfully like Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Saunkan Saunkne, Dharmaveer etc. Apart from Top Gun: Maverick, Anek, Dehati Disco, Sarsenapati Hambirrao etc have also been released today. Hence, exhibitors preferred playing these movies over a film like Dhaakad as they know that the Kangana Ranaut-starrer will not find any audience in Week 2.”

Also Read: After Dhaakad’s MEGA debacle, Kangana Ranaut starrer finds NO takers on OTT and satellite

Producers reveal Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, Kabir Singh 2 in the pipeline

Currently, the box office favourite for the audience remains to be the horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 featuring Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani. The film is setting new records post the pandemic lull that the industry is trying to recoup from. Considering all these factors, this franchise has become quite special to the producers too. In a recent conversation with the website Pinkvilla, producers Bhushan Kumar and Murad Khetani spoke about considering Bhool Bhulaiyaa and yet another film Kabir Singh as a franchise.

Speaking about the same, Bhushan Kumar revealed his desire to spin Kabir Singh into a franchise. Producer Murad Khetani mentioned that it is a popular character too. Agreeing to the same, the owner of T-Series said, “It’s an iconic character and can be taken into a second part.” Interestingly, the Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani film in itself is a remake of the popular Telugu film Arjun Reddy which featured Vijay Devarakonda and Shalini Pandey.

On the other hand, the Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 is a sequel to the Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan and Shiny Ahuja film that released in 2007, albeit with a different storyline and characters. Confirming about Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, they were quoted adding, “There is enough scope in the premise and we will announce more details at the right time.”

Furthermore, Bhushan Kumar also spoke about his wish to add another film to the Aashiqui franchise. Aashiqui featuring Rahul Roy and Anu Aggarwal was a massive success owing to its music. 13 years later after the original franchise, Aashiqui 2 released with Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur as leads, and this film too went on to succeed at the box office. It seems that the producer is planning on recreating the same success with Aashiqui 3.

However, these franchise films are currently in talks and further details on the same are yet to be locked. But we can’t wait to see how these films will look like!

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: “We could only release Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 because of Murad Khetani,” Bhushan Kumar on challenges of shooting the horror comedy

BREAKING: Ajay Kapoor signs international director Rotem Shamir of Fauda fame for his upcoming film Garud

Bollywood Hungama was the first one to break the news that filmmakers Ajay Kapoor and Subhash Kale are collaborating on the ambitious project Garud. The film is mounted on a large scale and will present a heartening story, which will be inspired by the true events of the Afghan rescue crisis. Now, Ajay Kapoor has signed the international director Rotem Shamir, known for globally acclaimed successes like Fauda, Hit & Run, Hostages etc. to helm their big-budget project. Garud will also mark Rotem Shamir’s Indian film debut.

Mounted on a large scale, Ajay Kapoor and Subhash Kale have been devising the best treatment for the ambitious film and hence, roping in the best team possible. Taking the first step towards the visionary aim, Ajay Kapoor has taken on board the international director Rotem Shamir, for his first Indian project.

Announcing this development, Ajay Kapoor shares, "Garud is a huge project for me. I'm emotionally driven to the film and want to give it the best treatment possible. Rotem Shamir is a renowned filmmaker and has a great experience in the sensibilities that we are looking at for Garud. Rotem Shamir and I are planning various projects together as a team. Being from Israel and having made a show about the conditions of hostages, the understanding and vision he possesses will definitely help us. We wanted someone to grasp the emotional quotient as well as cater to the international sensibilities as the subject has a universal appeal."

Subhash Kale shares, "Right from the inception, we have been working on bringing together the best team possible for Garud. We are tapping into all avenues, and I am really looking forward to this project."

Rotem Shamir says, "Garud is a very exciting film. While it is focused on the Indian aspect of the story, it has a universal appeal that promises to connect with people all across. I have been fascinated with the content from the Indian entertainment industry for a long time. Hence, when Ajay Kapoor brought this film to me, I knew I had to take it. I am especially looking forward to working with Ajay Kapoor, who has been associated with so many varied films. I am also really excited for a long term association with Ajay Kapoor.”

Ajay Kapoor has backed films like Parmanu (2018), Pari (2018), Bazaar (2018), Pataakha (2018), Romeo Akbar Walter (2019) and Roy (2015) and has also been associated with Baby (2015), Airlift (2016), Attack (2022) etc.

Inspired by real events, Garud presents a fictionalized depiction of the rescue mission in Afghanistan, based on the story of an ITBP officer and his team of special forces. The makers had earlier announced the project with a motion poster in 2021 that caught the attention of the public. Offering an insight into the film, the motion poster presented the theme song 'Mera Bharat Hai Mahaan', composed by Ravi Basrur of KGF fame. The reputed music composer has also composed the background score of the film.

Produced under the banners of Ajay Kapoor Productions and Vikrant Studio, Ajay Kapoor and Subhash Kale are expected to announce the cast of Garud soon.