Vir Das had an interesting conversation with Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day where he spoke about many aspects, including his Bollywood career. At one point, he opened up on what made him take an inconsequential role in the Saif Ali Khan-Deepika Padukone starrer Love Aaj Kal (2009).

Vir Das said, “I really needed cash as I was very cash-strapped. That’s when I was offered Love Aaj Kal. I was informed that I was required for just one scene and would be relegated to the background in other scenes. I said, ‘I’ll take it. I need money right now’. Director Imtiaz Ali, who’s a very nice guy and who had seen my stand-up act before, to his credit, warned me, ‘Vir, I am telling you. This is not much (of a role). This is just 1 or 2 scenes on paper and then you’ll be around’.”

Explaining what his role was in the movie, Vir revealed, “If you watch, I have one scene in the movie and in the song ‘Can We Twist’, there’s a dude dancing on this side of Saif and there’s a dude dancing on that side of Saif. One is me and the other is Kavi Shastri, who’s now my co-director. We met on the sets of Love Aaj Kal.”

When asked how much he was paid for it, Vir replied, “I was the most expensive background extra in history (laughs). I got put up in London and I got paid Rs. 8 lakhs, man!”

He continued, “One of the two girls in Illuminati Productions was like, ‘We should have Vir in the movie’. So, somebody batted for me, after which Imtiaz was nice. Meanwhile, I had given auditions for Delhi Belly (2011) and Badmaash Company (2010) before I left to shoot for Love Aaj Kal in London. I was in London and was wondering, ‘What am I doing here? I am like the bouquet in the background’ (laughs)! Then my agent called me at 3 am and told me that I had bagged Delhi Belly. He told me, ‘I am going to get you a great deal’. I replied, ‘Do not negotiate. Whatever they offer, just take it’. I came straight out of Love Aaj Kal and shot for Delhi Belly after two months.”

Also Read: SHOCKING: Vir Das on how life changed after ‘Two Indias’ controversy: “My phone was off for four months. There was no work…I booked a flight to London and had no memory of it. I YELLED in the plane…”

In a move that’s ruffled more than a few feathers in North India, Aamir Khan has unexpectedly involved himself in the Coolie (Hindi) release strategy - despite doing a mere extended guest appearance in the film.

The extended cameo, pitched as a goodwill gesture toward Rajinikanth, was done by Aamir Khan for free. But now, Aamir has reportedly called PVR-Inox boss Ajay Bijli directly, aggressively requesting premium showcasing for Coolie across the country, and has even pushed the multiplex chain to do a marketing tie-up with the Rajinikanth starrer in North India. The call has left the PVR-Inox team stunned. “Aamir has no financial stake in Coolie. This wasn’t expected,” said a source close to the matter to Bollywood Hungama.

Industry insiders believe this is less about friendship and more about business. War 2, starring Hrithik Roshan, NTR Jr., and Kiara Advani, and backed by Aditya Chopra’s YRF, is being positioned as the next mega franchise event. Caught in the middle is PVR-Inox, now walking a tightrope between two giants: YRF and Sun Pictures. The phone call from Aamir, insiders say, has caused nervous murmurs within the exhibition chain, given his long-standing relationship with Ajay Bijli and a history of last-minute interventions.

What should have been a straightforward release has now turned into a battleground of egos, leverage, and legacy. And as always in Bollywood, the real show begins off-screen. Interestingly, both Aamir Khan and NTR Jr. are doing a film on DadaSaheb, and the off-screen battle makes things even more intense.

Also Read: Rajinikanth vs Hrithik-NTR Jr. at box office: Coolie takes SHOCKING 6X lead over War 2 in US with 9 days to go!

Popular actress Hansika Motwani has set the internet abuzz after fans noticed that she has deleted all her wedding photos with husband Sohael Khaturiya from her Instagram account. The move has intensified ongoing rumours that the couple may be heading for a separation.

Hansika, a well-known name in South Indian cinema and television, had put her love story and wedding celebrations in the spotlight through her reality series Hansika’s Love Shaadi Drama. The show documented her dreamy proposal, grand pre-wedding festivities, and the lavish fairytale ceremony that took place in 2022, making headlines across the entertainment industry.

Following their wedding, the couple moved into a new residence together, sharing glimpses of their marital life with fans. However, according to recent reports, Hansika Motwani has now shifted back to her parents’ home and is reportedly living separately from Khaturiya. While neither party has issued an official statement, the sudden social media clean-up and her alleged living arrangements have only added fuel to the speculation.

Adding to the mystery, Sohael Khaturiya — who has been inactive on social media for the past two years — is said to have changed his profile picture to private. This, combined with the removal of wedding-related posts, has left fans concerned about the status of their relationship.

The marriage had already faced public scrutiny when it was first announced. Hansika and Sohael became the subject of online trolling due to Khaturiya’s past, as he was previously married to one of Hansika’s close friends. Despite the criticism, the actress remained unfazed at the time, focusing on her new journey and openly sharing her happiness with her followers.

As of now, there has been no confirmation from either Hansika or Sohael regarding the rumours of a split. Fans, however, have been quick to express their support for the actress, flooding her recent posts with messages of love and concern.

Whether the deletion of the photos is a personal decision unrelated to the status of their marriage or a sign of trouble in paradise remains to be seen. Until the couple addresses the speculation, the buzz around Hansika Motwani’s relationship will likely continue to dominate entertainment headlines.

Also Read: Hansika Motwani and family face allegations from her sister-in-law Muskan Nancy James; latter files FIR against them

Vir Das faced a major controversy in 2021 when his video, ‘I Come From Two Indias,’ received a lot of hate from a section of netizens. During an interesting conversation with Mayank Shekhar of Mid-Day, the actor-comedian opened up like never before on shocking changes in his life after this episode.

Vir explained why he shifted to Goa and why he decided to return to Mumbai, “You can’t write stand-up in Goa. For that, you need to know the pulse of the audience. In Goa, it seems like the day is 37 hours long! Time slows down. What I like about Goans is that everybody, who shows up from the outside, is running from something (smiles). They are trying to deal with something in life and hence, they have come and settled in Goa. Goans are non-judgmental about it. They have seen people in all sorts of tragedies. But then I realized it was time to stop running and come back.”

When asked what he was running away from, Vir replied, “Dude, I had no work for a year and a half after the ‘Two Indias’ controversy. My phone wasn’t ringing. I thought I’d rather be in Goa, work on myself and write.”

Vir Das explained, “There were zero phone calls. If it did ring, it wasn’t a happy phone call (laughing). It would be like someone shouting, ‘Kahan hai tu? Tujhe dhund lunga main’. After that, my phone was off for four months. There was no work. Then, I worked on Vir Das: Landing. It jumpstarted everything.” The Netflix special won the Emmy Awards and gave a huge boost to Vir Das’ career.

Vir Das then shared another horrifying story which happened after the ‘Two Indias’ controversy, “I woke up on a flight that I thought was from Singapore to Mumbai, but it was London-bound. I had put up a last-minute show in London; we had sold a thousand tickets. I myself changed the flight, bought my ticket and checked myself in. And then I woke up on the flight and for two hours, I had no idea how I got on that flight. It was my 186th show that year.”

Vir added, “I was told that the flight was heading to London. I yelled, ‘No, this flight is to Mumbai’. When a brown man with a beard starts yelling about a new destination for the plane, everybody knows that the situation needs to be handled (laughs)! But for the life of me, I couldn’t figure it out for two hours. And you can’t feel bad for being disoriented in the first class (laughs).”

He further said, “I had to go to my therapist and explained her that I have blocked out 72 hours. She told me, ‘You’ve been on the road for way too long’. This was in the post ‘Two Indias’ phase where (performing in) India wasn’t an option. That’s how I ended up doing 186 shows abroad.”

Also Read: Vir Das shares hilarious in-flight encounter with Rishi Kapoor after the latter had a fight with Neetu Kapoor

One of Zee TV’s most popular shows, Kumkum Bhagya, is reportedly set to go off air after an incredible 11-year run. The romantic drama, which began with the beloved pairing of Shabir Ahluwalia and Sriti Jha, has been a staple of Indian television since its launch and is currently tracing the fourth generation of its storyline.

As per a source close to the development who spoke to IWMBUZZ, “Kumkum Bhagya, which presently has Pranali Rathod, Namik Paul, and Akshay Bindra as the fourth-generation leads in the show, will soon go off air. The decision, apparently, has been made to end the long-running show. The show has been struggling with a drop in TRPs for some time now."

Currently, the series stars Pranali Rathod as Prarthana, Namik Paul as Shivansh, and Akshay Bindra as Raunak, focusing on a new-age romance while still holding onto its family drama roots. Despite these changes, the show has been unable to maintain its earlier TRP highs, prompting the makers to call time on its journey.

Launched in 2014, Kumkum Bhagya started off as a love story between rockstar Abhi (Shabir Ahluwalia) and the strong-willed Pragya (Sriti Jha). Their chemistry quickly made the show a household favourite, drawing in massive ratings and winning multiple awards. Over the years, the storyline underwent several leaps, introducing new generations and fresh love angles to keep the narrative engaging.

After Shabir and Sriti’s exit, the next chapter focused on Mughda Chaphekar and Krishna Kaul, who also garnered a loyal fan following. Later, Rachi Sharma and Abrar Qazi stepped in, receiving appreciation for their portrayals before the show moved into its current fourth-generation track.

However, despite these casting changes and storyline shifts, the show’s TRPs have been on a downward slide in recent months. With competition from newer shows and changing audience preferences, the decision to wrap up Kumkum Bhagya marks the end of an era for Zee TV.

Fans have already begun expressing nostalgia on social media, recalling their favourite moments from the show’s decade-long journey. While an official announcement from the channel is awaited, industry insiders believe the final episodes will air in the coming months.

For viewers who have followed the series from the Abhi-Pragya days to the present, the end of Kumkum Bhagya will be an emotional farewell to a show that defined prime-time television for over a decade.

Also Read: Namik Paul reacts to turning anti-hero for the first time for Kumkum Bhagya; says, “It’s both exciting and challenging to tap into the character of Shivansh Randhawa”

In a surprising turn of events, the Rajinikanth-led Coolie has taken a massive lead over the Hrithik Roshan and NTR Jr. led War 2 in the advance bookings at the US box office. With 9 days to go for release, the 6th chapter of Spy Universe has sold tickets worth USD 205K (Hindi + Telugu) in North America, as compared to Lokesh Kanagaraj's film, which has clocked a phenomenal advance booking of USD 1.2 million.

One must note that the North American market is dominated by the Telugu audience, and yet, a Tamil film has taken a big lead in the booking. The scenario is uniform at every place where the pre-sales have opened, with Coolie taking a big lead over War 2, which includes Australia and New Zealand too.

This trend has come across as a surprise as War 2 is a much bigger film than Coolie on the budget front, as also it comes from an already established franchise. More centers are expected to open soon for both films, but the initial lead in this overseas battle is currently inclined towards Rajinikanth, as Coolie is leading the show by a huge margin. What comes across as a shocker is the fact that the Telugu dubbed version of Coolie (USD 200K) is leading over the Telugu version of War 2 (USD 155K) in the US.

While the sales of the Hindi version of War 2 (USD 50K) are negligible, trailing behind Pathaan, Dunki, Jawan, Tiger 3, and Animal, the Telugu version too is trailing behind films like Game Changer in the US. The next 9 days are crucial as War 2 needs to begin to gain momentum to leave a mark in the international markets.

Also Read: War 2: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR indulge in off-screen banter; sets internet on fire ahead of epic showdown

A couple of months back, Namit Malhotra made an announcement about using AI to lip sync all his characters from Ramayana in multiple languages all across the world. The producer also promised this to be a one-of-its-kind in-built technology for the cinema-goers. In the midst of him making these announcements, producer Aditya Chopra was silently working on incorporating the similar technology for War 2.

Reliable trade sources confirmed to Bollywood Hungama, "To provide an immersive experience to the cinema-goers, Yash Raj Films are treating War 2 as a true-blue multilingual with lip sync in Telugu and Hindi. While NTR Jr. has dubbed for both the languages by himself, team YRF has used modern-day AI on dubbing artist to match Hrithik Roshan's voice in Telugu and also lip-sync in as many moments as possible."

The source tells us further, "NTR Jr. has been creatively involved in writing the Telugu dialogues of War 2. In-fact, he got his own team of writers to write the dialogues, and enhanced them at as many moments as possible. He knows the Telugu audience, and worked closely to deliver a product that excites them to perfection."

Interestingly, even in the teaser, the AI tech was used for better impact in Telugu, and the same has met with overwhelming positive reaction from the audience in Telugu. "The dialogues in the Telugu were conceptualized by NTR Jr. in consultation with Aditya Chopra."

War 2 releases on August 14, 2025! Also Read: War 2: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR indulge in off-screen banter; sets internet on fire ahead of epic showdown

Bollywood actress Madhurima Tuli is all set to make a powerful on-screen return, this time alongside action star John Abraham in the much-anticipated film Tehran. In what promises to be a pivotal role, Madhurima steps into the shoes of John’s wife—a character layered with strength, sensitivity, and grace.

Speaking about her role, Madhurima shared, “I’m playing John’s wife in the film, where I bring calmness into his chaotic life. It’s a strong, independent woman’s role—something I really connected with.”

Known for her versatility and commanding presence, Madhurima is expected to bring a refreshing emotional depth to the narrative. While Tehran is pegged as a high-octane thriller with geopolitical undertones, her character seems to ground the story in emotion, offering balance to the intensity John Abraham brings to the screen.

This pairing of John and Madhurima is already generating buzz, not just for the film’s gripping premise but also for the unexpected yet compelling chemistry the two actors promise to deliver.

With Tehran shaping up to be both a thrilling ride and a heartfelt story, Madhurima’s fans have every reason to be excited.

Also Read: Exclusive: John Abraham opens up about the ‘heartbreaking’ decision of skipping theatrical release of Tehran; says, “Because of the controversies around, theatres were a little wary”

A day after unveiling a powerful new poster that left fans buzzing, the makers of 120 Bahadur have now dropped the much-awaited teaser — and it roars with scale, soul, and searing patriotism. Featuring Farhan Akhtar in a fierce avatar as Major Shaitan Singh Bhati (PVC), the first glimpse promises a cinematic war epic rooted in courage and sacrifice.

Inspired by the real-life heroism of the Battle of Rezang La (1962), the teaser offers a pulse-pounding look at the bravery of 120 Indian soldiers who stood their ground against thousands. At its heart is the thunderous declaration: “Hum Peechhe Nahin Hatenge!” — a line that echoes throughout the visuals and sets the emotional core of the film.

Makers, taking to their official handle, posted the teaser along with the caption: "Yeh wardi sirf himmat nahin, balidaan bhi maangti hai! Based on the incredible true story is a war forged in snow and sealed with sacrifice. 120 Bahadur, teaser out now. Releasing in cinemas near you on 21st Nov, 2025. #120Bahadur #EkSauBeesBahadur #DadaKishanKiJai "

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Marking Farhan Akhtar’s powerful return to the big screen, the teaser showcases him in a transformative role — intense, restrained, and deeply stirring. His portrayal of Major Shaitan Singh is already drawing acclaim for its authenticity and quiet command.

Shot across Ladakh, Rajasthan, and Mumbai, and mounted on a never-before scale, 120 Bahadur recreates the war front with an unflinching eye. From frozen terrains to battlefield silence, every frame carries weight.

Directed by Razneesh “Razy” Ghai and produced by Ritesh Sidhwani & Farhan Akhtar (Excel Entertainment) and Amit Chandrra (Trigger Happy Studios), 120 Bahadur releases in cinemas on 21st November 2025.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan, Dia Mirza, and others applaud new poster of 120 Bahadur starring Farhan Akhtar

Vineet Kumar Singh show Rangeen recently released on Amazon Prime. He stars alongside Rajshri Deshpande, Taaruk Raina, Sheeba Chaddha and Meghna Malik. Viineet spoke about the show, his character and more in an interview with us.

Your new series Rangeen has shocked everyone by addressing the topic of female sexuality There have been few films or serials about female orgasm. In general, if a survey is done, then I feel that many people will not be able to understand what is being said. But it is okay. Due to this series Rangeen, there is a discussion going on somewhere. There are some talks going on. And it is good to have a discussion. When there is a discussion, there is an understanding of taboo subjects.

From the place that you are in now, what are you looking for in your roles and films? The place where I am right now, I am mostly looking for variety. The shades of the characters should be different. The temperament of the character should be different. There should be something new in the character. And at the same time, I have to explore a new space.

And that is? That is comedy. Because it is my gut feeling that I will be able to do it very well. So, that is the space that I have to explore. I have got a chance in dark comedy. And I am really happy about that. I want to do out and out comedy. Let's see when I get that chance. Along with that, from the essays that I have written in my childhood in school it is embedded in my mind that cinema is the mirror of society. So somewhere, this thing has been imprinted in my mind. So, my effort is that with all kinds of films. I should do some such films. I should do some such characters through which I can contribute something as an actor in society. So that is also an effort. Some message should be given. Even if it is a small message. But along with entertaining, a message should be given. I also want to explore some historical things. Like I got a chance in Chhaava. So let's see. It is not in my hands. But yes, this is the thought.

And action? Yes! I want to do all these things. I want to do an out and out action film like Taken. I like Taken very much. The entire franchise of Taken looks very good. So, that is what I want to do. And there are lots of things. Let's see where life takes us. I don't plan much now. What happens in front of me, I want to live it well by putting my heart in it. I want to do it well. It has been released. And the things that are going to come after this.

What next? I have done a show with TVF. It is a very good show. I won't be able to say much about it now. But it is a film with Anurag Kashyap. And there is a film of mine that is made. Waiting for its release. Aadhaar, which is a very good film. And I am waiting when it will be (released). Apart from that, I have done something with Anand L. Rai. When I did Mukkabaaz earlier, he was the producer. This time he is the director. So, I have done a very special work with Anand sir. And apart from this, there are two more things that I won't be able to talk about now. Because it will be too early. So these are the things that are going to come. And there are so many other things where I am in talk. So that is also exciting news. When the right time comes, I will share everything.

Would you say Chhaava was a game-changer for you? When Chhaava came, I never expected this impact. So I did the historical character of Kavi Kalash in Chhaava. I have never done anything like this in my career. But when I did it, the love I am getting, I have no words to describe it. Again after that, when I did Jaat, a negative character, I have never done such an out and out, negative, hero-and-villain film. When I did that, I got a lot of love from people. So whenever there is such an opportunity in front of me, where there is a chance to do something new, then I want to grab it, I want to do it. So this is a good thing. If there are many possibilities left in me.

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Many feel you should have played the main lead in Chhaava It means that somewhere people have faith in my talent. That I will walk a long way now. And I just want to bow my head and do my work. And I will do my work quietly and humbly. My character in Rangeen attracted me a lot. And there were so many things that pulled me towards it. In this show, to do this. And for preparation, I read the script many times. Then I talked to the writers a lot. How they are looking at the character. How they are looking at his journey. How they are looking at his transformation. How they are looking at the very sensitive scenes. And then I make my boxes.

How much preparation went into Rangeen? What is the physicality of my journalist character who is lost in his world? The external preparation starts first. What will be his physicality? What are his habits? And then I stick all those boxes. And then I somehow figured out about his inner things, which is very helpful from the script, which is very helpful from the writer. What kind of a person is he? How does he react? How does he think? What are his relationships? How does he function professionally? How does he respond in his personal life? I somehow figure out all those things.

He is a common man. So it is very easy to relate with that character. I am really thankful to all my co-stars. They are wonderful actors. Be it Rajshri. Be it Taruk. Be it Sheeba Chaddha. Be it Meghna Malik. And the other actors. Because when a co-actor understands the depth of the scene then there is a lot of possibility that something amazing happens. So, when I work with better actors. Then somewhere those actors help me to excel as an actor. So I am really thankful. And now I am very happy. People are talking about Rangeen. And it's trending on number 1 on Amazon. I am very happy. I am getting very good feedback.

Also Read: Viineet Kumar Singh gets real about modern relationships in Prime Video’s Rangeen; says, “The show is about two of life’s most important pillars: knowing and accepting”

The announcement of the 71st National Film Awards on August 1 brought celebration for Shah Rukh Khan fans as the Bollywood superstar clinched his first-ever National Award for Best Actor for his performance in Jawan, marking a historic moment in his 33-year-long career. However, not everyone appears to be in favor of the jury’s decision.

Veteran Malayalam actress Urvashi, who won Best Supporting Actress for Ullozhukku (shared with Gujarati actress Janki Bodiwala for Vash), has expressed her disappointment over the category placement of fellow actor Vijayaraghavan, raising questions about the criteria used to distinguish between main and supporting roles. Urvashi Speaks Out on Jury Fairness In a conversation with Asianet News, Urvashi strongly voiced her opinion that Vijayaraghavan’s performance in the Malayalam film Pookkaalam deserved greater recognition than Best Supporting Actor.

“Vijayaraghavan is such a great actor. What exactly did the jury consider to distinguish between Vijayaraghavan's and Shah Rukh Khan's performances? How did one become a supporting actor and the other the best actor? On what criteria?” she questioned.

She emphasized that both actors bring decades of experience to the screen and that such decisions should not be influenced by budget or production scale. “We should raise such questions, as we too are taxpaying citizens,” Urvashi added, referring to the need for transparency and fairness in the jury process. Vijayaraghavan’s Dedication Highlighted Urvashi went on to praise Vijayaraghavan’s dedication and transformation in Pookkaalam, where he portrayed a 100-year-old man. She revealed that she was initially approached to play his on-screen partner in the same film but turned down the offer due to the extensive makeup requirements. “Even if you pay me crores, I wouldn't do it. But he, at his age, endured all of that and performed. That alone deserves at least a Special Mention,” she said.

At the awards, Shah Rukh Khan shared the Best Actor title with Vikrant Massey for 12th Fail. Meanwhile, Vijayaraghavan received the Best Supporting Actor honour for his role in Pookkaalam, opposite veteran actress K. P. A. C. Leela.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan replies to Shashi Tharoor’s “simple praise” with classic wit after National Award win

A new twist to the plot — vastly different from what Aanand L Rai originally shot with Dhanush in their acclaimed film Raanjhanaa twelve years ago — has angered fans of the film, the director, and the actor alike.

The producers of Raanjhanaa, Eros International, have reportedly altered the ending of the film using artificial intelligence to create a new “happy” conclusion. While Aanand L Rai had already voiced his opposition to this AI-generated desecration, Dhanush has now joined the battle, publicly taking a stand against the modification.

Aanand Rai confirms that he and Dhanush are “brothers from different mothers,” and are currently exploring various legal avenues to counter what he describes as “a very dangerous precedent.”

“I am very worried about my other films. So is Dhanush. We are actively looking at judicial remedies to restore and preserve our creative content from such extraneous interventions,” says Aanand.

Apart from Raanjhanaa, the filmmaker and actor have previously collaborated on Atrangi Re and are already planning a third project together. “But before we move forward, we are committed to tackling the current crisis,” Aanand Rai asserts.

Also Read: Raanjhanaa AI-ending row: Eros International counters criticism from Dhanush and Aanand L. Rai, reaffirms ownership of 2013 film