Have you heard? Production delays

Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2: The Rule

Rumours are rife that Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna's Pushpa 2: The Rule might not arrive on August 15 as announced. Talk in Tollywood is that even though the lead actor has asked to complete the shoot at the earliest, it will most likely take about a month before director Sukumar can call it a wrap on the film. The filmmaker and his team also redesigned and re-shot some crucial sequences recently. Fahadh Faasil, who returns as the antagonist, is said to be currently shooting his portions. Apparently, editor Karthika Srinivas has opted out and Navin Nooli has begun editing the film even as Sukumar is focused on completing the remaining shoot. If that's not enough, work on the VFX might take longer as the director wasn't too excited by the results shown to him last. The trade circle is hoping the makers share an update on the release of the highly-anticipated action drama soon.

Twice as nice

Saie Tamhankar has been cast opposite Vijay Varma for the web series, Matka King. The project marks her first collaboration with director Nagraj Manjule and Vijay. Admitting that working with filmmaker has been on her wishlist, she reportedly said, "I've been vocal about it in interviews and on social media. I am excited and nervous to work with him." Declining to reveal anything about her role and the plot, she said, "All in all, it's a sudden breeze of excitement and thrill in my life right now."

On a hat-trick

Even as reports of Pushpa 2: The Rule missing its Independence Day deadline gained momentum, the makers of Khel Khel Mein announced that the Akshay Kumar-starrer will arrive during the holiday weekend. Director Mudassar Aziz's comedy, which also stars Taapsee Pannu, Vaani Kapoor and Fardeen Khan, was initially slated to release on August 9. Now, it will open in cinemas on August 15. This development marks Akshay's third box-office clash with John Abraham, whose Vedaa booked the release date earlier. Interestingly, their films have clashed in this window before, and fared well nonetheless. While Akki's Gold (2018) and Mission Mangal (2019) crossed R100-crore and R200-crore mark respectively, John's Satyamev Jayate (2018) and Batla House (2019) crossed the R80 crore mark. While Vedaa and Khel Khel Mein are expected to keep the stars' momentum, it remains to be seen which film scores higher at the ticket windows.

On more heroine-centric movies

Ajay Devgn and Tabu, who recently enjoyed a hit in Crew starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Kriti Sanon, unveiled the trailer of Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha yesterday. At the event, Tabu was asked if the women-centric hit will encourage producers to cast top female actors and also give courage to heroines to headline such projects. Before she could reply, Ajay chipped in, "Everybody is doing it already. Films keep getting made, where women are in the lead. It has nothing to do with courage. It just depends on a good script. If there is a good story with a strong female lead, they make it." When pursued that many actors say it is difficult to find producers who believe in films with women in the lead, the superstar replied, "I think those actors, who tell you, are not getting work. It's not generally (true) all the female actors." On her part, Tabu stated, "The producers have to consider several factors before making the final decision. I can't dictate what kind of films will be made in the industry."

Release halted

The Supreme Court has stayed the release of Annu Kapoor's film, Hamare Baarah. The apex court was hearing the petition challenging the Bombay High Court's ruling in allowing the movie's release on June 14. A vacation bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta took note of the submissions of petitioner Azhar Basha Tamboli's lawyer Fauzia Shakil, and asked the HC to take an expeditious decision on the plea. "If the teaser is so offensive, then what about the whole movie? Prima facie, it seems you have failed since you yourself deleted the scenes from the teaser," the SC judges reportedly noted. The HC will now have to re-evaluate the movie and determine whether its content aligns with the established guidelines and respects religious sentiments. The film has already been banned by the Karnataka state government.

The show is off!

Sunny Leone was slated to perform at an event at the University College of Engineering in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on July 5. News is that her dance performance has now been cancelled. It is being said that Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, vice-chancellor of Kerala University, instructed the university registrar to make sure that Sunny's show was not included in the college's programme list. Sources attribute it to last year's stampede during a concert at Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), where four students died and over 60 others suffered injuries. Sunny is currently shooting for a yet-untitled Malayalam film. She recently shared a picture from the mahurat ceremony on her social media, saying she was excited about her new project. She will soon be seen in Quotation Gang, which also stars Jackie Shroff and Priyamani.