Bollywood couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor jetted off to Thailand with the rest of their family members to ring in the New Year. After Riddhima Kapoor Sahni shared glimpses from the fam-jam on a yacht, Alia took to Instagram and shared a series of pictures from their trip. However, Raha as usual grabbed eyeballs for her epic expressions. Raha’s reaction to Ranbir kissing Alia Alia shared the pictures from their Thailand trip on Instagram and wrote, “2025: where love leads & the rest just follows...!! Happy New Year all.” The first picture shows Raha looking intently into the camera as she catches her dad Ranbir planting a kiss on mom Alia’s cheek. In another picture, Alia shows Raha the picturesque view of the sky. She also shared selfies with Soni Razdan, Shaheen Bhatt, Neetu Kapoor, and Ayan Mukerji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alia Bhatt 💛 (@aliaabhatt) Alia and Ranbir tied the knot in April 2022, after several years of dating. Their daughter, Raha was born in November 2022. The little one recently stole hearts at the family’s annual Christmas lunch, where she gave flying kisses to the paparazzi stationed outside for a photo call. In an earlier interview with Allure magazine, Alia, who graced the cover described her daughter saying, “She’s naughty. She’s chatty. She has moments of being shy. She’s just her own person, but she’s very bright.” Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor’s work front Meanwhile, on the work front, Alia is busy filming her upcoming movie Alpha. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films' acclaimed spy universe and is scheduled for release on December 25. On the other hand, Ranbir was last seen in Animal alongside Triptii Dimri and Rashmika Mandanna. The actor also has the sequel of Animal, titled Animal Park. Apart from this, he has Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love And War alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. He will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’. Produced by Namit Malhotra, the epic saga will feature Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. Sai Pallavi will star as Sita, and Yash as Ravana, with the first installment slated for release in 2026, and the second part will release in 2027.
02 January,2025 09:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaddock Films had a successful year as it delivered the blockbuster film Stree 2 and hit films like Munjya, and Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya. Maddock Films has cemented itself as an experimenter with innovative storytelling. Maddock Films has now announced an expansive slate of upcoming films, including the highly anticipated Shakti Shalini and Chamunda. These films promise to expand the studio's cinematic universe, by introducing new characters and twists to the already existing horror universe. Maddock Films reveal upcoming movies Maddock Films ventured into the horror-comedy genre in India with the 2018 blockbuster Stree, and blended spine-chilling thrills, humour, and desi folklore. This resonated with audiences, propelling horror comedy into further mainstream. With its latest announcement, Maddock Films is embarking on its most ambitious venture yet: a visionary, interconnected cinematic universe of horror-comedy superheroes. Spanning the next four years, this narrative will culminate in Mahayudh, a two-part saga set to redefine the boundaries of horror-comedy in Indian cinema. Bringing together superheroes from across the Maddock horror-comedy universe, Mahayudh promises to push the limits of both genre and scale. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maddock Films (@maddockfilms) Maddock Films will release epic battle films in 2028 The year 2025 will see the release of Thama on Diwali, and Shakti Shalini on December 31. Bhediya 2 will hit cinemas on August 14, 2026. Chamunda will be released on December 4, 2026. The year 2027 will see the release of Stree 3 on August 13, 2026, and Maha Munjya on December 24. 2028 will see the release of two mega battles- Pehla Mahayudh on August 11 and Doosara Mahayudh on Diwali, on October 18. Dinesh Vijan, who is at the helm of Maddock Horror Comedy Universe, said, "Our mission at Maddock has always been to innovate and entertain. We've crafted compelling characters that resonate with audiences, grounded in India's rich culture and heritage. This deep connection has made our stories not just relatable, but also meaningful. Also, with a passionate and devoted fanbase, we’re now setting the stage for something even bigger: a cinematic universe that brings unforgettable characters and their stories to life like never before. We can’t wait to take audiences on this journey through 2028 and beyond – and we are just getting started!"
02 January,2025 08:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSooraj Barjatya's 1989 film Maine Pyar Kiya starring Salman Khan and Bhagyashree proved as a big break for both actors. Salman had appeared in a small role in the film Biwi Ho Toh Aisi earlier, but this was his first film as the lead. Bhagyashree marked her debut with this film. Sooraj Barjatya had auditioned many actors for his film and one of them was Upasana Singh. Upasana Singh reveals she was the first choice for Maine Pyar Kiya's Suman The Kapil Sharma Show fame Upasana Singh recently revealed in an interview with Siddharth Kannan that she was rejected for the role of Suman because she was taller than Salman Khan. She recalled she was selected by Sooraj Barjatya after the first round of audition, but his father Raj Kumar Barjatya did not deem her fit for the role. Upasana mentioned that she met director Sooraj Barjatya when she first came to Mumbai. She recalled, “He told me everything about the film, my role. And he selected me. After that, he said you come tomorrow and meet my father but from my end, you are okay. The next day, I met his father and he rejected me. They are very sweet people so he did not say rejected but they did not call me again.” Upasana mentioned that many years later, she worked with Rajshri Productions on Main Prem Ki Diwani Hoon and that is when Raj Kumar Barjatya revealed to the film's cast and crew that Upasana was their first choice for the role of Suman. She recalled the anecdote from the set and said, “He said, ‘Did you know who was our first choice for Maine Pyar Kiya?’ Kareena, Abhishek, and Hrithik were all there. I had never told people about it because I lost out on the role. Then he said ‘It was Upasana’. Everyone on set was shocked to hear this. Upasana replied to this, by saying, "But because of you I didn’t get the role." He said ‘if I had selected you, then you would have also left the movies like Bhagyashree." Upasana Singh reveals the real reason for her rejection Upasana later revealed the real reason for not being cast as Suman and it was because she was tall. "He said ‘I am not making an excuse, but you were taller than Salman’. That is what I was told. They wanted someone who was a little shorter than Salman so that’s why they didn’t cast me. They were not lying,” she recalled. Maine Pyar Kiya proved to be a massive hit at the box office and Salman and Bhagyashree gained instant success and stardom after its release.
02 January,2025 08:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Akshay Kumar decided to take some time off from his busy schedule to spend time with his family. The actor, along with his wife Twinkle Khanna, son Aarav, and daughter Nitara kickstarted the New Year with a trip to Jaipur, Rajasthan. Pictures and videos of the superstar have surfaced on social media as he arrived in the pink city. Akshay Kumar with family at leopard safari A video of Akshay's fun family time has surfaced on social media. The 'Welcome' star can be seen enjoying a ride amidst nature in the Jhalana Leopard Safari, Jaipur. Another video shows him receiving a warm welcome from the forest officials. अभिनेता अक्षय कुमार पहुँचे झालाना लेपर्ड सफारी #Jaipur pic.twitter.com/XW9oNYA9GR — Naresh Sarnau (Bishnoi) (@NSarnauaajtak) January 2, 2025 Bollywood Superstar Akshay Kumar Family Ke Sath Aaye Jaipur Ki Jhalana Lepard 🐆 Safari #akshay #AkshayKumar #akshaykumarfan #akshaysuperstar @akshaykumar @bolly_talkies @Bollyhungama @bollywood_life pic.twitter.com/7hlxbVeLWq — Sourabh Panthari Bhardwaj (@PanthariSourabh) January 2, 2025 According to the Rajasthan government's website, Jhalana Leopard Safari Park is surrounded by Aravali hills, the oldest mountain series in India. Jhalana became a leopard reserve in 2017. The reserve is spread over an area of 20 square kilometers, with immense flora and fauna present in the park. Akshay and Twinkle tied the knot on January 17, 2001. They are proud parents of a son named Aarav and a daughter named Nitara, who was born in 2012. Twinkle quit acting in 2001 after starring in a string of films. She ventured into writing in 2015 and released her first book titled 'Mrs Funnybones'. She followed it up with an anthology of stories titled 'The Legend Of Lakshmi Prasad' in 2017 and 'Pyjamas Are Forgiving', which came out in 2018. In 2023, she came up with 'Welcome to Paradise' book. Akshay Kumar’s work front Meanwhile, Akshay has an exciting lineup for 2025 including the historical war drama, Sky Force. Abhishek Anil Kapur and Sandeep Kewlani have jointly directed the movie slated to release on Republic Day 2025. He will be seen sharing screen space with Nimrat Kaur, Sara Ali Khan, and Veer Pahariya in the drama inspired by India's air attack on the Sargodha airbase of Pakistan during the 1965 Indo-Pakistani war. In addition to this, Akshay will also be seen alongside Arshad Warsi in the highly-anticipated installment of Jolly LLB 3. Moreover, Akshay will star in Tarun Mansukhani's Housefull 5 co-starring Riteish Deshmukh, Abhishek Bachchan, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, and Chunky Pandey. He further has Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla, and Welcome To The Jungle waiting to be released in 2025.
02 January,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAlmost a month after Allu Arjun's arrest, because a fan died in Sandhya theatre during the stampede at the premiere of the film, producer Boney Kapoor has reacted on the case. Boney Kapoor said that Allu Arjun was 'unnecessarily dragged' in the case as the death was largely due to the large number of crowd gathered there. Boney Kapoor defends Allu Arjun in a recent interview In a recent interview with Galatta Plus, Boney Kapoor mentioned that he was amazed to see the craze of South Indian fans for the stars. He said, "When I first saw, Ajith's film releasing at 1 in the morning. I was shocked to see 20-25k people outside the theatre. After I came out of the show around 3.30-4 am, there were still that many people outside. I am told the same thing happens with films of Rajinikanth, Chiranjeevi, or present-day stars like Jr NTR, Ram Charan, and Mahesh Babu." Boney Kapoor defended the Pushpa 2 star, Allu Arjun, and said, "Ticket rates are inflated on the first two days or at least the first day for extra shows. That is why this situation has arisen where unnecessarily Allu Arjun was dragged and blamed for the death of a fan. It was only because of the crowd that had gathered to see the film." Earlier, Varun Dhawan, Nani, Rashmika Mandanna, and Pawan Kalyan came out in support of the Pushpa 2 actor. Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2 screening stampede case at Sandhya theatre On the eve of Pushpa 2's release, a special screening of the film was kept for the fans at Hyderabad's Sandhya Theatre. Allu Arjun arrived with actress Rashmika Mandanna and wife Sneha Reddy unexpectedly and a large crowd gathered at the theatre. This led to a stampede-like situation, causing the death of a 35-year-old woman, Revathi. Her 8-year-old son was admitted to the hospital in a critical situation. The state government alleged that Allu Arjun appeared at the theatre unannounced and without permission. He also refused to leave after being told of the situation. Allu Arjun has dismissed these claims. The actor was arrested last month on the charges of culpable homicide among other things. But he was released the following day after the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail. The case is currently under investigation.
02 January,2025 05:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Mouni Roy, who fell outside a bar on New Year’s Eve is now kickstarting 2025 on a positive note by seeking blessings at a temple. Dropping a couple of pictures from her spiritual visit on Instagram, she wrote, "Embracing the divine possibilities of the new year, trusting that every step we take is guided by the loving hand of god...Happy 2025." View this post on Instagram A post shared by mon (@imouniroy) Mouni Roy’s nasty fall on New Year’s Eve Clad in a black mini dress with a halter neck, Mouni looked like a million bucks while entering the lavish party. However, while leaving she had a terrible fall on the pavement. Her husband Suraj Nambiar and friend Disha Patani helped her get up and escorted her safely to the car. Mouni held herself together despite the embarrassing situation. Watch the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saalim Hussain Rizvi (@saalim_hussain110) Mouni married Dubai-based Malayali businessman Suraj Nambiar on January 27, 2022, in traditional Bengali and Malayali ceremonies in Panaji, Goa. As soon as the clip reached social media, the comment section was full of mixed reactions. While there were a few who claimed that Mouni Roy was drunk, which led to her fall, others were concerned about her safety. Mouni Roy’s acting journey Mouni Roy is best known for portraying shape-shifting snakes in the supernatural thriller series 'Naagin'. She started her acting career in 2006 with the television show 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'. She essayed the role of Sati in 'Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev', and Meera in 'Junoon – Aisi Nafrat Toh Kaisa Ishq'. Roy made her film debut in 2011 with the Punjabi romantic film, 'Hero Hitler in Love'. She made her Hindi film debut with the 2018 period sports film, 'Gold', directed by Reema Kagti and starred Akshay Kumar in the lead. She has then appeared in movies like-- 'London Confidential’, 'Made in China', and 'Brahmāstra: Part One – Shiva'. She was also seen in 'Blackout', which is a comedy-thriller that delves into the depths of human nature and the consequences of one's actions in the face of adversity. The film takes on a thrilling journey through the streets of Pune, where a single night of darkness engulfs the city in mystery. The 38-year-old actress had last appeared in the web series 'Showtime' directed by Mihir Desai and Archit Kumar. It stars Emraan Hashmi in the lead. Mouni next has 'The Virgin Tree' in the kitty.
02 January,2025 04:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn 2018, multiple women came out to share their MeToo ordeals against filmmaker Sajid Khan, after which he stepped down as director of Housefull 4. Khan had been named by multiple women including two actresses -- Sonali Chopra and Rachel White -- and one journalist for sexual misconduct. He has been called out not just for harassment but also for allegedly flashing women. Six years later, Sajid opens up for the first time on the issue and reveals that he contemplated suicide on multiple occasions. Sajid Khan thought of ending his life many times In an interview with Hindustan Times, Sajid Khan shared, “I thought of ending my life many times in the last 6 years. It’s been extremely bad, in the sense that I’ve been out of work. Despite getting a clearance from the Indian Film and Television Directors Association (IFTDA). I’m trying to get back on my feet. I had to sell my house and move to a rented flat because of no earnings.” Sajid’s mother Menaka Irani passed away last year. He added, “I was 14 when I started earning because my dad passed away, leaving me and Farah with debts. Today, I wish my mum was alive to see me try to get back on my feet. More than her son, I was her caretaker. Life has been quite tough.” Sajid Khan on being sacked from Housefull 4 Following the MeToo allegations, Sajid Khan was asked to step down from Housefull 4. He states, “I left Housefull 4 because I didn’t want the dates to get shuffled. The producer, Sajid Nadiadwala, had put up a big set with 10–15 busy actors. Changing dates would’ve disrupted the film for years. Mine was a trial by the media, very one-sided. What does a man work for? Respect. When that’s taken away, your self-respect comes into doubt.” Sajid had tweeted back then: "In the wake of the allegations against me and the pressure being put on my family, my producer, and the stars of my film 'Housefull 4', I must take the moral responsibility of stepping down from my directorial post, till the time I can allay the allegations and prove the truth... I request my friends in the media to kindly not pass judgment till the truth is out." Sajid Khan was last seen as a participant in Bigg Boss 16 hosted by Salman Khan.
02 January,2025 03:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActors Arjun Kapoor, Bhumi Pednekar, and Rakul Preet Singh will be seen sharing screen space in a film titled 'Mere Husband Ki Biwi'. On Thursday, the makers announced the project with a release date. The film will hit the theatres on February 21. "Yahaan pyaar ki geometry thodi twisted hai--kyunki ye love triangle nahi, pura circle hai! #MereHusbandKiBiwi In Cinemas 21st February, 2025," a post read on the official Instagram handle of Pooja Entertainment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja Entertainment (@pooja_ent) The makers also unveiled the film's motion poster which shows a man's shoe caught between a stiletto and a Punjabi jutti. Mudassar Aziz, who earlier helmed projects like 'Khel Khel Mein' and 'Pati Patni Aur Woh', has directed 'Mere Husband Ki Biwi'. Excited about the film, Aziz in a press note said, "As a filmmaker, I've always believed in telling stories that entertain, and leave audiences of all ages smiling. I believe such films that endure and make for repeat viewings. Mere Husband Ki Biwi is a film that celebrates the quirks and complexities of romantic relationships. I've always been one for wholesome entertainers--movies that bring friends and families together, make them laugh, and give them something to talk about. That's exactly what we've aimed for with this film." He added, "It's lighthearted, relatable, and full of moments that will stay with you long after you leave the theater. I was eager to cast it exactly this way and when the audience meets their characters, they will know just why! " The plot details have not been disclosed yet. The movie is produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, and Deepshikha Deshmukh. (ANI) This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
02 January,2025 03:17 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIOne among a string of developments that were aimed at piquing curiosity around Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayan was the appointment of Hans Zimmer as the score composer of the mythological drama. The film was set to mark the legendary German musician’s Bollywood debut, but that title can now rest safe with Fateh, Sonu Sood’s directorial venture, which, the actor confirms, will mark Zimmer’s first Hindi film work. “Everyone is a Hans Zimmer-fan, and I am no exception. I’m a huge admirer of his work. He is an Oscar winner and has composed music for some of the greatest Hollywood films. I feel fortunate that we have his song, To the moon, in Fateh. This marks the first time one of his songs will be featured in an Indian film,” he says, adding that the track has been penned by Zimmer, known for his scores in The Dark Knight (2008) and Interstellar (2014). Hans Zimmer News of Zimmer’s association with the project follows that of ace vocalist Loire Cotler’s work in the film, with Sood stating that the Grammy-nominated American musician, who rendered the song, Call to life, was “incredible” to work with. “Her talent resonates on a global scale. Her composition in Fateh perfectly captures our vision and infuses a mystical energy into the action sequences. Bringing her on board wasn’t just a decision; it was essential to deliver a world-class musical experience.” For his directorial debut, which also has him serve as producer, Sood appears to be leaving no stone unturned. Apart from bringing the best musical talent on board, he also roped in ace action director Lee Whittaker to craft the sequences for the January 10 release that revolves around a cybercrime syndicate.
02 January,2025 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIndian authorities appear to have had little headway in tackling the menace of pirated cinematic content in the aftermath of the Pushpa 2: The Rule fiasco, when crucial scenes of the Allu Arjun-starrer were leaked online within days of its release. The latest film to fall prey to piracy is the Christmas release, Baby John, starring Varun Dhawan, which has already illegally made its way to the content-sharing platform, Telegram. Producers and trade experts are rightly raising alarm about the escalating concern, with several organisations now being urged to take action to combat the spread of high-definition prints. The matter, we are told, will be discussed at the next meeting of the Producers Guild of India, informs a committee member. “Released just 10 days ago, Mufasa has also fallen victim to piracy, with its HD version surfacing online on Thursday. Earlier, pirated versions would appear months after theatrical releases, often coinciding with or following their OTT debut. Now, we’re seeing leaks of pristine-quality prints within days of release. The fact that the audience is not willing to go to the theatres is causing this demand. But what is shocking is that this is being facilitated. Telegram, with its ability to disseminate large files quickly, has become the primary conduit for such piracy,” the member informs. A producer, who is also a Guild member, tells mid-day on the condition of anonymity, “For every ticket lost to piracy, jobs, livelihoods, and future investments are put at stake. I have lost approximately R20 crore because of piracy when a film that I had produced had been prematurely leaked. An expensive film like Baby John, which has been made on a budget of R130 crores, may [only collect] R40 crore, because the film is already out for people to download. We will be discussing this with the Guild members because we have big titles like Game Changer, Chhaava, Sikandar, and Sitaare Zameen Par [up for release this year].”
02 January,2025 02:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAthiya Shetty kicked off the New Year by feeling grateful for all the blessings she had. She shared photos on her Instagram with her husband KL Rahul. The couple looks adorable in the picture. Currently, the actress is stationed in Australia for Australia and India's test series. The next test will be played between Jan 3-7, 2025. Athiya Shetty shares pictures with husband KL Rahul View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) The Motichoor Chaknachoor actress shared a video of her walking hand-in-hand with her husband and cricketer, KL Rahul, while she flaunts her baby bump. Athiya, who had been avoiding the Indian paparazzi ever since her pregnancy announcement with cricketer KL Rahul was spotted with her baby bump on display overseas, during the fourth test between Australia and India in Melbourne. The couple announced their pregnancy in November, last year. They had dropped a note which read, "Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025 (baby feet emojis)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) The actress also spread positivity by sharing an optimistic message in her latest Instagram post, which read, "Slow down often, count your blessings, be kind to your heart, believe in new beginnings". The actress captioned the post, "2025, looking forward to you." KL Rahul drops pictures from New Year celebration with wife Athiya Shetty View this post on Instagram A post shared by KL Rahul👑 (@klrahul) Yesterday, KL Rahul shared a post with his wife, Athiya Shetty. The couple celebrated New Year together in Melbourne, Australia. They both look adorable as they pose for the camera while sitting in an eatery. KL Rahul is wearing a white lined shirt and Athiya looks beautiful in a black dress as she wraps herself around the cricketer. Rahul also shared a picture of the New Year fireworks in Melbourne. He captioned the post, "2025". On the work front, Athiya Shetty was last seen in the 2019 romance drama film, Motichoor Chaknachoor, alongside, Nawazuddin Siddiqui. She will next be seen in the upcoming film, Hope Solo, which is a biopic, based on the life of Kashmiri footballer Afshan Ashiq.
02 January,2025 02:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
