When Telugu director Gopichand Malineni had announced his next with Sunny Deol, he had promised that it would be an action extravaganza (Deol rises again as a one-man army, June 24). Seven months and four schedules later, it looks like he has stayed true to his word. In his bid to make Jaat one of Deol’s biggest action films, the director has roped in four stunt directors, each of whom has designed an elaborate action block. Sources tell us that Anal Arasu, Ram-Lakshman, Naga Venkat Naga, and Peter Hein of Kalki 2898 AD (2024) fame lead the action team. A source says, “The sets have been designed by Avinash Kolla. The first set-piece involved a car chase sequence choreographed by Peter Hein. Another action block involves hand-to-hand combat that takes place inside a police station and ends with Sunny using a huge fan as a weapon. It was choreographed by Naga Venkat. Both the set-pieces were shot in Hyderabad last year. Another fight sequence aboard a ship was designed by Ram-Lakshman, and filmed at the Panambur port in Mangalore last month. Sunny also shot an ambitious action piece set in Agumbe forest in Mangalore last November. It will be one of the major highlights of the film.” Jaat, also starring Saiyami Kher and Regina Cassandra, is almost complete, save for one week’s shoot. Next week, Deol will kick off the last leg of the film in Mangalore. The source adds, “Only a few days’ work remains on Jaat. The major action blocks are complete.” If Deol’s protagonist who rises against the corrupt system is being shown as a mighty hero, the antagonists need to be powerful too. Keeping that in mind, Malineni has apparently roped in six actors as villains. “Sunny will face five villains, played by Randeep Hooda, Vineet Kumar Singh, Ajay Ghosh, Dayanand Shetty, Jagpathi Babu and Babloo Prithiveeraj. The director wants to make it bigger than Gadar 2: The Katha Continues [2023] in terms of action,” says the insider. Jaat will be released in Hindi, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil.
19 January,2025 09:09 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRLeading the way for a cause Tamil superstar and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) Chief Vijay will lead a protest march on January 20 at Eganapuram village against the proposed greenfield airport, which is set to become Chennai’s second airport. Vijay has sought permission to visit Eganapuram village in the Kanchipuram district, where the airport is planned. The protest aims to highlight the ongoing agitation by residents of about 20 villages, who have opposed the project since 2022. The actor requested permission to hold the meeting on January 19 or 20, so the Kanchipuram police gave approval for 20th. On Pongal, two TVK state office-bearers, Jagannathan and another member, visited Eganapuram and identified five acres of land for the gathering. The project requires the acquisition of 5,746 acres across 20 villages, with plans to complete the airport by 2028. Demonstrations, including nighttime protests, recently marked their 900th day on January 10. Keralathil swagatham Sidhrth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra travelled to Kerala yesterday for a month-long shoot of Param Sundari. Like fans, we are eager to see the two pair up for the first time in Tushar Jalota’s directorial venture. Jalota is known for Dasvi. The film will also mark Sid’s return to the romantic genre after years. The story is a romantic clash between north and south, featuring banter, laughs, and some fresh tunes. An emotional wrap-up Chitrangda Singh has finished filming for the fifth instalment of the Housefull franchise and expressed her emotional connection to the project, saying she will miss the “vibe.” The actor shared a video on her Instagram stories of getting her hair done for the last time as her Housefull 5 character. In the clip, she said, “This is the end of Housefull. Today is the last day for me. I am feeling a bit emotional. I am going to miss this vibe.” Chitrangda will share screen space with Akshay Kumar again after Desi Boyz (2011) and Khel Khel Mein (2024).
19 January,2025 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamActor Pankaj Tripathi and his wife Mridula marked their 21st wedding anniversary on January 15 with a warm celebration surrounded by family and close friends. Taking to Instagram on Saturday, Mridula shared a video along with several pictures from the event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Atul Kumar Rai (@author.atul) The video showed the Mirzapur actor placing a ring on his wife's finger as he bowed before her with folded hands. The couple, later, can be seen hugging and cutting their anniversary cake together, while their guests cheered and clapped. For the special day, Pankaj chose a beige kurta-pyjama paired with a traditional white jacket, while Mridula looked graceful in a yellow suit. Their daughter, Aashi Tripathi, was also present to join the festivities. Along with the pictures, the actor added a caption that read, "As we turn 21" (followed by heart emojis). Check out the post Pankaj Tripathi, a graduate of the National School of Drama in Delhi, gained fame in Bollywood with his outstanding role in Anurag Kashyap's Gangs of Wasseypur. Most recently, he received praise for his performance in Stree 2. The film also features Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao, and stars Abhishek Banerjee and Aparshakti Khurana in crucial roles. It was released on August 15, Independence Day 2024, alongside other big Hindi films such as Khel Khel Mein and Vedaa. Directed by Amar Kaushik, Stree 2 has captivated audiences not only with its engaging storyline but also with star-studded cameos from Varun Dhawan and Akshay Kumar, both of whom have been praised for their contributions to the film. 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
19 January,2025 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIDance choreographer Bosco Martis met veteran singer Asha Bhosle at her home and taught her the signature steps of the iconic dance number 'Tauba Tauba' during their interaction. He called the meeting a 'heartwarming experience' of his life. Taking to Instagram, Bosco shared a heartfelt video of his meeting with Asha Tai. In the clip, the choreographer is seen entering Asha's house with a present in his hand. As the duo interacted while resting on a sofa, the conversation gradually shifted towards the iconic dance steps of 'Tauba Tauba' which were choreographed by Bosco and performed by actor Vicky Kaushal in Bad Newz. Veteran singer Asha Bhosle looked adorable as she tried to perform the dance steps of 'Tauba Tauba'. During one of the moments in the meeting, Asha requested Bosco to perform the signature step of 'Tauba Tauba' which was effortlessly executed by him. Apart from the video, the 'Tauba Tauba' choreographer also gifted a scented candle to the veteran single fondly called Asha Tai. While sharing the video of their meeting, Bosco wrote, "91 or 19! Was such an heartwarming experience to meet @asha.bhosle tai! Her energy is infectious and has such an amazing and inspiring vibe. Was blessed to get her blessings. Long live" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bosco Martis (@boscomartis) Veteran singer Asha Bhosle surprised her fans when she hopped on a late social media trend and performed the viral hook steps of Karan Aujla's 'Tauba Tauba' at a recent concert in Dubai. The 'In Aankhon Ki Masti' singer not only sang the superhit song from Vicky Kaushal starrer 'Bad Newz' in her melodious voice but also performed the signature step of the song. Dharma Productions who shared a video of her performance described it as a moment when 'Tauba Tauba met timeless charm.' https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEMUAD7tPtQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading Asha Bhosle is known for songs 'In Ankhon Ki Masti', 'Chura Liya Hah Tumne', 'O Mere Sona', and 'Kehdoon Tumhen' among others. 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
19 January,2025 08:31 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIAcclaimed screenwriter, and lyricist, Javed Akhtar turned 80 on 17th January 2025. The writer received a very special gift from Vidya Balan, and Sidharth Roy Kapoor. The couple got a customized cake made for Javed Akhtar and it has a connection to some of his most celebrated movies like "Sholay", "Deewaar", "Shaan", among others. They had Javed Akhtar's face put on some of his iconic movie characters. Sharing a picture of the cake on her official IG handle, Shabana Azmi wrote, "Sidharth Roy Kapoor and Vidya Balan’s gift to Javed on his birthday. Look carefully at the cake. It’s Javed’s face in the characters." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shabana Azmi (@azmishabana18) Earlier, yesteryear diva Urmila Matondkar also gave a sneak peek into the star-studded birthday bash through an Insta post. In one of the pictures shared by the 'Pinjar' actress, she was seen posing with Javed Akhtar. She also got captured with Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan during the celebration. Urmila Matondkar further dropped a video where Aamir Khan, Farhan Akhtar, Zoya Akhtar, Shankar Mahadevan, and others can be seen singing "Happy birthday" for the legend. Urmila Matondkar's IG post included the caption, "An absolute epic day that it was..with some of the best talents our industry has!! Afternoon full of love,laughter,affection,admiration and great camaraderie...Because it was a Special Birthday of someone very special to all us..”Jaadu” in real sense as the entire nation is spellbound with his words for decades.. #oneandonly @jaduakhtar Thank you dearest @azmishabana18 for these awesome moments which truly enrich my life." Javed Akhtar was recently questioned about the best gift he has received in his lifetime. He revealed that his children, Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar doing well in life is the best gift he could have asked for. The writer said, “I think the best one, and the one I am thankful about, is my children. They have done well in their lives. It becomes an emotionally and socially aesthetic situation, if both your children go on to achieve so much. That’s the best gift I could have gotten." 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
19 January,2025 08:28 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs Bollywood gears up for the upcoming highly anticipated projects, the newcomer-led films have taken centre stage with their unique style and fresh talent. Among several newcomer debut films released recently, 'Azaad' starring debutants Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan has got the biggest opening day collection of Rs 1.5 crore at the box office. Let's have a look at the debut films of newcomers which were released post-COVID-19 pandemic and were backed by renowned Bollywood production houses. Azaad Topping the charts, Azaad is a gripping drama that explores themes of freedom, rebellion, and self-discovery. Featuring promising debutants Rasha Thadani and Aaman Devgan, the film directed by Abhishek Kapoor received widespread praise for its powerful performances and engaging storyline. Ajay Devgn's strategic backing with a cameo, helped propel 'Azaad' to the top. It earned Rs 1.5 crore nett box office collection on day one. Kill 'Kill' is a high-octane action film which was backed by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions. Featuring intense fight sequences and fast-paced cinematography, the film starred debutant Lakshya Lalwani and was directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhatt. It attracted urban audiences, particularly in metro cities, making it the second-highest opener in this category. It garnered Rs 1.35 crore at the box office. Ishq Vishq Rebound A sequel to the cult classic "Ishq Vishq", this film banked on nostalgia while introducing fresh talents like Pashmina Roshan, Jibran Khan along Rohit Saraf. It is a romantic drama directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari which was backed by Ramesh Taurani's Tips. The film secured a strong opening of 1.2 cr at the box office. Laapataa Ladies Produced by Aamir Khan, this quirky comedy set in rural India explores the chaos surrounding two missing brides. The film starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastava was directed by Kiran Rao and garnered critical acclaim as it was pushed for Oscars. It managed a moderate opening of 75 lakhs compared to the top contenders. Farrey This edgy thriller catered to young adults and featured an intriguing storyline about student life and its pressures. Despite Salman Khan's backing, the film starring Alizeh Agnihotri, Prasanna Bisht, and Zeyn Shaw opened with box office numbers of just 50 lakhs at the box office. The movie was directed by Soumendra Padhi Binny and Family This lighthearted comedy centred on a quirky family and their antics. Despite its entertaining premise and Varun Dhawan's support to his debutant niece Anjni Dhawan, 'Binny and Family' directed by Sanjay Tripathy struggled to make a significant impact at the box office and opened with 35 lakhs at the box office. As the first month of 2025 is coming to its end, cinema enthusiasts will be waiting for more new talents to set their foot in the Bollywood industry. 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
19 January,2025 08:26 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIKirti Kulhari has always believed that there’s nothing better than humour to tell a serious story. So, when filmmaker Ashwani Dhir narrated the story of Hisaab Barabar, the upcoming ZEE5 comedy thriller, the actor instantly took to it. “I love the concept of a bank scam with a comedy revolving around it. So, when these two things came together, I was happy,” she says. Her character of a cop became another reason to come on board. “There’s so much to this character in terms of her back story, her present, how the character and Maddy’s [R Madhavan] character meet in a train and what develops between them. Much later, through Maddy’s eyes you realise she is a cop. Also, I love the name, P Subhash. It sounds like a man’s name. It’s a great combination of being feminine and at the same time being so strong and masculine. She is an empowered woman,” Kulhari explains. R Madhavan and Kirti Kulhari in Hisaab Barabar What also made the experience of Hisaab Barabar memorable for the actor was the collaboration with Madhavan for the first time. While Kulhari is all praise for her co-star, she reveals that she felt intimidated by him initially. “It was a little intimidating. I used to think I was always well-prepared for a project and learnt my dialogues. But Maddy is someone who will recite all the dialogues in a go while you just stand there. I found him effortless. Not only does he remember all his lines but on [action], he would get into it and on cut, would be out of it. He would say the lines in a real tone, cutting all the filminess. I enjoyed working with him. When there’s somebody strong in front of you, subconsciously you feel, ‘I have to up my game.’ He is detached, anything could be happening around him but he wouldn’t be affected. He has the ability to switch off and focus on what he needs to do.”
19 January,2025 08:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaSinger Darshan Raval has tied the knot with his best friend Dharal Surelia in a beautiful traditional wedding. The ace singer himself took to his Instagram and shared pictures from the wedding ceremony. The adorable pictures have Dharal looking stunning in a red lehenga, while Raval was seen wearing a white, heavily decorated sherwani. While sharing the pictures, he captioned the post as “My best friend forever.” The pictures of their wedding are now going viral. Darshan Raval's wedding post View this post on Instagram A post shared by Darshan Raval (@darshanravaldz) In the series of pictures that Darshan shared on his Instagram in a joint post, they are seen smiling ear to ear as they embark on this new journey of their lives. The first snap of the post has Darshan holding his wife Dharal close to him, while the second picture shows them seated at the mandap with beautiful white garlands around their necks. The third picture is a close-up shot of the now husband and wife holding hands. The next picture has the newlyweds posing for a candid moment. The last snap in the carousel has the duo smiling brightly. Check out Darshan's post below. As soon as the couple shared the pictures from their beautiful wedding, fans bombarded the comment section with congratulatory messages. One user wrote, "From secretly rooting for you guys to screaming happy married life out loud. So dreamy you guys look." "The day we’ve all been waiting for has finally arrived, and it couldn't have been more perfect! Watching you step into this beautiful new chapter of life fills my heart with joy. Here's to a lifetime of love, laughter, and countless memories. You both deserve all the happiness in the world, and I’m so proud to call you my family. Congratulations to the most beautiful couple! Love you both to the fullest," a friend commented. Meanwhile, a third user wrote, "Congratulations to you both… so, so happy for you!" About the Newlyweds According to her Instagram bio, Dharal comes with a background in architecture and design. Meanwhile, Darshan is a popular singer who has given songs like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Main Woh Chaand from Teraa Surroor, Kheech Meri Photo, Chogada, Dhindora Baje Re from Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, and Sahibaa from The Great Indian Family.
18 January,2025 11:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentJaved Akhtar turned 80 yesterday, and it called for a grand celebration. Now, visuals from the star-studded bash are all over the internet and making fans go crazy. From Farhan Akhtar, daughter Zoya Akhtar, wife Shabana Azmi, Vidya Balan, Urmila Matondkar, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, to Aamir Khan, many others joined the celebration. A wholesome video of Aamir Khan singing the title track of his 2001 film ‘Dil Chahta Hai’ along with Farhan Akhtar and music composer Shankar Mahadevan has gone viral. Shankar Mahadevan, Farhan Akhtar and megastar #AamirKhan singing 'Dil Chahta Hai' at Javed Akhtar sahab's birthday party 🫶❤ pic.twitter.com/eZBaDbQ6iP — RAJ (@AamirsDevotee) January 18, 2025 Urmila Matondkar shares unseen pictures Apart from the viral video, Urmila Matondkar has shared some unseen pictures and videos from Javed Akhtar's grand birthday bash. While sharing the pictures and videos, Urmila attached a heartwarming caption and shared, "An absolute epic day that it was...with some of the best talents our industry has!! Afternoon full of love, laughter, affection, admiration, and great camaraderie 🥰❤️ Because it was a Special Birthday of someone very special to all of us... ‘Jaadu’ in the real sense as the entire nation is spellbound with his words for decades... #oneandonly @jaduakhtar ❤️ Thank you dearest @azmishabana18 for these awesome moments which truly enrich my life." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Urmila Matondkar (@urmilamatondkarofficial) The first picture has Urmila posing with Javed Akhtar, while the second picture has her meeting Amitabh Bachchan. A third snap is of her with Jaya Bachchan. The post also features a video of everyone singing "Baar Baar Din Ye Aaye." The video features Urmila Matondkar, Aamir Khan, Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar, Shibani Dandekar, and others. Fans react to inside pictures & viral video As soon as these pictures and videos went viral, fans started commenting on the post. One wrote, "So many stars in one frame." "Success is a double-edged sword...adapting and evolving with father time is an art, few can master," another commented. A third fan shared, "Javed sahab ko salgirah ki dili mubarakbad." "Aamir looks so cute and younger," another shared. About Dil Chahta Hai Dil Chahta Hai was praised for its compelling storyline, strong performances, and memorable music. The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi. Primarily shot in urban locations across Australia and Mumbai, the film resonated more with urban audiences than rural ones. It explores the journey of three best friends as they navigate love, friendship, and the challenges of life after graduation.
18 January,2025 07:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Kapoor family celebrated Raj Kapoor's 100th birth anniversary in December 2024 with a special film festival. Organized by PVR and the Film Heritage Foundation, the film festival premiered some of Raj Kapoor's masterpieces. During the opening night, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt hosted a grand event in the city, which was attended by several celebrities, including Kartik Aaryan. Kartik Aaryan on his chat with Aliaa Bhatt at the Raj Kapoor event byu/Medium_Bicycle_1004 inBollyBlindsNGossip Kartik Aaryan & Alia Bhatt at the RK film festival After the celebration, a video of Kartik Aaryan chit-chatting with Alia Bhatt surfaced online. In the video, the two actors were seen discussing something, leaving the audience curious about their conversation. Now, to put all curiosities to rest, Kartik has opened up about what the two actors discussed on the opening night of the Raj Kapoor film festival. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Instant Bollywood (@instantbollywood) In an interaction with Indian Express, a fan asked Kartik about what he discussed with Alia Bhatt. The question left Kartik in splits as he humorously replied, "Raha ke baare mein pooch raha tha, Ranbir ke baare mein pooch raha tha.” When the fan didn’t seem convinced with the answer, Kartik further joked, “Wahan pe woh lift nahi chal rahi thi, toh main unse pooch raha tha ki lift toh theek kara lete, event karne se pehle.” Later, on a serious note, the actor shared that he and Alia were casually chatting about their upcoming projects. Kartik Aaryan on the Work Front Looking ahead, Kartik is gearing up for his next venture, Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri, directed by Sameer Vidwans and produced by Dharma Productions. The film, set to release in 2026, promises to be a delightful romantic comedy. In a teaser announcement shared on Instagram, Kartik humorously narrated the story of his character’s failed relationships, writing, "Mummy ki khaayi hui kasam, yeh Mumma’s boy poori karke hi rehta hai!" Additionally, Kartik is collaborating with acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Basu on another untitled project. Alia Bhatt on the Work Front On the other hand, Alia Bhatt is currently busy filming for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love and War, co-starring Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor. Meanwhile, she will also be seen in YRF's spy thriller Alpha, co-starring Sharwari.
18 January,2025 05:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEarlier this week, the makers of Satya held a special screening to mark its re-release. Directed by Ram Gopal Varma, the film Manoj Bajpayee, Urmila Matondkar, J. D. Chakravarthy, Paresh Rawal, and Saurabh Shukla among others. Recently, in an interview, Urmila recalled the time celebrity designer Manish Malhotra yelled at her for a statement she made about her look in the media. When Manish Malhotra yelled at Urmila Matondkar In an interview with Radio Nasha, Urmila Matondkar shared, “I have to mention another maverick who worked on the movie, who I got firing from, which is Manish Malhotra. After Rangeela, here we were breaking our heads and buying these cheap sarees. So this one time, during an interview someone asked me something about my looks… and I was like, ‘Yaar, why are you all so obsessed with my pout and image? I am wearing sarees worth Rs 500. Suddenly, I get a call… at that time mobiles were not common. He yelled, ‘Tumne Rs 500 ka saree kyu bola? Was it necessary to mention THAT?’ I was like, ‘Manish, that’s the whole point’. I guess he missed it. But, today, he would have been happy that it’s okay it’s made up for it.” About Urmila Matondkar’s Satya Released in 1998, ‘Satya’ unfolds the story from the time in Bombay when crime was at its peak. Manoj essayed the role of Bhiku Mhatre in the film. The film won many awards and became one of the cult classics. The success of Satya catapulted Manoj to nationwide fame and earned him the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor. Besides its plot, the film also featured several remarkable songs such as 'Goli Maar' and 'Sapne Mein'. Saurabh Shukla and Shefali Shah also played pivotal roles in the film. Urmila Matondkar’s acting front Urmila Matondkar entered the film industry as a child artist. She first appeared in BR Chopra's 'Karm', the Marathi film 'Zaakol', and Shekhar Kapur's 'Masoom'. As an adult, Matondkar opened her account in 1989 with the Malayalam blockbuster 'Chanakyan', opposite Kamal Haasan, and launched her Bollywood career with N Chandra's 1991 action drama 'Narsimha'. Matondkar gained national recognition, however, with Ram Gopal Verma's romantic drama 'Rangeela' (1995) and since then she has portrayed a range of intense characters, including a serial killer, obsessive lover, and possessed woman in projects such as 'Judaai', 'Jungle', 'Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya', and 'Kaun'. She was last seen on the small screen as a judge on the dance reality show 'DID Super Moms' in 2022.
18 January,2025 02:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
