Days after Saif Ali Khan was stabbed, his Dil Tera Diwana co-star and author Twinkle Khanna strongly reacted to those blaming Kareena Kapoor for the incident. For those unversed, Kareena posted a picture of having drinks with her gal pals Sonam and Rhea Kapoor and sister Karisma Kapoor. A section of social media shamed the actor for being too intoxicated to help Saif during the assault. Twinkle Khanna hits back at those who blame the wife For her column in Times of India, Twinkle addressed the issue and wrote, “After an actor was stabbed, ridiculous rumours swirled that his wife hadn’t been at home or had been too intoxicated to help him during the assault. People just enjoyed shifting the blame onto the wife — an all-too-familiar pattern.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Twinkle Khanna (@twinklerkhanna) She also cited examples of Yoko Ono, Melania Trump, Jill Biden, and Anushka Sharma, asserting that it is a widespread issue. She added, “If your husband gains too much weight, you are not taking care of his health; if he loses too many kilos, you are not feeding him well. If he’s caring, they’ll claim you’ve manipulated him; if he’s indifferent, they’ll blame you for not handling him right. Last week, I attended a small family gathering where one of the relatives remarked, ‘Look, my five uncles are bald, and the one who still has hair, he is the only one who is not married’. Apparently, wives can also be blamed for baldness. In this context, I suppose it’s accurate to say that behind every man, loser or leader, stands a woman who is about to be vilified, at the drop of a hat, or with it firmly on her head.” What happened at Saif’s house? Saif Ali Khan suffered stab wounds to his thoracic spine when an intruder, later identified as Mohd Shariful Islam Shehzad, who hails from Bangladesh, entered his home with the alleged intent of theft. Saif, attempting to intervene, was attacked, leading to a violent confrontation. The actor was immediately taken to the hospital for treatment after sustaining major injuries. Saif underwent surgery to treat serious injuries, including the removal of a 2.5-inch-long blade. Twinkle and Saif have also worked together in films like Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Yeh Hai Mumbai Meri Jaan.
26 January,2025 11:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPan-India actor Rashmika Mandanna, who had injured her foot during a gym session shared the intensity of her injury after she was brought in a wheelchair for the Chhaava trailer launch and limped her way to the stage. She took to Instagram and shared a picture of her medical report as well as an X-ray to explain it was a serious matter and not a publicity stunt. Rashmika shares medical report about her leg injury The actor wrote on Instagram, “My life currently. Promoting Chhaava - I felt so honoured, blessed, and grateful to have played Maharani Yesubai. She wouldn’t show her pain to her people and neither will I. Smiling through it all as always. My girls made it look so cute from the outside. But the inside there are - 3 fractures and a muscle tear. Haven’t put my foot down in 2 weeks - I really do miss just standing on my own two feet. Please do take good care of yourselves. And DO NOT TAKE IT LIGHTLY when people say that to you..!! I am sending you all love and strength and I am holding all your love and strength very dearly. Biggest hugs to all of you.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rashmika Mandanna (@rashmika_mandanna) Rashmika Mandanna to play Maharani Yesubai in Chhaava Maharani Yesubai was the wife of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj referred to as Chatrapati Maharani of the Maratha Kingdom. Produced by Maddock Films and directed by Laxman Utekar, the film also stars Vicky Kaushal and Akshaye Khanna. Chhaava is touted to be a "stirring tale of the courageous warrior whose coronation on this day in 1681 marked the beginning of a legendary reign." The movie is set to release in the theatres on February 14. Rashmika will next be seen in Sikandar with Salman Khan. It is directed by AR Murugadoss and will hit the big screens on Eid 2025. She also has Thama with Ayushmann Khurrana. Munjya fame director Aditya Sarpotdar is helming the film, while Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik are the producers of Thama. The film is written by Niren Bhatt, Suresh Mathew, and Arun Fulara. Presented by Maddock Films, it is set to be released in theatres on Diwali 2025 and it will also feature Paresh Rawal and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
26 January,2025 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed Deva with a U/A certificate. Going by the trailer, the film looks like an intense, gripping story. Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor can be seen returning to the action genre, this time as a fearless cop walking the thin line between justice and rebellion. It also stars Pooja Hegde as a journalist in a pivotal role. The film is directed by Rosshan Andrrews and produced by Zee Studios and Siddharth Roy Kapur. CBFC makes modifications in Deva According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, Deva had to undergo three modifications as per recommendations by the CBFC. The Censor Board asked the makers to trim a lip-lock sequence by 6 seconds and asked the 'foul gestures' to be suitably modified. In multiple places, profane words were replaced with their milder versions. The changes will also be reflected in subtitles. The Examining Committee has also asked the makers to submit clarification about Hutatma Chowk, at Fort in Mumbai. The run time of Deva is 2 hours 36 minutes and 59 seconds. Deva director didn’t share the climax with actors Rosshan Andrrews ensured that the final scene of the film was kept a complete mystery. A source informed, “The scripts shared with Shahid, Pooja, Kubbra, Pavail, and others didn’t have the climax scene written. The director wanted to create the same sense of intrigue and anticipation among the cast that the audience will feel when the film releases”. This decision was part of Rosshan’s strategy to maintain the element of surprise during the shoot and to ensure genuine, unfiltered performances from the cast. By keeping everyone in suspense, the director aimed to preserve the authenticity of their reactions and heighten the thrill of the narrative. Earlier, the song ‘Bhasad Macha’ from the movie was released. It features a catchy rhythm coupled with a thumping groove and has been crooned by Mika Singh, Vishal Mishra, and Jyotica Tangri. The song has been choreographed by Bosco Leslie Martis. The iconic “Ala Re Ala, Deva Ala” chant intensifies the vibe, creating an electrifying experience that demands to be replayed. Deva is set to release on January 31, 2025.
26 January,2025 10:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPopular singer Adnan Sami, who was a part of the Padma Awards Committee this year, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for nominating him for the same. On the eve of Republic Day, the Centre announced Padma Awards 2025, conferring the highest civilian honours. The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. The Padma Awards Committee is headed by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval. Adnan Sami thanks PM Modi The ‘Tera Chehra’ singer wrote on X, "I am profoundly grateful to the Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji for nominating me to the prestigious Padma Awards Committee. It has been an immense privilege to serve alongside distinguished members and be inspired by the remarkable stories of awardees from diverse walks of life. Their achievements are a testament to the indomitable spirit of India. I extend my warmest congratulations to all the Padma Awardees. It was my high honour to serve India and be part of this noble process. Jai Hind." I am profoundly grateful to the Honourable Prime Minister Modi ji for nominating me to the prestigious Padma Awards Committee. It has been an immense privilege to serve alongside distinguished members and be inspired by the remarkable stories of awardees from diverse walks of… pic.twitter.com/JaPXEJl1cd — Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) January 26, 2025 Indian celebs who have been honoured this year Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, also known as "Bihar Kokila", who passed away last year has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. The Padma Vibhushan will also be awarded to Kathak exponent Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia, and legendary violinist Lakshminarayana Subramaniam. The list of Padma Bhushan awardees includes Kannada actor Anant Nag, actor Jatin Goswami, Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, Tamil star S Ajith Kumar, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and actress Shobana Chandrakumar. Veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas is also being posthumously honoured with Padma Bhushan. Bollywood singer Arijit Singh, comedian and actor Ashok Laxman Saraf, classical vocalist Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Barry Godfray John, Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, singer Jaspinder Narula, Nirmala Devi, Nitin Nohria, P Datchanamoorthy, Pandit Ram Mandavi, Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej, are among those being awarded Padma Shri.
26 January,2025 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Padma Awards 2025 were announced coinciding with Republic Day. This year, India has conferred seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards, recognizing exceptional contributions across various fields. The Padma awards, among the country's highest civilian honors, are conferred in three categories: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan. Celebs who have been awarded Renowned folk singer Sharda Sinha, also known as "Bihar Kokila", who passed away last year has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Her career, which began in the 1970s, spanned decades and included countless contributions to Bhojpuri, Maithili, and Hindi folk music. She was particularly celebrated for her renditions of the songs associated with the Chhath festival, a key cultural event in Bihar, which her music had become synonymous with. The Padma Vibhushan will also be awarded to Kathak exponent Kumudini Rajnikant Lakhia, and legendary violinist Lakshminarayana Subramaniam. The list of Padma Bhushan awardees includes Kannada actor Anant Nag, actor Jatin Goswami, Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, Tamil star S Ajith Kumar, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and actress Shobana Chandrakumar. Veteran ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas is also being posthumously honoured with Padma Bhushan. Bollywood singer Arijit Singh, comedian and actor Ashok Laxman Saraf, classical vocalist Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, Barry Godfray John, Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, singer Jaspinder Narula, Nirmala Devi, Nitin Nohria, P Datchanamoorthy, Pandit Ram Mandavi, Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej, are among those being awarded Padma Shri. Ajith Kumar on being conferred Padma Bhushan Actor Ajith Kumar expressed gratitude to the government for honouring him with the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian honour. On behalf of Ajith, his manager Suresh Chandra issued a statement on his X account that read, "I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the esteemed Padma Award by the President of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for this prestigious honour. It is a privilege to be recognized at such a level and I am truly grateful for this generous acknowledgment of my contributions to our nation." I am deeply humbled and honoured to receive the esteemed Padma Award by the President of India. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu and the Honourable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi for this prestigious honour. It is a… — Suresh Chandra (@SureshChandraa) January 25, 2025 Ajith also remembered his late father, hoping he would have been proud of the legacy he had achieved. "I wish my late father had lived to see this day. Yet, I like to think he would be proud that his spirit and legacy live on in all that I do. I want to thank my mother for her unconditional love and the sacrifices that enabled me to become all that I could be," he added. (With inputs from Agencies)
26 January,2025 08:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Sonam Kapoor's glamourous style statement stole the spotlight at designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's special 25th-anniversary show in Mumbai. She turned the heads in her black attire with a voluminous feather jacket. She was styled by celebrity fashion stylist, Rhea Kapoor. Sonam's couture attire included a pencil skirt that she teamed up with a top and a feather jacket. She completed her look with a royal necklace adding more charm to her look. Rhea took to Instagram handle to share pictures of her sister Sonam. She wrote in the caption, "Celebrating 25 years of @sabyasachiofficial.. By @farhanhussain In @sabyasachiofficial couture and @dior Style @rheakapoor with @abhilashatd Beauty @namratasoni Hair @bbhiral #25yearsofsabyasachi" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhea Kapoor (@rheakapoor) The 25th-anniversary show was a star-studded affair. From Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Aditi Rao Hydari, Siddharth, Deepika Padukone, Shabana Azmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Bipasha Basu, many celebrities were captured at the event. 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
26 January,2025 07:21 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood actress Alia Bhatt grabbed the eyeballs in a black sari at designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee's 25-year celebration runway show. She looked absolutely regal in her black sari and embellished blouse at the event. Taking to Instagram, DietSabya shared the video of Alia from the fashion show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by DietSabya® (@dietsabya) The 25th-anniversary show was a star-studded affair. From Alia Bhatt, Sonam Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Aditi Rao Hydari, Siddharth, Deepika Padukone, Shabana Azmi, Sobhita Dhulipala, Bipasha Basu, many celebrities were captured at the event. Meanwhile, on the acting front, Alia will be seen headlining the spy drama 'Alpha' with Sharvari. Directed by Shiv Rawail, 'Alpha' is set to be a notable addition to Yash Raj Films' acclaimed spy universe. She is also set to appear in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film 'Love and War,' which also stars Vicky Kaushal and Ranbir Kapoor. Alia Bhatt earlier collaborated with Bhansali in the 2022 drama Gangubai Kathiawadi. The film was officially announced in January 2024. The original announcement on Instagram read, "We Bring You Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Epic Saga 'Love & War.' See You At The Movies Christmas 2025." It was accompanied by the signatures of the lead trio, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. 'Love and War' is expected to go on floors in the coming months. 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
26 January,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | ANISitting in the cantonment area of Babina, Jhansi, surrounded by her team of actors and over 300 army men, Border 2 writer-producer Nidhi Dutta has only one thing in mind—gratitude. Over a call, she tells us, “Sometimes I feel, ‘Is it really happening?’” Suniel Shetty, Sunny Deol and Puneet Issar in Border (1997) Border 2, a spiritual sequel to JP Dutta’s blockbuster Border (1997), is being helmed by Anurag Singh and offers a retelling of the 1999 Kargil war. With the war drama, Nidhi hopes to not only create a worthy successor to her filmmaker-father’s creation, but also pay tribute to the Indian Armed Forces. What makes her confident is that she has a well-researched story and an all-star cast in Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh. The writer-producer is particularly grateful that Deol, who led Border, agreed to headline her film. “We couldn’t have made this film without Sunny uncle. There is no Border without him. I can say this on behalf of my father that it is Sunny uncle’s film more than ours.” She adds that Deol has kept the franchise close to his heart all these years. “If dad was directing this film, he’d [proudly] feel, ‘This is my franchise.’ I see that feeling in Sunny uncle,” she says. JP Dutta and Nidhi Dutta Border 2 is being designed as a 2026 Republic Day offering. Over the last few years, many patriotic films have been churned out, most of them half-baked. Nidhi, however, disagrees that the audience is fatigued with the genre. “The audience won’t accept anything that is dishonest. If they see that a film is made for the right reason, they’ll love it, no matter how many have come before that in the genre.” In that regard, she asserts that the team’s heart is in the right place. What adds to their advantage is that the Duttas have a background in the Armed Forces. “When your background is the Armed Forces and you tell the story, it strikes a chord. That was the case with my father, whose younger brother was in the Air Force. In his films, the scenes where the soldier’s family gets to know about his demise are impactful. That’s because my father went through that in his life. When my uncle passed away in the MIG-21 crash, two Air Force officers had come to our house to inform us. So, when he sat down to make a war film, it came from a personal space.”
26 January,2025 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaShah Rukh Khan may be in line for a refund of R9 crore from the government after a calculation error regarding his Bandra bungalow, Mannat. The Maharashtra government is expected to approve the actor’s petition for a refund after he overpaid. In 2001, Shah Rukh leased the property for Rs 27.50 crore. The error? The government mistakenly considered the bungalow’s value rather than the land when calculating the payment.
26 January,2025 07:08 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamThe comedian-actor Kapil Sharma returns to the screen with the sequel to Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015). After months of searching, the makers have found the leading lady in television actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia, marking her debut in Hindi films. Director Anukalp Goswami kicked off the shoot yesterday, with Ahluwalia set to join the crew in February. The team has planned a two-month-long schedule spanning Mumbai and international locations. A source reveals, “Kapil will juggle the new season of the Netflix show, The Kapil Sharma Show with the film shoot. After Zwigato [2022] and Crew [2024], the actor is keen to headline a film. He loved the script and decided to do it this year.” A still from Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon (2015) The actor, who is a household name thanks to his comedy specials, reprises his role in this sequel. Insiders confirm that the film will retain its comedy-of-errors theme but with a fresh twist. The source adds, “The shoot for Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 will follow a packed two-month schedule. The team starts filming in Mumbai before moving to international locations, giving the sequel a grander scale. The makers hope to wrap production within 45 days.” The team aims to finish principal photography by April, eyeing a potential release later this year.
26 January,2025 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuSky Force was released yesterday, and it has come as a relief to Akshay Kumar as the film has shown a good start at the box office. The film, which marks the big Bollywood debut of Veer Pahariya, has shown a decent opening. Early reports suggest that the movie earned about Rs 11 crore on its opening day. The initial trend indicates a positive start, which comes as the biggest relief for Akshay Kumar, considering his recent track record at the box office. Sky Force’s box office collection According to Sanilk, the site that tracks box office reports for films, Sky Force earned Rs 11.25 crore (net) on its opening day. The movie was made on a relatively modest budget of Rs 160 crore. After Sooryavanshi's release in 2021, this is one of Akshay Kumar’s films that has shown positive growth at the box office. His last few releases, including Khel Khel Mein, Sarfira, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Mission Raniganj, Selfiee, Ram Setu, Raksha Bandhan, Samrat Prithviraj, and Bachchhan Paandey, all failed to make a mark at the box office. What is Sky Force about? Sky Force is based on real-life events and draws its inspiration from the air war between the Indian and Pakistani Air Forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. The story also touches upon the life of Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya. In 1965, Pakistan attacked several Indian air bases, including Pathankot, Halwara, and Adampur. After this attack by the Pakistani Army, India conducted its first-ever airstrike against Pakistan and targeted one of the most guarded air bases in Asia, Sargodha. During this operation, while the Indian aircraft were making their way home, Squadron Leader Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya’s aircraft was shot down by an enemy aircraft, and he went missing. Akshay Kumar will reportedly be seen playing the role of Group Captain O.P. Taneja, leader of the 13-aircraft contingent, in Sky Force. Meanwhile, Veer, who has been named T. Vijaya in the film, will portray the role of Ajjamada Boppayya Devayya. The movie will also star Sara Ali Khan in a pivotal role, with the actress playing Veer Pahariya’s wife in the film.
25 January,2025 07:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
