Nithilan Swaminathan's Tamil action thriller Maharaja, starring Vijay Sethupathi, has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film in China. The film, which was released in November last year in China, has emerged as the highest-grossing Indian film in five years after Aamir Khan's Secret Superstar. The action-thriller, directed by Nithilan Swaminathan, left the Chinese audience in tears as it touched the right chords of the viewers. Vijay Sethupathi's Maharaja’s collecting in China A video of the Chinese audience looking visibly emotional and in tears while watching Vijay Sethupathi's Maharaja has made its way to X (formerly Twitter). The tweet suggested that movies centered around father-daughter relationships somehow manage to move the audience in China. The video attached to the note has fans crying and wiping away tears. "Somehow, father-daughter Indian movies do really well in China. Dangal, Secret Superstar, and now Maharaja,” read the text attached to the post. The Chinese have absolutely loved the 'Maharaja' movie. Vijay Sethupathi is the new global favourite amongst Indian actors surpassing SRK, Amitabh, etc. pic.twitter.com/axQzdJs3CY — Lord Immy Kant (Eastern Exile) (@KantInEast) January 4, 2025 Yu Jing, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in India, took to her X handle on Sunday and shared the news of Maharaja's box office performance in the foreign country. She shared a poster of the film and captioned it as, "Maharaja has become the highest-grossing Indian film in China since 2018, reaching ₹91.55 crore. Well done (thumbs up emojis)." Maharaja has become the highest-grossing Indian film in China since 2018, reaching Rs 91.55 crore. Well done👍👍 pic.twitter.com/sq9SUY8D5F — Yu Jing (@ChinaSpox_India) January 5, 2025 Vijay Sethupathi on Maharaja Sethupathi's Maharaja became the first Indian film to release in China post the October 2024 accord to normalize ties between the two countries. Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi, who is receiving a lot of positive responses for his recently released movie Maharaja, shared that his personal experiences as a parent influenced his role in the film. The actor opened up about his relationship with his children, reports Variety. He said, “I have a son and daughter. I love my daughter so much. If she dominates me, I always love that. I call her ‘amma’ (mother) and my son ‘appa’ (father).” The actor emphasized the importance of open communication with his children, often sharing details about his work and even seeking their input. He told Variety, “I keep talking to them, and whenever I go to shoot, if I have any interesting scenes, I talk to them, I share with them.” As per Variety, Sethupathi says he has a keen sense of responsibility for his choice of subject matter and takes his children’s suggestions seriously.
05 January,2025 05:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Allu Arjun visited Metropolitan Criminal Court at Nampally in Hyderabad to submit sureties after being granted regular bail by the Court on Friday in connection to the ongoing investigation into the Sandhya Theatre incident, which resulted in the death of a woman during the premiere of 'Pushpa 2: The Rule' on December 4, 2024. The 'Pushpa' actor was surrounded by police personnel and media. The actor was escorted by the cops inside the court. The actor's bail petition was heard at the Metropolitan Criminal Court at Nampally in Hyderabad on Friday. Earlier on Friday, Allu Arjun was granted conditional bail by a Hyderabad court in connection with the case. Following the bail, Ashok Reddy, the actor's lawyer told reporters, "The conditions have been imposed that he (Allu Arjun) has to attend the police station. Bail has been granted...The court was convinced that this was not a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Therefore, the court granted bail." He added that the court has directed him to execute Rs 50,000 with two sureties which is the legal procedure he (the actor) has to complete. Reddy further said that a quash petition is still pending before the Telangana High Court, with the next hearing scheduled for January 21, 2025. "We will take steps to pursue that quash petition in the High Court," he added. The incident occurred when Allu Arjun attended the 'Pushpa 2' premiere at Sandhya Theatre and waved to the crowd from the sunroof of his car. The mass gathering quickly turned chaotic. A woman named Revathi was killed and her child Sri Tej sustained serious injuries. Following the incident, Allu Arjun was arrested but was later granted bail. Earlier, the child injured in the incident, identified as Sri Tej, showed signs of recovery after a long period on a ventilator. The child had reportedly responded for the first time on December 24, 2024. Bhaskar, the father of the injured child, shared, "The child responded after 20 days. He is responding today. Allu Arjun and the Telangana government are supporting us." Allu Arjun's father and renowned film producer Allu Aravind also announced a financial aid of Rs 2 crore for the family of the victim. 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
05 January,2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Ram Charan is currently busy promoting his upcoming film 'Game Changer'. On Saturday, he arrived in Mumbai for a press meet where he opened up about working in Shankar's directorial, which also stars Kiara Advani in the lead role. He also recalled collaborating with acclaimed filmmaker S.S. Rajamouli in the global hit 'RRR'. Calling both directors "taskmasters", Ram Charan said, "Both Mr Rajamouli sir and Shankar Sir are task masters. They give you every opportunity to perform and be your best...It is rare to work with someone who keeps pushing you. There is not one day that you get to relax with them. Shankar sir is so particular... whether it's Rajinikanthji, Kamal Haasanji, or me, he is so mastered in his craft." Ram Charan said that working with Shankar on Game Changer was a "dream come true moment" for him. "Rajamouli sir also said that he (Shankar) is the epitome of commercial films, of larger-than-life films. He has defined global cinema. He was the first pan-Indian director we had. Hats off to him. It's a blessing to work for five years with Rajamouli Garu and then Shankar Garu, it is so enriching as an actor, there's so much to learn," he added. At the event, Ram Charan was joined on stage by producer Dil Raju, SJ Suryah, and distributor Anil Thadani. During an interactive session, the team discussed the film's powerful messaging, breathtaking visuals, and family-friendly narrative. During the press meet, Ram Charan and the Game Changer team also recreated one of the hand gestures done by the actor in the trailer. Recently, the makers unveiled the film's trailer which showed Ram Charan in a powerful role. In the film, Ram Charan will be playing the double roles of a father-son duo. Ram Charan taking on a corrupt Chief Minister is one of the major angles of the film. The trailer ended with Ram Charan, clad in a lungi, hanging from a helicopter with a sword in one hand. Game Changer will hit the theatres on January 10. 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
05 January,2025 08:46 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIJanhvi Kapoor and Jr NTR’s Devara Part 1 created buzz but delivered an unimpressive performance at the box office, sparking speculation about the sequel’s cancellation. However, a source close to the production confirms that Devara Part 2 is in the scripting stage, with the cast set to begin shooting by early 2026. “It will be bigger than its prequel, with all the characters having more evolved arcs. Vara (Jr NTR), Thangam (Kapoor), Bhaira (Saif Ali Khan), Singappa (Prakash Raj), Task Force Chief Shivam (Ajay), and Rayappa (Meka Srikanth) will return to the screen in a more dynamic way,” the source reveals. They add that, Vara’s character will have more screen time. “The reason why Vara killed his own father will also be revealed. Devara Part 2 will be set in more contemporary times.” While the makers plan to retain the cast, they also anticipate new additions. The sequel will feature more underwater sequences to amplify its larger-than-life appeal, and “the action will get bloodier.” “The scripting process for Devara Part 2, led by director Koratala Siva and his dedicated team, has begun in earnest. The makers plan to pick up from the cliffhanger in Part 1,” says the source. The filming schedule for Jr NTR remains undecided, as he is committed to Ayan Mukerji’s War 2 and Prashanth Neel’s period drama (tentatively titled Dragon), both expected to conclude by the end of the year.
05 January,2025 07:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRUpcoming Telugu movie 'Daaku Maharaaj's latest song 'Dabidi Dibidi' has been called a cringefest by netizens for its choreography. The song which features lead actor Nandamuri Balakrishna (also known as Balayya) and actress Urvashi Rautela has been slammed by netizens for its choreography. The song has been choreographed by Shekhar Master. The choreography of the song composed by S Thaman has been criticised for its 'obscene and vulgar' dance steps. The song begins with Balakrishna sitting like a king, wearing a blue shirt and bejewelled blue jacket over it. Urvashi on the other hand is seen dressed in a crop top and skirt. The song sees Balayya hit Rautela's belly button and pull her by her dress. He also hits her on her rear which she seemingly enjoys. Netizens react Netizens took to social media to slam the choreography of the song. This comes a month after Pushpa 2 song Peelings was criticised for its 'vulgar' moves acted out by actors Allu Arjun and Rashmika Mandanna. The song was also choreographed by Master Shekhar. "Aajkal ki choreographers ko ho kya gaya hai....kya pagalpanti hai ye," wrote a user on Urvashi Rautela's comment section on Instagram. Another comment read, "Uncle thodi sharam krlo wo tumhari Beti se bhi chhoti h". "Kitna bekar step he and very cheap choreography," read another comment. A user said, "Too much vulgar cringe pro Max steps". "The worst choreography I have seen in long time," wrote another user. CRINGE PRO MAX!!! If Bollywood did this, there would’ve been national sanskaar outrage, with hashtags about protecting Bharatiya culture trending everywhere... But now? Sab chup, not a peep! Hypocrisy! 🤡#DabidiDibidi #Balayyapic.twitter.com/PkP9U6j6AH — Veena Jain (@DrJain21) January 3, 2025 What on earth did I just watch? 🤮🤮 A grown man dancing so inappropriately with someone who could be his daughter? Who even comes up with such 'genius' choreography, and why did the hero agree to this? Absolutely disgusting🙏🏻🙏🏻#DabidiDibidi #DaakuMaharaaj pic.twitter.com/BlENomwL0A — Mastikhor 🤪 (@ventingout247) January 2, 2025 Soon after the video was released, netizens shared their honest reaction to the song. Urvashi shares negative reactions to the song Th actress took to her Instagram stories and shared memes trolling the song. The trolling was in Telugu language which made netizens wonder if Rautela intentionally shared them or otherwise owing to language barrier. #UrvashiRautela Shares Negative Responses About the Song on Her Instagram Story #DabidiDibidi pic.twitter.com/umfz9PvIpH — Aristotle (@goLoko77) January 3, 2025 Meanwhile, Daaku Maharaj has been directed by Bobby Koli. It also stars Bobby Deol in the negative role marking his debut in Tollywood. The first-look video featured Balakrishna in a dacoit avatar. The film also stars Pragya Jaiswal who will be reuniting with NBK.
04 January,2025 02:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRocking Star Yash, whose KGF franchise catapulted Kannada cinema onto the global stage, recently addressed his fans ahead of his birthday with a heartfelt message emphasizing safety. Yash's message for fans ahead of birthday Yash took to X and posted a letter addressed to his fans which read, “As the new year dawns, it's a time for reflection, resolutions, and charting a new course. The love you all have showered on me over the years has been nothing short of phenomenal. But, there have been some unfortunate incidents too.” He continued, “It's time for us to change our language of love, especially when it comes to the celebration of my birthday. The expression of your love should not be in grand gestures and gatherings. The greatest gift for me is knowing you are safe, setting positive examples, achieving your goals, and spreading joy.” “I will be busy shooting and will not be in town on my birthday. However, the warmth of your wishes will always reach me and be my constant companion, fueling my spirit and inspiring me. Stay safe, and I wish you all a very happy 2025,” added Yash. Fan theories on Yash's birthday message The birthday message also included a unique symbol that has sent the internet into a frenzy of speculation. The symbol depicts a double-headed bird, which a prominent fan theory going viral suggests represents the Gandaberunda, a mythical bird with immense power. The Gandaberunda was the emblem of the Kingdom of Mysore and later became the official emblem of the state of Karnataka. Given Yash's Mysore roots, fans believe the symbol signifies his deep connection to his heritage and his pride in representing Karnataka on a global platform. The fan theory further analyses the symbol's deeper meaning. The bird sits atop an infinity symbol, symbolizing the superstar’s relentless pursuit of ambitious goals and his drive to constantly push boundaries. When flipped, the infinity symbol reveals the number 8, Yash's birth date and is also a number deeply associated with the superstar. "After hours of research, this is what I found." 💥#YashBOSS #ToxicTheMovie #Yash pic.twitter.com/7NyKFQIkdN — Adheera (@adheeraeditz) January 3, 2025 Decoding it further, another fan speculated, "Gandabherunda was a symbol of Mysore—Yash Boss hails from Mysore. Gandabherunda became the official state emblem of Karnataka—Yash Boss became a symbol of Karnataka. Infinity symbol - infinite possibilities. Just how the boss always aims for the unexpected. Flip to no, 8 - The number of Yash boss. With a global vision, he carries the pride of Karnataka with him. His achievements will always be intertwined with his roots’ Gandabherunda was a symbol of Mysore—Yash Boss hails from Mysore ✅Gandabherunda became the official state emblem of Karnataka—Yash Boss became a symbol of Karnataka✅♾ symbol - infinite possibilities. Just how the boss always aims for the unexpected.Flip to no, 8 - The… https://t.co/vY2fcUXDCS — 𝗦𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘆𝗶 ᵀᵒˣᶦᶜ (@NameIsShreyash) January 3, 2025 "He is aiming global, but he never forgets where he came from," commented one fan, highlighting Yash's dedication to his roots. He is aiming global, but he never forgets where he came from. He is always proud of Karnataka and his roots, and he will take this pride with him as he achieves even bigger things.#YashBOSS #ToxicTheMovie https://t.co/yazTZFMyJa — HaRSHith ViRaT🕊️ (@HarshithViratt) January 3, 2025 Another fan echoed this sentiment, stating, "To Append Kannada Cinema Into World Map Is Always His Aim & Game." To Append Kannada Cinema Into World Map Is Always His Aim & Game..!!💥❤️🔥@TheNameIsYash #ToxicTheMovie https://t.co/Gu1vYRkmn4 pic.twitter.com/z0JXgatL34 — Gopi (@TheNameIsGopi) January 3, 2025
04 January,2025 01:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA court on Friday granted regular bail to actor Allu Arjun, an accused in the case booked over the death of a woman in a stampede in Hyderabad during the premiere of his latest film 'Pushpa-2'. The II Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge had earlier reserved the order for today after hearing arguments from the lawyers of the actor and the police. The court directed the actor to furnish two sureties, who shall execute bond for Rs 50,000 each, besides his own with the same amount. As part of the bail conditions, the 'Pushpa' star has to appear before the investigating officer every Sunday between 10 am and 1pm for a period of two months or till filing of the charge sheet, whichever is earlier. "Petitioner shall not hamper the investigation in any manner nor shall directly or indirectly make any inducement, threat or promise to any witness so as to dissuade them from disclosing such facts to the court or to any police officer," the court said. The petitioner shall cooperate with the investigation and he shall not make any attempt to interfere with the ongoing investigation or with the witnesses, in any manner, the court order further said. The actor shall not change his residential address without prior intimation to the court, till disposal of the case. He was directed not to leave the country without prior permission from the court. The actor was arrested on December 13 in connection with the incident and released from the jail on December 14 after the Telangana High Court granted him interim bail for four weeks, which would end on January 10. Allu Arjun, who was named as accused no 11 in the case, had earlier filed the regular bail petition in court. He appeared through video conference before the court on December 27. A 35-year-old woman died and her eight-year-old son was injured on December 4 during a stampede-like situation at the Sandhya Theatre in Hyderabad when fans jostled to have a glimpse of the actor at the premiere of 'Pushpa 2' movie. Following the incident, the city police registered a case against Allu Arjun, his security team, and the theatre management under different sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Chikkadpally police station based on a complaint lodged by the deceased woman's family.
03 January,2025 07:23 PM IST | Hyderabad | PTIRam Charan is currently gearing up for his pan-India film 'Game Changer' directed by S Shankar. The film also stars Kiara Advani in the lead. The film will hit the theatres on January 10 in time for the Sankranthi festivities across the country. Reportedly, Ram and S Shankar agreed to a significant pay cut due to the movie's delays. Ram Charan and S Shankar's fee As per reports in Great Andhra, Ram Charan took a salary of Rs 65 crore for the film. This is a reduced amount for an actor who achieved global fame with the release of RRR. Despite the pay cut, Ram Charan is still earning more than most Bollywood celebrities in his age group. After recent successes, Kartik Aaryan has upped his price to Rs 40, while Ranveer Singh is reportedly charging anywhere between Rs 40- 60 cr for each project. KGF star Yash is charging Rs 50 cr to play the role of Raavan in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. Meanwhile, S Shankar has charged Rs 35 crore for the film after slashing his regular fees. It is being said that the decision was made following repeated delays caused in the production of the film. Game Changer trailer The much-awaited trailer for Ram Charan’s upcoming film Game Changer for finally unveiled on Thursday in Telugu. It was revealed in a grand event held in Hyderabad which was also attended by ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli. Going by the trailer, Ram Charan can be seen in a dual role - father and son. He plays the role of an IAS Officer who rises to become Chief Minister. He goes all out to cleanse the corrupt political system. The video shows SJ Suryah as a corrupt Chief Minister who looks down upon Ram Charan. It is also shown that he attacks the latter causing him immense trauma. But the game changes (as per the title) when their places are switched. Watch the video below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ram Charan (@alwaysramcharan) Game Changer also stars Anjali, Jayaram, Sunil, Srikanth Meka, Samuthirakani, Nassar, Naveen Chandra, and Rajeev Kanakala. The Hindi trailer will be launched on January 4.
03 January,2025 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRenowned Bengali director Arun Roy breathed his last at a state-run hospital here on Thursday. He was 56. Roy, who had been battling cancer for one-and-a-half-years, was admitted to RG Kar Hospital last month due to a lung infection. His condition worsened over the last few days, hospital sources said. Confirming the death, actor Dev, who had essayed the lead role in Roy's film 'Bagha Jatin', portraying the life and sacrifice of Bengali revolutionary Jatindranath Mukherjee, posted on X, "You have gone too soon, friend. You were a person with a 24-carat gold heart." In another post, Dev's production house, Dev Entertainment Ventures, said, "We are deeply saddened to share the news about the passing of our beloved director Arun Roy. A visionary filmmaker, his passion, creativity, and dedication to storytelling will forever inspire us. Rest in peace, Arun Da." Roy had shot to fame with his first film 'Egaro - The Immortal XI' in 2011. He followed that up with 'Cholai' (2016), 'Hiralal' (2018), '8/12 Binay Badal Dinesh', and 'Bagha Jatin'. Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee said "Each film by Arun Roy, in past one decade, from Egaro to Bagha Jatin, made us think afresh. This morning, after his long battle with cancer, he was physically defeated but he will be winner within our hearts. His cinemas will tell about his real victory. My sympathies to his near and dear ones." 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
03 January,2025 07:49 AM IST | Kolkata | PTIA common belief in the world of cinema is that while actors choose certain roles, at times, it is the role that may choose the actor. For Chandan Roy Sanyal, the latter appears to have been the way when it comes to his next theatrical release, the Bengali period drama, Binodiini—Ekti Natir Upakhyan. “Such roles come to you. I couldn’t have pulled this off five to six years ago. But, in the last two-and-a-half years, something has changed in my life,” says the actor, who plays spiritual guru Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa in Ram Kamal Mukherjee’s directorial venture. Ask Sanyal to share what he implies, and he reveals that he was drawn to spirituality only in the last two years. “I started reading books on the subject, and its various aspects. Amid this, I got this offer. It’s a divine call—much more than a career move or about a hit or flop.” Sanyal’s spiritual awakening has not only helped him play his part in Bodhiini, but also given him a new perspective on his career. “Before the lockdown, I was, like any other human being, conditioned to look at success, failure, and opportunities in a certain way. I had a lot of doubt and fear. People would tell me I wasn’t given my due. I’ve become conditioned to think about myself. That’s ego. But, today, I am detached from people’s perceptions of me. I am fortunate to be acting, something that I love. That’s the joy I focus on,” says the actor, who will also be seen in the next edition of Aashram. “We shot Aashram sometime ago. I love Bobby [Deol] sir. He is a compassionate man.”
03 January,2025 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaThe much-awaited trailer for Ram Charan’s upcoming film Game Changer for finally unveiled on Thursday in Telugu. It was revealed in a grand event held in Hyderabad which was also attended by ace filmmaker SS Rajamouli. Game Changer also stars Kiara Advani in the lead. They have previously worked in Vinaya Vidheya Rama. The film is directed by Shankar, who is known for Kadhalan, Nayak: The Real Hero, Anniyan, Sivaji: The Boss, and Enthiran to name a few. Game Changer shows Ram Charan in a dual role Going by the trailer, Ram Charan can be seen in a dual role - father and son. He plays the role of an IAS Officer who rises to become Chief Minister. He goes all out to cleanse the corrupt political system. The video shows SJ Suryah as a corrupt Chief Minister who looks down upon Ram Charan. It is also shown that he attacks the latter causing him immense trauma. But the game changes (as per the title) when their places are switched. Watch the video below. Game Changer also stars Anjali, Jayaram, Sunil, Srikanth Meka, Samuthirakani, Nassar, Naveen Chandra, and Rajeev Kanakala. The Hindi trailer will be launched on January 4. Shankar on Ram Charan’s acting prowess Shankar told IANS, "When you look at him, it seems like he is controlling the power inside. It also seems like he will explode when required. He is an artist who can give in-depth performances. He has a good screen presence. No matter what kind of scene it is, he handles it beautifully”. Ram Charan's fan threatens suicide over trailer delay In a recent turn of events, a fan wrote a letter to the makers of Game Changer demanding the release of the full trailer by New Year’s, or else he would take his own life. In the letter, he wrote, “If you do not release a teaser or update by the end of this month or fail to share the trailer by New Year’s occasion, I regret to inform you that I will be forced to take drastic measures, including ending my life.” The film is produced by Dil Raju and Sirish under the banners of Sri Venkateswara Creations and Zee Studios. It features Thaman's riveting music and S. Thirunavukkarasu's cinematography. The film is set to release worldwide on January 10, 2025, in Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi.
02 January,2025 08:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
