Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have recently become parents to a baby girl and the couple is keeping their privacy intact. They have even requested the paparazzi to respect their privacy at this time and asked them not to click pictures of their new-born while leaving the hospital. After their pregnancy announcement, Virat Kohli’s tweet became the most-liked tweet in India for 2020.

Anushka Sharma took to Instagram on February 1, 2021 to share first family photo to announce tjhe name - Vamika. "We have lived together with love , presence and gratitude as a way of life but this little one , Vamika ❤️ has taken it to a whole new level ! Tears , laughter , worry , bliss - emotions that have been experienced in a span of minutes sometimes ! Sleep is elusive ???? but our hearts are SO full ❤️ Thanking you all for your wishes , prayers and good energy ????," she wrote.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma)

Their baby girl was born on January 11 at Breach Candy Hospital where the couple ensured to raise the security and restricted the family and friends from getting gifts. The newly-welcomed Sharma-Kohli baby girl finally has a name and it was bound to be as unique as ever. They have decided to name their baby. Announcing it via their teams, Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared their baby’s name with their fans and well-wishers.

Congratulations to the couple once again!

Also Read: Inside Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli's plush Worli abode through 15 pictures

MusiCares and Julien's Auctions have announced that the global popstars BTS' 'Dynamite' costumes, which were donated to the Grammy Museum, were the top-selling items on Sunday, January 31, 2021. According to Julien's Auctions, the costumes were sold for $162,500 (Rs. 1.18 crores).

The official Twitter handle of Julien's Auctions tweeted, "SOLD for $162,500! The costumes worn in the music video of the mega-hit song "Dynamite” donated by GRAMMY Nominated BTS, all to benefit MusiCares in today’s Charity Relief Auction." According to the reports, Japanese art collector Yusaku Maezawa and YouTuber HIKAKIN bought the costumes.

SOLD for $162,500! The costumes worn in the music video of the mega-hit song "Dynamite” donated by GRAMMY Nominated BTS, all to benefit MusiCares in today’s Charity Relief Auction. pic.twitter.com/znJB0ZlrXH

— Juliens Auctions (@JuliensAuctions) January 31, 2021

According to Grammys, "BTS kicked off the initiative in the previous announcement of the generous offering of their pastel-colored ensembles (estimate: $20,000-$40,000), worn in their 2020 music video for 'Dynamite', the global superstars' smash hit and first No. 1 single in the U.S. BTS earned their first GRAMMY nomination for the song in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category at the 2021 GRAMMYs."

BTS registered a new record on YouTube within 24 hours with 'Dynamite' as it officially became the fastest music video in Youtube history to record 100 million views. The platform confirmed on August 23 that it registered 101.1 million views in its first 24 hours, setting the record for the most-viewed music video in YouTube’s history.  As per MRC Data, the song was the top-selling digital song of 2020 in the US with over 1.26 million downloads.

BTS is now gearing up for the release of a new version of their latest album 'BE' releasing on February 19. 'BE (Deluxe Edition)' released on November 20, 2020, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 2020 with their title track 'Life Goes On' earning No. 1 spot on Hot 100 on Billboard charts. They earned their third No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart (following 'Dynamite' and Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo's 'Savage Love - Laxed – Siren Beat') and first with a Korean song. The title track became the first Korean song to ever top the chart.

ALSO READ: BTS unveils Suga's notes of 'Telepathy' track ahead of 'BE (Essential Edition)' release

On the evening of Saturday January 30, the Union government put out a directive that cinema halls can run with 100% occupancy. And as expected, it led to a wave of cheer among exhibitors, trade and industry at large. Post-lockdown, cinema halls were allowed to open from October 15. However, they were told to operate at 50% occupancy. Hence, alternate seats were asked to be left vacant. The exhibition sector was constantly persuading the government that running theatres at half the occupancy was not feasible. Bollywood filmmakers, too, shied away from releasing their mid-sized and big-ticket films in such a scenario as they feared losses. But with the 100% occupancy being allowed, trade is already abuzz that very soon, a slew of announcements of release dates of biggies are going to take place.

Meanwhile, Jio Studios, which was supposed to release Aadhaar on Friday February 5, have decided to postpone its release. Starring Vineet Kumar Singh, Sanjay Mishra and Saurabh Shukla, this Suman Ghosh-directed film is about the adventures of the first person in Jharkhand who gets an Aadhaar card made for him. It is backed by Manish Mundra’s Drishyam Films.

The spokesperson of Jio Studios confirmed that now the government has given the nod for full occupancy, they would want to bring their bigger films first. Hence, they have decided to push Aadhar to a later date. As per a report in a daily, Jio Studios has decided to release their bigger films like Roohi Afzana, starring Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor and Mimi, starring Kriti Sanon and Pankaj Tripathi, first. Both these films are also co-produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films.

On the other hand, the trade is hopeful that in a few days, the release date of the much-awaited Sooryavanshi would be unveiled. Starring Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif, Sooryavanshi is directed by Rohit Shetty and is a part of his cop universe. There’s buzz in the trade that it’s scheduled to release on April 2. A decision will be taken once the makers reach a consensus with the multiplexes over issues like revenue sharing, OTT release, VPF etc.

Also Read: Viineet Kumar starrer Aadhar to be screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival

Is Kabir Khan’s 83, the sports drama about India’s victory at the 1983 World Cup series, about to get an international spin? It is reliably learnt that the film is being readied in the English language as well as the original Hindi.

Reveals the source, “It makes sense to have an English version of 83 since Kapil Dev has fans all over the world. The story of his triumph at the 1983 World Cup is of interest to his fans across the world. So yes, an international English version of 83 is being considered.”

83 stars Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev while Ranveer real-life wife Deepika Padukone plays Kapil Dev’s better-half Romi Dev.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Sooryavanshi and ’83’s release date announcement is expected before the end of January!

Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is certainly not done with his aborted dream-project Inshallah, the love story that was to feature Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt. Making a flash-decision, he closed down Inshallah and quickly moved on to Gangubai Kathiawadi with Alia Bhatt in the title role.

But Inshallah remains in the back of Bhansali’s mind. “It is a beautiful simple timeless love story. Sanjay still wants to make it with Alia and a different leading man,” reveals a source close to the epic director.

The hero required for the part must be in the 50-plus category and a big star. Shah Rukh Khan is the obvious choice.

“But Shah Rukh Khan has already done a film – Gauri Shinde’s Dear Zindagi — with Alia. So the novelty of seeing the two generation-challenged superstars exchanging emotions is gone. But who knows! It may be SRK only.  The important thing is to make Inshallah exactly the way SLB had envisaged it. And he will.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Sanjay Leela Bhansali to make a female-centric film with Alia Bhatt after shelving Inshallah?

Ayushmann Khurrana will star in Junglee Pictures' next titled Doctor G. The announcement was made in December 2020. Now, they've found the leading lady in Rakul Preet Singh. The actress will play Dr. Fatima, a medical student.

The campus comedy-drama stars Ayushmann Khurrana as Dr. Uday Gupta and he is the college senior of Rakul Preet Singh's character.

Doctor G, featuring Ayushmann Khurrana as the lead protagonist, is co-written and directed by Anubhuti Kashyap. She has directed dark comedy mini-series Afsos (Amazon Prime Video) and acclaimed short film, ‘Moi Marjaani’.

The film is written by Sumit Saxena, Vishal Wagh, and Saurabh Bharat, who interestingly is a doctor-turned-writer and has drawn inspiration from his medical college life experiences. Saxena has also penned the dialogues of this film.

ALSO READ: Kiara Advani, Sara Ali Khan or Rakul Preet Singh – Who impressed you with their athleisure wear?

Comedian Kapil Sharma and his wife Ginni Chatrath have welcomed their second child. They've become parents to a baby boy.

Kapil took to Twitter on Monday morning and wrote, “Namaskaar. We are blessed with a baby boy this early morning. By the grace of God, baby n mother both r fine. Thank you so much for all the love, blessings n prayers. Love you all, ginni n kapil. #gratitude.”

Namaskaar ???? we are blessed with a Baby boy this early morning, by the grace of God Baby n Mother both r fine, thank you so much for all the love, blessings n prayers ???? love you all ❤️ginni n kapil ???? #gratitude ????

— Kapil Sharma (@KapilSharmaK9) February 1, 2021

Kapil Sharma, recently during Q&A on Twitter, announced that his wife was pregnant with a second child. He also said he was going to take a break from The Kapil Sharma Show for his family as the creative team will work on revamping the show. Meanwhile, he will be seen in a Netflix series.

Kapil Sharma and Ginni Chatrath tied the knot in Jalandhar on December 12, 2018. They welcomed their daughter Anayra Sharma on December 10, 2019.

ALSO READ: Kapil Sharma shares a 28-year-old picture of himself; Mika Singh comments

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is stepping into the web zone now. And just like we expected, he is all set to turn heads and grab eyeballs with a magnum opus being planned for the digital platform. The mega budget series is actually a script that was initially planned as a feature film, starring Priyanka Chopra in the lead. Now, Sonakshi Sinha and Huma Qureshi have been roped in to play two leads, whereas talks are on with Vidya Balan as well.

But the heroine centric film, that revolves around the life of courtesans and prostitutes during the Indo-Pak partition, also has many prominent male lead roles. SLB has already started discussion with a few actors. The source adds, "Kartik Aaryan and Bhansali have always discussed in teaming up for a film together. They have met a couple of times in the past as well but nothing worked out. Recently, he was spotted at the maverick filmmaker's office and apparently, SLB asked him if he would like to do a role in Heera Mandi."

Kartik was also offered a role in Gangubai Kathiawadi which he declined. Now it needs to be seen if he signs this one. But even if he does, it's majorly a woman dominated script but Kartik has a very edgy role to essay. But if Kartik agrees, this might be his second project on the digital platform after Ram Madhvani's Dhamaka which might have a direct to OTT release.

Also Read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s passion project Heera Mandi to be made as a Netflix film?

Sundance Film Festival 2021 has already seen a record-breaking acquisition. Apple has acquired CODA for a whopping $25 million at this year's festival.

According to Entertainment Weekly, "Apple has shelled out a reported $25 million to acquire the festival's opening-day sensation CODA, marking the most expensive acquisition in Sundance history."

Siân Heder spoke to Deadline about the bidding for his movie and the demand it had. He said, “I have been so moved by the outpouring of response to the film and am so excited to have found a partner in Apple that loves and deeply gets this movie, the spirit in which it was created and is committed to having this film reach the widest audience possible in a thoughtful and meaningful way. The whole CODA team is also so grateful to Sundance for being a part of the film’s journey."

He added, "I hope that this film and Apple’s powerful support will help kick down some doors standing in the way of inclusion and representation and pave a path for more stories that center characters from the Deaf and Disabled community. The world has waited too long for these stories to be told. Now is the time. No more excuses.”

CODA stars Emilia Jones and Oscar winner Marlee Matlin. According to Deadline, "Writer-director Siân Heder’s coming-of-age drama is about a high school senior who is the only hearing person in her deaf family and is torn between holding together that unit or seeking her own dreams."

The previous record was held by Andy Samberg's film Palm Springs as Neon and Hulu paid $22 million to acquire the film.

After the super hit film Gully Boy, actors Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt are all set to pair up once again. The duo have reportedly got on board for a love story by Dharma Productions. The film will be directed by Karan Johar himself.

Karan Johar last directed the romantic drama Ae Dil Hai Mushkil starring Ranbir Kapoor, Anushka Sharma and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. While he has directed segments in Netflix original Lust Stories and Ghost Stories, this will be his next big screen directorial.

What makes it even more exciting is that this is the first time that Ranveer Singh will be directed by Karan Johar. For Alia, it will be a reunion, as Karan had directed her debut film Student of The Year which was released in 2012. Details regarding the film are currently under wrap.

Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh were all set to share screen in Karan Johar's directorial Takht which was announced a while ago. However, the film seems to have been put on hold. Takht is a multi-starrer with Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekar and Janhvi Kapoor headlining the cast.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: “Deepika Padukone is experimental, Alia Bhatt’s style is mature”- fashion designer Shehla Khan on personal styles of Bollywood celebrities

Actor Varun Dhawan who recently returned to Mumbai after his grand wedding to longtime girlfriend Natasha Dalal has been honoured for his efforts during the pandemic. The young actor was facilitated for his efforts and contribution in helping people during the pandemic.

For the award ceremony, Varun Dhawan looked dapper in an all black traditional outfit. He looked top notch in a black kurta and dhoti witha  jacket to compliment the outfit.

Actor-politician Urmila Matondkar presented the award to Varun Dhawan. Sharing a picture of her presenting the award to the October actor, Urmila wrote on Twitter, "Attended@SakalMediaNews awards for #corronawarriars in presence of honourable @CMOMaharashtra @PawarSpeaks @AnilDeshmukhNCP@rajeshtope11@advanilparab@RahulGadpale where I presented an award to dashing, talented n socially conscious
@Varun_dvn"

Always a pleasure meeting u Urmila ma’am and thank you for the beautiful song. https://t.co/lhFkWWPcQm

— VarunDhawan (@Varun_dvn) January 30, 2021

“Always a pleasure meeting you Urmila ma’am and thank you for the beautiful song," Varun wrote, quote tweeting Urmila's post.Varun donated Rs 30 lakh to PM-CARES and Rs 25 lakh to Maharashtra CM relief fund and also distributed free meals to the workers as well as healthcare staff leading the fight against the coronavirus. He had also reached out in support of the dancer’s community in Bollywood.

Director Rohit Shetty was also honoured for his contribution. The filmmaker donated Rs 51 lakh to Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) to provide financial support to daily wage workers in the Hindi film industry. He also provided food and stay arrangements across eight hotels in the city for the personnel of Mumbai Police.

Was a pleasure to meet very talented Rohit Shetty at the @SakalMediaNews jubilee awards. He is such a true Mumbaikar with ardent love for #Mumbai , all the talented Marathi artists n above all @MumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/fLnE79q2jm

— Urmila Matondkar (@UrmilaMatondkar) January 31, 2021

The award ceremony presented by Sakal Media was held in the attendance of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Health Minister Rajesh Tope among others.

ALSO READ: Inside sprawling luxurious house of Varun Dhawan in Juhu through 12 pictures

Ever since some alarming reports appeared about Sharmila Tagore not keeping good health, the legendary diva has been inundated with calls from anxious friends, relatives, and fans.

Putting to rest all concerns about her health, Sharmila Tagore ji says, “By God’s grace I am in fine health. There is absolutely no reason to be concerned. Though I’m 76, I keep myself very busy reading, gardening, social engagements, and of course attending to my obligations at home. There is no time to brood .”

The past year’s lockdown also gave the highly versatile critically acclaimed actress an opportunity to watch all her films chronologically. “Many of my own films, I had never seen before. And I must say some of my old films like Choti Bahu and Badnaam Farishtay have withstood the test of time. I like Asit Sen’s Safar and Bhimsain’s Dooriyaan because I played a proper professional. This was so different from the conventional roles for heroines during those days. I like Anupama, Safar, Amar Prem, Talaash and Aradhana. Apur Sansar was a milestone and so was Devi. I got to work with Satyajit Ray in both.”

Sharmilaji’s own personal favourite performance remains the one she gave in the great Satyajit Ray’s Devi when she was just 14. “It is my own favourite film and performance. My life changed when I was introduced to Satyajit Ray. It was acting for me thereafter. But I kept telling myself I’d quit after every film. I saw myself in my first Hindi film Kashmir Ki Kali and I didn’t like myself. I said, one more film and I’m done. But it continued. But I left so many films: Khilona, Tere Mere Sapne, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Aadmi Aur Insaan.... You have to appreciate the fact that acting is not the be-all end-all of my life. There is so much more to life. In any case, unlike Jaya (Bachchan) or Shabana (Azmi), who went to acting school, I was an accidental actress. I remember seeing Jaya at age 13 with her father, the distinguished journalist Tarun Kumar Bhaduri. Even at that age she was decked up, a rose in her hair and so on. She was very enamoured of the camera. She was destined to be an actress. I had no such aspirations. I actually wanted to go to Shanti Niketan. I wanted to be a dancer.”

Also Read: Tandav controversy: Saif Ali Khan’s mother Sharmila Tagore is worried; here’s why

The Indian men's cricket team recently had a historic win in Australia beating the home team to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. What looked like an impossible feat at the beginning of the tour was made possible even with multiple injuries and key players missing. Team India under the leadership of Ajinkya Rahane ended Australia's 32-year-long unbeaten streak at the Gabba.

Now, it has been learnt that actress Saiyami Kher who is a cricket enthusiast herself, plans to write a book dedicated to the series. Talking to a daily, Saiyami said that as a cricket fan, it is the best comeback story that she has witnessed.

Further talking about what appealed to her the most, she said that this win is the quintessential triumph of the underdog story. She said that no one believed that this team could pull it off and they did, despite the odds. For Saiyami, sports means a lot and she owes her never give up spirit to it. She said that after her debut film Mirzya did not work, she went and ran a marathon.

The Choked actress is excited and emotional with the thought of capturing the historic cricket moment in a book. She said that it would not be statistical but a humane story. Indian cricketers Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin, Washingtom Sundar are some of the names who will be sharing their anecdotes for the book.

ALSO READ: Saiyami Kher thanks Choked director Anurag Kashyap for making her believe in herself again 

From Miss World to actor to singer to producer, Priyanka Chopra Jonas continues to tick off her professional goals one by one. Now, the star has launched her own brand for the first time. She has taken up entrepreneurial duties with the launch of her own hair care line. Named Anomaly, the brand is completely vegan, eco-friendly and even affordable.

On Friday, Priyanka took to her social media handle to officially announce the launch of the brand. Sharing the news, Priyanka wrote, "This is ANOMALY. What a surreal moment to introduce you to the first brand I have ever created!!! For the last 18 months I have worked alongside my partners at Maesa toward the day when we could share our labour of love with the world, and I can’t believe that time has finally arrived."

" I’ve tried a lot and learned a lot about haircare over the years...what gave me great hair days, what didn’t, and everything in between...and I have infused that into a collection of products that gives your hair the TLC it deserves. Our formulas are vegan and clean, with high performance ingredients, and our bottles are made from 100% plastic trash from our oceans and landfills," she said highlighting that it is vegan and completely eco-friendly.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra Jonas (@priyankachopra)

Priyanka has also made the brand affordable so it is accessible to a larger audience. "Oh, and btw, it’s $5.99! We are democratizing sustainable beauty, because access to it should not cost us the Earth and should be available to all," she wrote.

The products will be available in the US exclusively at Target from January 31. News on its availability in India and other countries will be announced later.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Jonas opens up about the wardrobe malfunction at Cannes 2019 

Few days after the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that theatres across India can increase occupancy from the existing 50 %, the Information and Broadcasting Ministry on Saturday night announced that theatres will be allowed to run at full capacity starting February 1.

On Saturday night, the I&B ministry issued Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs)which have to be followed with the new guidelines. While the Centre has allowed to operate theatres with full capacity , States and UTs may propose additional measures as per field assessment. The general SOPs include that people maintain social distance at any given point, wear masks and theatres should have sanitisers at entry and exit points. Thermal screening of every visitor and staff is also mandatory.

Audiences may be encouraged to avoid movement during the intermission. Longer intermissions may be used to allow the audience seated in different rows of the auditorium to move in a staggered manner. Staggered show timings shall be followed for multiple screens to avoid crowding. Temperature setting of all air conditioning devices should be in the range of 24-30°C, among other precautionary measures.

These new set of guidelines will bring in relief for theatre owners and exhibitors and filmmakers who have been long awaiting to release their films in cinema halls. Earlier this month, Tamil movie Master became the first major Indian film to hit the theatres. Despite the 50% capacity in theatres, the film did exceptionally well at the box office.

In Bollywood, films like Sooryavanshi, '83, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai are some of the major films that are awaiting release in theatres this year.

Following the beguiling brouhaha over two of its major series Mirzapur and Tandav, Amazon Prime Video has decided to indefinitely postpone the release of their next Big Fat Indian Series.  The Family Man Season 2 which was to stream from February 12 stands postponed for now. The trailer which was to release on January 19 will now be out closer to the new streaming date, whenever that may be.

Confirming this saddening development, a source very close to the project tells me, “It is true. The Family Man Season 2 has been postponed indefinitely, much to the disappointment  of Manoj Bajpayee and the co-director Raj-DK. The reason is, the brand Amazon has taken a beating in India with two of their most successful shows Mirzapur and  Tandav coming under the scanner for allegedly hurting popular sentiments. Amazon doesn’t feel the atmosphere is  conducive to the release of a big franchise like The Family Man.”

But The Family Man  has no controversial content at all?

Responds the source, “You  know that. I know that. But who knows what triggers off  an adverse reaction in the public? Amazon would rather wait for a more opportune time  to  release an important show like The Family Man.”

The source also adds that the co-director Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK have nothing to do with the  postponement. “Raj and DK have delivered the full series of  the second season  of  The Family Man  to Amazon. They have  nothing  to do with  the decision  to  hold back the series. As far as Raj and DK are concerned the series is ready for streaming whenever Amazon decides to do so. The co-directors have no intention of modifying anything in  the  second season because there is nothing even remotely objectionable in the  series.”

ALSO READ: Samantha Akkineni says her role in The Family Man 2 is her favourite till date

Bollywood actor Govinda rose to fame with his impeccable comic timing and his unmatched dancing skills. He ruled the 90s with his brand of cinema- which was largely quirky and a mass entertainer. While he has witnessed success from the peak, he has also had his share of failure.

Now, Govinda plans on telling his story in his own words. Talking to a tabloid, the actor said that he had decided early on that he would start writing his autobiography when he turns 57. Having reached that milestone last year, the actor who is fondly known as Chi Chi has started working on his memoir.

Govinda revealed that the autobiography will be a multi-edition as he feels that his story cannot be contained in a single book. He plans on having a book for each phase of his life; from his childhood years in a chawl to the empty phase of his life when he did not have much work. The Coolie No.1 actor wants to tell history like Raj Kapoor did through his characters.

While onscreen, Govinda was largely portrayed as the happy go lucky man; in real life he had his own share of controversies. When asked if the book will be a tell all, he said that one should never give away everything because then there will not be anything left to say. He believes that he got lucky by God's grace and became a star.

ALSO READ: On Govinda’s birthday, Karisma Kapoor shares a still from ‘Mirchi Lagi Toh’ from Coolie No. 1 

Deepika Padukone and Hrithik Roshan have always maintained that they wanted to work together. But till date, they haven't been seen sharing screen space ever. But in 2021, it will all change and now, we hear that they have signed not one but two big projects together. Hrithik and Deepika have already announced their next - Siddharth Anand's Fighter which will showcase their jodi for the first time. Last week, there were reports that they are also starring in Madhu Mantena's version of Ramayana, that too in 3D.

Ever since the news went viral on the Internet, Kangana fans have targeted Hrithik and claimed he shouldn't play Ram on screen. Little do they know that Hrithik has a different role in the mytho-drama. A source shares, "Duggu had been in talks to play an important role in Deepika's Draupadi which was a modern retelling of the epic Mahabharat. But that film will happen later. Mantena is bankrolling Ramayana first and Hrithik will play Ravan's role in the epic period drama."

Incidentally, T-Series is also producing Adipurush which has Prabhas playing Ram, Kriti Sanon essaying Sita's role and Saif Ali Khan stepping in as Ravan. Now, it will be Hrithik vs Saif at the plexes as they play the same role in different projects. And what's more interesting? Hrithik and Saif will also be seen together in Vikram Vedha remake.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan – Deepika Padukone front runners to play Ram and Sita in Madhu Mantena’s Rs. 300 crore project Ramayan

With the folks of the real Mirzapur up in arms against being portrayed as gun-toting criminals in the fictional Mirzapur, the series is likely to go back to the storyboard for some serious revamping before Season 3 begins shooting.

Among the changes that are likely to take place there may be a serious toning down of the verbal and visual violence which is to say, the characters won’t use gaalis as if they (the gaalis) were the only way to express rage (rage being the dominant emotion in the series, since everybody is angry all the time). In addition, the shoot-outs may not be that frequent.

But the better option is to rename the series and then reserve the rights to perpetrate the trademark mayhem.

Says one of the prominent actors from the series, “We haven’t really discussed the changes. But changes, there will be. When the first season came we didn’t have people from Mirzapur objecting to the series. But now, with protests there will be changes for sure. Dropping the title may be a last-ditch option to save the series.”

But if the series is not called Mirzapur, would it still have the same impact on viewers?

All these questions would now have to be explored in the light of the protests. One thing is for sure. You can’t have a series with the name of an actual town or city on the map and show it as a den of crime. There is hell to pay.

Also Read: Allahabad High Court stays arrest of Mirzapur producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani

The Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the arrest of producers of the Amazon Prime Video web series Mirzapur. Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani of Excel Entertainment were named in a FIR accusing them of improper and indecent portrayal of the town of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh and also for outraging religious beliefs.

Division bench of justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Subhash Chand while granting relief to the producers directed them to offer full cooperation in the investigation. The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by Akhtar And Sidhwani. The court also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government and complainant seeking their replies.

“Having regard to the facts of the case and the submissions made, till the next date of listing or till submission of police report under Section 173(2) CrPC, whichever is earlier, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners in pursuance of the FIR registered. However, the petitioners shall offer full cooperation in the investigation,” the court said.

A case was filed against the producers at Kotwali Dehat Police Station in Mirzapur district under sections 295-A, 504, 505 and 34 of IPC and 67-A of IT Act.

Mirzapur is a two part series currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The series narrates the story of a dark world of guns, drugs and lawlessness.

ALSO READ: Supreme Court issues notice to the makers of Mirzapur and Amazon Prime Video

Akshay Kumar is currently shooting for Bachchan Pandey in Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. First look of the actor in the film promises that he will be seen in a never seen before avatar in the film. Now, it has been revealed that actor Abhimanyu Singh will play the villain in the film.

Abhimanyu Singh is a popular actor who is known for his work in the South film industries and Bollywood. He has been a part of films like Goliyon Ki Rasleela Ram Lelea, Rakta Charitra, Lakshya, Mom among others. He has previously shared screen with Akshay Kumar in Once Upon Ay Time In Mumbai Dobaara and Sooryavanshi as well.

Directed by Farhad Samji and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, Bachchan Pandey also stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Kriti Sanon, and Arshad Warsi in pivotal roles. The film will be released on January 26, 2022.

ALSO READ: Kriti Sanon counts all her firsts as she begins shoot for Bachchan Pandey in Jaisalmer

Sanya Malhotra had a rocking debut with Dangal (2016), which was also the biggest hit of that year. She even got noticed with Badhaai Ho (2018), another huge grosser. However, it’s in 2020 when she really made her presence felt and added to her fan following. She rocked the show with Shakuntala Devi and even her unrecognizable look got praise. In Ludo, she arguably was a part of the best story of the film and her chemistry with Aditya Roy Kapur was electrifying. Interestingly, both these films were released digitally. While Shakuntala Devi premiered on Amazon Prime, Ludo was streamed on Netflix.

And now, it has come to light that her next film, Pagglait, too has opted for a digital release. A source reveals, “Pagglait was completed somewhere in February 2020, just before the lockdown. It’s a slice-of-life comedy and the makers feel it’s apt for an OTT platform. Hence, they decided to release it on Netflix”. The source also adds that the streaming giant plans to release Pagglait in the next two months. It is produced by Guneet Monga’s Sikhya Entertainment and Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Motion Pictures.

Besides Sanya Malhotra, Pagglait also stars Sayani Gupta, Sharib Hashmi, Ashutosh Rana and Sheeba Chaddha. It’s directed by Umesh Bist, whose last film was O Teri (2014). He was also credited as the dialogue and screenplay writer of Hero (2015), the launch vehicle of Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty.

Sanya Malhotra has excitedly spoken about Pagglait and has called it a special film. It’s also the first time that she’ll be playing a solo lead in a film. Interestingly, her next film, Meenakshi Sundareshwar, co-starring Abhimanyu Dassani and produced by Karan Johar, will also be a Netflix release. Apart from these two films, she would also be seen in Love Hostel, co-starring Vikrant Massey and Bobby Deol. It is produced by Manish Mundra’s Drishyam Films and Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.

Also Read: Hailing from a North Indian background, Sanya Malhotra is taking up the challenge of playing a South Indian girl for her upcoming film

If Kartik Aaryan has extra time on hand it is because Anees Bazmi’s Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 has been put on hold indefinitely. No, that’s not the director Anees playing it safe on behalf of his entire team. It’s one of the film’s leading ladies Tabu who has refused to shoot until the pandemic is over.

A source very close to the project told me, “A major schedule of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in Jaipur was shut down in March 2020, and the unit had to disperse hastily amidst the pandemic scare. After the lockdown ended, director Anees Bazmi informed the cast and crew that the shooting would resume. But Tabu, who plays a major part in the film, refused to return, arguing that she was not feeling secure or safe shooting while the pandemic prevailed. The producers were left with no choice but to postpone shooting indefinitely.”

It’s good to see that Tabu’s wishes are respected. And that she has not been replaced by another actress. Just goes to prove, Tabu is irreplaceable.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan on the look out for a quick 30-day film as Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 & Dostana shoot delayed!

The pandemic caused a major delay in several projects in the film industry. Shoots of all films and web series were brought to a halt for months during the pandmeic. While shoots have now resumed it has caused havoc in the scheduling of actors and has led to some change in casting.

Actor Angira Dhar who was to play the role of Haseena Parkar in the web series Dongri To Dubai has bowed out of the project. The web series directed by Shujat Saudagar has Avinash Tiwary play the role of Dawood Ibrahim. The shoot of the series was resumed recently at Madh Island in Mumbai. Reportedly, Angira has to now shoot for Ajay Devgn's MayDay. The makers of Dongri to Dubai also required the actress on the same dates and so Angira decided to walk out of the project.

Kritik Kamra will now play the role of Dawood's sister Haseena in the web series. Kamra was last seen in the recently released web series Tandav. Dongri To Dubai is based on a book by Hussain Zaidi.

ALSO READ: Angira Dhar bags a role in Anurag Kashyap’s first international film, Talkh

After years of fan petitions urging Warner Bros. to let filmmaker Zack Snyder release his cut of Justice League, it was announced in 2020 that the film will premiere on HBO Max in 2021. The original theatrical cut involved a lot of reshoots that were done by director Joss Whedon and the fans were left disappointed with the final version that was released in theatres. Even the actors weren't happy and even supported to release of the Snyder Cut. Now, the premiere date has been announced.

On Twitter, on January 29, Snyder shared a series of new Justice League posters, confirming that the film will premiere on March 18, 2021.

Reborn #SnyderCut Streaming 3.18.21 #UsUnited pic.twitter.com/q5pVjCwYur

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 29, 2021

Risen #SnyderCut pic.twitter.com/hVmc4L68Qz

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 29, 2021

Fallen #SnyderCut pic.twitter.com/o7mjiRXTvc

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 29, 2021

Even as Warner Bros. is set to stream their entire 2021 film slate on HBO Max this year along with theatre release, all eyes are on Justice League. The film stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher. A new trailer expected to drop soon!

ALSO READ: Zack Snyder unveils the first look of zombie heist Netflix movie Army Of The Dead starring Dave Bautista

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Follow WWD on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook.

Lalu Makhija, who is known for his movie reviews and passion for cinema, passed away on Friday morning at 4 am. The man was known for his passion for the movies and had never missed any First Day First Show in the past 60 years.

Lalu Makhija passed away at his home early today with his wife and other family members by his side. He was extremely popular for his honest and energetic review style. He loved and cherished cinema in its truest sense.

As soon as the news of his death was out, fans of the reviewer took to social media to offer condolences and remembered Makhija with kind words.

In the spirit of diversifying and creating cross-platform content, the creative production house now announces Despatch, their next direct-to-digital project that brings two powerhouse artists together. Directed by Kanu Behl, a multiple award winning writer and director; ‘Despatch’ headlined by heavyweight Manoj Bajpayee, is an investigative thriller that unfolds in the world of crime journalism. The powerhouse actor plays a character who finds himself sucked into the murky underbelly of business and crime.

With the changing landscape of content consumption in the country, Despatch with its distinct perspective and relevance is sure to resonate with audiences.

Kanu Behl, who made his debut with the formidable Titli that premiered in competition at the Cannes Film Festival and went on to win a string of international awards, ventures into noir procedural territory; brought to life by Manoj Bajpayee, a recipient of two National Awards and a Padma Shri – truly making this a delight for every film aficionado.

Says producer Ronnie Screwvala, “The scope for storytelling is incredible right now with new platforms and evolved audience tastes. At RSVP we are focussed on developing our own scripts and screenplays and working with directors that share the common vision of storytelling. With its unique perspective and gripping storyline Despatch is the kind of content we believe in.”

Says director Kanu Behl, “Despatch is a story I've been itching to tell for a while now. It reflects our lives and times and could not be getting made at a more pertinent moment. Collaborating with Manoj Bajpayee and Ronnie Screwvala on a piece that looks to push cinematic boundaries is exciting and I look forward to embarking on this journey.”

Adds acclaimed actor Manoj Bajpayee, “As an actor I want to be part of stories that I want to tell and that deserve to be told. ‘Despatch’ is one such film. With the digital age, our stories can now reach and be accessed by viewers across the globe and I’m confident this film will have many takers because it is relevant to our times. I am looking forward to collaborating with Kanu Behl who is well versed with the changing times and has total control on his craft of story telling ”

ALSO READ: “To paint the whole film industry with the same brush was so unfair and so demeaning” – says Manoj Bajpayee

Kangana Ranaut will essay the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in an upcoming political drama. The actress said the yet-untitled film is not a biopic and has also revealed that many prominent actors will be a part of the upcoming project.

After completing the shoot of Thalaivi, Kangana has come onboard another film. "Yes, we are working on the project and the script is in the final stages. It is not the biopic of Indira Gandhi, it is a grand period film, to be precise a political drama that will help my generation to understand (the) socio-political landscape of current India," said Kangana, in a statement.

"Many prominent actors will be part of this film and of course I am looking forward to playing the most iconic leader that we have had in the history of Indian politics," said the actress.

Kangana added that "the film is based on a book", although she did not elaborate on which written work. The actress will produce the film that will feature Emergency and Operation Blue Star.

Director Sai Kabir, who worked with Kangana earlier in Revolver Rani, will write the story and screenplay, and also direct the project. The period film will be mounted on a very big scale, and have actors portraying Sanjay Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi, Morarji Desai, and Lal Bahadur Shashtri among other prominent figures. Kabir flew to Bhopal where the actress is currently shooting for Dhaakad and has already done a few sittings with the actress. The screenplay is ready, according to sources.

Other than Dhakaad, Kangana Ranaut also has the film Tejas in the pipeline. Along with Aparajita Ayodhya, Recently the actress also announced that she will star in the second installment of the Manikarnika franchise, titled Manikarnika Returns: The Legend Of Didda.

ALSO READ: Kangana Ranaut starrer Dhaakad to release in cinemas on October 1, 2021

Zee TV’s primetime drama Hamariwali Good News presents a heart-warming story showcasing a unique role reversal between a daughter-in-law - Navya (Srishti Jain) and her mother-in-law - Renuka (Juhi Parmar) to give their family the much-awaited Good News. While we've seen a lot of drama take place at the Tiwari house over the last couple of weeks, it looks like actor Samikssha Batnagar’s entry into the show is going to turn the whole tale on its head.

The popular actress has been a part of several top shows in the past, however, she has been away from the small screen for four years now. She had taken a break from television and tried to explore some new avenues. But it looks like Samiksha has made a comeback to TV once again with Zee TV’s Hamariwali Good News. The actress will be seen playing the role of Vrunda and her entry in the show is going to change the dynamics in the Tiwari household.

Till now, Mukund (Shakti Anand) has been under the influence of his sister, Sumitra. However, everything is set to change after Renuka gets Vrunda to their house. It sure looks like the latter is all set to expose Sumitra’s long-kept secret, leaving everyone shocked. In fact, it will be an eye-opener for Mukund and the Tiwari family.

Talking about entering the show, Samikssha mentioned, “It is an honour for me to work with Zee TV once again, especially on a unique show like Hamariwali Good News. The show is actually my comeback on Television after four long years. I had shifted my focus to films and I did a couple of interesting Hindi movies including Poster Boys where I was paired opposite Bobby Deol. While I was doing films, I was getting several opportunities from TV, but I wanted something challenging to make my comeback on the platform and that's when this part for Hamariwali Good News came to me. In the show, I am seen as Vrunda, who is a simple yet smart girl. She has different shades to her and I am sure she will leave everyone speechless after making a huge revelation about Sumitra. I am sure the audience will love Vrunda and they will surely connect with the character, I am giving my 100 per cent to justify my character and can't wait for everyone to see me on the small screen once again.”

Also Read: Srishti Jain braves an injury and shoots for a crucial sequence of Hamariwali Good News

The highly anticipated thrilling drama Mayday has already begun it's shooting. The film has recently begun its schedule and the fans are more than excited to see Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh reunite on screen. With both the leads playing the role of pilots in the film, they are accompanied by a stellar star cast.

Amitabh Bachchan had also taken to his social media to express the nervousness of beginning a film even after being in the industry for over five decades. The actor is known for his humble nature and now, the team is all set to be accompanied by Boman Irani. He will be seen essaying the role of a top airline's owner in this edge of the seat drama. The actor will soon join everyone else on the set.

Mayday stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, Rakul Preet Singh, Angira Dhar, and Aakanksha Singh. The film directed by Ajay Devgn is set to release on 29th April 2022.

Also Read: Sidharth Malhotra meets Ajay Devgn on the sets of Mayday

The new Kartik Aaryan starrer titled Freddy to be produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies and directed by Ajay Bahl, is most likely to cast Katrina Kaif opposite Kartik Aaryan.

A source in the know informed this writer, “The film’s producers have approached Katrina with the offer, and she’s very keen to do it. The role is not only as pivotal as Kartik’s but also in some ways, more important than his.”

At this juncture of her career, Katrina is constantly looking to expand her repertoire and range of performances. She did a major cameo opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Zero that he produced. The offer to play the female lead in Freddy comes from Shah Rukh’s production company, and Katrina has in principle, agreed. Though the formal papers are yet to be signed.

For Kartik this is one more opportunity to climb up that ladder of stardom. Katrina is the first female superstar he will be paired with.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan’s next is titled Freddy

Arvind Joshi, who happened to be a coveted actor of his time, has breathed his last today morning. After making a prominent presence in both Bollywood and Gujarati cinema and theatre, Arvind Joshi has been one of the most looked-up-to actors of his time. Survived by two kids and a wife, Arvind Joshi is the father of Sharman Joshi and Mansi Joshi Roy.

While the reason for his death has not been revealed yet, the news about the last rites is yet to be announced. Arvind Joshi was most known for his work in Gujarati theatre than in the movies while for Bollywood, he has acted in movies like Ittefaq, Apmaan Ki Aag, and Sholay. As per the reports, he passed away early morning today at Nanavati Hospital.

His kids, Sharman and Mansi are married to Prem Chopra’s daughter Prerana and Rohit Roy, respectively. Arvind Joshi was also related to actress Ketki Dave and Sarita Joshi. Bollywood Hungama sends across heartfelt condolences to the family.

There have been a number of screen adaptations of the Ramayan. But none to match the scale, expanse and expense of producer Madhu Mantena’s interpretation of the epic which is all set to start filming shortly.

Mantena who recently bought over the shares of Phantom Films from his partners Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane and Vikas Bahl is all set to fly solo, and his dream project Ramayan would be his auspicious flag-bearing project.

According to sources, Mantena’s big-screen Ramayan would be in 3D and budgeted at Rs 300 crores. Nitesh Tiwari, who directed Aamir Khan in Dangal, will hold the directorial reins. The film would be of inordinate length, as no aspect of the Holy Scripture would be left undermined or left out. Or, Mantena may release the grand epic as two full-length feature films.

Informs the informed source, “These are sensitive times. And the last thing the Ramayan needs is an underwhelming treatment or a revisionist screenplay. Mantena has deployed several researchers to project absolute accuracy and preserve complete sanctity in his film version of the venerated epic.”

The cast of A-listers is now being finalized. But we can tell you Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone are front-runners for Ram and Sita. Ravi Udyawar who directed Sridevi’s last film Mom will also be associated with what promises to be an epic in every sense.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan shares a glimpse from his trekking trip with his sons

The escalating situation regarding the legal issues faced by the Tandav team has seriously stressed out Saif Ali Khan’s family, especially his mom. The 76-year old icon Sharmila Tagore is worried about which way the legal processes against Tandav will go, now that the honourable court has denied anticipatory bail to all concerned.

Sources say Sharmilaji’s health has suffered since the Tandav controversies broke out.

“Saif and Kareena are expecting a baby in February. The last thing they need at this time is such a terrible crisis. Sharmilaji is deeply concerned at the way the whole episode has panned out. She has often told Saif to be discreet with his public statements and cautious about the projects he takes on,” says a source very close to the family.

Apparently, after the Tandav experience Saif has decided to run all the scripts offered to him through his vastly experienced mother (who knows her Satyajit Ray as well as her Manmohan Desai) before saying yes or no.

In a recent interview with me, Sharmilaji while speaking on Saif’s choice of roles had said, “He isn’t afraid to take risks as an actor. He has always been unconventional in selecting parts. That could get tricky at times.”

Also Read: Tandav controversy: Supreme Court refuses to grant protection from arrest to makers; says freedom of speech is not absolute

Siddharth and Garima, writer and lyricist duo of Goliyon Ki Raasleela - Raam Leela and Kabir Singh, are set to make their directorial debut with Sony Pictures India's upcoming film Saale Aashiq. The project is currently in the final stage of scripting.

According to the reports, the makers plan to take the film on floors in 2021 once the casting is finalised. It is a gritty youth-based story.

The duo is elated to be taking up a directorial venture after working as writers for years. It is a story that will resonate with the youth of today. The casting of the film will be announced soon before the project goes on floors.

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: “Creative freedom exists only in high society ‘off the record’ discussions”- Screenwriter duo Siddharth-Garima