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Actress Yami Gautam gave a sweet surprise to her fans by getting married to Uri: The Surgical Strike fame director Aditya Dhar. Their wedding was sudden with only close friends and family members involved in the ceremony. The Bala actress recently opened up about her spontaneous wedding that was an unplanned event yet the most amazing experience of her lifetime. But the actress is happy that though it was spontaneous that is what the duo desired and decided to go ahead anyway. Their love story blossomed during the promotions of Uri and slowly they fell in love with each other.

Yami said that the couple had only thought about getting engaged and tying the knot later. It was Yami's grandmother who reminded her that engagement is not a fraction of their customs and traditions and insisted the duo tie the knot instead. Aditya and Yami agreed on this point and got married in an intimate ceremony in her hometown Himachal Pradesh. The actress admitted that she is not yet able to soak in the notion of being a married woman.

Yami will next be seen in Bhoot Police opposite Saif Ali Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Arjun Kapoor. A Thursday directed by Behzad Khambata along with Neha Dhupia, Maya Sarao, Atul Kulkarni, and Dimple Kapadia. Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's LOST alongside Pankaj Kapur, Rahul Khanna, Neil Bhoopalam, Pia Bajpiee, and Tushar Pandey. Meanwhile, Aditya Dhar has joined with his Uri hero Vicky Kaushal for a superhero film titled, The Immortal Ashwatthama with Sara Ali Khan as the female lead.

Also Read: Yami Gautam opens up about her love story with Aditya Dhar; says it started during the promotions for Uri: The Surgical Strike

The 4-year-old Jacob Smith who played Kriti Sanon (Mimi)'s son Raj is a Scottish who migrated to Goa with his parents in an attempt to travel the world. The makers of Mimi had been searching for the right face to fit the character. When they saw Jacob they found their Raj in him and selected him for the role. Jacob relocated to the city of dreams, Mumbai and where he was given acting lessons and then only taken to Rajasthan for shooting. Jacob was in the nursery when he was finalized for the role but now he is 5 years old.

Jacob's parents were a little apprehensive about letting him enter the showbiz industry. But the makers of Mimi took utmost care of little Jacob and his traveling timetable. He is Scottish but had to play an American origin boy born and brought up in Rajasthan so his dialect couldn't be used and that is why his lines were dubbed to fit the north-east Hindi dialect.

Mimi was initially going to release on 31st July but was preponed to 26th July as the movie leaked online. Actress Kriti Sanon celebrated her 31st birthday along with the release of her comedy-drama Mimi. The movie is directed by Laxman Utekar produced by Dinesh Vijan and Jio Studios. It stars Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Sai Tamhankar, Manoj Pahwa, Supriya Pathak, Evelyn Edwards and Aidan Whytock and Jacob Smith in pivotal roles.

Also Read: Kriti Sanon dedicates a beautiful poem to her film: To Mimi, with love

Actor Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra was arrested on July 19 in a pornography-related case. He has been accused of manufacturing and publishing pornographic content on an app called Hotshots which is allegedly owned by a UK-based company that has a tie-up with Kundra’s Viaan Industries. While Kundra is in judicial custody, Shilpa Shetty's involvement in the case is being probed by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. She has been questioned twice and the police have yet not found any evidence against her.

During the raid at the couple’s house on July 23, Shilpa Shetty reportedly broke down and yelled at her husband when he was brought home for the raid. “We have everything, what was the need to do all this,” Shilpa reportedly said to Raj when he arrived home for the first time after the arrest.

According to reports, Shilpa broke down on seeing her husband and said that the "family's reputation was ruined, their endorsements in the industry were being cancelled and that she had to give up many projects". She reportedly also spoke about financial losses.

Meanwhile, Shilpa Shetty who is one of the judges on the dance reality shows Super Dancer Chapter 4 has skipped shoot ever since Raj Kundra was arrested. In her absence, Karisma Kapoor was roped in as her replacement for one episode, and the upcoming episode will see Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia Deshmukh arriving as special guests. While there are speculations of Shilpa being ousted from the show, sources have informed Bollywood Hungama that the channel has taken no such decision. In fact, Shilpa is expected to return in a month's time after the case settles down.

However, during her absence, she is going to face some major financial loss of nearly Rs. 2 crore. The source further said that Shilpa is the highest paid judge on the show making anywhere between Rs. 18-22 lakhs per episode. With two episodes being aired every week, the actress is looking at a loss of nearly Rs. 2 crore; that is if she manages to return in the next three weeks. With new developments and revelations being made in the pornography case each day, the case might likely get extended therefore keeping Shilpa away from the limelight for a longer period of time.

On the other hand, Shilpa Shetty made her screen come back after 14 years in the same week as the arrest. She made her comeback with Priyadarshan’s film Hungama 2 which was released on Disney+ Hotstar on July 23; the same day the police conducted a search at her Juhu bungalow and questioned her for six hours. After the arrest, she had also decided to stay away from the promotional events related to the film.

Also Read: The Raj Kundra scandal affects Shilpa Shetty's Hungama 2 viewership on Disney+ Hotstar; Nikamma postponed for now

Freddy has been the most spoken about films of Bollywood over the last one year, primarily because of the constant reports of controversy regarding the film's casting fronted by Kartik Aaryan. However, everything was put to rest when Ekta Kapoor & Jay Shewakrami announced the film today with Shashanka Ghosh as the director. Bollywood Hungama has an exclusive scoop on the film now.

"Freddy is an edge of the seat romantic thriller and the makers are using complex screenplay technique to explore the subject. The entire team, including Kartik, Ekta, and Shashanka feel that the subject is meant for the digital medium as that's where it will find its audience. In the pandemic times, experimental cinema might not get acceptance from audience on the big screen," shared a source with Bollywood Hungama.

The makers are clear from the word go to make it as a digital film, and it's mentioned in all the conversations with the cast. This would be Kartik's second direct to digital film after the soon to premiere Dhamaka, which was also conceptualised as an OTT film. The film goes on the floors on August 1 and will be wrapped up in a record speed of less than 35 days. Kartik will be juggling between Freddy and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 in Mumbai.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan to star in Ekta Kapoor and Jay Shewakramani’s romantic thriller Freddy, Shashanka Ghosh to direct

Love Hostel, a Red Chillies Entertainment, and Drishyam Films presentation wrapped its shoot today. The gripping fast-paced crime-thriller was shot across three cities Bhopal, Patiala, and Mumbai with a tight schedule of 40 days divided over two waves of the ongoing pandemic.

All the safety precautions were followed on the sets, maintaining a strict protocol, the shoot was completed in record time.

Set against the pulsating backdrop of rustic North India, Love Hostel traces the volatile journey of a spirited young couple, being hunted by a ruthless mercenary. The star-crossed lovers take on the entire world and then some more in search of their fairy-tale ending. This is a survival tale in the game of power, money, and principles with mayhem and bloodshed.

 

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Love Hostel is written & directed by a National award-winning cinematographer, Shanker Raman, who previously directed the acclaimed film ‘Gurgaon’. The film marks the second collaboration between Red Chillies Entertainment and Drishyam films, after the critically acclaimed Kaamyaab which was released last year.

Love Hostel is being produced by Gauri Khan, Manish Mundra, and Gaurav Verma, and the film is a Red Chillies Entertainment presentation of a Drishyam Films production.

ALSO READ: First look of Vikrant Massey and Radhika Apte’s edge of the seat thriller Forensic out

Producer Ekta Kapoor in collaboration with Jay Shewakramani is all set to kickstart their next production - Freddy. The film is a romantic thriller starring Kartik Aaryan in the titular role! Freddy goes on-floors on 1st August in Mumbai and is directed by Shashanka Ghosh.

Incidentally, Shashanka’s last outing Veere Di Wedding with Balaji Telefilms was a super hit and now they’re teaming up again! Full of unpredictable twists and sharp turns, characters in this movie are set to take us on a dark and chilling roller coaster ride, where the lines between love and obsession blur. Freddy is jointly produced by Balaji Telefilms and Northern Lights Films.

Ekta Kapoor, who’s known for genre-bending content is excited as the movie is all set to go on floors. "I’m thrilled to have Kartik on board. His choices of subjects have always been unique and this one is no different. I’m excited to take the audience into this dark, delicious world. Collaborating with Jayu makes it even more special," she said.

Producer Jay Shewakramani adds, "It is the first time I am collaborating with Ekta and Kartik on a film and for it to be on a script like this, makes it all the more exciting! Freddy is a script we worked on incessantly and we can’t wait for Shashanka to bring to life these crazy characters!"

Speaking about the movie, an ecstatic Kartik Aaryan says, "As an actor, I crave to explore different facades of entertainment and with Freddy, I'm venturing into an uncharted territory which is both exciting and intriguing in equal measures. I look forward to dwelling in the world of Freddy and bring alive this dark romantic thriller. It also marks my first collaboration with visionary like Ekta Kapoor and creatives forces like Jayu and Shashanka. Couldn’t have asked for a better team on this new journey."

Concludes director Shashanka Ghosh, "As a filmmaker, there is a lot to play with the genre, like a thriller. I am more than excited to work with an incredible team on a project as inspiring as Freddy. I am sure that the film is going to be one of the best thrilling cinematic experiences for the audience across the nation."

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan starrer Dhamaka scheduled for release in October 2021 around the festive season of Navratri and Dusshera

Television actress Ashnoor Kaur has scored 94 percent in the CBSE class 12th board examination. The results for the same were announced on Friday afternoon. Ashnoor took to her Instagram handle to announce her result to her fans.

With nearly 8 million followers on Instagram, Ashnoor was excited to share the happy results with her fans. Sharing a picture of herself, she wrote, "AND 94% IT IS PEOPLE #12thboards. Feeling accomplished, as I didn’t disappoint myself and my near & dear ones... Hardwork paid off!!! All I have to say is, where there’s a will, there’s always, ALWAYS a way!"

 

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After the results were announced, she spoke to a leading daily about her future plans. The actress who is popular for playing the role of Mini in Patiala Babes said that she did not take up any project after the show went off air as she wanted to focus on her studies. She said that she scored 93% in class 10 and wanted to score better in class 12. Ashnoor also revealed that she wishes to focus on her studies and wants to pursue a Bachelor of Mass Media (BMM) and plans on doing her Masters from abroad.

On the other hand, the 17-year-old said she recently booked her dream house. The house is under construction and revealed that it will be ready by the first half of 2022.

Ashnoor has appeared in serials such as Jhansi Ki Rani, Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai and Patiala Babes, and films such as Sanju and Manmarziyaaan.

ALSO READ: 6 times Ashnoor Kaur made goofy Instagram Reels

Here is the biggest happening at the Indian Idol finale that will take place on August 15. The show’s star-host Aditya Narayan will be performing live with his father veteran singer Udit Narayan.

But here is the real surprise: Aditya will be singing his father’s hits like ‘Doli Sajaa Ke Rakhna’, ‘Papa Kehte Hain’, ‘Jadoo Teri Nazar’ and ‘Pehla Nasha’ while Udit will sing his son’s hits like ‘Tattad Tattad’, ‘Ishqiya Dishqiyan’.

Confirming this, Aditya tells me, “Well, the finale has a lot of performances. But for me my favourite performance for the Finale is my father and I doing an act together. We are planning a role reversal where he sings my song and I sing his. All our top 15 contestants are performing. It’s being shot on our Mumbai set. We are shooting it over the course of a week to accommodate all acts. The finale result announcement will be live.”

Also Read: 90s’ favourite music composers Anu Malik, Sameer, Udit Narayan to grace the sets of Indian Idol 12

Sources close to the new Priyadarshan comedy Hungama 2 which premiered on Disney+ Hotstar on July 23, are blaming the current scandal in Shilpa Shetty’s life (her entrepreneur husband Raj Kundra’s alleged involvement with adult content) on the poor response to the film.

A source very close to the project told me, “It (the Kundra scandal) did affect the film’s performance. There was a campaign on social media to boycott the film. Disney+ Hotstar didn’t take it seriously. Or maybe they just ignored it in the hope that the film won’t get affected. But it did.”

Sources say Hungama 2 lost at least 15 percent viewership due to the arrest of Shilpa Shetty’s husband. It is ironical that her comeback to acting after 14 years was meant to be the USP of Hungama 2.

Now apparently the team behind Ms Shetty Kundra’s other comeback film Nikamma are running scared.

Sources say the film is complete. The producers Sony Pictures were waiting to see how Hungama 2 was received.Now that the verdict is clear, the release of Nikamma has been postponed indefinitely.

Significantly two talented young actors Meezan Jaffrey in Hungama 2 and Abhimanyu Dassani in Nikamma were hoping to make headway in their respective careers with the two Shilpa Shetty starrers. But God had other plans.

Also Read: UK Firm owned by Raj Kundra’s brother-in-law allegedly involved in pornography racket

Katrina Kaif's action scene with the song, ‘Noor’, in the background from Tiger Zinda Hai is amongst the most powerful sequences featuring a female lead over the last 20 years. The actress pulled off some larger than life stunts with utmost conviction and proved why she is among the fittest actresses of Indian cinema. Five years after the film, the actress is all ready to step into the shoes of Zoya again in Tiger 3.

"Katrina as Zoya is among the most iconic characters of her career and for Tiger 3, the makers have devised a massive action sequence featuring her character. It's said to be the biggest action scene of Katrina's career and she will be seen performing some never seen before stunts in the schedule," a trade source told Bollywood Hungama, adding further that Katrina has been silently working towards her physique to do all the stunts by herself.

"Katrina at present is in the best shape too, and it's a result of all the hard work that she has put in as a part of her prep for Tiger 3. She values the character of Zoya and wants to take the bar a notch higher with the third part. The action scene in question is a solo action set piece featuring her, which is the biggest ever for a female lead in Indian cinema," the source informed. According to the source, Kat will be a part of many more action scenes in Tiger 3 alongside Salman Khan, who spearheads the franchise.

"Watch out for the banter between two ISI agents - Katrina Kaif and Emraan Hashmi," the source shared. Tiger 3 is currently being shot in Mumbai and this will be followed by a marathon schedule abroad from the second half of August. The movie is confirmed for a 2022 release in cinema halls across the globe.

Also Read: Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif amp up fitness quotient for action scenes in Tiger 3

On Friday, July 23, Ronnie Screwvala and Harman Baweja announced that they have signed Kartik Aaryan for Captain India, which will be directed by Hansal Mehta. The next day, producer Subhash Kale accused them of plagiarism and claimed that the plot of the film is similar to that of their project, Operation Yemen. Subhash Kale’s film, which will be directed by editor-turned-director Sanjay Sankla is about Operation Raahat, a 2015 operation wherein the Indian Armed Forces under the leadership of General V K Singh evacuated Indian and foreign citizens from Yemen during the Yemeni crisis.

When Bollywood Hungama reached out to Subhash Kale, he said, “We have been working since 2016 on this project. The cousin of our director Sanjay Sankla was the pilot on this mission. Sanjay Sankla has been a reputed editor and has worked on nearly 95 films. He researched extensively and when he narrated the idea to me, I said that we should work on it as it’s an interesting subject. We took 9 months to pen the script. We even got Mission Mangal (2019) writer Nidhi Singh Dharma on board. Our pre-production was nearly done. I wonder where the idea got leaked from. This episode is in the public domain but we were the first ones to register at the Screenwriters Association (SWA).”

Subhash Kale even claims, “Captain India waalon ne toh script likhna shuru bhi nahi kiya.” And then adds, “They had dates of Kartik Aaryan. The idea has not leaked from our side because we have signed a confidentiality agreement with everyone associated.”

The announcement press release of Captain India doesn’t mention that the Kartik Aaryan starrer is based on Operation Raahat. When asked about this, Subhash Kale reasoned, “Yes but the city of Sana'a, the capital of Yemen is visible on their poster, just like how it’s depicted in our poster as well. And that city’s architecture and landscape are such that it doesn’t match with any other city in the world. Also, the poster shows carpet-bombing happening over the city, an aeroplane going over Sana'a and the title Captain India are clear giveaways that their film is based on the same incident.”

Subhash Kale also said that he hasn’t reached out to the makers of Captain India, “Hansal ji is my friend. But maine unse iske baare mein baat nahi ki. Baat karke kya karenge? And anyway, hum unki film pe stay toh laayenge hi. IMPAA (Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association) has said that they’ll bring a stay on this film. T P Aggarwal and advocate Ashok Saraogi have confirmed. Screenwriters Association has told us that once Captain India makers reveal the film’s plot on social media, they’ll take action. Even if the scripts of both films are different, the storyline would be the same and hence both films would also be similar. Do same picture toh nahi ban sakti. It’ll then become a repeat of Scam 1992 (2020) and The Big Bull (2021) episode.” Interestingly, Scam 1992 was also helmed by Hansal Mehta.

Subhash Kale then revealed that reputed actors had shown interest in Operation Yemen, “We had spoken to Akshay Kumar and he had liked the subject. Paresh Rawal has even given his nod. So we have moved quite ahead and we’ll do the film, come what may. Captain India makers plan to shoot in 2022. We hope to film from November or December 2021.”

Subhash Kale then tells us, “We were only waiting for the actors to sign on the dotted line and come on board. We had also approached Ranbir Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur. We spoke to Vicky Kaushal through his father Sham Kaushal ji. Vicky liked the subject but his dates were not available. We hope to launch a poster after signing the actors. Akshay ji said he’ll have a narration after returning from London, and then decide whether he wants to come on board. He had met Sanjay Sankla. Both have a great relationship and Sanjay had edited several of his films like Rowdy Rathore (2012).”

He continued, “For the role of V K Singh, we spoke to Anil Kapoor, Paresh Rawal and Boman Irani. All three were interested to do the film. We were zeroing on Paresh ji as his age is apt for the part. He had told us to send the script today, which we’ll do. Mostly Paresh ji toh haan hi bolenge. If Akshay ji comes on board, we’ll shoot in 2022 as he doesn’t have dates. He got interested due to its patriotic theme.”

Subhash Kale heads Vikrant Studio, one of the top VFX studios in Bollywood. They plan to put their resources to good use for Operation Yemen. He said, “We are working on virtual technology in this film. Ronnie Screwvala won’t be able to do the same because only we have that facility. So we plan to create virtual sets of the airport and also the aeroplane. We even plan to show Sana'a city through CGI. We have spoken to a team in Turkey about it. The aim is to make a film matching international standards.”

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan to play a pilot in RSVP and Baweja Studios’ next titled Captain India, to be directed by Hansal Mehta

Richa Chadha and Pratik Gandhi are all set to share screen for the upcoming web series Six Suspects. The duo will be seen playing investigating officers in the series directed by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Six Suspects is an adaptation of author Vikas Swarup's 2008 novel of the same name. The show has been produced by Ajay Devgn Ffilms and Reel Life Entertainment and will soon be streamed on Disney+Hotstar.

On Friday, Richa and Pratik took to their Instagram handles to share their first look as investigating officers in Six Suspects. Sharing the first look, Richa wrote, "The murkiest murder I have ever investigated. There are six suspects but very little time. Will I be able to solve this? Watch me on Six Suspects, a crime thriller all set to blow your minds. Coming soon on Disney+Hotstar!"

 

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During a virtual event hosted by Disney+ Hotstar, Richa said, "My part in Six Suspects is extremely layered and complex. She is an upright investigating officer who is trying to make it work in the male-dominated investigation space... I have wanted to work with Tigmanshu Dhulia for a while, since Paan Singh Tomar. This is also based on a good book. So you will see a lot of shades in my character."

Talking about his character, Pratik said, "The genre is also something that I have not explored. I am sure the audience will see me in a new avatar. Even I was surprised with myself while I was shooting for the show because I have not played a part like this."

ALSO READ: Richa Chadha joins official jury of the Short Film Section of the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne

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The successful kid's dance reality show Super Dancer has been judged by three renowned personalities Geeta Kapoor, Shilpa Shetty, and Anurag Basu from the past 4 seasons. Shilpa stopped shooting for the show due to the ongoing controversy of Raj Kundra's arrest in the pornography case. The businessman is currently in detainment. After she quit shooting fans started speculating that she may no longer judge the popular show anymore.

As per the reports, the production team had proposed actress Raveena Tandon to fill in Shilpa Shetty's place. The Andaz Apna Apna star turned down the offer and said to the makers that Super Dancer 4 can only be owned by Shilpa Shetty. The team of Super Dancer 4 was very keen on bringing Raveena Tandon in Shilpa Shetty's place as she is a renowned personality who has graced many reality shows as a judge.

According to the speculations, Shilpa Shetty has headed overseas and will join the show in August. Till she comes back choreographer Geeta Kapoor and director Anurag Basu will judge the show along with special guests every weekend.

Meanwhile, Shilpa Shetty Kundra had filed Rs 25 cr defamation suit against the media who circulated and wrote defamatory content on her and husband Raj Kundra. The High court rejected her plea on the grounds that it would violate the freedom of press.

Also Read: Raveena Tandon enjoys rain safari while grooving to ‘Tip Tip Barsa Pani’, watch video

VJ and actress Anusha Dandekar was in a steady relationship with actor Karan Kundrra for 3 years. They were quite open about their relationship and went on to do a show named Love School where the duo were Love Professors of the contestants. Their Instagram also spoke volumes about their close bond and ample love. However all of a sudden their fans were left in shock when Anusha wrote a long post and uploaded a quote from R.M Drake on her Instagram declaring her breakup with Karan Kundrra.

Actress and sibling Shibani Dandekar opened up about her sister's condition post-breakup and decided to speak on it. The actress revealed that Anusha had a hard time coping up with her break-up as it became quite rocky to handle it. Shibani also revealed that her sister wanted to liberate herself after reaching the extremity and therefore chose to end things with Karan. She also further said that Anusha wanted to discover herself and embark on a new ride in life.

Shibani felt proud about her sister's decision to declare it openly. The actress said that her sister's act can prove inspiring to people who will select the path of truth and speak their hearts out. Shibani Dandekar is at present in a relationship with actor and director Farhan Akhtar. The duo are open about their relationship status and treat fans with adorable pictures on each other's Instagram pictures.

Also Read: Shibani Dandekar pairs two-toned print oversized jacket with lilac top and washed denims

Telugu actor Prabhas gained ultimate stardom with S. S. Rajamouli's Baahubali franchise where he essayed the role of Mahendra Baahubali. He later gained the tag of the pan-India star by starring in the multilingual film Saaho. It has been speculated that the actor is all set to break Baahubali's record and make Project K on the budget of Rs 400 crore. Prabhas has moved one step ahead and decided on this budget for Project K.

The 41-year-old superstar is known for his dedication and had given 4-5 years of his career to SS Rajamouli's Baahubali franchise. For Nag Ashwin's Project K he has reportedly given 200 days which also has Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone in lead roles. B-Town stars Amitabh and Deepika have also given their nod for giving the majority of dates for the movie.

On the occasion of Guru Purnima, actor Prabhas gave a clap for Big B's scene and Project K went on floors. Prabhas will be next seen in Radha Krishna Kumar's Radhe Shyam opposite Pooja Hegde, Adipurush directed by Om Raut with Kriti Sanon, Saif Ali Khan, and Sunny Singh. Prashanth Neel's Salaar alongside Shruti Haasan.

Also Read: Nag Ashwin’s directorial Project- K starring Prabhas, Amitabh Bachchan, and Deepika Padukone goes on floors in Hyderabad

Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson has sued Disney over breach of contract after the concurrent release of Marvel's Black Widow in theatres and on the streaming giant, Disney+. In a lawsuit filed on July 29 in Los Angeles Superior Court, her attorneys alleged that the studio breached the contract when they opted to not release the film exclusively in theatres.

According to Wall Street Journal, the suit reads, “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel.”

“Disney chose to placate Wall Street investors and pad its bottom line, rather than allow its subsidiary Marvel to comply with the agreement,” the suit further reads. ” To no one’s surprise, Disney’s breach of the Agreement successfully pulled millions of fans away from the theatres and toward its Disney+ streaming service.”

Wall Street Journal reports that sources close to Johansson estimate that due to the film's concurrent release on Disney+ resulted in $50 million in lost bonuses.

According to Variety, John Berlinski, an attorney for Johansson, said, “It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like Black Widow directly onto Disney Plus to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price – and that it’s hiding behind Covid-19 as a pretext to do so. But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court. This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts.”

After the suit was filed, Disney released a statement and fired back at Johansson. “There is no merit whatsoever to this filing. The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The studio mentioned that she has already received $20 million. Disney further said that “the release of Black Widow on Disney+ with Premier Access has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20M she has received to date.”

Black Widow is skipping theatrical release in India and will release on Disney+ Hotstar.

ALSO READ: BREAKING: Black Widow skips theatrical release in India; to release directly on Disney+ Hotstar

Two teenagers, one transistor, and a blooming love story in an emergency hit India, Amazon miniTV takes you through the nuances of love in a bygone era in its first exclusive short film – Transistor. Directed by Prem Singh and produced by Starving Scotch Productions, Sunday Films, and Kevin Kailash Muthiah, the short film stars the internet’s favourite face Ahsaas Channa and Mohammad Samad (Tumbbad fame) in the lead. Transistor, from Arre Studio, will strengthen Amazon’s miniTV’s vision of serving a broad spectrum of Amazon shoppers with quality and snackable content.

Set in 1975 in a nation reeling in the aftermath of a national emergency, ‘Transistor’ is an intriguing tale of human emotions, with two teenagers navigating through the complexities of love through one transistor, the only form of recreation available in that era. In a fine blend of love, fear, happiness, and despair coupled with strong performances by Ahsaas and Mohammad Samad, the 25 min long film is a nuanced take on love blossoming despite societal limits and prejudices.

With a vision to cater to the discerning audience of today’s internet generation, the content line-up on miniTV is carefully handpicked to cater to a wider appeal that cuts across gender and language barriers.

Also Read: HOT! This is how Shah Rukh Khan’s son from Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna looks like now

Actress Mitaali Nag, who plays a character named Devyani Deshpande in Star Plus's top running show Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin has reportedly quit the show. Mitaali Nag AKA Devyani Deshpande played sister to Neil Bhatt's character in the show and wasn't quite happy with how her character was shaped up as per the reports. After trying to make it work for a long time she finally decided to bid farewell to the show. She has expressed her decision to the makers but has refrained from commenting on the same.

It has been speculated that Mitaali was not satisfied with her role as they didn't call her for the shoot very often. In spite of discussing her track with the makers, she did not receive any firm feedback which made her quit the show. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin is a favorite among the audience for its attractive content and storyline. It continues to be the most-watched soap and number one show on Tv.

Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin is a remake of Star Jalsha's Bengali serial Kusum Dola and stars Ayesha Singh, Neil Bhatt, and Aishwarya Sharma in lead roles.

Also Read: Neil Bhatt and Aishwarya Sharma of Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin test positive for COVID-19

Actor Manoj Bajpayee laughed aside comedian Sunil Pal's recent insults and advised him to try meditation. Sunil recently referred to Manoj as a "badtameez" and a "gira hua aadmi" (fallen guy). Sunil even compared Manoj's hit show The Family Man as "porn."

Manoj Bajpayee chuckled for over a minute when asked about Sunil Pal's comments and said he understands people don't have work. He understands totally because he has been in this circumstance. However, people should meditate in these situations.

Despite obtaining top honors in the country, Sunil claims Manoj is involved in producing ‘porn'-like stuff. He was critical of the plot of The Family Man's second season, specifically Priyamani's character Suchi's suggested affair with her coworker, the relationship track of the "minor" daughter, and the son's "behaving older than his age.

On the work front, Manoj will soon be seen alongside Neena Gupta and Sakshi Tanwar in the Zee5 original Dial 100. On August 6, the film will be released on the streaming service.

Also Read: Sunil Pal calls Manoj Bajpayee the most ill-mannered person he knows; says web series like The Family Man and Mirzapur are porn

Deepika Padukone is back to shoot life with her much-awaited film, Pathan, which will see her reunite with her debut co-star Shah Rukh Khan. The film will see Deepika performing high octane action for which she has fully committed herself and is pushing the envelope to give her best on-screen like always.

Throwing light on the same, a source close to the film unit reveals, "Despite juggling multiple film shoots, Deepika doesn’t miss training for Pathan. The workout includes a mix of functional training and Yoga. She dedicates 1.5 hours of her day towards workout for 6 days a week, keeping one day's break for rejuvenation. Deepika is also following a strict diet regime, as advised to her."

Recently, Deepika was diagnosed with a severe case of Covid-19, recovering from which she got onto her film schedules. Speaking about the same, the source further shares, "Getting back on sets after a severe bout of Covid-19, took a lot of emotional and physical strength for Deepika. She is still pushing to get her fitness and health completely back, and is fully committed to it."

Deepika has been busy juggling between two films simultaneously since the lockdown has eased. She wrapped one schedule of Pathan earlier and also shot for one schedule of Shakun Batra's untitled next.

With an interesting lineup of films, she also has Nag Ashwin's next with Prabhas, The Intern remake, Mahabharata, 83, and Fighter in the pipeline besides Pathan and Shakun Batra's next.

ALSO READ: Deepika Padukone experiments with horror in her latest video; fans wonder whether the actor will star in a horror film

Mann ki Awaaz Pratigya 2 is the sequel of the popular drama Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya which aired on Star Plus from 2009 to 2012. The first garnered immense popularity for Pratigya's character of a bold and strong woman (played by Pooja Gour). While it got also popular for Pratigya and Krishna's chemistry(played by Arhan Behl).

Seeing the popular demand, the makers Rajan Shahi and Pearl Grey decide to come back with its sequel. While most of the cast including Arhan and Pooja were the same, it didn't really manage to win the audience's heart, unlike its first season.

Now, according to a tabloid, the show will go off air next week as it is not doing well in the TRP charts. A source close to the show has informed the tabloid that the sequel has not done well in terms of the rating ever since it was launched. Several tracks were introduced to spice up the show but nothing worked. The makers also introduced a year's leap but even that didn't work. Eventually, after experimenting with various tracks, this decision was taken to wrap up the show in the next few days. The news has also shattered the entire cast and crew of the show. The show will air its final episode next weekend.

Akshay Kumar’s Bellbottom arrives on the big screen this August 19th! The actor took to social media on Friday, Julu 30 to make the announcement along with a video.

"Mission: To Entertain you on the BIG SCREEN. Date: August 19, 2021. Announcing the arrival of #BellBottom! #BellBottomInCinemasAug19," he wrote on Twitter.

Mission: To Entertain you on the BIG SCREEN
Date: August 19, 2021
Announcing the arrival of #BellBottom! #BellBottomInCinemasAug19@vashubhagnani @humasqureshi @LaraDutta @ranjit_tiwari @jackkybhagnani @honeybhagnani @monishaadvani @madhubhojwani @nikkhiladvani @EmmayEntertain pic.twitter.com/4z9jCdmJj3

— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) July 30, 2021

Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, the spy thriller was shot extensively in Scotland. It is written by Aseem Arrora & Parveez Shaikh. Produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Jackky Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Monisha Advani, Madhu Bhojwani and Nikkhil Advani, Bell Bottom also stars Vaani Kapoor, Lara Dutta and Huma Qureshi.

ALSO READ: SCOOP: Bellbottom's new release date likely to be announced this week; may release on 27 August

With the focus of creating content for all mediums, Ronnie Screwvala's RSVP continues to change the landscape of content consumption in the country with another announcement. Directed and show run by Rensil D'Silva, this multi-season series Panthers stays raw and rooted to the Indo - Pak spy games of the late '60s and early '70s. The 45 minute-episodic thriller follows the exploits of RAW heroes of the bygone era as they follow clues, nab their targets, gather information, and link together the pieces of the puzzle.

Interestingly, a major highlight of the series is the conspiracy surrounding Rajiv Gandhi's plane hijack that shook the nation, apart from the other RAW agent missions that ranged from audacious to outlandish.

Ronnie teams up with Premnath Rajagopalan of Blue Monkey Films for Panthers, a project that will shake the way political and espionage thrillers are viewed in India. After successfully bringing A Thursday and Dhyanchand, RSVP and Blue Monkey Films will be teaming up for the third time for this project.

Says producer Ronnie Screwvala, "Panthers is the story of India's burgeoning spy agency against a politically volatile setting. It is as eye-opening as it is gripping and boasts of the right balance of realism and entertainment, making it the perfect project for us at RSVP to get behind. Rensil is the right man at the helm of this one"

Adds director Rensil D'Silva, "The nation is embracing true stories like never before. All the covert operations mentioned in Panthers have taken place in real life. This series is a tribute to the daring feats of the RAW agency before it ascended to legendary status."

The caption read, "An ode to our RAW agents that put India before self ….Presenting to you, RSVP’s latest riveting espionage series - PANTHERS! Directed and Showrun by Rensil D’Silva. Co-produced by Blue Monkey Films."

 

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Says producer Premnath Rajagopalan "When Mukesh Radha brought us this project we were excited to collaborate with him and take it forward as this is a story that would make all us Indians proud. We at Blue Monkey Films are excited to further our association with Ronnie and RSVP as they have long been associated with clutter-breaking and riveting content."

Producer Mukesh Radha Krishna Tak says "The series is all about cloak and dagger games played between nations. It is the saga of our faceless men and women, living and dying in the shadows with courage, determination, and valour."

RSVP and Blue Monkey Films’ Panthers goes on floors in the first quarter of 2022.

ALSO READ: Ronnie Screwvala’s RSVP welcomes on board Emmy-winning creator Richie Mehta for Bhopal Gas Tragedy Series

Kriti Sanon, who is receiving plaudits for her sincere portrayal in Mimi, doesn't have much time to enjoy it. She is juggling the shoot of Adipurush with the preparation for her next film, Ganapath, after recently wrapping work on Bachchan Pandey. The actioner holds a particular place in her heart because it reunites her with Tiger Shroff seven years after their first collaboration, Heropanti (2014).

Though it's unknown when the Vikas Bahl-directed film will begin shooting, Sanon says she's already started laying the groundwork so she can match her co-star — who is famed for his action abilities — punch for punch and spark for flash. In Ganapath, Kriti claimed she has some action sequences. She's getting ready for them [whenever] the Adipurush shoot allows her to take a break. In February, the film was unveiled with a motion poster depicting her as a femme fatale. While posing on a dirt bike was simple, she admits that the real struggle is still to come.

According to reports, Ganapath will go on floors sometime this year.

Also Read: Kriti Sanon says she’s nervous to perform action scenes opposite Tiger Shroff in Ganapath

Over the past few weeks there have been a number of reports about the Kartik Aaryan starrer Dhamaka. In fact, the Ram Madhvani directorial that has since been acquired by streaming giant Netflix made headlines when the OTT platform announced its list of forthcoming release. Though Netflix did not really set a date for the release of Dhamaka, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the film will release on the OTT platform in October 2021.

A well placed industry source informed Bollywood Hungama, “The current scenario is such that more and more films are opting for an OTT release especially since theatre business has drastically declined due to Covid. Keeping this in mind, OTT platforms are now slotting releases in quick succession, and Kartik Aaryan’s Dhamaka is one of them.” Further talking about the release in October the source continues, “Yes, Netflix has locked the release of Dhamaka in October this year. The reason being, the festive season of Navratri and Dusshera. Being the usual release pattern for films to release on festive occasions, the digital giant is looking to maximise its viewership with a similar method.”

While an official announcement of the release date is awaited, Dhamaka which is directed by Ram Madhvani is said to be a remake of The Terror Live, a 2013 South Korean film. The story of the film revolves around a news anchor played by Kartik Aaryan who tries to use a terrorist attack in order to boost his career.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan to play a pilot in RSVP and Baweja Studios’ next titled Captain India, to be directed by Hansal Mehta

Zee TV and Balaji Telefilms have come together yet again to present viewers with an exciting story about life, love, karma, and destiny. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, Bhagya Lakshmi will depict a classic story of Lakshmi and her belief that good karma leads to good bhagya. While television actress Aishwarya Khare has been paired opposite the heartthrob television actor Rohit Suchanti to play the lead characters of Lakshmi and Rishi respectively, featuring alongside them will also be the famous Indian television and Bollywood actress, Smita Bansal.

Best known for her hit Zee TV shows like Amanat, Aashirwad, and Sarhadein, Smita Bansal is all set to impress her fans by playing a pivotal character in Bhagya Lakshmi. Her character, Neelam Oberoi, is shown as a dutiful wife and a doting mother of the lead character Rishi (Rohit Suchanti). However, in a surprising twist, viewers will witness her grey shades too.

Talking about her character, Smita Bansal mentioned, “It feels amazing to make a comeback on TV after a long break with Bhagya Lakshmi. I’m excited to perform as I have seen such characters being played but it’s the first time that I will be performing something like this. The character of Neelam has a social status, she is a conscious woman, who is very protective of her family members and has control over the house and its members. She is very possessive about her son too and will go to any length for his happiness. Apart from that, you will see the character of Neelam having different shades too and I am sure it will make the character more interesting and exciting to perform. The whole story of Bhagya Lakshmi is drafted so beautifully that viewers will surely love it and I can’t for its grand premiere.”

Bhagya Lakshmi follows the journey of Lakshmi, a selfless girl of limited means, who despite her humble background and the curveballs life has thrown at her, puts others’ needs before hers. The narrative of the show will have you fall in love with this girl who lives for others’ happiness in a thousand little ways every single day, so much so that you’ll pray for destiny to treat her kind - Auron ki khatir jeena hai jiski taseer, kuch khaas hi likhi hogi rab ne uski taqdeer.

When a quirk of destiny and the most unusual circumstances have Lakshmi crossing paths with Rishi, find out how it changes her bhagya forever only on Zee TV as Bhagya Lakshmi premieres on 3rd August and will air every Monday to Saturday at 8.30 pm.

Actor Kartik Aaryan is on a signing spree. He has been roped in for multiple projects in the past month. Now, he is teaming up with Ekta Kapoor and Shashanka Ghosh on an upcoming romantic thriller, Freddy. It will be directed by Ghosh whereas Ekta Kapoor will produce with Jay Shewakramani.

According to a tabloid, the project has been in the pre-production stage for the last three months. The leading lady is yet to be announced. The plan is to go on the floor by the first week of August in Mumbai. There are multiple sets erected in the city and the actor will reportedly juggle work between Freddy and completion of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. Post these two films, he begins the remake of Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, which is again being produced by Ekta Kapoor. The announcement of Freddy will be made soon.

Meanwhile, Kartik Aaryan has signed a Nadiadwala Grandson Limited project and Captain India with Hansal Mehta. He is gearing up for the release of Dhamaka on Netflix.

ALSO READ: Kartik Aaryan to play a pilot in RSVP and Baweja Studios’ next titled Captain India, to be directed by Hansal Mehta

With cinemas opening in Delhi, there’s has been a lot of excitement among the trade and exhibitors. The release of Hindi films will take time but Hollywood films will try their luck and hopefully get audiences to cinemas. Bollywood Hungama was the first one to tell you that Warner Bros has decided to release Mortal Komat on July 30 followed by The Suicide Squad on August 5. The Independence Day weekend, meanwhile, would see the release of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It.

Meanwhile, Universal Pictures on July 28 made a grand announcement of the release dates of many as 7 films, including the most awaited Hollywood biggie of the season, Fast & Furious 9. Earlier, the studio had decided to release the actioner on August 5 in India. But since the reopening of cinemas in various states took time, the film has been pushed by two weeks and it’ll now release on Thursday, August 19..

Meanwhile, a discussion has been going in the trade and exhibition circles that Bellbottom, starring Akshay Kumar, has been blocked for August 27. A source informed Bollywood Hungama, “The exhibitors have been given dates of the films that will release or are expected to release in August. Bellbottom also features in this list and its date has been given as August 27. Of course, it’s a tentative date and it all depends on when the key state of Maharashtra allows the theatres to restart.”

On July 29, Rajesh Tope, the Maharashtra health minister, announced that cinema halls would be permitted to open in 25 districts with less number of cases, including Mumbai. However, the terms and conditions for the reopening of cinemas and when the theatres can resume operations would be announced later.

The source also added, “Unlike Hollywood films, the Bellbottom makers want the film to have a release in most markets, especially Maharashtra, which contributes to a major chunk of the business.” He also revealed that the producers of this action thriller are looking at making an announcement this week.

Besides Akshay Kumar, Bellbottom also stars Vaani Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Lara Dutta and Adil Hussain. Directed by Ranjit M Tewari, it was one of the first Bollywood films to be shot amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

A trade expert said, “If Bellbottom releases on August 27, it’ll miss out on the Independence Day holiday (Sunday, August 15) and also the Raksha Bandhan holiday (Sunday, August 22). But that would be fine as viewers would throng to cinemas whenever it releases as it’s a big film starring a superstar like Akshay Kumar. Moreover, the date is 27 and 2+7 equals 9, which is Akshay’s lucky number. Hence, it’s very much possible that Bellbottom would arrive in cinemas on the said date.”

The trade expert also remarked, “If Fast & Furious 9 is releasing on August 19, then chances are that Bellbottom would not release on the same day. A clash of 2 big films is not being encouraged right now.” However, an industry insider said, “Fast & Furious 9 won’t release in non-2k cinemas. Bellbottom can still release on August 19. Let’s wait for the official announcement.”

Also Read: Bellbottom can be another Rs. 100 crore grosser for Akshay Kumar, feels trade; but terms and conditions apply

Shekhar Suman's son and actor Adhyayan Suman made his debut in Bollywood with Haal–e–dil followed by  Raaz – The Mystery Continues, Himmatwala, Heartless, Luckhnowi Ishq, and Ishq Click. These films could not give him the recognition of being a successful actor in Bollywood. Adhyayan shifted his focus from acting to singing and tried his luck in it by “Soniyo 2.0”, “Aaya na tu 2.0” and “Peg Daariya”. He thought of giving a shot at singing songs as he was not getting good opportunities in acting.

He also revealed that following a breakup music came in the disguise of remedy and cured him. According to Adhyayan Suman, MX Player original's Aashram changed his life for the better. His role as Tinka Singh in the crime drama web series directed by Prakash Jha got hugely popular and gave him the recognition he wanted.

The 33-year-old actor has bagged a lot of projects like Trapped, Dharamshetra, Con Man, Inspector Avinash, Ranchod, Anthony Kalia, Jiglo, Bakhlol, Daisy, and Madrasi Gang. The actor feels fortunate and lucky to have finally got the fruits of his hard work. He is grateful for what he has now.

Also Read: Ankita Lokhande praises Adhyayan Suman’s song tribute video for Sushant Singh Rajput

Actor Shilpa Shetty has moved Bombay High Court asking for an injunction against defamatory content on social media and websites. The actress cited several reports that are false and damaging to her and her family's reputation. Reportedly, Shilpa has demanded an unconditional apology from certain media houses, deleting all defamatory content and a compensation of Rs. 25 crore.

Shilpa in her application to the court stated that a mere statement of her involvement in the said crime and investigation without verifying details has damaged her reputation and character. The actor also stated that she is being painted as a woman who abandoned her husband during an on-going trial. She also said that she has been written off as a criminal in reports cited by her in the document to the court. She further said that said reports are incorrect, derogatory, false defamatory statements and have maligned her images in society causing irreparable damage.

In the application, Shilpa also stated that the defamatory article and videos published in her name have lowered her reputation in the eyes of the public including her fans, followers, brand endorsement companies, business associates, and peers who have now started believing the said articles. Shilpa said that it has also maligned the image of her family members including her minor children and elderly parents. She also claimed that it has cost her business and professional loss.

Shilpa said that her reputation is an essential part of her right to life under Article 21 of the constitution of India. Reportedly, the actor also suggested that certain sections of the media must be permanently restrained from publishing false content about her and the damages caused to her by these articles can never be compensated by money.

ALSO READ: Raj Kundra controversy: As rumours of her imminent arrest gather momentum, Shilpa Shetty worried about her children