Aamir Khan is all set to release his passion project Laal Singh Chaddha in less than two weeks. It is a remake of Tom Hanks’ classic film, Forrest Gump (1994) and the internet is buzzing with netizens comparing the visuals of Aamir’s film, as evident in the trailer, with that of the original film. During a media interaction, a journalist asked Aamir Khan if he was inspired by Tom Hanks’ performance while shooting. To which, Aamir Khan gave an answer that surprised everyone!

Aamir Khan revealed that he was not sure whether Advait Chandan, who had only made Secret Superstar (2017), will be able to direct a film of this kind. So, he asked Advait to direct 7-8 key scenes from the film as a test shoot. He was free to form his own small team for it. Aamir, however, insisted that he’ll not act in this mock shoot.

Meanwhile, Junaid Khan had just returned home after studying acting in the USA. Aamir asked him to play the lead character of Laal Singh Chaddha in this test shoot. The superstar felt that he’ll kill two birds with one stone – through the test shoot, he’ll learn not just about Advait Chandan’s directing abilities but also Junaid Khan’s acting abilities.

The shoot did happen. When Aamir Khan and his ex-wife Kiran Rao saw the final cut, Aamir said that they were blown away. They were also highly impressed with Junaid’s acting. This is when Aamir decided to launch his son in and as Laal Singh Chaddha! Aamir Khan showed the film to many people in his circle like Karan Johar, Mansoor Khan, Satyajit Bhatkal, Svati Chakravarty etc and they all agreed with Aamir on this. On top of it, Aamir had grown his beard for six months to play the role. After watching Junaid’s performance, he even shaved off his beard, as he was certain that he is no longer doing the film.

However, Aamir Khan revealed that two people disagreed – one was the writer of the film, Atul Kulkarni, and the other was Aditya Chopra. Aditya Chopra remarked that Laal Singh Chaddha is not a plot-heavy film. Instead, it’s an episodic fare and one should not launch debutants in such a type of a film. Both felt that Aamir Khan should himself play the lead in Laal Singh Chaddha. Aamir found merit in Aditya Chopra’s argument and decided to take on the role. He once again grew his beard.

Aamir Khan then answered that therefore, he wasn’t inspired by Tom Hanks; instead, it was Junaid Khan who inspired him. Aamir Khan observed that Junaid got the sur of Laal Singh Chaddha right as just like the character, he’s also an innocent person. Thanks to him, he understood how to play the part.

So did Junaid Khan feel bad about losing on to such a big film despite playing the part flawlessly? Surprisingly, Aamir Khan revealed that Junaid was fine with it. In fact, Aamir stated that Junaid himself was not in favour of doing the role. “Junaid bahut practical hai,” said Aamir and explained that his son explained to him that he shouldn’t be cast in a film with such a huge budget!

Interestingly, Aditya Chopra later offered Junaid Khan a film titled Maharaja and it is now going to be his debut film. It is expected to be released in the first half of 2023.

Also Read: Aamir Khan starrer Laal Singh Chaddha to release on OTT six months after theatrical release

In the past few years, the trend of releasing South films in Hindi has picked up considerably. It’s a great time as viewers are open to watching films from different regions of India, as long as it’s entertaining and has mass appeal. Taking this trend forward, now one more industry is ready to enter the arena and score at the Indian box office – the Nepali film industry. Prem Geet 3, the first Indo-Nepali film in Hindi, is all set to storm cinemas on September 23, 2022.

Along with this announcement, the makers of the film have also launched an exciting poster of Prem Geet 3. The poster mentions the release date of the film and also that the theatrical trailer of the film would be released on September 1.

Prem Geet 3 is the third part of the super-hit Prem Geet franchise. Pradeep Khadka, the biggest star in the Nepali film industry, featured as an actor in the first two parts and also stars in Prem Geet 3 as the lead hero. Unlike Prem Geet and Prem Geet 2, the third part is a grand period action film, mounted on a huge scale.

Indian filmmaker Subhash Kale is the producer of Prem Geet 3 and he is ensuring that the film manages to woo Indian audiences so that they buy the ticket and experience its magic in cinemas. What has also gone in their favour is that there are four songs in the film and popular singers like Ankit Tiwari, Palak Muchhal, Dev Negi, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Pawandeep Rajan etc have lent their voices to these tracks.

Lead actor Pradeep Khadka is very happy with the Indian release of Prem Geet 3. He said, “I find it as my new birth as I will be having a new identity as someone who got a chance to venture into a new world, representing the Nepali film industry, for the first time in its over 50 years of history.”

Lead actress Kristina Gurung exclaimed, “I feel very blessed that the first film of my career is crossing boundaries and is making inroads into Bollywood. It’s something beyond my imagination. I am having butterflies in my stomach already!”

Director Santosh Sen stated, “It’s not just my first Indo-Nepali film but it is first in the history of the Nepali film industry. So, I am totally overwhelmed and feel responsible to set a course for the future.”

Subhash Kale, meanwhile, said, “Nepali film industry has been making some fine films. I felt that when Hindi-speaking audiences could accept South films with open arms, then they could do the same with Nepali films as well. Prem Geet 3 is the apt film to begin this trend as it has the scale and grandeur, and a popular actor. I am confident that Prem Geet 3 will get audiences in hordes in cinemas in India.”

Apart from Pradeep Khadka and Kristina Gurung, Prem Geet 3 also stars Shiva Shrestha, Maotse Gurung, Sunil Thapa and Manish Raut. It is directed by Santosh Sen and the late Chhetan Gurung. Chhetan Gurung also wrote the film along with Mandeep Gautam. Besides Subhash Kale, Santosh Sen and Sushama Shiromanee are the producers of Prem Geet 3.

One person has died in fire on the sets of Luv Ranjan's next starring Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha. Following their Spain schedule, the trio kicked off the shoot in Mumbai, a few days ago. However, the shoot had to be halted due to a major mishap on the sets of the film. It is being reported that a 32-year-old man, Manish Devashi, who was working on the sets of Luv Ranjan’s film lost his life in the fire.

Major smoke coming out of Chitrakoot Ground in Andheri West, Mumbai grabbed the attention of onlookers on Friday. According to statement to PTI by civic officials, the person was brought dead at the Cooper Hospital in Juhu. Ashok Dubey, General Secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, said that another man suffered some injuries who was doing set lighting work.

FWICE General Secretary spoke to ETimes and said, “There was no shoot going on when this incident occurred. One person lost his life. A film unit has 800-1000 workers and technicians, what if the mishap happened when the shoot was on? For the past 4-5 years, we have written letters to CM and fire authorities that proper investigations should be conducted at such places."

"These accidents are happening repeatedly. The one who built this studio floor had made two other studios that have been burnt to ashes in Bangur Nagar area in Goregaon West. We are now writing to the producers' body that they must check whether a fire audit has been done before booking studio floors. The federation is issuing notices to producers' body and production houses and also the chief minister stating that such unauthorised structures should be permitted to function without a fire audit and NOC. In the absence of fire audit and NOC, the federation will ask workers and technicians not to work at such studios," Ashok Dubey said. He said it will demand an enquiry with BMC.

Another set that may have suffered due to this fire is that of Rajshri Productions. The makers of the film are yet to release a statement.

ALSO READ: Does Shamshera’s debacle affect the release strategy and buzz of Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming film, Brahmastra? Trade experts share their views

Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani recently enjoyed a massive a success together after playing a couple onscreen in the horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2. The couple is all set to return to the big screen with yet another film but this will see them in a romantic avatar. Today, on the occasion of Kiara’s birthday we got a glimpse of their next titled Satyaprem Ki Katha.

Kartik Aaryan surprised his co-star Kiara Advani on the day of her birthday by sharing a photo of the two together from their forthcoming film Satyaprem Ki Katha. The film will feature him playing the role of Satyaprem whereas Kiara will be seen as Katha. Going by the look the Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 actor shared it seemed that the duo will be seen in intense romantic avatars in the film. Sharing it on Instagram, the actor captioned it along with a birthday wish for the actress and also revealing the name of their upcoming love story, saying, "Happy Birthday Katha !! Tumhaara SatyaPrem ❤️#SatyapremKiKatha @kiaraaliaadvani ❤️"

 

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Speaking about the film, earlier it was being said that the film was titled Satyanarayan Ki Katha. However, it seems that the title underwent change. The film will mark the collaboration of Kartik Aaryan along with filmmaker Kabir Khan and produced Sajid Nadiadwala. In an earlier report, Bollywood Hungama had quoted a source saying, "Kartik and Sajid have broken the ice while discussing Satyanarayan Ki Katha and are now committed to doing multiple films together. While Satyanaran Ki Katha begins soon, Kartik will kick off the Kabir Khan film for NGE from next year.”

While there have been several rumours of a leading lady doing the rounds, it seems that the makers have finally locked Kiara Advani and needless to say, the onscreen Jodi has created record-breaking success at the box office recently.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Kartik Aaryan reveals details of Freddy being an OTT release; says, “I did the film keeping that in mind”

Just a day ago, we had reported that Amruta Khanvilkar joined the list of contestants of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10. Now, yet another celebrity who has joined the list of the dance reality show contestants is Shilpa Shinde. While she gained popularity as a TV star, the actress went on to also win the season 11 of Bigg Boss. As for Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, the franchise enjoyed immense success in its past season and will be making a grand comeback to television after a 5-year hiatus.

With filmmaker Karan Johar, timeless beauty Madhuri Dixit Nene returning as judges, joining them would also be the international artist Nora Fatehi who was last seen as the judge of another dance reality show Dance Deewane Juniors on the same channel. Confirming her participation in Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10, Shilpa Shinde said, “Bigg Boss was a milestone in my career, and I hope that Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa will also be a great experience for me. I am really excited to again associate with Colors. My fans eagerly anticipated my return to television after my stint on Bigg Boss, and they are the reason why I am doing this show. I know that they will be excited to see me back on television and what better show to entertain them than Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa. I am a non-dancer and performing in front of an audience is something that I am looking forward to. This is a big platform and I hope that I live up to the expectations of my fans and entertain them till the end of the show.”

Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is a dance reality show, inspired by Dancing with the stars, which features eminent celebrities from different walks of life showcasing their best dance moves along with choreographer partners. Showcasing an illustrious panel of judges, the show is expected to feature a star-studded line-up of contestants which includes Paras Kalnawat, Dheeraj Dhoopar, Niti Taylor, Nia Sharma among others. Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa will air soon on Colors channel.

Also Read: Amruta Khanvilkar confirms participation in Colors’ dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa

Filmmaker Karan Johar recently became a victim of social media troll for his ongoing show Koffee With Karan 7 that premiered on Disney+Hotstar. The celebrity chat show, that has already come into the radar multiple times owing to its controversial conversations and at times, scandalous revelations, that has often left celebrities in trouble. And this time around, it is the host who is getting trolled for taking the name of his ‘Student Of The Year’ Alia Bhatt many number of times on the show.

After the premiere of the third episode of Koffee With Karan 7 featuring Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday as guests, the netizens took to social media to question Karan Johar about why he takes Alia Bhatt’s name so many times during the show. “If there was a drinking game where we had to take a shot every time Karan mentioned Alia’s name, we’d be drunk by the end of the show #KoffeeWithKaranS7 #KoffeeWithKaran #KoffeeWithKaran7 #KoffeewithKaranSeason7 #KoffeeWithKaranOnHotstar,” commented a twitter user. Karan Johar replied to it adding, “Please don’t be sad about that! It’s a good name to take my friend! You try it! May turn out to be luck for you as it is for me! #aliaforever #koffeequotetweet”

Please don’t be sad about that! It’s a good name to take my friend! You try it! May turn out to be luck for you as it is for me! #aliaforever #koffeequotetweet https://t.co/skwdN2xsjQ

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) July 29, 2022

Besides these, there were some other trolls included about manifesting relationships which the filmmaker often asserted happens on the couch. From Alia Bhatt taking Ranbir Kapoor’s during one of her first appearances on Koffee With Karan to Katrina Kaif talking about Vicky Kaushal, the director-producer maintained that couch is a place where you manifest the thoughts. But a twitter user seems to disagree with it. “Karan Johar needs to stop talking about manifesting relationships. The needle is stuck. #KoffeeWithKaranS7,” said the user. And the filmmaker’s response was, “Like my own love life! Maybe that’s why! Any suggestions Ma’m? #koffeequotetweet”

Like my own love life! Maybe that’s why! Any suggestions Ma’m? #koffeequotetweet https://t.co/iFTlkkQ2Oa

— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) July 29, 2022

Coming to the show, Koffee With Karan 7 airs on only the OTT Platform Disney+Hotstar at 7pm on Thursdays. While the promo of the next episode is yet to be released, we believe it will feature Aamir Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan, who will be attending the show as co-stars of their upcoming release Laal Singh Chaddha.

Also Read: Case Toh Banta Hai: Karan Johar gets summoned for revealing celeb secrets; asked to fight these ‘atrangi’ accusations

Kartik Aaryan, who is riding on the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, took a break after the record-breaking success of the horror comedy. After returning, he dived into Shehzada, his next most anticipated project which is a remake of the Allu Arjun starrer Ala Vaikuntapurramuloo. But amidst his multiple films, the actor also did an unconventional romance drama titled Freddy with Alaya F and Jeniffer Piccinato, which is expected to have an OTT release. The actor recently revealed exclusively to Bollywood Hungama that not only did he know about this but he has done the film keeping in mind his OTT audience.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama about Freddy releasing on OTT, Kartik Aaryan said, “Main woh film ki hi isiliye thi.” (Transl: I did that film because it was supposed to release on OTT). The film is said to be a dark romantic thriller about obsession and love. “It’s a nice subject that I am really excited about,” shared the Shehzada actor.

Further speaking about the film, Kartik revealed, “Uska abhi post production chal raha hai. Uske baare mein cheezein abhi dheere dheere bahar aayengi.” (Transl: It is currently in the post production stage. The details of the film will slowly be revealed.) As for the OTT platform, the actor says, it is still in the decision stage. “Let’s see on which platform we will be releasing the film. All of those details are yet to be decided. This is the kind of things that the director and producer will be thinking of,” he concluded.

Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, Kartik Aaryan will be paired alongside Alaya F for the first time for Freddy. Besides this, Kartik Aaryan has Shehzada, Captain India, and Satyanarayan Ki Katha in the pipeline.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Kartik Aaryan talks about price hike and remuneration; says, “You need to find a fine balance so that the hike doesn’t look unreal”

Singing sensation Arjun Kanungo is all set to tie the knot with long-time fiancé Carla Dennis this August. The wedding is believed to take place as per Hindu traditions, where Carla will pair her bridal outfit with her mother-in-law’s jewellery. Arjun says, “Carla understands Indian weddings and has, in fact, taken over the prep completely. She picked the venues and hired a wedding planner. She also selected my outfits for the wedding. Even though her family is not from India, they too are gung-ho about our traditions and are excitedly working on their Indian wedding attire and prep.” Arjun and Carla also plan to hold a white wedding next year. Arjun shares, “We will be hosting this in April 2023 in the UK. This is for Carla and her near and dear ones.”

While he gears up for two weddings, Arjun didn’t believe in the idea of marriage earlier in his life. “I never thought I would ever get married. Carla changed my life! She’s the reason we are in a successful relationship and are getting married. She never pushed me to get married. Although I knew that she wanted to get married, she had given up as she knew my thoughts. She was okay not getting married as long as we were together and happy. Seeing that Carla was willing to adjust, I thought that if she was willing to compromise for me, why was I being so stubborn?”

Right after the August wedding, the couple will take off for their honeymoon. The destination they have picked has an emotional connect. He shares, “We are planning to go to Japan. It has a special place in our hearts. I remember after three years of being together, our relationship had hit choppy waters. I was going to Japan for work and asked Carla to join me. During our stay there, we fell in love with each other again. Had not Carla joined me in Japan, maybe we would have broken up. That’s the reason we want to go there for our honeymoon.”

The couple has been in a relationship for seven years and has been planning to get married for some time. Their wedding will be a three-day affair in Mumbai in the presence of family and friends. This included a mehndi ceremony on August 9, a wedding ceremony on August 10, and a reception on August 11!

Recently social media was abuzz when Akshay Kumar’s images from the fields of London and Yorkshire were leaked. A source close to the film had confirmed that Akshay Kumar is shooting for Pooja Entertainments untitled next, based on a real-life hero, Jaswant Gill, and his bravery in a rescue operation at a coal mine. Now we have learnt that Parineeti Chopra has been roped in to play the female lead, opposite the superstar.

She took to social media posting an image of her and Akshay Kumar with the caption “We are back 😊 This time the Kesari duo may be shooting in York, but the laughs, jokes, games and Punjabi gupshup is the same 😊💕🇬🇧” Needless to say, the duo look super cool together in York. The film is the story of chief mining engineer Jaswant Gill, who rescued miners stuck inside the coal mine. We are excited to see this pair come together after so long.

 

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Interestingly, Akshay and Parineeti will be seen together on the big screen after Kesari which was released in 2019.  If that wasn’t enough, ever since Akshay Kumar’s look from the film surfaced, it has been trending on social media. The project is helmed by Tinu Suresh Desai who previously directed Akshay in Rustom and production is done by Pooja Entertainment. We have heard that the production company has blocked over 100 acres for shooting and the film is touted to be the grandest Indian film in terms of scale, ever shot in the UK.

Also Read: Karan Johar rubbishes reports of Akshay Kumar – Samantha Ruth Prabhu project

After the furore over his nude photographs and the flurry of FIRs that has followed, Ranveer Singh has taken a decision to remain low-profile, at least for a while. The decision comes in the aftermath of the uproar over Ranveer’s nudes for a foreign magazine. While Vidya Balan and some other members of the entertainment fraternity have come forward in his support most of the film industry feels the nude pictures were uncalled-for.

Taking the advice of his close friends including Karan Johar and wife Deepika Padukone, Ranveer has decided to lie low for a while. “He has been advised to dress sober, talk less and stop doing his favourite lap dance with everyone in the room,” a close friend of the power couple tells me.

The lap dance, for those who came in late, refers to Ranveer’s proclivity to plonk himself in his friends’ laps and shower them with cheek kisses.

This time Ranveer is listening. The nudes have eroded his equity in the entertainment business. Apparently he may lose some of his endorsement deals. Sanjay Leela Bhansali is also said to be in two minds now about casting Ranveer Singh in his next feature film.

Also Read: Vidya Balan has the coolest response to the Ranveer Singh nude photoshoot

Readers would be aware that Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar and some of the other members of the film fraternity of sexually harassing her, kicking off the a series of #MeToo accusations in the industry. The actress, of late, has been posting notes on social media claiming that she is being harassed and targeted by people from B-town and even accused them of being involved in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case.

In a note shared by Tanushree Dutta a day ago, she claimed that if anything happens to her, Nana Patekar and his Bollywood friends will be responsible. She even went on to request her followers and everyone to boycott their films. The actress said in the note, “If anything ever happens to me let it be known that #metoo accused Nana Patekar, his lawyers & accociates & his Bollywood Mafia friends are responsible! Who are Bollywood Mafia?? Same people all whose names came up frequently in SSR death case. ( note that all have same criminal lawyer)”

 

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She went on to add, “Do not watch their movies, boycott them totally & go after them with a vicious vengeance. Go after all the industry faces & journalists who planted fake news about me and PR people too behind the vicious smear campaigns.” She concluded it by saying, “Go after everyone!! Make their lives a living hell because they harassed me so much! The law & justice may have failed me but I have faith in the people of this great Nation. Jai Hind...and bye! Phir milenge...”

Earlier this month too, Tanushree Dutta had taken to Instagram to accuse people of targeting her and sabotaging her Bollywood career. She accused the ‘Bollywood Mafia, the old political circuit of Maharashtra and nefarious anti - national criminals’ of attempting to poison her and kill her.

Also Read: Tanushree Dutta claims to be ‘targeted’ and ‘harassed’ by old mafia, political circuit, and anti-national criminal elements

On Friday, popular TV and Gujarati actor Rasik Dave breathed his last at 8pm in Mumbai. He is survived by his wife and popular actress Ketki Dave, who is known for her role of Daksha in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, as well as their two kids. He, reportedly, passed away due to kidney related issues and has been suffering from the same for the past couple of months.

As per ETimes report, Rasik Dave was on dialysis for the past two years. According to them, his kidney condition had started deteriorating and his condition worsened in the last one month. His last rites are expected to be held on July 30. Popularly known for his character as Nand in B.R. Chopra’s Mahabharat, the actor also has done TV serials. He also gained popularity for playing the patriarch of the Vaishnav family, Karsandas Vaishnav, in the show Sanskaar – Dharohar Apnon Ki.

Speaking about his wife Ketki Dave, the Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi actress, too is known for her work in Gujarati cinema and theatre. The couple is expected to even own a Gujarati theatre company.

Fans of Rasik have taken to social media to express their grief over this heartbreaking news. “Gujarati theatre lost it's charm.. Wellknown Gujarati actor #Rasikdave passed away...Will miss you Rasikbhaai..Om shanti ???????? ???????? ????????”, said one of the fans. Voicing similar thoughts, another fan wrote, “A big loss ????. Gujarati theatre lost its charm ????????????. #RasikDave #RIP #restintheatre.” Some of them even reminisced about his roles in their ‘RIP’ message saying, “Sad to know..fine actor and his role as Nand in #Mahabharat was quite sweet. #RasikDave”

We at Bollywood Hungama extend our heartfelt condolences to the Dave family.

Also Read: Bhabiji Ghar Par Hai cast bid tearful adieu to co-star Deepesh Bhan aka Malkhan at his prayer meet

A little while back it was reported that Ranveer Singh had shelled out a staggering Rs. 119 cr to acquire a sea-view quadruplex apartment in Bandra. Now it is learnt that Rajkummar Rao and Patralekha too have shelled out a whopping Rs.44 cr to acquire a new property. As per reports, Rao and Patralekha have acquired a triplex apartment in Juhu, from none other than Boney Kapoor’s daughter Janhvi Kapoor.

The latter who purchased the property in December 2020, which is spread over 3,456 sq ft, has apparently sold the same to Rao taking the price to nearly Rs.1.27 lakh per sq ft. With this new acquisition, Rao and Patralekha, who currently reside in the same development on the 11^th and 12^th floors, will have an added apartment across the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th floors. If that was not enough, reports also claim that Rao has shelled out Rs.2.19 crores as registration for the said triplex apartment which comes with exclusive access to six parking slots.

Though there has been no confirmation from either side about the sale and purchase of the premium triplex apartment, the said deal was apparently registered on July 21, 2022.

Also Read: Rajkummar Rao as Vikram in HIT: The First Case is divided between his job and the trauma of his past; watch first glimpse

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The exhibition sector suffered enormously in the years 2020 and 2021 due to the Coronavirus-induced lockdown and resulting restrictions. The situation has improved in the last six months but for moviegoers, watching a film in a multiplex has turned out to be an expensive affair. Gautam Dutta, CEO of PVR Cinemas, recently spoke about this aspect and a lot more.

In an interaction with Economic Times, Gautam Dutta said that PVR used to increase ticket rates by 5-7% every year in the pre-pandemic era. For 2 ½ years, the multiplex chain couldn’t do so. Now, they have hiked the ticket prices by up to 23%. He said PVR had to do so to cope with the rising electricity costs, rent and maintenance charges. Interestingly, the ticket price increase helped the company post its best ever quarterly revenues of Rs. 1000 crore plus in Q1 of FY 2022-23. The footfalls in their cinemas are 87% of pre-2020 times and India’s largest multiplex chain expects it to grow and reach the pre-pandemic levels soon.

According to this article, PVR reported losses amounting to Rs. 748 crores in FY 2020-21 and Rs. 488 crores in FY 2021-22, on account of restrictions on cinema halls.

Advertising also forms an important part of their revenue model. As per the data provided by Gautam Dutta, about 11% of the company’s revenue used to come from advertising before the Covid pandemic. The number dipped in the pandemic period and at present, it is at 68% of the pre-Covid levels. As per Gautam, PVR expects to reach the pre-Covid figure in Q3 of FY 2023. He also said that they aim to revolutionize in-cinema advertising. For certain ads, they plan to light up the sidewalls of the multiplex screen. He also said that they play close to 16-18 minutes of advertising in each show in PVR.

Finally, Gautam Dutta spoke of PVR’s expansion plans. According to Dutta, before the pandemic, the chain used to open 80-90 new screens on average in a year. In 2022-23, they plan to open 100-110 screens. Some of these screens will be in seven such cities where PVR had had no property before. They also plan to spend Rs. 400 crores on redeveloping existing theatres.

Also Read: Aamir Khan and PVR sign a mega deal for Laal Singh Chaddha; gets upper hand in showcasing as compared to Raksha Bandhan

Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday are coming together for the first time in Liger, that is directed by Puri Jagannadh. Considering it is produced by Dharma Productions, the two were recently seen attending Koffee With Karan 7 which also marked Vijay’s debut on the show. Amidst hot and brewing conversations, while Vijay spoke about his co-star Ananya Panday, the actress revealed that they also went on a date. Karan Johar, however, was quick to ask if it was during her relationship with Ishaan Khatter.

During the show, when Vijay Deverakonda was discussing about his co-star Ananya Panday, he revealed that she is a great co-star but not somebody you would want to be with when you are doing a film which requires you to diet. He said, “I find her really cute. I laugh a lot around her and she learns quickly. She did a really good job on Liger. She is a big foodie. So when you are doing a film like Liger which requires you to be in shape, she is not like the ideal co-star to have around. When my breakfast was like black coffee and 5 egg whites, she would end up having croissant or a pain au chocolat with her coffee. And I was like are you eating this everyday?”

As Vijay continued to talk about Ananya’s food love, the latter quipped, “We went out on dinner and we ate properly okay!” Needless to say, Karan Johar interrupted asking if it was a date. Vijay responded saying, “We went out on one date”. While a surprised Ananya asked if it was date, her Liger co-star continued, “You looked pretty and I dressed up. So it was kinda like a date.” Ananya agreed adding, “Yes we dressed up and we were very excited about it.”

However, Karan, being himself, further prodded the actress asking if she went on out on a date with Vijay when she was already going out with Ishaan? Although Ananya didn’t speak about Ishaan, she revealed that it was a ‘friendly date’. In fact, her Liger co-star, who seems to be equally in sync, agreed that it was a friendly date. When Karan Johar further added, “Just clearing because cross wires, blurred lines,” Vijay clarified it by adding, “the lines are very clear.”

Although, as per Ananya’s statement on the show, she is the person who will kiss and tell, it seems that when it came to her personal life she was not only discreet but also refrained from commenting on it.

Also Read: Koffee With Karan 7: When Ananya Panday called Kartik Aaryan; Karan Johar says he is again promoting Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

Netflix and Amblin Partners announced that they have set Carry On as the first film to be produced as part of the deal announced between the two companies last year. Dylan Clark Productions will produce the film. Taron Egerton, the actor from Black Bird, Rocketman, Kingsman, is set to star in the lead role.

Helmed by Jungle Cruise director Jaume Collet-Serra, the thriller centers around Ethan Kopek, a young TSA agent who gets blackmailed by a mysterious traveler to let a dangerous package slip through security and onto a Christmas Day flight.

The film will be penned by TJ Fixman, with additional writing by Michael Green.

Also Read: Black Bird Trailer: Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser star in gritty true-crime psychological thriller

The popular chat show Koffee With Karan hosted by none other than filmmaker Karan Johar returned a few weeks back with its seventh season. While Karan himself was pretty kicked about resuming the show, this time on OTT, the audience too were eagerly awaiting the release of the new episodes. After featuring Akshay Kumar – Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Sara Ali Khan – Janhvi Kapoor, and Ranveer Singh – Alia Bhatt, the latest episode of Koffee With Karan 7 featured the South breakout star Vijay Deverakonda and his Liger co-star Ananya Panday. Between the two the episode featured everything from stoic responses to over-the-top entertainment. But what caught our attention was Vijay talking about Pushpa: The Rise actor Rashmika Mandana and the relationship he shares with her.

It came as no surprise when Karan Johar grilled Vijay about their relationship, especially since the two (Vijay and Rashmika) have been spotted together on multiple occasions. Responding to the query, Deverakonda managed to keep things under wraps saying, "We have done two films together at a really early stage in my life. She is a darling and I am really fond of her. We are really good friends. We share so much through films, lots of highs and lows. A bond gets created."

Continuing further Karan prodded Vijay on his secretive attitude towards relationships. Replying to Karan the Liger actor added, “I will say it out loud; until then I would not like to hurt anyone who adores me. So many people love you as an actor and have your poster on their walls, on their phones. They give me so much love and appreciation; I don’t want to break their hearts.”

On the work front, Vijay Deverakonda is currently gearing up for his Bollywood debut Liger. Also starring Ananya Panday the pan-India film is directed by Puri Jagannadh.

Also Read: Koffee With Karan 7: Vijay Deverakonda confesses that he has had sex in a car; responds to Karan Johar’s question by saying, ‘desperate times’

The suspense thriller Ek Villain Returns released today and is expected to embark upon a good start. Starring John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani and Tara Sutaria, the Mohit Suri-directorial reportedly has quite a few surprises and twists in the tale. Interestingly, this aspect starts at the very beginning of the film, during the disclaimer slates.

Under ‘Special Thanks’, several people have been mentioned. However, two names stand out – blockbuster director Rohit Shetty and acclaimed writer Kanika Dhillon, of Kedarnath (2018), Rashmi Rocket (2021) and the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and Dunki fame. The reason these two names grab attention is that they have not worked with Mohit Suri before. Moreover, their zone of cinema is different from that of Mohit Suri.

Bollywood Hungama has learnt that Mohit Suri has been signed by Rohit Shetty’s production house, Rohit Shetty Productions. Mohit was supposed to make the film with the same script as Ek Villain Returns with Rohit. However, it was not supposed to be under the Ek Villain franchise. Meanwhile, producer Ekta Kapoor was looking for a script for Ek Villain’s sequel. When she happened to read the script of Mohit Suri’s next with Rohit Shetty, she realized that it is apt for the sequel of her 2014 super-hit film, which starred Sidharth Malhotra, Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh.

Ekta Kapoor is Rohit Shetty’s rakhi sister. She approached Rohit and requested if he could hand over the script rights to her so that she can make Ek Villain’s second part. Rohit Shetty, without any hesitation, agreed. And that’s how Mohit Suri directed the story but with Ekta Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms and T-Series, and it was called Ek Villain Returns.

Interestingly, Ekta Kapoor recently spoke about this episode in a press interaction when asked if Ek Villain Returns is copied from a Korean film, as alleged by a self-styled critic. Speaking highly of Rohit, she said that when she asked him for Ek Villain Returns’ script, he “very sweetly, like good brothers do, gave me the script back and said that's yours.”

As for Kanika Dhillon, she has written additional dialogues in the sequel. Hence, she got a mention under ‘Special Thanks’.

Also Read: Did you know? Team of Ek Villain Returns called for 11 cakes for its wrap up bash?

Considering that Ananya Panday met up with her mentor Karan Johar during her recent stint on Koffee With Karan 7, there were many skeletons tumbling out of the closet. It seems that the filmmaker knew a lot about his ‘student of the year’ and even sort of quipped some interesting anecdotes about her life. While the Liger actress smartly dodged questions about her own life, we can’t say the same about her candidness regarding other people’s love lives, especially about the much talked about couple Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani.

The Rapid Fire round may have started with the politically correct Ananya Panday giving answers but as it proceeded, the momentum definitely picked up and during the last few sections, we got to see the actress being her candid self while responding. The last segment of her Rapid Fire round involved her revealing the relationship status of the given celebrities. It started off with Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya’s response was, “Feels like he is in a rush to meet Mika Singh”, making a reference to the Swayamvar that the musician had recently participated in. The actress made the comment after seeing the popularity of her Liger co-star on the show.

Followed by that, she was asked about Tiger Shroff to which the actress wittily answered with a hint towards Disha Patani adding, ”He knows his Disha. His directions are quite clear.” When asked about Janhvi Kapoor, the Gehraiyaan actress maintained, “she is a single pringle.” Finally when he questioned about Kiara Advani, Ananya Panday referred to the song she featured with Sidharth Malhotra saying, “Her raatans are very lambiyan” When Karan prodded further by asking who is her 'Ranjha', Ananya just hissed. But Karan completed her sentence adding, ‘Wake Up Sid’, to which Ananya nodded in agreement.

On the other hand, speaking about her own love life, Ananya Panday maintained extreme secrecy. While she neither confirmed nor denied her past relationship with Khaali Peeli star Ishaan Khatter, when asked about Aditya Roy Kapur, she clearly maintained the ‘cliched’ neutral stand of ‘we are just good friends’.

Also Read: Koffee With Karan 7: Vijay Deverakonda confesses that he has had sex in a car; responds to Karan Johar’s question by saying, ‘desperate times’

The recent episode of Koffee With Karan 7 some hot brewing conversations with Liger stars Vijay Deverakonda and Ananya Panday. While dodging the many rumours about her love life, Ananya Panday revealed about how she has been hitting on her co-star Vijay Deverakonda. Amidst interesting confessions and revelations, Karan Johar also played the usual quiz round with the stars. While the initial few quizzes saw Ananya acing it with her Bollywood knowledge, soon the tables turned when other questions started.

Koffee With Karan lovers would be aware that the quiz round also features a mini section where the stars are asked to call co-celebrities, especially actors who are asked to say, ‘Hey Karan, it’s me’ to the filmmaker and also reveal what they are doing at that point of time. In the same round, Ananya Panday ended up calling Kartik Aaryan. The actor, who picked up the phone, said, ‘Hey, Karan it’s me’. Followed by that, Ananya asked him about his whereabouts but before he could reply, Karan chimed in adding, “He is again promoting Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 if I know right.” Playing along, Kartik added, “Yes, yes I am at home promoting Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2.” The conversation concluded with Karan politely ending it with a ‘thank you’.

As for the rest of the game, it ended with a tie between Ananya Panday and Vijay Deverakonda, While Vijay ended up calling on Samantha Ruth Prabhu in the celebrity calling round, Ananya followed up the Kartik call with another call to Janhvi Kapoor, who was on the sets of Bawaal. So she ended up making Karan talk to Janhvi and Varun, thereby winning extra points. Their tie breaker was the question – ‘Who was the leading lady of Maine Pyar Kiya’. Ananya Panday answered saying, ‘Bhagyashree’, thereby winning the round.

Also Read: Koffee With Karan 7: Ananya Panday confesses that she had a crush on Aryan Khan while growing up

Janhvi Kapoor, who recently created quite the stir on the episode of Koffee With Karan 7, is currently promoting her forthcoming OTT film Good Luck Jerry.  And yet again when her marriage was discussed during an interview with Siddharth Kannan, the actress had some interesting revelations to make. In the same, she stated that her father Boney Kapoor had only one condition for her potential groom and it is definitely not we expected.

Boney Kapoor has been quite protective of his daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor. Recently when she was asked about marriage, she, revealed that her father had only one condition. She said, “Papa has this thing. He doesn't care anything else, he was just like 'He should just be as tall as me' and papa is 6'1”.”

She went on to add, “As a kid, he used to tell me and Khushi - before you get married, I want to make sure that you can go and tell your husband that my father has made me travel all around the world before I even got married to you. He didn't want to leave any stone unturned. But now I realise that he did that because he wanted to make sure that the person that we marry lives up to how giving he's been with me and Khushi.” Although it was a clichéd father statement, it does show how every daughter is a father’s princess isn’t it?

Talking about Good Luck Jerry, the film also stars Deepak Dobriyal, Mita Vashisht, Neeraj Sood, among others. Directed by Sidharth Sengupta, the black comedy will premiere on July 29 on Disney+ Hotstar. The film is the official Hindi remake of the Tamil film Kolamaavu Kokila featuring Nayanthara in the lead role.

Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor’s Good Luck Jerry receives the sweetest response from Nayanthara: ‘What an entertaining ride’

Fans of Tamil superstar Nayanthara have taken huge umbrage to Karan Johar insisting on Koffee With Karan that Samantha Ruth Prabhu and not Nayanthara is the no.1 star, even when Samantha insisted the crown belonged to Nayanthara.

Karan Johar clarified that he meant no offense to Nayanthara. “I said, according to the list that I had from Ormax, Samantha was the no.1 star. Nayanthara’s fans have misconstrued the conversation.”

That is not all that a section of Koffee viewers have misconstrued. Samantha’s tongue-in-cheek sarcastic “confession” that she paid Ormax to list her as the No.1 heroine has triggered off stories in a section of the press on the amount she paid for the honour.

“I think we all need to have a sense of humour. Mine is a fun show,” says Karan.

Also Read: Karan Johar rubbishes reports of Akshay Kumar – Samantha Ruth Prabhu project

The production team of hit TVING show Yumi’s Cells, starring Kim Go Eun, GOT7 member Jinyoung, and Ahn Bo Hyun, has responded to fans’ high expectations for another season. The show recently concluded its season 2 last week with an open and emotional ending.

As Soompi notes, Yumi’s Cells is a fantasy romance drama based on the popular webtoon of the same name. It tells the story of an ordinary office worker named Yumi, from the point of view of the many brain cells in her head controlling her every thought, feeling, and action. Kim Go Eun plays the titular role of Yumi, an ordinary woman who struggles with expressing her feelings.

The first season of Yumi’s Cells, aired in autumn 2021, became the first K-drama ever to combine live action and 3D animation. As the report shares, on July 26, a source from the drama stated, “We’re thankful that viewers have expectations for season 3 as much as they have loved season 1 and 2. The second season has just ended, and the seasons require long production time, so the production team needs to take a break first. Season 3 will be discussed after that.”

Also Read: K-pop group 2PM’s Chansung and his wife welcome first child; become parents to a baby girl

Sajid Nadiadwala’s highly anticipated Bawaal is currently being shot in Warsaw, Poland with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor. Bawaal would be one of Varun Dhawan's highest budget film from production value.

A source close to the makers revealed, “We’ve extensively shot the film in the most expensive & interesting locations like Paris, Berlin, Poland, Amsterdam, Krakow, Warsaw along with a brief portion in India as well. It’s a very unique love story and now we are gearing up for a huge action sequence in Warsaw. We have called for action directors & stuntmen from Germany along with a talented crew of 700+ members every day, Nitesh Sir and Sajid Sir have scaled up the film to leave the audience to a visual treat.

The source further added, “An action sequence as planned required multiple things such as 45 plus hedgehogs along with innumerable number of grenades, knives, and variety of explosives for an important action sequence which will be shot from tomorrow. The costs incurred for shooting daily is about 2.5 crore and this is a 10 days schedule. This is Varun's most expensive film so far.” says the source.

Bawaal is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson and is co-produced by EarthSky Pictures. The film is directed by Nitesh Tiwari and will hit screens on 7th April, 2023.

ALSO READ: Varun Dhawan, Nitesh Tiwari and team of Bawaal enjoy playing sports during break time in Poland

After three successful movie premieres and Brad Pitt’s famous red-carpet appearance in a skirt, here’s some more exciting news for fans across the country! The highly anticipated action-comedy movie, Bullet Train, is all set to release in India on 4th August 2022, one day prior to the U.S.!

The movie, helmed by Deadpool 2 director David Leitch, will comprise a stellar ensemble cast with some of the most popular names from Hollywood. With Brad Pitt at the fore, the movie will also starJoey King along with Karen Fukuhara, Fury fame Logan Lerman among others.

While Brad Pitt returns to the big screen in a starring role for the first time since 2019, Academy award winning actor Sandra Bullock will also be seen making an appearance in Bullet Train. Aaron Taylor-Johnson will also be seen next as Marvel’s Kraven the Hunter.

Also Read: From Brad Pitt to the sets of Bullet Train, Joey King talks about her adventurous journey

After acting in South films as well as the Madhur Bhandarkar film Calendar Girls, Akanksha Puri reappeared in the news with the show Swayamvar Mika Di Vohti. It seems that the actress has been friends with musician Mika Singh and she was brought on the show a wild card entry. Owing to the fact that she knew the singer even before entering the show, and him eventually selecting her as his bride, has raised several questions about it being scripted. However, Akanksha recently addressed the rumors and denied all the allegations about it being scripted.

Speaking about these rumours, Akanksha Puri addressed it during an interview with ETimes asserting that none of this is fake or scripted. She said, “My entry in the show was not planned. In fact, he was surprised when he saw me as a wild card contestant.” She went on to add, "I would like to reiterate that this is not a sham. But things have to gradually happen over a period of time."

Further speaking about her bond with Mika, she shared, “Mika and I have been friends, but we haven’t dated or romanced each other. Marriage is a big decision, so one has to think a lot before taking the plunge. You can’t get married just after completing some tasks on a show. So, I am looking forward to spending quality time with Mika and getting to know him better.”

For the uninitiated, while Mika Singh had fans coming across the country to be his ‘vohti’ aka wife, the sudden entry of Akanksha Puri had left everyone surprised. Furthermore, the actress confessed that she has been friends with the singer for over a decade and when the singer eventually chose her as his partner, the couple got massively trolled as many went on to call the show a mere ‘publicity stunt’.

Also Read: Akanksha Puri says, “Platform shouldn’t be a barrier for an actor, putting out a good performance should be a priority”

The much awaited film, Ek Villain Returns, is all set to release this Friday, July 29, and a lot of expectations are riding on it. The stylized, action-packed and sensual trailer has made the audiences curious. Moreover, it’s the sequel to the super-hit Ek Villain (2014). The medium-budget film was a surprise at the box office, crossing the Rs. 100 crores mark. Its chartbuster music is memorable even today. It is also remembered as it had a landmark performance by Riteish Deshmukh. The actor is known for playing positive and comic characters. In Ek Villain, he stunned audiences as he played a ruthless serial killer.

Ek Villain Returns has a different cast and has often been called a ‘spiritual successor’ of the first part. However, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that Riteish Deshmukh features in the second part as well. We also chanced upon his look in the film. The smirk and the evil expressions make it clear that his character still has it in him to cause madness yet again.

Interestingly, the trailer of Ek Villain Returns starts with J D Chakravarthy speaking about Sameer Mahadkar, the character played by Riteish Deshmukh. Hence, the makers had dropped a hint in a way of his character’s association with the happenings in the sequel. Nevertheless, that he’ll have a special appearance is sure to leave fans further excited for the film.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “A few people would wonder how Sameer Mahadkar came back from the dead. Didn’t he die in the first part? Well, the makers simply showed Sameer being hit by a car in the climax of Ek Villain. Did they show him breathing his last? Hence, the makers are completely justified in showing that Sameer survived and is alive and kicking. Whether or not he contributes to the murders in the sequel remains to be seen.”

Like the first part, Ek Villain Returns is also directed by Mohit Suri. Besides Riteish Deshmukh, Ek Villain also starred Sidharth Malhotra and Shraddha Kapoor. Meanwhile, Ek Villain Returns stars John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani and Tara Sutaria in lead roles.

Also Read: Arjun Kapoor quips Varun Dhawan has accused of him of not letting John Abraham promote Ek Villain Returns; Jugjugg Jeeyo actor responds: ‘You are a villain’

Just before the pandemic, Ronnie Screwvala announced that he would be making a modern-day superhero film, The Immortal Ashwatthama bringing back the URI team of Aditya Dhar and Vicky Kaushal. In the pandemic, he backed out of the project due to budget issues and ever since then, Aditya Dhar has been making an attempt to revive the film with a new producer. He finally got Jio Studios on board the film, who green lit the script with a budget of Rs. 225 crores.

However, in the latest development, Jio and Aditya Dhar are at loggerheads over casting of the film. "The initial male lead of The Immortal Ashwatthama was Vicky Kaushal. Jio felt that a film of this budget won't recover with the aforementioned cast. They requested Adi to bring in a fresh set of male and female lead, following which, Aditya Dhar narrated the script to Samantha, who agreed in principle to be a part of the film as female lead," revealed a source to Bollywood Hungama.

Just when Aditya thought the issue was resolved came another problem. "The heads at Jio didn't have an issue with the female lead, but the male lead. They felt investing Rs. 225 crores on Vicky Kaushal is a very risky proposition making recovery near impossible. They have been after Aditya to bring in a bigger star for the film or else part ways. Aditya on the other hand is sticking to his friend, Vicky Kaushal. who has already done months of hard work for the role of Ashwathhama," the source further told us.

As things stand today, Jio is clear to back off if Aditya doesn't change the cast. "In today's time, when films are failing left right and center, budget is the most important thing and that has to be decided not just based on power of the script but also audience pull of the actors. A final call will be taken within a month on the future prospect of The Immortal Ashwatthama."

While Jio is taking a financial decision, Dhar is thinking from its heart. Between heart and brain, it would be interesting to see, who wins!

Also Read: Vicky Kaushal opens up about The Immortal Ashwathama delay

Kartik Aaryan, who is riding high on the success of Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, has been garnering a lot of compliments. One amongst it was his comparison to Shah Rukh Khan. The actor’s recent success was compared to the humongous success of the Badshah Khan who has managed to rule the box office in Bollywood for years. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, not only did Kartik speak about going to Mannat but he also confessed that he has always been a fan of SRK.

Readers would be aware that Shah Rukh Khan is a self-made celebrity who started from scratch as a TV star. He went on to become one of the biggest stars of Indian cinema and continues to enjoy a devoted fan following even today. Speaking about how his journey from a middle-class boy to the Indian superstar, Kartik revealed that not only does SRK has an inspiring journey but he also has a relatable one. Confessing that he did visit SRK’s house Mannat in Mumbai, Kartik spoke about it in the Bollywood Hungama interview adding, “I am an SRK fan and have always been one. I have always related with people who have created their own journey. He is one of those stars who has created his own journey and has his own fandom. So yeah, the first time I came to Mumbai, the first place I went to was Bandstand to see his house, just like a fan.”

On the other hand, speaking about Kartik Aaryan, the actor entered the Rs. 200 crore club this year, followed by the massive success of the horror comedy Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, which is currently also gaining popularity on Netflix.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Kartik Aaryan reveals Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo remake Shehzada’s budget has been increased: ‘Film ko aur bada bana rahe hain’

Laal Singh Chaddha is gearing up for its release and the makers are going out and out to make sure everybody gets to witness the inspirational journey of Laal Singh Chaddha. In a press conference conducted in Hyderabad, Aamir Khan, Chiranjeevi & Naga Chaitanya interacted with the media about the upcoming release. Aamir said that the delay in post-production of the film saved them considering they averted clash with KGF: Chapter 2 starring Yash in the lead role.

“I remember when KGF 2 was about to release, there was a lot of excitement among the Hindi audience, amongst my own friends. Laal Singh Chaddha was supposed to release on that day. But fortunately for us, Red Chillies was taking a little time on the VFX so we got saved! Otherwise, we would have come with KGF 2,” Aamir Khan told reporters.

Laal Singh Chaddha, produced by Aamir Khan Productions, Kiran Rao, and Viacom18 Studios, also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh, and Chaitanya Akkineni. It is an official remake of Forrest Gump. The film will be released on 11th August.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan and PVR sign a mega deal for Laal Singh Chaddha; gets upper hand in showcasing as compared to Raksha Bandhan

Paras Kalnawat, who plays the adorable second son of Anupamaa, garnered a lot of fame for his unconventional role in the Star Plus series. While the actor’s track has not been the focus for quite some time owing to the exit of his onscreen fiancé Nandini aka Anagha Bhosale, he was expected to return with a new track on the show. However, it seems that all of it is short-lived. With recent reports of the actor joining the Colors show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10, it seems that the makers are quite miffed with his entry on the dance reality show. In fact, producers of the show have terminated their contract on the grounds of breach of contract.

In a recent statement released by the production house, it has been said, “Producer Rajan Shahi, who produces Anupamaa on Star Plus, has taken a stand to terminate the contract of actor Paras Kalnawat who played Samar in the show on account of breach of contract for signing up a show on another channel without any prior intimation. Directors Kut and Rajan Shahi has always been accommodating to actors and never stop any actor's growth. Even in the case of Paras, in the past, adjustments were made to accommodate the opportunities he used to get and take up, but with the consent of the production house.”  On the other hand, Rajan Shahi too confirmed the developments adding, "We as a production house won't entertain breach of contract.  We have terminated his services as an actor with immediate effect. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors.”

Anupamaa is a prime time show that has been ruling the TRP charts for the past few months. A new leading lady was brought on board to play the love interest of Samar who was still reeling from the after effects of his breakup with Nandini. Now, with the exit of Paras as Samar, it is yet to be seen who will fill the shoes of Anupama’s second son on the show. On the other hand, the actor was recently confirmed as the contestant of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10.

Also Read: Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10 contestants: Nia Sharma, Niti Taylor, Paras Kalnawat, Dheeraj Dhoopar, and chef Zorawar Kalra finalized for this Colors’ dance reality show

ZEE5 is all set to announce its next original – Duranga. Directed by Pradeep Sarkar and Aijaz Khan, Duranga is an official adaptation of the Korean show named Flower of Evil which starred Lee Joon Gi, Moon Chae Won. Helmed by Goldie Behl and Shradha Singh, the romantic thriller will star Gulshan Devaiah and Drashti Dhami as protagonists and will premiere on the platform in August 2022.

Produced by Rose Audio Visuals, Duranga chronicles the love story of Sammit [played by Gulshan Devaiah] and Ira [played by Drashti Dhami], that unfolds in three different timelines. Hiding a twisted past, Sammit maintains a facade of a perfect husband to his Inspector wife — Ira. With a series of twists and turns, Ira begins investigating multiple gory copycat murders by the suspected accomplice of a psychopathic serial killer Bala, twenty years after his suicide. This case leads her to some shocking revelations about her husband! In true Kafkaesque style, the story will show how the protagonists wade through constant problems, despite which, they stand tall. But still leaving you with a question – How well do you know your partner?

Can you really trust the ones you love? ????#DurangaOnZEE5 coming soon

An official adaptation of the Korean Show, ‘Flower Of Evil’. pic.twitter.com/eWwqp9DCuA

— ZEE5 (@ZEE5India) July 25, 2022

Manish Kalra, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 India, said, “With Duranga, we are bringing another interesting and compelling story narrative for our audience. As a consumer-first brand, we at ZEE5 take pride in knowing and catering to our viewer’s choice of content. Going by the popularity of Korean shows, we are happy to adapt the well-known Korean show, Flower of Evil and give it our own twist in Duranga. With a stellar cast, Duranga promises to be gripping, unique and entertaining, all at the same time."

Nimisha Pandey, Chief Content Officer – Hindi Originals, ZEE5 said, “Korean shows and their intricately relatable storylines have found a huge fan base in India, and we are thrilled to present the first ever adaptation of a Korean series in the Indian market. We are excited to unveil Duranga on ZEE5, a unique love story with a twist where circumstances pit lovers against each other. Our vision of creating the show has been brought to life by an exceptional team at Rose. It was a pleasure to collaborate with Goldie Behl, and directors Pradeep Sarkar and Aijaz Khan. With ‘Duranga’, the audiences will witness Drashti Dhami in a stellar performance as a cop, a never seen before avatar for the audiences. Gulshan Devaiah enlivens the complex character of Samit Patel with aplomb, making it a captivating watch. We hope the audiences enjoy the rollercoaster ride that Duranga will deliver.”

Goldie Behl, Producer, Rose Audio Visuals commented, “It’s always been a pleasure collaborating with ZEE5 and looking forward yet again, this time with Duranga. Nimisha Pandey, the content head at ZEE5 has been very forthcoming of the concept of Duranga and gave us the required support while making the show. At Rose Audio Visuals we have always been committed to produce quality, out of the box content which is also entertaining. Duranga is a step forward in that direction. It is a special subject because it explores the concept of marriage but through a unique twisted lens, something you have never seen before. The unusual pairing of Drashti Dhami and Gulshan Devaiah has worked very well for us. Their characters in the show come from very varied, distinct backgrounds and they both have divulged completely into it.”

He added, “Duranga primarily deals with the subject of how well you know your partner and then explores the story further. We may believe that we know our partner really well, but do we really? That’s what Duranga will explore and answer. Very excited to present the show and we hope the audience totally resonates with it the way we did.”

The 9-part episode series also stars - Rajesh Khattar, Divya Sheth, Zakir Hussain, Barkha Bisht, Abhijit Khandkekar and Hera Mishra in prominent roles.