Netflix on Tuesday announced the release date of its upcoming psychological drama, Qala will premiere on 1st December 2022. Set in the late 1930s and early 1940s, Qala is the story of an eponymous young playback singer. The film is about Qala’s tragic past and the ways in which it catches up with her, causing her to unravel at the peak of her hard-won success. But the beginning and end of her spiral is her relationship with her mother. The pathology of her upbringing and the neurosis it leads to. Witness the emotional journey of Qala who navigates professional successes while battling personal demons.

Director Anvitaa Dutt shares, “Qala is a story about mothers and daughters. And how a troubled upbringing can damage someone and have far-reaching consequences. Karnesh and I both felt it was an important story to tell. We set it in the world of music in the late 1930s; a setting both evocative and poignant. It has been an exciting and rewarding journey to bring this story to life with Netflix as our partners. This is my second outing with them and it has been twice as much fun to create a homegrown story for audiences worldwide.”

Producer Karnesh Ssharma says, “We are delighted to be working along with Netflix and Anvitaa once again. At Clean Slate Filmz we aim to create distinct stories and Qala is one such film. Audiences across the world will be able to relate to it due to universal themes like family relationships and mental health. A service like Netflix allows for audiences globally to find diverse stories from India and we are hoping the film and the music are something they hold on to even after watching it on December 1st.”

Anvitaa Dutt’s directorial return to Netflix stars Triptii Dimri, Babil Khan, Swastika Mukherjee, Amit Sial, Neer Raao, Avinash Raj Sharma and Ashish Singh in the lead roles. The film is produced by Karnesh Ssharma under the banner of Clean Slate Filmz.

ALSO READ: Babil Khan says he was broken and vulnerable after father Irrfan Khan’s death; was scared auditioning for Qala: ‘I was coming with some baggage’

Priyanka Chopra is back in India after three years. The actress returned to Mumbai on the morning of November 1 and was mobbed by paparazzi and a massive crowd. The actress has been in her Los Angeles home for the past couple of years where she lives with her husband Nick Jonas. During the pandemic, the actress continued to stay in LA. Following the Diwali celebrations last week, the actress has returned to Mumbai and it seems like she already has plans to discuss possible collaborations with filmmakers Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Vishal Bhardwaj.

In a report seen on a web portal, the actress and the filmmakers are in discussions about possible projects. They have been meaning to work on another project for some time now and have even shared a few ideas with Priyanka. During this trip, she plans to take these conversations forward. The actor also has some brand commitments to fulfil but she will try to wrap up as many things as possible during this trip.

Priyanka Chopra and Vishal Bhardwaj previously worked together on films like 7 Khoon Maaf and Kaminey. She has worked with Sanjay Leela Bhansali on Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela where she made a special appearance in a song followed by playing Kashibai in Bajirao Mastani. Both projects were headlined by Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone. The actress was reportedly in talks for the Sahir Ludhianvi biopic, but it didn’t work out.

On the work front, Priyanka Chopra has Ending Things with Anthony Mackie and It's All Coming Back To Me with Celine Dion. She will be seen in Russo Brothers’ Prime Video series Citadel, alongside Richard Madden. She also has Farhan Akhtar's Jee Le Zaraa with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. All her upcoming projects are due for the 2023 release. She was last seen in the Netflix movie, The White Tiger which starred Adarsh Gourav and Rajkummar Rao.

ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas attend Diwali bash in LA with friends after celebrating the festival with their daughter

Music sensation Rihanna finally marked her return to music after six years, releasing her first single ‘Lift Me Up’ for Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. While the film is just a week away from its release, the director has now revealed the reason that convinced Rihanna for the collaboration.

According to Insider report, during the film's press conference Friday, Coogler was asked how Marvel convinced the Grammy-winning artist to make her first new songs in years. "It's a great question," Coogler said. "I can't take the sole credit for that. I think the world would understand if she hung up her mic."

"I completely understand 'cause I love her music so much. I feel like she's given all that somebody, all that you could ask for," he added at the conference which was also attended by the cast including Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong'o, Letitia Wright, and Tenoch Huerta Mejia.

As the report suggests, Coogler credited the film's composer Ludwig Göransson, Roc Nation, and his friend, Jay Z, as "major factors" for connecting them with Rihanna. "The truth is we were looking for a great artist who could tell the story of the film and embrace the themes of the film and present them to the audience in a different packaging.”

“That's what Kendrick did for us so beautifully with the first film," Coogler said. “This film is different. It made sense that it would be a woman. It made sense that it could be someone who could speak to, not necessarily the words, but the feeling of motherhood, cause that's a major, major theme in this film. And I think it timed up that she was in that kind of space in her life.”

Towards the end, Coogler shared that it was the film’s trailer that over won the singer and convinced her to collaborate. "It was really the trailer,” he said. “I think that when she saw the performances that everybody was putting down in the trailer, that was what kind of put her over the edge and say, 'Hey, I wanna see this film. I wanna see if I can figure this out.'"

"Once she played us the record, she said, straight up, 'I did this for Chad,'" the director recalled. Meanwhile, Rihanna’s own Westbury Road label released Wakanda Forever’s lead ballad ‘Lift Me Up’ in partnership with Roc Nation, Def Jam Recordings and Hollywood Records. The song, which is out now, is co-written by the singer, Coogler, Göransson, and Nigerian artist Tems, and serves as a tribute to Boseman.

The second track, "Born Again," produced by The-Dream, plays during the film's credits. "Chad brought us all together," Coogler said. "He keeps on giving. I'm just really thankful that Rihanna was the latest gift to join the family and I can't wait for folks to, you know, the song is out, but I can't wait for folks to see how it's used in the film."

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever drops the full soundtrack on November 11 along with the film's official release.

Also Read: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever director Ryan Coogler on why the sequel focuses on female characters after Chadwick Boseman’s T’Challa’s death: ‘Their identities were kind of wrapped up in this man’

Hollywood actress Julia Roberts revealed that late civil rights activists Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, paid the hospital bill for after her birth.

According to Entertainement Weekly, during a chat with Gayle King back in September, Roberts revealed that the Oscar-winner's birth was paid for by national icons Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife Coretta Scott King. "The King family paid for my hospital bill," Roberts said. "Martin Luther King and Coretta. "They helped us out of a jam," she later added.

As the report, Roberts’ parents, Walter and Betty Lou, were friends with the Kings because they ran a theatre school in Atlanta, the Actors and Writers' Workshop, which at the time was one of the few schools willing to accept the King children. "One day Coretta Scott King called my mother and asked if her kids could be part of the school because they were having a hard time finding a place that would accept her kids, and my mom was like 'sure come on over,'" Roberts said.

After their children joined the school, the families became friends, Roberts added. Zara Rahim, a former strategic advisor for Barack Obama, shared the now-viral clip from the chat on Twitter Friday to commemorate Roberts' birthday, noting the King family's influence in her life. "In the '60s, you didn't have little Black children interacting with little white kids in acting school," Gayle King noted. "And Julia's parents were welcoming, and I think that's extraordinary, and it lays the groundwork for who Julia is."

Today is Julia Roberts birthday! 55 years ago MLK and Coretta Scott King paid for her parents hospital bill after she was born. Can’t stop thinking about this since I read it. Here she is talking about it with @GayleKing https://t.co/5HvpNSUIYb pic.twitter.com/147x6d807W

— Zara Rahim (@ZaraRahim) October 28, 2022

To mark her 55th birthday on October 28, Roberts shared a selfie on social media and wrote, "Feeling the love and magic on my 55th

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Julia Roberts (@juliaroberts)

Also Read: George Clooney and Julia Roberts starrer Ticket To Paradise to release on October 6 in India in theatres 

Film producer Anand Pandit and Yash Birla Ventures have joined hands for a new venture, Nature 4 Nature - the complete care range. The brand was launched with the objective to share the message of love and compassion by offering consumers 100% natural products. The substances used in the creation of beauty products strive to replace the use of harmful & toxic acids with natural ingredients. Every product is consciously curated with natural ingredients sourced from different parts of the country which are then packaged using natural materials. Along with the brand launch, Nature 4 Nature announced the appointment of two young brand ambassadors, Tara Sutaria and Ishaan Khatter. The brand ambassadors also shared a teaser of the brand film on their social media handles offering a sneak peek to the fans. The actors will help the brand to transform its enthusiasm into effective messaging.

Nature 4 Nature is also planning to offer customers the option to reuse the same bottle multiple times which will enable sustainable practices among customers. The products are in-line with the brand's aim of creating a world free of harmful chemicals and materials for both the planet and humans. The packaging of the item comes with a QR code which will initiate the process of refilling the bottle thus reducing the amount of waste on the planet. The hero ingredients are specially sourced from cities they are known for, for instance, Chandan is sourced from Jammu & Kashmir, Cinnamon from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu & green tea from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala etc.

Yash Birla, Founder of Nature 4 Nature said, “We want to build a brand that isn't just concerned with human well-being but also contributes significantly to a sustainable and healthy future. Our objective is to provide our customers with 100% natural products rather than the increasing use of toxic acids. The raw ingredients used in the product and packaging are sustainable in nature and come from all around the country.”

Bollywood film Producer and Founder of Nature 4 Nature, Anand Pandit said, “It is a pleasure to delve into skincare by honouring Indian heritage through Ayurveda. Nature 4 Nature is a skincare brand that will commemorate Indian roots by using all-natural components and using packaging that is sustainable in nature. We hope to come closer to nature and its people by blending all resources into beauty. The launch is in association with Yash Birla Ventures, and we are eager to hear what our audience thinks about the quality of products we are offering.”

Commenting on the association, Ishaan, said, “I’m overjoyed to be associated with Nature 4 Nature - not only for their qualitative and diverse range of products but for the larger vision behind them. They’re leading the way in India by manufacturing their products in a 100% natural, sustainable way and I’m proud to be associated with them in this path-breaking effort.”

Tara Sutaria, said, “Nature 4 Nature is based on the concept of sustainability and love for nature. This motivated me to become involved with the brand that is not only 100% natural but also works towards a plastic-free environment.”

The brand's website has been created to provide clients with a personalized experience by proposing products depending on their skin type and concerns. For every product purchased from the website, a fruit tree will be planted in the jungles of Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, increasing the farmers' income.

ALSO READ: Tara Sutaria begins shooting for Apurva; calls it ‘a tale of the true strength’

Bollywood actor Aayush Sharma has now introduced his leading lady for ASO4. Making her debut in the entertainment world, the lead role will be played by Sushrii Mishraa. The debutante is introduced by the makers with a striking still, flaunting her vivacious and alluring avatar.

Talking about his leading lady, Aayush Sharma shares, "We were looking for a new name for AS04, who is not only a fresh face but also someone who can grab your attention with her personality. Sushrii perfectly fit the bill, with not only her looks as well as her acting skills and action abilities. We have already shot a few portions and we are thrilled to have her on board."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aayush Sharma (@aaysharma)

Director Katyayan Shivpuri says, "Sushrii is more than just a pretty face, she's promising, refreshing and ready to make her mark."

Former Miss India United Continents 2015, the beauty is not just gorgeous but also a national-level swimmer, and horse rider and is trained in MMA, which makes her the perfect fit for Aayush Sharma's action entertainer AS04. Additionally, Sushrii is also trained in dance forms like Kathak, Jazz Funk, Odissi, and Aerial Silk rope and has been a theatre artist.

Currently being filmed in Mumbai, the Aayush Sharma starrer will be shot across the nation. Produced by KK Radhamohan, under the banner of Srisathyasai Arts, the yet-untitled action entertainer AS04 stars Aayush Sharma as the lead, co-starring Sushrii Mishraa. Directed by Katyayan Shivpuri, the film is slated for release in 2023.

ALSO READ: Aayush Sharma unleashes his action avatar; launches the teaser of his fourth project on 32nd birthday

In the wake of the tragedy in Itaewon in South Korea on Saturday which left hundreds of people dead, Netflix has decided to postpone their upcoming Korean drama The Fabulous starring Minho from popular K-pop group SHINee and actress Chae Soo Bin. The press conference was to take place this week followed by the premiere on November 4, 2022.

Swoon Netflix account on Monday shared an official statement on Instagram and wrote, “As national mourning is taking place due to the tragic accident in Korea, we have decided to postpone the press conference and the release of <The Fabulous>.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by The Swoon (@theswoonnetflix)

For the unversed, Halloween celebrations turned deadly in South Korea’s Itaewon. It was reported that a crowd crush led to the death of 154 people, of whom 26 were foreign nationals and 132 were injured as per updates on Sunday, according to Korea Herald. An estimate of 100,000 people was expected to be in attendance on Saturday night in Itaewon, a district in central Seoul. In the narrow alley, around 10:40 pm, the crowd began to surge leaving people stuck there for over one and a half hours. This led to suffocation in the tight space. Videos and photos went viral on social media in which people and first responders were giving CPR on the spot to people who were unresponsive and went into cardiac arrest. The majority of the fatalities were people in their 20s.

Coming back to The Fabulous, the upcoming series follows four best friends as they chase their dreams alongside fashion’s elite while juggling demanding jobs, romantic dilemmas and wild nights on the town. In the series, Minho plays Ji Woo Min, a freelance photo editor established in his profession and known for his attractive appearance. However, he struggles with finding passion for his work. Things change when he encounters Pyo Ji Eun (played by Chae Soo Bin), a PR manager for luxury brands, and the two find themselves in a blossoming romance. The first look photos were unveiled in September.

Meanwhile, Chae Soo Bin was most recently seen in Disney+ series Rookie Cops. The series marked the debut of singer Kang Daniel as the lead actor.  She is currently seen in a variety show Young Actors’ Retreat. On the other hand, Choi Minho was last seen in Lovestruck In The City and Yumi’s Cells season 1.

ALSO READ: The Fabulous Teaser: SHINee’s Minho and Chae Soo Bin tease fashion, romance and glam world in Netflix K-drama

Post the release of the Vishnuvardhan directorial Shershaah, the lead pair Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani made headlines for their chemistry both on-screen and off it too. In fact, with the audience taking an immense liking to the film, filmmakers made a beeline to sign the two on for new ventures. One such venture was the quirky film tentatively titled Adal Badal, which revolved around the concept of soul transfers. In fact, both Sid and Kiara had read the concept note and were pretty kicked to start the project. However, now we hear that the said film has run into trouble.

As per a source close to the developments, Bollywood Hungama has exclusively learnt that the project has now been put on the back burner. Revealing details, the source informed Bollywood Hungama, “Yes, Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani were very keen on doing the film. In fact, the quirky premise of Adal Badal intrigued them both, and they even gave the makers a green light to go ahead with the development of a script for the venture. Unfortunately, even before the venture could take off it seems to have been grounded with no takers for the film.” Further talking about why Adal Badal has been put on the back burner for now, the source continues, “No one in the industry is ready to bankroll the venture. It isn’t because of the lead pair, but instead, it is due to the rather unconventional storyline. Despite its quirkiness and novelty, in the current state, the industry is in, nobody wants to take a gamble and risk big monies on an untested formula.”

With no investors ready to take a gamble on producing the venture, it seems like the venture will eventually be dropped. Interestingly though, for fans who have been wanting to see the two together on screen again, the buzz is that Sid and Kiara will soon move onto the Dharma Productions venture that will topline them in the cast. In fact, reports claim that the two are contemplating starting work on this untitled venture rather soon.

As for Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani, both actors have an impressive lineup ahead. While Sidharth has Yodha and Mission Majnu, Kiara has Govinda Naam Mera, RC15, and the Kartik Aaryan starrer Satyaprem Ki Katha.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's mother Zeenat Hussain suffered a heart attack. The reports state that it happened during Diwali festivities and she was rushed to Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai. They were all in Panchgani at Aamir's holiday home when reportedly the health scare happened.

As per an Etimes report, Zeenat Hussain is now recovering well and is stable. Her condition and vitals are good and she is recuperating. Aamir Khan and other family members are reportedly in hospital with her.

Aamir Khan is the son of late filmmaker Tahir Hussain and Zeenat Hussain In June, the actor celebrated his mother's birthday.

Meanwhile, Aamir Khan will next star in RS Prasanna's project. The said film is the official remake of the Spanish film Campeones. The film will reportedly star Anushka Sharma and is already in pre-production stage. Campeones meaning Champions is a sports comedy-drama set against the backdrop of basketball where an arrogant coach is forced to do community service and train a team with developmental disabilities. The film starred Javier Gutierrez, Jose de Luna, Gloria Ramos, Roberto Chinchilla, Athenea Mata, Luisa Gavasa, Mariano Llorente, Daniel Freire, and Juan Margallo. It was directed by Javier Fesser. The film was the biggest national box office hit of the year.

On the other hand, Aamir Khan faced quite a failure with this last release Laal Singh Chaddha. While the film released on August 11, it failed to create any magic at the box office. The film starred Kareena Kapoor Khan, Naga Chaitanya and Mona Singh. It was helmed by Advait Chandan.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan’s daughter Ira Khan celebrates Diwali with fiancé Nupur Shikhare and his family; see pics

The rough spell for Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn is just not ending as their Diwali 2022 releases - Ram Setu and Thank God - are turning out to be theatrical flops. The footfalls are seeing fall day by day and the exhibitors anticipate the two films to come down to doing very low numbers on the weekdays, once the 6-day festive period is over. The programmers have sat down to reduce the showcasing of the films by a huge margin.

Ram Setu is looking at a 6-day extended weekend of approximately Rs. 57 crores, whereas Thank God is even worse with a 6-day weekend of Rs. 27 crores. On the other hand, the Kannada dubbed film, Kantara in its 3rd week, is doing phenomenal business at ticket rates approx. 40 per cent lower than Ram Setu and 30 per cent lower than Thank God. Seeing the upward swing in business by the day, the cinema owners have silently started to increase the Kantara showcasing by reducing shows for both Ram Setu and Thank God.

There have been show reductions for both the films for both - Saturday and Sunday - with additional shows being allotted to Kantara. The showcasing reduction is minimal for the weekend, but the real game will begin from Monday, when a major chunk of shows are set to be either cancelled or replaced to avoid the reports of no audience in cinema halls. The distributors have given tight instructions to keep limited showcasing and avoid the negativity of shows getting cancelled due to zero audience. Some morning and noon shows are already cancelled for Monday, and things don't look bright for both Ram Setu and Thank God.

Kantara on the other hand might have 25 to 30 per cent higher shows from tomorrow, and this includes showcasing in the single screens too. The low pricing policy is doing wonders for the team, as the film has indeed recorded much better footfalls than Thank God, and is almost similar to Ram Setu on the footfall front from Thursday onwards.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Rishab Shetty says Kantara is not just a “film”; speaks about a special message it gives, watch

Varun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon are making headlines for their upcoming film Bhediya. Recently, the makers dropped the song ‘Thumkeshwari’. Though the duo charms the audience with their moves, it's Shraddha Kapoor’s cameo that steals everyone’s attention. After the release of the song, Shraddha Kapoor also confirmed Stree 2, and now, fans are eagerly waiting for more updates to come.

Shraddha Kapoor and Rajkummar Rao are all set to reunite and start shooting for the sequel in 2023. If a report by Pinkvilla is something to go by, then Stree 2 will start rolling early next year. Quoting a source close to the development, the report stated, “Amar [Kaushik] and his team of writers have been working on the script of Stree 2 for a while now, and they have finally locked a subject that takes forward the legacy of the first part.”

The source further elaborated, “They are well aware of all the expectations and hence, despite pressures from all ends to make a sequel, were in no hurry to make Stree 2. The script has shaped up well and the team is now all set to take the film on floors early next year.”

As per the report, the prep work is going on at the moment on paper, and the pre-production is expected to begin post the release of Bhediya in November. It also informed that the makers are planning to take it on floors in the first quarter of 2023.

Speaking of Kapoor's appearance in the Bhediya song, it mentioned, “Shraddha has made a brief appearance in a song of Bhediya and now, Varun Dhawan too is expected to have a role to play in Stree 2. The story of Bhediya eventually leads to Stree and that would set the ball rolling for Maddock’s unique horror-comedy universe.”

The source concludes by saying, “Three’s a company, that started with Stree. Amar is creatively involved in the Vampire Film too, which kicks off next year.”

Also Read: Mister Mummy Trailer out: Genelia D’Souza-Riteish Deshmukh starrer explores a quirky subject, watch

In the wake of the tragedy in Itaewon in South Korea on Saturday, the popular entertainment agency SM Entertainment, which houses K-pop groups like NCT, Red Velvet, aespa, Super Junior, EXO, SHINee among others, has cancelled their annual Halloween celebrations. For the unversed, Itaewon, one of the popular destinations in South Korea, witnessed thousands of people during Halloween celebrations which led to one of the most horrific incidents.

In a statement on late Saturday night following the tragic incident of crowd surge in Itaewon, SM Entertainment released a statement which read, “We are informing you that the live broadcast of the “SMTOWN WONDERLAND 2022” red carpet, which was scheduled to be streamed live for free today for KWANGYA CLUB ACE members on the global platform Beyond LIVE for approximately one hour starting from 6:15 p.m., has been cancelled. Because the “SMTOWN WONDERLAND 2022” event itself has been cancelled, there will be no livestream of the red carpet either. We ask for fans’ understanding.”

President Yoon Suk Yeol has officially announced the mourning period from October 30 – November 4 amid the Itaewon case. As per a report in Korea Herald, atleast 151 people died and more than 82 were injured in a “crowd crush in Itaewon, Yongsan-gu, central Seoul, according to fire authorities at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The fire department began to receive reports of patients having difficulty breathing at 10:22 p.m. on Saturday.”

It was reported that most fatalities were people in their 20s amongst whom 19 were foreigners who were dead. Videos and photos went viral on social media where people were providing CPR to several people who went into cardiac arrest due to crowd-crushing in Itaewon which is a central party spot. The report states, “A total of 848 personnel, including 364 firefighters, were mobilized to deal with the accident and 142 ambulances were deployed.”

In one of the latest developments, Henry Cavill is saying goodbye to the beloved character Geralt Of Rivia in The Witcher season 4. Ahead of the season 3 arrival next year, Cavill took to Instagram on Saturday to inform his fans that he will officially be ‘laying down my medallion and my swords’ and departing the fantasy series, on Netflix. Season 4 will see Liam Hemsworth take on the role of monster-hunter Geralt of Rivia instead.

“My journey as Geralt of Rivia has been filled with both monsters and adventures," Cavill wrote in his post. "In my stead, the fantastic Mr. Liam Hemsworth will be taking up the mantle of the White Wolf. As with the greatest of literary characters, I pass the torch with reverence for the time spent embodying Geralt and enthusiasm to see Liam's take on this most fascinating and nuanced of men.”

He continued, "Liam, good sir, this character has such a wonderful depth to him. Enjoy diving in and seeing what you can find."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Henry Cavill (@henrycavill)

Hemsworth took to Instagram and paid tribute to Cavill, “As a Witcher fan, I'm over the moon about the opportunity to play Geralt of Rivia," he wrote. "Henry Cavill has been an incredible Geralt, and I'm honoured that he's handing me the reins and allowing me to take up the White Wolf's blades for the next chapter of his adventure.”

“Henry, I've been a fan of yours for years and was inspired by what you brought to this beloved character," The Hunger Games actor said. "I may have some big boots to fill, but I'm truly excited to be stepping into the Witcher world.”

Henry Cavill’s announcement comes in less than weeks since he made a cameo as Superman in DC’s Black Adam. He then announced that he is putting the cape back on and is ready for the next movie.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Liam Hemsworth (@liamhemsworth)

The upcoming season 3 synopsis reads, "As monarchs, mages and beasts of the Continent compete to capture her, Geralt takes Ciri of Cintra into hiding, determined to protect his newly-reunited family against those who threaten to destroy it. Entrusted with Ciri's magical training, Yennefer leads them to the protected fortress of Aretuza, where she hopes to discover more about the girl's untapped powers; instead, they discover they've landed in a battlefield of political corruption, dark magic and treachery. They must fight back, put everything on the line - or risk losing each other forever."

Netflix has seemingly greenlit seasons 4 and 5 of the series which will be reportedly shot back-to-back. While it is unclear when the production will begin, the seasons are currently in the writing stage.

ALSO READ: Henry Cavill recalls reprising Superman after five years in Black Adam – “That is one of the top moments in my career”

Renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur was working on his most ambitious project - Paani. However, the project never met its sweet ending as it was, reportedly, put on the back burner. Now, it seems the director has found a middle way to complete Paani soon.

Various reports, making rounds on the internet, claimed Kapur was planning to revive the project and is in discussion with a few producers. Breaking his silence on the matter, Kapur confirmed the reports. In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Shekhar said, “Yes I have plans to revive Paani, and I am in touch with a few producers to discuss the possibility.”

The ace filmmaker continued by saying, “Hopefully next year, but let’s talk when everything is locked. It’s a dramatic script about many relationships including a love story, and water is the key to the love story. It’s a very spiritual story, for water is the key in every faith in the world.”

Giving further details of the project, Kapur added, “The film will also be shot in English, Flow.. The Story of Water. Meanwhile, I am currently focussing on the promotions of What's Love Got to Do With It?, which is getting some amazing responses at the festivals, including the recent Rome Film Festival. I am really thrilled about it.”

For the unversed, Shekhar’s this project came to light after the demise of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Earlier, the late actor and Kapur were gearing up to collaborate for Paani. However, it was shelved after Yash Raj Film (YRF) backed out. A few days after SSR’s death Shekhar had released the script of Paani.

In a tweet along with a BTS still, Kapur wrote, “Shot 12 years ago. Part of huge bank of #Paani research pics/illustrations. The film script is about a future city where the wealthy take all the water. And then use water as a weapon of political and social control. It’s a cautionary tale of what’s coming if we’re not careful.”

Also Read: Shekhar Kapur believes box office has become more important than films; says people still watch Mr. India and Masoom even after 30 years

Popular couple Bharti Singh and Haarsh Limbachiya seem to be in trouble, again. A 200-page charge sheet against comedian Bharti Singh and her spouse Haarsh Limbachiya has been submitted to the court by the Mumbai Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) branch, as reported by ANI. For the unversed, they were arrested in 2020 in connection with a drugs case and are currently out on bail.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had arrested the couple in November 2020 after the seizure of ganja (cannabis) from their house in suburban Andheri. After the investigation, NCB had stated that 86.5 gram of cannabis was recovered from their home in a raid.

“Both Bharti and her husband Haarsh Limbachiya accepted consumption of Ganja," ANI had quoted NCB officials as saying. According to an official, the search was done as part of the NCB's investigation into alleged drug use in the entertainment business.

The magistrate court granted the couple bail after two days on a bond of Rs 15,000 each. The two were charged with violating NDPS Act sections 20(b)(ii)(A) (involving the minor quantity of narcotics), 8(c) (drug possession), and 27 (drug consumption).

It is worth mentioning that neither Bharti nor Haarsh have issued any statement regarding the 200-page charge sheet against them.

After that, the NCB filed an appeal with the sessions court, arguing that the bail was granted without the prosecution's input. The magistrate's order was deemed by the central agency to be "perverse, illegal, and terrible in law," and as such, it should be quashed.

The special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act court denied the revision application for technical reasons, and the agency then submitted a new application for the same issue. The Mumbai Sessions Court, reportedly, has not yet heard that application.

Also Read: BREAKING! Comedian Bharti Singh and her husband Haarsh Limbachiyaa arrested; NCB seized drugs from their home

BIGHIT Music, the South Korean juggernaut BTS’ agency, confirmed that all members of the group in the military and the group will resume their activities in 2025 after all seven of them have completed their service. The first member to serve in the military will be Jin. The members will accordingly enlist in the order of their solo endeavours. During a live session on the platform Weverse, Jin joined in from Argentina before his first performance of ‘The Astronaut’ with Coldplay at the latter’s concert.

The singer-songwriter revealed in Korean, as translated by media portal Soompi, “I originally planned to enlist in June (2022) but in order to be courteous to fans, I waited until our October performance [in Busan]. I didn’t want a tearful performance so my [enlistment] announcement was delayed.”

The military conscription announcement came two days after the World Expo 2030 Busan concert. Jin revealed that their album ‘BE’ would have been the last one before their military enlistment in 2020 but the song ‘Dynamite’ became so successful that they had anticipated, BTS decided that it was better to release ‘Butter’ and ‘Permission To Dance’ songs. He continued, “As the two songs did well, I honestly think it was right that I didn’t leave during that time.”

They wanted to hold a concert for the fans but they were scheduled for Grammy Awards 2021. He explained, “I don’t like cold weather so I got the ‘okay’ from the agency to go [enlist] in the summer between May and June. In June, we released a video about halting group [promotions] and focusing on solo [activities]. We were indirectly sharing that we were going to the military.”

However, Jin wanted to enlist during summer or spring but the Busan concert was scheduled for October 2022 due to which he had wait out more for his enlistment. Jin continued, “I thought a lot about whether to be courteous to fans and go to the military when it’s cold or not perform and go during the warm weather that I like. I didn’t want fans to watch our performance while being sad that we said it was the last.”

Under the current law, all able-bodied Korean men are obliged to serve in the military. But with the culture minister’s recommendation, international award-winning athletes and classical musicians can complete their service while remaining active professionally. They are called alternative service for 34 months. Three lawmakers proposed bills earlier in 2021 calling for those exemptions to apply to a wider range of artists. It is to be noted that the “BTS military service amendment” law was passed considering its clear implications for the group, which allows artists who receive the recommendation of the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to postpone their mandatory service until they turn 30 years old by international reckoning. As per the current law, BTS’ oldest member Jin, who turns 30 (international age) this year in 2022, has to enlist for military service by the end of 2022.

Addressing how unfair the criticism was towards BTS for delaying the enlistment, Jin said, “We just didn’t want a tearful [Busan] performance, but we received so much hate as people here and there said ‘it’s true they aren’t going’ or ‘they have to go.’ Although this is regretful, it’s a relief that fans didn’t have to watch a tear-filled concert. I got a bit of hate but I’m satisfied.”

The official statement was released on October 17, 2022. It read, "BIGHIT MUSIC is proud to announce today that the members of BTS are currently moving forward with plans to fulfill their military service. After the phenomenal concert to support Busan's bid for the World Expo 2030, and as each individual embarks on solo endeavors, it's the perfect time and the members of BTS are honored to serve."

"Since the creation of BTS over ten years ago, the band has risen to international success, broken records, and catapulted K-Pop into the global stratosphere. BIGHIT MUSIC has focused on the milestone moment when it would be possible to respect the needs of the country and for these healthy young men to serve with their countrymen, and that's now. Group member Jin will initiate the process as soon as his schedule for his solo release is concluded at the end of October. He will then follow the enlistment procedure of the Korean government. Other members of the group plan to carry out their military service based on their own individual plans. Both, the company and the members of BTS are looking forward to reconvening as a group again around 2025 following their service commitment," it continued.

"With the release of their first anthology album earlier this year, it opened the path to allow the members to take some time to explore individual projects. As part of the HYBE family, we support and encourage our artists and are beyond proud that they will each now have time to explore their unique interests and do their duty by being of service to the country they call home," it concluded.

Jin released his new single ‘The Astronaut’ on Friday, October 28 which is co-written by him and Coldplay. He did his first performance for the same at the Music Of The Spheres World tour joining Coldplay on stage in Argentina. The enlistment day of Jin is yet to be announced but as per Chris Martin’s address at the concert on Friday night, it seems like Jin will be heading to the military by December.

ALSO READ: BTS’ Jin finds his true home in ‘The Astronaut’ cinematic music video; Coldplay’s Chris Martin makes a cameo

A while back it was reported that choreographer turned director Bosco Martis would be directing a musical film titled Rocket Gang. Featuring Aditya Seal, Nikita Dutta, and others the film is all set to release on November 11 this year. Though there still is time till the venture hits screens, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the film will feature a very special guest appearance in the form of Brahmastra star Ranbir Kapoor.

Confirming the same a source close to the production tells us, “Yes, Ranbir Kapoor will be seen making a cameo in Rocket Gang. But unlike conventional guest appearances, the Kapoor lad will be seen in a special dance number in the film.” Ask for more details and the source continues, “Bosco developed a very close rapport with Ranbir Kapoor while choreographing him for Luv Ranjan’s film with Shraddha Kapoor. Since then the two have been in touch. So when Bosco was directing Rocket Gang he requested Ranbir to make a special appearance in the film. Knowing Ranbir, the actor can never turn down a friend, and readily agreed to feature in the special dance number.”

While it will be fun to see Ranbir Kapoor featuring in a musical after a while, Rocket Gang was initially slated to release in 2021. However, the release of the film was later pushed to November 2022 due to Covid.

Also Read: Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt celebrate their FIRST Diwali post marriage; Neetu Kapoor shares pics

Ranveer Singh, since his debut in Band Baaja Baaraat, has come a long way to become one of the most sought-after talents in the industry. In fact, given the actor’s repertoire of work and his immense fan following, Ranveer is inundated with film offers. Well adding yet another we hear is filmmaker Om Raut who is approached Ranveer to feature in his next.

Revealing details, a well-placed industry source informed Bollywood Hungama, “Yes, Om Raut has approached Ranveer to feature in his next ambitious film. The project will be a VFX-driven project wherein Om Raut is looking to use an AI-inspired technique to film the entire movie.” Ask the source about Ranveer Singh’s reaction and he continues, “So far Ranveer has liked the idea and basic concept of the venture. In fact, he is in talks with Om Raut for the film and the development of the script. But it is still too early to say anything.”

Though the source is adamant about the film being something definite, those close to the actor reveal, “Ranveer Singh gets a lot of film offers and likes quite a few of them. However, just because he liked it, does not mean that he will do it. Yes, Om Raut did have a meeting with Ranveer and did pitch an idea, which the latter liked. But there is nothing confirmed.”

While, whether the said venture is made eventually or not is uncertain, on the work front, Ranveer Singh will next be seen in Rohit Shetty’s Cirkus, followed by Karan Johar’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani.

Also Read: Marrakech International Film Festival to honour Ranveer Singh with Festival’s Étoile d’or, previously received by Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan & Aamir Khan

Having spun magic on the box office with his last film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, Kartik Aaryan seems to be in a ‘transformative’ mood. For his ready-for-release eerie film Freddy directed by Shashanka Ghosh, Kartik had to gain considerable weight to give a ‘weighty’ performance as a dentist on a rampage.

A well-informed source reveals, “Freddy is Kartik Aaryan’s most challenging role to date. He plays a dark eerie twisted character which will shock audiences.” Kartik’s character is apparently as grey as Shah Rukh’s Baazigar and Darr.

Since Kartik had to play a character older than his actual age, Kartik insisted on bulking himself up.

“The director suggested prosthetics. But Kartik wanted no artificiality in his acting ambit on this occasion. Freddy is as raw and real as it can get. And Kartik wanted the character to look as determinedly authentic as possible,” says the source.

Was it tough for Kartik to put on the kilos? “Not at all. He only had to tuck into his mother’s cooking for a few weeks to bulk up,” says the source.

Also Read: Kartik Aaryan unveils his stunning look in the upcoming movie Freddy

The Katrina Kaif – Vijay Sethupathi starrer Merry Christmas directed by Sriram Raghavan was slated to hit screens in December this year. Interestingly, with this release date, the psychological thriller would clash at the box office with the Tiger Shroff starrer Ganapath and the Ranveer Singh starrer Cirkus. However, now we hear that the makers of the film have decided to postpone the release of the film.

Talking about the change in release date a well-placed industry source tells Bollywood Hungama, “Initially Merry Christmas was to release on December 23, but with Ganapath and Cirkus releasing on the same day it will be a massive fight at the box office. In such a case, the film would face immense competition to entice the audience. To avoid such a scenario and of course to ensure Merry Christmas gets enough eyeballs and to maximize its revenue the producers have decided on altering the release of their film.” Prod the source for more details about the new release date and he adds, “Currently, the makers of Merry Christmas are looking for an ideal date that provides the venture with an open window at the box office. Once that has been decided, the makers will release an official announcement of the release date being pushed, along with the new release date.”

However, denying the news of the delay in the release of Merry Christmas, Ramesh Taurani says, “As of today nothing has changed. Merry Christmas is still coming on the date announced and will release on December 23.”

As for the film itself, Merry Christmas is an edge-of-the-seat thriller and is produced by Ramesh Taurani under his banner Tips.

Also Read: Katrina Kaif talks about her projects Merry Christmas and Tiger 3; reveals what makes her say yes to a script 

Superstar Hrithik Roshan recently released his much-awaited action thriller, Vikram Vedha. Though it didn’t hit the bullseye at the box office, his stardom is intact and so is the excitement for his upcoming film, Fighter. The moviegoers and even the trade are excited about it for multiple reasons – it brings together Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone for the first time, it is directed by Siddharth Anand of Bang Bang (2014), War (2019) and Pathaan (2023) fame, and also because it’s one-of-its-kind aerial action entertainer from Bollywood.

Today, the makers of Fighter announced that their film, which was supposed to release on September 30, 2023, has now been postponed to January 25, 2024. The biggie will now release on Republic Day, 1 ½ years from now.

Interestingly, this means that Salaar will now enjoy a solo release. Starring pan-India star Prabhas, it is directed by Prashanth Neel of KGF fame. Hombale Films, which backed KGF and the recent surprise blockbuster Kantara (2022), are the producers of Salaar. Apart from Prabhas, it also stars Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruti Haasan and Jagapathi Babu. It is scheduled for a release on September 28, 2023

An industry expert told Bollywood Hungama, “It would have been a gigantic clash of titans had Fighter and Salaar released on the same day. Both are very big films with huge budgets. Many were hoping that these films would come solo, especially the exhibitors. The news of Fighter’s postponement has made many stakeholders happy.”

The expert continued, “It is unlikely that some other Bollywood biggie would come in place of Fighter and clash with Salaar. It is too big a film as it brings together Prabhas and Prashanth Neel. It is bound to generate excitement and will be one of the record openers of 2023 in all languages.”

Meanwhile, had Fighter and Salaar clashed, it would have meant the second clash between a film of Hrithik Roshan and Vijay Kiragandur’s Hombale Films. Earlier this year, both Vikram Vedha and Kantara’s original Kannada version were released on September 30. Motivated by its success, its makers quickly dubbed the film in Hindi and released it on October 14. At present, it is doing successful business in cinemas.

Fighter, meanwhile, is backed by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix, and is produced by Siddharth Anand, Jyoti Deshpande, Ajit Andhare, Mamta Anand, Ramon Chibb and Anku Pande.

Also Read: Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter takes the Brahmastra VFX team onboard

A few weeks back popular TV personality Shilpa Shinde was evicted from the dance-reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 10. It seems even after her eviction, she is following the show, and her latest video posts on her Instagram are proof of it. However, in the videos, she is not praising the show, but slamming the judges' panel - which includes Karan Johar, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Nora Fatehi.

The former Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai actress shared two videos, in which she can be seen talking about JDJ10 contestants Rubina Dilaik and Nia Sharma, and the comments of judges on their recent performances. A furious Shilpa wrote, “It’s my humble request to all the judges of Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa,” in the caption of her video.

In the video, Shinde briefly talked about television actress Nia Sharma’s performance where the judges pointed out faults. Taking a jibe at Karan Johar, Shilpa asked if the producer was going to offer Nia a Dharma Productions film, according to how she performed that day.

She continued to slam the judges and asked them what they wanted to see in a mere 3-minute dancing act. She further added whether Karan was going to hand the contestants an Oscar or National Award for their performance. While speaking her mind on the matter, she emphasises how the celebrity contestants go the extra mile to give a flawless act.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shilpa Shinde (@shilpa_shinde_official)

In the video, Shilpa lauded the efforts of the participants as she mentioned that the performers put all their heart and soul into the 3-minute act. Although Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa is supposed to be an entertainment show, it is being treated no less than a competition, stated the actress. While talking about contestant Rubika Dilaik’s dance video, Shilpa highlighted that the former could have met with an accident while performing the dangerous dance feat.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Shilpa Shinde (@shilpa_shinde_official)

Concluding her video, she urged fans to watch the dance reality show for entertainment purposes. In the end, with joined hands, Shilpa asked the judges' panel to respect the performers and refrain from pointing out unnecessary mistakes.

Also Read: Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 10: Rubina Dilaik suffers neck and shoulder injuries; shares pic on Instagram

In December 2020 maverick filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker announced that he would be making a film on the success of the popular FMCG chain brand Lijjat Papads. Presented under the banner of Ashutosh Gowariker Productions; the film, titled Karram Kurram was to be directed by Glenn Baretto and Ankush Mohla who have assisted Ashutosh in the past. In fact, the makers had also roped in Kiara Advani to feature in the project. Well, now we hear that the actress has decided to opt-out of the project.

Says a source close to the project to Bollywood Hungama, “Initially Kiara had signed on to feature in Karram Kurram. However, now she has decided to bow out of the same. Apparently, Kiara feels that the film isn’t commercial enough and she does not think that it will be a perfect fit for her as well.” Ask the source if the makers of the film will be announcing a new female lead for the venture and he adds, “So far the announcement of Kiara backing out has not been made official, but they will definitely announce a new lead once locked.”

As for the film, Karram Kurram narrates the story of a woman who started a women's cooperative organization to bring together six other housewives to earn for their households. Today, the mahila griha udyog organization has sustained the households of thousands of women for over six decades. As for Kiara Advani, the actress who was last seen in JugJugg Jeeyo will next feature in Govinda Naam Mera, followed by the Telugu film RC15, and the Kartik Aaryan starrer Satyaprem Ki Katha.

Also Read: Kiara Advani’s blue velvet lehenga by Sureena Chowdhri will amp up your festive wardrobe

Fighter starring Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone is set to go on floors soon. This marks the actor's second collaboration with filmmaker Siddharth Anand after 2019's blockbuster, War. The film will have India's first aerial sequences as the project is around the story of the Indian Air Force. While Siddharth Anand is penning the script, he is joined by ex-Army officer Ramon Chibb. He will bring his army experience as he takes on the role of screenplay writer, and will share the story-writing credits with Anand. The film was slated to release on September 30, 2023. Now, it has been postponed to 2024 Republic Day. Celebrating India's 75th Republic Day, the action-packed large-screen spectacle by Viacom18 Studios and Marflix Pictures is set to release on January 25, 2024.

Hrithik Roshan on Friday took to Twitter to make the announcement. He shared the first poster and wrote, "25th January 2024- see you at the theatres! #Fighter."

25th January 2024- see you at the theatres! #Fighter pic.twitter.com/ywdLeTmwnI

— Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) October 28, 2022

Fighter will see Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as Indian Air Force pilots. The film also stars Anil Kapoor in a major role. Turning producer with Fighter, director Siddharth Anand, who is known for helming India’s biggest action films is pulling out all stops to set up this massive spectacle, set to grip audiences with a never before big screen experience.  With producer & Viacom18 Studio’s COO Ajit Andhare's vision of bringing an international-scale action film to Indian cinema, the film intends to appeal to a global audience with its story deeply rooted in India. Shot across the world, it promises state-of-the-art techniques and technology in making the film.

Fighter will reportedly kick off on November 15 with Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone. They will be shooting high-octane action and dramatic sequences. The film will be VFX-heavy as well and the Brahmastra VFX team is on board for the same.  The Double Negative (DNEG), the VFX company responsible for Brahmastra’s visual effects, will work with the Fighter team.

Meanwhile, Siddharth Anand is currently busy with the much-anticipated film Pathaan which stars Deepika Padukone alongside Shah Rukh Khan and John Abraham. On the other hand, Hrithik Roshan was last seen on the big screen in the Hindi remake of Vikram Vedha with Saif Ali Khan which was released on September 30, 2022. Deepika Padukone has an array of line up including a film with Prabhas, The Intern remake, Pathaan, and more.

ALSO READ: Hrithik Roshan-Deepika Padukone starrer Fighter takes the Brahmastra VFX team onboard