After the massive success of Kabir Singh, Shahid Kapoor will essay the role of a cricketer in the Hindi remake of the Telugu film, Jersey. The actor had commenced shooting in Chandigarh earlier this year when the shooting was halted amid the coronavirus pandemic in March. The actor recently resumed work and has already wrapped up the film schedule in Uttarakhand. Now, he is set to fly to Chandigarh.

According to sources, “Shahid Kapoor has been prepping to shoot crucial sequences. He will commence the Chandigarh schedule of Jersey on November 9. The makers plan to shoot important cricket sequences. It will be a 15-day schedule for Shahid Kapoor and the Jersey team.”

Jersey stars Mrunal Thakur and Pankaj Kapur. It is a remake of the Telugu film with the same starring Nani. The film is being directed by Gowtam Tinnanauri who helmed the critically acclaimed and commercially successful original as well.

Produced by Allu Aravind, Aman Gill, Dil Raju, the film was scheduled for August 28, 2020 release. Due to the pandemic, most of the productions have been pushed to 2021.

ALSO READ: Shahid Kapoor wraps up Jersey schedule, thanks Uttarakhand government for the support during the shooting

It seems like Abhishek Bachchan has signed his next project. While the reports stated that Abhishek Bachchan was set to star in Dinesh Vijan’s Dasvi, it was also reported that Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur have been roped in as the leading ladies.

With Abhishek Bachchan headlining the project, his role is quite interesting. According to the grapevine, the actor will be seen in a “never-before-seen avatar. He is set to play the role of an illiterate play corrupt Chief Minister in Dinesh Vijan’s Dasvi.”

While the inspiration behind the role is yet to be known, we have to wait to see what kind of portrayal Abhishek Bachchan will essay on the big screen.” Interestingly, he starred in Ram Gopal Varma’s Sarkar Raj in which he was the son of a corrupt politician, played by his father Amitabh Bachchan.

The film will have two leading ladies – Yami Gautam and Nimrat Kaur. Though their roles are kept under wraps, it seems like they will also have pivotal roles to play. The official announcement is yet to be made by Dinesh Vijan.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Bachchan is awaiting the release of The Big Bull. Directed by Kookie Gulati and produced by Ajay Devgn, Anand Pandit, and Vikrant Sharma, Kumar Mangat Pathak, the film will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar. The official date is yet to be announced. Yami  Gautam, on the other hand, is currently shooting for Bhoot Police.

ALSO READ: “I can’t believe you’ve turned 40” – Abhishek Bachchan pens heartfelt post for Sikander Kher on his birthday

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who recently returned to work with Kaun Banega Crorepati 12, has come under fire. An FIR has been filed in Lucknow against the makers of KBC 12 and Amitabh Bachchan for hurting Hindu sentiments.

Social activist Bezwada Wilson and actor Anup Soni appeared on the latest episode of the shot and the question was Rs 6,40,000. The question was, “On 25 December 1927, Dr BR Ambedkar and his followers burned copies of which scripture?” The options that were provided were, “(A). Vishnu Purana (B). Bhagavad Gita, (C). Rigdev (D). Manusmriti.”

As the answer was Manusmriti, Amitabh Bachchan went onto explain how Dr. BR Ambedkar had burnt copies of Hindu text Manusmriti and condemned by him in 1927. This explanation did not sit well with netizens. They said that this hurt Hindu sentiments.

ALSO READ: Amitabh Bachchan and Ekta Kapoor cancel Diwali parties this year on account of Rishi Kapoor’s death

With the world dealing with pandemic and the rise of coronavirus cases have been quite disturbing, the festive season seems to be more remote this year. Amid the pandemic, many celebrities won’t be organizing their parties this year. In April, actor Rishi Kapoor passed away after his prolonged battle with leukemia. Amitabh Bachchan, a close friend of Kapoor and considered him as a younger brother, won’t be hosting his annual Diwali party this year.

They were close friends, worked together in several films and he was Shweta Bachchan’s uncle as she is married to Rishi Kapoor’s nephew Nikhil Nanda.  Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor worked in films like Amar Akbar Anthony, Coolie, Kabhie Kabhie, Ajooba, and others. Their last work together was in 2018's 102 Not Out.

Following suit, Ekta Kapoor has also decided to cancel her annual party as well. While they were not related, Ekta’s family considered Rishi Kapoor as family.

Rishi Kapoor had returned to India in September last year after being treated for cancer in New York for nearly a year. While he was in New York, his wife Neetu Kapoor was by his side throughout. His son Ranbir Kapoor and girlfriend Alia Bhatt would often visit the ailing Rishi Kapoor.

ALSO READ: RIP Sean Connery: Ranveer Singh, Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and other Bollywood celebs pay tribute to original James Bond

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Akshay Kumar became one of the first A-List actors; whose film opted for a direct-to-digital release, as his upcoming horror comedy, Laxmii is confirmed to premiere on Disney+ Hotstar this Diwali. Ever since the trailer was unveiled on October 9, the exhibition sector has been hopeful and making some noise on social media, requesting Akshay Kumar, and the producers of Laxmii to release the film in theatres. While the national multiplex chains have cleared their stance of not releasing any film that is releasing on OTT platforms, the smaller exhibitors and single screen owners, who form a majority in terms of screen count, are more than open to screen the film, since they are confident that Akshay Kumar will get the audiences back in cinema halls.

Bollywood Hungama has exclusively discovered that a theatrical release for Laxmii is not possible in India and even though the exhibition sector is open for screening the film, the producers would not be open to even have a conversation. “There have been speculations that multiplexes have refused to screen Laxmii, but the fact lies that the producers of Laxmii have never even intended to release the film simultaneously in cinema halls. They have been firm on the stand of bringing the film only on OTT platform in India, and at this point of time, the stance won’t change at all, thereby no conversations will even take place from their end to discuss the terms and condition of release,” a highly placed source told us on the condition of anonymity.

Interestingly, the exhibitors claim that they were made to sign a contract by Fox Star Studios in May to screen Laxmmi Bomb (title back then) on the big screen on Eid, since the film was clashing with Salman Khan’s Radhe. “Yes, it was a contract to make an attempt to secure more screens against Radhe on Eid by clubbing two films together and it’s an industry practice. However, no one knew of the pandemic back then. Things have changed and the contract now stands cancelled due to the unprecedented scenario. It was a contract exclusively for Eid, with the date going by, the contract stands cancelled and void,” the source further told us.

Opening up about the reason for non-theatrical release, the source finally concluded, “Though it's all in the same umbrella, the film was under the banner of Fox Star Studios, which is now a redundant entity. They had signed Hotstar for a digital release, and the contract clearly mentioned that the film can’t release in cinema halls in the countries where Hotstar has a strong presence. With India being a key market for them, with a solid subscriber base, they are bound to follow the terms of contract at this point of time. Hotstar or Disney+ Hotstar does not have a strong presence in the overseas belt where the film is releasing theatrically. Until and unless, they amend or rescind the contract, a theatrical release won’t happen.”

With just a week more left for a release, we would request the exhibitors to not be hopeful for a theatrical release of Laxmii this Diwali.

Also Read: BREAKING: Amid backlash, Akshay Kumar starrer Laxmmi Bomb renamed as Laxmii