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Why F1 the Movie should win the best picture Oscar

It may not be in pole position, but Brad Pitt and director Joseph Kosinski’s sleek, technically inventive ode to motor racing definitely qualifies for the Academy podium Could, should, would F1 the Movie win the best picture Oscar? Well, we have to be realistic here: F1 is currently a massive outsider, at 200-1 along with The Secret Agent , which has no chance either but for very different reasons. It’s not hard to see why: this is a swaggeringly mainstream film, where tech and branding dwarf the human input, with the film itself acting as a front-end battering ram for a sports organisation desperate to break into the promised land of the US auto racing circuit. (I mean it’s right there in the title.) So even the most reactionary, conservative Academy voter is going to find it hard to mark F1 with their tick. So no, I don’t think it could win. That’s not to say F1 doesn’t have quite a bit going for it. The Oscars, as we know, have historically had a problem with so-called “popular” ...

Akshay Kumar hangs upside down in spooky new Bhooth Bangla poster; teaser to drop on March 12

The makers of Bhooth Bangla have unveiled a brand-new poster featuring Akshay Kumar, offering fans another intriguing glimpse into the film’s quirky horror-comedy world. The poster announcement also comes with exciting news — the teaser of the film is set to be released on Thursday, March 12. Shared by Balaji Motion Pictures, the newly released visual highlights the film’s playful blend of spooky thrills and comedy. In the poster, Akshay Kumar is seen hanging upside down from a tree branch, sporting a hilariously eerie expression that mixes mischief with madness. The unusual pose instantly grabs attention and hints at the film’s unconventional narrative style. The background further enhances the spooky vibe, with a dark forest setting and bats fluttering around the actor. Despite the eerie elements, the image maintains a light-hearted tone, suggesting that Bhooth Bangla will lean heavily into comic mayhem while playing with supernatural themes.   View this post on Instagram ...

The Tasters review – wartime historical drama about Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair food samplers

A shallow, unconvincing storyline and deeply uncomfortable scenes as starving women, unaware of why they are there, are fed titbits Did Hitler really have food tasters? Was his inner circle so paranoid about the risk of assassination by poisoning that young women were forced to sample every dish that was due to pass his lips? That was the account given to a German newspaper in 2012 by the then 95-year-old Margot Wölk, who claimed to have been one of Hitler’s food tasters . Historians have pointed to lack of evidence, with nothing in the records to back up her witness testimony. Whatever the veracity of the story, it has been turned into a shaky, unconvincing historical drama by Silvio Soldini, whose film is an adaptation of a novel by Rosella Postorino. Elisa Schlott plays the fictional Rosa, a young woman from Berlin whose soldier husband is missing on the eastern front. After heavy bombing in the city, she flees to her in-laws in east Prussia close to Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair military ...

Hurun Global Rich List 2026: Ramayana producer Namit Malhotra joins India’s Billionaire Club as nation reaches 308 billionaires

India’s billionaire ranks continue to expand, with the latest Hurun Global Rich List 2026 adding 57 new names and pushing the country’s total tally to 308 billionaires. Among the notable entrants this year is filmmaker and visual effects entrepreneur Namit Malhotra, whose journey from a modest editing setup in his father’s garage to heading one of the world’s most celebrated VFX studios that will now be producing the much-awaited Ranbir Kapoor, Yash starrer Ramayana, has become a remarkable success story. Malhotra is the founder and CEO of DNEG, the global visual effects and animation company known for its work on several award-winning international films. Over the years, DNEG has earned multiple Academy Awards for its groundbreaking VFX contributions to Hollywood productions, cementing its reputation as a powerhouse in the global film industry. Beyond his work in visual effects, Malhotra has also been actively involved in large-scale film production. He is currently backing one of t...

Samantha Ruth Prabhu in talks to join Salman Khan in Raj & DK’s upcoming superhero comedy: Report

A new development has emerged around the upcoming film being developed by filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK. Just days after reports surfaced that Salman Khan had been roped in to headline the project, fresh updates suggest that actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu is also in discussions to join the film. The director duo, popularly known as Raj & DK, are widely recognised for creating successful streaming series such as The Family Man and Guns & Gulaabs, while also backing films as producers. With their next venture, the filmmakers are reportedly aiming for a larger cinematic scale, bringing together a unique blend of genres. According to a report in Mid-Day, Samantha is currently being considered for a key role in the project. A source told the publication, “Samantha is very much in the conversation. She shares a strong creative equation with the makers, and they feel she fits the part." Bollywood Hungama had earlier reported that Salman Khan’s role in the film will offe...

Tamil star Vijay told to appear before CBI in Karur stampede case

The walls seem to be closing in on Vijay, both personally and professionally. While his defiant stance on his alleged relationship with actress Trisha took a dramatic turn when the two appeared together at a wedding, on the professional front, Vijay is facing the music over a stampede case on September 27 last year resulting in the deaths of more than 40 people. Now, Vijay has been asked to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an enquiry into the Karur stampede case. However, sources close to Vijay say the actor-politician is in the “chill mode”. “He is taking it all on the chin. Vijay feels all of these problems are happening to him simultaneously with a reason. God wants him to tackle all the problems headlong and emerge stronger. He also feels there is a concerted effort to downsize his image by political opponents. But Vijay is unperturbed.” Also Read: Thalapathy Vijay spotted with Trisha Krishnan at wedding reception amid reports of marital trouble fr...

Singer-Composer Leslee Lewis makes Bollywood playback comeback after 26 years

Veteran singer-composer Leslee Lewis is set to make a comeback as a playback singer in Hindi cinema after a gap of 26 years, marking a significant moment in his long musical journey. Known for shaping India’s Indi-pop movement in the 1990s, Lewis is returning with the song Zorr Ka Dhakka, which will mark his re-entry into Bollywood playback singing. Lewis rose to national fame as part of the iconic duo Colonial Cousins alongside Hariharan. Their fusion of Indian classical and Western pop in the mid-1990s helped redefine the independent music scene in India and earned them international recognition, including the MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award and the Billboard Viewer’s Choice Award. Speaking about his return, Lewis shared his excitement about reconnecting with Bollywood after decades. “I was relevant then and I’m still relevant now,” he said while discussing his comeback and his continued passion for music. He added that singing for a composition by another musician after so many yea...

Terraforma review – unhurried portrait of Ascension Island’s human-made nature

Documentary reflects on how Victorian botanists began to remodel a barren ocean outpost, but omits some crucial environmental and social questions From the dark belly of the ocean rises Ascension Island, a rocky outpost in the Atlantic Ocean born from volcanic eruptions and sediments accumulated over millions of years. While its formation feels like an act of cosmic creation, much of its landscape is human-made. During the Victorian era, British botanists brought plants to be cultivated locally, transforming a once barren land into a green oasis. Using this example as a starting point, Kevin Brennan and Laurence Durkin’s unhurried documentary contemplates the evolution of “terraforming,” a much-theorised ecological process in which humans alter a hostile environment to their needs. Visually, this film unfolds in a series of static vignettes, which largely capture the natural topography of Ascension. Cracked lava fields and golden sands give way to lush forests, conjuring a striking c...

Alia Bhatt, Sharvari starrer Alpha locks July 10, 2026 for its theatrical release

The upcoming YRF Spy Universe film Alpha, starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has officially locked its theatrical release date. The much-anticipated spy thriller is scheduled to hit cinemas on July 10, 2026, marking a significant addition to the blockbuster franchise created by Yash Raj Films. Directed by Shiv Rawail, Alpha is expected to be the first female-led installment in the YRF Spy Universe, which previously delivered major box-office successes with films such as Pathaan and War 2. The film places two women at the centre of a high-octane espionage narrative, expanding the scope of the franchise that has so far largely revolved around male protagonists. While the makers have kept specific plot details under wraps, the film is described as a gritty, globe-trotting espionage thriller. The narrative reportedly follows Alia Bhatt and Sharvari as elite secret agents undertaking a high-stakes mission. Unlike some of the more stylised entries in the spy franchise, Alpha is said to adop...

Darsheel Safary joins Mohit Raina and Priya Mani in upcoming international film based on a true story

Actor Darsheel Safary has officially joined the cast of an upcoming cross-border international feature film that also stars Mohit Raina and National Award-winning actor Priya Mani. The yet-untitled project is being mounted as a global co-production between Mumbai-based Azure Entertainment and US-based Red Bison Productions. The film will mark the first on-screen collaboration between Mohit Raina and Priya Mani, bringing together two performers known for their work across both theatrical cinema and streaming platforms. With Darsheel Safary joining the ensemble, the project brings together actors from different cinematic spaces, spanning mainstream films, prestige streaming content, and internationally recognised storytelling formats. According to the makers, the film is positioned as a premium international project and is expected to be released on a global streaming platform. The story will reportedly explore themes of identity, resilience, and human connection across borders while b...