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Filmmaker Mohit Suri has recreated a large-scale music festival for his next film, marking the Bollywood debut of Ahaan Panday. The sequence, shot over the past week at Vrundavan Studios in Malad, features 1,000 background artistes. It portrays Panday’s character performing on stage with a lively crowd responding to his music. Aneet Padda, last seen in Big Girls Don’t Cry (2024), is also part of the scene. Suri has designed the sequence to reflect the vibrancy of a live concert. A Grand Music Festival Setup Music has always been an integral part of Mohit Suri’s films, from Woh Lamhe (2006) to Aashiqui 2 (2013), and his upcoming project follows the same tradition. The director has meticulously crafted a massive festival-like atmosphere with pulsating lights, LED screens, and smoke machines. A report by Mid-Day quoted a source saying, “The set-up is massive—pulsating lights, LED screens, smoke machines, and a roaring crowd of over 1,000, all moving in sync to the music.” Ahaan Panday’s ...

Character and plots of Ian Fleming’s original literary works become open for public use in most countries in 2035 Amazon may have captured James Bond, paying billions to get creative control of the super spy, but a clock is now ticking that means 007 – or at least a version of him – could escape into the wider world in a decade’s time. The character and plots of the original literary works by creator Ian Fleming become open for public use in most countries in 2035, raising the prospect of Bond starring in rival film and TV stories of espionage, comedy or even horror. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/aeVYxJ3 via IFTTT

Warrant raises questions about scattered pills, after Betsy Arakawa’s body had ‘mummification in hands’ An active investigation is under way into the deaths of the Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, the classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, after their bodies were found “in a state of decomposition” along with that of one of their dogs in their home in New Mexico , the local sheriff’s department has confirmed. The local gas provider, the New Mexico Gas Co, was involved in the investigation alongside the Santa Fe county sheriff’s department, the Associated Press reported, raising speculation that carbon monoxide poisoning was behind the deaths. The emergence later on Thursday of a search warrant, however, cast doubts about a possible gas leak and raised alternative questions about the discovery of prescription pills near Arakawa’s body. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/jbLuT6Z via IFTTT

Aadar Jain found himself in the midst of backlash from netizens as videos from his wedding with Alekha Advani went viral on social media. While the latter was already receiving flak for marrying her friend’s former boyfriend, Jain faced the wrath of many for calling his past relationships ‘timepass’. Followed by the same, now, Tara Sutaria’s mother Tina Sutaria has reacted to the statement and shared a note on ‘disrespectful boyfriends’. Without taking any names, Tina Sutaria opened up about disrespectful behaviour of men, especially boyfriends, insisting that they should only behave the way, they would with their mother or would want other men to behave with their daughters. In the note, she said, “If your boyfriend/husband ever says anything disrespectful to you, tell him to write it down on a piece of paper, get in his car, drive and deliver it to his mother, or simply hand it to his daughter. If he can’t say it to his mother or doesn’t want another man to one day say it to his dau...

Set against the backdrop of Uttar Pradesh, Doree recently returned to Colors television with its second season as a grown up Doree continues her fight against female infanticide and women empowerment. She is accompanied by her father Ganga essayed by Amar Updhayay. However, in the recent development, the latter is locked in jail in a false case against him. Owing to the same, the actor has been missing from the screen. However, recent reports have a different theory as they claim that the actor is planning on quitting the show. Recent reports have stated that Amar Upadhyay is not happy with the track of his story and hence, decided to bid adieu to Doree 2. According to a report on ETimes, considering the current plotline, where Doree is married to the lawyer Mann Thakur where the storyline focuses on their track and the challenges she faces in the Thakur household, Amar Upadhyay doesn’t have much screen time. Hence the actor hasn’t been shooting much for the second season. The reports...

The wait is almost over! The much-anticipated teaser of Sikandar, with powerhouse trio of Salman Khan, Sajid Nadiadwala and director A.R. Murugadoss, is all set to premiere on February 27 at 3:33 PM. Fans have been eagerly awaiting a first look at the action-packed entertainer, and the countdown has officially begun. Announcing the teaser release, the makers took to social media, stating, "The wait is almost over. Set your reminders to see a glimpse of Sikandar tomorrow at 3:33 PM! #SikandarTeaser LOADING”. This exciting message has already created a frenzy among moviegoers, with speculation about the film’s storyline, star cast, and visual spectacle running high. “Can't wait”, “Koi bat nai sabr ka fal mitha”, “Ab hoya Sikandar ka rule”, “Bahut hi jyada excited hu”, were some of the comments made by fans who have expressed their anticipation post the announcement.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Nadiadwala Grandson (@nadiadwalagrandson) Though details abo...

Woody Harrelson and Simu Liu star in a terrifyingly well-constructed adaptation of a documentary about a nightmarish accident It does not take much to convince that, as an opening title card for Last Breath states, the job of a saturation diver is one of the most dangerous on earth. The facts, also summarily listed in the survival thriller’s introduction, speak for themselves: thousands of miles of pipeline traverse the ocean, dependent on human divers to maintain them; said divers spend days in pressurized chambers to reach depths of more than 1,000ft (300 meters), in near-freezing darkness. It may as well be outer space, as the fiancee of one diver bluntly but correctly puts it. Thankfully, Last Breath, Alex Parkinson’s feature film adaptation of his 2019 documentary of the same name , lets the divers’ work – a maze of levers, pulleys, gas valves, imposing machines and the human capacity to detach from existential risk – largely speak for itself as well. And luckily for viewers, su...

The second feature from John Maclean is an almost surreal tale of itinerant martial arts performers and a band of thieves in 18th-century Scotland J ohn Maclean ’s new movie is a dour, pessimistic, almost surrealistically downbeat revenge western set in Scotland in the late 18th century – but it could as well be happening in some post-apocalyptic landscape of the distant future or on another planet. This is the follow-up to his debut Slow West , and as with that film it is shot by Robbie Ryan with music by Jed Kurzel (director Justin’s brother and collaborator). I have to admit, though, that this does not quite have the energy or the fluency of that previous film, perhaps not the same production resources either – and by comparison it is more strenuously contrived. Yet the pure strangeness of the movie commands attention and there is a charismatic lead performance by Japanese actor-musician Mitsuki Kimura, or Kôki. She plays a dancer called Tornado, who travels around what looks like...

Dharma Productions signs Haneef Adeni, the director of the recent commercial & critical Malayalam cinematic success, Marco. The film promises to be a high impact actioner with a strong beating heart. Haneef has an impressive filmography to his name, starting from The Great Father in 2017 to Mikhael in 2019 and following with the success of the standalone spin off - Marco. While Haneef etched his niche with the gruesome relentless action film, he will be bringing his forte and a keen eye towards slick and real thrill that has audiences hooked. Adeni is ready to lead this new film with Dharma Productions which is said to be made in Hindi and other languages too. Dharma Productions who have kickstarted 2025 with only positive steps towards expanding their cinematic journey, such as introducing their distribution wing and on the cusp of many releases lined up for the upcoming months, ranging in different genres. The onboarding of Haneef Adeni introduces a fresh wave of promising big s...

For weeks, speculations have been swirling about Palak Tiwari and King coming together as an on-screen romantic pair. However, in a surprising twist, sources close to the project have put all those rumors to rest - King won’t be playing Palak’s love interest but instead, her brother in an upcoming web series! The project, which remains untitled for now, is said to be a 9-part series, making it one of the most anticipated collaborations. While fans were expecting sparks to fly between the two in a love story, this unexpected sibling duo is already generating major buzz. “Everyone assumed their chemistry would be romantic, but this project is all about family bonds. It’s a refreshing change from the usual on-screen pairings,” a source revealed. King, the popular rapper and singer, has been making waves in the music industry, and his foray into acting has fans eager to see what he brings to the table. The musician, who has collaborated with Indian and international performers, has even ...

Mumbai’s most iconic celebrity residence, Mannat, is set to undergo a massive transformation, and with that, Shah Rukh Khan and his family are preparing for a temporary shift. Starting this May, construction workers are expected to kick off an extensive renovation work will begin at his residence, while fans of the superstar will definitely be disappointed as they wouldn’t be able to spot the celebrity superstar who makes appearances on the terrace to meet his fans occasionally. Sources have revealed to Hindustan Times that the renovation is expected to last two years, and that the new residence may include two additional floors which was added to the Mannat annexe - for which Gauri Khan had sought approval from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) in November last year. Meanwhile, during this period, Shah Rukh Khan, Gauri Khan, and their children are reportedly going to relocate to Pali Hill, where the superstar has allegedly leased four floors in a luxury apart...

On Tuesday, Netflix sparked excitement by announcing its upcoming compelling mystery thriller that marks the much-anticipated Netflix series debut of Parineeti Chopra. Featuring an enviable ensemble of Tahir Raj Bhasin of Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein fame, veteran actor Anup Soni, fan favourite icon Jennifer Winget, heartthrob Chaitannya Choudhry, multi-talented Sumeet Vyas, seasoned actor Soni Razdan and Kohrra actress Harleen Sethi, the series is expected to captivate audiences with the serene and mysterious hills of Shimla, serving as the perfect backdrop. Produced by the acclaimed Siddharth P Malhotra, director of Maharaj and Sapna Malhotra of Alchemy Productions and written and Directed by the visionary writer Rensil D'Silva of Rang De Basanti and Ungli fame, the currently ‘untitled’ series promises a gripping blend of intrigue and suspense. This outstanding ensemble is one for the books with an intriguing star cast that has definitely left fans excited. Netflix dropped a series o...

The historic capital of China is rendered in gloriously intricate detail, but this animated feature feels like a state-sponsored history lesson The first thing you need to know about this animated feature from China is that it is 168 minutes long, or two hours and 48 minutes. That’s a lot of time to spend watching a story about Chinese poet/warriors from the eighth century, celebrated via a screenplay that’s dense with historical incident drawn from the subjects’ biographies. If you know nothing about this period of history, which unfolds during the Tang dynasty, you’ll certainly learn a lot, but you’ll need to pay close attention to the welter of journeys to far-flung provinces, battles fought in mountain passes, and characters of note met along the way. The two main characters are governor and general Gao Shi (voiced as a young man by Yang Tianxiang, as an elder by Wu Junquan) and poet Li Bai (Ling Zhenhe and then Xuan Xiaoming). The latter was considered one of the greatest poets ...

Melancholy documentary follows the owner of a ‘night moving’ business in Japan, helping people abandon their own lives ‘Johatsu” means evaporation in Japanese, and is used to refer to those people who choose to disappear, severing all ties with their past lives and their families. It became a phenomenon in Japan in the 1960s, and intensified during the 1990s as the country struggled with a debt crisis. While some plot their departures on their own, others call on the services of “night movers”: companies that help people vanish without trace. Following the owner of one such business named Saita, Andreas Hartmann’s and Arata Mori’s poignant documentary surveys the circumstances that drive people to desperate measures. Unfolding like a suspense thriller, the opening sees a man hurriedly get inside Saita’s van, his voice trembling with fear. Unable to cope with a possessive partner, he finally manages to flee. Interviews with Saita’s other clients reveal that, besides financial catastro...

Screen Actors Guild awards go to Shōgun and Conclave ensembles, while Jane Fonda gives a rousing political speech while accepting a life achievement award Timothée Chalamet has won best actor in a surprise upset at the 2025 Screen Actors Guild awards for his performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, with Demi Moore and the ensembles of Shōgun and Conclave also winning big. Chalamet won best male actor in a leading role, his first in an awards race that has been led all season by The Brutalist’s Adrien Brody, who has picked up the Golden Globe, Bafta and Critics’ Choice awards and is still widely predicted to win the Oscar next week. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/160WIFe via IFTTT

On Sunday, Kangana Ranaut penned a series of notes on her Instagram story where she called out ‘films’ promoting ‘divorces’ without naming any. However, internet and audiences were quick to realize that the actress has shared her two cents over the ongoing debate on Mrs. wherein Sanya Malhotra portrays a frustrated housewife, who loses her cool, after she gets married into a misogynist household. While many Indian wives have showcased their support towards the film and calling out such ‘patriarchal’ norms and attitudes, Kangana believes that such films ‘corrupt’ people’s thoughts on marriage. “Growing up, I never saw a woman who didn’t command her household, ordered everyone when to eat when to sleep and when to go out, asked her husband about every penny that he spent and he obligated. Only conflicts were his boys outings and frequent drinking evenings with friends. Whenever papa wanted to eat out with us she scolded us all because cooking for us was her joy. This way, she could cont...

She won hearts with True Romance – and an Oscar for Boyhood. The actor reflects on her TV show Severance, political chaos in the US and why human beings are a disaster If escaping the world by running for the hills looks increasingly attractive to many of us – perhaps living on a commune – Patricia Arquette feels like that too. Head to the mountains, she says. “Plant seeds and farm.” But maybe not the commune part – she lived in one as a child and it wasn’t always utopian. If our conversation is more dystopian than usual, it’s probably because we’re talking about Severance, the hit Apple TV+ show now in its second season. In the first series, we were introduced to Lumon Industries, where some workers, tasked with doing something unknown but probably malevolent with data, were willingly “severed”; their work selves detached from their outside selves, with no memory between the two. If the drama started as an off-kilter take on work-life balance, it soon morphed into something much dark...

Actress Yami Gautam recently took to social media to reflect on the journey of Article 370 as the film completes one year. Known for taking on strong roles, Yami played NIA agent Zooni Haksar in the political action thriller. Sharing her thoughts, she expressed how being part of the film was a privilege. She also highlighted the significance of the story, which revolves around efforts to combat terrorism following the abrogation of Article 370. Yami Gautam’s Thoughts on the Film Posting on Instagram, Yami wrote, “Rarely does a film come along with a story so powerful, so unbelievable, yet so real, that being a part of it feels like a privilege. #Article370 is more than just a film—it’s a story that needed to be told, and I am truly honored to have played a part in it. This is a film the country will remember.” Her words resonated with fans who appreciated her compelling performance in the film.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Yami Gautam Dhar (@yamigautam)...

Beguiling French actor who appeared in films such as Belle de Jour and El Cid, but whose true love was the stage Screen and stage were not equal suitors for the affections of the French actor Geneviève Page, who once described working in cinema as a case of coitus interruptus. “You start a scene, you rehearse it, you’re ready. Then they do the sound and lighting. There comes a moment when you’ve got to charge in. And then: ‘Cut!’ It annoyed me each time,” Page told France Culture in 2009. “Whereas when you arrive in your theatre dressing room in the evening, you know it’ll start soon and you’ll see it through right to the end.” Page, who has died aged 97, built a heavyweight theatre portfolio over more than five decades; she played roles such as Hermione in Euripides’s Andromache, Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and the Fassbinder heroine Petra von Kant. But her film career had a stuttering rhythm, with the French industry never truly finding a place for her. Her melodramatic ardour and throat...

From Conclave to The Brutalist to A Real Pain, films about religion are unusually well represented at the Academy Awards – some with decidedly unorthodox themes • Warning: contains spoilers What Tony Blair’s former spin doctor Alastair Campbell said of New Labour – “We don’t do God” – applies also to the Academy Awards. The secular gong-dispensing rite annually sweeps religion off its proverbial red carpet. The last best picture winner to deal with the subject was 2015’s Spotlight , which hardly proselytised for organised religion – it dramatised the Boston Globe’s investigation into sexual abuse in the Catholic church. You have to go back to 1973 to find a movie with a priestly protagonist that really beguiled the Academy: William Friedkin’s horror movie The Exorcist received 10 Oscar nominations, winning awards for screenplay and sound. This year, though, may be different. Two leading contenders, The Brutalist (10 nominations) and Conclave (eight), put faith front and centre. A...

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has confirmed that acclaimed actor Rajkummar Rao will portray him in his upcoming biopic. The announcement was made during a recent media interaction in Mumbai, where Ganguly revealed that while the casting has been finalized, the project faces scheduling challenges that could delay its release by more than a year. The biopic aims to chronicle the journey of one of India's most successful cricket captains, from his early days in Kolkata to his transformative leadership of the Indian cricket team. From Cricket Field to Silver Screen The biopic will showcase Ganguly's illustrious cricket career spanning over 15 years, during which he amassed 18,575 runs across all formats in international cricket. His leadership led India to 21 Test victories and a memorable World Cup final appearance in 2003, establishing him as one of cricket's most influential figures. The film is expected to delve into Ganguly's administrative roles as wel...

Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt have been seen filming in Saudi Arabia for their cameos in the Hollywood remake of the 2021 Argentine film Seven Dogs. Leaked videos show both actors on set, sparking excitement among fans. The shoot took place in an undisclosed location, with Salman Khan in a de-glam avatar, while Sanjay Dutt was spotted in a dapper navy blue suit. The film is expected to introduce the two actors to a global audience, although official announcements are still pending. Leaked Videos Reveal Salman Khan’s Look Recent social media clips show Salman Khan in a khaki driver’s uniform, standing beside an auto-rickshaw, suggesting a grounded character. In another clip, he sports a checked shirt with a red handkerchief under his collar, resembling the style of Mumbai’s working-class individuals. Between takes, Salman was seen casually interacting with the crew, adding to the authenticity of his role. MEGASTAR SALMAN KHAN in Saudi Arabia today #Sikandar #SalmanKhan ...

After captivating audiences with his versatile performances, Ali Fazal is set to headline another high-octane action thriller series, this time collaborating with the acclaimed Prosit Roy, director of Paatal Lok Season 1. Adding to the excitement, the film will also feature the ever-graceful Sonali Bendre in a pivotal role. Ali Fazal has become the most prominent actor headlining major shows and will he another addition soon. Set to shoot quickly in April, the actor is expected to be seen in an avatar like never before. The yet-to-be-titled project will commence production in mid-2025, once Ali Fazal wraps up his current commitments with Raj & DK’s period fantasy drama series, Rakht Brahmand. Speaking about the collaboration, a source close to the production shared, "This series is designed to be a thrilling, large-scale action spectacle, unlike anything Ali has done before. Prosit Roy’s unique vision and storytelling prowess make him the perfect director to helm this projec...

The big release of the week is Mere Husband Ki Biwi, starring Arjun Kapoor, Rakul Preet Singh and Bhumi Pednekar. The film has caught attention due to its quirky title, the chemistry between the leads and the concept. In this Bollywood Hungama special feature, we’ll focus on the cuts given to the film by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The Examining Committee (EC) of the CBFC asked for four modifications - one visual and three dialogue-related. The visuals of the 'woman hand gesture' were asked to be replaced. The EC replaced the word 'Haryanvi' with 'Ek Gang'. Further, they asked to replace 'Modi ji' with 'The Government'. Finally, they asked the makers to reduce 'sensual audio of woman' by 50%. As per the sources, it was probably implemented in the scene, which is also shown in the trailer, where Rakul Preet Singh's character moans loudly while Arjun Kapoor's character kisses her neck, in order to make Bhumi Pe...

Writer-director Osgood Perkins follows up horror hit Longlegs with a tiresome, juvenile adaptation of a Stephen King short story about an evil toy monkey “Everybody dies and that’s fucked up” is the tagline and emo ethos of snarky Stephen King adaptation The Monkey, a film about the inescapable inevitability yet goofy silliness of death. The writer-director Osgood Perkins, who scored a hit with last year’s Longlegs , knows more about it than most. His father, the actor Anthony Perkins, died of Aids when Osgood was 18 and then his mother, the actor and model Berry Berenson, died in the September 11 attacks as a passenger on Flight 11. Perkins has found a way to work through something so unimaginably awful with a career as a horror film-maker, and his latest, focused on twins cursed by generational trauma is his most obviously personal film yet. To his credit, Perkins has chosen not to wallow in the grim dirge associated with trauma and the horror genre. The original script for The Mo...

A bailiff has an identity crisis after a tragedy in Radu Jude’s new film, a scornful polemic on 21st-century Europe set between hope and despair Once again, Romanian film-maker Radu Jude has given us a garrulous, querulous movie of ideas – a scattershot fusillade of scorn. It is satirical, polemical, infuriated at the greedy and reactionary mediocrities in charge in his native land and wobbling on an unstable cusp between hope and despair. Like his previous film Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World (whose lead actor Ilinca Manolache appears briefly in cameo here), Jude takes aim at bad faith and bad taste and takes us on what is almost a kind of architectural tour of Romanian malaise – this time in Cluj – in which he shows us the racism, nationalism, and a pointless obsession in the country’s governing classes with real estate and property development as a kind of universal aspiration. The movie closes with an acid montage of seedy public housing juxtaposed with gated pri...

Exclusive: Property developer making trademark challenge claims the spy franchise is in mortal danger “James Bond will not die on our watch,” the businessman challenging the ownership of the rights to 007’s name has said, claiming he is motivated by concerns about the future of the multibillion-pound global spy franchise. The Guardian revealed on Friday that Josef Kleindienst, the Austrian property developer who is building a $5bn luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six artificial islands off Dubai, is challenging the trademark ownership of the James Bond name in the UK and the European Union. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/JnAFc30 via IFTTT

In the month of Valentine's, love takes the spotlight in all its beautiful, boundless forms as actor and producer couple Richa Chadha and Ali Fazal proudly present TAPS an LGBTQ+ relationship drama, on YouTube. Directed by Arvind Caulagi and starring debutant Ullas Samrat and Rohit Mehra, the film lends an intimate look at how a couple navigates their way back to each other. The short film first made waves at prestigious film festivals and is now set to reach an even wider audience. The film, which won the KASHISH QDrishti Film Grant, was lauded for its delicate yet powerful portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships. For Ali and Richa, who have been vocal advocates for inclusivity and storytelling that matters, bringing this short film to a global stage is a commitment to amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. Richa Chadha said, "Cinema is powerful because it can shift perspectives. ‘TAPS’ is one of those stories that gently yet powerfully peels back the layers of identity, lov...

Sanya Malhotra starrer Mrs. which recently hit the tube has been receiving immense support from Indian women across the country with many resonating with the character of a housewife constantly fulfilling her duties and crushing her dreams, portrayed by the actress. Meanwhile, SIFF aka Save Indian Family Foundation has taken to social media to lash out on the film and called out the producers calling the woes faced by housewives as irrelevant and unnecessary promotion of feminism. What did the SIFF say?  Taking to the social media platform X, aka Twitter, the SIFF posted several tweets insisting that there is nothing wrong with women getting overloaded with household work. “What stress does a woman feel, while chopping vegetables and cooking food on a gas stove or doing dishes wearing gloves? Zero, Nothing. In fact, cooking is like a meditation.Is it highly stressful to press cloths or do laundry in a washing machine?,” it read as it continued in another tweet, “Men should never ...

‘I’ve got nothing to hide’ says Spacey, after the Australian actor said he is attempting to be more candid about his former co-star’s alleged behaviour Kevin Spacey has responded to Guy Pearce’s allegation that the actor “targeted him” during the filming of LA Confidential, telling Pearce to “grow up” and “you are not a victim”. On Monday, Pearce expanded further on his alleged experiences with Spacey, having previously called him “a handsy guy” in 2018. Spacey, who has been dogged by accusations of sexual misconduct, has conceded he made some “clumsy” approaches to men in the past, but never anything illegal. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/O1VFEsa via IFTTT

Exclusive: Property developer making trademark challenge claims the spy franchise is in mortal danger “James Bond will not die on our watch,” the businessman challenging the ownership of the rights to 007’s name has said, claiming he is motivated by concerns about the future of the multibillion-pound global spy franchise. The Guardian revealed on Friday that Josef Kleindienst, the Austrian property developer who is building a $5bn luxury resort complex called the Heart of Europe on six artificial islands off Dubai, is challenging the trademark ownership of the James Bond name in the UK and the European Union. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/kduOxYe via IFTTT

Raj Nidimoru and Krishna D.K. are filmmakers who haven’t had a dearth of work since OTT platforms blew up in India. The two have given back-to-back shows and some of the most successful and talked about web series since then. The Family Man (2019) starring Manoj Bajpayee was an instant hit on Prime Video and soon it got green-lit for a second season, which was also received well. Then they made Farzi (2023) for Prime Video, which marked B-town star Shahid Kapoor’s OTT debut. They also made Guns & Gulaabs in the same year for Netflix, which had top actors like Dulquer Salmaan and Rajkummar Rao. Both shows got mixed reactions from the audience. In 2024, came their biggest show, Citadel: Honey Bunny – a spy thriller backed by Russo Brothers - no less! This marked the OTT debut of Bollywood star Varun Dhawan who was cast opposite actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. This was an ambitious project, but it got a poor response, way below what Prime Video and Russo Brothers would have imagined. Ind...

In this fantasy-satire of bourgeois family life, a girl is suddenly able to see everything her messed-up parents are up to Here is a high-concept satire of bourgeois family life with all its secrets and lies from German film-maker Frédéric Hambalek; it is something to remind you of the notorious Babel fish in Douglas Adams’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which you can put in your ear and then comprehend what any creature in the universe is saying — a miraculous promotion of pure understanding which has been the cause of more and bloodier wars than anything else. Marielle (Laeni Geiseler) is a moody and withdrawn teenager with messed-up parents. Her mum is Julia (Julia Jentsch, who 20 years ago memorably played anti-Nazi martyr Sophie Scholl ) and dad is Tobias (Felix Kramer). Julia is on the verge of a furtive affair with work colleague Max (Mehmet Ateşçi) while Tobias is being turned into a beta-male joke at his publishing company – his cover design choice for a new novel is...

Latest film in the series starring Renée Zellweger has posted record-breaking figures on its home turf Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy has exceeded expectations at the UK box office, becoming the best-performing romcom in the UK on opening weekend ever. The fourth instalment in the adventures of Helen Fielding’s bumbling diarist made $14.9m (£11.8m) over its four-day opening weekend, beating all three previous instalments, the second of which, Edge of Reason, was the previous record-holder with $8.1m. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/s58Fcgy via IFTTT

The 78th British Film Academy awards are heading our way tonight – here’s what you need to know about the big night at the Royal Festival Hall With each passing year the attention paid to the Bafta film awards turns up a notch, as campaigns jostle and reposition themselves in the quest for the real prize: an Academy Award. The Oscar race is pretty open this year, even more so after the Emilia Pérez debacle , but with its British centre of gravity and slightly differing nominations list, the Baftas have their own dynamic. Hence the Baftas can sometimes seem to be a fairground-mirror reflection of the American contest, or (looked at the other way) an assertion of a similar but separate cultural identity. The most obvious example of this is the strong showing for Belfast rap comedy Kneecap , which could walk off with a fistful of Baftas, but failed to even get on the Academy nomination sheet. Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste is the other big Oscar casualty, but she is in with a m...

While controversies continue for Elvish Yadav, it seems that his recent comments on Bigg Boss contestant Chum Darang have landed him in further trouble. FWICE (Federation of Western India Cine Employees) has decided to take a stand against the YouTube influencer and reality show star by penning a letter requesting the channel and producers to remove Yadav from the reality show Laughter Chef Season 2 by expressing concern that he may have a negative influence on the youth. “We strongly condemn the promotion of Mr. Elvish Yadav. As you are well aware, he has made racial comments against Bigg Boss 18 contestant Chum Darang and has faced significant backlash on social media," the FWICE letter from President BN Tiwari read, as per ETimes Report. Further addressing the snake venom rave party controversy, the letter added, “Furthermore, several cases have been registered against him, including his arrest in the snake venom rave party case. He also faces legal charges under the Wildlife ...

The erotic reward for Chastain’s sponsorship of a Mexican dancer lights a fuse that reveals philanthropy’s toxic underside Mexican director Michel Franco returns with a chilly, angrily intense and deeply pessimistic tale of erotic obsession among the liberal super-rich in Trump’s US who seek to launder and redeem their guilt by sponsoring the arts. It’s a really involving picture which beckons you hypnotically towards the tacit promise of a sensationally unhappy and violent denouement, and of course Franco is unlikely to deliver any other kind. The two final plot developments are shocking, if not precisely surprising, and in fact vulnerable to the charge of being crudely obvious – but Franco certainly gives us a gripping emotional drama, supercharged with toxic sensuality and fear. Jessica Chastain plays Jennifer McCarthy, a wealthy woman based in San Francisco extensively accustomed to high-end restaurants, couture, private planes and chauffeur-driven SUVs and Franco has an eye for ...

The Parasite director delivers an intriguing yet baffling sci-fi epic, featuring panto gnashing bad guys played by Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette The Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho has delivered his first movie since the Oscar-winning Parasite six years ago, and it’s a great, big, slightly soft-edged sci-fi-fantasy. Adapted by Bong from Edward Ashton’s novel, it stars Robert Pattinson as a bio-clone menial worker of the future, condemned to eternal life, or eternal death, being repeatedly killed in the service of a space-exploration corporation, doing fatally dangerous jobs and then reincarnated. It’s a broad-brush futurist satire on the theme of Elon Musk-type tech bros who say that whining about the environment is for libtards because we’re all shooting off for space really soon, where there have to be viable planets somewhere, and any current alien inhabitants are expendable — as indeed are the working humans who are getting us out to new worlds. Mickey 17 is something in the style ...

Sunny Villa in Juhu, Mumbai is a go-to place for celebrities as well as journalists. Owned by the popular actor Sunny Deol, it houses Sunny Super Sound, a preview theatre and two post-production suites. In January, the celebs and media persons were in for a surprise during their visit to this iconic place as the much-loved canteen area was shut. A new F&B area was erected on the other side of the premises. Many assumed that the canteen area would be revamped and be back to its original place. Bollywood Hungama, however, has learned that it’s not the case. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Popular actress and model Malaika Arora is opening her café in the space, where once the canteen stood. The work is going on in full swing and is expected to open next month, that is, March 2025.” The source, however, doesn’t have information on whether it’ll have a new branch of Malaika’s café in Bandra, Scarlett House, or will it be a new eatery altogether. Scarlett House opened ...

The much-awaited action entertainer Maalik has finally secured its theatrical release date. Produced by Tips Films and Northern Lights Films, the film is set to hit the big screens on June 20, 2025. The makers officially announced the release date with a powerful Instagram post, writing, “Poore pradesh aur desh pe RAJ karne aa rahe hain MAALIK!” The announcement has already created buzz among fans, who are eagerly waiting to see what the film has in store.   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Tips Films (@tipsfilmsofficial) While details about the film’s plot and cast remain under wraps, Maalik promises to be a high-octane action spectacle. With Tips Films’ track record of delivering hit action dramas, expectations are high for this upcoming release. Starring Rajkummar Rao in and as Maalik, the film showcases the actor like never before—stepping into the shoes of a ruthless gangster with a striking new intensity. The poster, which received an overwhelming res...

Akshay Kumar is set to return with another historical drama as his upcoming film, previously titled Shankara, has been renamed Kesari Chapter 2. Bollywood Hungama was the first one to report this earlier this month. The makers have now shared that the much-anticipated sequel to Kesari has officially been titled Kesari Chapter 2 – The Untold Story of Jallianwala Bagh. The makers—Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective, and Cape of Good Films—have also revealed that the film is set to release on April 18, 2025. Co-starring R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday, the film is produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, Cape of Good Films, and Leo Media Collective. Directed by Karan Singh Tyagi, the historical drama stars Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan, and Ananya Panday in pivotal roles. The film will delve into the tragic events surrounding the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919, promising an intense and emotional cinematic experience. With Akshay Kumar reprising his role in another patriotic dram...

This year’s nominations were led by smaller, less expected films like The Brutalist, Anora and Emilia Pérez, which left bigger bets in the cold While films such as Wicked and Dune: Part Two amassed multiple Oscar nominations this year, the Academy’s ongoing embrace of the smaller, less conventional movie pushed a number of more traditional contenders out. From the long-awaited sequel to a best picture winner to an inspirational boxing drama to a music biopic starring an Oscar favourite, here are some of the more primed picks that failed to register: Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/Z9iWI8o via IFTTT

Two studies find the top-grossing films of 2024 were led by female protagonists as much as by men, buoyed by the success of Wicked and The Substance Women achieved gender parity on the big screen in 2024 for the first time in the US, according to two new studies. Out of the 100 top-grossing films of last year, women led 42% of the films, the same percentage as their male counterparts, with 16% led by ensembles. This was according to Dr Martha Lauzen’s annual It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World report. Lauzen said that 2024 “offered one of the richest slates of films featuring female protagonists in recent memory”. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/9ZW1reg via IFTTT

Danish film-maker made public his condition in 2022, aged 66 Danish film-maker Lars von Trier, who has Parkinson’s disease, has been admitted to a care centre, his production company said on Wednesday. One of the biggest names in contemporary auteur cinema, Von Trier has directed more than 14 feature films, often disturbing and violent. Continue reading... from Film | The Guardian https://ift.tt/niFvEVO via IFTTT

Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions is stepping into a new era! The powerhouse production company is expanding into film distribution, marking an exciting move in its journey. Leading this big leap forward is Bhumika Tewari, appointed Head of Content Acquisition and Film Distribution Worldwide. For the first time, Dharma is venturing into distribution, aiming to acquire high-quality films across multiple languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Marathi. Under Bhumika’s leadership, Dharma will distribute its productions and take on third-party films. To strengthen this initiative, Dharma will be setting up offices in key cities like Delhi, Punjab, Hyderabad, and Chennai. These offices will help build deeper connections with local industries, foster strong collaborations with regional filmmakers, and create a robust distribution network. Karan Johar, Chairman of Dharma Productions, expressed, "Entering the distribution space is a significant step f...

Anurag Kashyap’s directorial Kennedy became a film to watch out for after it premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Later, it got a roaring response when almost 2000 viewers watched it at the Jio MAMI Film Festival in October of the same year. It’s been more than a year since and moviegoers have been patiently waiting for its theatrical release in India. Meanwhile, some of the finest names of the Telugu film industry or rather the Indian film industry came together to watch the film recently. Bollywood Hungama has accessed the pictures from a screening that took place at Ramanaidu Studios, Hyderabad. Those present at this screening were Sandeep Reddy Vanga of Animal and Kabir Singh fame, Pushpa’s blockbuster director Sukumar, S S Rajamouli’s father and legendary writer K V Vijayendra Prasad, reputed producer Suresh Babu and prominent actor Rana Daggubati. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “It was quite a screening as these greats a...

In an earlier interview, Rozlyn Khan accused Hina Khan of using her cancer treatment as a publicity stunt which did not go down well with co-actress and colleague Ankita Lokhande. The Pavitra Rishta actress took to social media to share her disappointment and anger towards the allegations against the YRKHH actress, insisting that her husband Vicky Jain too met her in the midst of her treatment. However, unhappy with the support Lokhande showcased for Hina, Rozlyn decided to slam her and accused her of using her ex-boyfriend Sushant Singh Rajput’s death to gain sympathy on Bigg Boss. On Tuesday, Ankita Lokhande shared a glimpse of the interview with Rozlyn Khan is throwing allegations at Hina Khan and calling out the latter for her so-called ‘publicity stunt’ and in the post shared on Instagram story, the Manikarnika actress wrote, “"How could someone think so low, my goodness? That’s so cheap! For your kind information, madam, this girl Hina is fighting cancer with such bravery, ...