Author: Ankita Singh

Director Sukumar’s blockbuster film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule,’ starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil, is set to release in Japan on January 16 next year.

Geek Pictures India, the film’s distributor in Japan, announced this exciting news on its X timeline, stating, “‘Konnichiwa, Nihon no Tomo yo’ Indian Cinema’s Industry Hit blazes into Japan in full force! Pushpa Raj takes over Japan on 16th January, 2026, taking the wildfire across borders and seas. #Pushpa2inJapan #Pushpa2TheRule #PushpaKunrin #WildFirePushpa.”

Rashmika Mandanna, the female lead, also took to her X timeline to share the news and link to the Japanese trailer. She expressed her excitement saying, “Konnichiwa, Japan!! Aaaand the wildfire is officially going global..Pushpa lands in Japan on 16th Jan 2026… Are you ready?? Watch the full Japanese trailer here! #Pushpa2inJapan #Pushpa2TheRule #PushpaKunrin #WildFirePushpa #プシュパ君臨 IconStar @alluarjun #FahadhFaasil @aryasukku @SukumarWritings @MythriOfficial @ThisIsDSP @resulp @TSeries @PushpaMovie @pushpa_kunrin @AAFilmsIndia Japan Distribution: Geek Pictures Shochiku @geekpictures_IN @Arjunarcv @mokshamodgill.”

For those who may not be aware, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ has been a massive success, completing a remarkable 50-day run in theaters. The makers also released a reloaded version on January 17 this year, which included an additional 20 minutes of footage. Originally, this reloaded version was scheduled for January 11.

Having set new benchmarks for success, ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’ is considered the biggest film of 2024. With its release, it won the hearts of audiences and broke multiple box office records. The film not only entered the over ₹800 Crore club in Hindi cinema but also surpassed the ₹1800 Crore mark worldwide, establishing itself as India’s highest-grossing film.

The gripping story revolves around Pushpa Raj, a man driven by the loss of everything he held dear, who vows not to lose anything more. It narrates his rise to power as he becomes the leader of a prominent syndicate involved in the illegal trading of red sandalwood.

Produced by Mythri Movie Makers and Sukumar Writings, with music by T Series, the film is the second installment in a three-part series. The second part was released on December 5, 2024.

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli recently celebrated another milestone by scoring his second century in the ODI match against South Africa. His wife, Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, shares in the excitement of this significant achievement.

In an adorable display of affection, Anushka posted a photo of Virat on the pitch after he scored his century, along with a red heart emoticon that reflected her pride. Just days earlier, Virat had achieved his 52nd ODI century at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, making the entire nation proud.

In a touching moment, Virat was seen pulling out his chain and kissing his wedding ring, a gesture fans interpreted as a heartfelt tribute to Anushka for her unwavering support. Social media buzzed as fans shared images of this romantic act, commenting, “Virat completes his century, kisses his locket with Anushka’s ring in it, and looks up at the sky seeking his father’s blessings—a moment beyond cricket.”

This isn’t the first instance of Virat publicly showing his love and gratitude toward Anushka. After every victory, he’s often seen kissing his wedding ring or waiting for her to come down from the VIP stand to celebrate together.

Fans have dubbed Virat’s gestures as extremely romantic, affectionately referring to him as a ‘green forest.’ As December 11 approaches, the couple prepares to celebrate their 8th wedding anniversary. Reports suggest that Anushka and Virat have relocated to London.

Anushka and Virat tied the knot in December 2017 in a grand ceremony in Italy. They welcomed their first child, a daughter named Vamika, in 2021, and their son, Akaay, arrived in February 2024.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has cleared director A R Jeeva’s gripping drama, ‘Lockdown’, featuring actress Anupama Parameswaran in the lead, for release with a ‘U/A’ certificate.

Lyca Productions, the firm producing the film, announced on its X timeline, “#Lockdown is all set to hit the screens. See U/And your family in theatres on Dec 5. #LockdownInCinemasDec5.” Along with the tweet, a poster was shared confirming that the Censor Board had cleared the film.

Anticipation Builds for ‘Lockdown’

‘Lockdown’ is a woman-centric film that has generated significant expectations, as it is based on a true story.

The trailer begins with Anupama Parameswaran, who plays the character Anitha, expressing her fear about going home. It is clear that she is dealing with a problem she cannot discuss with her family, further complicated by unwanted advances from men.

Amid these challenges, a 21-day nationwide lockdown is announced to control the spread of COVID, forcing Anitha to remain at home.

Anitha’s behavior raises concerns for her parents, particularly when her mother notices that she frequently checks her phone and loses her temper. The trailer also shows Anitha and her friend trying to get in touch with a doctor, who has become isolated after contracting the virus.

In a desperate move, Anitha starts calling her friends to borrow money, alarming her parents, who question her about these requests.

The trailer concludes with Anitha apologizing to her father, promising not to repeat her actions.

Star-Studded Cast and Stellar Crew

Produced by Subaskaran of Lyca Productions, the film includes a talented cast along with Anupama Parameswaran, featuring actors Charlie, Nirosha, Priya Venkat, Livingston, Indhumathi, Rajkumar, Shamji, Lollu Sabha Maran, Vinayak Raj, Vidhu, Abhirami, Ravathi, Sanjivie, Priya Ganesh, and Asha, among others.

The music for the film is composed by the gifted NR Raghunanthan and Siddharth Vipin, with cinematography by K.A. Sakthivel. The film’s editing is handled by V J Sabu Joseph, while art direction is by A Jayakumar.

Choreography is by Sherif and Sri Girish, with stunts coordinated by Om Sivaprakash. Costumes for the film are designed by Meenakshi Shreedharan.

With high expectations surrounding it, ‘Lockdown’ is set to hit screens on December 5.

Actress Yami Gautam has received tremendous love and appreciation for her nuanced yet impactful portrayal of Shazia Bano in the courtroom drama “Haq.”

Expressing her gratitude, Yami shared a heartfelt note on social media, thanking movie lovers for welcoming the legal drama with respect and integrity.

In her Instagram post, she wrote, “Before we usher into a new Friday at the movies, especially this one going to be an important & special one (personally :-)), wanted to take a moment to express my word of gratitude (sic).”

Yami reflected on the current film landscape, stating, “In this new era of constant surround sound in the form of multiple reviewers, multiple cinephiles, multiple trade-analysts, multiple benchmarks of a film being a success or not, right from day 1 — with biggest Mondays, fastest Tuesdays, head-spinning Wednesdays — there came a small film of mine – #HAQ! Thank you for giving it so much respect, integrity & honour (Folded hands emoji).” She added that every film possesses its own journey, which she takes note of.

Notably, as “Haq” released, Yami noticed the phrase ‘Yami ka haq’ being lovingly crafted by media members and movie buffs.

She admitted that as an artist, finding what constitutes true validation for her remains a challenge, but she embraces this complexity as part of her craft. “As an artist, I still don’t know what shall be a true validation for me & what can culminate into being my ‘right’. But I guess, the beauty of my profession lies in this mystery. And this is what shall keep me going, continue giving my best, looking for fresh stories, fearlessly & direct Dil-se :),” she commented.

Yami also advocated for “good cinema to win.” She expressed her hope for the integrity of the film industry, saying, “I hope we are able to protect the integrity of our line of work from being plagued. In the end, as a member of this magical world called films, I want to say — good cinema should win…good cinema shall win. We will meet again, another Friday (Folded hands and red heart emojis).”

In an upcoming episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati, India’s youngest cricket sensation, Shafali Verma, shared insights about her early struggles and the unique start to her sporting journey.

Shafali’s Early Challenges

During a heartfelt conversation with legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan, Shafali reflected on her debut match, which unfortunately started with a zero-run innings—a moment that remains vivid in her memory. She remarked, “My family wasn’t financially strong, and my father first took my brother to cricket coaching. I would go along and tease him from behind, telling him the drills looked easy. One day, my father asked me to try it myself, and the first two balls I played, I hit well, and he was impressed.”

Shafali continued, “There were no women’s cricket academies near our home, so I started playing with boys. When my brother fell sick before a tournament, I wore his T-shirt with his name ‘Sahil’ on it and played in his place… and I ended up becoming the Player of the Tournament. That was the turning point of my life.”

Amitabh’s Encouragement

When asked by Amitabh Bachchan about her score in her India debut, Shafali shyly admitted that she began with zero runs, feeling a bit embarrassed. Amitabh quickly reassured her, saying, “Don’t be embarrassed… ‘jiska zero hota hai, baadme jaake hero hota hai’ (the one who starts with a zero, in future becomes a hero).”

A Candid Moment with Sudesh Lehri

The episode also featured actor-comeddigihunt Sudesh Lehri and Kiku Sharda, who occupied the coveted hot seat alongside Amitabh. Sudesh revisited the hardships of his childhood with poignant honesty, stating, “When I was a child, I never went to school, not even nursery. We were very poor.”

He shared an emotionally charged tribute to Amitabh, describing him as an unseen inspiration throughout his artistic journey. “I was always fond of watching films. The first time I ever went to a theatre, someone took me because I didn’t have the money, and the film I watched was ‘Shankar Shambhu’,” he recalled.

Sudesh continued, “Then I saw ‘Ganga Ki Saugand’, your film, where you had that small hand scene. Then ‘Namak Halaal’ came, and because I loved comedy, I used to watch you again and again.”

He expressed his admiration further by saying, “We even got the videocassette of the same. There was the song ‘Ke Pag Ghunghroo Bandh Meera’… the scene where you dance with slippers… and of course, Amar Akbar Anthony, the mirror scene. Sir, everyone knows you as the angry young man, but I have learnt comedy from you. Whatever I write or perform, it comes from watching you. There is no film of yours that I haven’t seen. I remember the dialogue of all your films.”

A Platform for Celebrities

KBC, hosted by Amitabh, serves as a platform for numerous celebrities and filmmakers to promote their shows and upcoming projects. Meeting Amitabh Bachchan on the show is often seen as a lifetime opportunity and a significant highlight for many.

Veteran actress Shabana Azmi truly knows how to embrace life and cherish every moment. Recently, she took to her social media account to share a lively video featuring her girl gang from the industry, who were dancing wholeheartedly at a party.

The joyous clip showcases actresses Divya Dutta, Vidya Balan, Sandhya Mridul, Tanvi Azmi, and Shahana Goswami, all relishing the fun while grooving to infectious beats. Though Shabana herself was absent from the video, she expressed that it’s never a dull moment with her friends around. She captioned the vibrant video, “Never a dull moment when my Gurlz gang get together. Love you all, and thank you for enriching my life, and that goes for all the ones who are a part of this group but not in the photo.”

The actress and her friends often gather, making wonderful memories together. This Diwali, they celebrated with a delightful reunion. Pictures shared by Shabana captured actresses Konkona Sen Sharma, Vidya Balan, Dia Mirza, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Shahana Goswami, Divya Dutta, and Tannishtha Chatterjee, along with her husband, renowned writer Javed Akhtar.

In her post about the joyous Diwali gathering, Shabana remarked, “Happy Diwali gathering of the Dher Saara Pyar gang to celebrate #Tiger Tan’s indomitable spirit and her glorious Busan award.” She also noted, “Urmila Matondkar and Sandhya Mridul, we missed you a lot.”

Expressing gratitude to the host for a delightful spread, Shabana wrote, “Anu, thank you for the finger-licking food and especially the Tender Coconut Panna Cotta. Javed has nicknamed it Tenco (Smiling Face with Open Hands Emoji) collaboration @jaduakhtar @tannishtha_c @tanviazmiofficial @diamirzaofficial @alifazal9 @balanvidya @therichachadha @konkona @shahanagoswami.”

The singing reality show Indian Idol is set to welcome India’s beloved comedian and actor Kapil Sharma this week, who will bring his signature charm, humour, and love for music to the stage.

In a special appearance, Kapil will pay a heartfelt tribute to Bollywood legend Dharmendra Ji, celebrating his iconic contributions to cinema.

Kapil’s Thoughts on Music

Sharing his insights on the power of music and the significance of this iconic platform, Kapil Sharma stated, “Music has a way of making us feel alive in a way nothing else can, and Indian Idol is the perfect place for that magic. Today, I am here not as a comedian and actor but as a fan cheering for these young talents who are chasing their dreams with so much energy and emotion.”

He continued, “Every performance reminds you that this stage is where passion meets opportunity. It’s a celebration of talent, music, and of course, a little fun and masti that makes the journey so special.”

Star-Studded Moments

Superstar singer Shreya Ghoshal, who is a judge on the show, recently shared a picture of herself with Kapil from the sets. She referred to Kapil as the “SRK of Comedy” in her caption. Kapil reshared her post with heart emoticons, showcasing their camaraderie.

Upcoming Film

Meanwhile, Kapil is gearing up for his upcoming movie Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, directed by Anukalp Goswami and produced by Ratan Jain, Ganesh Jain, and Abbas-Mustan under Venus Worldwide Entertainment in association with Abbas Mustan Film Production. This family entertainer is set to hit theatres on 12th December 2025 and features Kapil alongside Manjot Singh, Tridha Choudhury, Hina Waria, Parul Gulati, and Ayesha Khan in lead roles.

In supporting roles, the film also stars Gashmeer Mahajani, Saurabh Goyal, Pallavi Ajay, Kuldeep Sareen, and Hardika Sharma.

Bigg Boss Season 19 Witnesses Shehbaz Badesha’s Eviction

In the latest weekend ka vaar episode of Bigg Boss Season 19, contestant Shehbaz Badesha was evicted from the show.

Emotional Reaction to Family Week

Shehbaz expressed his disappointment during a conversation regarding his father’s visit for the family week, which left him longing for his sister, Shehnaaz Gill. He appeared visibly upset to see his father instead of her, stating, “I wanted Shehnaaz to come and guide me about the game. I love Shehnaaz a lot.”

He added, “I felt that if my father came, it might affect my game because he didn’t know much about what was happening inside, and he might say something unknowingly that would weaken my game. So I really wished Shehnaaz had come.”

Dad’s Vibe and Social Media Trolls

During his stay in the BB 19 house, Shehbaz’s father was seen enjoying time with the contestants, particularly the female housemates, a move that attracted significant trolling on social media. Addressing this, Shehbaz remarked, “It wasn’t just him. The other side was responding in a similar way too, so why blame only him? If he’s getting trolled, let people troll. People will say whatever they want. It doesn’t affect us.”

Support from Shehnaaz

Meanwhile, Shehnaaz Gill has been actively supporting her brother. While promoting her film Ikk Kudi, she wore a T-shirt with Shehbaz’s photo on it. The actress proudly expressed her admiration for her brother and his performance in the show.

Final Thoughts Before Eviction

Shehbaz was evicted just before the grand finale, which is set for the upcoming week. Reflecting on his journey, he mentioned, “I have no regrets. I had a wonderful time inside the Bigg Boss house. I am thankful to Bigg Boss for giving me that experience.”

Actor Shahid Kapoor recently shared insights about how his instincts have shaped his personal and professional journey.

Protecting His Instincts

During a session of IFP 15, Shahid was asked how he safeguards his artistic instincts. He explained that instinct originates from within and is often indescribable.

There are moments when commercial considerations or practical realities begin to influence decisions, leading to an internal rebellion. “No,” he asserted, is the voice that emerges during such times.

Carving His Own Path

Shahid emphasized his belief in forging his own way. “I feel that I’ve always been the kind of person who would, if everybody’s going right, I’ll say, let’s just go left. And many times it’s not good. Sometimes it’s like, arre yaar, right hi dekhta (I should have gone right). But that’s where the adventure is, you know, that’s where the challenge is, that’s where originality is, that’s where risk is.”

High Risk, High Reward

He further disclosed that his career has been a mix of risks and rewards. “Whenever I’ve played safe, it’s somehow not given me the result that when I have been experimental has,” he noted. Shahid believes that high risk often leads to high returns, and his experiences have reinforced this belief.

The Lasting Impact of Art

Shahid pointed out that while box office numbers may fluctuate, the legacy of an artist endures through the impact they make. “You know, because numbers will come and go, but what you build is a reputation, what you build is, I think, respect, what you build is a deep set appreciation,” he explained. He acknowledged the rapidly changing landscape of the industry, stating that lasting impressions with audiences are what encourage their support, even during missteps.

This perspective highlights Shahid’s commitment to his craft and the significance he places on the lasting effects of his work as an artist.

Actress Michelle Pfeiffer has expressed admiration for her character Claire’s resilience in the upcoming holiday drama ‘Oh. What. Fun.’ She felt a strong connection to the role, emphasizing that it reflects the experiences of countless moms who serve as the unsung heroes of their families.

Pfeiffer experienced an immediate connection with Claire, whom she perceives as both relatable and quietly heroic. “When I read the script, I immediately connected with Claire because she represents so many moms who are the unsung heroes of their families, especially during the holidays. She’s this incredibly capable person who makes everything look effortless,” Pfeiffer stated.

She further elaborated, “But inside, she’s yearning to be seen and appreciated. And what I really loved is that this isn’t just another holiday movie. It’s really a story about self-discovery and finding your voice all wrapped up in this wonderful comedy.”

Director Michael Showalter chose Pfeiffer as the first choice for the role, captivated by her star power and natural fit for the narrative. “Michelle is one of the great actresses of all time,” Showalter commented.

He described Claire as the central figure and anchor of the movie and her family. Claire has been preparing for the holiday for months and eagerly anticipates her children’s arrival. She also hopes they will act on the hints she’s been dropping to enter her in the Holiday Mom contest sponsored by her favorite daytime talk show, ‘The Zazzy Tims Show.’

“However, with their busy lives and loving yet complicated relationships with their mom, they do nothing,” Showalter noted. This sets the stage for the film’s central plot, where she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Directed by Michael Showalter, ‘Oh. What. Fun’ explores what happens when a mom finally prioritizes herself on her own holiday list. The film features a star-studded cast, including Felicity Jones, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Denis Leary. It is currently streaming on Prime Video.