Author: Ankita Singh

Actor-director Rishab Shetty, who is basking in the success of his latest release ‘Kantara: Chapter 1,’ has stated that the film’s production faced no significant problems.

Celebrating the film’s success at a luxury hotel in Bandra West, Mumbai, Shetty addressed rumors surrounding production delays, attributing them to narratives created by certain individuals opposed to the film.

“We didn’t have a problem; it was a narrative set at that time because we weren’t meeting the media or the people. We were inside the forest, there was no network,” he explained.

The shooting spanned approximately 200 days, with several scenes filmed in remote forest locations. Unfortunately, the production faced tragic incidents, including the drowning of junior artist M.F. Kapil in the Souparnika River near Kollur during a break, leading to an FIR and raising safety concerns on set. Additionally, a bus carrying junior artists had an accident near Jadkal, Karnataka, resulting in six injuries and disrupting schedules.

Shetty elaborated, “Normally, when a film is set to release, there is a constant stream of promotional material—posters, interviews, teasers. Nothing like that happened for us. Initially, we released only the trailer and a teaser; we went straight to work. Once shooting was over, we shared a making video and a wrap-up video. At that time, some people created narratives that spread on social media.”

The actor firmly denied any claims of major production issues.

‘Kantara: Chapter 1’ has garnered a largely positive response, acclaimed for its stunning visuals, grand scale, and cultural richness. The film has grossed INR 386.9 crore net in India.

The unit of the pan-Indian Malayalam film ‘Kattalan,’ featuring actor Antony Varghese (Pepe) in the lead role, has unveiled the first look of the actor in celebration of his birthday.

Cube Entertainments, the production house behind the film, shared the first look poster on its social media platforms. The post read, “ONLY THE WILDEST WILL SURVIVE. KATTALAN – THE HUNTER | FIRST LOOK. ANTONY VARGHESE as never seen before. Happy Birthday, Champ!”

The newly released poster showcases a stunning transformation of Antony Varghese. With flaming eyes, messy red hair, and a cigar burning between his lips, his appearance exudes raw intensity, setting the stage for an exciting mass entertainer. The blood-stained face and hands further emphasize the film’s gritty action essence, portraying Antony in a fierce new light.

### Recent Update on Filming

Just a day prior, the makers announced the completion of the film’s Thailand schedule, which began on October 1 this year. During the shooting of an action sequence in Thailand, the actor sustained an injury in a stunt involving an elephant. The high-energy action scenes were choreographed by Kecha Khamphakdee, the celebrated action director known for the ‘Ong-Bak’ series, alongside his skilled team. Interestingly, ‘Kattalan’ features Pong, the elephant made famous through the ‘Ong-Bak’ films.

### About the Film and the Cast

Producer Shareef Muhammed of Cube Entertainments, famed for the blockbuster ‘Marco,’ is helming this ambitious project titled ‘Kattalan,’ a high-octane pan-Indian action thriller directed by Paul George.

Alongside Antony Varghese (Pepe), actress Rajisha Vijayan plays the lead role. The cast also includes Rapper Baby Jean, Telugu actor Sunil—known for his roles in hits like ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ (2021), ‘Pushpa 2’ (2024), and ‘Jailer’ (2023)—and actor Kabir Duhan Singh, recognized for his powerful performances across multiple languages. Veteran Malayalam actors Jagadeesh and Siddique portray pivotal roles.

Additionally, actor Parth Tiwari and actor Anson Paul have recently joined the film’s cast. They welcomed promising talent Shon Joy, known for his debut film ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana’ (2025), and recognized for his strong screen presence.

### Story and Technical Details

The gripping storyline for ‘Kattalan’ is penned by Paul George, Joby Varghese, and Jero Jacob—the talented trio making their writing debut with this film. They have combined raw storytelling energy with cinematic vision to create a high-stakes narrative filled with power, betrayal, and deadly missions.

The film’s music is composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, noted for his work on ‘Kantara 2,’ with choreography by Sharief. Dhanya Balakrishnan is responsible for the costumes, while cinematography is handled by Renadive. Editing duties fall to Shameer Muhammed.

Telugu star Ram Charan recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The actor shared several pictures from this significant meeting on his Instagram.

Discussion on Archery Premier League

The two discussed the Archery Premier League, during which PM Modi presented a statue of a deity to the actor. Ram Charan expressed his sentiments in a heartfelt caption: “Honoured to meet our Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi jee on the success of the world’s first Archery Premier League, led by Anil Kamineni Garu. PM JI’s guidance & passion for sports will help us preserve & promote the legacy of archery worldwide.”

He continued, “Congratulations to all the athletes; we hope many more will join this incredible sport for better mental and physical health #ArcheryPremierLeague #ArcheryInIndia #RiseOfArchery.”

About the Archery Premier League

The Archery Premier League is India’s inaugural franchise-based archery tournament, launched in 2025 by the Archery Association of India. It features six teams: Prithviraaj Yodhas, Mighty Marathas, Kakatiya Knights, Rajputana Royals, Chero Archers, and Chola Chiefs. Each team consists of eight archers (four men and four women), including both recurve and compound specialists.

A total of 36 Indian archers and 12 international competitors were drafted into the teams. Matches are currently taking place at the Yamuna Sports Complex, using a round-robin format followed by knockouts. The Rajputana Royals and Mighty Marathas have both advanced to the season finale.

Ram Charan at Ravan Dahan Event

Earlier, Ram Charan attended the Ravan Dahan at Balaji Ramleela Maidan in the national capital. During the event, he spoke in Hindi, recalling his portrayal of Alluri Sitaramaraju in ‘RRR.’ He expressed gratitude to the people of North India for their warm welcome.

In Hindi, he stated, “The character that I played in the movie (RRR), his name is also Ram. And what is happening today is happening because of Lord Ram. So I am very grateful to him. I have got so much love. I am from a small industry, and we have come from the south. And we have got so much love in the north. And that is only because of our movie. And your heart is so big. You have invited us so much and kept us in your heart.”

In ‘RRR,’ Ram Charan portrayed a police officer during British rule, inspired by freedom fighters Rash Behari Bose and Alluri Sitaramaraju. The film achieved massive global success, acclaimed for its action, visuals, songs, and storytelling, earning various international awards.

Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt is feeling nostalgic as she gears up for her upcoming action film ‘Alpha’. Recently, she shared a heartfelt post on Instagram Stories featuring a picture with Vasan Bala, the director of her film ‘Jigra’.

She captioned the image, “First meeting. Where it all began. #1YearofJigra”.

‘Jigra’ faced significant challenges as it clashed with Divya Khossla’s ‘Savi’, leading to considerable controversy. The film was met with harsh criticism from reviewers and was labeled a box-office bomb. Notably, it bore several similarities to ‘Savi’, prompting Divya to accuse Alia’s co-producer, Karan Johar, of inflating box office numbers despite minimal footfall in theaters.

During the promotional cycle for ‘Jigra’, Vasan Bala stirred discussions by stating that he had sent an unrefined, “very kaccha-pakka” (rough draft) version of the script to Karan Johar. This draft was later passed on to Alia without allowing Bala the chance to polish it with spellchecks, grammar edits, or refine the hero’s entry.

Some speculated that Bala’s comments implied Alia Bhatt was not the original choice for the film, leading to accusations of nepotism and questions around mismanagement in production communications. In response, producer Somen Mishra and Karan Johar clarified that Alia was always their top choice, emphasizing that the script was still in its initial stage, and Bala’s concerns were focused on presentation rather than intention.

The discussion heated up on social media, with some suggesting that Bala was attempting to distance himself from responsibility or make excuses due to the film’s underwhelming box office performance.

In lighter news, Alia Bhatt has also shared her favorite travel destination, stating that she loves visiting the Maasai Mara National Reserve. She expressed her eagerness to take her daughter, Raha Kapoor, although she is currently waiting until Raha is old enough to enjoy the visit.

Hollywood actress Zoe Saldana recently opened up about the challenges and breakthroughs she faced while collaborating with her husband, Marco Perego, on a creative project for the first time.

The Oscar-winning actress, 47, reflected on filming the 2019 music video for the single “Show Me Love.” Directed by Alicia Keys, the video featured both Saldana and Perego. Speaking to Beyond Noise, she shared, “Working together on that music video was extremely challenging. Because it was the first time I realized his approach to working, and (he realized mine).”

Married since 2013, the couple shares three sons: Zen, 8, and 10-year-old twins Cy and Bowie. They have always supported each other’s careers behind the scenes, but entering a shared creative space revealed unexpected friction.

She added, “We’ve figured out so many ways of how to be together. We work together at life. We work together with our family. Now, we work together in art.”

This shift exposed new dynamics between them, particularly during rehearsals. Saldana recalled, “He was like, ‘I don’t like the way you’re talking to me when we’re rehearsing’.” She laughed, “I would tell him, ‘I keep telling you to pick me up’.”

She continued, “You don’t want me to make an excuse. I don’t want you to make an excuse. That’s why we practice. So can you please remember what we f** just did?”

Additionally, Saldana discussed the realities of being an artist and the resilience needed to persevere in an industry filled with rejection. She stated, “I don’t like the word hustle; it has such a connotation. But you have to be determined and persistent. To be an artist means that you’re going to get rejected a lot more than you are accepted.”

The upcoming streaming show ‘Greater Kalesh’ delves into the real, messy, and deeply Indian dynamics of a family united by love, misunderstanding, and tradition.

Emotional Family Dramedy

Set against the backdrop of the festive season, the show offers a delightful, emotional, and utterly relatable family dramedy. It features talents like Ahsaas Channa, Poojan Chhabra, Supriya Shukla, and Happy Ranajit.

The story follows Twinkle Handa, who plans to surprise her family for Diwali, only to find a surprising twist waiting for her.

Ahsaas Channa shared her excitement about the show, stating, “I have always been attracted to stories about families and the shades that we don’t often see. ‘Greater Kalesh’ offers just that, and I’m beyond excited to also mark my first film with Netflix. When I read the script, I instantly knew this was something I had to do. The story is witty, warm, and wonderfully sincere. I can’t wait for the audience to meet Twinkle Handa and her beautifully chaotic world.”

A Blend of Humor and Heart

The show masterfully blends humor, heart, and home truths, positioning itself as the must-watch family entertainer of the season. It reminds us that sometimes the greatest chaos can bring us closer together.

Vijay Subramaniam, Founder and Group CEO of Collective Artists Network, expressed his pride, noting, “It’s a proud moment to see a TTT story, born from within the Collective ecosystem, find its home on Netflix. For over a decade, TTT has championed stories that turn everyday life into something meaningful, and ‘Greater Kalesh’ is a beautiful continuation of that. To see this homegrown story reach a global audience through Netflix feels truly special, and what better time than Diwali to share it.”

Anuj Gosalia, Founder and CEO of Terribly Tiny Tales, added, “‘Greater Kalesh’ is more than just a film; it’s a piece of our heart. At TTT, we’ve always believed in finding meaning in the everyday, in the small but powerful emotions that make us who we are. This story celebrates that—the laughter, the arguments, the beautiful chaos that defines every family. To see something born from our world of tiny tales, find a home on Netflix, and reach audiences across the world, is truly a full-circle moment for us.”

Mark your calendars: the show is set to premiere on Netflix on October 17, 2025.

Actress Rasika Dugal, known for her role in the black comedy Lord Curzon Ki Haveli, highlighted the scarcity of comedic roles written for women.

Rasika has always harbored a desire to delve into comedy. She expressed, “I’ve always wanted to explore comedy, and black comedy feels like the perfect space to do that. It allows me to find laughter even in unsettling spaces.” She noted that female-led comedic roles are notably rare. “There aren’t enough roles written for women in comedic material, especially where they are at the centre. Women have an inherent sense of humor — how else would we survive this patriarchal world!”

About the Film

Directed by Anshuman Jha, Lord Curzon Ki Haveli is shot entirely on a single lens. The film features a strong cast, including Arjun Mathur, Tanmay Dhanania, and Paresh Pahuja.

The film, situated in the UK, has a Hitchcockian chamber drama feel, blending suspense, wit, and sharp commentary on identity within a mysterious evening setting. It faced delays with Indian censors for over six months.

The storyline revolves around Rohit and Sanya, who invite her friend Ira and her husband Basuki Nath for drinks. Tensions rise when Basuki becomes convinced that the hosts are hiding something in a trunk.

Upcoming Projects

Rasika recently began filming the first schedule for the adaptation of the popular web series Mirzapur in Mumbai. She plays the role of Beena Tripathi, and a source close to her stated, “Rasika has prepped for the role really well and slipped back into Beena’s world with ease. There’s a lot of anticipation to see the entire cast come together, but what’s exciting is how impactful her role is shaping up to be.”

The source added, “From everything we’ve seen so far, it feels like Beena Tripathi will bring something never seen before in the Mirzapur universe.” The cast also includes Ali Fazal and Pankaj Tripathi, reprising their roles as Guddu Pandit and Kaleen Bhaiya.

Additionally, it appears that actors Jitendra Kumar and Ravi Kishan have joined the cast, although their roles remain undisclosed.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will confront housemate Tanya Mittal in the upcoming Weekend Ka Vaar episode of ‘Bigg Boss 19’. He questions her motives, asking why she seeks to be the center of attraction and plays the sympathy card.

The channel shared a promo on Instagram, highlighting Salman’s probing: “Tanya ke sympathy card strategy ko Salman ne kiya expose! Dekhiye #BiggBoss19 ka naya episode, har roz raat 9 baje #JioHotstar par aur 10:30 baje @colorstv par.”

In the promo, Salman asks, “Tanya, what is the reason for playing center of attraction and sympathy card?” In response, Tanya expresses that she feels like crying, which leads her to do so. Salman critiques her tendency to exaggerate situations, stating, “Okay, you feel like crying. The things that others find ordinary become a reason for you to cry.”

He also points out her frequent threats about not speaking up: “You keep threatening that I won’t say anything now. You do whatever you want to do. It doesn’t matter.”

Additionally, housemates will label wild card entrant Malti Chahar as a “red flag” in the next episode. The promo showcases Salman addressing Malti, commenting on her late-season entry. He asks, “Some people must have felt insecurity, right?” to which Nehal Chudasama agrees, hinting at Tanya.

Salman checks with the housemates if Malti is a “green flag or a red flag.” Tanya’s bold response is, “Should I give her the whole thing (flags)? All the red flags belong to her.”

Baseer mentions that Malti offers excuses in response to questions, while Nehal describes her as “unwilling, uncooperative,” also labeling her with a red flag. Farrhana adds that Malti seems only interested in provoking fights.

Salman then quips with Malti: “So Malti, before you came here, did you read your palm?”

The promo concludes with another engaging caption: “Kya Malti hai gharwalon ke liye cooperative ya hai woh red flag? Dekhiye #BiggBoss19 ka naya episode, har roz raat 9 baje #JioHotstar par aur 10:30 baje @colorstv par.”

As Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan celebrates his 83rd birthday, numerous notable figures from the film industry have shared heartfelt wishes for the legend.

Warm Wishes from Colleagues

Big B’s co-star in ‘Kalki 2898 AD’, Prabhas, expressed his sentiments beautifully: “Happy birthday @amitabhbachchan sir. It’s a privilege to witness your legacy and work alongside you. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, Sir. Happy Happy Happy Birthday.”

Kajol also took a moment to celebrate, sharing a rare photo with Amitabh and writing, “Happy birthday to the reigning and forever rockstar @SrBachchan .. May you have many more reasons to smile and laugh this year.”

Recalling his experience directing Big B in ‘Runway 34’, Ajay Devgn reflected, “The toughest task was saying ‘cut’ when sir delivered a shot…Happy Birthday Amit Ji (Folded hands and red heart emoji) @SrBachchan.”

Suniel Shetty shared a throwback picture and stated, “To the man who defines greatness… Happy Birthday @SrBachchan. You’ve inspired me and million others in ways words can’t describe, with your strength, grace, and spirit. Always a fan… always in awe.”

Farhan Akhtar, who recently appeared on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 17’ with his father Javed Akhtar, remarked, “Happy birthday Amit uncle. What a pleasure and privilege it was to be with you on your birthday special. Listening to you and dad reminisce about your life and times together was an absolute treat. The experience in itself is more valuable than any amount that one can hope to win on the show. (Folded hands emoji) Wish you good health and happiness always. Lots of love. (Red heart emoji).”

Tributes from Beyond the Industry

Veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha also extended his best wishes with a heartfelt message: “Many many happy returns of the day for our icon, role model, for everybody @SrBachchan.”

In a unique message, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wished the legendary star: “Wishing the legendary Amitabh Bachchan Ji a very happy birthday! May you be blessed with continued good health, happiness, and many more inspirational years for us all. I cherish the affectionate relationship I share with Amitabh ji since 1984 when we both became first-time Members of the Indian Parliament. It is our honour that he and Jaya Ji have enriched us many times by their graceful presence in the Kolkata International Film Festival. They are members of our Festival Parivar. Many Happy Returns of the Day, Amitabh ji!”

Amitabh Bachchan continues to be not only a beloved actor but also an inspiring figure to many, marking another year of his impactful legacy.

The unit of director Kishore Tirumala’s upcoming film, featuring Telugu star Ravi Teja in the lead, has now commenced its foreign schedule in Valencia, Spain.

Film Overview

Tentatively titled #RT76, this full-fledged entertainer is being produced by Sudhakar Cherukuri under the SLV Cinemas banner. Sources indicate that the film is being crafted stylishly on a grand scale.

Shooting Schedule and Locations

The shooting has begun in Valencia, with plans to extend the schedule to nearby islands. Following this, the team will move on to shoot in Geneva and France. Recently, the crew conducted an extensive location recce to finalize the most fitting spots for filming.

The current 25-day foreign schedule is set to capture key talkie portions and two songs choreographed by Sekhar Master. One of the songs is expected to be a peppy dance number, while the other will feature a soulful melody.

Ravi Teja’s Role

Ravi Teja, known for his dynamic screen presence, will portray a stylish new avatar in this film, which is being touted as a family drama infused with humor, emotion, and his signature mass appeal.

Director and Technical Crew

Director Kishore Tirumala, praised for his emotionally rich storytelling, has developed a narrative designed to resonate with all segments of the audience.

The film also features a top-tier technical crew: Prasad Murella is overseeing cinematography, while National Award-winning editor Sreekar Prasad is on board as editor. The music will be composed by the highly regarded Bheems Ceciroleo, with AS Prakash leading production design for the film.