Category: Entertainment

Director Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s highly anticipated film ‘Spirit’ featuring Prabhas and Triptii Dimri in lead roles commenced production on Sunday with a grand pooja ceremony.

Celebrity Attendance

The event was attended by several notable personalities, including Megastar Chiranjeevi, who graced the ceremony as a special guest.

Bhadrakali Pictures, Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s production house, shared the excitement on its X timeline, stating, “India’s biggest superstar #Prabhas’s ‘SPIRIT’ has been launched with Megastar @KChiruTweets garu as the special guest.”

Gratitude Note from Vanga

Touched by Chiranjeevi’s presence, director Sandeep Reddy Vanga expressed his gratitude through a thank-you note on X. He wrote, “Heartfelt thank you to our MEGASTAR CHIRANJEEVI sir for blessing the event with his presence. Sir….. your gesture is unforgettable — we all love you @KChiruTweets #SPIRIT MUHURTHAM.”

Vanga also shared pictures from the ceremony but ensured that none revealed Prabhas’s look to maintain the actor’s surprise element.

Excitement Among Fans

On Instagram, Vanga posted a picture of Prabhas’s hands holding the film’s clapboard, stating, “Dear fans… I thought PRABHAS anna’s hands were enough to EXCITE YOU ALL… So, on this muhurath day, I’m posting this for you — with gratitude and love. SPIRIT.”

The film has already generated significant excitement among fans and film enthusiasts.

Cast and Production Details

In addition to Prabhas and Triptii Dimri, the film will feature Prakash Raj and Vivek Oberoi in significant roles. ‘Spirit’ is being produced jointly by Bhushan Kumar, Sandeep Reddy Vanga, and Pranay Reddy Vanga, with music composed by Harshavardhan Rameshwar. Stunts will be choreographed by the renowned stunt master Supreme Sundar, while the production design will be handled by Suresh Selvarajan.

Interestingly, the makers initially considered Deepika Padukone for the female lead role. However, due to disagreements over pay and working hours, the decision was made to cast Triptii Dimri instead.

Nagarjuna showered his son Naga Chaitanya with love as he celebrated his birthday on Sunday.

Birthday Wishes and New Release

Nagarjuna shared the first look poster of Naga Chaitanya’s upcoming film “Vrushakarma” on social media, wishing him a fantastic year ahead. He wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter), “Dear @chay_akkineni wishing you a fantastic year ahead and happy happy returns of this day… Sending you all my love!! Godspeed with #VRUSHAKARMA. (sic)”

Sobhita’s Special Gesture

Naga Chaitanya’s wife, Sobhita Dhulipala, also expressed her love with a heartfelt post. On her official Instagram, she shared a love-struck picture of the couple, possibly from one of their vacations, showing Naga Chaitanya adorably zipping up Sobhita’s jacket in the street. She captioned the post, “Happy birthday lover @chayakkineni (sic).” Naga Chaitanya responded to the message with a red heart emoji in the comments.

Film Details

As part of the birthday celebrations, the makers of his upcoming film, previously titled “#NC24,” unveiled the new title and first look poster. Directed by Karthik Dandu, the project has been named “Vrushakarma.”

Tollywood superstar Mahesh Babu also extended his wishes to Naga Chaitanya, posting the title and first look of the movie on social media. His message read, “Wishing you a very HapWispy Birthday @chay_akkineni. #VrushaKarma looks super solid… looking forward to this. (sic).”

Intense Character Reveal

In the first look, Naga Chaitanya appears in a fierce and rugged avatar with a toned physique and a tense expression. He is showcased in the midst of a fight against a backdrop of a celestial eclipse and crumbling structures.

Supporting Cast

Meenakshi Chowdhury has been cast as the leading lady in “Vrushakarma,” while Sparsh Srivastava, known for “Laapataa Ladies,” will play a critical role.

Actor Suniel Shetty flagged off the 10 km segment of the WNC Half Marathon 2025 on Sunday. He was joined by his son, Ahan Shetty, as well as Riteish Deshmukh and the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, Krishna Swaminathan.

Expressing Grief Over a Tragic Loss

During the event, Suniel Shetty spoke about the tragic passing of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who lost his life in a Tejas aircraft crash at the Dubai Air Show 2025. He stated, “It is an extremely sad incident. The investigation is underway. Every officer who is serving the country wearing the uniform, I thank them wholeheartedly. I am very proud of them.”

Condolences from Fellow Actors

Veteran actor Kamal Haasan also shared his condolences via social media, expressing his sorrow with a post that read, “Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who gave his life while showcasing the pride of our Indian Air Force, the Tejas. A brave son of India taken far too soon. My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. India stands with you in this moment of immeasurable grief.”

Actor Sonu Sood also paid tribute, saying, “Today, India mourns the loss of Wing Commander Namansh Syal, a brave Tejas pilot who gave his life doing what he loved—flying for his nation. His courage and sacrifice will forever remain in our hearts. Salute to a true hero. Jai Hind.”

Details of the Incident

Wing Commander Namansh Syal passed away after a Tejas aircraft crashed and burst into flames during the Dubai Air Show 2025. His mortal remains were transported back to India on a special aircraft, and the Emirati Defence Forces honored him with a ceremonial guard of honour.

A court of inquiry has been established to investigate the cause of the accident. It is noteworthy that this is the second crash involving a Tejas aircraft, following a previous mishap near Jaisalmer in 2024.

Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga Kapoor recently attended the 56th edition of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where she expressed her belief that Indian cinema needs to explore more rooted stories.

The Importance of Rooted Narratives

Monga Kapoor emphasized that the more rooted a story is, the higher its chances of resonating with a global audience. She praised India’s official Oscar entry, ‘Homebound’, and discussed its upcoming release.

“‘Homebound’ had to be released immediately because there’s a cutoff for films that have returned from film festivals. There’s a lot of calculation involved in release dates. There was a submission deadline in September, and they had to release it at the very last minute. But I’m not here to comment on box office because I think the film will do really, really well as and when people watch it. ‘Homebound’ is a beautiful film, it went to Cannes, it went to Toronto, and Martin Scorsese is presenting it. One of the best studios in India is behind it. Neeraj Ghaywan has directed it. So it’s a beautiful film and it deserves all the love,” she noted.

Spotlight on Other Notable Films

Monga Kapoor further mentioned, “I do think that a film like ‘Kantara’, a film like ‘Manjummel Boys’, these are all very good films that could also do well. They are actually super rooted and can work internationally. I think they will do exceptionally well outside of India and break barriers. But I do feel like in Hindi, we need to do more rooted stuff.”

A Celebration of Cinema

The 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) is currently showcasing an impressive array of cinematic art, culture, and technology. The festival features over 240 films from 81 countries, including 13 world premieres, along with international and Asian debuts. This year’s opening is breaking tradition with a grand parade along the Mandovi River.

Director Vikarnan Ashok has shared an intriguing backstory behind his recently released Tamil film ‘Mask,’ starring actor Kavin in the lead role. The film, which has opened to strong box office receipts, draws inspiration from a real estate scam that both he and his family fell victim to.

Inspiration Behind the Story

In an exclusive conversation, Vikarnan revealed, “It happened in my life. I was a victim of a real estate scam.” Elaborating further, he explained the targetting of the middle class by fraudsters. “People who intend to commit fraud confidently pick the middle class to con as they think that people belonging to this class will hesitate to hit back. This is because of the compulsions that those from the middle class have. Every month, a person from the middle class has to pay his EMIs, and he has to report to office every day for work and therefore can’t stage protests.”

Vikarnan added, “When educated people are conned, they naturally feel angry. But then, they can’t react. However, what if they got an opportunity to react? I began to wonder what would happen if an educated person had the chance to respond, and that is how it all began.”

The Family’s Recovery

Ask him if his family managed to recover their lost funds from the scam, and Vikarnan states, “After 17 years, in June 2025, we got our money back.”

About the Film

‘Mask’ debuted worldwide on November 21 this year and is produced by Black Madras Films. The film features Andrea Jeremiah, who not only produced the film but also plays the antagonist. This is not her first time in such a role, as she previously portrayed a villain in director Vetri Maran’s ‘Vada Chennai.’

The film has generated significant buzz among film enthusiasts, with music composed by National Award-winning director G V Prakash and cinematography by esteemed filmmaker R D Rajashekar. Editing is handled by Ramar, while art direction is managed by Jacki and Vijay Iyyappan.

Jointly produced by Andrea and S P Chockalingam, ‘Mask’ is presented by Vetri Maran’s Grassroots Film Company.

Actor Sunny Hinduja, known for his performances in ‘The Railway Men’, ‘Aspirants’, and more, recently paid tribute to the Indian spy Ravindra Kaushik.

Honoring a Hero

On Sunday, Sunny shared a heartfelt video on his Instagram about portraying Ravindra Kaushik in the television series ‘Adrishya’, which celebrated its 11th anniversary. The video highlights the remarkable journey of Kaushik, who began his career as a theatre artist.

In the video, Sunny expressed, “It’s been 11 years since Adrishya. I was honored to portray Ravindra Kaushik. Here is the story of THE BLACK TIGER. Ravindra Kaushik was a talented theatre artist, recruited by R&AW at age 23 for a deep cover mission. For two years, he erased his identity, learning Urdu, Islamic culture, and training as a spy. He crossed the border in 1975 as Nabi Ahmed Shakir after completing his training. His service was so exceptional that the then PM personally titled him ‘The Black Tiger’.”

The Legacy of Ravindra Kaushik

Sunny elaborated on Kaushik’s achievements, stating, “In Pakistan, he obtained an LLB and successfully infiltrated the Military Accounts Department, rising to the rank of Major. Till 1983, he sent invaluable classified military intelligence back to India. But in 1983, his cover was blown when a low-level contact, Inyat Masih, was captured and exposed him. Kaushik was arrested, brutally tortured, and sentenced to death… later commuted to life imprisonment. He spent 16 years in Pakistani prisons, secretly writing letters to his family in India. He died in Mianwali jail in 2001, an unsung hero, never publicly recognized or claimed by his country. Bringing his story to life was a true privilege.”

In his caption, Sunny emphasized the importance of Kaushik’s story, saying, “A story that every Indian should know… 11 saal ho gaye, lekin Ravindra Kaushikji ki yeh kahaani hamesha mere dil ke kareeb rahegi. ‘Adrishya’ on Epic ke uss episode mein unka kirdaar nibhana mere liye ek bada samman tha. I hope more people talk about his story and immortalize this legend. Would love to do this biopic.”

Actress Adah Sharma’s grandmother passed away on Sunday morning at 5:30 am in Mumbai. She had been in the hospital for the past few weeks and succumbed to Ulcerative Colitis and Diverticulitis.

A Special Bond with Paati

Adah fondly referred to her grandmother as Paati and shared a deeply close bond with her. The actress often posted joyful memories of their time together on social media, especially the popular “Party with Paati” videos.

Adah and her mother are planning to hold a memorial service for her grandmother in their hometown in Kerala.

A source close to Adah revealed, “Adah is closest to her grandmother than anyone else. She lives with her grandmother, who has been in the hospital for the past month. Adah and her mother will be having a memorial service in their hometown in Kerala.”

A Pillar of Strength

Beyond being the elder in the family, Adah’s grandmother was a source of strength, humour, and unconditional love in her life.

In August, Adah shared glimpses from her grandmother’s birthday celebration on social media. The ‘The Kerala Story’ actress posted a video on her X (formerly Twitter) timeline, showcasing her grandmother enjoying her special day surrounded by loved ones.

The post featured the entire family singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and happily dancing to songs like “Bareli Ke Bazaar Me” and “Sar Jo Tera Chakraye,” along with moments from the cake-cutting ceremony.

Adah wrote in the caption, “My Naanis sweet 16th Birthday #PartyWithPaati… Honoured to have the opportunity to be the cinematographer of my grandmother’s birthday bash. Here are the highlights.”

Adah’s social media is filled with treasured moments with her beloved Paati.

The makers of the pan-Indian Malayalam film ‘Kattalan’, featuring actor Antony Varghese (Pepe) in the lead, recently released footage of a jeep turning turtle during a stunt sequence, paying tribute to the brave stuntmen whose courage allows such sequences to be filmed.

Cube Entertainments, the production house behind the film, shared a gripping video clip on its social media channels. The clip showed the jeep overturning during a stunt, with the entire unit rushing to extract the stuntman from the vehicle. They captioned the post with a heartfelt message: “Salute to the unseen HEROES behind the screen!”

Interest in the film continues to grow among fans and film buffs. Earlier in October, the makers unveiled the first-look poster featuring Antony Varghese (Pepe). The poster revealed a stunning transformation, depicting him with flaming eyes, messy red hair, and a cigar hanging from his lips. This striking look radiated raw intensity, setting the tone for an exciting mass entertainer. The blood-stained face and hands emphasized the film’s gritty action essence, showcasing Antony in a fierce new avatar.

A day prior to this poster’s release, the production team announced the completion of the film’s schedule in Thailand, which commenced on October 1.

Recently, while filming an action scene involving an elephant in Thailand, the actor sustained an injury. The thrilling action sequences there were choreographed by Kecha Khamphakdee, the acclaimed action director known for the ‘Ong-Bak’ series, alongside his expert team. Notably, ‘Kattalan’ also features Pong, the elephant famous from the ‘Ong-Bak’ films.

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

The film stars Antony Varghese (Pepe) and actress Rajisha Vijayan in leading roles, alongside a talented cast that includes Rapper Baby Jean, Telugu actor Sunil, known for his roles in ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ (2021), ‘Pushpa 2’ (2024), and ‘Jailer’ (2023), as well as actor Kabir Duhan Singh, veteran Malayalam actors Jagadeesh and Siddique in pivotal roles.

Additionally, the film has welcomed actor Parth Tiwari and actor Anson Paul to its team, along with promising talent Shon Joy, who made his debut in ‘Alappuzha Gymkhana (2025)’. He is recognized for his strong screen presence.

The story for ‘Kattalan’ has been penned by Paul George, Joby Varghese, and Jero Jacob, marking their debut as a writing trio. They have combined raw storytelling with cinematic vision to create a gripping narrative centered around power, betrayal, and deadly missions.

The film’s music is composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, known for ‘Kantara 2’, with choreography by Sharief. Costumes are designed by Dhanya Balakrishnan, cinematography is handled by Renadive, and editing is done by Shameer Muhammed.

As Naga Chaitanya celebrated his birthday on November 23, his wife, Sobhita Dhulipala, showered him with love through a charming social media post.

Sobhita shared a romantic picture on her official Instagram, capturing a sweet moment from one of their vacations where Naga Chaitanya was seen lovingly zipping up Sobhita’s jacket in the middle of the street. She captioned the post, “Happy birthday lover @chayakkineni (sic)”.

Naga Chaitanya responded to her heartfelt message with a red heart emoji in the comments.

For those unfamiliar, Sobhita is Naga Chaitanya’s second wife. He was previously married to actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The couple tied the knot in 2017 but parted ways four years later, in 2021.

Sobhita and Naga Chaitanya made their relationship public after their engagement in August 2024 and finally exchanged vows in December of the same year.

On the occasion of Naga Chaitanya’s birthday, the makers of his upcoming film revealed the title and first look poster, initially referred to as “#NC24”. Directed by Karthik Dandu, the project is now titled “Vrushakarma”.

Wishing Naga Chaitanya on his special day, actor Mahesh Babu posted the title and first look on social media, captioning it, “Wishing you a very HapWispy Birthday @chay_akkineni. #VrushaKarma looks super solid… looking forward to this. (sic).”

In this film, Naga Chaitanya showcases an intense and raw persona, flaunting his toned physique amidst a fight scene. The backdrop features a dramatic celestial eclipse along with broken structures and a war-torn landscape.

Uploading the first look poster on his Instagram, Naga Chaitanya wrote, “#vrushakarma it is for #nc24 (sic)”.

With Meenakshi Chowdhury as the leading lady, “Vrushakarma” will also feature Sparsh Srivastava, known for ‘Laapataa Ladies’, in a significant role.

As Naga Chaitanya celebrates his birthday, the makers of his upcoming film with director Karthik Dandu have unveiled the exciting title of the highly anticipated mythological thriller. Previously referred to as #NC24, the project is now officially named “Vrushakarma.”

Wishing Naga Chaitanya on this special occasion, actor Mahesh Babu announced the film’s title. He shared, “Wishing you a very HapWispy Birthday @chay_akkineni. #VrushaKarma looks super solid… looking forward to this.”

In response, Naga Chaitanya expressed his gratitude by resharing the post on his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, stating, “Thanks @urstrulyMahesh Garu for this gesture! Means a lot.”

The makers also revealed the first look poster of Naga Chaitanya from “Vrushakarma.” In this striking poster, he appears in a raw and fierce avatar, showcasing his muscular build while delivering intense expressions. The dramatic background features a celestial eclipse, flanked by broken structures and a war-torn landscape, suggesting that he is amidst a fierce battle.

Sharing the first look poster on Instagram, Naga Chaitanya noted, “#vrushakarma it is for #nc24.”

Directed by Karthik Dandu, the film is being produced on a massive scale by BVSN Prasad and Sukumar under the banners of Sri Venkateswara Cine Chitra LLP (SVCC) and Sukumar Writings.

Meenakshi Chowdhury will star opposite Naga Chaitanya, while Sparsh Srivastava, known for ‘Laapataa Ladies,’ will play a crucial role in the film.

For the technical team, the story for “Vrushakarma” comes from director Sukumar, with Neil D Cunha serving as the cinematographer. The music is composed by Ajaneesh Loknath, and the editing is managed by National Award winner Navin Nooli. Art direction is handled by Sri Nagendra Tangala, who previously collaborated with Naga Chaitanya on “Thandel.”