Category: Entertainment

Singer-songwriter Sting has expressed his heartfelt gratitude to The Beatles for serving as torchbearers for a generation. He praised the legendary band for paving the way for aspiring songwriters, enabling them to try their hand at writing songs.

Tribute from Dominic Miller

Sting’s touring guitarist, Dominic Miller, has released a songbook featuring 14 of The Beatles’ tracks for classical guitar, titled The Beatles arranged by Dominic Miller, Guitar Solo Songbook, according to reports from ‘Female First UK’.

Miller shared that he and Sting, who is 74, frequently discuss The Beatles’ music and career. Sting believes that the iconic compositions by Sir Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Sir Ringo Starr have opened doors for British musicdigihunt, including himself.

Insights from Miller

In an interview with Rick Beato on his YouTube channel, Miller reflected on Sting’s thoughts, saying, “As Sting has often said, actually, and we talk about this sometimes, is that The Beatles, by doing those songs and coming up with those compositions, they kind of gave a license for everyone else to have a go. These guys from Liverpool, if they can do it, everyone should try, and so it opened the floodgates for a lot of songwriters to have an attempt at writing songs, which had never really happened before in England, like pop songs, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge.”

Miller’s Belief in Their Timelessness

Miller firmly believes that The Beatles are among the few artists whose music retains its charm even when played poorly. He elaborated, “So there’s a neighbour of ours about three or four doors down who’s probably a piano teacher, and they’re teaching this kid to play Bach, but it’s the most beautiful thing I could ever hear. So I look forward to that moment when they have their lesson, and I hear Bach played badly with no real tempo, but that’s the most beautiful thing that you can hear.”

He further stated, “And I think it’s the same for The Beatles. If someone were to play Michelle or Yesterday badly, the magic would still come through. So that was the biggest discovery for me, how indestructible this harmony is. Like Bach, I think The Beatles are one of the only composers that you can play badly, and it still sounds good.”

The ‘Game of Thrones’ star Sophie Turner appears to be taking a break from dating, having not been on a date for “months.”

Following the 2023 end of her marriage to Joe Jonas, Sophie was previously in a relationship with Peregrine Pearson. Currently, she is prioritizing her work and focusing on raising their two daughters, Willa, aged five, and Delphine, who is three.

In an interview with Net-a-Porter’s digital magazine Porter, she expressed her feelings about balancing motherhood and her career. “The mum guilt is there forever. I work all week and then, on the weekends, I’ll spend all day with my kids each day. But if I go out for lunch with a friend, I will run back home because my heart is sinking that I’ve left them. I mean, I haven’t seen my friends or gone on a date in weeks, months. I just sack off parts of my life sometimes. I only have the capacity for work and family right now. But I’m working on it. I’ll get there.”

At 29, she hopes her ability to work serves as inspiration for her children and that being a mother has rekindled her passion for acting.

“In order to be a great role model for them, I have to have a passion for myself. I love that they see me going out to work every day and working my a*** off… They love making up plays. I’ve got the joy and the childlikeness of it back, which is so nice. (Although) they still want to play Disney princesses, where the prince comes and kisses them on the cheek. And I’m like, ‘No, you can save the prince.’”

Sophie turns 30 next month and aspires to find “peace” in her new decade. She stated, “I just want to have some peace in my thirties. I feel like it’s been really hectic for a long time and I’m ready to not have that anymore. Just settle a bit. We’ll see if that happens.”

Despite whatever challenges lie ahead, the Steal actress is confident in her resilience. “As stressed as I am, I know I can get through it. That’s the good thing about having a relatively hard twenties: I learned that I can survive a lot. I’m like, there’s pressure, there’s stress, but I’ve been through worse. I have to remind myself that we’re very malleable and we can take on a lot more than we think we can.”

Hollywood actor Simu Liu appears to be advocating for significant changes in the DC Universe, as he has suggested that Melissa Barrera should be the next Wonder Woman.

In June 2025, DC Studios head James Gunn confirmed that a new Wonder Woman film is “being written right now,” according to reports from Variety.

This project is in addition to an upcoming HBO series focusing on Wonder Woman’s homeland of Themyscira, which Gunn described as “slow-moving, but it’s moving.”

Simu Liu praised Barrera’s commitment to stunt training, calling it “Wonder Woman-esque.” He mentioned in an interview with JoBlo, “She really pushes herself. I don’t know who might be listening to this interview, James Gunn or anybody else out there. But I think she really pushes herself. There were a couple of moments during stunt training where I was like, ‘That’s Wonder Woman-esque.’ I’m just throwing it out there.”

Variety also reported that Ana Nogueira, known for her work on ‘Supergirl,’ was brought on board to write the script for the new Wonder Woman movie back in July 2025. She is also involved in writing a live-action ‘Teen Titans’ for DC.

James Gunn mentioned in an interview with Extra that actress Adria Arjona, who stars in ‘Hit Man,’ was someone he could envision in the role of the DC icon. He remarked, “I follow Adria on Instagram, but everybody came out (and thought), ‘He just followed her, that means she’s Wonder Woman.’ She’d be a great Wonder Woman, by the way.”

Gal Gadot was the first actress to portray Wonder Woman in the modern era, playing the role in ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,’ ‘Wonder Woman,’ ‘Justice League,’ and ‘Wonder Woman 1984.’ She also made uncredited appearances as the super heroine in ‘Shazam! Fury of the Gods’ and ‘The Flash.’

The makers of director Adhvaith Nayar’s eagerly awaited wrestling-based action entertainer ‘Chatha Pacha’ have revealed that actor Ishan Shoukath plays a character named ‘Little.’ The first look poster of his character was released recently.

First Look Poster Unveiled

Reel World Entertainment, the production house behind the film, shared the poster across their social media platforms, stating, “Little by name, lethal by nature. Presenting the first look of Ishan Shoukath in ‘Chatha Pacha: The Ring of Rowdies!’ 22 Jan | In Cinemas Worldwide. #ChathaPacha #TheRingOfRowdies #MalayalamCinema #IshanShoukath.”

Film Release Date

The film is set to hit screens on January 22 this year, and fans are eagerly anticipating its arrival.

Exploring Kerala’s Wrestling Culture

At its core, ‘Chatha Pacha’ taps into the raw and visceral world of Kerala’s wrestling culture, drawing inspiration from the colourful chaos of Fort Kochi.

Creative Team Behind the Film

The film is creatively backed by Shihan Shoukath, with producers Ritesh and Ramesh S. Ramakrishnan and Shoukath Ali. This project marks the directorial debut of Adhvaith Nayar and unfolds a narrative filled with bravado, brotherhood, rivalry, and humour, characterised by sweat, spectacle, and street-smart swagger.

Star-Studded Cast

An ensemble cast led by Arjun Ashokan, Roshan Mathew, and Vishak Nair features several prominent actors from the industry, each stepping into well-defined roles that advance the storyline.

Technical Highlights

On the technical side, the film boasts a formidable crew. A major highlight is the legendary composer trio Shankar Ehsaan Loy, making their Malayalam cinema debut and creating an energetic soundscape that complements the film’s vibrant world.

The film’s lyrics are penned by Vinayak Sasikumar, while Mujeeb Majeed has composed the background score. The cinematography is handled by Anend C. Chandran, action choreography is led by Kalai Kingson, the editing is done by Praveen Prabhakar, and the screenplay is written by Sanoop Thykoodam.

Actress Zarina Wahab, who is eagerly anticipating the release of her upcoming film ‘The Raja Saab’, has shared her thoughts on why she has become increasingly selective about her work in Hindi cinema.

At a special event in Mumbai for her film, she discussed her shift towards the South Indian film industry.

“I have been working in the industry for more than 40 years now. I am from Andhra, so I can speak good Telugu, much better than anybody else. Everybody kept asking me why I wasn’t working in Telugu films. I’ve worked in a few, but this film is bringing me more fame,” she stated.

Zarina elaborated on her experience, saying, “People in Bombay ask me, why are you doing Telugu films? Hindi films main family mar gayi hai. There’s no family. Sirf South mai family abhi bhi zinda hai (The concept of family has died in Hindi; it’s only alive in the South). They produce such family-oriented films that people love to watch. I am currently working on 2-3 more Telugu movies.”

Despite her focus on regional cinema, she expressed gratitude towards Bollywood for her enduring career. “I am very thankful to the Telugu industry now, and I was very, very thankful to the Hindi industry also,” she remarked.

Zarina Wahab has a rich filmography, having appeared in notable films such as ‘Agar’, ‘Arth’, and ‘Dil Dhadakane Do’, and later transitioning into character roles across various languages. She is married to actor Aditya Pancholi and is the mother of actors Sooraj Pancholi and Sana Pancholi.

Regarding ‘The Raja Saab’, the film also features stars like Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab herself.

The storyline revolves around a man on a quest to find his missing grandfather, leading him into a mansion with a sinister presence.

Mark your calendars; the film is set to release on January 9, 2026.

The unit of director Sampath Nandi’s explosive action drama, ‘Bhogi’, featuring actor Sharwanand in the lead, has commenced an important shooting schedule at a specially erected set in the city.

Key Shooting Schedule

Sources close to the film’s unit indicate that crucial talkie portions will be filmed during this schedule.

Setting and Storyline

The story is set against the rugged backdrop of the North Telangana-Maharashtra border during the late 1960s. It is said to plunge viewers into a raw, violent world where power holds ultimate significance, and survival is drenched in blood. The narrative unfolds in a rural setting carefully recreated to reflect the texture and tone of that era, shedding light on a brutal time rarely depicted on Indian screens.

High Expectations

This film has generated immense anticipation ever since its announcement.

Director Sampath Nandi shared a video clip titled ‘First Spark’ on his X timeline last year. He captioned the video with, “Every drop of blood has a reason. Every fest carries a purpose. And #SharwaSampathBloodFest has a BLOODY name etched into it – #BHOGI! #Sharwa38 First Spark out now. SHOOT STARTS TODAY. Charming star @ImSharwanand @anupamahere @DimpleHayathi @KKRadhamohan @KirankumarMann4 @SriSathyaSaiArt #CharmingStar38”.

The promotional video suggests that the film will feature intense violence and action, including visuals of a hand writing the phrase “A blood fest” and a machete being crafted.

Star Cast

The film stars two heroines – Anupama Parameswaran and Dimple Hayathi. Sources reveal that while Anupama will portray the lead, Dimple Hayathi is expected to play a pivotal role.

Sharwanand is venturing into new territory with this project, marking his first pan-India film, and collaborating with director Sampath Nandi, who has a track record of delivering blockbusters.

Production Details

Produced by KK Radhamohan under the Sri Sathya Sai Arts banner and presented by Lakshmi Radhamohan, ‘Bhogi’ is being crafted on a lavish scale, supported by a top-notch technical team.

From impressive production design by Kiran Kumar Manne to powerful visuals by ace cinematographer Soundar Rajan S and a captivating score by Bheems Ceciroleo, the film aims to excel on every technical front.

Release Plans

The filmmakers plan to release ‘Bhogi’ in multiple languages, including Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, and Hindi.

Actor Boman Irani, who is eagerly anticipating the release of his upcoming film “The RajaSaab,” recently shared his insights on working with Telugu superstar Prabhas.

Prabhas: A Star Without the Attitude

At a special event for the film in Mumbai, Irani expressed his admiration for Prabhas, noting that despite his massive stardom, the actor remains incredibly down-to-earth.

“I think Zarina ji has spoken so sweetly about Prabhas; I don’t think I can say it better than her. But there is an aura when you see him in movies. He’s got this larger-than-life aura. We expect his behaviour to match that of a superstar, but it doesn’t. With his team, the other actors, those with smaller roles, and even the technicdigihunt, Prabhas interacts like a young boy,” said Irani.

He emphasized Prabhas’s boyish charm and innocence. “He enjoys his superstardom but doesn’t flaunt it. He’s a superstar, and we recognize that, but he doesn’t demand that you treat him like one. He loves to joke and laugh, often the first to respond loudly to something funny, as if he’s still a teenager.”

“It’s so beautiful,” Irani continued. “The innocence of a person who has reached a certain level but retains that purity; I would like to be like that.”

About “The RajaSaab”

The film features a stellar cast including Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, and Zarina Wahab. The storyline revolves around a man searching for his missing grandfather, leading him to a mansion filled with a sinister presence.

Fans can look forward to the film’s release on January 9, 2026.

In a landmark move for the entertainment industry, Universal Music India (UMI) has acquired a 30 percent equity stake in film and digital content studio Excel Entertainment. This significant investment values Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar’s company at Rs 2,400 crore.

The announcement was made during an event attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He expressed elation over the deal, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for laying the groundwork for this transaction during the WAVES Summit 2025.

CM Fadnavis shared his excitement in a congratulatory tweet, stating, “This Government has always believed that its role is to enable creativity, and a creative powerhouse like Mumbai is the rightful place for such an important agreement. Guided by the leadership of Hon PM Narendra Modi Ji, who set this mission in motion through last year’s WAVES summit, is where the seeds of this transaction were first sown. Thank you, Hon. Modi Ji, for your timeless vision in leading this creative revolution.”

He reflected on how this partnership will strengthen India’s position in the global market, making Mumbai a key player in the media ecosystem. The Chief Minister noted, “Universal Music Group, a global leader in music and intellectual property, choosing to deepen its engagement in India through Excel Entertainment, a creator-led, homegrown studio based in Mumbai, sends a powerful signal. It says India’s creative economy has come of age and that Mumbai is not just participating in the global media ecosystem; it is shaping it.”

Fadnavis emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that Mumbai not only competes but also leads in the entertainment sector.

He highlighted what makes Maharashtra an attractive destination for global investors: “Global companies look for five things while choosing to invest: talent, policy stability, respect for Intellectual Property, speed of execution, and a complete ecosystem. Mumbai and Maharashtra offer all five, supported by the Government of Maharashtra’s progressive policies, strong infrastructure, ease of doing business, skill development, and institutional support for intellectual property.”

Concluding his remarks, CM Fadnavis stated, “This government’s mission is to ensure that your hard work meets world-class opportunity. Mumbai has always told India’s stories; now it is ready to tell the world’s stories.”

The unit of director Manoj N S’s upcoming film ‘Moonwalk’, featuring actor Prabhu Deva in the lead, celebrated Grammy-winning musician A R Rahman’s birthday at the grand audio launch event by having him cut a cake on stage.

For those unfamiliar, A R Rahman, the Mozart of Madras, has sung all five tracks in the film and is also making his acting debut in this feature.

The much-anticipated audio launch of ‘Moonwalk’ transformed into an unforgettable musical night. The evening showcased electrifying live performances by A R Rahman and Prabhu Deva, captivating the audience.

Director Manoj N S expressed gratitude to the entire cast and crew for their hard work, emphasizing his belief that ‘Moonwalk’ would bring immense joy to audiences in theatres.

Excitement surged when A R Rahman made his first appearance on stage, performing all five ‘Moonwalk’ songs live. His electrifying performance energized fans, making the night a true celebration of music.

Prabhu Deva, often referred to as India’s Michael Jackson, delivered an impressive 10-minute dance tribute to A R Rahman, performing to all five ‘Moonwalk’ tracks. He was joined by co-stars Yogi Babu, Aju Varghese, Arjun Asokan, Satz, and choreographer Sekhar in this dazzling showcase.

The evening culminated on a high note when Prabhu Deva invited A R Rahman back on stage for a fun dance to the iconic ‘Mukkala’ song, leading to a grand cake-cutting ceremony in celebration of A R Rahman’s birthday. The ace music director cut the cake alongside the cast and crew of ‘Moonwalk’ in front of over 10,000 enthusiastic fans.

Actor Yogi Babu shared his excitement about portraying 16 different roles in the film, calling it one of the most pivotal characters that drives the narrative forward.

Actors Aju Varghese and Arjun Asokan delighted the audience with their speeches in fluent Tamil, expressing their joy at being part of this special comeback film alongside Prabhu Deva and A R Rahman.

Other notable attendees at the event included actor Raghava Lawrence, producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu, producer Ishari K. Ganesh, and director Mysskin.

The full-length comedy film is set to release in May this year.

Saba Pataudi, sister of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, celebrated her father Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s birthday by sharing heartfelt memories. Describing him as “the hero of my universe,” she expressed, “To Abba … miss you today. And every day. To the lives you’ve touched, to the captain of our home and that of the Indian cricket team… You donned many caps, and excelled in each.”

In honor of her father’s birth anniversary, Saba observed Quran Khawani and Sadqa, sharing that she commemorates the occasion annually. She added, “To many random pictures shared by some, taken by others… and to my tribute to you, as I do the Quran khawani and sadqa each year. Both in Bhopal and Pataudi where you belong.”

Actress Soha Ali Khan, Mansoor Ali Khan’s other daughter, also paid tribute to her father by visiting the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata. Sharing snippets of her visit on social media, she wrote, “On your birthday, Abba, I wanted to stand where the game remembers you. Eden Gardens may be empty today, but it is never silent for you.”

Soha reminisced about a significant Test match where her father played despite a fractured cheekbone. She recalled, “A ground you loved to play on, and one where you captained India many times — perhaps most memorable being the December 1974 Test against the indomitable West Indies. A ball from Andy Roberts struck you on the face, fracturing your cheekbone. You retired bleeding and hurt but returned to lead the side to an unbelievable victory by 85 runs. That Test at Eden went down as one of Indian cricket’s most iconic victories — a timeless example of grit and lion-hearted (or perhaps tiger-hearted) captaincy.”