Category: Entertainment

Actor Varun Tej Konidela recently reflected on his critically acclaimed film ‘Kanche,’ directed by Krish Jagarlamudi, as it marked its 10-year anniversary. He described the film as one that “tested us, taught us, and changed us.”

Varun expressed his sentiments on social media, stating, “Ten years of #Kanche. A film that tested us, taught us, and changed us. Forever grateful to my director @DirKrish, my amazing co-actors, and our incredible team who gave their all.”

He also extended his gratitude to the Telugu audience and the jury of the National Awards for recognizing the film. “Thank you to the Telugu audience for making Kanche a true milestone in my journey and for its recognition as Best Regional Feature Film at the National Awards,” he added.

Looking back on the journey, he remarked, “Feels surreal looking back. Truly blessed. P.S. – Thanks for all the memories, my friend Levan Sikharulidze. @ItsMePragya @nikitindheer @FirstFrame_Ent @gnanashekarvs @ChirantannBhatt @saimadhav_burra #SirivennelaSeetaramaSastry.”

Earlier in the day, First Frame Entertainment, the production house behind ‘Kanche,’ celebrated the film’s milestone on social media. They posted, “Celebrating 10 glorious years of #Kanche. A film that redefined storytelling with its emotion, love, and sacrifice. Forever grateful to the wonderful cast, crew, and audience who made this film truly special.”

The film starred Pragya Jaiswal and Nikitin Dheer alongside Varun Tej and featured cinematography by Gnana Shekar V S. Set against the backdrop of World War II, ‘Kanche’ depicted the enmity between two friends who ultimately serve together in the British Indian Army. The music was composed by Chirantan Bhatt.

Art direction was handled by Sahi Suresh, with editing by Suraj Jagtap and Rama Krishna Arram. Claimed to be Telugu cinema’s first World War II-based film, ‘Kanche’ won the National Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu at the 63rd National Film Awards and received the state government’s Nandi Award for Best Film on National Integration.

The makers of director Selvamani Selvaraj’s much-anticipated period drama, Kaantha, featuring actor Dulquer Salmaan in the lead, recently released the beautiful romantic single Kanmani Nee, much to the delight of fans and film enthusiasts.

Dulquer Salmaan, who plays the lead role, took to his social media platforms to share the link to the track. He expressed, “Some songs aren’t just heard, they’re felt! #KanmaniNee, a timeless tune from #Kaantha, is OUT NOW! A @SpiritMediaIN and @DQsWayfarerFilm production.”

Composed by Jhanu Chanthar, Kanmani Nee stands out for its soothing orchestration that echoes the melodies of a bygone era. The lyrics, imbued with poetic grace by Deepika Karthik Kumar, come alive through Pradeep Kumar’s heartfelt vocals, making Kanmani Nee an instant favorite among lovers of classic romance.

This enchanting song beautifully captures the vintage love story between Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse, who play the lead characters.

Initially, Kaantha was scheduled to hit screens on September 12, but the team decided to postpone the release. The new date is now set for November 14.

A teaser for Kaantha released earlier has generated immense excitement among fans and film buffs, further raising expectations for the film. The teaser begins with an announcer revealing that Saantha, the film being made by Modern Studios, aims to be Tamil cinema’s first horror film. It showcases the filmmaking process, highlighting the conflict between Ayya (Samuthirakani), the writer and director, and Dulquer Salmaan, the protagonist. Their once amicable relationship has soured, as Ayya wishes to shoot a scene featuring the character Chandran being scared by a spirit named Neeli, while Dulquer prefers another lighter scene.

Despite their current animosity, the teaser hints at a past filled with love and respect between the two. Ayya once played a crucial role in shaping Dulquer into the hero he is today. As the film progresses, Ayya aims to focus on the heroine, while Dulquer continues to push for changes, ultimately renaming the film from Saantha to Kaantha.

Set in 1950s Madras, Kaantha promises to transport viewers to that vibrant era, capturing a time when tradition and modernity intersected, leading to deeply personal and profound stories.

Sources close to the unit describe the film as richly textured, anchored by powerful performances and stunning visuals.

The eagerly awaited period film stars Dulquer Salmaan and Bhagyashri Borse in lead roles. Produced jointly by Spirit Media and Dulquer Salmaan’s Wayfarer Films, Kaantha features cinematography by renowned cameraman Dani Sanchez Lopaz, music by Jhanu Chanthar, with art direction by Tha. Ramalingam and editing by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves.

Actor Jackky Bhagnani recently posted a delightful photo on his social media, showcasing him holding a firecracker box adorned with the image of his wife, Rakul Preet Singh.

He playfully captioned the post, “Meri Phuljhadi,” accompanied by a heart and a fire emoji. This cute yet cheeky post quickly went viral, as it beautifully highlights their strong chemistry. Jackky’s affectionate reference to Rakul as his “Phuljhadi” adds a festive vibe, capturing their love in a fun way.

A few weeks prior, to celebrate Rakul’s birthday, the producer-actor shared a heartfelt poem for her, expressing his admiration and love on her special day. The touching lines read:

“My Love, My Universe
My love, happy birthday — this day means more than words can say,
for on this very day, God chose to send you my way.
A blessing wrapped in grace and light,
you make every wrong feel right.
The best at heart, in all you do —
the world’s a kinder place with you.
Best wife, best daughter, daughter-in-law too,
best sister — there’s nothing you can’t do.
My best friend, my calm, my guide,
my therapist, my life — my pride.

So today, I pray and truly mean,
may all your dreams paint life serene.
You deserve the brightest, the grandest part —
for you are the queen of every heart.
I love you past the moon’s embrace,
beyond each planet’s endless space —
to Jupiter, stars, and back to start…
Happy birthday, keeper of my heart.”

The nostalgic post also featured previously unseen moments of the actress. Since tying the knot on February 21, 2024, Rakul and Jackky have consistently set couple goals.

On the professional front, Rakul is set to reprise her role as Ayesha Khurana in “De De Pyar De 2”, alongside Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, Tabu, and Gautami Kapoor. The film, directed by Anshul Sharma, is scheduled to release on November 14.

Actor Rajat Bedi, who made his return with Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, “The Ba***ds of Bollywood,” has shared nostalgic memories of how his home once buzzed with the brightest stars of Hindi cinema.

Celebrating a Legacy

Recently, Rajat commemorated the success of “The Ba***ds of Bollywood” during a candid conversation. He reminisced about the open lunches that were a tradition at the Bedi office, welcoming anyone from the industry. Coming from a prominent lineage, Rajat’s father, Narendra Bedi, was a successful filmmaker and producer, while his grandfather, Rajinder Singh Bedi, was a revered Urdu writer and a key figure in the progressive writers’ movement.

He recalled, “There used to be gatherings at home. The whole industry used to come and sit at home. For lunch, it was an open thing for the industry that if you want food, go to Mr. Bedi’s office and eat. We have seen such an environment. The films that my father made, like ‘Adalat’, ‘Benam’, ‘Sanam Teri Kasam’, and several others, constitute an incredible body of work.”

Praise for Co-star Raghav Juyal

Rajat also had high praise for his co-actor from the series, Raghav Juyal. He noted that Raghav is one of those distinctive actors who can dominate a scene and outshine his co-stars.

He expressed, “Raghav is outstanding. I mean, if you see Raghav’s story, he has worked so hard. What an actor! It was actually my first time working with Raghav. I didn’t have many scenes with him, but whatever I performed with him, I can assure you, he is a gem of an actor.”

“The Ba***ds of Bollywood” is currently available for streaming on Netflix.

Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, recently seen in the film ‘Thamma’, visited the renowned Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai.

Seeking Blessings Post-Release Success

The actor sought blessings from Lord Ganesha after ‘Thamma’ achieved remarkable success, recording a monumental opening of INR 25.11 crore nett in India. This achievement marks the highest opening for an origin story within the Hindi Film Industry’s unique horror-comedy universe, which includes hits like ‘Stree’ and ‘Bhediya’. ‘Thamma’ is now set to establish its franchise through this stellar performance.

Ayushmann was accompanied by Amar Kaushik, the co-producer of ‘Thamma’, known for his work on ‘Stree’ and its sequel, ‘Stree 2’.

About ‘Thamma’ and Its Unique Storyline

The film features a stellar cast that includes Rashmika Mandanna, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Paresh Rawal. Released on October 21, 2025, to coincide with Diwali, ‘Thamma’ tells the story of Alok, a historian who inadvertently awakens the ancient vampire Yakshasan, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui. This encounter leads to Alok becoming a vampire himself, embarking on a quest to halt Yakshasan’s reign of terror. The film introduces a fresh concept termed “betaalism,” setting it apart from conventional Western vampire narratives.

Ayushmann’s Reflections on His Career

Earlier, Ayushmann described ‘Thamma’ as a “tentpole” in his career. He shared a personal story, recalling how he used to visit theatres annually with his family to watch a superstar’s film. This time, he experienced that joy with his own movie.

Speaking about the film, Ayushmann expressed, “I’m an entertainer, so it brings me immense joy to see people loving and enjoying Thamma and my performance during this big Diwali holiday. When my visionary producer Dinesh Vijan told me about the Diwali release, I was thrilled as it was a dream of mine.”

He mentioned the significance of bringing his distinctive style of cinema to Diwali, a festival traditionally reserved for blockbuster releases by major superstars.

Production Details

‘Thamma’ is a horror-comedy directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik under the Maddock Films banner.

Actress Raveena Tandon extended her warm wishes for ‘love, peace, and prosperity’ this festive season.

Sharing a glimpse of her Diwali celebration on Instagram, Raveena posted a beautiful photo of herself sitting on the floor in traditional attire. The idols of deities were prominently placed on the table next to her, along with the items necessary for the Diwali puja.

The post also featured more glimpses of the puja ceremony, captioned with “Happy Diwali (Folded hands, Om and folded hands emoji) and a prosperous new year to all (Red heart, firecracker and folded hands emoji) love peace and prosperity (sic).”

Raveena’s daughter, Rasha Thadani, and son, Ranbir Thadani, were visible in the pictures, contributing to the festive spirit. Other family members, along with friends and pets, also joined in the celebration.

Recently, Raveena expressed her joy in embracing the season of festivities. She offered her gratitude to India for its rich cultural heritage, history, and countless reasons for happiness.

In a separate Instagram post, she shared images from her Karva Chauth celebration, which was organized by Sunita Kapoor, wife of Anil Kapoor, at her residence.

The gathering included several celebrities from Bollywood, such as Shilpa Shetty Kundra, Mira Rajput (wife of Shahid Kapoor), Natasha Dalal (Varun Dhawan’s wife), Geeta Basra, Maheep Kapoor (Sanjay Kapoor’s wife), Sonam Kapoor, and Bhavana Panday (Chunkey Panday’s partner), among others.

Raveena captured the essence of the festivities with her caption: “And the season of celebrations begins! Love, family, birthdays (happy 18th my son from another mom @raunakdhoot), happiness smiles, colors, laughter, music, dancing. Thank you, my India, my motherland, for giving me this rich colourful culture, history, and reasons for joy! (sic).”

Actress Elizabeth Olsen has shared her enthusiasm for filmmaking and her eagerness to reprise her role as Wanda Maximoff in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

The Importance of Theatrical Releases

In a recent interview, Olsen elaborated on why experiencing films in theaters holds significance for her. She expressed a preference for starring in movies that receive theatrical releases rather than those made exclusively for streaming platforms. “If a movie is made independently and only sells to a streamer, then fine. But I don’t want to make something where that’s the end-all,” she stated.

Olsen emphasized the communal aspect of watching films, saying, “I think it’s important for people to gather as a community, to see other humans, and be together in a space. That’s why I like sports. I think it’s really powerful for people to come together for something that they’re excited about.”

Wanda Maximoff: A Character Close to Her Heart

When asked about her iconic role as Wanda Maximoff, Olsen admitted she had “no idea” if her character is still alive after The Scarlet Witch’s appearance in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Discussing the Marvel filmmaking experience, she described it as “goofy” and “ridiculous.” She remarked, “We’re grown people behaving like children on a playground. We’re flying. We’re shooting things out of our hands. It’s a character that I’ve gotten to return to so many times over 10 years. It’s good to put her down, and then I miss her and I want her back. I’d jump at the opportunity to be in her shoes again.”

A Sense of Community and Security

Olsen noted that working with Marvel has provided her with the “consistency of a community and a job.” She mentioned that it offers “financial security” and the ability to make choices, stating, “It’s offered me value, and that’s useful when making independent movies.”

Director Vignesh Shivan has decided to postpone the release of his upcoming film ‘Love Insurance Kompany’ (LIK) to December to avoid a clash with Pradeep Ranganathan’s film ‘Dude’. In the meantime, he shared a heartfelt note to mark the 10th anniversary of his hit film ‘Naanum Rowdy Dhaan’.

In a post on his Instagram page, Vignesh reflected, “Ten years of NaanumRowdyDhaan today… October 21st 2015 🙂 A life blessed with a lot of miracles started from this lovely day. How beautifully time has played its tune….”

The director expressed that he had envisioned this day differently, wishing that ‘Love Insurance Kompany’ would have reached “all your hearts, when your smiles, your words, your love would have made this day even more special for me.”

He added, “Somewhere deep down, I had kept my happiness saved for that moment. But life, in its quiet wisdom, taught me something far more beautiful today.”

Vignesh noted that even without the grand moment, he found himself smiling — truly and peacefully. He reflected that perhaps this Diwali was a reminder that happiness doesn’t always stem from applause, massive success, or specific release dates.

“We chase milestones thinking they’ll only make us happy. But happiness is not such a tough destination! If you keep the rules for it simple & silly,” he wrote. He highlighted that happiness can manifest as a gentle pause from daily busyness, a sense of calmness, and a warm hug from his loving wife—a kiss that reassures a deep love enduring for over a decade. He also mentioned the innocent laughter of his children, who remain oblivious to hidden pains, and the unconditional love from family and friends.

Vignesh emphasized, “All these are as good as the big wins we save our happiness for. I have learnt — you don’t have to ‘win’ to be happy.”

He concluded with a reminder that simply being present with all the small blessings around us is sufficient. “Sometimes dreams take a different route — but God, always, always finds a method and a specific timing to make you smile. Wait for it eagerly with a happy heart and positive energy. A heart that feels grateful, even when things don’t go as planned, is the heart that’s blessed, filled with love & acceptance.”

In his message, he also shared a thoughtful saying in Tamil: “Nenacchadhu nadandhaalum, nadakkalanaalum! Nalladheyyyy nadakkummm nu nambuvom” (Whether what you believe happens or does not happen, let us believe that only good things will happen.) He concluded with an optimistic note, “Believe that… Life is beautiful! God is great!”

Global sensation Priyanka Chopra embraced the joyous spirit of Diwali by sharing its beauty with those who might be encountering the festival for the first time.

Priyanka treated her followers on social media to glimpses of her Diwali celebration in 2025, held in New York. Radiating elegance, she donned a stunning red ethnic outfit. Her husband, Nick Jonas, complemented her look in a cream embroidered sherwani, while their daughter, Malti Marie Chopra Jonas, mirrored her father in a matching frock.

Priyanka’s mother, Madhu Chopra, also participated in the celebrations. The family posed with friends, many of whom seemed to be experiencing Diwali for the first time. The festivities showcased little Malti helping decorate the house alongside her mother, followed by the family’s Lakshmi puja, and the kids enjoying temporary tattoos. It was clear that Priyanka’s New York Diwali was filled with fun and warmth.

Sharing snippets from the celebrations on her official Instagram account, Priyanka expressed, “A little bit of this and so much of that. This Diwali was full of heart and love. Sharing this festival with people who haven’t discovered its beauty was the highlight this year. Especially Malti’s friends.”

She also extended heartfelt wishes: “Happy Diwali to everyone celebrating. May this new year bring you love, joy, prosperity, and happiness.”

On Monday, Priyanka provided a glimpse into her daughter Malti’s Diwali celebration. Through her Instagram Stories, she shared a photo from the festive gathering at their U.S. home. In the picture, little Malti, dressed in a bright yellow top and skirt with pigtails, faced away from the camera while surrounded by friends. A woman, likely Priyanka herself, was spotted nearby in a white outfit.

A charming tattoo adorned Malti’s arm, and the snap was captioned, “Malti’s Diwali party was lit….”

Bollywood veteran star Pankaj Dheer passed away on the 15th of October, leaving the nation in a state of shock. The Dheer family, who have been missing the actor during Diwali celebrations, expressed their grief on social media.

Pankaj Dheer’s daughter-in-law and actress Kratika Sengar recently shared a heartfelt story online, revealing the difficulty of celebrating the festival without her father-in-law. Alongside a picture of a diya lit for Diwali, she wrote, “Only when you lose someone you love, you realise how heavy the festivals can feel,” accompanied by a heartbroken emoji.

Reports indicate that Pankaj Dheer passed away after a battle with cancer. He had recently undergone surgery as part of his treatment. On the 17th of October, the Indian Film and Television Fraternity gathered to pay their last respects to the veteran actor. A prayer meet organized by the Dheer family was attended by numerous industry colleagues and friends, who came together to honor his memory and contributions to Hindi cinema.

Notable attendees at the prayer meet included filmmaker Rohit Shetty and actors Sharad Saxena, Suresh Oberoi, Isha Deol, Zayed Khan, Tanvi Azmi, Mohit Raina, Aditya Pancholi, Mukesh Rishi, Puneet Issar, Ashok Pandit, and Mukesh Khanna, among others. Pankaj Dheer was best known for his portrayal of Karna in B. R. Chopra’s iconic television series Mahabharat.

The actor passed away at the age of 68. Despite his illness, Dheer remained active in his career, which spanned over four decades across film and television. In addition to Mahabharat, he was recognized for his roles in popular series such as Chandrakanta, Bado Bahu, and Sasural Simar Ka.

In Bollywood, he delivered memorable performances in movies like Baadshah, Soldier, and Zameen. Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife, Anita Dheer; son, Niketan Dheer; and daughter-in-law, Kratika Sengar. Niketan, also an actor, is popularly known for his role as Thangabali in the film Chennai Express. Pankaj Dheer was a proud grandfather to his three-year-old granddaughter, Devika.