Category: Entertainment

Indian filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, renowned for works like ‘Black Friday’, ‘Paanch’, and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, appears to be feeling disheartened. The director-actor, who recently directed ‘Nishaanchi’, has updated his Instagram bio to reflect his sentiments.

He wrote, “Ab time chala gaya, fillam bhi chali gayi. Main bhi” (The time has gone, the film too came and went. I’m on the same path as well).

Though Kashyap hasn’t explicitly explained the meaning behind his words, it’s notable that he hasn’t delivered a significant hit since ‘Manmarziyaan’ or a cult classic since ‘Ugly’. His latest film, ‘Nishaanchi’, did not perform well at the box office, and his upcoming project, ‘Kennedy’, remains unreleased, facing a fate similar to his debut venture, ‘Paanch’, which also never made it to the theaters.

Moreover, the director frequently finds himself embroiled in controversies. The lack of recognition for his work, coupled with the controversies surrounding him, seems to have impacted him significantly.

Earlier this year, Kashyap was in the spotlight after making inappropriate comments about the Brahmin community. The backlash began when he responded to criticism of ‘Phule’, a biopic about social reformers Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule. Some interpreted his remark as casteist, prompting outrage online and calls for legal action.

Following the controversy, his daughter, Aaliyah, along with other family members and colleagues, received rape and death threats from online trolls. Additionally, Kashyap faced legal consequences, with an FIR filed against him in Jaipur for using abusive language regarding the community.

In response to the uproar, he took to Instagram to issue an apology, expressing his commitment to being more careful with his words moving forward.

He stated in Hindi, “I forgot my limits while answering someone in anger. And bad-mouthing the entire Brahmin community, the same community of which all the people have been in my life, are still there and contribute a lot, they all have been hurt. My family is hurt. Many intellectuals, whom I respect, are hurt by my anger and the way I speak. By saying such a thing myself, I diverted my own thoughts from the issue.”

He further remarked, “I sincerely apologise to the Brahmin community to whom I did not want to say this, but in a fit of rage wrote a nasty comment while replying to someone. I apologise to all my fellow colleagues, to my family and to society for the way I spoke. I’ll work on it. I’ll work on my anger to ensure this doesn’t happen again. And if I have to talk about the issue, I will use the right words. I hope you do forgive me.”

The makers of the upcoming film “Dhurandhar” unveiled the title track on Thursday, offering an intense glimpse of Ranveer Singh’s character.

High-Energy Track

The dynamic track showcases Ranveer’s intense performance and sets the stage for this action-packed entertainer. Singh shared the upbeat number on Instagram, stating, “An Inferno will rise. Uncover the true story of The Unknown Men #Dhurandhar on 5th December 2025.” The title track features the actor performing high-octane stunts with a gun.

Musical Composition

Composed by Shashwat Sachdev and Charanjit Ahuja, the track combines modern hip-hop with Punjabi elements and cinematic flair. The vocals are performed by Hanumankind, Jasmine Sandlas, Sudhir Yaduvanshi, Shashwat Sachdev, Muhammad Sadiq, and Ranjit Kaur. The lyrics are penned by Hanumankind, Jasmine Sandlas, and Babu Singh Maan.

Director’s Insight

Music director and producer Shashwat Sachdev mentioned, “Na De Dil Pardesi Nu is a folk classic that carries deep emotion, making reimagining it for ‘Dhurandhar’ both an honour and a responsibility.” He explained, “The song was written into the film’s soul from the very beginning, and I crafted its sound from that initial spark. Ojas Gautam (Dhurandhar film DA) and I shaped the sonic energy around it until it became the heartbeat of the film. One night in the studio, Aditya Dhar, Hanumankind, and I captured an impromptu rap that infused raw energy into the track. This version resonates with those familiar with the original while appealing to a younger audience through its modern vibe.”

Upcoming Trailer and Release

In related news, the trailer for the film is set to release on 12th November. “Dhurandhar” is written, directed, and produced by Aditya Dhar, with Jyoti Deshpande and Lokesh Dhar also backing the project. The action thriller stars Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal.

The film is scheduled to hit theatres on December 5, 2025.

Veteran actress Zeenat Aman, renowned for her iconic roles and timeless charm, recently shared her thoughts on being selective when it comes to accepting the prestigious Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reflecting on her remarkable journey in cinema, she drew a heartfelt parallel between her first Filmfare Award in 1973 and her recent honour in 2025. Zeenat fondly recalled her days as a young, wide-eyed newcomer when she won the Best Supporting Actress award, expressing deep gratitude for being recognised now with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The veteran actress mentioned her usual selectiveness about such honours, but this particular award held great significance for her—marking a symbolic “full-circle” moment that beautifully encapsulated over five decades of her contributions to Indian cinema. In her Instagram post, Aman wrote, “How the years rush by. Just yesterday it was 1973 and I was a doe-eyed ingenue winning her very first Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Today it is 2025. Over 50 years have passed, and I find myself honoured with a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award. I’ve mentioned before that I’m picky about accepting such invitations, but this felt like too poignant a full-circle moment for me to ignore.”

Zeenat continued, “I accepted the award on Saturday evening at the event in Ahmedabad. @zanuski, my younger son, was my gallant escort for the evening. I am so grateful to have children who I can always count on to be by my side. The award itself I wanted to dedicate to the one person who always put my well-being before her own—my mother, Vardhini Scharwachter. She was enterprising, beautiful, methodical, progressive and devoted to me. I have known both roaring success and cruel obscurity, and I want to believe she would be proud of me for meeting both with equanimity and grace.”

Zeenat Aman concluded by expressing her gratitude: “It is true that I keep my inner circle small, but my outer circle is vast and includes each one of you who has blessed my return to the public eye. Thank you for the belief, respect, and love you have showered upon me. I am humbled and moved beyond what my words can express.”

The actress was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 70th Hyundai Filmfare Awards 2025 alongside the late filmmaker Shyam Benegal.

Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo recounted a dramatic incident involving his colleague Woody Harrelson during the filming of the heist thriller Now You See Me in New Orleans.

The 57-year-old actor shared how he had to step in to protect his friend from escalating violence. During a discussion on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name podcast, alongside Harrelson and his former Cheers co-star Ted Danson, Mark reminisced about their time shooting in the vibrant streets of New Orleans.

A Wild Experience in New Orleans

“We were shooting Now You See Me completely on the streets. Totally wild,” Ruffalo recalled. “Capturing stuff on a long lens, getting dragged into bars during the middle of a scene, like in the middle of Mardi Gras… It was a packed place.”

In a surprising turn, a woman approached Harrelson, expressing her admiration. “She said, ‘Oh my God, I love you so much.’ Woody put his hand on her arm and said, ‘Oh, thank you. Thank you, darling.’ Then this guy came over, pushed her out of the way, and shoved Woody,” Ruffalo detailed.

Danson reacted visibly, noting, “Oh, bad bad. Not good.”

Intervention During Chaos

Ruffalo continued, “Because Woody’s first response is not ‘shove someone back,’ but ‘immediately punch them in the face.’” Despite acknowledging that Woody’s reaction was justified, he felt compelled to intervene, recalling, “A whole melee broke out in this bar. I was in the middle of it, and it was getting to become a whole thing… And I grabbed you.”

Harrelson confirmed, “That’s right.”

Mark explained further, “I pulled you out. I was like, ‘This could be fun, but it also could go so disastrously wrong because you and I might be able to handle ourselves, but the rest of the folks we were with… I don’t think so.’”

Danson expressed admiration for Ruffalo’s prompt response, admitting, “I’m embarrassed to say that I would’ve been the guy who said ‘I’ll be right back, I’ll call someone.’”

Veteran actress Manisha Koirala recently reflected on her approach to navigating uncertainty and confusion in life, emphasizing how yoga serves as her foundation.

Manisha shared a picture collage on Instagram showcasing her practicing yoga poses, specifically Anjaneyasana and Sukhasana. She captioned the post, “When life feels uncertain and the mind races in confusions..I turn to stillness. In that stillness, I turn again to yoga — not as exercise, but as a way of returning home. Balance isn’t something I find, it’s something I return to (sic).”

In her thoughts on womanhood, she remarked, “Here’s to womanhood (never an easy ride), to life, to friendship, and to aging with grace. Here’s to choosing people who add meaning to our lives.”

The 54-year-old actress was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s debut OTT series “Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.” The show is set in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement, exploring the lives of tawaifs and their intertwining political and personal struggles under British colonial rule.

Manisha is recognized as one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time. She began her acting career in the Nepali film “Pheri Bhetaula” in 1989 and made her mark in Indian cinema with the Hindi drama “Saudagar” in 1991.

Throughout her career, she has starred in notable films such as “Bombay,” “Agni Sakshi,” “Indian,” “Gupt: The Hidden Truth,” “Kachche Dhaage,” “Mudhalvan,” “Company,” “1942: A Love Story,” “Akele Hum Akele Tum,” “Khamoshi: The Musical,” “Dil Se,” and “Lajja.”

In the following decade, she also took part in unconventional and art-house films like the survival drama “Escape From Taliban,” “Elektra,” and “I Am.”

Manisha was diagnosed with stage-four ovarian cancer in 2012 and underwent a year-long treatment. By mid-2014, she made a successful recovery and marked her return to the screen with the coming-of-age drama “Dear Maya” in 2017.

Actress-singer Jennifer Lopez has opened up about her experiences with true love in a recent candid conversation.

Reflecting on Love and Relationships

In her discussion, JLo expressed gratitude towards her former partners for meeting her material needs, but noted that emotional fulfillment was lacking. During her appearance on the Howard Stern Show, where Stern asked her, “Do you think you’ve truly been loved?” she took a moment before responding, “No.” However, she clarified that she has certainly loved deeply. “What I learned, it’s not that I’m not lovable, it’s that they’re not capable. They don’t have it in them,” she shared.

She elaborated further, stating, “And they gave me what they had. They gave me all of it, every time. All the rings, all the things I could ever want. The houses, the rings, the marriage. All of it. But part of the issue was ‘I didn’t love myself’ at the time.”

Marriages and Self-Discovery

According to sources, JLo has experienced four marriages and divorces, the latest being with Ben Affleck. She has two children, 17-year-old twins Max and Emme, with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

Reflecting on her most recent divorce, she remarked, “When I got divorced this last time, it was the best thing that ever happened to me.” This pivotal moment led her to embark on a journey of self-discovery, involving a religious coach, a therapist, a couple’s therapist, and a coach for understanding addiction. “I was like, ‘I’m gonna f** figure this s*** out if it kills me’,” she added.

Through this journey, she realized, “the core of the thing is you, it’s nobody else.”

Embracing Self-Awareness

Now, Lopez feels more self-assured and self-aware regarding her past experiences—reflecting on her upbringing and how it shaped her understanding of love. She acknowledged, “how I felt neglected, all the things that are in your head as a person, and know who I am and just really appreciate that person.”

“Now, I feel really comfortable and good in being myself, all the good parts and all the kind of complicated things,” she concluded, celebrating her journey of self-acceptance.

TV actress Dipika Kakkar, who is currently battling cancer, was seen attending veteran actor Pankaj Dheer’s funeral in Mumbai on Wednesday afternoon, accompanied by her husband, actor Shoaib Ibrahim.

Emotional Farewell

Dipika appeared visibly emotional as she joined friends and members of the film fraternity to pay her final respects to the late actor. In a video, she is seen dressed in a simple white and navy blue ethnic suit, walking hand in hand with Shoaib, who wore a plain white shirt and jeans and was seen trying to console the disturbed actress.

A Lasting Legacy

For those unfamiliar, Dipika Kakkar, Shoaib Ibrahim, and Pankaj Dheer starred together in the super-hit TV show Sasural Simar Ka, where Dipika and Pankaj played father and daughter. Pankaj Dheer was renowned for his iconic role as Karna in the epic television series Mahabharata. Many from the Bollywood fraternity attended the funeral, including Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, and Kushal Tandon.

Condolences from Co-Stars

Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra also graced the funeral, dressed in a simple white shirt and blue jeans. He was seen offering condolences to Pankaj’s son, actor Nikitin Dheer, further comforting the bereaved family. Pankaj Dheer had been battling cancer for a while and had recently undergone a major operation as part of his treatment.

CINTAA’s Tribute

The actor was popular for his portrayal of Karn in Mahabharat. Nikitin Dheer, Pankaj’s son, has also worked alongside Sidharth in the movie Shershaah. Pankaj Dheer’s funeral took place at Pawan Hans Crematorium in the Vile Parle West area of Mumbai. He was 68 years old at the time of his passing.

The official Instagram account of CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes’ Association) posted a note informing followers about the actor’s demise. Their statement read, “CINTAA and CAWT mourn the loss of Shri Pankaj Dheer ji, former General Secretary of CINTAA and former Chairman of CAWT — a respected member of our fraternity whose invaluable contributions to Indian cinema and television will always be remembered.”

Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife, Aneeta, and his actor son, Nikitin Dheer, known for his role as Thangabali in Chennai Express. His daughter-in-law, Kratika Sengar, is also an actress.

Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan was spotted attending the funeral of the late actor Pankaj Dheer.

The funeral took place at the Pawan Hans Cremation Centre, where several notable personalities from the industry were present. Prominent figures such as singer Mika Singh, television actor Kushal Tandon, and star Sidharth Malhotra paid their respects to Dheer, who passed away on the 15th of October.

Arbaaz dressed in an all-white shirt and pants, while Mika opted for a white shirt paired with beige trousers. Kushal, looking visibly saddened, also wore an all-white outfit. He was seen standing in support of Pankaj Dheer’s son, Nikitin Dheer, during this difficult time. Sidharth Malhotra, dressed in a simple white shirt and blue jeans, was observed offering condolences to the grieving family.

Nikitin Dheer had previously worked with Sidharth in the film Shershaah. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan visited the funeral around the same time to pay his final respects. Pankaj Dheer had been battling cancer for some time and recently underwent a major operation, according to reports.

Actor Mukesh Rishi was also present at the cremation ground, paying his last respects to the respected veteran. Pankaj Dheer was 68 years old at the time of his passing. The official social media account of CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes’ Association) shared a message regarding the actor’s demise.

In their statement, CINTAA wrote, “CINTAA and CAWT mourn the loss of Shri Pankaj Dheer ji, former General Secretary of CINTAA and former Chairman of CAWT — a respected member of our fraternity whose invaluable contributions to Indian cinema and television will always be remembered.”

For those seeking details, the funeral occurred at 4:30 PM at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle (W). Om Shanti.

Pankaj Dheer leaves behind his wife Aneeta, son Nikitin Dheer, and daughter-in-law Kratika Sengar.

Actor Simbu, who plays the lead role in director Vetrimaaran’s much-anticipated film ‘Arasan’, has urged his fans to catch the film’s promo in theatres, emphasizing that it will be “worth it.”

The promo is set to be released on Thursday at 6.02 PM.

On his X timeline, Simbu shared his excitement: “My Dear bloods! Just watched #Vetrimaaran sir’s #ARASANPromo theatrical version with MUSIC. Na solren, Time kedacha theatre la pathudunga. (I’m telling you, if you get the time, watch it in a theatre.) Don’t miss the Theatrical experience. Worth it!”

The film has generated significant buzz since its announcement, with the title ‘Arasan’ unveiled recently. Producer Kalaipuli S Thanu, from V Creations, also took to his X timeline to share the excitement. He wrote in Tamil, “Aalapirandha Arasan, Vetriyudan Silambarasan. #VetriMaaran @SilambarasanTR_ #STR49 #SilambarasanTR #VCreations47 #ARASAN. (The king who was born to rule! Victorious Silambarasan!).” The accompanying poster features a man wielding a machete while resting his hand on a bicycle’s carrier.

This title announcement has dispelled rumors regarding the film being shelved. Contrary to speculation, it was previously reported that the film was definitely on track. The announcement came amidst news that suggested financial difficulties might have resulted in the project being put on hold.

Rumors circulated about alleged financial challenges and external pressure to abandon the project. However, sources confirmed that shooting was assured, with Silambarasan TR opting for a profit-sharing model instead of upfront remuneration.

Vetrimaaran’s project with Simbu will also showcase Andrea Jeremiah, Samuthirakani, and Kishore in pivotal roles.

Moreover, Vetrimaaran recently addressed speculation regarding the much-awaited sequel ‘Vada Chennai 2’. He clarified that while his next film features Simbu, it is not ‘Vada Chennai 2’ as some media outlets speculated. However, the story will be set in the same world as ‘Vada Chennai’.

In an interview on his YouTube channel months ago, Vetrimaaran elaborated on ‘Arasan’, stating, “My next film is to be produced by Kalaipuli S Thanu and will feature Simbu in the lead.” He further dismissed the speculation around it being ‘Vada Chennai 2’, clarifying, “What Dhanush acts in will be ‘Vada Chennai 2’. However, this story will also be set in the world of ‘Vada Chennai’, incorporating certain elements from that universe while maintaining a similar timeline.”

Bollywood star Sidharth Malhotra attended the funeral of veteran actor Pankaj Dheer, who passed away on October 15.

A Touching Farewell

Dressed in a simple white shirt and blue jeans, Sidharth was seen meeting Pankaj’s son, actor Nikitin Dheer, and offering condolences to the grieving family. Bollywood superstar Salman Khan also arrived around the same time to pay his last respects to the late actor.

Pankaj Dheer had been battling cancer for some time, recently undergoing a major operation for treatment. He was widely recognized for his role as Karn in the iconic TV series Mahabharat. Notably, Nikitin Dheer has worked alongside Sidharth in the film “Shershah.”

The Final Resting Place

The funeral took place at Pawan Hans Crematorium in Vile Parle West. Actor Mukesh Rishi was also present at the cremation ground to pay his last respects. Pankaj was 68 years old at the time of his passing. His co-star Feroz Khan, recognized for his role as Arjunn in Mahabharat, took to social media to express his condolences, writing, “Gentleman!!! Bids goodbye (teary-eyed emoji) will miss you PD (broken heart emoji) stay blessed (sparkle emojis),” while sharing a throwback image with Pankaj.

The official Instagram account of CINTAA (Cine & TV Artistes’ Association) released a note announcing the actor’s demise. The statement read, “CINTAA and CAWT mourn the loss of Shri Pankaj Dheer ji, former General Secretary of CINTAA and former Chairman of CAWT — a respected member of our fraternity whose invaluable contributions to Indian cinema and television will always be remembered.”

The funeral was scheduled for 4:30 PM at Pawan Hans Crematorium, Vile Parle (W). Pankaj Dheer is survived by his wife Aneeta, son Nikitin Dheer, and daughter-in-law Kratika Sengar.

Om Shanti.