Telugu superstar Jr NTR is all set to make his much-anticipated Hindi film debut in War 2, and recent reports suggest his character is not just a one-time appearance. According to a source quoted by ETimes, the actor’s role has been crafted as a key player in the YRF Spy Universe, with plans extending far beyond the upcoming action film.

“His character won’t just be limited to War 2. Expect standalone films, spin-offs, and major crossover appearances,” the insider revealed to ETimes, hinting at the studio’s larger plans to integrate him across multiple projects which are a part of the franchise. Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 stars Hrithik Roshan reprising his role as RAW agent Kabir, with Jr NTR playing an antagonist.

The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on August 14, 2025, and is being pitched as one of the biggest face-offs in Indian cinema. With this sequel, YRF is not only expanding the narrative of War (2019) but also strengthening the interconnected web of its espionage universe.

The YRF Spy Universe began with Salman Khan’s Ek Tha Tiger (2012) and has since grown to include Tiger Zinda Hai, War, Pathaan, and Tiger 3. Each instalment has introduced high-octane action, international missions, and larger-than-life characters. Shah Rukh Khan’s character Pathaan and Salman Khan’s Tiger have already crossed paths in Tiger 3, while Pathaan 2 and a rumored Tiger vs Pathaan film are in the works. Joining this world will also be Alia Bhatt starrer Alpha which will also star Sharvari in a key role.

With Jr NTR’s entry, the universe is getting its first major South Indian star, signalling a strategic move to appeal to Pan-India audiences. This aligns with Aditya Chopra’s long-term vision to build a Marvel-style spy-verse rooted in Indian cinema where characters cross paths across storylines and timelines.

Sources close to the development say that Jr NTR’s character is layered, morally complex, and could straddle the line between heroism and grey shades. Now with the new update on the Telugu superstar’s role, it seems that War 2 will not only be an explosive action spectacle but it will also lay the foundation of a much larger cinematic ecosystem.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: War 2 teaser to drop as a birthday treat for Jr NTR fans

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Forbes has unveiled the 10th edition of its 30 Under 30 Asia list, honouring 30 young individuals who are making significant contributions across various fields including entertainment, arts, technology, and entrepreneurship. Among the select few from Bollywood this year are actors Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter, both recognized for their artistic growth and expanding global presence.

Ananya Panday, who made her debut in 2019 with Student of the Year 2, has steadily carved a niche for herself in the Hindi film industry. Over the years, she has taken on varied roles, experimenting with genres while staying visible both on-screen and in the fashion space. Her most recent release, Kesari Chapter 2, saw her take on a historically rooted drama alongside Akshay Kumar and R. Madhavan. The film, which focuses on the political aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, offered her a more grounded and intense character to portray.

Off screen, Ananya made headlines earlier this year by becoming the first Indian ambassador for global fashion house Chanel, a move that underlines her growing influence beyond cinema. Her social initiative, So Positive, which addresses cyberbullying, has also contributed to her public image as a youth icon.

Ishaan Khatter, who began his career with Beyond the Clouds and gained commercial recognition with Dhadak, has increasingly turned towards more nuanced and international work. In 2025, he is set to make his Cannes debut with his film Homebound, which will be screened in a special segment at the festival. Ishaan was also recently seen in Netflix’s romantic comedy series The Royals, and he has made his international debut alongside Nicole Kidman in another Netflix Originals The Perfect Couple, broadening his reach as an actor on the global stage.

Both actors represent a new generation of Indian talent that is blending commercial success with artistic exploration. Their inclusion in Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia 2025 not only recognises their past accomplishments but also signals their potential as evolving voices in South Asian entertainment.

Also Read: Ananya Panday, Pratibha Ranta, Shanaya Kapoor, and more: Stars who defined elegance in black

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Undoubtedly, Priyadarshan’s Bhooth Bangla is one of the most awaited horror comedies that everyone is eagerly looking forward to. With the dynamic duo of the king of horror comedies, director Priyadarshan, and actor Akshay Kumar reuniting after 15 years for the film, this one indeed guarantees a fun ride and it’s well justified ever since the first poster drop. While this was just enough to hype our excitement at its peak, the makers have teased us with a BTS video from the sets while announcing the wrap up of the final shoot with Akshay Kumar and Wamiqa Gabbi featuring under a exquisite waterfall in the backdrop. The song is been choreographed by Pony Verma.

The makers took to social media to announce the wrap-up with a behind-the-scenes video from the sets. The video featuring Akshay Kumar and Wamiqa Gabbi looks immensely captivating and further heightens the anticipation. The caption read:

 

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A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar)

Moreover, what makes Bhooth Bangla a genuine power-packed entertainer is its interesting cast of icons like Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Interestingly, the team has shot some portions in Rajasthan, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. The fact that they are coming together in a Priyadarshan film after a long time in itself promises a crazy ride to look forward to, and this sneak peek has again raised the bar. Undoubtedly, this combination of comedy icons is set to deliver yet another magical cinematic experience. Having given us multiple gems in the past, just imagine what will happen when they all come together in the film. This announcement has certainly amplified the excitement for 2026, as we eagerly await this horror-comedy extravaganza.

Directed by Priyadarshan, Bhooth Bangla is produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms and Akshay Kumar’s production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali. The story is written by Akash A Kaushik, and the screenplay is by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. The dialogues are by Rohan Shankar. Bhooth Bangla is slated for its theatrical release on 2nd April 2026.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Paresh Rawal’s BIG REVEAL – Hera Pheri 3 rolls in 2026; Bhooth Bangla is “India’s most STUNNINGLY shot horror film”

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Regena Cassandrra has had a significant 2025. After featuring in Ajith-starrer Vidaamuyarchi, she was seen back-to-back in Jaat and Kesari Chapter 2. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the talented actress spoke about this aspect and also opened up on her February interview to Hindustan Times, where she said, “I can’t play a Punjabi girl, and that’s ok. But a Punjabi girl can play a South Indian girl. It has happened to me.”

When asked if things have changed and Bollywood has warmed up to her more after the release of Jaat and Kesari Chapter 2, Regena Cassandrra said, “No, as I think it’s very convenient for them to do what they want to do. I am not big enough to create that kind of an impact for people to be like, ‘Oh, Regena is saying this’. I want to be there one day where I can make that big an impact, which is why I say what I say.”

She clarified, “It comes from my heart and out of love and concern; it’s not coming out of hatred. Today, it is me and tomorrow, there will be someone else. I am sure there are many other women who feel the way I do. I have been an actor for 20 years and I have been doing Hindi films since 2018. I’d really like to see a change. I’d like to see South Indian women doing North Indian roles; how long are you going to say that language is the barrier?”

Regena Cassandrra continued, “I speak Hindi; I can read and write Hindi better than certain Hindi-speaking people! Maybe they can speak Hindi better than me but I can probably write Hindi better than them! My scripts are all in Devanagari because that’s how I’d rather read them rather than in anglicized Hindi. Moreover, I have a Hindi tutor to make sure my diction is better. I do all this so that tomorrow, no one can say that I didn’t get a role because of the language barrier. I have heard that before. I want to break that barrier of just playing a South Indian woman. I want to prove it to myself and maybe to others who feel that it’s too much work to get a South Indian actor to play a North Indian. When a North Indian actor plays a South Indian, they figure it out, no? Hence, it’s not rocket science, and I feel it can happen and it will happen.”

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Regena Cassandrra reveals Akshay Kumar’s early morning ritual during Kesari Chapter 2: “We heard music from the pool!”; explains why she turned down Saiyami Kher’s role in Sunny Deol-starrer Jaat and chose to play the SHOCKINGLY dark role

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After Sikandar, Salman Khan is now gearing up to work on his next, directed by Apoorva Lakhia. It has come to light that this film is based on the book ‘India’s Most Fearless 3’ and is set against the backdrop of the 2020 Galwan Valley Conflict. Bollywood Hungama has been informed that a major Bollywood studio is in talks to come on board as a studio partner.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Jio Studios has begun discussions with Apoorva Lakhia. The banner believes that it is a tale that deserves to be told on celluloid. With a star like Salman Khan being associated with it, Jio’s head honchos are sure that the film will be talked about and also have high chances of performing exceptionally at the box office.”

The source, however, added, “Apoorva Lakhia is expected to go on a recce to Ladakh on Tuesday, May 20. Once he’s back, the budget will be worked upon. Once this and other things become clear, Jio will take a call and if they are interested, they’ll sign on the dotted line.”

If Jio does come on board, it’ll be the first time that the prestigious production house and Salman Khan will join hands. In the past, both almost came close to working with each other during Inshallah, co-starring Alia Bhatt. This Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directorial, however, was shelved even before it went on floors. Last year, Salman did act in the Varun Dhawan-starrer Baby John, backed by Jio Studios, but it was a cameo appearance.

Meanwhile, the source also revealed that Apoorva Lakhia is excited about the developments. The source said, “Apoorva has acquired a new office in Fun Republic Lane, Andheri, Mumbai and is working hard day and night on this project. He’s geared up and wants to ensure that it turns out to be a film to watch out for…a film that Salman Khan fans would lap up.”

As per reports, the film will go on floors in July and will feature Salman Khan as an army officer.

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The Hon’ble Delhi High Court, vide order dated 14th May 2025 in Vinay Pictures vs. Good Hope & Ors. [CS(COMM) 475/2025], has passed a significant ex-parte ad-interim injunction protecting the intellectual property rights in the legendary Hindi film Andaz Apna Apna.

The Plaintiff, Vinay Pictures, represented through its Proprietress Ms. Shanti Vinaykumar Sinha, legal heir of the late producer Mr. Vinay Sinha, sought urgent relief against widespread unauthorized exploitation of the film and its underlying works which such as characters, dialogues, catchphrases, and other IP assets across merchandise, digital platforms, domain names, and AI-generated content.

The Hon’ble Court, acknowledging the iconic and cult status of the film and its characters such as “Crime Master Gogo”, “Amar”, “Prem”, and dialogues like “Aila” and “Ouima”, has restrained over 25 defendants including sellers on e-commerce aggregator platforms, digital content creators, and web domain holders, from:

• Using any content identical to or derived from the film; and

• Manufacturing or selling any merchandise or products bearing the film’s IP; and

• Creating AI-based or digital works that exploit the characters or dialogues.

The Court further directed YouTube, GoDaddy, Desertcart, Flipkart, Meesho, and others to remove infringing content, block access to URLs, and disclose details of infringing sellers and uploaders. Importantly, the Court upheld the Plaintiff’s trademark rights and the exclusive right to commercially exploit the film and its elements. This landmark order sets a strong precedent for enforcement of IP rights in Indian cinema and reaffirms that legacy content enjoys full protection under Indian copyright and trademark law, including against AI-based infringement.

Mr. Ameet Naik, Advocate for the Plaintiff and Partner at Anand & Naik, states: “This order is a resounding affirmation of the rights of legacy content creators in the digital age. Andaz Apna Apna is not just a film it’s a part of India’s cultural heritage, and its characters and dialogues enjoy iconic status. The Delhi High Court has recognized the importance of protecting creative works from rampant misappropriation, including by unauthorised merchandise sellers and AI-based content generators. We are grateful for the Court’s timely intervention and believe this order will serve as a critical precedent for safeguarding IP in cinema, especially against newer forms of digital exploitation.”

Also Read: EXPLOSIVE: Andaz Apna Apna actor Shehzad Khan EXPOSES the real reason he’s missing from films: “Casting directors themselves act, cast same actors repeatedly; I can’t be expected to do CHAMCHAGIRI”

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Actor Babil Khan has confirmed that he is no longer part of filmmaker Sai Rajesh’s next film. This news comes just days after Babil faced backlash for his posts on social media. Both Babil and Sai took to Instagram to share the update. Babil was reportedly working on the Hindi remake of Baby, directed by Sai Rajesh.

Babil wrote in his post, “With a lot of grit, passion, and mutual respect, Sai Rajesh sir and I both got along on this journey of creating magic together. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, things didn’t go ahead as everyone had planned.”

He added, “Since I will be taking some time off currently, I wish the best to Sai Rajesh sir and the film team on their future journey. I know there is immense love between us, and we will meet soon in the future and create magic together.”

 

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A post shared by Babil (@babil.i.k)

Director Sai Rajesh also shared a message on social media, calling Babil “one of the most talented and hardworking actors” he has met. “After spending time with Babil while prepping, I was very happy to be working with such a talented actor… I will still always cherish the experience of seeing him perform in front of me … I will miss my Hero!” He added, “I respect his decision of self-care first, and wish him all the best and send him all the love in the future! I know we both will create that magic together for sure.”

 

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A post shared by Sai Rajesh (@sairazesh)

Recently, Babil posted videos on Instagram where he mentioned several Bollywood actors by name. Many viewers thought he was criticising them, but Babil later claimed the videos were “extremely misinterpreted.” He said he was actually praising the actors, not criticising them. He deactivated his account for a while and later returned with a clarification.

After the videos went viral, Sai Rajesh posted a long message on his Instagram Stories, seemingly upset with Babil’s team. He wrote, “Do you really think we’re that naive to just walk away silently? What kind of attitude are we being subjected to? It feels like only those whose names were mentioned in his video deserve respect — and the rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while?”

He continued, “These sympathy games won’t work on us anymore. A sincere apology is the least you owe us. Say it, and let’s move on.”

In the comments section of the post, Babil responded, saying the note broke his heart. He claimed he had given two years of his life to the film. “Not to mention, the pain and the suffering I put in my soul, lived in filth just to make sure sir @sairazesh is happy with the character. It’s okay now. I’ll let my work speak. Goodbye,” he wrote.

Babil also revealed the extent of his preparation for the role. “Man, I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character. I gave him my laughter while I held back my tears. I slit my f****** wrist for him.”

Also Read: Karan Johar REACTS to Babil Khan’s viral breakdown video: “I felt terrible because I also have a son and a daughter”

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After the huge success of Stree 2, fans have been eagerly waiting to know about Shraddha Kapoor’s next film. There were recent reports that she was in talks to star in filmmaker Rahi Anil Barve’s next, backed by producer Ektaa Kapoor.

Readers may recall that Bollywood Hungama had reported that Shraddha had charged a fee of Rs 17 crore along with a profit share for the project. A well-placed industry source told us, “This is among the highest upfront fees received by Shraddha Kapoor, as also one of the highest pay cheques in today’s time for a female lead in Hindi. Ekta Kapoor was more than happy to splurge Rs. 17 crore to sign Shraddha, as the Rahi Anil Barve film will be Shraddha’s follow-up to the highest-grossing film of Hindi Cinema – Stree 2.”

However, as per the latest report by PeepingMoon, the actress has now reportedly walked out of the film due to a disagreement over payment. A source told the portal, “Shraddha is no longer doing Ektaa’s upcoming film.” The report adds that the actress and producer could not agree on the financial terms. Ektaa Kapoor reportedly found Shraddha’s fee too high for a women-led film, and it would have raised the overall budget of the movie.

With Shraddha said to be out of the project, the makers are now looking for another lead actress. “The producers are already in talks with a leading actress for the role,” the report states.

As of now, Shraddha Kapoor only has Stree 3 officially lined up. The film is set to release in theatres on August 13, 2027. It will be the third part of Maddock Films’ hit horror-comedy franchise. In Stree 2, Shraddha starred alongside Rajkummar Rao, Aparshakti Khurana, Pankaj Tripathi, and Abhishek Banerjee. The film turned out to be a major box office hit.

Also Read: Shraddha Kapoor bags Rs. 17 crore remuneration plus profit share for Ekta Kapoor’s next with Rahi Anil Barve

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Actor Taapsee Pannu is currently filming Mulk 2, the sequel to her 2018 courtroom drama Mulk. Directed by Anubhav Sinha, the film focuses on important social issues like identity, faith, and civil rights.

Over the past two weeks, Taapsee has been shooting key scenes at a church in Bandra. The church has been turned into a courtroom set for the film. A report by Mid-Day quoted a source saying, “Taapsee has been shooting courtroom portions over the past few days. The emotionally charged sequences see her delivering lengthy monologues. She is fully prepped, and one can see how deeply she is invested in the material.”

It is not yet clear if she is playing the same character, lawyer Aarti Mohammed, from the first film. However, her courtroom scenes are said to be among the most powerful parts of the movie. The Mumbai schedule is expected to continue for four more days. After that, the team will move to Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for an outdoor shoot. This part of the schedule will last around 20 days.

An insider shared, “Anubhav’s past films are proof that he tells his stories in a gritty and realistic manner. He wants to root Mulk 2’s story in its social and geographical context. Locations have been finalised in Lucknow, Meerut, and Karnal, where the director will film some rally and courtroom scenes.”

The entire shoot is expected to be completed in another 20 to 25 days. After wrapping up Mulk 2, Taapsee is expected to begin work on Haseen Dillruba 3.

Also Read: Taapsee Pannu, along with sister Shagun Pannu, buys apartment in Mumbai for Rs. 4.33 crores

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sent a show cause notice to actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty for allegedly building an illegal structure in Malad’s Madh area.

The notice says that a ground-floor structure was built on a plot in Erangle village without the required permission from the authorities. The BMC has asked Mithun Chakraborty to explain the changes made to the property. If he fails to give a proper explanation, the structure could be demolished. The BMC has also warned of possible legal action.

This action is part of a larger crackdown on unauthorised constructions in the Madh area. So far, the BMC has identified 101 illegal structures in the locality. These include bungalows built using fake documents. The civic body plans to demolish all illegal constructions by the end of May.

According to civic officials, during a recent inspection near the Hira Devi Mandir in Erangle village, they found two one-plus-mezzanine-storey buildings, one ground-floor structure, and three temporary units made of bricks, wood, glass, and AC sheets. These were all constructed without proper approval.

The show cause notice sent to Chakraborty is under Section 351(1A) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act. He has been given seven days from May 10 to explain why the structure should not be removed or demolished. Officials also said that such violations can lead to fines and even jail time under Section 475A of the MMC Act.

As per a report by Free Press Journal, when asked about the issue, Mithun Chakraborty said, “I have no unauthorised structures. Notices have been sent to many, and we are sending our replies.”

Also Read: Ayesha Jhulka laughs off link-up rumors with Akshay Kumar, Mithun Chakraborty and others: “How many affairs can one have at the same time?

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