Anees Bazmee is at an all-time high. After the super success of Bhool Bhulaiya 3 Anees Bazmee’s equity has been upped by leaps and bounds. Seen in that context the sudden release of an old presumably shelved film entitled Naam is not very surprising. However, excavating an old forgotten project from oblivion, dusting and brushing up the antiquated project for a release twenty years after it was made, is doing a disservice to all concerned.

However, Anees chooses to not see the release of Naam in a negative light. “What can I do if the producers have decided to release an old project I had forgotten? I made this film in 2004 with Ajay Devgan, Bhoomika Chawla and Sameera Reddy. This is 2024 and everyone has moved on. So it’s not just a disservice to me but to all concerned.

Has Anees spoken to Ajay about it? “No I haven’t. I don’t see the need. Ajay too must have forgotten about it until now when the producers suddenly brought it out of the cans… It’s okay. If it helps them to make even a bit of money, then I am okay with it. I only hope they are not trying to pass it off as a new product. Aaj ka audience bahot hoshiyar hai. They cannot be taken for granted.”

Naam releases alongside Abhishek Bachchan and Shoojit Sircar’s I Want To Talk on November 22.

Also Read: Anees Bazmee REACTS to reports of fallout with Shahid Kapoor due to creative differences: “It’s very tough for me to change my ways after…”

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Ever since its announcement, The Sabarmati Report has been making waves across the nation, shedding light on one of the most pivotal events in India’s history. With its release, The film unveils untold truths, sparking conversations that have never been heard before. Garnering immense love from audiences nationwide, it has also earned high praise from the Prime Minister of India and other prominent leaders of our nation.

Extending its impact, the film was declared tax-free in Madhya Pradesh and has now been declared tax-free in Haryana by Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini after watching it. Chief Minister Saini watched the film with its starcast, producers Ektaa R Kapoor and Amul Mohan. The film was also declared tax-free in Chhattisgarh.

It seems The Sabarmati Report has found acceptance, which means people are resonating with the truth and are accepting it after 22 years. The film has been receiving tremendous love from all quarters. By addressing a crucial chapter in India’s history, it is essential viewing for the current generation. The decision to make the film tax-free in Haryana and Chhattisgarh, following Madhya Pradesh, is a significant milestone in its journey, as it will enable more people to learn about the events surrounding the 2002 Sabarmati Express incident.

आज ‘THE साबरमती REPORT’ की स्टारकॉस्ट एवं टीम हरियाणा के अपने साथियों के साथ फिल्म देखी।
फ़िल्म के माध्यम से गोधरा कांड की सच्चाई सबके सामने आ चुकी है। सच्चाई को अंधकार में दबाकर नहीं रखा जा सकता।दुर्भाग्य ये है कि इस सच्चाई को सामने आने में 22 साल से अधिक लग गए।

मैं फिल्म के… pic.twitter.com/J5jIUtfVqK

— Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) November 19, 2024

Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd presents, A Vikir Films Production, The Sabarmati Report starring Vikrant Massey, Raashii Khanna, and Ridhi Dogra, directed by Dheeraj Sarna and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor, Amul V Mohan and Anshul Mohan, a worldwide wide release by Zee Studios. The film is now released in theatres.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: The Sabarmati Report producer Amul Mohan recalls casting Vikrant Massey before 12th Fail released; shares exciting details of Varun Dhawan starrer Baby John: “People are not even ready for what we are coming out with”

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The Mumbai LitFest witnessed a remarkable gathering of bibliophiles and literati for the highlight session titled “Celebrating Women: The Shashi Baliga Memorial Session — My Medley.” The session featured an esteemed panel comprising Vidya Balan, Ila Arun, and Anjula Bedi. The focus of the conversation was Ila Arun’s much-anticipated autobiography, Parde Ke Peechhey.

The session took an intriguing turn when it was revealed that the autobiography includes a dedicated section on Vidya Balan. This revelation left the audience pleasantly surprised. An excerpt was read from the book where Ila Arun expressed her admiration for Vidya Balan, particularly highlighting her debut in Parineeta (2005).

In the excerpt, Ila Arun wrote: “I cannot forget how impressed I was when I saw Vidya in Parineeta. She was different from the other actresses who looked like models. She was a mature woman, having the beauty and elegance of the actresses of old times. She brought back the dignity of the original Parineeta, the beautiful Meena Kumari in the 1953 film. In fact, she seemed to represent the heroines of all eras of Hindi films. Her expressive face effortlessly spoke volumes. She looked like a Bengali too. Her eyes, her gestures, her body language, they were enough to convey her emotions without the need for words.”

Arun elaborated on her experiences working with Vidya Balan, noting her transformation on set and her remarkable talent. She wrote: “I got to know her well and on the sets, I got to see how talented she is and how she transforms herself the moment the camera is on her. In Begum Jaan, she was too young to be the madam of a kotha. Shabana had done a similar role in Mandi and she looked the part because she was a seasoned actress. She had even put on weight for the role but for Vidya, it was a great responsibility to take on a role like this at such a young age. I told her that I saw Meena Kumari in her and that she should do Sahib Biwi Aur Ghulam 1962, which was released originally. She would be perfect for the role. She had the emotional strength to express her pain and her desire, the loneliness of a dejected woman. I also told her that she was the right actress to do a biopic of Meena Kumari.”

The beautiful and enriching session concluded with Ila Arun’s song as she danced to it and Vidya Balan joined her on the stage.

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Ila Arun on her teleplay Peechha Karti Parchhaiyaan, “There is no better place than theatre if you wish to play different types of roles”

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Mufasa: The Lion King, one of the most anticipated cinematic spectacles is all set to roar with a brand-new tale, taking audiences back to the journey of Mufasa’s rise as the legendary King. This epic saga is already creating waves across India, promising to set records even before its grand release! In a move that has thrilled fans nationwide, we will hear the voices of some of the most celebrated superstars from across the country who have lent their voices to this visual extravaganza.

Shah Rukh Khan and Mahesh Babu as the voice of Mufasa in Hindi and Telugu respectively created a huge buzz and built a massive anticipation for the film. It has just been announced that Tamil actor Arjun Das is the voice of Mufasa in Tamil! The makers clearly know the pulse of the audience and pulled the biggest stars from across the country. Along with the voice of Mufasa, the film boasts of the biggest names voicing for other key characters in the film across these three languages.
Mufasa: The Lion King (Hindi)
Shah Rukh Khan as Mufasa
Aryan Khan as Simba
AbRam Khan as Mufasa (cub)
Sanjay Mishra as Pumbaa
Shreyas Talpade as Timon
Makarand Deshpande as Rafiki
Meiyang Chang as Taka

Mufasa: The Lion King (Tamil)
Arjun Das as Mufasa
⁠Ashok Selvan as Taka
⁠Robo Shankar as Pumbaa
⁠Singam Puli as Timon
⁠VTV Ganesh as young Rafiki
⁠M. Nasser as Kiros

Mufasa: The Lion King (Telugu)
Superstar Mahesh Babu as Mufasa
⁠Brahmanandam as Pumbaa
⁠Ali as Timon
⁠Satyadev as Taka
⁠Ayyappa P Sharma as Kiros

Prepare to be awestruck as the legendary tale returns, voiced by some of India’s most celebrated stars. Mark your calendars and get ready to witness Mufasa’s legacy roar across the nation like never before!

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Aryan Khan reunite as Mufasa and Simba; AbRam Khan makes debut as young Mufasa in Mufasa: The Lion King Hindi trailer, watch

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Netflix has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering local language content with global appeal at its first International Showcase on Monday. The event, led by Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria, featured creative heads from regions including Asia-Pacific (APAC), Latin America (LATAM), Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), and India, who unveiled new titles and shared insights on the platform’s growing viewership trends.

Expanding Local Storytelling
Netflix executives emphasized the platform’s deepening partnerships with over 1,000 producers across 50 countries. The company showcased exclusive footage from upcoming non-English titles such as One Hundred Years of Solitude (Colombia), The Leopard (Italy), Last Samurai Standing (Japan), The Empress Season 2 (Germany), Alice in Borderland Season 3 (Japan), and Senna (Brazil), among others. These stories, crafted with local authenticity, aim to captivate homegrown audiences first, a priority Bajaria stressed during the event.

“There’s no such thing as making a global show,” she said. “When you try to make something that appeals to everyone, you just end up making something that appeals to no one.”
Global Demand for Non-English Titles
Highlighting the rising demand for international content, Bajaria shared that 70% of all viewing on Netflix involves subtitles or dubbing, reflecting the platform’s ability to connect global audiences with diverse stories. Korean content, in particular, is a standout, with over 80% of Netflix members worldwide consuming K-content, according to Minyoung Kim, Vice President of Content, APAC.

In the United States, a market traditionally dominated by local productions, non-English content accounted for 13% of viewing hours last year, with Korean, Spanish, and Japanese titles leading the charge. Bajaria noted that Netflix’s robust recommendation system and superior dubbing and subtitling options contribute significantly to the popularity of these shows.
Authenticity Drives Success
Regional content heads shared how their upcoming projects reflect local cultures. Tinny Andreatta, VP of Content for Italy, spoke about the ambitious production of The Leopard, which captures a pivotal moment in Italian history. Similarly, Diego Avalos, VP of Content for Spain, highlighted the platform’s effort to produce stories from every region of Spain, likening it to creating content across all 50 U.S. states.

“People like the authenticity of local stories,” Bajaria reiterated, underscoring that prioritizing the creators’ vision is central to Netflix’s strategy.
What’s Next for Netflix?
With titles spanning continents and genres, Netflix continues to strengthen its reputation as a platform for diverse storytelling. As global audiences increasingly embrace non-English content, Netflix remains at the forefront, making regional stories more accessible and impactful worldwide.

Also Read: Netflix announces debut of Aryan Khan as creator and director of untitled web-series; to be produced by Red Chillies Entertainment

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The power-packed teaser of Chhaava was released on August 14 and attached with the prints of Stree 2. It stars Vicky Kaushal in a never-before-seen avatar and as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The promo got a roaring response and immediately, the excitement for it went many notches higher. The makers also announced that the film will be released on December 6. This meant a clash with Pushpa 2, arguably the most awaited film of the year. Many in the industry and trade hoped that this clash would be averted. With two weeks to go for December 6, it is clear now that Chhaava is not releasing on the said date and that Pushpa 2 will come solo. However, Maddock Films, the prestigious banner backing Chhaava, has still not announced the new release date for their film.

As per reports, producer Dinesh Vijan and his dedicated team are looking at multiple dates to bring the period film to cinemas. Reportedly, he’s looking at December 20 and January 10. Now, Bollywood Hungama has learnt that the producers are also toying with releasing the film in the second or third week of February 2025.

A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Chhaava is the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, whose father was the national hero Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His birth anniversary, called Shivaji Jayanti, is celebrated on February 19 every year with a lot of pomp in Maharashtra. The makers felt that releasing Chhaava around this time could be apt.”

The source continued, “If they lock this period to release Chhaava, they’ll need to figure out whether to release it on February 14 or February 21 since February 19 falls on Wednesday.”

An industry expert commented, “All the dates under consideration are packed. Mufasa: The Lion King and Vanwaas are scheduled for a release on December 20 followed by Baby John on December 25 while Game Changer releases on January 10. The Ram Charan starrer might not pose a big competition but then it’s just two weeks before the release of Sky Force, another ambitious film of Maddock, starring Akshay Kumar, which releases on January 24. February 14 and 21 are also crowded with releases like Deva, Sanki, Dhadak 2 and Raid 2. Meanwhile, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to start from February 28. Hence, it remains to be seen how Dinesh Vijan manages to find a perfect release date for Chhaava.”

Besides Vicky Kaushal, Chhaava also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Akshaye Khanna and Divya Dutta. It is directed by Laxman Utekar, of Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (2023) and Mimi (2021) fame.

Also Read: Chhaava: Vicky Kaushal and Rashmika Mandanna shoot for a song with 700 dancers; report

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Bollywood power couple Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have added another chapter to their real estate portfolio. The duo has leased a lavish apartment in Mumbai’s upscale Beau Monde Towers Co-operative Housing Society Ltd, located in the prime locality of Prabhadevi. The apartment comes with a hefty monthly rent of Rs 7 lakhs.

A Glimpse of the New Apartment
As per a report by Square Yards, the leased property boasts a built-up area of 3,245 sq. ft. and a carpet area of 2,319.50 sq. ft., offering ample space for their growing family. With three dedicated car parking spaces, the apartment is part of a premium residential project by the Ashwin Sheth Group.

The lease agreement, registered in November 2024, spans 36 months. The rent is structured to increase from Rs 7 lakhs for the first 18 months to Rs 7.35 lakhs for the remaining period. The couple also deposited Rs 21 lakhs as an initial security amount.
A Neighborhood of Convenience and Prestige
Prabhadevi, one of Mumbai’s most sought-after locales, offers seamless connectivity to major city hubs via the Western Express Highway and the Worli-Bandra Sea Link. The area is home to the iconic Siddhivinayak Temple and is close to popular landmarks such as Dadar Beach and High Street Phoenix.

Deepika Padukone is no stranger to Beau Monde Towers; she already owns property in the same complex. The couple’s latest addition aligns with Deepika’s recent real estate investments, including a luxurious Bandra apartment and a sprawling bungalow in Alibaug.

Speaking of the professional front, both were recently seen in Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again. While Deepika is on maternity break, Ranveer resumed working a while ago. 

Also Read: Ranveer Singh launches SuperYou, teams up with Nikunj Biyani; Deepika Padukone cheers for her husband

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Legendary composer and singer AR Rahman and his wife, Saira, have announced their separation after 29 years of marriage. The couple tied the knot in Chennai on March 12, 1995, and share three children—Khatija, Raheema, and Ameen.

Official Statement from Saira’s Lawyers
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 19, Saira’s lawyers confirmed the decision, citing emotional strain as a key factor. “After many years of marriage, Mrs. Saira has made the difficult decision to separate from her husband, Mr. AR Rahman. This decision comes after significant emotional strain in their relationship. Despite their deep love for each other, the couple has found that the tensions and difficulties have created an insurmountable gap between them, one that neither party feels able to bridge at this time,” the statement read.

The statement further added, “Mrs. Saira emphasised that she has taken this decision out of pain and agony. She requests privacy and understanding from the public during this challenging time as she navigates this difficult chapter in her life.”
AR Rahman’s Response
AR Rahman, who has won global accolades, including an Academy Award, shared his thoughts on the separation. He expressed hope that the couple would have reached a milestone of 30 years together but acknowledged that their relationship “seems to carry an unseen end.” Rahman also thanked everyone for respecting their privacy during this sensitive time.

“We had hoped to reach the grand thirty, but all things, it seems, carry an unseen end. Even the throne of God might tremble at the weight of broken hearts. Yet, in this shattering, we seek meaning, though the pieces may not find their place again. To our friends, thank you for…
— A.R.Rahman (@arrahman) November 19, 2024

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Bryan Adams discusses long-lasting career, AR Rahman, upcoming India tour: “Humbling knowing my songs have touched so many lives”

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Housefull has been one of the most popular comedy franchises with the cast headlined by Akshay Kumar. Five years after the fourth instalment, the makers have announced the fifth instalment with Akshay and an ensemble cast. After the entire squad has completed a major schedule of the entertainer in Europe, the latest update on that front is that the film will feature a special track celebrating the franchise’s 14 years.

Sources have asserted that the song will be shot in an extensive manner and will be mounted on a large scale. According to these sources, considering the massive vision that Tarun Mansukhani and the production house have for the track, it will be taking as many as three days to shoot it and it is expected to happen in the vast Chitrakoot Grounds in Andheri, suburban Mumbai.

Elaborating on the same, a source revealed details to Mid-Day saying, “The track has been envisioned as a celebration of the franchise’s journey over the past 14 years. It will be larger-than-life, with expansive sets, elaborate costumes, and choreography that highlights the playful chemistry between the cast. It will be a night shoot going on from November 21 to 23.” The source also mentioned that the song will feature the entire cast including Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Nargis Fakhri along with as many as 100 background dancers. Under the choreography by Remo D’Souza, the cast is said to have kicked off their rehearsals on November 19. “Tarun wanted the vibe to be classic Housefull—quirky and over-the-top, with moments in the song that will leave the audience in splits,” another source mentioned.

Apart from this, it is being said that the film will also feature another massive dance number. Coming to the film Housefull 5, directed by Tarun Mansukhani, the film will also star Dino Morea, Soundarya Sharma, Shreyas Talpade, Chitrangda Singh, Sonam Bajwa, among others.

Also Read: Fardeen Khan goes shirtless for Housefull 5; gives jaw-dropping fitness goals

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Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment are coming together for a special untitled Bollywood series in 2025. Produced by Gauri Khan, the series marks Aryan Khan’s debut as a creator and director. The news of this partnership and mega project was announced in Los Angeles this week at an event — hosted by Bela Bajaria, Chief Content Officer, Netflix — showcasing some of the most ambitious international titles coming to the service next year.

Set against the backdrop of the film industry, this multi-genre project promises an unabashed, entertaining ride through the adventures of a charming, ambitious outsider navigating the glitzy yet tricky world of Bollywood. The series is said to blend a high-stakes narrative with self-aware humor, featuring blockbuster cameos and larger-than-life characters for an unforgettable, tongue-in-cheek take on Indian cinema.

This upcoming Bollywood series will mark Netflix and Red Chillies Entertainment’s sixth outing together, following the hit dark comedy film Darlings, the critically acclaimed crime-drama Bhakshak, the cop-drama film Class of ’83, the zombie horror series Betaal, and the spy thriller series Bard of Blood.

Sharing his heartfelt thoughts on the announcement, Shah Rukh Khan said, “We are excited to present this new series with Netflix that offers a refreshing look into the glamorous cinematic world and what it takes to succeed as an outsider. It’s a unique narrative brought to life by Aryan, many passionate minds and the team at Red Chillies Entertainment. This one’s going to be all heart, all hustle, and a whole lot of entertainment.”

 

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Monika Shergill, VP – Content, Netflix India adds, “We’re thrilled to partner with Red Chillies Entertainment once again — this time, for a very special series, directed by Aryan Khan. Aryan brings a bold and dynamic directorial vision and has created something truly one-of-a-kind and thoroughly entertaining. It builds on our shared passion for fresh voices and quality storytelling, and we can’t wait for our members to watch it.”

Get ready for a fresh take on Bollywood, coming your way in 2025, only on Netflix.

Also Read: Riddhima Kapoor Sahni responds to trolling over calling Maheep Kapoor ‘aunty’:

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