United News of Bangladesh

Ahead of the release of late singer and actor Zubeen Garg’s final film Roi Roi Binale, his wife Garima Garg has shared a heartfelt handwritten letter he wrote to fans just days before his death. Zubeen, one of Assam’s most loved singers, composers and actors, died in Singapore on September 19, leaving millions of fans in shock and grief. Garima posted the letter on Instagram on Wednesday, along with an emotional message addressed to her late husband. “The letters you wrote on 15th September… a loving appeal to your beloved people! Every word hits the heart, Goldie! But among all this, there’s a burning in my chest. What happened on September 19? How, why? I can’t find peace until I get this answer,” she wrote. Zubeen’s handwritten note, now going viral, reads: “Wait, wait a little – my new film is coming. Do come and watch it. Love, Zubeen Da.” The letter was originally part of a promotional campaign for Roi Roi Binale, which releases on October 31. The film marks Zubeen’s last on-screen appearance, where he plays a visually impaired musician. Director Rajesh Bhuyan, who worked closely with Zubeen on the film, said releasing it is an emotional and heavy responsibility. “This was Zubeen’s last project, and we are going to release the film. It’s a very difficult time for us. This was his dream, and though we may not be able to do 100%, we will do whatever we can,” he told NDTV. Garima has also called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of Zubeen’s death. “We have to know what exactly happened. The investigation is ongoing, and the law will take its course,” she said earlier. Zubeen Garg passed away while swimming off an island in Singapore, just hours before he was scheduled to perform at the North East India Festival. During a career spanning more than three decades, Zubeen sang in over 40 languages and left behind a rich legacy of music and films. His final film Roi Roi Binale will be released across nearly 50 locations in India, including 31 major cities.   Source: NDTV

Universal Music Group and AI song generator Udio have reached a settlement in a copyright infringement lawsuit and announced a partnership to launch a new AI-powered music creation and streaming platform. In a joint statement issued Wednesday, the companies said they finalized a “compensatory legal settlement” and new licensing agreements for recorded music and publishing that will create additional revenue opportunities for Universal’s artists and songwriters. The deal marks the first resolution since Universal, along with Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Records, sued Udio and another AI platform, Suno, last year for alleged misuse of copyrighted works. “These new agreements with Udio demonstrate our commitment to do what’s right by our artists and songwriters — whether that means embracing new technologies or developing new business models,” said Universal CEO Lucian Grainge. Financial details of the settlement were not disclosed. AI song generation tools such as Udio have shaken the $20 billion global music streaming market by allowing users to instantly create songs in various genres using text prompts — from classic rock and 1980s synth-pop to West Coast rap — without needing musical skills. The technology has sparked debates over copyright and artistic integrity, with critics warning about a flood of low-quality, automatically generated content and the rise of fictitious “AI artists.” Under the new agreement, Universal and Udio will launch an AI subscription service next year that will allow users to “customize, stream and share music responsibly” using authorized and licensed content. Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez said the partnership “empowers artists and fans alike” and represents “a collaboration that unites AI and the music industry in a way that truly champions creativity.” Universal’s roster includes global stars such as Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Drake and Kendrick Lamar.  

Actor Paresh Rawal has responded to the controversy surrounding his upcoming film The Taj Story, which is facing legal challenges just days before its release. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a BJP leader from Ayodhya has sought a ban on the film, alleging that it is based on the subject of a petition he had filed in the High Court in 2022. Another PIL, submitted by Shakeel Abbas, called for a review of the movie’s certification and demanded a disclaimer stating that the film “deals with a contested narrative and does not claim to be a definitive historical account.” However, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday refused to grant an urgent hearing on the plea. Ayushmann Khurrana says Thamma is ‘biggest film of career’ Speaking exclusively to NDTV, Paresh Rawal, along with co-star Zakir Hussain, addressed the controversy and the claims that the film could provoke communal tension. “Every problem cannot be solved,” Rawal said, suggesting that art should be viewed separately from political or religious interpretations. The film is set to release this week despite the ongoing debates around its theme and portrayal of historical events. Source: NDTV 

Actor Vivek Oberoi will donate his entire fee from the upcoming film Ramayana to charity. He will play Vibhishan, Raavan’s righteous brother, in the mythological epic starring Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi. Oberoi told Hindustan Times that he did not want any payment for his role. “I don’t want a penny. I want to donate it to a cause I believe in, like supporting children with cancer,” he said. He added that his decision was inspired by admiration for the film’s makers and their vision. The actor praised producer Namit Malhotra and director Nitesh Tiwari for their ambitious plan to bring Ramayana to the global stage with world-class visual effects. Oberoi said the project could take Indian cinema to a level comparable to Hollywood epics. Ramayana: Part 1 is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. Ranbir Kapoor stars as Lord Ram, Yash plays Raavan, and Sai Pallavi appears as Sita. The film is scheduled to release during Diwali 2026.   Source: NDTV

Actor Ayushmann Khurrana has said he is thrilled with the response to his latest release Thamma, calling it the “biggest film” of his career in terms of opening and audience reception so far. Speaking to ANI, Ayushmann said that public appreciation matters the most to him. “Validation by the public is the biggest validation. This is the biggest opening of my career and hopefully my biggest film as well,” he said. Directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and produced by Dinesh Vijan and Amar Kaushik, Thamma is the fifth instalment in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. The film stars Ayushmann opposite Rashmika Mandanna, alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Paresh Rawal. The actor said what excited him most was the chance to move away from his familiar “boy-next-door” roles. “Here, the character slowly transforms — almost like a vampire with superhero traits. I did that for the first time and I have always been a fan of this universe,” he added. Ayushmann said the film’s success is an added bonus. “As an actor, I found the script very exciting. Whatever is happening now is like a cherry on top.” Looking ahead, he confirmed that before a sequel to Thamma, audiences will see Bhediya 2, as the horror comedy universe continues to expand. “I’m excited to see how different characters will merge and clash in upcoming films,” he said. Ayushmann also shared that he will begin shooting Sooraj Barjatya’s next film within days. “It’s a dream to play a character named Prem in Sooraj ji’s film. It’s a family entertainer with something fresh — a film like this hasn’t come out in years,” he said. The actor further confirmed a new project with Yash Raj Films, though the title is yet to be announced. Source: NDTV

Paramount Skydance is set to lay off about 1,000 employees on Wednesday, less than three months after completing its $8 billion merger, a source familiar with the matter told AFP on Monday. The company has not immediately responded to requests to confirm the layoffs. Skydance finalized its acquisition of Paramount in August. At the merged entity’s first press conference, executives had warned that staff reductions would be announced during the quarterly earnings report on November 10. New CEO David Ellison aims to speed up the company’s technological transition while achieving at least $2 billion in synergies. The merged company combines Skydance Studios, known for the “Mission: Impossible” and “Transformers” films, with Paramount’s movies, streaming service Paramount+, and television channels including CBS, MTV, and Nickelodeon. David Ellison, like his father Oracle founder Larry Ellison, is an ally of US President Donald Trump, who approved the Paramount acquisition after a yearlong review.   Source: NDTV  

Spanish pop star Enrique Iglesias arrived in Mumbai on Tuesday for his first concert in India in 13 years. The award-winning singer will perform on October 29 and 30 at the MMRDA Grounds in Bandra Kurla Complex, event organizers said. The shows are being produced by EVA Live in partnership with BEW Live. Photos and videos shared on social media showed Iglesias greeting photographers at the airport. He was seen wearing a casual T-shirt as he waved to fans. Deepak Chaudhary, Founder and Managing Director of EVA Live, said bringing Iglesias back to India is a major moment for the country’s live music scene. He said fans have been waiting to see the global superstar perform again. The concerts will feature some of Iglesias’ biggest hits from his long music career, according to the organizers. Iglesias last performed in India in 2012 as part of his Euphoria World Tour, with shows in Pune, Gurugram and Bengaluru.   Source: NDTV

Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s relationship was one of Bollywood’s most talked-about love stories in the early 2000s. The two reportedly fell in love while filming Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and dated for nearly three years before breaking up in 2002. While fans remember their on-screen chemistry from that film, few know that Salman and Aishwarya also appeared together in another movie — one that also featured Aishwarya’s future husband, Abhishek Bachchan. In the 2000 romantic drama Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, directed by Raj Kanwar, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai played the lead roles, with Salman Khan making a brief cameo appearance. A viral clip from the film, shared on social media platform X, shows Salman as a truck driver, with Abhishek sitting beside him. During the scene, Aishwarya’s character is seen trying to hitch a ride, but Salman drives past without stopping. Later, he drops Abhishek off, telling him he has reached his destination. Following Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke, Aishwarya and Abhishek went on to co-star in several films together, including Kuch Naa Kaho, Umrao Jaan, Dhoom 2, Guru, Sarkar Raj, and Raavan*. The couple married in April 2007 and welcomed their daughter Aaradhya in November 2011. On the professional front, Salman Khan is currently hosting Bigg Boss Season 19 and will next appear in Battle of Galwan, a film inspired by the 2020 India-China border clash. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), while Abhishek Bachchan recently starred in Kaalidhar Laapata, which premiered on ZEE5 in August. source: NDTV

A now-viral clip from the 2000 film Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke shows Salman Khan making a cameo alongside Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. The film, directed by Raj Kanwar, featured Aishwarya and Abhishek in lead roles, while Salman appeared as a truck driver in a surprise scene. In the clip, Aishwarya waves for a lift as Salman drives by with Abhishek seated beside him, later dropping Abhishek off at his destination. Salman and Aishwarya’s on-screen romance became widely discussed in the early 2000s after they dated for three years following Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. However, Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke remains lesser known for featuring all three stars together. Aishwarya and Abhishek have shared screen space in multiple films, including Kuch Naa Kaho, Umrao Jaan, Dhoom 2, Guru, Sarkar Raj, and Raavan. The couple married in April 2007 and have a daughter, Aaradhya, born in November 2011. Currently, Salman Khan is hosting Bigg Boss 19 and will appear in the film Battle of Galwan. Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam’s Ponniyin Selvan: II (2023), while Abhishek starred in Kaalidhar Laapata, which premiered on ZEE5 in August.

Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi has responded to the viral popularity of a cameo scene from the OTT series Ba**ds of Bollywood, saying he expected it would go viral. The series, directed by Aryan Khan, depicts the Hindi film industry and features Emraan as an actor and intimacy coach for the characters played by Lakshya and Sahher Bambba. In one scene, Raghav Juyal’s character, a die-hard fan of Hashmi, performs his hit song Kaho Na Kaho and delivers a line: “Akkha Bollywood ek taraf, Emraan Hashmi ek taraf” (Whole of Bollywood on one side, Emraan Hashmi on the other). At the trailer launch of his upcoming film Haq, Emraan said, “We knew it would go viral, but we never imagined it would happen in this way. I’m happy that people now associate me with this dialogue instead of my previous on-screen image.” Emraan also reflected on his former “serial kisser” tag, saying fans now remember the viral dialogue when they think of him. Ba**ds of Bollywood features an ensemble cast including Bobby Deol, Aanya Singh, Manish Chaudhari, Mona Singh, Vijayant Kohli, Manoj Pahwa, Gautami Kapoor, and Rajat Bedi. The seven-episode series is streaming on Netflix. Emraan’s upcoming film Haq, a courtroom drama based on the 1980s Mohd Ahmed Khan vs Shah Bano Begum case, stars Emraan and Yami Gautam and is set to release on November 7, 2025.   Source: NDTV