United News of Bangladesh

Zendaya's fashion choices during the promotional tour for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have sparked online speculation that her character, MJ, could face a tragic fate in the new Marvel film. Fans on social media have pointed to the actor's mostly black outfits during the press tour, suggesting they may hint at a major storyline involving MJ. However, there has been no official confirmation from Marvel Studios or the filmmakers. Zendaya and her longtime stylist, Law Roach, are well known for using fashion to reflect themes from the films they promote. During the tour, Zendaya wore a blue-and-red outfit in Rome, colours closely linked to Spider-Man's costume. She also appeared in a grey-blue dress featuring web-inspired details. For most of the remaining promotional events, however, she chose black outfits, a colour often associated with mourning in Western cultures. At an event in China, she wore a black Versace gown with black net detailing, even though white is traditionally considered the colour of mourning in China and several other Asian countries. These fashion choices have led some fans to speculate that MJ may die in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The theory gained further attention after Zendaya said in a recent interview: "As a fan of Peter Parker, I always want him to have a happy ending, but I don't know, guys... it's not looking good." Marvel actors are generally bound by strict non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from revealing plot details before a film's release. Fans have shared various theories online, with some suggesting the outfits were carefully chosen to hint at MJ's storyline. Others believe they are simply part of Zendaya's signature fashion-forward promotional style. For now, the speculation remains unconfirmed. Audiences will learn what happens to MJ when Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in cinemas worldwide.

Ariana Grande is showing a quieter side on her latest album “Petal,” stepping away from the powerful vocal performances that have long defined her music. Her eighth studio album and first full-length release since the end of her “Wicked” run and 2024’s “Eternal Sunshine,” “Petal” features 12 tracks that see the pop star taking a more inward and controlled approach. The change is clear from the lead single “Hate That I Made You Love Me.” With its smooth hook and understated vocals, the song offers an early glimpse of the album’s new direction. It became Grande’s 10th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Rather than relying on her trademark vocal power, Grande delivers the song in a softer style, allowing the bubbling synths and gentle pop arrangement to take center stage. The track was produced with Ilya Salmanzadeh, who has worked with Grande since 2018’s “Sweetener,” and Swedish hitmaker Max Martin. For an artist famous for effortlessly hitting big notes, the restrained performance feels almost like an experiment. But it works, giving the song an easy, relaxed quality. That sense of effortlessness runs through much of “Petal.” On “Oh Well,” upbeat production contrasts with lyrics that deliver a clear message of moving on from a troubled relationship. “Petal” also offers a range of musical textures, though most of them are cooler and more laid-back than what listeners may expect from Grande. The album occasionally comes close to sounding carefree, but it still maintains the charm associated with her music. The record carries a moody R&B feel, with some of its smoothness reminiscent of SZA. “Freak” feels more like a dream—or perhaps a nightmare—with hazy layers of vocals creating an intimate and slightly mysterious atmosphere. Grande largely avoids the elaborate vocal runs and huge vocal moments that have become her trademark. Instead, she embraces a more controlled style. While the change shows artistic growth, some longtime fans may wonder whether the subtle approach will keep them fully engaged. The album becomes more energetic in its final third. Grande brings back some of her more dynamic style on “Like I Do,” particularly over its heavy bass, while “Never Get Over Me” builds slowly around the line, “The grass is way greener / Since I been beneath ya.” “Bad Thing (Bunny Hop)” is one of the album’s strongest moments. It captures the excitement of a new crush through dreamy guitars, a driving beat and playful lyrics. Grande’s distinctive way of shaping her words adds to the song’s appeal. The album closes with “Nowhere, Nobody,” which combines a retro-style vocal melody with vocoder effects. In promotional material for “Petal,” Grande described the album as something “full of life and growing through the cracks” of something difficult and challenging. That idea fits the record to some extent. Its 12 songs find moments of happiness beneath atmospheric production and subdued melodies. More importantly, “Petal” shows what happens when one of pop’s most powerful vocalists deliberately chooses to hold back. Rather than trying to prove what her voice can do, Grande seems more interested in exploring what it can say when she turns down the volume.

Actress Storm Reid wants her new music to show fans a side of her they may not often see — a young woman still figuring out love, relationships and life. Reid, 23, released her new single “Shotty” on Friday, hoping listeners will get to know the more personal and less polished side of the actor they have seen on screen. “I think people might think I have it all together when I really don’t,” said Reid, known for her roles in “Euphoria,” “A Wrinkle in Time” and “The Last of Us,” for which she won an Emmy in 2024. “I’m a normal girl trying to figure it out,” she said. “Shotty” follows her debut single, “Clean Sweep,” and marks another step in her music career, which she began pursuing more seriously over the past year. She has already recorded more than 25 songs. Reid said she plans to focus on creating her first EP after completing work on Teyana Taylor’s directorial debut, “Get Lite.” She wants to take her time developing a project with a clear and connected story. She is releasing her music independently through her own label, 1720 Music, a move she said gives her more creative control while keeping open the possibility of working with a major label later. “With the indie route, you have a little bit more autonomy of what you want to do and how you do things,” she said. Reid also hopes her label can help create opportunities for other musicians. “I want to sign people. I want to sign songwriters and producers and artists, and give them opportunities,” she said. Music has quickly become almost as important to Reid as acting, although she plans to continue working in film and television. Her upcoming projects include Netflix’s “Roommates” and “Get Lite.” Working on “Get Lite” also pushed her to develop her dancing and become more comfortable performing, skills she hopes will help when she eventually takes her own music to the stage. “It’s as big and as important as acting is,” Reid said of music. “It’s something that I want to continue to do and want to continue to grow at.” Reid said her years in Hollywood have helped her deal with criticism, including comments from people who questioned whether she deserved her Emmy. “People didn’t feel like I deserved to win an Emmy, but it’s still sitting in my house,” she said. “It’s still in my mama’s house, so I don’t really care what people say.” Since releasing “Clean Sweep,” Reid said she has mostly avoided reading online comments so that negative reactions do not affect her. She said the response so far has been largely positive and supportive, adding that she is excited for listeners to hear more of her music. For Reid, the move into music is ultimately about showing that she is more than the polished image people may have of her. “Not everything is gonna be perfect. Not everything is gonna be prim, proper and pristine and eloquent,” she said. “Like yeah, that’s a part of me, and I can do that, and I can do it really well. But also … this is me too.”

Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard, who won an Academy Award for the 2007 film Once, died in a motorcycle crash near Dublin early Wednesday, his management company said. He was 56. ATC Management told Irish broadcaster RTE that Hansard’s family was “deeply shocked and heartbroken” by his death. Tributes poured in from fellow musicians and artists, including Bruce Springsteen, who said he was “heartbroken” by the loss of “a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.” Irish police said a man in his 50s died after a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, west of Dublin, shortly before 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police did not identify the man, saying he was treated at the scene but was later pronounced dead. Hansard built a career in both acting and music. He appeared as a member of a Dublin soul band in the 1991 hit film The Commitments before gaining international recognition as a singer-songwriter. He won the Oscar for best original song in 2008 for “Falling Slowly,” which he co-wrote with his Once co-star Markéta Irglová. The film tells the story of two struggling musicians who form a close bond while pursuing their musical ambitions. Once was later turned into a Broadway musical featuring songs by Hansard and Irglová. The stage production won eight Tony Awards in 2012, including best musical. Hansard was the longtime frontman of the rock band The Frames and also formed the musical duo The Swell Season with Irglová. He released several solo albums, including Didn’t He Ramble, which earned a Grammy nomination for best folk album in 2016. Ireland’s President Catherine Connolly described Hansard as one of the country’s great singer-songwriters. “Glen was one of the vital driving influences of the Irish music world, bringing people together in the sharing of live music,” Connolly said. “He will be sorely missed by all who knew him or experienced his work.” Actor and comedian Chris O’Dowd praised Hansard’s “energizing melodies and soulful, searching voice,” saying his music helped make difficult times easier, quiet periods more beautiful and happy moments more memorable. Hansard began his musical journey as a street busker in Dublin. He later became known for leading the city’s annual Christmas Eve busk outside the Gaiety Theatre, where well-known Irish musicians perform for the public to raise money for a homelessness charity. Former Irish President Michael D. Higgins remembered Hansard as a “wonderful musician and performer” who also devoted much of his life to addressing social problems. In 2023, Hansard performed a powerful rendition of The Pogues’ “Fairytale Of New York” with Irish singer Lisa O’Neill at the funeral of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan. The performance moved mourners, with some members of the congregation dancing in the church aisles. Hansard is survived by his wife, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, and their 3-year-old son, Christy.

As Lock Upp 2 heads toward its finale, the latest season has continued to deliver intense drama, heated confrontations and plenty of entertainment. One of the season's major turning points came with the entry of content creator Apoorva Mukhija, popularly known as The Rebel Kid, who joined the show as an informer. Her arrival led to new rivalries, arguments and emotional confrontations among the contestants. After her brief but eventful stint on the show, Apoorva took to her Instagram Stories to respond to the criticism she faced during her time on the programme. Currently vacationing in Ibiza, Apoorva said she was contractually prohibited from revealing that she had already been eliminated from the show. "People abused me so much, and I couldn't post anything because I was under contract and wasn't allowed to reveal that I was out of the show. My job was to provoke people and pick fights with them," she said. 'I got my fat cheque,' says Apoorva Apoorva said her responsibility inside the house was to provoke conflicts among the contestants. When others refused to engage in arguments, she had to confront them herself. "I tried very hard to create conflicts between contestants, but nobody wanted to fight. It was my job, and I was paid to do it. I couldn't just not do it. So, when nobody else was fighting, I had to go and fight with people because that usually creates a ripple effect," she said. Concluding her message, Apoorva said viewers could either like or dislike her, adding that she had earned her payment, created content for social media and was now enjoying her vacation in Ibiza. Apoorva denies fighting for screen time Apoorva also rejected claims that she deliberately picked fights simply to get more screen time. She said that as the Jailor's informer, her role was naturally going to make her an important part of the episodes. "I don't need to steal anyone's footage. If they brought me onto the show for five days, they had to show me to recover their costs," she said. The content creator added that because she entered the house as the Informer, the makers had to feature her in the episodes. "Whatever I did, they had to show me because I entered the house as the Informer. So, I didn't need to fight with people just to get screen time. Those episodes were always going to revolve around me," she added. Apoorva backs Shreya Kalra, Shilpa Shinde In another Instagram clip, Apoorva expressed her support for contestants Shreya Kalra and Shilpa Shinde, saying she believed either of them should win the show. About Lock Upp 2 Hosted by Riteish Deshmukh and Farah Khan, Lock Upp 2 features Akanksha Chamola, Harshad Chopda, Ram Kapoor, Shreya Kalra, Shilpa Shinde, Akanksha Choudhary, Pamala Serena, Shivangi Joshi, Yogesh Rawat and Varun "Laila" Yadav. The winner of the season will receive a cash prize of Rs 1 crore. #From NDTV

Acclaimed Kolkata-based vocalist Sumana Chatterjee, currently in Bangladesh to participate in the Nazrul Festival 2026 organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, will perform at a special musical evening hosted by Artist Club on Thursday. During the programme, Sumana Chatterjee will present timeless Nazrul Sangeet along with popular songs associated with legendary singers Arati Mukherjee, Nirmala Mishra, Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar, according to a press release. Born in Silchar, Assam, Sumana Chatterjee developed her passion for music from an early age in a culturally enriched family. She later moved to Kolkata, where she received formal training under renowned music maestros and established herself as a versatile performer of Nazrul Sangeet, modern Bengali songs and Bengali film music. Sumana Chatterjee first came into the limelight through a popular television reality show in 2005. Since then, she has performed extensively at cultural festivals, concerts and international events across India and Bangladesh, earning widespread appreciation for the richness of her voice, musical excellence and expressive stage performances. Artist Club believes this special musical evening will further strengthen the cultural ties between Bangladesh and India while celebrating the rich heritage of Bengali music.  

Oscar-winning Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard died in a motorcycle crash in Dublin early Wednesday, his management company said. He was 56. ATC Management said Hansard's family was “deeply shocked and heartbroken” by his death. Irish police said a man in his 50s died in a single-vehicle motorcycle crash in Lucan, on the outskirts of Dublin, before 4:30am on Wednesday. The man was treated at the scene but was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Hansard was known for combining acting and music throughout his career. He gained international recognition after playing a member of a Dublin soul band in the 1991 film The Commitments. In 2008, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Falling Slowly” from the film Once, in which he starred alongside Markéta Irglová. He was the longtime frontman of rock band The Frames and was also part of the folk-rock duo The Swell Season. His solo album Didn't He Ramble earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album in 2016. For years, Hansard led the Christmas Eve charity busk outside Dublin's Gaiety Theatre, where musicians performed to raise funds for the Dublin Simon Community. At the 2023 funeral of The Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan, Hansard performed “Fairytale of New York” with Irish singer Lisa O’Neill, prompting mourners to dance in the church aisles. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin expressed deep sorrow over Hansard’s death, describing him as a talented musician and actor who made a significant contribution to Ireland’s cultural life.

Actor Gauahar Khan has criticised Nikhil Chinapa over a remark he made about menopause and perimenopause while responding to her comments about his gameplay on reality show Alliance. Calling the remark “insensitive,” Gauahar said it showed a lack of understanding of women’s health and said Nikhil owed an apology to the women in his life. The controversy began after Nikhil was asked by Telly Masala about Gauahar’s social media posts supporting her husband, Zaid Darbar, who is currently a contestant on Alliance. Gauahar had earlier accused contestant Mini Mathur of being biased toward Kushal Tandon. She also alleged that Mini and Nikhil were playing the game together instead of giving other contestants, including Zaid, a fair chance. Gauahar and Kushal briefly dated after meeting on Bigg Boss in 2013. Responding to the question, Nikhil said he had never met Gauahar personally but had heard from Zaid that she respected him. He then said Mini might know more about the matter because she “deals a lot with menopause and perimenopause,” suggesting she could have insights into why Gauahar made those comments. Gauahar later expressed her disappointment in a series of videos posted on Instagram. She said it was upsetting to see menopause being used to explain or dismiss a woman’s opinion. Gauahar said it was sad to see men remain ignorant about women’s health despite having families and sufficient life experience to understand the sensitivity surrounding menopause and perimenopause. She said she was particularly surprised that Nikhil had brought up the issue while responding to her views about his performance as a contestant on Alliance. Gauahar clarified that her comments were only about Nikhil’s gameplay and that she had never criticised him personally. She said she had always admired him. She also said she was pleased that Zaid had told Nikhil that she was fond of him, adding that she still considered him a great person with a good personality and an impressive body of work. However, she questioned why Nikhil had suggested that Mini could comment because she dealt with menopause and perimenopause. Gauahar said it was unfair to link a woman’s opinion to menopause or hormones and questioned why her criticism of Nikhil’s gameplay was being connected to her age or health instead of being considered a genuine opinion. She rejected the suggestion that she was experiencing menopause or perimenopause, saying she had become a mother nine months earlier. Gauahar also urged people to be more sensitive when discussing menopause and perimenopause and said women should not be placed in categories based on assumptions about their health. She defended women going through menopause or perimenopause, saying the natural stage of life should never be used to undermine their opinions or make them feel that their views are less important. At the end of her response, Gauahar called on Nikhil to apologise, saying he owed an apology to his wife and the women in his life for failing to understand the sensitivity of the issue. Nikhil, who was also a contestant on Alliance, was eliminated from the reality show in Sunday’s episode, aired July 26. #From NDTV 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has received a UA 13+ certificate from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ahead of its theatrical release in the country. According to the CBFC certificate dated July 23, the film has an approved runtime of 144 minutes and 52 seconds, or 2 hours, 24 minutes and 52 seconds. The certification document shows that the English-language 3D version, with English subtitles, was cleared with several modifications. The CBFC directed the makers to add a statutory anti-liquor disclaimer to the film. The board also ordered the studio to mute and remove obscene words from the audio and subtitles at three points. In addition, two kissing scenes, appearing at around the 44-minute and 57-minute marks, were deleted. The visual cuts total eight seconds, while the muted dialogue does not affect the film’s runtime. Following the changes, the approved runtime remains 144 minutes and 52 seconds. The film has been classified as UA 13+, allowing children below 13 to watch it under parental guidance. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth instalment in the MCU’s Spider-Man film series. The film stars Tom Holland alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal and others in key roles. The film will hit Indian theatres on July 30, a day before its worldwide release. #From NDTV

Actor Vijay's much-awaited farewell film Jana Nayagan witnessed a significant drop in box office earnings on its second day after a strong opening, but its worldwide collection crossed Rs 112 crore, according to trade estimates. The H Vinoth directorial earned Rs 21.15 crore net in India on Friday, taking its two-day domestic collection to Rs 63.85 crore, trade tracker Sacnilk reported. The film had opened with Rs 42.70 crore net on Thursday, meaning its Day 2 collection declined by around 50.5 percent compared to the opening day. Its India gross collection has reached Rs 75 crore, while the worldwide earnings stand at approximately Rs 112.50 crore. On Friday, Jana Nayagan recorded an overall theatre occupancy of 44.33 percent. The film registered 32.77 percent occupancy during morning shows, 37.23 percent in afternoon shows, 47 percent in evening shows and 60.31 percent during night screenings. The Tamil version remained the biggest contributor to the film's Day 2 earnings, collecting Rs 17.95 crore. The Hindi version earned Rs 1.85 crore, while the Telugu version added Rs 1.35 crore. Amid mixed reactions from audiences, director H Vinoth said Vijay's films often receive varied responses immediately after release before gaining wider acceptance over time. "Whenever a Vijay sir movie comes out, for about a week people say this is good, that isn't good, this doesn't work, that doesn't, and all that. Then after a week, they say it's not that great after all. Six months later, it starts becoming a big hit in society," he said. Vinoth described the film as an important project for Tamil cinema and a dream opportunity for him as a filmmaker. Promoted as Vijay's final film before he begins a full-time political career, Jana Nayagan received a grand reception from fans across Tamil Nadu. Large crowds gathered at theatres, including Chennai's Woodlands and Casino, where special celebrations, cultural programmes and laser shows were arranged. Fans were seen dancing outside cinemas, while theatres witnessed enthusiastic responses during first-day-first-show screenings. Actor Ravi Mohan also joined celebrations marking Vijay's final theatrical release. Despite the festive atmosphere, the film experienced a steep decline in earnings on its second day. Directed by H Vinoth, Jana Nayagan follows Vetri, played by Vijay, a prisoner who forms a close bond with prison warden Srikanth and takes responsibility for the warden's daughter Viji. As he helps her overcome fears and pursue her dream of joining the Indian Army, his past resurfaces through the character John Himmler, played by Bobby Deol, leading to a major confrontation. The film features Pooja Hegde, Bobby Deol, Mamitha Baiju, Priyamani, Gautham Vasudev Menon and Prakash Raj in key roles, with music composed by Anirudh Ravichander. Released in theatres on July 23, Jana Nayagan marks the end of Vijay's more than three-decade acting career, during which he appeared in over 60 films. Source: NDTV