United News of Bangladesh

Weeks after the death of Indian singer Zubeen Garg, a Pakistani band paid a heartfelt tribute to him by performing his iconic Bollywood song “Ya Ali” during a live concert in Karachi. A video of the performance went viral on social media, showing the audience singing along as the band recreated Garg’s famous track from Gangster (2006), composed by Pritam and starring Emraan Hashmi, Kangana Ranaut, and Shiney Ahuja. Fans across borders praised the tribute, calling it a reminder that “music has no borders or religion.” Zubeen Garg, a celebrated artist who sang in more than 40 languages, died in Singapore on September 19 from accidental drowning. The 52-year-old singer, widely loved in Assam and beyond, had made his Bollywood debut with “Ya Ali,” which became one of the most memorable songs of the 2000s. His death drew wide attention after a bandmate alleged foul play. Following an investigation, Garg’s manager Siddhartha Sharma and North East India Festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta were arrested in India on charges of culpable homicide, conspiracy, and negligence. Zubeen’s final rites and Adya Shraddha were held last week in Jorhat, Assam, where his musical journey began.   Source: NDTV

Aurthohin , the powerhouse of Bangladeshi rock music, is set to globally release their highly anticipated new album, ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’. This sequel is poised to bring a dramatic and dark turn for the band and their music. ‘Phoenixer Diary 1’ established the 'Bangla Nu Rock' genre, which was officially recognized by Spotify. This new album from Aurthohin is expected to transcend musical boundaries telling a story of intense rage and revenge. While the first album depicted the Phoenix’s endurance and rebirth, ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’ sees the character, ravaged by extreme loss, transformed from a symbol of hope into an emblem of destruction, consumed by the fire of vengeance. The band promises this album will be darker, more intense, and musically richer than its predecessor. At the Skyfall restaurant in the capital's SKS Tower, Mohakhali, Aurthohin  met with media personnel to officially announce the global release date of their new album and share details of an exclusive secret listening party for fans. It was announced at the event that ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’ will be released on October 17, across all major streaming platforms, including YouTube Music, Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Qobuz. Furthermore, Aurthohin announced a highly secret and special event, the ‘Secret Listening Party,’ for their dedicated fans known as 'Oddbhut', which will be held on October 10. A song from the ‘Phoenixer Diary 2’ album, ‘Unmad’, was released on the band's YouTube channel on October 2 and can be heard by clicking the link provided: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuzPfe2Gezk. Aurthohin expressed special gratitude for the patronage of Mercedes-Benz Bangladesh, the cooperation of Shell, Framework Finance Limited, Get Set Rock, and Verse Imagine, and the partnerships with Heavy Metal T-shirt, Music Castle, SP Rhythm, Skyfall, Tune & Bite Music Cafe, Universal Medical College & Hospital Ltd, and Cool Exposure for the album release and associated events. The album will feature several collaborations with internationally renowned artists, including Grammy nominee guitarist Frank Gambale; saxophone player Bob Franceschini (known for his work with Mike Stran and Paul Simon); bass player Bubby Lewis (known for his work with Snoop Dogg, Stevie Wonder, and Dr. Dre); and Ahnaf, son of Bassbaba Sumon. The album is dedicated to the memory of music director and artist A K Ratul.  

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers want the hip-hop mogul sent to a low-security federal prison in New Jersey to serve his four-year, two-month prison sentence, telling a judge Monday that the facility’s drug treatment program will help him stay clean. In a letter, Combs’ lawyers urged the judge presiding over his case, Arun Subramanian, to “strongly recommend” that the federal Bureau of Prisons place Combs at FCI Fort Dix, a massive prison located on the grounds of the joint military base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. FCI Fort Dix, one of several dozen federal prisons with a residential drug treatment program, will best allow Combs “to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts,” Combs lawyer Teny Geragos wrote. Also Monday, President Donald Trump told reporters that Combs had asked him for a pardon. Trump, referring to Combs by the nickname “Puff Daddy,” did not say if he would grant the request. Messages seeking comment on Trump’s remarks was left for Combs’ lawyers and his publicity team. Combs’ sentencing Friday on charges he transported people across state lines for sexual encounters capped a federal case that featured harrowing testimony about violence, drugs and so-called “freak-offs,” and exposed the sordid private life of one of the most influential figures in music. The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer was convicted in July under the federal Mann Act, which bans transporting people across state lines for any sexual crime. His trial ended in a split verdict, with acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life. Combs has been locked up at a federal jail in Brooklyn, the Metropolitan Detention Center, since his September 2024 arrest. His time there will be subtracted from his sentence, meaning he could get out in about three years. In a letter to Subramanian on the eve of sentencing, Combs said he has gone through a “spiritual reset" in jail and is "committed to the journey of remaining a drug free, non-violent and peaceful person.” “I thank God that I’m stronger, wiser, clean, clear and sober," he wrote. Subramanian has not yet acted on the request to recommend placement at FCI Fort Dix. Judges often make recommendations about where inmates should serve time, but it’s up to the Bureau of Prisons to decide. Those decisions, the agency has said, are based on a variety of factors, including the severity of the offense, the required security level and an inmate’s programming needs. FCI Fort Dix, the largest single federal prison by population with just under 3,900 inmates, is about 64 miles (103 kilometers) southwest of New York City, where Combs was born and rose to fame as a rapper and entrepreneur in an array of businesses, including fashion, television and liquor. An adjacent minimum-security prison camp has 210 inmates. Combs once owned a home in New Jersey, selling it nearly a decade ago. His primary residence, according to court papers, has been a $48 million mansion on an island near Miami. That home and a mansion he owns in Los Angeles were raided by federal agents last year during the investigation that led to his arrest. FCI Fort Dix has been home to a number of high-profile inmates over the years, including reputed mobsters, drug traffickers, corrupt politicians and “Pharma Bro” Martin Shkreli. For a time, it was run by the warden who had been in charge of a Manhattan federal jail when financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself at the jail in 2019. That warden, Lamine N’Diaye, has since retired. In 2021, a 27-year-old Fort Dix inmate was stabbed in the eyeball by a fellow prisoner. In 2019, a Fort Dix inmate, a former inmate and two other people were arrested for using a drone to smuggle in contraband including cellphones, tobacco, weight-loss supplements and eyeglasses. The same year, a Fort Dix correctional officer pleaded guilty in a separate case to pocketing bribes to smuggle in contraband. During his time at Fort Dix, Shkreli ended up in solitary confinement amid allegations he was using a contraband smartphone to run his drug company from behind bars. Inmates are forbidden from conducting business and possessing cellphones.

Actor Bobby Deol marked 30 years in the film industry on Monday by cutting a celebratory cake with fans and paparazzi. The actor, son of legendary Bollywood star Dharmendra, began his journey in cinema with the film Barsaat, which premiered on October 6, 1995. Barsaat, directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, also launched Twinkle Khanna—daughter of actors Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia—into Bollywood alongside Deol. To commemorate the milestone, Bobby Deol shared an emotional post on social media, expressing gratitude to his supporters. “30 years of many emotions on and off screen... all made worthwhile by your love. That fire still burns and I am just getting started,” he wrote on Instagram, along with a montage video featuring highlights from his filmography. The compilation included scenes from iconic films and series such as Barsaat, Soldier, Gupt, Bichhoo, Kareeb, Humraaz, Class of 83, Aashram, Animal, and his recent Netflix series The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, for which he is currently receiving widespread acclaim. Industry colleagues and friends congratulated the actor on his career milestone. Actress Preity Zinta, his co-star from Soldier, commented, “Congratulations Lord Bobby. This is just the start. Love you loads.” Meanwhile, his stepsister Esha Deol posted an Instagram story saying, “30 years and lots lots more. More power @iambobbydeol.” After facing a downturn in the 2010s, Bobby Deol made a strong comeback with the hit web series Aashram, which re-established him as a compelling performer. He later gained critical praise for his intense role as the silent antagonist Abrar Haque in Animal, marking his return to the big screen after Housefull 4 in 2019. Looking ahead, Bobby Deol has several major projects lined up. He will appear in Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar, Yash Raj Films’ Alpha alongside Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, and the Tamil film Jana Nayagan, co-starring actor-politician Vijay. Source: NDTV

Dame Jilly Cooper, the best-selling British novelist famed for Riders, Rivals, and her Rutshire Chronicles series, has passed away at the age of 88 following a fall at her Gloucestershire home. Cooper, whose novels explored the scandals, romances, and social circles of Britain’s horse-loving elite, sold over 11 million books in the UK alone. Her 1985 debut Riders launched the beloved series, followed by Rivals in 1988, recently adapted into a hit Disney+ series. Queen Camilla led tributes, calling Cooper a “legend” and a “wonderfully witty and compassionate friend,” while praising her role in creating a new literary genre. Cooper’s agent Felicity Blunt described her as “emotionally intelligent, fantastically generous, sharply observant and utter fun,” highlighting her incisive storytelling and satirical take on class, marriage, and society. Starting her career as a journalist, Cooper published her first book, How To Stay Married, in 1969, before rising to fame with her romance and social satire novels. She remained married to her husband Leo from 1961 until his death in 2013. Tributes also poured in from celebrities, fellow writers, and broadcasters, celebrating her wit, warmth, and influence on British literature. Cooper’s funeral will be a private family event, with a public service of thanksgiving planned at Southwark Cathedral in the coming months.   Source: BBC

Actress Sydney Sweeney revealed the rigorous preparation she underwent to play boxing champion Christy Martin in the upcoming biopic Christy. Speaking at the Hamptons International Film Festival, the 28-year-old said she followed a punishing routine: “Every morning I would weight train for an hour, then do boxing for three hours, and another hour of weight training at night. I did this daily for three months with a nutritionist, eating lots of food, protein shakes, and supplements. I gained around 35 lbs (15.88 kg) during this time.” Sweeney added that Martin was deeply involved in the filmmaking process, offering guidance and feedback. “She became like my best friend. Having her there was powerful, as I could study her mannerisms and insights,” she said. The actress also emphasized her commitment to authenticity in the film, performing all boxing scenes herself without a stunt double. “Every fight you see is real; we are actually punching each other,” Sweeney said. Christy Martin rose to fame as the most prominent female boxer in the US during the 1990s and survived an attempted murder by her husband in 2010. Sweeney expressed surprise that Martin’s story has not yet reached a global audience.   Source: NDTV

Saiyaara star Aneet Padda has opened up about her early struggles in the film industry, revealing how, at just 17, she unknowingly sent her audition materials to dubious casting websites while trying to find work. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Aneet said she was unaware of how the film industry’s casting process worked and, out of desperation, submitted her photos and biodata to several unverified online platforms. “Almost every production house in the Hindi film industry has my audition tape, a terrible biodata, and Snapchat filter pictures,” she recalled. The young actor said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, she sent cold emails to as many as 50–70 production houses, only to later realize that professional casting agencies are meant to handle such negotiations for actors. Aneet discovered her love for acting at the age of 10 after performing in a school play. However, she received little encouragement from her family and friends at the time. “For the longest time, I told myself I was silly for even wanting to pursue acting,” she said, adding that even her father — who once dreamed of becoming an actor himself — wasn’t supportive initially. Before her breakthrough role in Saiyaara, Aneet made her debut in Revathi’s Salaam Venky alongside Kajol and Vishal Jethwa, followed by the Amazon Prime web series Big Girls Don’t Cry. Her performance in Mohit Suri’s Saiyaara, opposite debutant Ahaan Panday, earned her nationwide fame. The romantic drama became the year’s second highest-grossing film, collecting ₹569.75 crore globally, and is now the highest-grossing romantic film of all time.   Source: NDTV

Ba***ds actor Rajat Bedi has accused veteran actor Mukesh Khanna of misquoting him in an old interview, alleging that Khanna used his comments “to generate views.” In a recent conversation with Siddharth Kannan, Rajat clarified that he has great respect for filmmaker Rakesh Roshan and that his earlier remarks were taken out of context. “I share a good bond with Rakesh Roshan sir. He is the most helpful director I’ve worked with. As for my comment about moving to Canada, it was blown out of proportion because of Mukesh Khanna,” Rajat said. He claimed Khanna twisted his statement from an earlier 2023 interview to imply that he left India after being sidelined during the promotions of Koi Mil Gaya. “I told him I moved to Canada after the film’s release, but he made it sound like I left because I was ignored. That was wrong. A week before that interview came out, I had actually met Rakesh ji,” he added. In the 2023 interview, Rajat had expressed disappointment over being “cut out” from the publicity campaign of Koi Mil Gaya and said several of his scenes with Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta were removed from the final version. Explaining his decision to move to Canada, Rajat said he struggled financially despite working on several projects. “I was getting films and fame, but no financial stability. Some producers’ cheques even bounced,” he recalled. Rajat Bedi, who began his acting career in 1998, appeared in over 40 films including Rakht (2004), Khamoshh... Khauff Ki Raat (2005), and Rocky – The Rebel (2006). He also gained recognition on television through Kasautii Zindagii Kay and Aahat. Most recently, Bedi played Jaraj Saxena in Aryan Khan’s Netflix series Ba**ds*, earning praise for portraying a forgotten actor trying to reclaim his fame.   Source: NDTV

Star Cineplex, a popular multiplex chain in the country, is set to celebrate its 21st anniversary on October 8 with a special event for moviegoers. The multiplex chain is marking the milestone with a gesture of appreciation for its loyal audience - the moviegoers. Marking the occasion, Mesbah Uddin Ahmed, AGM of the media and marketing department of Star Cineplex, said that the viewers will receive a special gift on the anniversary. On October 8, at all branches of Star Cineplex and for all shows, customers can buy one ticket and get another ticket free for any movie. He also said that entertainment journalists have supported and collaborated with the cineplex since its inception. “Along with the love of viewers, the support from journalists has played a vital role in bringing Star Cineplex to this stage,” he added. Started in 2004, Star Cineplex was the country’s first multiplex chain. At present, it operates a total of 22 halls across Dhaka and other regions, with additional branches under construction. The authorities have announced that the number of halls will increase further next year.

Rishab Shetty’s Kantara Chapter 1 continues its blazing run at the box office, collecting Rs 223.25 crore across all languages by Sunday — maintaining figures close to its opening day numbers. The film grossed Rs 61 crore on Sunday, after an opening day haul of Rs 61.85 crore across Kannada, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. According to industry tracker Sacnilk, Kantara Chapter 1 had earned Rs 47.6 crore in Kannada alone till Saturday, while its Hindi version continued strong with Rs 50.5 crore at the domestic box office. Produced on a budget of Rs 125 crore, the film has already broken multiple records and is now the second highest-grossing Kannada film of 2025, trailing only Mahavatar Narsimha, which has earned between Rs 300–325 crore worldwide. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh hailed the film’s performance on X (formerly Twitter), writing: “#KantaraChapter1 roars back on Saturday, witnessing a solid jump over Friday, powered by glowing word of mouth. Sunday’s numbers are expected to further strengthen its business, and going by current trends, a ₹70 cr extended opening weekend total looks well within reach... EXCELLENT.” Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji urges public to fight rising cybercrimes About the film Directed and written by Rishab Shetty along with Anirudh Mahesh and Shanil Guru, Kantara Chapter 1 stars Rishab Shetty, Jayaram, Rukmini Vasanth, and Gulshan Devaiah in lead roles. The film serves as a prequel to the 2022 blockbuster Kantara, which also starred and was directed by Shetty. The original Kantara had earned Rishab Shetty the National Award for Best Actor in 2024, while the film won the National Award for Best Popular Film. Critical reception In his review for NDTV, critic Saibal Chatterjee described the film as “a manic, sometimes befuddling, mix of history, myth, cinematic craft, and performative power.” He added: “When the disparate components and conceits blend well, it is an undeniably compelling watch. At all other times, it is immersive enough to keep the audience glued to the screen in an attempt to scan and decipher the riot of colours, the grand gestures, the larger-than-life action sequences, and the portentous dialogue that have gone into the project.” Source: NDTV