United News of Bangladesh

Global K-pop group BTS has announced its first world tour after completing mandatory military service, marking the band’s return to the stage after nearly four years. The seven-member group said the 2026–2027 world tour will begin in South Korea in April and continue until March 2027, with more than 70 shows across Asia, North America, South America, Australia and Europe. The tour will be BTS’s first headline concert series since their 2021–22 Permission to Dance on Stage tour. A presale for ARMY Membership holders who register on the fan platform Weverse will be held on January 22 and 23. General ticket sales for all regions will start on January 24. The announcement comes weeks after BTS management company BigHit Music said the group would return to music on March 20 following a nearly four-year break. All seven members RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and j-hope had been completing South Korea’s mandatory military service. Rapper Suga was the last member to finish service in June 2025. He served as a social service agent, an alternative duty he reportedly chose due to a shoulder injury. The other six members served in the army. The tour will start in Goyang, South Korea, on April 9 and April 11–12. It will then move to Tokyo, Tampa, El Paso, Mexico City, Stanford, Las Vegas and Busan before heading to Europe with shows in Madrid, Brussels, London, Munich and Paris. The group will later perform in several US cities including East Rutherford, Foxborough, Baltimore, Arlington, Toronto, Chicago and Los Angeles. The South American leg includes Bogotá, Lima, Santiago, Buenos Aires and São Paulo. Asian shows will be held in Kaohsiung, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Jakarta, Hong Kong and Manila. The tour will also include concerts in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. The final shows are scheduled for March 13 and 14, 2027, in Manila, the Philippines.   With inputs from NDTV

Bollywood actor Imran Khan has said his daughter Imara and his partner Lekha Washington have played a key role in his healing journey and personal growth. Imran, who is set to appear in a short cameo in Vir Das’s upcoming film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, spoke to NDTV about his life, work and recovery from depression and anxiety. The film is scheduled to release in theatres this Friday, January 16, 2026. He said the last few years have been better than before and that therapy has helped him feel more settled and ready to return to work. He added that love and support from his daughter and partner have been crucial to his well-being. Imran said love is a two-way feeling and described it as empowering and healing. He said receiving love gives strength, while giving love truthfully and selflessly also brings healing. He said the bond he shares with his daughter Imara and his partner Lekha has been central to his recovery and growth. The actor has been in a relationship with Lekha Washington since 2020. He was earlier married to Avantika Malik. The couple divorced in 2019. They have a daughter, Imara, who was born in 2014. Imran said he had almost stopped working after his daughter was born as he wanted to spend more time with her. He said being present in a child’s life leaves a deep impact, even from a very young age. He said he puts his daughter to bed, feeds her and regularly picks her up from school. He said spending time with his daughter gives him joy, purpose and a sense of value. He also said it is difficult for him to give up time with her for work or events. Even during long shoots, he tries to adjust his schedule so that he does not miss time with her. Imran also spoke about joining Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos for a cameo role. He said he agreed to do the film out of fear of missing out after learning that many of his friends were involved in the project. He said filmmaker Vir Das was developing the project and that his uncle Aamir Khan was attached as a producer. Actress Mithila Palkar, who worked with Imran in Katti Batti, also shared details about the film with him. Imran said he later sent a message to Vir Das and joined the project because his friends were part of it and the film looked like fun. Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos will release in theatres on January 16, 2026.   With inputs from NDTV

Actor Akshaye Khanna will return in the upcoming film Dhurandhar 2 following strong fan demand, sources said Wednesday. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has planned additional shoots to bring Khanna back after audiences praised his portrayal of Rehman Dakait in the first film. The character became a viral sensation, with fans creating online discussions and theories demanding more screen time. Khanna’s appearance in the song Fa9la by Flipperachi also went viral, increasing the popularity of his character. The sequel had completed its main shoot, but selective reshoots involving Khanna are set to begin later this month under Dhar’s supervision. Rehman Dakait dies in the first film, so his return poses a narrative challenge. Reports suggest the sequel may use flashbacks to expand his backstory and show his rise and key choices. Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2026.   With inputs from NDTV

Popular television presenter Rafsan Sabab and acclaimed singer Xefer Rahman tied the knot on Wednesday, ending years of speculation surrounding their relationship. Rafsan Sabab shared the news in a Facebook post, seeking blessings from their well-wishers as they begin a new journey together, surrounded by the love of friends, family and loved ones. Mehazabien Chowdhury shares wedding photos “Today, we unite our lives and step into a beautiful chapter together,” he wrote. The wedding has drawn warm wishes and congratulations from fans and colleagues across the media and entertainment industry.

Few could have predicted the extraordinary box office journey Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar would embark on after its release on December 5, 2025. The film opened with a strong Rs 28 crore nett on its first Friday in India, marking the biggest opening day of Ranveer Singh’s career. Since then, it has delivered relentless growth across both weekdays and weekends, steadily shattering records. It is now the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide. Even after 40 days, Dhurandhar shows no signs of slowing. The film continues to post solid daily figures, cementing its place among the most dominant theatrical runs in recent Hindi cinema history. Current Box Office Status On Day 40, the film added Rs 2.90 crore to its domestic total, taking its India nett collection to Rs 863 crore. A Landmark Film for Aditya Dhar For director Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar represents a career-defining achievement. His earlier blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike had recorded a peak single-day collection of Rs 17.17 crore. Dhurandhar more than doubled that benchmark, clocking Rs 44.80 crore in a single day—making it both Dhar’s highest one-day grosser and his biggest film to date. National Box Office Milestones In its sixth week alone, the film collected Rs 20.25 crore over five days, surpassing Stree 2, which had earned Rs 18.6 crore in the same period—making Dhurandhar the highest-earning Indian film in its sixth week. Global Achievements By Day 40, the film’s worldwide gross reached Rs 1,296 crore, overtaking RRR (Rs 1,230 crore) and KGF: Chapter 2 (Rs 1,215 crore). This places Dhurandhar fourth on the all-time list of the highest-grossing Indian films globally. Record-Breaking ‘A’ Certified Film The film has also set a new benchmark as the highest-grossing ‘A’ certified film, both domestically and worldwide. Despite being banned in Gulf countries, Dhurandhar has secured a place in the global top 10 overseas earners, with international collections standing at Rs 290 crore. Sixth Weekend Without Fatigue Even deep into its theatrical run, the film continues to dominate. Its Rs 2.90 crore haul on Day 40 makes it the highest-grossing Hindi film ever in its sixth weekend. Its week-wise India nett collections underline its consistency: Week 1: Rs 218 croreWeek 2: Rs 261.5 croreWeek 3: Rs 189.3 croreWeek 4: Rs 115.70 croreWeek 5: Rs 56.35 croreWeek 6: Rs 20.25 croreBox Office Face-Offs Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab, which released on Friday, is nearing the Rs 120 crore mark. The Maruthi-directed horror-comedy earned Rs 4.88 crore on Day 5, according to Sacnilk, with Dhurandhar continuing to remain close behind. The new release has also faced strong competition from films like Ikkis. Weekday Performance That Defied Expectations One of Dhurandhar’s most striking achievements has been its weekday dominance. On its first Tuesday, the film collected Rs 28.60 crore—the highest first-Tuesday figure of 2025—surpassing titles such as Chhaava and Saiyaara. By the end of its opening week, collections had already crossed Rs 207.25 crore, proving the film’s appeal extended far beyond weekend crowds. A Historic Second Weekend If the opening week showcased scale, the second weekend sealed history. The film earned Rs 59 crore on its second Sunday, becoming the highest second-Sunday grosser in Hindi cinema, surpassing Pushpa 2: The Rule (Rs 54 crore). Across its second weekend, Dhurandhar amassed Rs 140–146 crore nett, dethroning Pushpa 2 to become the biggest second-weekend grosser ever for a Hindi or Indian film. In the process, it broke Day 10 records previously held by Jawan, Stree 2 and Animal. Fastest to Major Milestones The film’s momentum translated into unprecedented speed records: Fastest Hindi film to Rs 500 crore nett in India (Day 16)Fastest to reach Rs 500 crore, Rs 600 crore, Rs 800 crore and Rs 1,000 crore worldwideSurpassed Gadar 2’s lifetime India nett of Rs 525 crore by Day 16As of Day 40, Dhurandhar is closing in on the Rs 1,300 crore global mark. A Theatrical Phenomenon Featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Saumya Tandon, Dhurandhar has firmly established itself as a historic blockbuster. From Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 to Shah Rukh Khan’s King: Indian films to watch in 2026 Jointly produced by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, the film has not only broken records but also redefined the scale and sustainability of box office success in Hindi cinema.    

A mild cold wave is sweeping over Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts and may continue, said the Bangladesh Meteorological Department. Weather across the country may remain dry today with temporary partly cloudy skies, it said. Light to moderate fog may form at a few places over the country during late night to early morning hours. Night temperatures may fall slightly while day temperatures are expected to remain nearly unchanged across the country. Lowest temperature was recorded in Tentulia at 7.5 degrees Celsius.

Paramount Skydance is escalating its hostile takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, announcing plans to name its own slate of directors ahead of the studio’s next shareholder meeting. Paramount also filed suit in Delaware Chancery Court, seeking disclosure on how Warner evaluates its bid versus Netflix’s competing $72 billion offer. Paramount has offered $77.9 billion for the entire company, but Warner’s leadership continues to recommend shareholders back the Netflix deal. David Ellison, Paramount CEO, said the company is “committed to seeing through its tender offer” and stressed the seriousness of the move. Warner Bros. has yet to schedule its annual or special shareholder meetings, and Paramount has not named board candidates. The development intensifies a high-stakes bidding war between Paramount and Netflix for one of Hollywood’s most prominent studios.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ragtag revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” took top honors at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globes in the comedy category, while Chloé Zhao's Shakespeare drama “Hamnet” pulled off an upset over “Sinners” to win best film, drama. “One Battle After Another” won best film, comedy, supporting female actor for Teyana Taylor and best director and best screenplay for Anderson. He became just the second filmmaker to sweep director, screenplay and film, as a producer, at the Globes. Only Oliver Stone, for “Born on the Fourth of July,” managed the same feat. In an awards ceremony that went almost entirely as expected, the night's final award was the most surprising. While “One Battle After Another” has been the clear front-runner this awards season, most have pegged Ryan Coogler's Jim Crow-era vampire thriller as its closest competition. But “Hamnet,” a speculative drama about William and Agnes Shakespeare based on Maggie O’Farrell's bestseller, won in the dramatic category shortly after its star, Jessie Buckley, won best female actor in a drama. It was a banner night for Warner Bros., the studio behind “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to be sold to Netflix in an $83 billion deal. Paramount Skydance has appealed to shareholders with its own rival offer. In his speech after winning best director, Anderson praised Warner co-chief Michael DeLuca. “He said he wanted to run a studio one day and let filmmakers make whatever they want,” said Anderson. “That’s how you get ‘Sinners.’ That’s how you get a ‘Weapons.' That’s how you get ‘One Battle After Another.’” The final awards brought to, or near, the stage a handful of the most talented filmmakers together in Anderson, Zhao and Coogler — plus Steven Spielberg, a producer of “Hamnet.” Regardless of who won what, it was a heartening moment of solidarity between them, with a shared sense of purpose. Zhao fondly recalled being at Sundance Labs with Coogler when they were each starting out. “As students, let’s keep our hearts open and let’s keep seeing each other and allowing each other to be seen,” said Zhao, while Coogler smiled from the front row. “Sinners” won for best score and cinematic and box-office achievement. The win for box office and cinematic achievement, over franchise films like “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” was notable for Coogler's film, a movie that some reports labeled a qualified success on its release. Yet “Sinners” ultimately grossed $278 million domestically and $368 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing original film in 15 years. “I just want to thank the audience for showing up,” said Coogler. “It’s means the world.” Coming off years of scandal and subsequent rehabilitation, the Globes and host Nikki Glaser put on a star-studded ceremony that saw wins for the streaming sensation “KPop Demon Hunters” (best animated film, song), a meta triumph for Seth Rogen’s “The Studio” and an inaugural award for podcasting that went to Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang.” Many of the Oscar favorites won. Timothee Chalamet won his first Golden Globe, for “Marty Supreme,” after four previous nominations. The 30-year-old is poised to win his first Oscar. Fellow nominees like Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney stood to applaud his win. “My dad instilled in me a spirit of gratitude growing up: Always be grateful for what you have,” said Chalamet. “It’s allowed me to leave this ceremony in the past empty handed, my head held high, grateful just to be here. I’d be lying if I didn’t say those moments didn’t make this moment that much sweeter.” Glaser comes out swinging The Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, got underway with a pointedly political opening from host Nikki Glaser and an early award for the night’s favorite, “One Battle After Another.” Emceeing the show for the second straight year, Glaser kicked off the show with self-aware satire. “Yes, the Golden Globes, without a doubt the most important thing happening in the world right now,” she said. In a winning, rapid-fire opening monologue that landed some punch lines on the usual subjects — the age of Leonardo DiCaprio’s dates, Kevin Hart’s height — Glaser also dove right into some of her most topical material. For the on-the-block Warner Bros., Glaser started the bidding at $5. Referencing the Epstein files, she suggested best editing should go to the Justice Dept. The “most editing,” however, she suggested deserved to go to Bari Weiss’ new CBS News — a dig at the Paramount Skydance-owned network airing the Globes. Globes mix glitz and gloom Political tension and industrywide uncertainty were the prevailing moods heading into Sunday’s awards. Hollywood is coming off a disappointing box-office year and now anxiously awaits the fate of one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros. Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, several attendees wore pins reading “Be Good." The Globes, formerly presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have no overlap or direct correlation with the Academy Awards. After being sold in 2023 to Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, a part of Penske Media, the Globes are voted on by around 400 people. The Oscars are voted on by more than 10,500 professionals. But in the fluctuating undulations of awards season, a good speech at the Globes can boost an Oscar campaign. Winners Sunday included Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I'd Kick You”) for best female actor in a comedy or musical, and Wagner Moura, the Brazilian star of “The Secret Agent,” for best male actor in a drama. Kleber Mendonça Filho's period political thriller also won best international film. “I think if trauma can be passed along generations, values can do,” Moura said. “So this to the ones who are sticking with their values in difficult moments.” Other winners Sunday included the supporting actor front-runner, Stellan Skarsgård who won for the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value.” It was the first major Hollywood movie award for the 74-year-old, a respected veteran actor who drew a standing ovation. “I was not prepared for this because I, of course, thought I was too old,” said Skarsgård. ‘The Studio' and 'Adolesence' win In the television awards, “The Pitt” took best drama series, while Noah Wyle won, too, brushing past his former “ER”-star Clooney on the way to the stage. Netflix’s “Adolescence” won four awards: best limited series, and acting awards for Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham and 16-year-old Owen Cooper. Other winners included Rhea Seehorn for “Pluribus” and Jean Smart for “Hacks.” But the most comically poignant award of the night went to “The Studio,” the best comedy series winner. Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire memorably included an episode devoted to drama around a night at the Globes. (Sample line: “I remember when the red carpet of the Golden Globes actually stood for something.”) Rogen also won best male actor in a comedy. “This is so weird,” Rogen said, chuckling. “We just pretended to do this. And now it’s happening.”

Timothée Chalamet emerged as one of the biggest winners at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards, defeating Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney to claim the Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy award for his performance in Marty Supreme. The 30-year-old actor secured his first Golden Globe after five nominations, strengthening his position in the race for the upcoming Academy Awards. Accepting the award, Chalamet said he felt honoured to be counted among many great actors and described the win as a “sweet moment” in his career. Although DiCaprio missed out on the acting prize, his film One Battle After Another dominated the night with four awards, including Best Film – Musical or Comedy and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. Irish actress Jessie Buckley won Best Actress in a Drama for Hamnet, which also claimed the Best Drama Film award. Brazilian actor Wagner Moura took home Best Actor in a Drama for The Secret Agent, which also won Best International Film. Among other major winners, Teyana Taylor won Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another, Stellan Skarsgård won Best Supporting Actor for Sentimental Value, and Rose Byrne claimed Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. On the television front, Netflix series Adolescence continued its awards season success, with British actor Owen Cooper winning Best Supporting Actor. Seth Rogen won Best Comedy Series Actor for The Studio, while Jean Smart and Noah Wyle also secured acting honours. The Golden Globes marked the official start of Hollywood’s awards season, setting the stage for the Oscars next.   With inpus from BBC

The 83rd Golden Globes unfolded on Sunday at the Beverly Hilton in California, officially kicking off Hollywood’s awards season ahead of the Oscars. This year, the spotlight shone brightly on first-time winners and celebrated television and film achievements alike. The comedy-drama One Battle After Another, which led with nine nominations, emerged as the evening’s biggest film winner, taking home four awards, including Best Film – Musical or Comedy, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actress for Teyana Taylor. Netflix’s limited series Adolescence also dominated, claiming four awards in the television category, including Best Limited Series and acting honours for Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, and Stephen Graham. In the drama categories, Hamnet was named Best Film, with Jessie Buckley earning Best Actress, while Wagner Moura won Best Actor for The Secret Agent, which also received the Best Non-English Language Film award. The Pitt secured Best Drama Series along with Noah Wyle’s Best Actor award, and The Studio won Best Comedy or Musical Series with Seth Rogen taking the Best Actor honour. A new award category for podcasts made its debut this year, with Good Hang with Amy Poehler earning the inaugural recognition. Poehler, along with Owen Cooper and Teyana Taylor, joined the ranks of first-time Golden Globe winners. US comedian Nikki Glaser returned as host, opening the ceremony with a sharp, humorous monologue that poked fun at the star-studded audience. “Hosting the Golden Globes was without a doubt the most fun I have ever had in my career,” Glaser said, reflecting on the night’s festivities. Other major winners included Rose Byrne (If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) for Best Actress – Musical or Comedy, Timothée Chalamet (Marty Supreme) for Best Actor – Musical or Comedy, Stellan Skarsgård (Sentimental Value) for Best Supporting Actor, and Ludwig Göransson for Best Original Score with Sinners. The awards underscored Hollywood’s blend of emerging talent and established names, setting the stage for the upcoming Oscar race.   With inputs from NDTV