United News of Bangladesh

Music composer AR Rahman said he felt “gaslit” by younger generations who made him doubt the quality of his work. Rahman told The Hollywood Reporter that fans often compared his current music with his 1990s hits, making him question his creativity. He said this affected his confidence, prompting him to compose music for 20–30 films between 2019 and 2025 to prove himself. He added that he collaborated with Oscar winner Hans Zimmer for Ramayan and wants to push his limits without relying on past awards, including his 33 Filmfare wins and two Oscars. Rahman also clarified a recent controversial comment, saying he never intended to hurt anyone’s feelings. He emphasized that his goal is to celebrate culture and connect with people through music. In recent years, Rahman composed for films in Hindi, Tamil, and Malayalam, including Ponniyin Selvan, Atrangi Re, and Malayankunju.   With inputs from NDTV

Thousands of people gathered Saturday at San Francisco’s Civic Center to celebrate the life of Bob Weir, the legendary guitarist and founding member of the Grateful Dead who died last week at age 78. Musicians Joan Baez and John Mayer spoke on a makeshift stage in front of the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium after four Buddhist monks opened the event with a prayer in Tibetan. Fans carried long-stemmed red roses, placing some at an altar filled with photos and candles. They wrote notes on colored paper, professing their love and thanking him for the journey. Several asked him to say hello to fellow singer and guitarist Jerry Garcia and bass guitarist Phil Lesh, also founding members who preceded him in death. Garcia died in 1995; Lesh died in 2024. “I’m here to celebrate Bob Weir,” said Ruthie Garcia, who is no relation to Jerry, a fan since 1989. “Celebrating him and helping him go home.” Saturday’s celebration brought plenty of fans with long dreadlocks and wearing tie-dye clothing, some using walkers. But there were also young couples, men in their 20s and a father who brought his 6-year-old son in order to pass on to the next generation a love of live music and the tight-knit Deadhead community. The Bay Area native joined the Grateful Dead — originally the Warlocks — in 1965 in San Francisco at just 17 years old. He wrote or co-wrote and sang lead vocals on Dead classics including “Sugar Magnolia,” “One More Saturday Night” and “Mexicali Blues.” He was generally considered less shaggy looking than the other band members, although he adopted a long beard like Garcia’s later in life. The Dead played music that pulled in blues, jazz, country, folk and psychedelia in long improvisational jams. Their concerts attracted avid Deadheads who followed them on tours. The band played on decades after Garcia’s death, morphing into Dead & Company with John Mayer. Darla Sagos, who caught an early flight out of Seattle Saturday morning to make the public mourning, said she suspected something was up when there were no new gigs announced after Dead & Company played three nights in San Francisco last summer. It was unusual, as his calendar often showed where he would be playing next. “We were hoping that everything was OK and that we were going to get more music from him,” she said. “But we will continue the music, with all of us and everyone that’s going to be playing it.” Sagos and her husband, Adam Sagos, have a one-year-old grandson who will grow up knowing the music. A statement on Weir’s Instagram account announced his passing Jan. 10. It said he beat cancer, but he succumbed to underlying lung issues. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, who were at Saturday’s event. His death was sudden and unexpected, said daughter Monet Weir, but he had always wished for the music and the legacy of the Dead to outlast him. American music, he believed, could unite, she said. “The show must go on,” Monet Weir said.

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues its record-breaking run at the Indian box office, surpassing ₹871.9 crore in domestic earnings 43 days after its release. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy action thriller opened on December 5, 2025, and has been steadily raking in collections. On Day 43 alone, the film earned ₹2.1 crore, following a cumulative ₹869.8 crore over the previous 42 days, according to Jio Studios. Read more: The Raja Saab Box Office Day 8: Prabhas’ film earns Rs 3.50 crore The film’s weekly domestic breakdown shows strong sustained performance: ₹218 crore in Week 1, ₹261.5 crore in Week 2, ₹189.3 crore in Week 3, ₹115.7 crore in Week 4, ₹56.35 crore in Week 5, and ₹28.95 crore in Week 6. Bollywood veteran Suniel Shetty praised the performances, particularly highlighting Ranveer Singh’s nuanced portrayal. “Ranveer Singh is 100 out of 10… showing patriotism while restrained in another country is very difficult, and the audience believes it,” Shetty said. He also commended Akshaye Khanna, describing him as “10 out of 10.” Dhurandhar draws inspiration from major real-life events, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and Operation Lyari. Fans can look forward to Dhurandhar 2, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, promising another chapter in the blockbuster spy thriller franchise. Source: NDTV Read more: Matthew McConaughey trademarks voice and image to block AI misuse

Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, which hit theatres on January 9, has continued to perform steadily at the box office. Directed by Maruthi Dasari and produced by IVY Entertainment and People Media Factory, the horror-comedy raked in Rs 3.50 crore on Day 8 (January 16), taking its total collection to Rs 133.75 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk. The film saw a 34.88% occupancy in Telugu theatres on its second Friday, with evening shows drawing the largest crowds at 43.54%, followed by afternoon (37.57%), night (36.85%), and morning (21.57%) screenings. From Kantara to Coolie: The top 10 highest-grossing South Indian films of 2025 The Raja Saab follows an ordinary man, Raja Saab (Prabhas), who lives with his grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s. She believes her husband, Kanakaraja, will return from a long mission, and the story unfolds when Raja Saab meets a man resembling his grandfather, leading to a heartfelt and supernatural tale. The film’s ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, Murali Sharma, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, and Prabhas Sreenu. Maruthi Dasari has also hinted at a sequel, revealing that The Raja Saab Part 2 will feature a completely new storyline within the horror genre, promising a fresh take for audiences. Source: ndtv Read more: Dhurandhar crosses ₹870 crore in India on Day 43; Ranveer Singh starrer continues box office domination

Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey has trademarked his image and voice to protect them from unauthorized use by artificial intelligence platforms. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, clips of McConaughey, including his famous line “alright, alright, alright” from the 1993 film Dazed and Confused, have been registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Lawyers for the Magic Mike star said this is the first time an actor has used trademark law to protect their likeness from possible AI misuse. They added that while there is no current example of his image being misused, the move is aimed at stopping any future unauthorized copies. McConaughey’s decision comes after several celebrities, including Scarlett Johansson and Taylor Swift, were targeted with fake videos, audio and images created using AI tools. The actor is not against generative AI. He has invested in ElevenLabs, an AI voice technology company, which has created an AI audio version of his voice with his permission. McConaughey rose to fame with Dazed and Confused and later starred in films such as A Time to Kill, Contact and Interstellar. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Dallas Buyers Club.   With inputs from NDTV

Singer Harry Styles has announced his new album titled Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally, which will be released on March 6. Styles shared the news on his Instagram account on Thursday. The post featured an image of the singer with the album title and release date written over it. “Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally. March 6,” he wrote in the caption. The upcoming project will be the 31-year-old singer’s fourth studio album. He is known for hit songs such as As It Was and Watermelon Sugar. Styles began his music career in 2010 after auditioning for The X Factor UK. He later formed the band One Direction with Niall Horan, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson and Zayn Malik. He started his solo career in 2017 after signing with Columbia Records and releasing his debut single Sign of the Times, followed by his first solo album later that year.   With inputs from NDTV

HBO’s new Game of Thrones prequel, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, has been praised for its humour, action, and engaging storytelling, offering a fresh take on Westeros. The six-episode series follows Ser Duncan, an inexperienced knight, and his clever squire, Egg, as they journey to a tournament at Ashford Meadow. The story focuses on their adventures and relationship, blending light-hearted comedy with thrilling battles. Unlike previous shows, the prequel features a single narrative thread, less CGI, and short episodes averaging 35 minutes. It also highlights the lives of common people rather than the nobility. Critics have praised the chemistry between the leads, Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan and Dexter Sol Ansell as Egg, calling it “extraordinary.” The show mixes physical comedy, dry humour, and dramatic fight sequences, making it accessible even to viewers unfamiliar with the Game of Thrones universe. The series debuts on HBO and HBO Max in the U.S. on Jan 18, and on Sky Atlantic and NOW on Jan 19, with weekly episodes. Season 2 is already in production.   With inputs from BBC

Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt, along with Imran Khan and Lekha Washington, were spotted arriving hand-in-hand at the screening of Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which releases in theatres on January 16. Ahead of the film’s release, a grand premiere was held in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. Aamir Khan drew attention as he arrived with his girlfriend Gauri Spratt, the two posing together for photographers while twinning in coordinated outfits. The evening was also special as Aamir’s cousin Imran Khan marked his return to films after a decade. He attended the screening accompanied by his partner, Lekha Washington. Several members of Aamir’s family and close associates were present, including his daughter Ira Khan with husband Nupur Shikhare, his son Junaid Khan, and filmmaker Kiran Rao, who came to support Aamir despite their divorce. Arhaan Khan, son of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora, was also among the guests. In the lead-up to the release, the makers unveiled a humorous promotional video featuring a comic face-off between Aamir Khan and Sunil Grover. The clip shows Aamir being escorted out of his office after security staff mistakenly identify Sunil Grover as the real Aamir Khan. The video follows Aamir Khan’s public praise of Sunil Grover’s spot-on impersonation of him. Sunil’s mimicry was recently featured on The Great Indian Kapil Show episode starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday. Reacting to the performance, Aamir told Bollywood Hungama that it went beyond mimicry, saying it felt so real that he thought he was watching himself. He added that the clip left him laughing uncontrollably and appreciated that it was done without any malice. Dhurandhar’s unprecedented 40-Day Box Office rampage Directed by Vir Das, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos releases this Friday, January 16. The film stars Vir Das, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Sanjay Dutt, Sharib Hashmi, and Imran Khan, with Aamir Khan appearing in a cameo and also serving as the producer. Source: NDTV        

The nominees for this year’s Bafta Rising Star Award have been announced, highlighting some of the most promising new talent in film. The list features five actors, including three from the UK and two from the US. British nominees are Robert Aramayo, Archie Madekwe, and Posy Sterling. US actors on the shortlist are Miles Caton and Chase Infiniti. Robert Aramayo, from Hull, is recognised for his role in I Swear, portraying a young man with Tourette’s syndrome in the 1980s. Aramayo, 33, previously gained fame as young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. Miles Caton, 20, earned acclaim for Sinners, winning a Critics’ Choice Award for best young actor. Caton grew up in a musical family in New York and toured internationally as a backing singer for H.E.R. Chase Infiniti, 25, stars in One Battle After Another, acting opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. She previously appeared in Apple TV+ thriller Presumed Innocent and graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2022. Archie Madekwe is nominated for his role in Lurker, a psychological thriller where he plays a pop star blackmailed by a fan. He has also appeared in Saltburn and Midsommar and trained at the Brit School in London. Manchester-born Posy Sterling is nominated for her first leading role in Lollipop, portraying a single mother struggling for custody after prison. She previously appeared in TV dramas including The Road Trip and You Don’t Know Me. The Bafta Rising Star winner, voted by the public, will be announced at the Bafta Film Awards on 22 February at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Alan Cumming will host the ceremony, which will be broadcast on BBC One and iPlayer.   With inputs from BBC

US rapper and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has reportedly sold his luxury private jet as he continues to face multiple legal challenges. According to People magazine, the 56-year-old artist sold his Gulfstream G550 aircraft in October, months after his federal conviction on two prostitution-related charges in July. A spokesperson for Silver Air Private Jets, which previously managed charter operations for the aircraft, confirmed that the company no longer handles the jet. The relationship ended in October 2025 following a change in ownership. Records from the US Federal Aviation Administration show that the aircraft, once owned by Combs’ company LoveAir LLC and registered under the tail number N1969C, is no longer linked to him. The jet is now registered as T7-OKS, indicating registration in San Marino. While the exact sale price has not been disclosed, similar Gulfstream G550 models are typically listed between $15 million and $30 million. Built in 2015, the matte-black jet can seat up to 14 passengers and features a beige interior, pet-friendly facilities and an advanced entertainment system. Combs was frequently seen travelling on the custom aircraft in the months before his arrest. In March 2024, the jet flew from California to Antigua amid federal raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. In July, he also shared a video on social media showing himself boarding the plane, calling it “home.”   With inputs from NDTV