United News of Bangladesh

Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Ba***ds of Bollywood* makes a striking entry with a mix of scandals, satire, and star power. The seven-episode series follows Delhi boy Aasmaan Singh (Lakshya) as he rises in the film industry, navigating ruthless contracts, power games, and staged relationships. The show balances masala entertainment with inside jokes about Bollywood’s underbelly, from nepotism to PR spin. Packed with cameos, the series features Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, and Emraan Hashmi, while Karan Johar parodies his own “Bollywood mafia” label. Aryan even nods to his past controversies, including the drug case, with cheeky humour. Despite weak romantic subplots and predictable twists, the show stands out for its wit, sharp writing, and lively performances, especially by Raghav Juyal and Bobby Deol. With slick visuals and countless Easter eggs, Aryan’s debut is messy, indulgent, but highly watchable – a chaotic celebration of Bollywood itself.   Source: NDTV

ABC’s suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show following comments he made about the killing of Charlie Kirk drew reactions from across the entertainment and political worlds, including from President Donald Trump. Fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert got the news Wednesday while taping an episode of his own show in New York, telling a stunned studio audience that “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” had been suspended. “It was a mix of shock and bewilderment,” said audience member Monserrat Lopez, recounting how Colbert left the stage before coming back to say he would call Kimmel to talk privately. Just this summer, CBS said Colbert’s “Late Show” would end next year due to financial reasons — a decision made just after Colbert criticized a settlement between Trump and CBS’s parent company over a “60 Minutes” story. During Kimmel’s Monday night monologue, he suggested that the suspect in Kirk’s killing might have been a pro-Trump Republican. Kimmel’s show was suspended not long after Nexstar Communications Group announced plans to pull the program from its 23 ABC affiliates starting Wednesday. The Federal Communications Commission’s chairman called Kimmel’s comments “truly sick” and said his agency had a strong case for holding Kimmel, ABC and network parent Walt Disney Co. accountable for spreading misinformation. There was no immediate comment from Kimmel, whose contract is up in May 2026. In its statement announcing the suspension, ABC didn’t cite a reason. Here's are some other notable reactions posted on social media: Trump “Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done. Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC," he wrote, referring to late-night hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers. "Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT” Neither Fallon nor Meyers had commented publicly about Trump's post as of Thursday. Former President Barack Obama “After years of complaining about cancel culture, the current administration has taken it to a new and dangerous level by routinely threatening regulatory action against media companies unless they muzzle or fire reporters and commentators it doesn’t like. This is precisely the kind of government coercion that the First Amendment was designed to prevent — and media companies need to start standing up rather than capitulating to it." Brendan Carr, FCC chairman “Local broadcasters have an obligation to serve the public interest. While this may be an unprecedented decision, it is important for broadcasters to push back on Disney programming that they determine falls short of community values.” Ken Martin, Democratic National Committee chairman “The state under Donald Trump has amassed a chilling record of restricting speech, extorting private companies, and dropping the full weight of the government censorship hammer on First Amendment rights. This is no exaggeration. Trump’s attorney general has directly confirmed that they’ll come after you for your speech, and now his FCC chair has doubled down. It’s not the bully pulpit anymore — it’s the thought police presidency.” Wanda Sykes, comedian “I was supposed to go over and have a chat with my friend Jimmy Kimmel on his show, but as you have heard by now, the Jimmy Kimmel Show has been pulled indefinitely. Abruptly, because of complaints from the Trump administration. So let’s see. He didn’t end the Ukraine war or solve Gaza within his first week. But he did end freedom of speech within his first year. Hey, for those of you who pray, now’s the time to do it. Love you Jimmy.” Megyn Kelly, conservative podcaster “I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Jimmy Kimmel got on the air and falsely stated as a fact that Charlie Kirk’s killer was MAGA, smearing an entire movement and Trump in particular with a vile disgusting lie — and at a time when the threat against those on the right is at an all-time high.” Kelly was fired from her NBC morning show in 2018 after suggesting it was OK for white people to wear blackface at Halloween. Jean Smart, actor “I am horrified at the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live. What Jimmy said was FREE speech, not hate speech. People seem to only want to protect free speech when it suits THEIR agenda. Though I didn’t agree at ALL with Charlie Kirk; his shooting death sickened me; and should have sickened any decent human being. What is happening to our country?” Mike Birbiglia, comedian “I've spent a lot of time in public & private defending comedians I don't agree with. If you're a comedian & you don't call out the insanity of pulling Kimmel off the air — don't bother spouting off about free speech anymore.” Mark R. Levin, conservative radio host and podcaster "Kimmel canned for disgusting Kirk comments. ... Jimmy Kimmel is a pathetic hate monger. He should’ve been canned a long time ago. Better late than never.”

Popular author and renowned screenwriter Nazim Ud Daula has announced that he is stepping away from professional scriptwriting, voicing deep frustration over the lack of credit, proper honorarium and respect for writers in Bangladesh’s entertainment industry. In a Facebook post on Thursday followed by a conversation with UNB, Nazim shared his disillusionment, saying he no longer feels the satisfaction of being a creative writer, but rather the emptiness of becoming a “commissioned writer.” He elaborated his decision, explaining that writers are routinely sidelined at award functions, overlooked by producers and directors, and ignored by the media. On his Facebook post, he stated that many production houses still owe him payments. “Many times when I ask for my dues, they behave as if I am asking for a loan. Writers are treated as if our work doesn’t matter; even when my scripts are nominated for awards, I haven’t been invited to the events,” according to Nazim. Nazim Ud Daula’s career trajectory reflects a deep passion for storytelling. A graduate of Dhaka University’s Marketing Department, he left behind opportunities abroad and a corporate career to pursue creative writing.  Beginning with advertising, he later transitioned to screenwriting, where his name became attached to a range of successful projects in cinema and web content. Over the past decade, he has written scripts for several notable films and OTT productions that resonated with audiences, while also building a readership through his short stories and novels. His literary journey began with the thriller Incarceration, followed by popular novels such as Bloodstone, Mithya Tumi Dosh Pipra, Scarlet, Bridge Rokkhok, Mahajatra, Prohelika, Kuhelika, Jabonika, Sottyer Moto Bodmash and more. In the world of cinema and OTT, Nazim has written screenplays for big-budget and widely discussed productions such as Shaan (2022), Damal (2022), Operation Sundarban (2022), Surongo (2023), the international spy thriller MR-9: Do or Die (2023), Insaaf (2025) and Neelchakra (2025). He is also the writer of the Hoichoi mystery series Buker Moddhye Agun and has credits in projects like The Dark Side of Dhaka and Shuklopokkho. “Financially, I was not doing great, but I found peace in doing what I loved. That peace has now faded, because I realized I have been turned into a commissioned writer rather than a creative one,” he wrote in the post and also told UNB, stressing that in Bangladesh, “a writer here rarely gets proper credit, honor or fair payment.” Nazim said he will finish the projects already committed to but will not take on new commissioned work. Instead, he has recently launched a startup and plans to focus on literature. Best Free AI Content Writers in 2025 “My readers should not be disappointed. I will continue to write stories and devote more time to literature,” he said, thanking his audience for their long-standing love and support. Creative writers are not getting proper social recognition and financial comfort, and this has been impacting the overall entertainment industry in general, as per the industry experts and critics. 

Aryan Khan and his rumoured girlfriend Larissa Bonesi attended the star-studded premiere of his debut Netflix show The Ba**ds of Bollywood* at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday night. The event saw Bollywood heavyweights including Ranbir Kapoor-Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Tamannaah, Kajol-Ajay Devgn, and Madhuri Dixit-Shriram Nene in attendance. Shah Rukh Khan, along with his family, also turned up in support of Aryan, with Suhana Khan in a yellow bodycon dress, while Shah Rukh, Gauri, and AbRam opted for black. Aamir Khan has not seen Rajinikanth’s Coolie and denies criticism reports Aryan and Larissa, however, made separate entries and did not pose together for photographers. Aryan looked dapper in all-black attire, while Larissa, a Brazilian model-turned-actor, turned heads in an off-shoulder black gown. Rumours linking the duo romantically have circulated after they were spotted together on multiple occasions. The Ba**ds of Bollywood*, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, was co-created by Bilal Siddiqi and Manav Chauhan, who also share writing credits with Aryan. The show features a talented ensemble including Bobby Deol, Lakshya, Sahher Bambba, Mona Singh, Anya Singh, Raghav Juyal, Gautami Kapoor, and Manoj Pahwa. Source: NDTV 

Cardi B is expecting her fourth child, her first with boyfriend Stefon Diggs, the New England Patriots wide receiver. The Grammy-winning rapper shared the news Wednesday in an interview with Gayle King on “CBS Mornings.” “I’m excited. I’m happy,” she said. “I feel very strong and powerful, doing all this work while creating a baby. My man and I are very supportive of each other.” She added that both she and Diggs are ambitious and excel in their respective fields. Cardi B also said Diggs makes her feel safe and confident. She recalled a recent moment of anxiety during the rollout of her upcoming album, Am I the Drama?, due Friday. “People were saying very mean things about me,” she said. “He makes me feel very confident. Feeling safe is feeling confident.” Cardi B has three children with her ex-husband, rapper Offset: daughters Kulture, 7, Blossom, 1, and son Wave, 4. Diggs has a daughter, Nova, born in 2016, from a previous relationship. Cardi B had filed for divorce from Offset in 2024 after claiming their marriage, secretly wed in 2017, was “irretrievably broken.” Representatives for Cardi B and Diggs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Bad Bunny leads the 2025 Latin Grammy nominations with 12 nods, reclaiming the top spot after Édgar Barrera dominated in 2023 and 2024. Barrera, tied this year with Argentinian hip-hop duo CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso, follows with 10 nominations each. The Latin Recording Academy announced the nominees Wednesday via livestream. Bad Bunny is up for album of the year and urban music album of the year with Debí Tirar Más Fotos. He also scored nominations in reggaeton performance, urban/urban fusion performance, roots song, short form video, and has double entries in record, song, and best urban song categories. Other album of the year nominees include Rauw Alejandro, Gloria Estefan, Vicente García, Joaquina, Natalia Lafourcade, Carín León, Liniker, Elena Rose and Alejandro Sanz. Both Bad Bunny and CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso appear twice in record of the year, alongside Lafourcade, Sanz, Karol G, Zoe Gotusso, Jorge Drexler & Conociendo Rusia, and Liniker. Best new artist contenders are Alleh, Annasofia, Yerai Cortés, Juliane Gamboa, Camila Guevara, Isadora, Alex Luna, Paloma Morphy, Sued Nunes and Ruzzi. The 26th Annual Latin Grammy Awards will be held Nov. 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, airing live on TelevisaUnivision at 8 p.m. Eastern, with a pre-show at 7 p.m.

The 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival lineup has been announced, with Sabrina Carpenter, Justin Bieber, and Karol G set to headline in April. Carpenter’s headlining slot marks a full-circle moment—she hinted at it during her 2024 Coachella debut while performing “Nonsense,” singing, “Coachella, see you back here when I headline.” Other artists joining the festival include Addison Rae, David Byrne, Iggy Pop, The XX, The Strokes, Young Thug, Sexyy Redd, Teddy Swims, Moby, Kaskade, Major Lazer, FKA Twigs, PinkPantheress, BIG BANG, and many more. Global girl group KATSEYE will make their Coachella debut. Fans also noted a unique entry at the bottom of the poster: “The Bunker Debut of Radiohead Kid A Mnesia.” The British rock band recently announced a European tour covering 20 cities, their first in seven years. Coachella 2026 will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, for two weekends: April 10-12 and April 17-19. Presale tickets go live Friday at 11 a.m. Pacific/2 p.m. Eastern.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a July break-in of a rental car, where a dancer and a choreographer touring with Beyoncé reported that the singer's unreleased music was stolen, according to Atlanta police on Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Kelvin Evans, was arrested and charged with entering a vehicle with the intent to commit theft, as well as a parole violation. There was no attorney listed for Evans in Fulton County’s online jail records. Beyoncé's choreographer Christopher Grant and dancer Diandre Blue were in Atlanta for the singer's tour when they discovered the break-in on July 8. They called police after finding that a window had been smashed in their rental car, and two suitcases had been taken while they were dining nearby. Grant informed the police that he was carrying sensitive personal information for Beyoncé at the time. The stolen items included two Apple laptops and five thumb drives containing "unreleased music" and other digital files related to the tour. As of Tuesday, police spokesperson Anthony Grant confirmed that none of the stolen items had been recovered.

Warner Bros Discovery on Tuesday announced that its global streaming platform HBO Max will roll out direct-to-consumer in new Asia Pacific markets, including Bangladesh, on October 15. The launch will also cover Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, bringing the number of HBO Max markets worldwide to over 100 by the end of this year, according to the company. Spain threatens Eurovision boycott if Israel is allowed to compete HBO Max brings together a wide slate of entertainment under one platform, including HBO, Harry Potter, the DC Universe, Cartoon Network, Max Originals, Hollywood blockbusters and shows from Discovery brands such as TLC, Food Network, HGTV, ID and Animal Planet. Shortly after the October launch, subscribers will be able to stream the new HBO Original drama IT: Welcome to Derry, set in the world of Stephen King’s 'IT' universe. The series expands on the vision of Andy Muschietti’s feature films IT and IT Chapter Two, starring Bill Skarsgård, Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and others. The platform will also feature global hits such as Superman, Sinners and Final Destination Bloodlines, alongside acclaimed originals including House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, The Penguin and The Pitt. Popular non-fiction shows like Gold Rush, Deadliest Catch and 90 Day Fiancé will be available, as well as family favorites including Tom and Jerry, Looney Tunes and We Bare Bears. Robert Redford, Oscar-winning actor and director, dies at 89 From launch, HBO Max will offer multi-device streaming with personalized profiles, parental controls, content downloads and an easy-to-navigate interface. JB Perrette, CEO and President of Global Streaming & Games at Warner Bros Discovery, said: “Following successful launches in Australia and Europe earlier this year, the global expansion of HBO Max continues to bring unparalleled entertainment to more fans across the world.” Subscriptions will be available through www.hbomax.com and select partners, with further details expected in the coming weeks.

Hollywood icon Robert Redford, Oscar-winning director, liberal activist, and champion of independent cinema, has died at the age of 89. Redford passed away at his home in Sundance, Utah, surrounded by family, publicist Cindi Berger said. No cause of death was provided. Rising to fame in the 1960s, Redford became a leading star of the 1970s with films such as The Candidate, All the President’s Men, and The Way We Were. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for Ordinary People (1980), which also won Best Picture. Known for his boyish looks, Redford combined charm with political activism, taking on complex roles and promoting low-budget filmmaking. His on-screen partnerships included Jane Fonda, Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise, and most famously Paul Newman, with whom he starred in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and The Sting. Beyond acting, he focused on directing and producing, while founding the Sundance Institute and Festival to support independent filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, and Paul Thomas Anderson. The festival, originally in Park City, Utah, is set to relocate to Boulder, Colorado, in 2027. Redford was born Charles Robert Redford Jr. on Aug. 18, 1937, in Santa Monica, California. He began in television and theater before achieving stardom in Hollywood. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and made his Broadway debut in the late 1950s. Redford’s directing credits include Ordinary People, The Horse Whisperer, Quiz Show, and The Milagro Beanfield War, earning both critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations. He received an honorary Oscar in 2002 for his contributions to cinema and for inspiring independent filmmaking worldwide. Redford was married twice, most recently to Sibylle Szaggars, and had four children, two of whom predeceased him. He once said his career was guided by an “outlaw sensibility,” always seeking independence and creative freedom.