United News of Bangladesh

Veteran actor Dharmendra passed away on Monday, November 24, in Mumbai at the age of 89. His death has left the nation mourning, with fans, colleagues, and loved ones grieving the loss of a beloved cinematic legend. As tributes pour in, the actor’s last Instagram video has resurfaced and rapidly circulated online. The clip, originally posted last month for Dussehra, has taken on new emotional significance. In the brief video, Dharmendra is seen sitting in a golf cart, surrounded by his staff. With a warm smile, he greets his followers and says, “Tamaam bhai behno ko, bachche bachiyon ko Dussehra ki shubhkamnaye. Bhagwan aapko lambi sehat de, khushiyan de, aur aap naye ban ke rahe, tab toh tarraki hi tarraki hai.” He offers blessings of long life, happiness, and continued renewal for success. What was meant as a festive message has now become a cherished final memory for many. The comments on the post are filled with emotional tributes, with several fans describing it as his “last goodbye.” Dharmendra had been hospitalized at Breach Candy Hospital on October 31 after suffering breathlessness. The actor, who would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8, was laid to rest at Pawan Hans crematorium, where numerous stars gathered to honor him. His wife Hema Malini, along with Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Aamir Khan, and many others, attended the funeral amid heightened security to bid farewell to the legendary actor.

Bollywood legend Dharmendra, often called the industry’s “He-Man,” passed away in Mumbai on Monday at the age of 89, news agency IANS reported. His death came just 12 days after he was released from Breach Candy Hospital, where he had been admitted in late October due to breathing difficulties. The actor would have celebrated his 90th birthday on December 8. Dharmendra began his film career in 1960 with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and initially portrayed everyday characters in movies like Anpadh, Bandini, Anupama, and Aaya Sawan Jhoom Ke during the 1960s. He later moved on to prominent leading roles in classics such as Sholay, Dharam Veer, Chupke Chupke, Mera Gaon Mera Desh, and Dream Girl. His most recent appearance was in Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. His upcoming film, Ikkis, featuring Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, is scheduled for release on December 25. Source: NDTV    

British actor Rupert Grint says he does not expect to ever fully “step out” of the shadow of Ron Weasley, the character he played for a decade in the Harry Potter films, and he is perfectly comfortable with that. Speaking to BBC News at a community event in Highgate, north London, Grint said he still enjoys meeting fans who grew up with the franchise. “I’m fine with that. I think it’s great,” said the 37-year-old, who appeared in all eight films. Grint also said he has written a letter to Alastair Stout, the young actor who will portray Ron in HBO’s upcoming series based on JK Rowling’s books. Calling the experience “strange” and “cyclical,” he said he wanted to wish Stout well as filming begins. Grint, who lives in the area with partner Georgia Groome and their two daughters, drew a crowd at the Christmas light-switching ceremony hosted by local volunteers and community groups. He recalled being 11 when he was cast alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, calling the sudden fame “crazy” and “life-changing.” The Harry Potter films were released between 2001 and 2011, turning the trio into global stars. Since the series ended, Grint has appeared in films, on stage, in Ed Sheeran music videos and most recently in Apple TV’s Servant. He said he has several projects lined up for next year but cannot disclose details yet. Asked whether the constant association with Ron ever bothers him, Grint said he still feels pride in the role. “It has a deep meaning to a lot of people,” he said. “I don’t think I’ll ever quite step out of his shadow, but I’m fine with that.” He added that he sees “a bit of family resemblance” with Stout, and said the new series will be “its own thing,” which he believes will be “fun.” Grint said he would not discourage his own children from acting in the future and noted that his elder daughter has already enjoyed watching short clips from the films, though she finds the full movies “a little too scary.” The actor declined to comment on the ongoing tensions surrounding Rowling’s views on transgender rights, which several cast members, including Grint, have previously distanced themselves from. Asked whether he might revisit the wizarding world someday — as co-star Tom Felton recently did on Broadway — Grint replied: “Maybe in the future. Never say never.” He added with a laugh that he sees himself more as a Hufflepuff than a Gryffindor these days.   Source: BBC

Universal Pictures’ two-part “Wicked” gamble continues to defy gravity at the box office. Just a year after part one brought droves of audiences to movie theaters around the country, even more people bought opening weekend tickets to see the epic conclusion, “Wicked: For Good.” According to studio estimates on Sunday, “Wicked: For Good” earned $150 million from North American theaters in its first days in theaters and $226 million globally. Not only is it the biggest opening ever for a Broadway musical adaptation, unseating the record set by the first film’s $112 million launch, it’s also the second biggest debut of the year behind “A Minecraft Movie’s” $162 million. “The results are just fantastic,” said Jim Orr, who heads domestic distribution for Universal. “Some films can deliver a false positive when tickets go on sale early but these results speak for themselves." Universal began rolling out “Wicked: For Good” in theaters earlier this week, with previews on Monday ($6.1 million from 1,050 theaters) and Wednesday ($6.5 million from 2,300 theaters). By Friday it was playing in 4,115 North American locations and had raked in $68.6 million. IMAX showings accounted for $15.5 million, or 11%, of its domestic haul — a November record for the company. IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond said in a statement that the strong market share shows, “our momentum carries into demos and genres beyond our traditional core, including families.” As with the first film, women powered opening weekend, making up around 71% of ticket buyers according to PostTrak exit polls. Critics were somewhat mixed on the final chapter, but audiences weren’t: An overwhelming 83% of audiences said it was one they would “definitely recommend” to friends. As far as foot traffic is concerned, the box office tracker EntTelligence estimates that about 2 million more people came out for “Wicked: For Good's” first weekend than for “Wicked's." Jon M. Chu directed both “Wicked” films, starring Cynthia Ervio and Ariana Grande. The first film made over $758.7 million worldwide and received 10 Oscar nominations (winning two, for costume and production design ). The question is how high “Wicked: For Good” can soar. Combined, the two films cost around $300 million to produce, not including marketing and promotion costs. “The first film paved the way,” Orr said. “It's really become a cultural event I think audiences are going to be flocking to theaters for quite some time to come.” Two other films also opened in wide release this weekend, but further down on the charts behind a buffet of holdovers. Searchlight Pictures opened its Brendan Fraser film “Rental Family” in 1,925 theaters where it earned $3.3 million. The Finnish action film “Sisu: Road to Revenge," a Sony release, also played in 2,222 theaters. It earned an estimated $2.6 million. Second place went to “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” with $9.1 million in its second weekend, followed by “Predator: Badlands” with $6.3 million in weekend three. “The Running Man” followed in fourth place with $5.8 million, down 65% from its debut last weekend. Although this weekend the box office was more of a winner takes all scenario, “Wicked: For Good’s” success is vitally important for the exhibition industry as a whole as it enters the final weeks of the year. “It sets up a very strong final homestretch of the year,” said Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore’s head of marketplace trends. After the slow fall season, the Thanksgiving blockbusters could not arrive soon enough. Early next week, “Zootopia 2” enters the mix and is also expected to drive big crowds to the cineplex over the holiday break. Thanksgiving is often one of the biggest moviegoing frames of the year, Dergarabedian said, and both “Wicked 2” and “Zootopia 2” will benefit. Last year “Wicked," “Moana 2” and “Gladiator II” helped power a record five-day frame. The running domestic box office is currently hovering around $7.5 billion, according to Comscore. Before the pandemic, the annual box office would regularly hit $11 billion, but the post-pandemic goal has lessened to $9 billion. The big question now is whether titles like “Wicked: For Good,” “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar:Fire and Ash” can push the industry over that threshold. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. “Wicked: For Good,” $150 million. 2. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” $9.1 million. 3. “Predator: Badlands,” $6.3 million. 4. “The Running Man,” $5.8 million. 5. “Rental Family,” $3.3 million. 6. “Sisu: Road to Revenge,” $2.6 million. 7. “Regretting You,” $1.5 million. 8. “Nuremberg,” $1.2 million. 9. “Black Phone 2,” $1 million. 10. “Sarah’s Oil,” $711,542.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan honored victims of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the Pahalgam terror incident, and the recent Delhi blast at the Global Peace Honours 2025 ceremony on Saturday. Organized by the Divyaj Foundation under the leadership of Amruta Fadnavis, the event brought together survivors, families of victims, dignitaries, national leaders, and artists to remember those affected by these tragic attacks. During his speech, Shah Rukh expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and saluted the bravery of security personnel who lost their lives. He urged citizens to uphold humanity and respect the sacrifices of Indian soldiers. “When asked what you do, reply with pride that you protect the nation. When asked your earnings, say you earn the blessings of 1.4 billion people. And if asked whether you are ever afraid, look them in the eye and say, those who attack us feel it,” he said. Haq box office collection Day 3: Emraan Hashmi, Yami Gautam’s film nears Rs 10cr mark The actor called for unity across caste and creed, emphasizing that peace among citizens strengthens India. “If we have peace among us, nothing can shake India, defeat India, or break the spirit of its people,” he concluded. The ceremony, held at Gateway of India, was attended by celebrities and dignitaries including Nita Ambani, Devendra Fadnavis, Tiger Shroff, Manisha Koirala, Vikrant Massey, and others. Source: NDTV 

In 1994, Sushmita Sen, who went on to become Miss Universe, posed for an unforgettable photoshoot in front of the Taj Mahal—an experience that turned out to be more challenging than glamorous. Designer Ritu Kumar recently shared a video from her archives capturing the iconic shoot. She captioned it, “Sushmita Sen’s Miss Universe Photoshoot,” and offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the preparations. Kumar recalled, “In 1993, I signed an agreement with the Miss India team to design clothes for the contestants. When Sushmita won the Miss India title in 1994 and subsequently Miss Universe in the US, I had the privilege of creating her wardrobe for the tour. I sent her outfits made from bandhani, zardozi, kurta-pajamas, and saris, all of which were well received.” The designer also shared the story behind the Taj Mahal shoot. Upon Sushmita’s return to Delhi after her US tour, Kumar received a frantic call. The shoot was scheduled for the next day, but the outfits sent were too casual—shorts and t-shirts, deemed inappropriate for the historic mausoleum. “At night, we rummaged through the store, found a pink sari, quickly tailored a blouse, and gathered some key pieces. Within hours, we were ready,” Kumar wrote. She added, “The shoot was hectic, and poor Sushmita even fainted at one point, but the final images were worth every bit of effort.” Kumar fondly remembered the moment: “I still think of her in that pink sari, crowned, with UP Police personnel around us applauding. These images were featured across the country’s leading publications, giving credit not just to us but, most importantly, to the weavers.” Sushmita Sen, a former Miss Universe, gained widespread recognition in films like Biwi No 1, Main Hoon Na, Do Knot Disturb, and Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. She returned to acting with the International Emmy-nominated series Aarya, recently appearing in its third season. She also starred in Taali, portraying transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant. Source NDTV  

Fans of Friends are getting a wave of nostalgia as the long-lost final episodes of its spin-off Joey have finally been released nearly 20 years after the show went off air. According to Variety, the last eight episodes of the 2004 NBC sitcom — starring Matt LeBlanc as the lovable Joey Tribbiani — are now available on the show’s official YouTube channel. These episodes never aired in the United States before the series was cancelled in 2006. The series also featured actors Drea de Matteo, Paulo Costanzo, Jennifer Coolidge and Andrea Anders. Joey followed the character’s move from New York to Hollywood to pursue his acting dreams, where he reconnects with his sister Gina and her 20-year-old son Michael. Created by Shana Goldberg-Meehan and Scott Silveri, the series opened strong with 18.6 million viewers, but interest faded over the first two seasons. Although NBC brought the show back briefly in March 2006, it was pulled again after only one episode aired. Looking back on the spin-off’s struggles, Friends executive producer and director Kevin S Bright told Variety that Joey’s character shifted too far from what made him a fan favourite. “On Friends, Joey was a womaniser, but he was also loyal and dependable. In Joey, he became someone who couldn’t get a job or ask a girl out. He became a mopey character moving in the wrong direction,” he said.   Source: NDTV

Bangladeshi filmmaker Abu Shahed Emon has been selected for the APN+ECG Track of the 2025 Asian Producers Network at the Singapore International Film Festival. The programme supports emerging filmmakers in Asia and helps them connect with international producers and investors. This year, 13 producers were chosen from over 160 applicants, with only eight projects advancing to the APN+ECG Track. The programme provides filmmakers with pitching opportunities, one-on-one meetings, and networking sessions to secure financing, co-production deals, and distribution partnerships. A Foolish Man follows Yakub, who escapes death row during a political uprising and returns to a country where law and order have collapsed. The film has been in development for over a decade and has drawn international attention. The project recently moved toward production through a Bangladesh–Taiwan co-production with Flash Forward Entertainment and Bangladesh’s Golpo Rajjo Films and Batayan Productions. Flash Forward Entertainment has previously showcased films at major festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, and Rotterdam. Over the years, A Foolish Man has been developed through platforms such as the Asian Cinema Fund, Göteborg Film Festival Fund, Film Bazaar, and Locarno Open Doors Lab. Its themes of justice, class, power, and national identity reflect broader social and political issues in South Asia. Abu Shahed Emon’s selection places Bangladesh on a key Asian industry platform and aims to secure final partners to move the film into production. The APN+ECG Track will provide high-level pitching, feedback, and industry meetings to help the project advance in the international market.

Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh’s latest film, De De Pyaar De 2, which hit theaters on November 14, continues to perform steadily at the box office. Directed by Anshul Sharma, the romantic comedy is approaching the Rs 50 crore milestone. On its sixth day (November 19), the film earned Rs 3.50 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk, taking its total collection to Rs 47.75 crore. The first Wednesday saw an overall occupancy of 8.84 percent. Night shows had the highest turnout at 12.37 percent, followed by evening shows at 8.76 percent, afternoon screenings at 8.05 percent, and morning shows with the lowest occupancy of 6.19 percent. Alongside Devgn and Rakul, the film stars R. Madhavan in a pivotal role, with Ishita Dutta, Meezaan Jaffrey, Javed Jaffrey, and Gautami Kapoor also in the cast. The soundtrack is composed by Yo Yo Honey Singh, Jaani, Aditya Dev–Payal Dev, Avvy Sra, and Sagar Bhatia, with lyrics by Kumaar, Sagar Bhatia, Jaani, Karan Aujla, and Honey Singh. Deepika Padukone explains why big-budget films no longer motivate her R. Madhavan recently shared his experience working with Ajay Devgn, emphasizing the collaborative environment on set. “With Ajay, there’s no sense of competition. The story’s success ensures the film works, and he creates a comfort level that makes working easy,” Madhavan told The Times of India. Produced by T-Series Films and Luv Films, De De Pyaar De 2 is expected to release on Netflix in January 2026. Source: NDTV

New day, new updates from cricket star Hardik Pandya’s Instagram. Fans didn’t need a hint to guess who features in Hardik’s “Big 3.” The cricketer posted a series of pictures including himself, his girlfriend Maheika Sharma, his son Agastya, and his pets. Among the images, fans have already picked a favourite: a snapshot of Hardik and Maheika praying together. In another, Hardik is seen planting a kiss on Maheika’s cheek. The couple also shared fun moments from their workout sessions. In one photo, Hardik lifts Maheika onto his shoulder while she takes a mirror selfie. Hardik captioned the posts, “My big 3,” accompanied by love emojis, the sacred Om symbol, and a cricket bat. Deepika Padukone explains why big-budget films no longer motivate her Birthday CelebrationsHardik marked his 32nd birthday on October 11 with Maheika at a private beach, reportedly in the Maldives. The celebrations appeared intimate, with cozy beach photos and pictures of the couple dressed up for a night out. Previous MarriageHardik had married Natasa Stankovic in 2020, but the couple announced their separation in July last year. Hardik stated that after four years together, they decided to part ways mutually, emphasizing their commitment to co-parenting their son, Agastya, who remains the centre of their lives. Source: NDTV