United News of Bangladesh

Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma and cricketer Virat Kohli have praised the Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar 2, describing the film as "gripping" and "immersive" in their social media reviews on Monday. Director Aditya Dhar responded to their messages, expressing gratitude for their appreciation. Tagging Dhar, Anushka Sharma wrote: "What a fantastic film you've made! It takes so much conviction to make an almost four-hour-long film. Gripping, immersive, meticulously crafted—the film holds your attention through and through. You are a fiercely original and assured filmmaker." She also lauded Ranveer Singh for delivering a "solid, flawless performance" in a once-in-a-lifetime role, and congratulated the ensemble cast, including Madhavan, Rampal, and Rakesh Bedi, for their contributions. Aditya Dhar responded to Anushka’s post, saying, "This is truly overwhelming coming from such an exceptional talent like you. Thank you so much, Anushka. It only pushes us to aim higher, to tell stories with honesty, heart and purpose, and to keep striving to create something that truly moves people." Virat Kohli also shared his thoughts on Instagram, calling the film a unique cinematic experience. "Saw the film today and dare I say that I've never ever seen a cinematic experience like this made in India. It brought out every kind of emotion to the surface, and I didn't flinch once for almost four hours. @adityadharfilms, your talent and conviction is reflected in what you've created. Hats off to you. You're a genius," he wrote. Kohli praised Ranveer Singh’s performance as "beyond brilliant." Responding to Kohli, Dhar wrote: "Woowww! Can't believe this is happening. Virat, this genuinely means so much. Been a fan since your Under-19 WC days. Watching a once-in-a-generation legend show love like this just hits different. The way you carry the country every time you step out inspires us, in our own small way. We'll always try to make India proud with our films. Jai Hind." Dhurandhar 2, released after the success of its prequel last December, became the highest-earning film in a single language. The sequel surpassed the lifetime earnings of the original within 11 days and crossed the Rs 1,000 crore (net) mark in India on day 18, making it the second-highest net grosser, just behind Pushpa 2, which achieved the feat in 16 days. #From NDTV

Actor Hrithik Roshan has responded to criticism over the visual effects of Nitesh Tiwari’s upcoming epic Ramayana, describing it as “painful to watch” when the effects fall short. The film, starring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Raavana, is planned as a grand two-part saga with a massive budget. Since the teaser’s release, it has generated intense discussion online, with some viewers praising the scale while others criticised the VFX, calling it reminiscent of a “video game.” Speaking on Instagram, Hrithik urged audiences to judge the film only after its full release. “Yes, bad VFX exists. It's sometimes so bad it's painful to watch. Especially for me… and especially when it's a film I'm part of. As an 11-year-old kid, I saw Back to the Future on a trip to London, and it changed me forever. I became obsessed,” he wrote. He explained that criticism should consider the intended style of the film. “Bad VFX is if the movie promises ‘photorealism’ but is unable to inhabit it fully. Even a small lapse in physics/gravity can then destroy the entire illusion. Or the promise is of storybook style, but they fail in making it beautiful enough or artistic enough or divine enough, and so fail to engage. But to say that the storybook style is not looking photorealistic – isn't fair. Cause it's not meant to be,” Hrithik said. He added, “You can't criticise the maker just cause he has chosen one style while you prefer another style. That's not fair. So sometimes when you say ‘bad VFX,’ maybe it's just a style you didn't expect. So next time, don't just ask, ‘Is it real?’ First ask, ‘Is it right for the story?’ ‘Is it making me feel what the maker intended?’ Debate it. But debate it with awareness.” Ramayana is set to release on Diwali 2026, with the second part scheduled for Diwali 2027. #From NDTV

Ranveer Singh’s action-packed spy thriller Dhurandhar 2, helmed by Aditya Dhar, continues its record-breaking run at the box office. Current Performance On day 17, the film earned Rs 25.65 crore in India, pushing its domestic net total to Rs 985.02 crore. Globally, it has reached Rs 1,165.37 crore. It has also become the highest-grossing Indian film in North America, overtaking S. S. Rajamouli’s Baahubali 2: The Conclusion. Box Office Breakdown The film collected Rs 674.17 crore in its first week and Rs 263.15 crore in the second. Day 16 brought in Rs 21.55 crore, marking a 17.8% jump from the previous day. Day 11 stood out with Rs 68.10 crore, the highest single-day total in its second week. According to Sacnilk, the sequel surpassed the lifetime collection of the original film (Rs 840.20 crore) in just 11 days—far quicker than the 100+ days taken by the 2025 release. It has also outperformed Jawan and KGF Chapter 2 during their second-week runs. The movie is playing in 9,979 theaters across India. On day 17, language-wise earnings were: Hindi (Rs 13.54 crore), Telugu (Rs 0.39 crore), and Tamil (Rs 0.30 crore). Story Overview The film follows Jaskirat Singh Rangi, a Punjabi man dealing with personal loss. He is recruited by R&AW and transformed into Hamza Ali Mazari, a lethal undercover operative in Karachi. Blending espionage fiction with real-life references like the 2014 elections, the 2016 demonetization, and the renaming of Chakki Bank station to Pathankot, the narrative adds a layer of realism. Cast Ranveer Singh headlines the nearly 3-hour-49-minute (229-minute) U/A-rated film, widely considered one of his finest performances. Sanjay Dutt plays SSP Chaudhary Aslam, while Arjun Rampal appears as Major Iqbal, the ISI antagonist. Source: NDTV    

The eagerly awaited first look of Nitesh Tiwari’s epic film Ramayana is set to drop within an hour. Ahead of the teaser release, Alia Bhatt shared a video message on social media, urging fans to support her husband Ranbir Kapoor’s project. In the video, Alia said, “The Ramayana unit is going to be out tomorrow. It is the unit called the Rama unit. I’m going to post it on my social media, so please go out there and support it. Ranbir has done such a beautiful job and I can’t wait for you guys to see it. It’s absolutely fabulous.” Meanwhile, director Ashwini Iyer Tiwari, wife of Nitesh Tiwari, expressed her admiration for the teaser. She wrote, “I watched the teaser of Ramayana. It brought a deep sense of calm to my heart. My eyes welled up with emotion. It reminded me of a time when we used to talk endlessly about stories, and somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the storyteller. Today, I felt that same love again.” Budget and scaleRamayana has been produced with a staggering budget of Rs 4,000 crore. Producer Namit Malhotra told Prakhar Gupta, “When we set out to make this six or seven years ago, people thought I was a lunatic because no Indian film comes close to this scale. Put simply, the budget will be around $500 million for both parts combined, which is over Rs 4,000 crore.” He added, “We’re making the largest film in the world for the greatest epic that deserves to be seen globally. And yet, I believe we’re doing it more efficiently than some of the biggest Hollywood films. We’re not being irresponsible – we’re being ambitious, but grounded.” Music collaborationThe film features a first-time collaboration between AR Rahman and Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer. Rahman told The Hollywood Reporter India, “It’s terrifying for both of us. We’re scoring something so iconic and so important to the world. In the promo, he had a soundscape; then I took that and added the Sanskrit words at the end. What’s complicated is that we’re taking something so epic, which every Indian knows, and we have to give them something new. We have to give something to the world – from India to the world.” Release scheduleRamayana will be released in two parts, with the first instalment scheduled for worldwide release in October 2026 ahead of Diwali, and the second part slated for Diwali 2027.

The teaser of Raja Shivaji, directed by and starring Riteish Deshmukh, has been released, offering a glimpse into the life and legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj through a large-scale cinematic presentation. After an initial theatrical preview alongside Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the teaser has now been unveiled online, generating strong anticipation for the film, which aims to portray one of India’s most celebrated warrior kings. The film features an ensemble cast including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, Boman Irani, Amol Gupte and Genelia Deshmukh. The teaser, running over two minutes, introduces the characters before showcasing intense battle sequences. It opens with Sanjay Dutt portraying a powerful ruler opposing the Marathas, followed by Abhishek Bachchan as Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale, depicted as a fierce warrior. Riteish Deshmukh appears later in the role of Shivaji, highlighting his mission to establish Swarajya. The teaser was shared on social media by Jio Studios on Tuesday. Mounted on a grand scale, the film promises high-intensity action, elaborate world-building and strong technical execution. It features music by Ajay-Atul and cinematography by Santosh Sivan. Presented by Jio Studios and produced by Jyoti Deshpande and Genelia Deshmukh under the banner of Mumbai Film Company, the film is scheduled for worldwide theatrical release on May 1, 2026, in Marathi, Hindi and Telugu.   #From NDTV

Actress Lara Dutta, who debuted in Andaaz opposite Akshay Kumar, revealed she had a terrifying experience of nearly drowning while filming a dance sequence in the sea. At the time, Lara didn’t know how to swim and was swept away by strong waves along with Akshay. Recalling the incident in a conversation with Asian Television Network Canada, Lara said, “I went underwater wearing leather, didn’t know how to swim, sank like a rock.” Akshay Kumar grabbed her and brought her safely back to the beach. She went into hypothermic shock, the shoot was paused, and she was rushed to the hospital. Years later, when Akshay recommended her for the underwater adventure film Blue, which required extensive ocean sequences, Lara initially declined, saying she couldn’t take it. Akshay’s advice was simple: “Learn swimming.” “At 30, he asked me to learn diving. I said, ‘Mai hi pagal mili hoon’ (Do you think I am crazy?),” Lara recalled. But she took his advice seriously, learned to swim, and overcame the fear left by her experience on Andaaz. Directed by Anthony D'Souza and starring Sanjay Dutt and Zayed Khan, Blue released in 2009. While it wasn’t a major box office success, it helped Lara conquer her phobia and boosted her confidence. Lara Dutta was last seen in the film Ishq-e-Nadaan. #From NDTV

Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its record-breaking run, crossing ₹1,000 crore in domestic gross earnings within just 11 days of release. According to box office tracker Sacnilk, the film has earned ₹1,011.95 crore gross in India, with a net collection of ₹846.47 crore. Overseas, it added ₹25 crore on its 11th day, taking its total international earnings to ₹350 crore. The film collected ₹68.10 crore in India on its second Sunday, slightly higher than Saturday’s figures. Of this, ₹63 crore came from the Hindi version, while the Telugu version contributed ₹3 crore. Released on March 19, the film opened strongly with ₹102.55 crore on its first day, followed by ₹80.72 crore on March 20 and ₹113 crore on March 21. It maintained momentum with ₹114.85 crore on March 22, before collections dipped to ₹65 crore on the following Monday. Throughout the week, daily earnings ranged between ₹40 crore and ₹60 crore before rising again over the weekend. The number of shows, which stood at 21,633 on the opening day, declined slightly to 19,270 by the second Sunday. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said the film has surpassed the lifetime earnings of Baahubali 2 in the North American market, becoming the highest-grossing Indian film in the region. In a post on X, he wrote that the film has “scripted history” in the United States and Canada, calling it the new top performer in the market. A sequel to the 2025 hit Dhurandhar, the film features returning cast members including Arjun Rampal, R. Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt. The original film had emerged as the highest-grossing release of last year. #From NDTV

Aamir Khan has said that the OTT release of his film Sitaare Zameen Par was part of the original strategy, though he did not want it to follow immediately after its theatrical run. Speaking to PTI, the actor said he was clear from the beginning about releasing the film on a digital platform but preferred a gap after its cinema release. The film is now set to stream on SonyLIV from April 3, allowing those who missed it in theatres to watch it at home. Aamir also said the platform will release a documentary titled Sitaaron Ke Sitaare, which focuses on the real-life parents of the neurodivergent actors featured in the film. He described the documentary as a special project that shifts the spotlight to the parents, calling them the “real superstars” for their role in raising and supporting the 10 young actors. The actor made the comments while attending the red carpet of the inaugural International Film Festival Delhi in the capital. Earlier, Aamir Khan Productions had announced that the film, which had initially skipped an OTT window, would soon be released on streaming. Besides Aamir, the film also stars Genelia Deshmukh and introduces 10 neurodivergent debutants. It is being described as a spiritual sequel to Taare Zameen Par. The film grossed around Rs 265 crore worldwide, emerging as one of the highest-grossing films of last year. #From NDTV

Ranveer Singh’s latest film ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ continued its strong run at the box office, collecting over Rs 575 crore in India within six days of release. The film earned Rs 56.55 crore on Tuesday, taking its total domestic collection to Rs 575.67 crore (net), according to trade tracker Sacnilk. The gross collection in India stood at around Rs 687.43 crore. Internationally, the film has already crossed Rs 231.57 crore, pushing its worldwide gross collection close to Rs 919 crore. The Hindi version contributed the largest share on Tuesday with Rs 52 crore, while the Telugu version added Rs 3.10 crore, continuing strong regional support. The film opened with Rs 102.55 crore on March 19, followed by Rs 80.72 crore on March 20 and Rs 113 crore on March 21. On March 22, it earned Rs 114.85 crore across 21,633 shows in India. Collections dipped to Rs 65 crore on the first Monday after release. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh said the film is also performing well overseas despite restrictions in Gulf countries. It has been released on about 3,000 screens abroad  one of the widest overseas releases for a Hindi film. Earlier, paid previews on March 18 earned Rs 43 crore from 12,735 shows despite some cancellations. Director Aditya Dhar apologised for technical issues affecting certain regional shows, saying the team was working to ensure smooth screenings. Source: NDTV

The Karnataka State Commission for Women has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to take strict action over alleged obscene and derogatory lyrics used in films, particularly in a song from the movie ‘KD: The Devil’. In a letter to the CBFC’s regional director, the Commission expressed concern about the song ‘Sarke Chunar Teri Sarke’, saying it portrays women in a disrespectful manner. The move came after receiving multiple public complaints. The Commission said such lyrics violate film certification rules and could negatively affect women’s safety and social well-being. It stressed that any content that demeans or presents women in an obscene way should not be approved for public release. It urged the CBFC to carefully review such scenes and lyrics and ensure they are removed or modified before granting certification. It also called for action against those responsible for including such content. In a separate letter to the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, the Commission raised similar concerns and asked for steps to regulate the use of offensive language in films. It warned that such content could encourage harassment, especially among young people. Meanwhile, actor Kangana Ranaut criticised the song, calling it a “new low” and urging stricter control over vulgar content in Bollywood. The issue has also reached legal authorities, as a lawyer filed a complaint seeking action against the song, alleging it contains highly vulgar and sexually suggestive content that may harm public decency. Source: NDTV