United News of Bangladesh

Yash-starrer action thriller Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups is set to arrive in cinemas on August 26, with the film securing an 'A' certificate from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). Directed by Geetu Mohandas, the film was certified by the CBFC’s Bengaluru regional office on August 13, 2026. According to the certification details, Toxic is in Kannada and has a certified length of 194.12 metres. The official synopsis describes the film as the story of a gangster grappling with loyalty, morality and the search for redemption in post-independence Goa, where violence and jealousy dominate. Set against a dark and atmospheric backdrop, the film features intense action and morally conflicted characters while exploring the sacrifices involved in love and the pursuit of redemption. Toxic is produced by Venkat K Narayana under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations, with Geetu Mohandas directing. The film has been written and filmed in Kannada and English and will also be released in dubbed versions in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Malayalam. The movie features an ensemble cast led by Yash and including Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria and Rukmini Vasanth. #Source: NDTV

Emraan Hashmi-starrer Awarapan 2 appears to have gained an early advantage over Sunny Deol’s Batwara 1947 ahead of their box-office clash on Aug. 14. The two films are set to release on the eve of India’s Independence Day. Early booking trends show Awarapan 2 leading the race, helped by nostalgia surrounding Hashmi’s popular 2007 film Awarapan and his strong fan following. Meanwhile, Batwara 1947 is relying on Sunny Deol’s established appeal among mass and family audiences. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala told NDTV that Awarapan 2 currently has the upper hand in the opening-day battle. “Awarapan 2 has the edge in the opening battle, thanks to strong nostalgia and Emraan Hashmi’s cult following. But Batwara 1947 could score big with the mass and family audience. Ultimately, word of mouth will decide the Independence Day winner,” Bala said. He said the sequel has nostalgia and a loyal fan base working in its favour, while Batwara 1947 benefits from Deol’s strong mass appeal. According to early advance-booking figures, Awarapan 2 has sold nearly 68,000 tickets and generated about ₹2.20 crore in advance sales, compared with around 37,600 tickets for Batwara 1947. Bala said the difference represents an 81% lead in ticket sales for Awarapan 2, reflecting the anticipation surrounding the film. “The first round of the Independence Day clash clearly belongs to Awarapan 2,” he said, adding that the stronger advance booking gives the Hashmi-starrer a better platform heading into its opening day. He said Awarapan 2 is setting the pace before release, with advance ticket sales almost twice those of Batwara 1947. Sunny Deol’s film, however, could narrow the gap through stronger walk-in audiences. Trade analyst Sumit Kadel also expects Awarapan 2 to lead the opening battle. He told NDTV that the Emraan Hashmi film could earn nearly twice as much as Batwara 1947 on its opening day and over the weekend. However, the final winner of the Independence Day box-office clash is expected to depend largely on audience response and word of mouth.

Twenty-five years after its release, Farhan Akhtar’s Dil Chahta Hai continues to attract attention for its fresh take on friendship, relationships and the challenges of growing up. The 2001 film, which marked Akhtar’s debut as a filmmaker, is remembered for its portrayal of close friendship, road trips, changing relationships and the uncertainties of young adulthood. But one of its most notable themes was the unconventional romance between Siddharth, played by Akshaye Khanna, and Tara Jaiswal, portrayed by Dimple Kapadia. Siddharth is shown as a quiet, thoughtful painter who develops feelings for Tara, a divorced, middle-aged interior designer who lives alone. Their relationship challenged the usual idea of what an acceptable romantic pairing should look like in mainstream Hindi cinema. Rather than focusing on a conventional love story, the film explored how emotional connection can develop between two people from different generations. Siddharth’s relationship with Tara grows through their conversations about art, books and life. His approach to love is also different from that of his two close friends, Akash, played by Aamir Khan, and Sameer, played by Saif Ali Khan. When Siddharth’s mother and friends object to his feelings for Tara, he refuses to hide them or apologize for falling in love. His relationship with Akash becomes strained after Akash makes fun of his feelings. His mother also questions his decision, reflecting the social pressure surrounding relationships that do not fit traditional expectations. Tara herself initially rejects Siddharth’s feelings. She tells him that his emotions are unrealistic and insists that she never encouraged him or gave him false hope. Her reaction reflects the same social concerns that trouble those around Siddharth. But Siddharth remains firm about his feelings. For him, love is not something that can always be explained through age, social expectations or conventional ideas. The film therefore raises a broader question about why people fall in love and whether love can always be judged through logic. The story also follows the friendship of Siddharth, Akash and Sameer as they navigate personal changes, relationships and self-discovery. Set partly against the scenic backdrop of Goa, the film combines humour and friendship with more serious questions about love and life. Tara’s struggle with alcohol eventually leads to her death, marking a major turning point for Siddharth. Her death leaves him with a deeper understanding of life and forces him to move forward while holding on to the feelings he had for her. The film’s treatment of Siddharth and Tara’s relationship was considered unusual for mainstream Hindi cinema at the time. Instead of presenting their age difference as the sole focus, Akhtar placed greater emphasis on their emotional connection. That approach helped Dil Chahta Hai challenge some traditional ideas about romance and relationships. The film’s music also played an important role in expressing Siddharth’s feelings. The song Kaisi Hai Yeh Rut, composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, captured the quiet and unspoken side of his affection for Tara. Twenty-five years later, Dil Chahta Hai remains relevant not only for its memorable friendship and youthful energy but also for the way it explored relationships that did not fit conventional expectations. Its enduring appeal may lie in that very imperfection — characters who make mistakes, relationships that do not always work out and emotions that cannot always be explained logically. Source: NDTV

Music fans in India and around the world had recently assumed that Arijit Singh had stepped away from playback singing and was unlikely to return anytime soon. But his involvement in Awarapan 2 has changed that perception. Music composer Amaal Mallik has now explained how Arijit became part of the project, stressing that the singer's return was not driven by pressure from anyone. Amaal said the song Yeh Awarapan was not an old track that had been recorded earlier and was simply waiting for release. Instead, he had been singing the song himself for nearly a year before Arijit heard it. Speaking with Pinkvilla, Amaal said there was no pressure on Arijit and that the singer had made his own decision about returning to playback singing. He explained that he and Arijit often share music with each other. Amaal said he usually sends Arijit five or six songs, and if the singer likes one, they work on it together for a film. According to Amaal, Arijit was initially not convinced that he should record Yeh Awarapan. The singer felt that Amaal had already sung the song well and questioned why he needed to record his own version. However, Amaal told him that he specifically wanted Arijit to sing the song. Arijit eventually agreed and recorded it a few months ago. Amaal said Arijit made a genuine effort while recording the song. He described the singer as a rare talent because of his ability, dedication and willingness to step away from film music when he chooses to. Amaal also said Arijit's return should not be viewed as a final appearance in playback singing. If Arijit likes another song in the future, he may decide to sing it, and Amaal said he would be happy to work with him again. He also noted that Arijit has not completely withdrawn from film music. Awarapan 2, starring Emraan Hashmi, Disha Patani and Shabana Azmi, is scheduled to release on August 14.  #From NDTV

Tom Holland-starrer Spider-Man: Brand New Day has crossed the $1 billion mark at the global box office just six days after its theatrical release, becoming the second-fastest film in history to reach the milestone. Sony Pictures said on Aug 4 that the latest instalment in the Spider-Man franchise had earned about $1.05 billion worldwide in its first six days. The film trails only Avengers: Endgame, which earned around $1.2 billion during its opening weekend in 2019. Strong opening weekendThe film has also set several box-office records. According to Sony, Spider-Man: Brand New Day earned $360 million domestically during its opening weekend, surpassing Avengers: Endgame’s $357.1 million to claim the biggest domestic opening weekend ever. Endgame still holds the record for the biggest global opening weekend, with $1.2 billion. The new Spider-Man film also recorded the biggest Thursday preview, the highest Friday opening and the largest launch in Sony Pictures’ history. Fourth billion-dollar film of 2026Produced by Marvel Studios and Amy Pascal with a reported budget of $225 million, the film is the fourth movie released in 2026 to cross $1 billion worldwide. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Michael and Toy Story 5 have also reached the milestone this year. Meanwhile, The Odyssey has crossed $900 million globally and is closing in on the billion-dollar mark. IMAX changes screening plansFollowing the film’s strong performance, IMAX has adjusted its screening plans and will share screens between Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey. The decision comes as the superhero film enters its second weekend, with Sony expecting it to maintain strong business despite competition from new releases including One Night Only, Super Troopers 3 and Ice Cream Man. About the filmSpider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth instalment in Sony and Marvel’s Spider-Man series, hit theatres on July 30. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and written by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers, the film stars Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Robert Downey Jr. returns to the Marvel universe as Doctor Doom. The cast also includes Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Jacob Batalon, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo. New additions to the franchise include Sadie Sink, Tramell Tillman, Liza Colón-Zayas and Marvin Jones II.

Priyanka Chopra is set to share the screen with Hollywood star Russell Crowe in Bluefly, an upcoming military science-fiction thriller directed by Nimród Antal, known for Predators. The film centres on a secret mission in the Congo, where a team is sent into dangerous territory to recover a crashed aircraft that is not supposed to exist. The screenplay has been written by David Frigerio, William Eubank and Carlyle Eubank. Production is expected to begin in the coming months on Australia's Gold Coast. Antal described Bluefly as an intense, character-driven thriller built around a bold science-fiction concept. He said the project would combine a grounded and fast-paced story with a strong sense of suspense. Chopra announced the film on Instagram with the caption, “Onto the next.” Her husband, singer Nick Jonas, showed his support in the comments with fire emojis. According to the film's official synopsis, a grieving UN translator is recruited for a covert operation to retrieve a mysterious aircraft that has crashed deep in the Congo. As a Special Operations team travels upriver through territory controlled by militias, the mission takes an unexpected turn. The closer they get to the aircraft, the more they realise they were never supposed to bring it back. The filmmakers have yet to disclose the roles Chopra and Crowe will play. No other cast members have been announced so far. Crowe has several projects in the pipeline, including Netflix's Unabomber, The Weight, Billion Dollar Spy and a reboot of Highlander. Chopra recently appeared alongside Idris Elba and John Cena in The Bluff. She is also set to star in SS Rajamouli's Varanasi and Reset, opposite Orlando Bloom. Source: NDTV

Spider-Man: Brand New Day brought in $927m (£687m) of global ticket sales to make it the second-biggest opening weekend ever as it shot past its estimated $225m production budget. The superhero movie - starring real-life husband and wife Tom Holland and Zendaya - is only behind Avengers: Endgame, which took in more than $1.2bn in its opening weekend in 2019. Brand New Day also set a second-best North American record, with box office takings of $335m. The film's strong performance gives a much-needed boost for Marvel Studios ahead of the highly-anticipated December release of Avengers: Doomsday, after a string of Marvel movies under-performed in recent years. Brand New Day, which opened in cinemas last week, picks up a few years after 2021's Spider-Man: No Way Home as Peter Parker continues to fight crime in a world that has forgotten he is the masked superhero. The latest instalment of the hugely popular franchise received largely positive reviews, with some calling it Holland's best Spider-Man performance yet. Brand New Day made $572m from more than 73,000 screens outside the US, including $121m from China, distributor Sony Pictures said. That included $49m in UK ticket sales over the weekend. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said the opening of Brand New Day was "truly phenomenal", adding that he was grateful to audiences for "coming out and experiencing our film the way it was meant to be seen." The film is Marvel's last big-screen outing before Doomsday, the long-awaited culmination of multiple superhero story arcs after Avengers: Endgame. Marvel films released since Endgame have struggled to attract the same broad audiences as they did at their peak. Big budget films like The Marvels and Thunderbolts recouped their production costs but were among the studio's lowest-grossing films. Spider-Man remains one of Marvel's most lucrative franchises, with No Way Home making nearly $2bn in ticket sales. Cinema attendance has slowed since the Covid-19 pandemic, which accelerated the shift to home-streaming options like Netflix. But the big screen has staged something of a comeback this year, with the North American box office takings on track to pass $10bn for the first time since 2019. That was helped by blockbuster hits by including Toy Story 5, Michael, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie - which have made more than $1bn each. July releases Brand New Day and The Odyssey - director Christopher Nolan's take on the epic Greek poem - are also on track to top the $1bn mark. Source: BBC

Zendaya's fashion choices during the promotional tour for Spider-Man: Brand New Day have sparked online speculation that her character, MJ, could face a tragic fate in the new Marvel film. Fans on social media have pointed to the actor's mostly black outfits during the press tour, suggesting they may hint at a major storyline involving MJ. However, there has been no official confirmation from Marvel Studios or the filmmakers. Zendaya and her longtime stylist, Law Roach, are well known for using fashion to reflect themes from the films they promote. During the tour, Zendaya wore a blue-and-red outfit in Rome, colours closely linked to Spider-Man's costume. She also appeared in a grey-blue dress featuring web-inspired details. For most of the remaining promotional events, however, she chose black outfits, a colour often associated with mourning in Western cultures. At an event in China, she wore a black Versace gown with black net detailing, even though white is traditionally considered the colour of mourning in China and several other Asian countries. These fashion choices have led some fans to speculate that MJ may die in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The theory gained further attention after Zendaya said in a recent interview: "As a fan of Peter Parker, I always want him to have a happy ending, but I don't know, guys... it's not looking good." Marvel actors are generally bound by strict non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from revealing plot details before a film's release. Fans have shared various theories online, with some suggesting the outfits were carefully chosen to hint at MJ's storyline. Others believe they are simply part of Zendaya's signature fashion-forward promotional style. For now, the speculation remains unconfirmed. Audiences will learn what happens to MJ when Spider-Man: Brand New Day opens in cinemas worldwide.

Actor Gauahar Khan has criticised Nikhil Chinapa over a remark he made about menopause and perimenopause while responding to her comments about his gameplay on reality show Alliance. Calling the remark “insensitive,” Gauahar said it showed a lack of understanding of women’s health and said Nikhil owed an apology to the women in his life. The controversy began after Nikhil was asked by Telly Masala about Gauahar’s social media posts supporting her husband, Zaid Darbar, who is currently a contestant on Alliance. Gauahar had earlier accused contestant Mini Mathur of being biased toward Kushal Tandon. She also alleged that Mini and Nikhil were playing the game together instead of giving other contestants, including Zaid, a fair chance. Gauahar and Kushal briefly dated after meeting on Bigg Boss in 2013. Responding to the question, Nikhil said he had never met Gauahar personally but had heard from Zaid that she respected him. He then said Mini might know more about the matter because she “deals a lot with menopause and perimenopause,” suggesting she could have insights into why Gauahar made those comments. Gauahar later expressed her disappointment in a series of videos posted on Instagram. She said it was upsetting to see menopause being used to explain or dismiss a woman’s opinion. Gauahar said it was sad to see men remain ignorant about women’s health despite having families and sufficient life experience to understand the sensitivity surrounding menopause and perimenopause. She said she was particularly surprised that Nikhil had brought up the issue while responding to her views about his performance as a contestant on Alliance. Gauahar clarified that her comments were only about Nikhil’s gameplay and that she had never criticised him personally. She said she had always admired him. She also said she was pleased that Zaid had told Nikhil that she was fond of him, adding that she still considered him a great person with a good personality and an impressive body of work. However, she questioned why Nikhil had suggested that Mini could comment because she dealt with menopause and perimenopause. Gauahar said it was unfair to link a woman’s opinion to menopause or hormones and questioned why her criticism of Nikhil’s gameplay was being connected to her age or health instead of being considered a genuine opinion. She rejected the suggestion that she was experiencing menopause or perimenopause, saying she had become a mother nine months earlier. Gauahar also urged people to be more sensitive when discussing menopause and perimenopause and said women should not be placed in categories based on assumptions about their health. She defended women going through menopause or perimenopause, saying the natural stage of life should never be used to undermine their opinions or make them feel that their views are less important. At the end of her response, Gauahar called on Nikhil to apologise, saying he owed an apology to his wife and the women in his life for failing to understand the sensitivity of the issue. Nikhil, who was also a contestant on Alliance, was eliminated from the reality show in Sunday’s episode, aired July 26. #From NDTV 

Spider-Man: Brand New Day has received a UA 13+ certificate from India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) ahead of its theatrical release in the country. According to the CBFC certificate dated July 23, the film has an approved runtime of 144 minutes and 52 seconds, or 2 hours, 24 minutes and 52 seconds. The certification document shows that the English-language 3D version, with English subtitles, was cleared with several modifications. The CBFC directed the makers to add a statutory anti-liquor disclaimer to the film. The board also ordered the studio to mute and remove obscene words from the audio and subtitles at three points. In addition, two kissing scenes, appearing at around the 44-minute and 57-minute marks, were deleted. The visual cuts total eight seconds, while the muted dialogue does not affect the film’s runtime. Following the changes, the approved runtime remains 144 minutes and 52 seconds. The film has been classified as UA 13+, allowing children below 13 to watch it under parental guidance. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is the 38th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and the fourth instalment in the MCU’s Spider-Man film series. The film stars Tom Holland alongside Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal and others in key roles. The film will hit Indian theatres on July 30, a day before its worldwide release. #From NDTV