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Actor Akshaye Khanna will return in the upcoming film Dhurandhar 2 following strong fan demand, sources said Wednesday. Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has planned additional shoots to bring Khanna back after audiences praised his portrayal of Rehman Dakait in the first film. The character became a viral sensation, with fans creating online discussions and theories demanding more screen time. Khanna’s appearance in the song Fa9la by Flipperachi also went viral, increasing the popularity of his character. The sequel had completed its main shoot, but selective reshoots involving Khanna are set to begin later this month under Dhar’s supervision. Rehman Dakait dies in the first film, so his return poses a narrative challenge. Reports suggest the sequel may use flashbacks to expand his backstory and show his rise and key choices. Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2026.   With inputs from NDTV

Few could have predicted the extraordinary box office journey Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar would embark on after its release on December 5, 2025. The film opened with a strong Rs 28 crore nett on its first Friday in India, marking the biggest opening day of Ranveer Singh’s career. Since then, it has delivered relentless growth across both weekdays and weekends, steadily shattering records. It is now the highest-grossing Indian film of 2025 worldwide. Even after 40 days, Dhurandhar shows no signs of slowing. The film continues to post solid daily figures, cementing its place among the most dominant theatrical runs in recent Hindi cinema history. Current Box Office Status On Day 40, the film added Rs 2.90 crore to its domestic total, taking its India nett collection to Rs 863 crore. A Landmark Film for Aditya Dhar For director Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar represents a career-defining achievement. His earlier blockbuster Uri: The Surgical Strike had recorded a peak single-day collection of Rs 17.17 crore. Dhurandhar more than doubled that benchmark, clocking Rs 44.80 crore in a single day—making it both Dhar’s highest one-day grosser and his biggest film to date. National Box Office Milestones In its sixth week alone, the film collected Rs 20.25 crore over five days, surpassing Stree 2, which had earned Rs 18.6 crore in the same period—making Dhurandhar the highest-earning Indian film in its sixth week. Global Achievements By Day 40, the film’s worldwide gross reached Rs 1,296 crore, overtaking RRR (Rs 1,230 crore) and KGF: Chapter 2 (Rs 1,215 crore). This places Dhurandhar fourth on the all-time list of the highest-grossing Indian films globally. Record-Breaking ‘A’ Certified Film The film has also set a new benchmark as the highest-grossing ‘A’ certified film, both domestically and worldwide. Despite being banned in Gulf countries, Dhurandhar has secured a place in the global top 10 overseas earners, with international collections standing at Rs 290 crore. Sixth Weekend Without Fatigue Even deep into its theatrical run, the film continues to dominate. Its Rs 2.90 crore haul on Day 40 makes it the highest-grossing Hindi film ever in its sixth weekend. Its week-wise India nett collections underline its consistency: Week 1: Rs 218 croreWeek 2: Rs 261.5 croreWeek 3: Rs 189.3 croreWeek 4: Rs 115.70 croreWeek 5: Rs 56.35 croreWeek 6: Rs 20.25 croreBox Office Face-Offs Prabhas-starrer The Raja Saab, which released on Friday, is nearing the Rs 120 crore mark. The Maruthi-directed horror-comedy earned Rs 4.88 crore on Day 5, according to Sacnilk, with Dhurandhar continuing to remain close behind. The new release has also faced strong competition from films like Ikkis. Weekday Performance That Defied Expectations One of Dhurandhar’s most striking achievements has been its weekday dominance. On its first Tuesday, the film collected Rs 28.60 crore—the highest first-Tuesday figure of 2025—surpassing titles such as Chhaava and Saiyaara. By the end of its opening week, collections had already crossed Rs 207.25 crore, proving the film’s appeal extended far beyond weekend crowds. A Historic Second Weekend If the opening week showcased scale, the second weekend sealed history. The film earned Rs 59 crore on its second Sunday, becoming the highest second-Sunday grosser in Hindi cinema, surpassing Pushpa 2: The Rule (Rs 54 crore). Across its second weekend, Dhurandhar amassed Rs 140–146 crore nett, dethroning Pushpa 2 to become the biggest second-weekend grosser ever for a Hindi or Indian film. In the process, it broke Day 10 records previously held by Jawan, Stree 2 and Animal. Fastest to Major Milestones The film’s momentum translated into unprecedented speed records: Fastest Hindi film to Rs 500 crore nett in India (Day 16)Fastest to reach Rs 500 crore, Rs 600 crore, Rs 800 crore and Rs 1,000 crore worldwideSurpassed Gadar 2’s lifetime India nett of Rs 525 crore by Day 16As of Day 40, Dhurandhar is closing in on the Rs 1,300 crore global mark. A Theatrical Phenomenon Featuring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Saumya Tandon, Dhurandhar has firmly established itself as a historic blockbuster. From Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 to Shah Rukh Khan’s King: Indian films to watch in 2026 Jointly produced by B62 Studios and Jio Studios, the film has not only broken records but also redefined the scale and sustainability of box office success in Hindi cinema.    

Paul Thomas Anderson’s ragtag revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” took top honors at Sunday’s 83rd Golden Globes in the comedy category, while Chloé Zhao's Shakespeare drama “Hamnet” pulled off an upset over “Sinners” to win best film, drama. “One Battle After Another” won best film, comedy, supporting female actor for Teyana Taylor and best director and best screenplay for Anderson. He became just the second filmmaker to sweep director, screenplay and film, as a producer, at the Globes. Only Oliver Stone, for “Born on the Fourth of July,” managed the same feat. In an awards ceremony that went almost entirely as expected, the night's final award was the most surprising. While “One Battle After Another” has been the clear front-runner this awards season, most have pegged Ryan Coogler's Jim Crow-era vampire thriller as its closest competition. But “Hamnet,” a speculative drama about William and Agnes Shakespeare based on Maggie O’Farrell's bestseller, won in the dramatic category shortly after its star, Jessie Buckley, won best female actor in a drama. It was a banner night for Warner Bros., the studio behind “One Battle After Another” and “Sinners.” Warner Bros. Discovery has agreed to be sold to Netflix in an $83 billion deal. Paramount Skydance has appealed to shareholders with its own rival offer. In his speech after winning best director, Anderson praised Warner co-chief Michael DeLuca. “He said he wanted to run a studio one day and let filmmakers make whatever they want,” said Anderson. “That’s how you get ‘Sinners.’ That’s how you get a ‘Weapons.' That’s how you get ‘One Battle After Another.’” The final awards brought to, or near, the stage a handful of the most talented filmmakers together in Anderson, Zhao and Coogler — plus Steven Spielberg, a producer of “Hamnet.” Regardless of who won what, it was a heartening moment of solidarity between them, with a shared sense of purpose. Zhao fondly recalled being at Sundance Labs with Coogler when they were each starting out. “As students, let’s keep our hearts open and let’s keep seeing each other and allowing each other to be seen,” said Zhao, while Coogler smiled from the front row. “Sinners” won for best score and cinematic and box-office achievement. The win for box office and cinematic achievement, over franchise films like “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” was notable for Coogler's film, a movie that some reports labeled a qualified success on its release. Yet “Sinners” ultimately grossed $278 million domestically and $368 million worldwide, making it the highest grossing original film in 15 years. “I just want to thank the audience for showing up,” said Coogler. “It’s means the world.” Coming off years of scandal and subsequent rehabilitation, the Globes and host Nikki Glaser put on a star-studded ceremony that saw wins for the streaming sensation “KPop Demon Hunters” (best animated film, song), a meta triumph for Seth Rogen’s “The Studio” and an inaugural award for podcasting that went to Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang.” Many of the Oscar favorites won. Timothee Chalamet won his first Golden Globe, for “Marty Supreme,” after four previous nominations. The 30-year-old is poised to win his first Oscar. Fellow nominees like Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney stood to applaud his win. “My dad instilled in me a spirit of gratitude growing up: Always be grateful for what you have,” said Chalamet. “It’s allowed me to leave this ceremony in the past empty handed, my head held high, grateful just to be here. I’d be lying if I didn’t say those moments didn’t make this moment that much sweeter.” Glaser comes out swinging The Globes, held at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, got underway with a pointedly political opening from host Nikki Glaser and an early award for the night’s favorite, “One Battle After Another.” Emceeing the show for the second straight year, Glaser kicked off the show with self-aware satire. “Yes, the Golden Globes, without a doubt the most important thing happening in the world right now,” she said. In a winning, rapid-fire opening monologue that landed some punch lines on the usual subjects — the age of Leonardo DiCaprio’s dates, Kevin Hart’s height — Glaser also dove right into some of her most topical material. For the on-the-block Warner Bros., Glaser started the bidding at $5. Referencing the Epstein files, she suggested best editing should go to the Justice Dept. The “most editing,” however, she suggested deserved to go to Bari Weiss’ new CBS News — a dig at the Paramount Skydance-owned network airing the Globes. Globes mix glitz and gloom Political tension and industrywide uncertainty were the prevailing moods heading into Sunday’s awards. Hollywood is coming off a disappointing box-office year and now anxiously awaits the fate of one of its most storied studios, Warner Bros. Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, several attendees wore pins reading “Be Good." The Globes, formerly presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, have no overlap or direct correlation with the Academy Awards. After being sold in 2023 to Todd Boehly’s Eldridge Industries and Dick Clark Productions, a part of Penske Media, the Globes are voted on by around 400 people. The Oscars are voted on by more than 10,500 professionals. But in the fluctuating undulations of awards season, a good speech at the Globes can boost an Oscar campaign. Winners Sunday included Rose Byrne (“If I Had Legs I'd Kick You”) for best female actor in a comedy or musical, and Wagner Moura, the Brazilian star of “The Secret Agent,” for best male actor in a drama. Kleber Mendonça Filho's period political thriller also won best international film. “I think if trauma can be passed along generations, values can do,” Moura said. “So this to the ones who are sticking with their values in difficult moments.” Other winners Sunday included the supporting actor front-runner, Stellan Skarsgård who won for the Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value.” It was the first major Hollywood movie award for the 74-year-old, a respected veteran actor who drew a standing ovation. “I was not prepared for this because I, of course, thought I was too old,” said Skarsgård. ‘The Studio' and 'Adolesence' win In the television awards, “The Pitt” took best drama series, while Noah Wyle won, too, brushing past his former “ER”-star Clooney on the way to the stage. Netflix’s “Adolescence” won four awards: best limited series, and acting awards for Erin Doherty, Stephen Graham and 16-year-old Owen Cooper. Other winners included Rhea Seehorn for “Pluribus” and Jean Smart for “Hacks.” But the most comically poignant award of the night went to “The Studio,” the best comedy series winner. Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire memorably included an episode devoted to drama around a night at the Globes. (Sample line: “I remember when the red carpet of the Golden Globes actually stood for something.”) Rogen also won best male actor in a comedy. “This is so weird,” Rogen said, chuckling. “We just pretended to do this. And now it’s happening.”

The release of Vijay’s highly awaited film Jana Nayagan has been officially delayed in several overseas markets, including the UK, the US, Canada and Malaysia, following an ongoing dispute related to its censor certification. The postponement was confirmed on January 7 by the film’s international distributors, just two days before its scheduled theatrical release. Distributors confirm delay Read More: Leonardo DiCaprio on the importance of creating cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival Overseas distributors announced the decision through statements shared on X. The Malaysian distributor said the film’s planned January 9, 2026 release has been pushed back due to unexpected circumstances, adding that they are awaiting further direction from the production team. The distributor noted that a revised release date will be announced once it is finalised and urged fans to remain patient. Supporters were also asked not to circulate unverified or misleading information from unofficial sources, as several arrangements are still being worked out. Read More: Historic Ariana Cinema in Kabul demolished for shopping complex The statement concluded by appealing for calm and unity while awaiting a favourable resolution, thanking fans for their continued support. Source: NDTV

Actor Varun Dhawan has responded to a question regarding the possible release of his upcoming film Border 2 in Pakistan, without confirming whether the film will be screened there. During an interaction on social media platform X, a Pakistani user congratulated Dhawan on the film and asked if it would be released in Pakistan. The user also expressed admiration for Sunny Deol’s character from the Gadar franchise. In his reply, Dhawan did not address the release status in Pakistan. He said Border 2 is based on the 1971 war and certain real-life events, and noted that Sunny Deol has fans in Pakistan as well. The filmmakers have not announced whether Border 2 will be released in Pakistan or face restrictions similar to those imposed on Dhurandhar. Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty. The film is scheduled to hit theatres on January 23, ahead of India’s Republic Day.   With inputs from NDTV

Director Mohit Suri has dismissed speculation about a possible reunion with actor Aditya Roy Kapur following the massive success of his 2025 blockbuster Saiyaara. Suri, who earlier directed Kapur in the 2013 superhit Aashiqui 2, said there has been no professional discussion between them regarding any new project. Speaking to Indian media, the director clarified that the script he is currently working on is still incomplete and has not been written with Kapur in mind. He said while he regularly meets Kapur socially, including playing cricket together, there have been no talks about films. Suri added that details about his next project would be revealed only after the script and cast are finalised. Echoing the director’s remarks, Aditya Roy Kapur also denied reports suggesting he had opted out of Suri’s upcoming film, calling such claims completely false. The actor said their recent meetings have been limited to friendly cricket matches and not work-related discussions. Saiyaara, starring debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda, emerged as one of the biggest hits of 2025, earning more than Rs 570 crore worldwide.   With inputs from NDTV

Kiara Advani has delighted her fans by sharing the first glimpse of her five-month-old daughter, Saraayah. The actor posted a short video on her Instagram Stories on Monday evening, January 5, offering a sweet peek into a quiet moment with her baby. In the clip, Kiara is heard affectionately talking to Saraayah while leafing through a magazine that features her own photographs. “Do you want to read mama’s magazine? Okay, let’s see where mama is,” she says as she turns the pages. When her photo appears, Saraayah’s tiny fingers briefly come into view. Kiara captioned the video, “Me and my mini enjoying our Monday magazine read.” Leonardo DiCaprio on the importance of creating cinema over content at Palm Springs Film Festival Kiara and her husband, actor Sidharth Malhotra, welcomed their daughter on July 15, 2025, at Reliance Hospital in Mumbai. The couple publicly announced their baby’s name in November through a joint Instagram post. Kiara Advani’s upcoming projects On the work front, Kiara is gearing up for the release of Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, directed by Geetu Mohandas and starring Kannada actor Yash in the lead role. The film is slated for theatrical release on March 19, 2026. Shot in both Kannada and English, Toxic will also be dubbed into multiple Indian languages. Kiara essays the role of Nadia, while the film also stars Nayanthara as Ganga and Huma Qureshi as Elizabeth. The ensemble cast includes Tara Sutaria, Rukmini Vasanth, Akshay Oberoi and Sudev Nair. Kiara was last seen on screen in War 2, where she appeared alongside Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR. Source NDTV

Leonardo DiCaprio delivered a passionate reminder about the soul of filmmaking at the Palm Springs Film Festival on Friday night, urging Hollywood to prioritize cinema over disposable content. “Films are meant to be experienced together, in a theater,” DiCaprio said in a pre-recorded message. “That belief matters now more than ever. Original films are becoming harder to make and harder to protect. But movies still matter not content  cinema. Stories created by people, meant to be shared in a dark room as a communal experience.” The “One Battle After Another” star accepted his honor virtually, as he was unable to attend the festival in person. According to Variety, DiCaprio’s absence was due to ongoing political tensions involving Venezuela, which triggered widespread flight cancellations across the Caribbean, where the actor had been spending the holiday season. His co-stars Chase Infiniti and Teyana Taylor stepped in to accept the award on his behalf. The 37th annual International Film Awards, held in Palm Springs, California, marked the ceremonial launch of Hollywood’s annual awards-season spring, spotlighting many of the year’s most buzzed-about films and performances. The evening unfolded as a celebration of artistry and solidarity, with speakers repeatedly stressing the importance of original storytelling and the preservation of movie theaters as cultural spaces. Michael B. Jordan, honored with the Icon Award, encouraged fellow artists to keep creating stories that connect and uplift audiences. “The films we’re honoring tonight push us to be better, to understand one another more deeply,” he said. “And maybe when the theater lights come up, we can step back into the world together.” Recording artist Cyrus accepted the Outstanding Artistic Achievement Award for her song “Dream As One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash, calling on artists to move beyond competition and focus on community. “Performance isn’t a scoreboard,” she said. “Every artist bares their soul in a unique way, and each contribution leaves a lasting mark.” Jane Fonda briefly guided the audience through a breathing exercise before presenting the Vanguard Award to Hamnet collaborators Chloé Zhao, Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley. Fonda credited Zhao for inspiring the moment, noting the director often leads similar grounding exercises before screenings. Guillermo del Toro received the Visionary Award alongside his Frankenstein cast and reflected on the recent loss of his older brother. He spoke about the enduring relevance of Mary Shelley’s novel in an era shaped by technological anxiety and social division. “We never learn,” del Toro said, “and sometimes the only way to talk about humanity is through monsters.” Timothée Chalamet was presented with the Spotlight Award and spoke about ambition and self-belief through the lens of his “Marty Supreme”character. Mahershala Ali later honored Ethan Hawke with the Career Achievement Award, recalling how Hawke’s early performances helped shape his own path as an actor.In his speech, Hawke reflected on the friends, collaborators and mentors who influenced his life and career, including the late River Phoenix. “I’m the sum of everyone who helped shape me,” he said. Hawke returned to the stage later alongside former “First Reformed”co-star Amanda Seyfried to present her with the Desert Palm Achievement Award for Actress. Seyfried noted the full-circle moment of receiving the same honor as DiCaprio. “Leo inspired me to become an actor,” she said. “So sharing the same award title feels strange  and kind of amazing.” The mood lightened when Adam Sandler accepted the Chairman’s Award from Laura Dern, delivering a brief stand-up routine that imagined a quieter version of his life. “I’d still have a Netflix deal,” he joked, “except I’d be paying them to watch the last season of Stranger Things.” The ensemble cast of “Sentimental Value”received the International Star Award, while Rose Byrne earned the Breakthrough Performance Award for Actress for “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You”, humorously acknowledging the irony of receiving a “breakthrough” honor in her 40s. The ceremony concluded with Kate Hudson accepting the Icon Award for Actress for her role in “Song Sung Blue”. Awards season continues this week with the Critics’ Choice Awards, followed by the Golden Globes next Sunday. Leonardo DiCaprio, Taika Waititi react to Oscar nominations  

Marvel Studios has released a second teaser for the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, highlighting Thor’s emotional fight to protect his daughter. The movie is scheduled to hit theatres on December 18, 2026. The teaser features Chris Hemsworth returning as Thor and focuses on family and sacrifice. It opens in a quiet forest where Thor is seen praying to his late father Odin, asking for strength to keep his adopted daughter Love safe as he prepares for another battle. In brief scenes, Love is shown older than when audiences last saw her in Thor: Love and Thunder. Thor is also seen at home, gently kissing her forehead as a serious voice-over continues in the background. The new teaser comes a week after the first Doomsday teaser, which revealed the return of Chris Evans as Captain America and introduced a surprising family twist involving his character. According to Variety, Love is the daughter of the villain Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale in Love and Thunder. The character is portrayed by Hemsworth’s real-life daughter, India. In the earlier film, Gorr revived Love before his death and asked Thor to raise her as his own. Marvel has earlier confirmed a large cast for Avengers: Doomsday, including Chris Evans, Anthony Mackie, Paul Rudd, Tom Hiddleston, Letitia Wright and Simu Liu. The film will also bring together characters from the Fantastic Four, Thunderbolts and the X-Men universe. The teaser suggests an emotional and action-packed chapter as Thor prepares to rejoin the Avengers to face new threats, including Doctor Doom.   With inputs from NDTV

The year 2026 is expected to be a blockbuster one for Indian cinema, with filmmakers lining up a diverse mix of war dramas, mythological spectacles, crime thrillers and emotionally driven stories. Packed with top stars, large-scale productions and ambitious storytelling, the upcoming slate promises something for every moviegoer. Here’s a look at some of the most anticipated Indian films scheduled for release in 2026: Ikkis (January 1, 2026)Directed by Sriram Raghavan, this war drama is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who lost his life at 21 during the 1971 India-Pakistan war. The film introduces Agastya Nanda, Amitabh Bachchan’s grandson, and marks the final on-screen appearance of veteran actor Dharmendra. Border 2 (January 23, 2026)A follow-up to the 1997 classic Border, the sequel revisits patriotic themes with a new cast alongside Sunny Deol. Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty also feature, and the film’s teaser has already generated strong patriotic sentiment. Ramayana Part 1 (Expected Diwali 2026)Among the most ambitious projects of the year, this retelling of the epic Ramayana stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama and Sai Pallavi as Sita. Backed by high-end visual effects and a star-studded ensemble including Sunny Deol and Yash, the film aims for grand cinematic scale. Drishyam 3 (October 2, 2026)Ajay Devgn returns as Vijay Salgaonkar in the third instalment of the popular thriller franchise. Known for its clever twists and gripping suspense, the film arrives over the Gandhi Jayanti weekend. Jailer 2 (June 12, 2026)Rajinikanth reprises his role in this sequel, promising amplified action and signature style. Ramya Krishnan, Yogi Babu and Mirnaa return, while new cast members include SJ Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Anna Rajan. Love & War (2026)Sanjay Leela Bhansali brings Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal together for the first time in a romantic drama set against a wartime backdrop. Featuring Bhansali’s trademark grandeur and emotional depth, the film’s exact release date is yet to be confirmed. Mardaani 3 (February 27, 2026)Rani Mukerji once again dons the role of fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy. The third chapter continues the franchise’s focus on crime, social issues and strong female-led action. Toxic (March 19, 2026)Yash headlines this dark, stylised gangster drama titled Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups. With its edgy tone and intense narrative, the film is set to clash with other major releases in March. Dhurandhar 2 (March 19, 2026)Following the success of the first film, this sequel delves deeper into espionage and covert operations. Ranveer Singh’s character is expected to take on a more complex and unpredictable arc, with a stronger focus on psychological battles. Battle of Galwan (April 17, 2026)Salman Khan leads this war-action film inspired by the 2020 Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops. The movie highlights bravery and sacrifice, with Chitrangada Singh in a key role. King (Late 2026)One of the most awaited films of the year, King stars Shah Rukh Khan in a high-octane action thriller. The film also marks the big-screen debut of his daughter Suhana Khan, alongside Deepika Padukone. The Raja Saab (January 9, 2026)Prabhas headlines this romantic fantasy-horror comedy directed by Maruthi Dasari. The cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Boman Irani, Malavika Mohanan and Nidhhi Agerwal. O’ Romeo (February 13, 2026)Shahid Kapoor teams up with director Vishal Bharadwaj for this intriguing new project, with Triptii Dimri as the female lead. The film’s promotional material has already stirred curiosity. Alpha (2026)Alia Bhatt and Sharvari Wagh lead Yash Raj Films’ first female-driven spy universe film. Directed by Shiv Rawail, the release was reportedly postponed to avoid a clash with Battle of Galwan. Jana Nayagan (January 9, 2026)Directed by H Vinoth, this film is designed as a tribute to Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijay’s cinematic legacy. Featuring energetic dance numbers, powerful emotions and mass appeal, it is expected to be a major draw.