United News of Bangladesh

Tollywood actor Rahul Banerjee drowned while shooting for a television serial in Talsari, near Digha, on Sunday. The 43-year-old, famed for the film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, was filming the serial Bhole Baba Par Karega when the incident occurred. According to Anandabazar, he entered the water during the shoot and went under. Technicians on set later pulled him out, but he had been submerged for a significant period. He was rushed to a hospital in Digha, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Preliminary reports indicate drowning as the cause of death, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation. Actor Diganta Bagchi, speaking on behalf of the Artist Forum, said Rahul went into the water after the shoot. “Either he didn’t know how to swim, or he got stuck somehow. Suddenly, the technicians shouted, ‘Rahulda is drowning’. When he was rescued, he was still alive, but after being taken to the hospital, he was declared dead,” he said. Rahul Banerjee began his career on the big screen with the film Chirodini Tumi Je Amar, in which he starred opposite Priyanka Sarkar. The pair later fell in love and married, and they have a son together. He also appeared in the 2025 film Academy of Fine Arts and was currently acting in the television series Bhole Baba Par Karega. A few days before his death, he was seen in the web series Thakumar Jhuli.

James Tolkan, the actor remembered for his roles as a strict vice principal in ‘Back to the Future’ and a commanding officer in ‘Top Gun’, has passed away at the age of 94. Tolkan died Thursday at his home in Lake Placid, New York, his booking agent John Alcantar confirmed Saturday. A short obituary on the ‘Back to the Future’ website said he passed away “peacefully,” without mentioning a cause. In the 1985 classic ‘Back to the Future’, Tolkan played the bow tie-wearing Vice Principal Gerald Strickland, who constantly watched over students, especially Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox. His memorable line, “You got a real attitude problem, he was a slacker, too,” has become iconic. Tolkan also appeared in ‘Top Gun’ as Cmdr. Tom “Stinger” Jardian. In a notable scene near the film’s end, he reacts with humor when Tom Cruise’s character chooses his future duty: “God help us,” he says with a laugh. Born in Calumet, Michigan, Tolkan graduated high school in Arizona and served in the Navy during the Korean War. He later moved to New York, where he spent 25 years performing in theater, including as part of the original cast of ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Parmelee Welles, who said Tolkan loved art and adored animals.

South Korean actor Lee Sang-Bo has been found dead at his home in Pyeongtaek. He was 44. According to local police, a family member discovered his body around 12:40 pm local time on Thursday. Officers said there were no signs of foul play, but an investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of death. His funeral is scheduled to be held at 10:30 am on March 29 at Jungang Funeral Home in Pyeongtaek. Following the incident, his agency, Korea Management Group, confirmed the news in a statement, saying the cause of death will not be disclosed at the request of his family. The agency also urged the media and public to respect the family’s privacy and avoid visits or unnecessary coverage. Lee’s death has also drawn attention to a 2022 incident that briefly affected his career. At the time, he was investigated over suspected drug use after being seen acting unsteadily in public and was briefly detained. However, later tests by authorities confirmed that no illegal substances were found in his system. Officials said his condition was linked to prescribed medications, including antidepressants and tranquillisers, taken after a personal loss. The case was later closed, clearing him of all allegations. Born in 1981, Lee began his acting career with the 2006 drama ‘Invisible Man Choi Jang Soo’. He went on to appear in several TV series, including ‘Private Lives’, ‘Miss Monte-Cristo’ and ‘The Elegant Empire’. His lead role in ‘Miss Monte-Cristo’ in 2021 brought him wider recognition, while his 2023 project ‘The Elegant Empire’ marked his return to the screen. In 2025, he signed an exclusive contract with Korea Management Group.

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

A Florida woman accused of opening fire at pop star Rihanna’s Los Angeles home has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and several other charges. Ivanna Lisette Ortiz, 35, entered her plea through her lawyer on Wednesday at a Los Angeles County court. She is accused of trying to kill Rihanna after allegedly firing a semi-automatic rifle at the singer’s Beverly Crest mansion on 8 March. No one was hurt in the incident. According to court documents, Ortiz allegedly targeted not only Rihanna but also rapper A$AP Rocky, their three young children and others present at the home and a nearby property. Ortiz remains in custody with bail set at $1.875 million. She is scheduled to appear again for a preliminary hearing on 8 April. Prosecutors said she fired around 20 rounds from an AR-style weapon, putting multiple lives at risk. They also claimed she had a wig with her, suggesting the attack may have been planned. A judge has barred her from working as a speech pathologist in California. She faces several additional charges, including 10 counts of assault with a semi-automatic firearm and three counts of shooting at an inhabited property. Each assault charge relates to a different alleged victim. The complaint names victims including Rihanna and A$AP Rocky—whose real names are Robyn Fenty and Rakim Mayers—their children, Rihanna’s mother Monica Fenty, and others. Investigators said Ortiz allegedly drove up to the house, fired multiple shots, and then fled. Her vehicle was later found about 12 kilometres away at a shopping centre in Sherman Oaks, where she was arrested. If convicted, Ortiz could face life in prison. Her lawyer and representatives for Rihanna have not yet commented on the case. Source:BBC

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

Shares of Hybe, the agency behind global K-pop sensation BTS, tumbled sharply after the boyband’s highly anticipated comeback concert drew far fewer fans than expected. The free event, held Saturday at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, featured all seven BTS members – Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook – performing together for the first time since their 2022 hiatus for mandatory military service. Around 104,000 fans attended, less than half of the 250,000 originally anticipated. Hybe’s shares, which had climbed in recent months ahead of BTS’s world tour and the release of their new album ‘Arirang’, fell 15.5% on Monday following the turnout. The concert, marking the start of BTS’s 82-date world tour, was live-streamed on Netflix to over 190 countries, including South Korea. Analysts suggest the online broadcast, along with strict crowd management measures, may have contributed to the lower in-person attendance. Netflix is expected to release viewership data later this week. Meanwhile, Big Hit Music, Hybe’s music label, announced that ‘Arirang’ sold 3.98 million copies on its first day. At the historic Gwanghwamun Square, BTS performed tracks from the new album as well as hits like ‘Butter’ and ‘Dynamite’. BTS remains Hybe’s main revenue driver, and the extended hiatus had previously weighed on the company’s profits. With K-pop’s global popularity surging, the band now faces competition from fellow groups like Blackpink, Seventeen, and Stray Kids, as well as fictional competitors such as Netflix’s ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, which is reportedly planning a world tour next year to promote a sequel of its hit film. With inputs from BBC

A new Netflix documentary offers an intimate look at the global K-pop phenomenon BTS as the group reunites following nearly four years away from full-band activities. Titled BTS: The Return, the film follows all seven members — RM, Jin, Jimin, V, Suga, Jung Kook and J-Hope — as they prepare for their comeback album ARIRANG, released Friday. Directed by Bao Nguyen and produced by HYBE, the documentary premieres on Netflix on March 27. The film highlights the group’s reunion after completing South Korea’s mandatory military service, which requires able-bodied men to serve between 18 and 21 months. It opens with the members reconnecting via a livestream before transitioning into footage of their time in the military and eventual return to music. Shortly after completing their service, BTS travelled to Los Angeles in mid-2025 to begin work on ARIRANG, their first full-length album in nearly four years. Living together during production, the group faced tight deadlines and creative pressure. Member Jin joined the sessions immediately after finishing a solo tour, missing some early recordings. The band also addressed industry challenges, including the so-called “seven-year curse,” where many K-pop groups disband or lose members over time. The documentary shows BTS experimenting with new sounds while reflecting on their identity as artists. “We’re trying to find what makes us BTS,” RM says in the film, as the group explores different musical directions. Work in Los Angeles brought collaborations with global producers, while later sessions in South Korea helped shape the album’s final sound. The album draws inspiration from “Arirang,” a traditional Korean folk song, emphasising cultural identity and authenticity. Members expressed concern about meeting fan expectations after a long hiatus, pushing themselves to deliver a strong comeback. Despite moments of rest, the film shows the group constantly discussing music, refining ideas and planning future projects. The documentary also captures debates over the album’s lead single “Swim,” with some members initially uncertain about its tone before ultimately embracing a more mature sound.  

K-pop supergroup BTS made a highly anticipated return on Saturday with a large-scale free comeback concert in Seoul, marking their first group performance in four years. The event, held at Gwanghwamun Square, drew tens of thousands of fans, prompting authorities to impose strict security measures, including closing major roads and deploying a heavy police presence. The concert was also streamed exclusively on Netflix. Opening the show, group leader RM greeted fans and kicked off the performance, sparking loud cheers from the crowd. All seven members—RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jung Kook—recently completed their mandatory military service and reunited for the comeback. The concert followed the release of their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, which reportedly sold nearly 4 million copies within its first day. The performance also marked the beginning of an extensive global tour across the United States, Europe and Asia. Fans from around the world gathered in large numbers, with thousands securing designated viewing spots while others watched from nearby screens. The atmosphere was energetic, with fans singing along and waving light sticks throughout the show. Authorities enforced tight crowd control measures, shutting down nearby transport services and restricting access to surrounding areas to ensure safety during the high-profile event. The comeback comes at a time when global interest in K-pop continues to rise, and analysts say the group’s return could have a major impact on the international music scene.  

US actor Nicholas Brendon, best known for his role in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54, his family confirmed. In a statement shared on social media, his family said he passed away in his sleep from natural causes. Brendon gained widespread recognition for portraying Xander Harris, a central character in the series that aired from 1997 to 2003. Tributes poured in following his death, including from co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar, who honoured him with a message referencing the show. Throughout his career, Brendon also appeared in several television series, including Criminal Minds, Private Practice and Kitchen Confidential, as well as films such as Psycho Beach Party and Big Gay Love. He had been open about his personal struggles, including health issues and addiction, and had advocated for awareness around stuttering. His family said he had been undergoing treatment and remained hopeful about the future prior to his death.   With inputs from BBC