United News of Bangladesh

Suniel Shetty recently revealed that he turned down a ₹40 crore endorsement deal for a tobacco brand, saying he did not want to compromise his values or set a negative example for his children, Ahan and Athiya. The actor, whose career spans more than three decades, said his personal principles have always guided his choices, both professionally and personally. Speaking to Peeping Moon, Suniel said he made a firm decision long ago never to promote tobacco products, regardless of the financial incentive. He recalled being offered ₹40 crore for a tobacco advertisement but refusing the proposal outright, explaining that money alone could not sway him. Although he acknowledged that he could have used the money at the time, he said endorsing something he does not believe in was never an option. He added that he would not do anything that might reflect poorly on his children, and as a result, such offers no longer come his way. Suniel also spoke about a difficult period following the illness and death of his father, Veerappa Shetty, in 2017. He said his father had been unwell since 2014, and caring for him took an emotional toll that led him to step away from acting entirely. After a break of six to seven years, Suniel returned to films, though the comeback was challenging. He said that on the morning his father passed away, he received an offer to host a health show, which he viewed as a sign to resume work. He later took on a few South Indian film projects but admitted feeling uncertain after such a long gap, as the industry had changed and many faces were new. Reflecting on the post-pandemic period, Suniel said he experienced a personal transformation. He began focusing on fitness, learning and self-improvement, which boosted his confidence and helped him realize that he no longer needed external validation. The actor also expressed gratitude to his fans and the media for continuing to support and remember him during the years he was away from the spotlight.  source : NDTV

A Minecraft Movie, based on the popular video game, has emerged as one of the most significant films of 2025 after topping the US box office and drawing large global audiences, industry analysts say. The film, which stars Jack Black, has become the highest-grossing movie of the year in the United States and ranks among the top films worldwide. Its success highlights changing patterns in cinema-going since the Covid-19 pandemic, with audiences increasingly seeking shared and interactive viewing experiences. Although reviews were mixed, the movie performed strongly from its opening weekend, attracting families, young viewers and long-time fans of the game. Many screenings featured lively audience participation, including cheering, shouting familiar lines and recording moments for social media. The film’s popularity follows a broader trend in Hollywood, where video game adaptations have become major box office draws as superhero films lose dominance. Recent successes include The Super Mario Bros Movie, Sonic the Hedgehog sequels and television series based on popular games. Cinema owners and industry experts say such interactive screenings have helped revive theatres after years of disruption caused by streaming platforms and pandemic closures. Special participation-friendly shows of A Minecraft Movie have since been officially introduced in several markets. Observers note that the film’s rapid rise to cult status reflects how social media and smartphones now shape audience behaviour, turning movie-going into a communal event rather than a quiet, individual experience. With more studios exploring similar releases, analysts expect interactive cinema events to play a growing role in the film industry’s future.   With inputs from BBC

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan marked his 60th birthday on Friday with a grand midnight celebration at his Panvel farmhouse, attended by celebrities from the film, sports and public life. Videos and photos from the celebration quickly went viral on social media, showing the actor cutting his birthday cake in the garden surrounded by close friends and guests. Actor Sanjay Dutt shared a picture with Salman Khan from the event and wished him health and success. Politician Beena Kak also posted several photos from the party, offering a glimpse of the guest list that included actors Sanjay Dutt, Aditya Roy Kapur and Maniesh Paul, along with singer Mika Singh. In her post, she described the gathering as a warm and joyful celebration among loved ones. Salman Khan’s longtime bodyguard Shera shared a heartfelt photo with the actor from the venue, while actress Jannat Zubair posted a smiling picture with the birthday star, extending her wishes on Instagram. Another widely shared photograph featured Salman Khan with former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, who attended the celebration in a casual yet stylish look. Several other celebrities were also present at the bash, including Karisma Kapoor, Genelia Deshmukh, Rakul Preet Singh, Huma Qureshi, Sangeeta Bijlani, Pragya Jaiswal, Zeeshan Siddiqui and Rahul Kanwal.   With inputs from BBC

Drishyam 3 is generating strong buzz, especially after reports that Akshaye Khanna has exited the project following the success of Dhurandhar. Amid the excitement, actor Rajat Kapoor, who reprises his role as Mahesh Deshmukh—the husband of Tabu’s character, Meera Deshmukh—has shared a humorous take on his character’s journey in the upcoming film. What he said In a recent interview with SCREEN, Kapoor was asked whether his character would be given more depth in the third installment. Responding with wit, the actor dismissed the idea of a character arc, saying there was nothing new to explore. He joked that his role simply involved standing behind Tabu, adding that nothing had changed this time either. On playing officials in films Kapoor also reflected on his frequent casting as government officials. He has previously portrayed a senior income tax officer in Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2 and a police officer in Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders. Speaking candidly, he said such roles can feel limiting when they lack depth. While he emphasized that every role is about reacting to the script, he noted that generic authority figures—especially those without a strong narrative purpose—often leave actors with little to do. He contrasted this with more layered characters, like Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s role, which offered greater scope. About Drishyam 3 The Hindi Drishyam franchise, adapted from the Malayalam original starring Mohanlal, has turned Ajay Devgn’s Vijay Salgaonkar into a memorable on-screen figure—a common man who relies on intelligence and emotional resilience to protect his family. Filming for the third chapter is currently in progress at multiple locations. The original cast, including Ajay Devgn, Tabu, and Shriya Saran, is set to return, along with other prominent actors. The makers have teased heightened suspense and intense drama as the story continues. The film is presented by Star Studios and produced by Panorama Studios. It is directed by Abhishek Pathak, who has also co-written the script with Aamil Keeyan Khan and Parveez Shaikh. Producers include Alok Jain, Ajit Andhare, Kumar Mangat Pathak, and Abhishek Pathak.   source NDTV

Mohammad Bakri, a Palestinian director and actor who sought to share the complexities of Palestinian identity and culture through a variety of works in both Arabic and Hebrew, has died, his family announced. He was 72. Bakri was best known for “Jenin, Jenin,” a 2003 documentary he directed about an Israeli military operation in the northern West Bank city the previous year during the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising. The film, focusing on the heavy destruction and heartbreak of its Palestinian residents, was banned by Israel. Bakri also acted in the 2025 film “ All That’s Left of You,” a drama about a Palestinian family through more than 76 years, alongside his sons, Adam and Saleh Bakri, who are also actors. The film has been shortlisted by the Academy Awards for the best international feature film. Over the years, he made several films that spanned the spectrum of Palestinian experiences. He also acted in Hebrew, including at Israel’s national theater in Tel Aviv, and appeared in a number of famous Israeli films in the 1980s and 1990s. He studied at Tel Aviv University. Bakri, who was born in northern Israel and held Israeli citizenship, dabbled in both film and theater. His best-known one-man-show from 1986, “The Pessoptimist,” based on the writings of Palestinian author Emile Habiby, focused on the intricacies and emotions of someone who has both Israeli and Palestinian identities. During the 1980s, Bakri played characters in mainstream Israeli films that humanized the Palestinian identity, including “Beyond the Walls,” a seminal film about incarcerated Israelis and Palestinians, said Raya Morag, a professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem who specializes in cinema and trauma. “He broke stereotypes about how Israelis looked at Palestinians, and allowing someone Palestinian to be regarded as a hero in Israeli society,” she said. “He was a very brave person, and he was brave by standing to his ideals, choosing not to be conformist in any way, and paying the price in both societies,” said Morag. Bakri faced some pushback within Palestinian society for his cooperation with Israelis. After “Jenin, Jenin,” he was plagued by almost two decades of court cases in Israel, where the film was seen as unbalanced and inciting. In 2022, Israel's Supreme Court upheld a ban on the documentary, saying it defamed Israeli soldiers, and ordered Bakri to pay tens of thousands of dollars in damages to an Israeli military officer for defamation. “Jenin, Jenin” was a turning point in Bakri’s career. In Israel, he became a polarizing figure and he never worked with mainstream Israeli cinema again, Morag said. “He was loyal to himself despite all the pressures from inside and outside,” she added. “He was a firm voice that did not change during the years.” Local media quoted Bakri's family as saying he died Wednesday after suffering from heart and lung problems. His cousin, Rafic, told the Arabic news site Al-Jarmaq that Bakri was a tenacious advocate of the Palestinians who used his works to express support for his people. “I am certain that Abu Saleh will remain in the memory of Palestinian people everywhere and all people of the free world,” he said, using Mohammed Bakri's nickname.

From Sherlock Holmes to modern thrillers, murder mysteries have fascinated readers and viewers for over a century. With the release of the latest Knives Out film, Wake Up Dead Man, on streaming platforms, fans of the genre can revisit classic and ingenious whodunnits that have stood the test of time. Some of the most notable include Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Adventure of the Speckled Band (1892), featuring Sherlock Holmes solving a locked-room murder, and GK Chesterton’s The Invisible Man (1911), in which Father Brown investigates a seemingly impossible crime. Agatha Christie’s debut Miss Marple story, The Murder at the Vicarage (1930), and John Dickson Carr’s The Hollow Man (1935), a landmark locked-room mystery, are also widely celebrated. Other classics highlighted are Sidney Gilliat’s film Green for Danger (1946), Boileau-Narcejac’s The Living and the Dead (1954), and Dario Argento’s Italian thriller The Bird with the Crystal Plumage (1970). PD James’s The Black Tower (1975) and Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s film Sleuth (1972) showcase meticulous plotting and psychological tension. More contemporary works, such as Fred Vargas’s Have Mercy on Us All (2001), blend Gothic elements with complex investigations. These ten stories, spanning literature and cinema, are recommended for fans seeking clever plots, unexpected twists, and masterful storytelling in the murder mystery genre.   With inputs from BBC

Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar, released on December 5, has surged past Rs 640 crore at the domestic box office within 20 days, racing toward the Rs 650 crore mark. Jio Studios, the film’s production banner, celebrated the milestone on Instagram Thursday, calling it a “phenomenon at full force” and noting the film’s strong performance worldwide. According to Jio Studios, Dhurandhar earned Rs 20.90 crore on its 20th day, taking its domestic net total to Rs 640.20 crore. The film has now entered the top ten highest-grossing Indian films in India, surpassing Ranbir Kapoor’s Animal, which earned Rs 553 crore, and claiming ninth place. The Aditya Dhar-directed action drama opened with Rs 103 crore in its first weekend and maintained momentum through the weekdays. The second weekend saw a significant surge, with the third weekend and weekdays contributing further to its total. By the 19th day, the film had already collected Rs 619.3 crore. Stranger Things finale nears as fans await answers Dhurandhar is also the highest-grossing Indian film worldwide in 2025, surpassing Rishab Shetty’s Kantara: A Legend – Chapter 1 and Vicky Kaushal’s Chhaava. The film stars Ranveer Singh alongside Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi. Its sequel is scheduled for release on March 19, 2026. Source: NDTV 

Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things is heading toward its long-awaited finale, with fans preparing for the final episodes that promise to resolve major mysteries surrounding Hawkins and its residents. Season five opened with the town under siege, as dangerous creatures from the Upside Down spilled into the real world through massive rifts. Vecna remained a central threat, while the main characters were shown facing what appears to be their final battle. Netflix is releasing the remaining episodes in stages. Three episodes are set to stream on Boxing Day in the UK, while the feature-length final episode will be available on New Year’s Day. In the United States, the finale will stream on December 31, with special cinema screenings also planned in selected locations. The opening episodes revealed that Hawkins is under military quarantine and that Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, is once again being hunted for her supernatural abilities. She and Jim Hopper were shown fighting dark forces inside a military base linked to the Upside Down, while a mysterious new scientist was introduced. One of the biggest revelations so far is that Will Byers has discovered he also has supernatural powers, deepening his long-suspected connection to Vecna. At the same time, unsettling scenes involving Max, Holly and a cave linked to Vecna’s past memories raised new questions that are yet to be answered. Music has again played a key role in resisting Vecna’s control, echoing earlier seasons where songs helped characters break free from his influence. Fans believe this theme could be central to how the people of Hawkins defend themselves in the finale. Executive producer Shawn Levy has said the final episode has been carefully crafted to meet fan expectations, stressing that the creators wanted to avoid the kind of divisive endings seen in some other major TV series. Despite the show’s huge global success, creators Matt and Ross Duffer have ruled out any sequel, saying the story of Eleven, her friends and the town of Hawkins will end with this season. As anticipation builds, fans worldwide are waiting to see whether Stranger Things can deliver a satisfying conclusion to one of Netflix’s most popular series.   With inputs from BBC

One of the world’s most beloved children’s characters, Winnie-the-Pooh, is marking 100 years since his first appearance, with celebrations planned in England’s Ashdown Forest, the real-life setting of the famous stories. Winnie-the-Pooh first appeared on December 24, 1925, in a short story titled The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in the London Evening News. The character was created by author A A Milne and inspired by the toy bear of his son, Christopher Robin. The gentle bear, along with characters such as Tigger and Piglet and the game of Pooh sticks, soon gained global popularity. The fictional “100 Aker Wood” was based on Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, where Milne owned a country home. Pooh’s enduring fame continues to bring major economic benefits to the area. Local authorities have allocated about £450,000 in public funds to support events and programmes marking the centenary. Milne published Winnie-the-Pooh as a book in 1926, followed by The House at Pooh Corner in 1928. Two poetry collections featuring the characters were also released. A key attraction in the forest is Pooh Sticks Bridge, where Milne and his son invented the game. The original bridge was replaced by a replica in the late 1990s for safety reasons. The original structure was later sold at auction in 2021. Winnie-the-Pooh’s global reach expanded further in 1961 when Disney acquired the rights to the stories, introducing the character to new generations worldwide. Pooh Corner, a gift shop and tea room near the bridge, has drawn visitors since 1978. Its owner said people travel from across the world to see the places linked to Pooh and share personal stories about why the character matters to them. Guided tours of Ashdown Forest have also grown in popularity, with organisers saying most visitors now come from outside the UK, especially North America. Planned centenary events include new installations at the forest’s visitor centre and the creation of walking trails designed to protect sensitive areas. Local organisers say the anniversary highlights how Winnie-the-Pooh helped make Ashdown Forest internationally known and continues to shape its cultural and economic life a century on.   With inputs from BBC

Leaves and bodies fall in No Other Choice, a chilling and darkly comic satire from acclaimed South Korean director Park Chan-wook, who once again proves himself a master of elegant menace and moral provocation. The film opens with You Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a seemingly content family man, welcoming autumn while grilling dinner for his wife, Miri (Son Ye-jin), and their two children. Living in a striking modern house surrounded by nature, Man-su confidently declares, “I’ve got it all.” Almost immediately, that illusion collapses. After 25 years at a paper mill, he is abruptly laid off, joining countless others discarded without ceremony. As financial pressure mounts, Man-su is forced to sell his beloved home, abandon his greenhouse and even cancel Netflix — small humiliations that signal deeper collapse. Rather than follow a conventional path of reinvention, the film takes a sharply sinister turn. Assessing the job market, Man-su concludes he ranks only fifth among potential candidates for similar positions. His solution: eliminate the competition. Based on Donald Westlake’s novel The Ax, previously adapted in 2005, No Other Choice feels tailor-made for Park, whose filmography includes Oldboy, The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave. Park transforms familiar material into a biting critique of capitalism, unemployment and modern desperation, crafting a thriller that is both absurdly funny and deeply unsettling. Nolan’s The Odyssey trailer unveils epic journey Lee Byung-hun delivers a standout performance, portraying Man-su as neither a natural killer nor a traditional villain, but a tragically misguided everyman. His descent into violence is framed with Park’s signature visual precision — reflections, trees and carefully composed frames heighten the satire and dread. Like Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite, the film skewers class anxiety, but Park’s vision is colder and more fatalistic. The final moments expand the story’s implications to automation, artificial intelligence and a future where loss is permanent. In No Other Choice, the leaves that fall do not return. A Neon release, No Other Choice is rated R for violence, language and some sexual content. In Korean with English subtitles. Running time: 139 minutes. ★★★★ out of four. Source: AP