United News of Bangladesh

Filmmaker Sandeep Reddy Vanga has praised the Mahesh Babu-backed psychological drama Rao Bahadur, calling it a rare film that reminds audiences why they love cinema. After watching the film, the Animal director shared his appreciation on X, applauding its storytelling, performances and filmmaking. He urged movie lovers to give the film a chance. "Just watched Rao Bahadur. This is one of those rare, rich films that reminds you why we fell in love with cinema in the first place," Vanga wrote. "I have one request to every genuine film lover... give this film three hours of your life. It deserves your attention, your patience, and your applause," he added. Vanga also praised director Venkatesh Maha for bringing his vision to life despite budget limitations, saying it required courage and conviction. He described lead actor Satyadev's performance as "sensational" and commended the entire team for delivering "pure filmmaking" without relying on shortcuts. His praise comes shortly after actor Mahesh Babu also applauded the film following a special screening. Mahesh Babu described Rao Bahadur as a gripping and emotionally powerful film with unique storytelling. He praised director Venkatesh Maha for creating a compelling cinematic world and lauded Satyadev's performance in the lead role. He also appreciated Deepa Thomas, the supporting cast and the technical team, saying he was proud of everyone involved and encouraged audiences to watch the film in theatres. Rao Bahadur, which stars Satyadev in the title role, has been receiving positive feedback from both audiences and members of the film industry for its unconventional storytelling and strong technical quality. Mahesh Babu and his wife Namrata Shirodkar are presenting the film under their banner, GMB Entertainment. Written, directed and edited by Venkatesh Maha, the film also stars Deepa Thomas and Vikas Muppala. Set against the backdrop of a once-prominent aristocratic family, Rao Bahadur blends psychological drama, suspense, dark comedy and magical realism to tell its story. Source: NDTV

The earnings of Indian film actors are often shrouded in secrecy, but occasionally, reports surface revealing the staggering sums that top stars command. While male superstars frequently charge over Rs 100 crore per film, leading actresses are steadily narrowing the pay gap. The title of India’s highest-paid actress has now changed hands, with Priyanka Chopra securing an unprecedented Rs 30 crore fee for her much-anticipated comeback film.  Priyanka Chopra is set to return to Indian cinema after nearly six years, starring in SS Rajamouli’s upcoming film alongside Mahesh Babu. This project also marks her return to South Indian cinema after two decades. According to “Bollywood Hungama”, Priyanka’s remuneration for the film is the highest ever received by an Indian actress for a single project.  A source close to the production revealed, “The delay in announcing her participation was due to extensive negotiations. Priyanka was firm on her fee, and rightly so. Why should only male actors command eight-figure salaries in our industry?”  While Priyanka has previously commanded even higher fees—reportedly $5 million (approximately Rs 41 crore) for Amazon Prime Video’s Citadel—the six-hour runtime of the series justified the amount. DiCaprio’s film delayed as Warner Bros reshuffles releases However, her Rs 30 crore earnings for Rajamouli’s upcoming jungle adventure, currently known as SSMB29, set a new benchmark for female stars in Indian cinema.  Before Priyanka’s latest signing, Deepika Padukone held the record for the highest-paid Indian actress with her Rs 20 crore remuneration for Kalki 2898 AD. Alia Bhatt, a younger counterpart, is said to charge up to Rs 15 crore per film, while other leading actresses such as Kareena Kapoor Khan, Katrina Kaif, Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu reportedly earn Rs 10 crore or more per project.  Since moving to the US in 2015, Priyanka has made only sporadic appearances in Indian films. Her last theatrical release was The Sky Is Pink (2019), following Jai Gangaajal (2016). With inputs from Indian media