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Sunny Deol’s Border 2, released on the eve of India’s Republic Day, has witnessed a slowdown in earnings during its second week at the domestic box office, with total collections reaching Rs 294.25 crore. The film recorded its first single-digit earning day on Monday, February 2, and revenues gradually declined throughout the week. According to Sacnilk, the film earned Rs 3.35 crore on Thursday. Border 2 had a strong opening week, collecting Rs 224.25 crore, largely driven by the extended Republic Day weekend. The second weekend also saw a spike in collections, with Friday contributing Rs 10.75 crore, Saturday Rs 17.75 crore, and Sunday Rs 22.5 crore. Monday, coinciding with Republic Day, marked the highest single-day collection of Rs 59 crore, the biggest haul for the film to date. Border 2 has already outperformed the opening weekend of Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar. According to film trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the movie has amassed approximately Rs 300 crore at the domestic box office after its second weekend. Abhijeet Sawant raises exploitation concerns after Arijit quits playback In a review for NDTV, film critic Saibal Chatterjee noted, “Border 2 effectively highlights the exceptional bravery of the soldiers it portrays while briefly exploring the vulnerabilities and emotional struggles that make them human. The narrative captures separations, losses, hopes, fears, and uncertainties alongside acts of heroism.” Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 stars Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, Varun Dhawan, and Ahaan Shetty. Produced by Bhushan Kumar, JP Dutta, Nidhi Dutta, and Krishan Kumar, the film is a sequel to JP Dutta’s 1997 blockbuster Border.

February 2026 brings a mix of thrillers, dramas, comedies, and animated films for movie lovers worldwide. From Hollywood blockbusters to independent films, several new releases are drawing attention this month. Among the highlights is “Wuthering Heights”, directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The film presents a fresh take on the classic Brontë novel, exploring teenage passion and rivalry. It will be released internationally on February 11–13. Another notable release is “Scream 7”, returning Neve Campbell as Sidney Prescott. Set in a quiet small town, the slasher thriller promises suspense and horror, hitting cinemas on February 27 in the US, UK, and Canada. Animated film fans can enjoy “GOAT”, about a young goat pursuing a professional roarball career in a world of talking animals. Co-produced by NBA star Stephen Curry, it releases on February 11–13 globally. Other major releases include “Cold Storage”, a horror comedy about a mutant fungus outbreak; “The President’s Cake”, a story of a child in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq; and “Pillion”, a romantic drama exploring unconventional love. Films like “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”, “How to Make a Killing”, “EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert”, and “Dreams” also debut this month, offering a mix of genres and experiences for audiences worldwide. Film experts say February’s lineup highlights both mainstream and independent storytelling, giving viewers opportunities to explore thrilling narratives, emotional journeys, and innovative animation.   With inputs from BBC

Rani Mukerji’s crime thriller’ Mardaani 3 ‘continues to perform steadily at the Indian box office, with its total earnings nearing the Rs 25 crore mark within five days of release. The film, which hit theatres on January 30, collected Rs 2.50 crore on its fifth day, slightly higher than its Monday earnings, according to trade website Sacnilk. With this, the movie’s total box office collection stands at Rs 22.25 crore so far. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala, the third installment of the popular’ Mardaani ‘franchise recorded an overall Hindi occupancy of 20.72% on Tuesday. Night shows drew the highest audience turnout at around 33.62%, followed by evening shows at 21.45%. Afternoon and morning shows saw lower attendance, largely due to regular working days. Among cities, Jaipur reported the highest occupancy at 33.75%. It was followed by the National Capital Region (29.50%), Mumbai (26.25%), Lucknow (22.50%) and Pune (21.25%). Trade analyst Taran Adarsh praised the film’s opening performance, saying it posted a “healthy” collection during its first weekend. He noted that while competition from ‘Border 2’ affected business in some mass-market areas, major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Pune and Bengaluru showed encouraging audience response. He added that holding steady weekday collections will be crucial for the film’s continued success. Music rights of "Dhurandhar 2" shift from Saregama to T-Series ‘Mardaani 3’ also features Janki Bodiwala and Mallika Prasad in key roles. Produced by Yash Raj Films, the movie marks another strong outing for Mukerji in a female-led action franchise. With steady earnings and positive word of mouth, the film is expected to cross the Rs 25 crore milestone soon. With inputs from NDTV

Music rights for Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the upcoming sequel starring Ranveer Singh, have been acquired by T-Series, marking a shift from Saregama, which handled the soundtrack of the first film. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 is scheduled for theatrical release on March 19, 2026. The makers on Tuesday unveiled the film’s first poster, confirming T-Series as the official music label for the sequel. Industry insiders say the soundtrack is expected to be a major commercial success. “It’s a massive, chart-topping album, and the response from those who have heard it so far has been extremely positive,” a source close to the project told The Hollywood Reporter India. Another source added that the album will once again feature a wide range of songs, maintaining the genre diversity of the first film while expanding its overall scale. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3” team wanted Arijit not Sonu Nigam": Mallik In addition to the music deal, JioHotstar has secured the digital streaming rights for the film, reportedly outbidding Netflix. According to sources quoted by India Today, the sequel has generated strong pre-release buzz and has already been labelled a potential blockbuster by trade analysts. The film sees Ranveer Singh in the role of Hamza Ali Mazhari, an Indian intelligence operative who has entrenched himself in Pakistan’s underworld after eliminating dreaded gangster Rehman Dakait. However, his rise draws the attention of Major Iqbal, a shrewd and ruthless ISI strategist known as Bade Sahab, setting the stage for a high-stakes confrontation. Dhurandhar 2 features an ensemble cast including R Madhavan, Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal and Sara Arjun. It is the second installment in a planned two-part franchise centred on espionage, terrorism and intense action. #With inputs from NDTV

Composer Amaal Mallik opened up about the hurdles he faced to bring Sonu Nigam on board for the reprised song “Mere Dholna 3.0” from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, citing restrictive practices in the Hindi music industry. In a conversation with Pinkvilla, Amaal said composers often lack freedom to choose singers and may be replaced if their choices conflict with production or label decisions. He recalled how Sonu Nigam, despite being a legendary singer, had to “prove” himself before being confirmed for the track. “They weren’t sure about someone like Sonu Nigam. Yet he finished the toughest song I’ve recomposed in just 45 minutes,” Amaal said, adding that the final sargam at the song’s end is extremely challenging. Grammys fuel celebrity pushback against Trump’s immigration drive Amaal also highlighted the industry’s arbitrary decisions, noting that teams frequently suggest popular singers like Arijit Singh or Vishal Mishra over classical talents. He said Sonu Nigam was the only singer capable of delivering the classical depth he wanted. The composer further revealed the financial imbalance in the industry, citing his party hit “Sooraj Dooba Hain,” which earned Rs 60–70 crore for the label, while he only received minimal publishing rights.  #With inputs from NDTV

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has stirred controversy online by criticising acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan amid casting debates for his upcoming epic film The Odyssey. Musk responded on X (formerly Twitter) to a post questioning reports that Lupita Nyong’o might portray Helen of Troy in the movie. The post argued that casting Nyong’o could be "an insult" to the ancient Greek poet Homer, who described Helen as fair-skinned and blonde in The Odyssey, famously dubbing her “the face that launched a thousand ships.” Reacting to the post, Musk tweeted, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.” Nyong’o’s potential involvement was first reported by Variety in November 2024, with the film’s title officially revealed in December. Her role in the production remains unconfirmed. The Odyssey features a star-studded ensemble including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, and Elliot Page. Rapper Travis Scott, a ten-time Grammy nominee, has also joined the cast, appearing in a promotional TV spot aired during Fox’s broadcast of the NFL AFC Championship game. The film is being hailed as a technical milestone, marking the first narrative feature to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras. Nolan revealed that a new “blimp” casing system now allows intimate scenes to capture usable sound despite IMAX cameras’ previously loud operation. Details regarding Nyong’o’s character and the official release date for The Odyssey have yet to be announced.   With inputs from NDTV

Rasha Thadani has shared the first glimpse of her character Manga from her Telugu debut film Srinivasa Mangapuram, following the positive response to the previously released Laikey Laikaa first look. The film is directed by Ajay Bhupathi and features Rasha opposite Jaya Krishna Ghattamaneni, nephew of superstar Mahesh Babu. Rasha Thadani’s Announcement Rasha took to Instagram to announce the project, expressing gratitude as she steps into Telugu cinema. In her post, she introduced Manga and spoke about beginning her journey in an industry that celebrates rooted storytelling. She described the experience as one that has instilled humility, patience and faith, while thanking the team for trusting her with her debut. She also highlighted that the film is directed by Ajay Bhupathi and features music composed by GV Prakash Kumar. In a follow-up post, Rasha elaborated on her character, calling Manga the emotional anchor of Srinu’s life—his comfort, pain and peace. She described the debut as a moment she will always cherish and thanked director Ajay Bhupathi for his guidance and belief in her. She also appreciated her co-star Jaya Krishna Ghattamaneni for being supportive, adding that this marks just the beginning of an exciting journey ahead.   Source: NDTV

India’s Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) has asked the Supreme Court to hear its views if filmmakers challenge the Madras High Court order on the release of actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan. The Madras High Court had earlier set aside a single judge’s order that directed the board to give the movie a U/A 16+ certificate. The division bench allowed the filmmakers to revise their petition and have it heard again by the single judge if they wish. The court said the single judge acted without giving the CBFC a chance to respond. It also ruled that the petition was not maintainable, as it asked the board to issue a certificate instead of challenging its earlier order. Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to hear the case and told the high court to decide it by January 20. By filing a caveat, the CBFC wants to ensure it can present its position if the filmmakers move the top court. The case shows ongoing disputes in India over film certification and the rights of producers and regulators.   With inputs from NDTV

Breakout star Ahaan Panday has revealed that neither he nor his Saiyaara co star Aneet Padda expected audiences to turn up in large numbers to watch a film led by two newcomers, even as the movie went on to become one of the biggest hits of 2025. In an interview with Grazia India, Ahaan said he and Aneet had realistic expectations while shooting the film, directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films. “Aneet and I even discussed this on set that even if only two people walked out of the theatre feeling something, we would have done our job,” he said. “We knew we could not expect audiences to flock to watch two newcomers on the big screen.” Ahaan, who made his acting debut as struggling musician Krish Kapoor, said he worked deeply on shaping the emotional arc of his character. He revealed that he kept a diary throughout the shoot, noting Krish’s inner thoughts and emotions before every scene. Madonna hails Margate and Tracey Emin as creative haven “When I read the script, I felt there was no softness in Krish initially. There was more duality,” he said, adding that he consciously brought vulnerability and emotional depth to the character in the second half of the film. Recalling a quiet moment on set, Ahaan said he and Aneet once sat together on a beach discussing their anonymity at the time. “I told her that nobody knows my face, and nobody really knows hers either,” he said, noting that both remained grounded by focusing on emotional impact rather than fame. “That’s our job as artists, to move even one person,” Ahaan said, adding that the overwhelming audience response far exceeded their expectations. By the end of 2025, Saiyaara topped IMDb’s list of the Top 10 Most Popular Indian Movies of the year. Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda also claimed the top two spots among IMDb’s Most Popular Indian Actors, while Mohit Suri led the platform’s inaugural Most Popular Indian Directors list. Fans pay tribute as Arijit Singh quits Bollywood playback singing Ahaan was later named Best Debutant Actor of the Year at the NDTV Indian of the Year awards in December 2025. Saiyaara explores themes of love, loss and heartbreak, with Ahaan starring opposite Aneet Padda, who plays a young writer diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s disease. #With inputs from NDTV

The glitter surrounding Wicked: For Good, the sequel to the hit Broadway adaptation, faded sharply after the film failed to secure a single Oscar nomination, despite its predecessor earning 10 nods a year earlier. The absence stunned awards watchers, particularly as the sequel had entered the season as a strong contender. Lead actors Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande both received Golden Globe nominations, while the film was shortlisted in several technical categories and tipped for recognition in best original song and supporting actress. Industry analysts say the disappointment reflects a broader cooling of enthusiasm. Critics were notably less impressed this time, with the film’s Rotten Tomatoes score dropping significantly from the first instalment. Several high-profile reviews labelled the sequel overlong and lacking the spark that made the original a cultural moment. Observers also point to franchise fatigue. Splitting the musical into two films initially seemed bold, but the second half of the story, expanded to feature-length scale, struggled to maintain momentum. Box office figures echoed that decline, with the sequel earning substantially less than the first film worldwide. Marketing dynamics also shifted. While the original benefitted from a vibrant, viral promotional campaign driven by the chemistry between its stars, the sequel’s publicity push was comparatively subdued, offering little novelty to rekindle the earlier excitement. The Academy’s choices this year underlined that change in mood, favouring original, standalone films over sequels. For many in Hollywood, the Oscars shutout signalled that the magic which once surrounded Wicked had finally worn off.   With inputs from BBC