cinema
Race 4 casting update: Akshaye Khanna not part of new film
Actor Akshaye Khanna will not be part of the upcoming Race 4, producer Ramesh Taurani confirmed.
Speculation had grown after the success of Khanna’s recent film Dhurandhar, suggesting he might return to the popular Race franchise alongside Saif Ali Khan. Taurani clarified that the makers have not approached Khanna and have no plans to change the storyline to include his character, which ended in the first Race film in 2008.
The producer also said that the cast of Race 4 has not been finalised. Rumours about Saif Ali Khan returning or Sidharth Malhotra joining the project were dismissed. The script is still under development.
Dhurandhar, starring Akshaye Khanna and Ranveer Singh, has been a box office hit, earning Rs 871.90 crore domestically, and continues to perform strongly.
With inputs from NDTV
1 month ago
Dhurandhar crosses ₹870 crore in India on Day 43; Ranveer Singh starrer continues box office domination
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues its record-breaking run at the Indian box office, surpassing ₹871.9 crore in domestic earnings 43 days after its release.
Directed by Aditya Dhar, the spy action thriller opened on December 5, 2025, and has been steadily raking in collections. On Day 43 alone, the film earned ₹2.1 crore, following a cumulative ₹869.8 crore over the previous 42 days, according to Jio Studios.
Read more: The Raja Saab Box Office Day 8: Prabhas’ film earns Rs 3.50 crore
The film’s weekly domestic breakdown shows strong sustained performance: ₹218 crore in Week 1, ₹261.5 crore in Week 2, ₹189.3 crore in Week 3, ₹115.7 crore in Week 4, ₹56.35 crore in Week 5, and ₹28.95 crore in Week 6.
Bollywood veteran Suniel Shetty praised the performances, particularly highlighting Ranveer Singh’s nuanced portrayal. “Ranveer Singh is 100 out of 10… showing patriotism while restrained in another country is very difficult, and the audience believes it,” Shetty said. He also commended Akshaye Khanna, describing him as “10 out of 10.”
Dhurandhar draws inspiration from major real-life events, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and Operation Lyari.
Fans can look forward to Dhurandhar 2, scheduled for release on March 19, 2026, promising another chapter in the blockbuster spy thriller franchise.
Source: NDTV
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1 month ago
The Raja Saab Box Office Day 8: Prabhas’ film earns Rs 3.50 crore
Prabhas’ latest release, The Raja Saab, which hit theatres on January 9, has continued to perform steadily at the box office. Directed by Maruthi Dasari and produced by IVY Entertainment and People Media Factory, the horror-comedy raked in Rs 3.50 crore on Day 8 (January 16), taking its total collection to Rs 133.75 crore, according to industry tracker Sacnilk.
The film saw a 34.88% occupancy in Telugu theatres on its second Friday, with evening shows drawing the largest crowds at 43.54%, followed by afternoon (37.57%), night (36.85%), and morning (21.57%) screenings.
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The Raja Saab follows an ordinary man, Raja Saab (Prabhas), who lives with his grandmother suffering from Alzheimer’s. She believes her husband, Kanakaraja, will return from a long mission, and the story unfolds when Raja Saab meets a man resembling his grandfather, leading to a heartfelt and supernatural tale.
The film’s ensemble cast includes Sanjay Dutt, Nidhhi Agerwal, Malavika Mohanan, Riddhi Kumar, Boman Irani, Murali Sharma, Zarina Wahab, Samuthirakani, VTV Ganesh, and Prabhas Sreenu.
Maruthi Dasari has also hinted at a sequel, revealing that The Raja Saab Part 2 will feature a completely new storyline within the horror genre, promising a fresh take for audiences.
Source: ndtv
Read more: Dhurandhar crosses ₹870 crore in India on Day 43; Ranveer Singh starrer continues box office domination
1 month ago
Aamir Khan, Gauri Spratt, Imran Khan attend star-studded screening of Happy Patel
Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt, along with Imran Khan and Lekha Washington, were spotted arriving hand-in-hand at the screening of Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which releases in theatres on January 16.
Ahead of the film’s release, a grand premiere was held in Mumbai on Wednesday evening. Aamir Khan drew attention as he arrived with his girlfriend Gauri Spratt, the two posing together for photographers while twinning in coordinated outfits.
The evening was also special as Aamir’s cousin Imran Khan marked his return to films after a decade. He attended the screening accompanied by his partner, Lekha Washington.
Several members of Aamir’s family and close associates were present, including his daughter Ira Khan with husband Nupur Shikhare, his son Junaid Khan, and filmmaker Kiran Rao, who came to support Aamir despite their divorce. Arhaan Khan, son of Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora, was also among the guests.
In the lead-up to the release, the makers unveiled a humorous promotional video featuring a comic face-off between Aamir Khan and Sunil Grover. The clip shows Aamir being escorted out of his office after security staff mistakenly identify Sunil Grover as the real Aamir Khan.
The video follows Aamir Khan’s public praise of Sunil Grover’s spot-on impersonation of him. Sunil’s mimicry was recently featured on The Great Indian Kapil Show episode starring Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday.
Reacting to the performance, Aamir told Bollywood Hungama that it went beyond mimicry, saying it felt so real that he thought he was watching himself. He added that the clip left him laughing uncontrollably and appreciated that it was done without any malice.
Dhurandhar’s unprecedented 40-Day Box Office rampage
Directed by Vir Das, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos releases this Friday, January 16. The film stars Vir Das, Priyanshu Chatterjee, Sanjay Dutt, Sharib Hashmi, and Imran Khan, with Aamir Khan appearing in a cameo and also serving as the producer.
Source: NDTV
1 month ago
Akshaye Khanna to return in Dhurandhar 2 after fan demand
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
1 month ago
Dhurandhar’s unprecedented 40-Day Box Office rampage
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.
1 month ago
Big night for Hamnet and One Battle After Another at Golden Globes
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.”
1 month ago
Vijay’s Jana Nayagan release delayed in the UK, US, Malaysia amid certification dispute
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
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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.
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The statement concluded by appealing for calm and unity while awaiting a favourable resolution, thanking fans for their continued support.
Source: NDTV
1 month ago
Varun Dhawan comments on Border 2 amid Pakistan release query
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
2 months ago
Mohit Suri rules out reunion with Aditya Roy Kapur
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
2 months ago