United News of Bangladesh

Recently, popular Bangladeshi actress Azmeri Haque Badhan has been the talk of the town for some of her social media posts. Continuing in that vein, on Monday, the actress shared a candid conversation between herself and Indian filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, revealing her bold stance in accepting the challenging role she played in ‘Khufiya’. Released on Netflix in 2023, the Hindi-language spy thriller was directed by Bhardwaj. The film, through which Badhan made her Bollywood debut, was reportedly turned down by some other Bangladeshi actresses. Badhan acted as one of the agents of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), the foreign intelligence agency of India, alongside veteran actress Tabu, and other prominent actors including Ali Fazal, Wamiqa Gabbi, Ashish Vidyarthi and Atul Kulkarni. In the Facebook post, Badhan recounted a conversation where Vishal Bhardwaj asked why she agreed to the role when others from Bangladesh declined. “Sir, who would miss the chance to kiss Tabu?” Badhan recalled the laughing response she delivered to Vishal Bhardwaj, adding on a serious note: “I didn’t want to miss the chance to work with you. I’m an artist-I shouldn’t have fear or limits. I loved the character.” According to Badhan, Bhardwaj mentioned that several others from Bangladesh had refused the role when approached - some citing discomfort with a same-sex kiss scene and others objecting to the use of the word “Jamaat.” The actress responded, “Sir, I’m not a homophobic person. I believe everyone has the right to live their life freely. And I love my country—I don’t want Jamaat or any extremist group to ever come to power.” Expressing his appreciation, Bhardwaj reportedly said with a smile, “I cast the right person for this role, my dear. I’m so glad we’re working together.” The conversation sheds light on Badhan’s progressive stance and fearless approach to complex roles, further solidifying her position as a bold and socially conscious performer in the South Asian film industry.

Malvika Raaj, known for her childhood role as young Poo in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, has shared some exciting news – she’s expecting her first child with husband Pranav Bagga! The couple took to Instagram on Sunday to announce the pregnancy with a series of heartwarming photos. In the first few images, Malvika and Pranav are all smiles as she holds up a positive pregnancy test. Another photo captures the two walking hand-in-hand, wearing matching caps labeled “Mom” and “Dad.” Additional solo shots show each of them posing with their coordinated hats, accompanied by the sweet caption, “You + Me = 3.” Fans and fellow celebrities quickly flooded the post with congratulatory messages. Kriti Kharbanda wrote, “Congratulations you two!” while Ridhima Pandit commented, “Oh wow. Congratulations.” Ayesha Shroff added her excitement, writing, “Yippppppeeeee!!!! Congrats guyyyyys,” and Anita Raj sent blessings, saying, “Congratulations my kiddos! Lots of love & happiness. Guru Ji bless you both & the family abundantly.” Actress Amyra Dastur also commented, “Congratulations love. May you stay blessed.” Malvika and Pranav are no strangers to sharing their love story online. Last year, they jetted off to Paris for a romantic vacation, where Malvika posted photos in front of the Eiffel Tower, cheekily captioned “Paris.. Eiffel for you.” Bhool Chuk Maaf Box Office Collection Day 2: Rajkummar Rao’s film inches toward ₹20 crore milestone Their love story reached a milestone in August 2023 when Pranav proposed in Turkey. The couple tied the knot just a few months later in a picturesque beach wedding in Goa. Apart from her memorable childhood role in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, Malvika has also appeared in the action film Squad, co-starring Rinzin Denzongpa, son of actor Danny Denzongpa. Source: With input from NDTV

Iranian dissident filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival on Saturday for his revenge thriller “It Was Just an Accident," handing the festival's top prize to a director who had been banned from leaving Iran for more than 15 years. Cate Blanchett presented the award to Panahi, who three years ago was imprisoned in Iran before going on a hunger strike. For a decade and a half, he has made films clandestinely in his native country, including one film ("This Is Not a Film") made in his living room, and another ("Taxi") set in a car. The crowd rose in a thunderous standing ovation for the filmmaker, who immediately threw up his arms and leaned back in his seat in disbelief before applauding his collaborators and the audience around him. On stage, Panahi was cheered by Cannes jury president Juliette Binoche, who in 2010 in Cannes held up Panahi's name to honor the director when he was under house arrest. On stage, Panahi said what mattered most was freedom in his country. “Let us join forces,” said Panahi. “No one should dare tell us what kind of clothes we should wear, what we should do or what we should not do. The cinema is a society. Nobody is entitled to tell what we should or refrain from doing.” The win for “It Was Just an Accident” extended an unprecedented streak: The indie distributor Neon has now backed the last six Palme d'Or winners. The latest triumph for Neon, which acquired “It Was Just an Accident” for North American distribution after its premiere in Cannes, follows its Palmes for “Parasite,” “Titane,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Anora.” All those films were Oscar contenders and two, “Parasite” and “Anora,” won best picture. Last year, filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof fled Iran to attend the premiere of his film in Cannes and resettle in Germany. Panahi, though, has said that unlike his friend Rasoulof, life in exile isn't for him. He planned to fly home to Tehran on Sunday. Adnan Al Rajeev's 'Ali' makes history with Cannes Special Jury Mention “It Was Just an Accident” was inspired by Panahi's experience in prison. In the film, a group of former prisoners encounter the man who terrorized them in jail, and weigh whether or not to kill him. Panahi was jailed in Tehran’s Evin Prison after going there to inquire about the then-jailed Rasoulof. Panahi was released in 2023 after going on a hunger strike. In 2009, he was banned from traveling out of Iran after attending the funeral of a student killed in the Green Movement protests. Through those years, Panahi continued to make films illegally in Iran, without a permit, and had his films smuggled to festivals on USB drives. His travel ban was lifted after his release in 2023. “The film springs from a feeling of resistance, survival, which is absolutely necessary today,” Binoche told reporters after the ceremony. “Art will always win. What is human will always win.” The Cannes closing ceremony followed a major power outage that struck southeastern France on Saturday in what police suspected was arson. Only a few hours before stars began streaming down the red carpet, power was restored in Cannes. “A day without electricity," sighed John C. Reilly, who sang an English-language “La Vie En Rose” at the ceremony. The festival's films, he said, supplied “all the needed electricity." Other winners at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival The Grand Prix, or second prize, was awarded to Joachim Trier’s Norwegian family drama “Sentimental Value,” his lauded follow-up to “The Worst Person in the World.” Some had expected “Sentimental Value” to win the Palme, but Trier — whose film reunites him with actor Renate Reinsve — still took a major prize. “We live in a time of tremendous excess and saturation of images. Moving images are being thrown at us all the time," said Trier. "And I want to give homage to the Cannes Film Festival for being a place where the big cinematic image, which is the foundation of the moving image, the free image, the image that we take time to look at, the image where we can identify with each other in contemplation and empathy, to be cherished in this place in such a way is very important in this moment.” Kleber Mendonça Filho’s Brazilian political thriller “The Secret Agent" won two big awards: best director for Filho and best actor for Wagner Moura. Though Cannes juries are generally urged to spread awards around, the two for “The Secret Agent” showed the jury's strong feelings for it. Asked about the two prizes, juror Jeremy Strong explained, simply, “That was our wish.” The wins, which followed the international film Oscar victory for Walter Salles' “I'm Still Here” in March, gave Brazil more to celebrate. On X, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, said the awards “show that our country’s cinema is second to none.” The jury prize was split between two films: Óliver Laxe’s desert road trip “Sirât " and Mascha Schilinski's German, generation-spanning drama “Sound of Falling.” Best actress went to Nadia Melliti for “The Little Sister,” Hafsia Herzi's French coming-of-age drama. Power outage hits Cannes Film Festival and traffic in southeastern France The Belgian brothers Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, who are two-time Palme d'Or winners, won best screenplay for their latest drama, “Young Mothers.” Its their ninth prize in Cannes. The festival's award for best first film, the Camera d'Or, went to Hasan Hadi for “The President's Cake,” making it the first Iraqi film to win an award at the festival. What else shaped Cannes this year Saturday's ceremony brought to a close a 78th Cannes Film Festival where geopolitics cast a long shadow, both on screen and off. Shortly before the French Riviera extravaganza, which is also the world's largest movie market, U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea of a 100% tariff on movies made overseas. Most filmmakers responded with a shrug, calling the plan illogical. “Can you hold up the movie in customs? It doesn’t ship that way,” said Wes Anderson, who premiered his latest, “The Phoenician Scheme” at the festival. At the opening ceremony, honorary Palme d'Or recipient Robert De Niro called Trump “America's philistine president.” Other top American films in Cannes included Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” (which pulled Lee away from his New York Knicks but not out of their blue and orange color), the Christopher McQuarrie-Tom Cruise actioner “Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning," and Ari Aster's “Eddington,” which found a divisive reaction. Panahi's win put him in rare company. He's now won Cannes' Palme d'Or, Venice's Golden Lion (for “The Circle”) and Berlin's Golden Bear (for “Taxi”). Only three other filmmakers have done that: Henri-Georges Clouzot, Michelangelo Antonioni and Robert Altman. Addressing reporters after his win, Panahi spoke about filmmakers and artists always being able to find a way, “even in complicated situations.” Ishaan Khatter on shifting from The Royals to Homebound: "To Be Honest, It Was..." “They must realize that no powers that be can halt such people in their tracks,” said Panahi. “You have this power.”

In a historic feat for Bangladeshi cinema, filmmaker Adnan Al Rajeev and his team have brought home the country’s first-ever award from the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, winning a Special Jury Mention for their short film 'Ali'. Rajeev confirmed the news on his social media platforms from Cannes, writing: “This is for Bangladesh. Thank You Festival de Cannes.” Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki congratulated the team in a Facebook post, saying: “Congratulations Adnan Al Rajeev and team 'Ali' for winning Special Jury Mention at Festival de Cannes! Very very proud of you all.” Celebrated actress and Rajeev’s wife, Mehazabien Chowdhury, also shared her excitement, posting: “Bangladesh just got its first award from Cannes!!! Congrats Adnan Al Rajeev and Team ALI!!!!” The 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival concluded on Saturday night in the picturesque coastal town in southern France. The 12-day cinematic celebration came to an end with an award ceremony at the iconic Grand Théâtre Lumière inside the Palais des Festivals. Amid red carpet glamour, world premieres, and industry networking at Marché du Film, this year’s official selection included 11 short films from among 4,781 global submissions. 'Ali' was among the few chosen for competition and was screened at the Debussy Theatre and Bazin Theatre on Friday. Directed by Adnan Al Rajeev, 'Ali' is a 15-minute narrative that follows the story of a teenager living in a conservative coastal town in Bangladesh, where women are forbidden to sing. Hoping for a way out, the boy enters a singing competition in the city — with a twist: he can sing in a female voice. The official screening of 'Ali' was attended by the film’s director, cast, producers, and members of the Bangladeshi delegation. Cannes has long been a dream stage for Bangladeshi filmmakers. That dream was first conquered in 2002, when Tareque Masud’s 'Matir Moina' was selected for the Directors' Fortnight section.  In 2021, Abdullah Mohammad Saad’s 'Rehana Maryam Noor' became the first Bangladeshi film to be included in the festival’s official selection, under the Un Certain Regard section. With 'Ali' becoming the first Bangladeshi film to win an official Cannes award, industry insiders are hailing the moment as a significant milestone in the country’s cinematic history.

Actor Mukul Dev, known for his versatile performances across Hindi, Punjabi, and South Indian cinema, as well as television, has passed away at the age of 54. The cause of his death has not been revealed. Mukul, who began his acting journey in the mid-1990s, had been keeping a low profile in recent years. His last known appearance will be in the upcoming film Son of Sardaar 2, which will now serve as his cinematic swansong, reports Hindustan Times. Actor Vindu Dara Singh shared the news of Mukul’s demise on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “Rest in peace my brother #MukulDev! The time spent with you will always be cherished and #SonOfSardaar2 will be your swansong where you will spread joy and happiness to the viewers and make them fall down laughing!” Vindu said, “After his parent's death, Mukul was keeping to himself. He would even step out of the house or meet anyone. His health deteriorated in the last few days and he was in the hospital. My condolences to his brother and everyone who knew and loved him. He was an amazing person, and we will all miss him.” Actor Deepshika Nagpal expressed her disbelief, saying she couldn't believe that Mukul is no more. Ishaan Khatter on shifting from The Royals to Homebound: "To Be Honest, It Was..." Manoj Bajpayee also paid tribute on social media, “It’s impossible to put into words what I’m feeling. Mukul was a brother in spirit, an artist whose warmth and passion were unmatched. Gone too soon, too young. Praying for strength and healing for his family and everyone grieving this loss. Miss you meri jaan…until we meet again, Om Shanti.” Born on September 17, 1970 in New Delhi, Mukul Dev made his television debut in Mumkin in 1996 and entered films the same year with Dastak. He went on to act in several notable films including Yamla Pagla Deewana, Son of Sardaar, R... Rajkumar, and Jai Ho.

A major power outage struck southeastern France on Saturday, disrupting traffic and briefly halting events at the Cannes Film Festival as the prestigious event prepared to hand out its top prize. About 160,000 households in the Alpes-Maritimes department lost electricity after a high-voltage line fell Saturday morning, electricity network operator RTE said on X. The outage came hours after a fire at an electrical substation near Cannes overnight had already weakened the grid. Cannes Film Festival organizers confirmed the outage affected the early activities of Saturday and said the Palais des Festivals — the Croisette's main venue — had switched to an independent power supply. “All scheduled events and screenings, including the Closing Ceremony, will proceed as planned and under normal conditions,” the statement said. "At this stage, the cause of the outage has not yet been identified. Restoration efforts are underway."  Ishaan Khatter on shifting from The Royals to Homebound: "To Be Honest, It Was..." Still, screenings at the Cineum, one of the festival’s satellite venues, were briefly suspended, the festival added. Traffic lights in parts of Cannes and the surrounding city of Antibes stopped working after 10 a.m., leading to traffic jams and confusion in city centers. Most shops along the Croisette remained closed, and local food kiosks were only accepting cash. Train service in Cannes was also disrupted.  Michael Jackson biopic with $155 million budget delayed to 2026 Authorities said restoration efforts were ongoing and urged residents to remain cautious during travel.

Ishaan Khatter, who recently created waves with his role as Prince Aviraaj Singh in The Royals, is now making headlines with his Cannes debut in Homebound, directed by Neeraj Ghaywan. The film, which also stars Janhvi Kapoor and Vishal Jethwa, has marked a significant moment in Ishaan’s career. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ishaan opened up about the stark contrast between his suave, polished role in The Royals and the emotionally intense character he plays in Homebound. According to him, the most difficult part was the preparation—truly connecting with the new character and internalizing it enough so that he could perform naturally on set. He shared that it was challenging to separate himself from the character in Homebound, especially since filming for the project began right after finishing The Royals. A major part of the transformation, he revealed, was physical. Director Neeraj Ghaywan asked him to lose weight to better match the look and feel of his Homebound role. Ishaan also mentioned spending two months in Madhya Pradesh during the shoot, fully immersed in the world of the film. Despite the intense process, the critical acclaim the film received at Cannes made it all worthwhile. Homebound is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with Hollywood legend Martin Scorsese attached as Executive Producer. Source NDTV  

Fans of Michael Jackson will have to wait longer for the highly anticipated biopic “Michael,” directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Jaafar Jackson, the late pop icon’s nephew. Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer revealed during the company’s Q4 2025 earnings call that the film is expected to be delayed beyond the 2025 fiscal year, reports Variety. Feltheimer said, “I would note that it is likely we will move ‘Michael’ out of the fiscal year which will impact fiscal ’26 financial results but will bolster an already strong fiscal ’27 slate.” Lionsgate’s fiscal year ends on March 31, 2026, suggesting the film will likely be released sometime after April 1, 2026. Variety reported last month that the film could be split into two parts, further contributing to the delay from its original release date of October 3 this year. Avengers’ Delayed: Marvel pushes Doomsday, Secret Wars to December 2026 and 2027 “Michael” wrapped principal photography in May last year, but the script by John Logan is currently being revised ahead of planned reshoots. Despite being prominently featured in last year’s Lionsgate CinemaCon presentation, no footage was shown at this year’s event. The biopic, which carries a budget of approximately $155 million, features a star-studded cast. Colman Domingo and Nia Long portray Jackson’s parents Joe and Katherine Jackson, while Miles Teller plays attorney John Branca. Larenz Tate appears as Motown founder Berry Gordy, Laura Harrier as music executive Suzanne de Passe, and Kat Graham as Diana Ross.

Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings co-owner Preity Zinta has taken legal action against her fellow board members, Mohit Burman and Ness Wadia, by filing a case in a Chandigarh court. The three serve as directors of KPH Dream Cricket Private Limited, the company that owns the IPL franchise Punjab Kings. Zinta is contesting the validity of an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on April 21, claiming it violated procedures laid out in the Companies Act, 2013, and other governance rules. She had raised objections to the meeting in an email dated April 10, but says her concerns were disregarded. Zinta alleges the meeting was conducted by Burman with Wadia’s backing. Although she and another director, Karan Paul, were present at the meeting, Zinta is urging the court to deem it invalid. A central issue in her petition is the appointment of Muneesh Khanna as a director, which both she and Paul opposed. Zinta’s legal request also includes barring Khanna from acting as a director and suspending any decisions made during the controversial meeting. She further wants the court to prohibit the company from holding additional board or general meetings unless both she and Paul are present and Khanna is excluded, until the dispute is resolved. Aishwarya Rai channels desi elegance in saree, sindoor at Cannes red carpet Despite the legal battle, Zinta continues to publicly support the team during the IPL 2025 season. Under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, the Punjab Kings have performed impressively, securing a playoff spot for the first time since 2014. With 17 points from 12 games, they currently rank third and are aiming for a top-two finish. Their final league matches are scheduled against Delhi Capitals on May 24 in Jaipur and Mumbai Indians on May 26. Source: With inputs from NDTV

The upcoming Nazrul Concert 2025 originally scheduled for May 30 has been postponed by one day to pay tribute to the late President Ziaur Rahman on his 44th death anniversary. The concert will now take place on Saturday, May 31 at 5 pm on the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue. Organised by the Kazi Nazrul Institute, the concert marks the release of a new music album featuring 10 inspirational songs by the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, remastered by 10 of the country’s most popular bands. Participating bands include Warfaze, Souls, Dalchhut, Ark, Shironamhin, Different Touch, MNB, Rebel, Black, and F Minor. The event will be inaugurated by Cultural Adviser Mostofa Sarwar Farooki. Brazilian police arrest 2 people over alleged plot targeting Lady Gaga concert in Rio In addition to live band performances of songs from the new album, the concert will also feature other motivational compositions by Nazrul, poetry recitations, and other cultural segments. Entry to the event is free for all. Speaking about the initiative, Md Latiful Islam Shibli, Executive Director of the Kabi Nazrul Institute, said, “From the start of my tenure, this album and concert were key priorities. It also received attention under Priority Program 7 of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs.” Referring to recent student-led movements, he added, “As the youth continue to fight for an equal society, Nazrul’s songs remain a powerful source of inspiration. This album is part of our commitment to that spirit.” The album features songs such as "Tora Shob Joyodhoni Kor," "Jago Onoshon Bondi," "Karar Oi Louho Kopat," "Ei Shikol Pora Chhol," "Durgo Giri Kantar Moru," "Bajiche Damama Bandhore Amama," "Porodeshi Megh," "Joy Hok Joy Hok," "O Bhai Khati Sonar Cheye Khati," and "Mora Jhonjhar Moto Uddam." Lady Gaga draws over 2 million fans to free concert on Copacabana Beach All tracks from the album will be released digitally through the Kabi Nazrul Institute’s official website and social media platforms.