United News of Bangladesh

Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda’s debut film Saiyaara is set to continue its box office dominance with no major Hindi film releases scheduled for July 25, giving it an uninterrupted two-week theatrical run. Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara released on July 18 and has already crossed the ₹100-crore mark within just four days, placing it among the top five highest-grossing films of 2025. The film debuted alongside Anupam Kher’s Tanvi the Great, which opened to lukewarm reviews and posed little competition. With no new Hindi titles hitting theatres this Friday, Saiyaara will continue its solo streak. Notably, Ajay Devgn and Sanjay Dutt’s Son of Sardaar 2, initially slated for July 25, has been pushed to August 1 to avoid direct competition with the Saiyaara juggernaut. The film will now clash with Dharma Productions’ Dhadak 2. Meanwhile, Kajol and Prithviraj Sukumaran’s Sarzameen is skipping a theatrical release altogether and will premiere directly on JioHotstar on July 25. Similarly, Param Sundari starring Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, which was earlier expected to release this week, has been delayed. The only potential challenger to Saiyaara at the box office is Marvel Studios’ The Fantastic Four: First Steps, releasing the same day. With a massive $200 million budget, the film marks the 37th installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the second reboot of the Fantastic Four series. Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Bandar’ starring Bobby Deol to premiere at TIFF 2025 Saiyaara, a romantic drama, has captivated audiences with strong performances and a compelling narrative. Its rapid ascent at the box office places it in elite company alongside Chhaava (₹601 crore), Housefull 5 (₹183 crore), Raid 2 (₹173 crore), and Sitaare Zameen Par (₹163 crore), the spiritual sequel to Aamir Khan’s 2007 classic Taare Zameen Par. In summary: With no Hindi competition until August, Saiyaara is poised to extend its theatrical success and could significantly climb the year’s box office rankings. Source: NDTV 

Bobby Deol’s upcoming film Bandar (Monkey in a Cage), directed by acclaimed filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, is set to have its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2025. Inspired by true events, Bandar will be screened at TIFF, which runs from September 4 to 14 in Canada. Deol announced the news on Instagram, unveiling the film’s poster and writing, “The story that should not have been told… but is the official selection at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival 2025.” The film also features actress Sanya Malhotra in a pivotal role. Fellow actors including Vikrant Massey and Chandan Roy Sanyal congratulated Bobby on the milestone. ‘Superman’ tops box office again with $57.3 million in second weekend Deol was last seen in Daaku Maharaaj and has a lineup of upcoming films including Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1, Alpha, and Jana Nayagan. Kashyap, known for films like Gangs of Wasseypur and Dev.D, last premiered Kennedy at Cannes 2023. Bandar continues his streak of dark, socially charged cinema. Source: NDTV

Debutants Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda's romantic drama Saiyaara has taken the box office by storm, collecting ₹83 crore in its opening weekend and securing a spot among the top five biggest opening weekends of 2025. Directed by Mohit Suri and produced by Yash Raj Films, Saiyaara earned ₹21 crore on Friday, ₹25 crore on Saturday, and peaked on Sunday with ₹37 crore, according to Sacnilk. The film's strong performance has already outpaced the opening weekend collections of Suri’s previous hits such as Ek Villain (₹16 crore) and Aashiqui 2 (₹6.1 crore). The film recorded high occupancy rates, with 78.53% in afternoon shows, 88.15% in evening screenings, and 79.32% at night. These figures signal strong word-of-mouth and sustained audience interest. New Korean Drama Lineup for August 2025 : 10 Binge-worthy Releases Starring Ahaan Panday as a struggling musician and Aneet Padda as a young writer diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s, Saiyaara tells a poignant tale of love and heartbreak. It has set a new benchmark for films fronted by newcomers, surpassing the lifetime India net collection of Student of the Year (₹70 crore) and is now close to overtaking Dhadak (₹95.12 crore). With emotional storytelling and a musical backdrop, Saiyaara is now positioned as one of 2025’s most successful Bollywood debuts — both critically and commercially.

The release date of Ajay Devgn’s upcoming comedy film Son of Sardaar 2, co-starring Mrunal Thakur, has been shifted from July 25 to August 1, 2025, the makers announced on social media earlier today. With this change, Son of Sardaar 2 will now go head-to-head with Dhadak 2, starring Triptii Dimri and Siddhant Chaturvedi, at the box office on the same day. Sharing the update, the makers wrote, “Jassi Paaji and toli will see you in cinemas worldwide on 1st August 2025.” Originally, Param Sundari, featuring Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra, was also scheduled for release on July 25. However, a revised teaser released with Maalik—a Rajkummar Rao-Manushi Chhillar starrer—confirmed that Param Sundari has been moved to August. The new teaser replaced "This July" with "This August" on its final slate. One week after Kap’s Cafe Attack, Kapil Sharma begins promotions for Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2 in Dubai Directed by Vijay Kumar Arora, Son of Sardaar 2 blends action and comedy with a vibrant Punjabi setting, filmed largely in Scotland. The film also marks the final screen appearance of Mukul Dev, who passed away on May 23, 2025. The ensemble cast includes Sanjay Mishra, Chunky Panday, Neeru Bajwa, and others. Produced by Ajay Devgn and Jyoti Deshpande under Jio Studios and Devgn Films. Source: NDTV 

A week after his restaurant, Kap's Cafe, in Surrey, British Columbia, was attacked, comedian and actor Kapil Sharma has resumed his professional commitments. He recently updated fans via Instagram that he is preparing for a dance sequence in his upcoming film Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2. What’s New In his latest Instagram post, Kapil is seen dressed in a stylish embroidered black blazer with matching pants and shirt. The photo features the iconic Burj Khalifa in Abu Dhabi in the background, with Kapil proudly showing off his fit physique. He captioned the photo: “Ready to dance. #kiskiskopyaarkaroon2.” Recap of the Kap's Cafe Attack Kapil Sharma’s Canadian restaurant, Kap's Cafe, was attacked on July 9, 2025, just five days after its grand opening on July 4. According to reports, nine gunshots were fired at the café’s window. Although no one was injured, Khalistani terrorist Harjit Singh Laddi claimed responsibility for the attack. Laddi, known to be associated with Babbar Khalsa International and one of India’s most wanted terrorists, allegedly ordered the attack due to remarks made during The Kapil Sharma Show that he deemed offensive. In response, the café team shared a heartfelt message on Instagram Stories, expressing their deep disappointment and shock. “We opened Kap's Cafe with a vision of creating warmth, community, and joy through coffee and conversation,” the message read. “It’s heartbreaking to see violence disrupt that dream. But we’re not giving up.” The note also thanked supporters for their kind messages and prayers, adding, “This café stands because of your belief in our dream. Let’s stand united against violence and preserve Kap's Cafe as a place of connection and peace.” Despite the recent attack on his newly opened café, Kapil Sharma has shifted focus back to work. Currently in Abu Dhabi, he is promoting Kis Kisko Pyaar Karoon 2, with preparations underway for an upcoming dance shoot.

CBS has announced it will cancel “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2026, ending a decade-long run of one of late night television’s most influential programs and removing a prominent critic of former President Donald Trump from the airwaves. The announcement came Thursday, shortly after Colbert publicly criticized a $16 million settlement between CBS’s parent company Paramount Global and Trump over a disputed “60 Minutes” interview. Speaking at New York’s Ed Sullivan Theater, Colbert informed his audience, “Next year will be our last season. It’s the end of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.” The audience responded with boos and groans. “Yeah, I share your feelings,” the 61-year-old host said. A joint statement from top Paramount and CBS executives described the cancellation as “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” emphasizing that it was “not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.” Justin Bieber drops surprise album 'Swag' — His most personal work yet Colbert expressed outrage over the settlement reached to resolve Trump’s lawsuit against Paramount, calling it a “big fat bribe.” He said, “I don’t know if anything will repair my trust in this company. But, just taking a stab at it, I’d say $16 million would help.” Since taking over the show in 2015, Colbert had been a key figure in political satire, often featuring politicians alongside celebrities. His program recently received its sixth Primetime Emmy nomination and won a Peabody Award in 2021. Nielsen ratings show Colbert leading his timeslot with about 2.4 million viewers. The cancellation sparked political reaction. Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren demanded transparency if politics influenced the decision. Colbert’s fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel posted support online, while actor Jamie Lee Curtis criticized attempts to silence voices amid political tensions. Late-night television has faced economic challenges, including declining ratings and ad revenue. CBS also recently canceled “After Midnight,” hosted by Taylor Tomlinson. Bill Carter, author of the late shift, said, “If CBS thinks people are just going to swallow this, they’re really deluded.” Andy Cohen lamented, “It is a very sad day for CBS that they are getting out of the late-night race.”

Netflix reported strong earnings for the April-June quarter, continuing its trend of steady growth, but still fell short of some investors' higher expectations. The streaming giant earned $3.1 billion in net income, or $7.19 per share, marking a 46% year-on-year increase. Revenue rose 16% to $11.08 billion, aligning closely with analysts’ projections. The company also slightly raised its full-year revenue forecast, expressing optimism that a strong content slate will attract more subscribers in the second half of the year. “We’re incredibly excited about the rest of this year and confident heading into 2026,” said Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos during a video call with analysts. Despite the upbeat results, Netflix shares dipped 1% in after-hours trading, as some investors had hoped for a more aggressive upgrade to full-year guidance, said Thomas Monteiro, an analyst at Investing.com. Netflix’s stock has gained 43% so far this year, driven largely by the success of its ad-supported tier introduced in late 2022 after a subscriber slump. The service now boasts over 300 million subscribers, though Netflix stopped releasing quarterly subscriber figures at the start of this year. The platform continues to perform well in both content and advertising. It recently received 120 Emmy nominations, second only to HBO Max. Popular shows like Sirens, Ginny & Georgia, and The Four Seasons, alongside wrestling, boxing, and NFL content, have helped retain and grow its audience. Netflix’s fictional K-pop group Saja Boys break BTS record Netflix’s advertising business is also gaining momentum, with the company projecting ad revenue to double this year. Though largely insulated from President Donald Trump’s trade policies, Netflix could face future risks if proposed tariffs on foreign entertainment are enacted. In a move seemingly aimed at easing concerns, Netflix highlighted its $125 billion investment in U.S. productions between 2020 and 2024 in its quarterly letter. Source: Agency 

On February 28, 2025, Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra revealed they were expecting their first child through a joint Instagram post. The post featured a tiny pair of baby socks with the caption, “The greatest gift of our lives. Coming soon.” Now, the couple has joyfully announced the arrival of their baby girl. In a heartfelt message shared on social media, they wrote: “Our hearts are full and our world forever changed. We are blessed with a baby girl. – Sidharth and Kiara.” Earlier this year, on February 7, the couple celebrated their second wedding anniversary. Kiara marked the occasion with a playful video tribute to Sidharth, humorously recreating a scene from their viral wedding clip. In the original video, Kiara walked toward Sidharth, who jokingly pointed at his watch. In her anniversary version, she pulled a sledge with Sidharth on it during a workout, captioning it, “How it started, how it's going. Happy Anniversary to my partner in everything. Love you @sidmalhotra.” Sidharth also shared a couple of never-before-seen wedding photos to commemorate the day. On the professional front, Sidharth Malhotra is preparing for the release of Param Sundari, in which he stars opposite Janhvi Kapoor.  

BTS member Jungkook has confirmed that the global K-pop sensation is preparing for a comeback album, which is expected to be released in spring 2026. The announcement came during a recent live session on the fan platform Weverse, where Jungkook reunited with fellow bandmates Jimin and Taehyung (V) to interact with fans. The group shared light-hearted moments from their military service, with Jimin recalling a humorous memory of Jungkook singing in his sleep. “It sounded amazing," Jimin said, according to a translation by @BTStranslation on X. Jungkook explained that he had a dream-within-a-dream experience and wished he could record the melody. “I could have remembered it if I had been awake," he joked, noting that phones were not allowed during service. The highlight of the session came when Jungkook discussed BTS’ upcoming album, their first full group release since BE in 2020. “We’re aiming for next spring. Now, no matter what the outcome is, we have to release something. Right?" he said. Jimin echoed the sentiment, adding, “Our ARMY has waited so long, we can’t delay it any longer." BTS’ ‘Dynamite’ ranks 34th on Apple Music’s decade list Despite the excitement, Jungkook expressed some apprehension. “We have to work hard until next spring. Honestly, I’m a bit worried,” he admitted. With all seven members now discharged from South Korea’s mandatory military service, BTS is preparing for a full-fledged return. Jin and J-Hope were the first to complete their duties, followed by the rest in recent months. Jungkook also spoke about his songwriting process, comparing it to that of leader RM (Namjoon). “I can’t write lyrics like Namjoon-hyung. I’m very straightforward and realistic, so the wording doesn’t come out,” he said. After nearly four years, BTS is officially on the path to reuniting with fans through music once again. Source: News18

Aiming to create opportunities for Bangladeshi women to represent the country on global platforms, the ‘Miss Bangladesh Impact Forum 2025’ was officially launched on Tuesday at Le Méridien Dhaka. The announcement came from Meghna Alam, Miss Earth Bangladesh 2020 and Chairperson of the Miss Bangladesh Foundation, who inaugurated the event highlighting its expanded scope from a beauty pageant to a global diplomatic and leadership platform. At the launching ceremony, it was announced that Bangladeshi women aged between 18 and 26 — who are unmarried, responsible citizens, environmentally conscious, and culturally aware — will be eligible to apply for the competition starting July 17 via www.missbangladesh.com. July Uprising: Drishawmaddhom Shilpi Shomaj announces cultural drive Following an initial selection process, 100 shortlisted participants will be invited to audition on September 26 at Le Méridien Dhaka. From them, 20 finalists will be selected for a month-long fellowship programme, where they will work on creating impactful stories using plastic and waste materials as part of their advocacy. The fellowship includes training in pageantry, advocacy speech, entrepreneurship, reproductive and mental health, and fitness. The final winner will be crowned ‘Miss Bangladesh Earth’ and will represent Bangladesh at the 25th Miss Earth pageant in the Philippines, which focuses on environmental justice and sustainable development. Last year, through the ‘Miss Bangladesh Beauty Pageant 2024’, 10 Bangladeshi women had the opportunity to represent the country in various international competitions across Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. The initiative culminated in the national winner participating in the Miss Earth competition, associated with the United Nations and global climate justice movements. Speakers at the event shared their personal experiences on overcoming societal pressures and promoting women’s visibility in leadership. Among the attendees were Dr Tasin Afrin Diana, SDG Coordinator of Miss Bangladesh Foundation; Tahreen Zerin, international legal advisor; Alisha Pradhan, CEO of HerNet TV; Dr Nasreen Siraj Anny, Assistant Professor at BRAC University; Konstantinos S Gabriel, GM of Le Méridien Dhaka; renowned singer Mehreen; Neela Israfil, NCP political leader; and Katerina Don, Co-Founder and Creative Director of CholPori and Curator at HerStory Foundation and Publications. Addressing the gathering, Meghna Alam said, “This forum is a response to silence, stigma, and barriers. We are uniting the nation, preserving the environment, and nurturing leadership." "Bangladesh doesn’t seek sympathy — it demands respect and partnership. What we seek is solidarity through this initiative,” Meghna Alam added. The forum’s programme includes press conferences to present participants as influential social ambassadors, dialogues on climate change, gender equality and youth leadership, and recognition of participants, journalists, NGOs and diplomats. It will also facilitate diplomatic dialogues with UN agencies and embassies. Notably, the Miss Bangladesh Impact Forum is positioning itself as Asia’s first SDG-linked, climate-focused, pageantry-based leadership model, focusing on SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), and SDG 17 (Global Partnerships).