On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, an announcement emerged that Imtiaz Ali and Sajid Ali were returning with another love saga, which will be an adaptation of the epic folk romance, Heer Ranjha. A day later, on Sunday, a report claimed that Rohit Safar had been finalised to play Ranjha in the film. However, a new report has debunked the rumours claiming that Rohit is not part of the film, and the casting is still not locked. Rohit Saraf in Heer Ranjha? On Saturday, a Variety India report claimed that Rohit Saraf would be the male lead in Sajid Ali’s Heer Ranjha. “While the cast has not been officially announced, Variety India has exclusively learned that Rohit Saraf is locked to play Ranjha,” the report noted. However, Hindustan Times spoke to sources close to the film's development, who reportedly denied the claims. The source confirms to the portal that the claim is untrue and that casting for the film is still in progress. The source added that an official announcement on the casting will follow soon. Rohit Saraf, rose to fame with Netflix's romantic drama, Mismatched, and has carved a niche for himself in the romantic films genre as well as shows like Ishq Vishk Rebound, Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, and Feels Like Ishq. About Heer Ranjha On Saturday, the makers of Heer Ranjha officially announced the film in a brief video teaser. The short clip did not include any actors, only a sweet tune and a hint of a tragic love story. "Some Love stories never die... From Laila Majnu to Heer Ranjha - The Love Legacy Continues," the caption read. The film marks Imtiaz and Sajid’s reunion post 2018's Laila Majnu, the film that has since become a cult classic. Heer Ranjha is set to be produced by Ektaa Kapoor’s Balaji Telefilms. In an official statement, the makers noted that the film will be “rooted in classic romance yet shaped for today's time, Heer Ranjha reimagines love for a new generation, promising a poetic and emotionally immersive cinematic experience. The title reveal has already sparked strong excitement among fans of the Laila Majnu franchise.” According to the makers, the film is expected to go on the floor soon after the cast is locked.
15 February,2026 10:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Viineet Kumar Siingh is marking one year of the blockbuster historical drama 'Chhaava', tracing his journey as a part of the film - which he has described as a "second birth." Taking to his Instagram handle, Viineet shared a nostalgic tribute to 'Chhaava' with a special video featuring audience reactions, behind-the-scenes footage, award-night moments, premiere visuals, and powerful scenes from the film. In his caption, the actor celebrated being a part of the project and wrote, "A journey of sweat, scars, silence, and roars of the audience. From rehearsals to roars, from lines on paper to lines remembered...Thank you for making this warrior live beyond the screen. A year ago, this roar echoed... and it still does. Your love, the media's words, the hours of practice, and those dialogues, every frame became history because of you. #Chhaava lives on. #1YearOfChhaava." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Viineet Kumar Siingh (@vineet_ksofficial) Further in a statement, Viineet opened up on what the film and the character of Kavi Kalash meant for him. "Chhaava is not just a film for me, it is my second birth. Becoming Kavi Kalash was not merely about playing a character; it was about living a part of my own soul. This one year has taught me so much, to believe in my dreams with unwavering faith, and to truly understand the immense power of the audience's love," he said, as per the statement. He expressed deep gratitude to director Laxman Utekar for believing in his talent, further also giving a shoutout to actor Vicky Kaushal, who essayed the character of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj "Special thanks to Vicky Kaushal, who portrayed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj my Raje and my sahchar and brought that spirit alive on screen with such strength and grace," he added. Prior to this, Vicky also shared a post, celebrating one-year completion of 'Chhaava' with a heartfelt post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) Directed by Laxman Utekar, 'Chhaava' emerged as the first blockbuster of 2025, shattering several box office records. The film revolved around the story of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Shivaji, and his courage in defending his faith and country. The film also featured Akshaye Khanna and Rashmika Mandanna in prominent characters. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 February,2026 09:51 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood actor Rajpal Yadav’s wife, Radha Yadav, recently addressed the ongoing speculation surrounding the actor's legal troubles and his current stay at Delhi's Tihar Jail. The actor is currently facing prison in connection with a cheque-bounce case. Recently, a video of the actor being released from jail went viral; however, Radha has now clarified that he remains in custody and is awaiting his next court hearing. Rajpal Yadav's wife Radha dismisses rumours During a recent interaction with Bombay Times, Radha quashed reports claiming that the actor has already been released. The rumours spread online after an old video of Rajpal thanking Salman Khan resurfaced, leading to speculation that he had secured relief. She set the record straight, she said, “As of now, he is not out of Tihar Jail. The bail hearing is scheduled for Monday (February 16).” When asked about his condition, Radha also shared an update on his well-being for his fans. “He is okay, from what I understand,” she added. She also added about the emotional backing that the family has received during this difficult period. She stated that they have been standing strong together. “Our whole family is together at this time. We are grateful for the support and love he is receiving from his fans and the film fraternity,” Radha said, expressing gratitude for their concern shown by colleagues and admirers alike. Recently, there have been several reports suggesting that actors like Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn stepped forward to help clear Rajpal’s financial dues. However, Radha refused to take specific names. “I can't take any specific names right now, but I would just want to say many people from the industry have stepped in to support. I'm not able to divulge names and figures at this stage,” she said. She also expressed hope and confidence that the matter would soon be resolved. “We are hopeful that he will be out soon. That's all I can say now. Once Rajpalji is out, he will be able speak to you and the media and give further clarity on the matter," she concluded. Rajpal Yadav controversy Rajpal Yadav has been embroiled in a Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case. He is reportedly facing legal troubles due to a loan of Rs 5 crore taken in 2010 to fund his directorial debut Ata Pata Laapata. After the film failed at the box office, the repayment issues led to a court battle. The outstanding amount, including interest, accumulated to nearly Rs 9 crore. Although the actor has deposited Rs 75 lakh so far, the court noted that a substantial portion remains unpaid, leading to him surrendering in the case.
15 February,2026 07:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRanbir Kapoor has been away from the big screen for quite some time now since his last theatrical release, Sandeep Reddy Vanga's Animal. Although he has a strong line-up of films in his kitty, his fans have been missing seeing him on the screen since 2023. Meanwhile, as fans eagerly await his next outing, a fan recently took a jibe at the actor over his delayed releases and absence from the big screen. Ranbir Kapoor reacts to fan's dig Ranbir was recently seen attending an Instagram live session for his brand ARKS, during which a fan made a comment about how his films always take years to finish. This comment was noticed by the actor, who then responded to it during the live session. Ranbir read the comment, which said“Ek superstar tha jo, ‘See you at the movies,’ bolke 3-4 saal gayab ho jaata hai (There was a superstar once who would always say see you at the movies, but then would disappear for the next 3-4 years)!” The fan was referring to Ranbir Kapoor's recurrent statement 'See you at the movies' during his award acceptance speeches. Ranbir Kapoor smiled and replied, “Yaar, it's my bad luck only! Whenever I start a movie, it is usually… People finish movies in 4-6 months, but my films take a long time. But I hope that when it releases, you forget all that time it has taken. I assure you that I am working really hard since the last 2-3 years. I have been working very hard. So I guess good things take time!” Ranbir Kapoor's work front Ranbir will next be seen in Love and War, starring alongside Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal in the lead roles. Vicky and Ranbir reportedly play Air Force officers in the period romantic drama, which is helmed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This will mark his second outing with the filmmaker after his debut film, Saawariya. Notably, the release date of Love and War has been pushed twice so far. Similarly, he will be seen as Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus Ramayana, which also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshmana, and Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman. The film will be a two-part saga, with part one releasing this year ahead of Diwali, while the concluding second part will arrive in theatres on Diwali 2027. Additionally, Ranbir is also set to reunite with Sandeep Reddy Vanga for the sequel to Animal, titled Animal Park.
15 February,2026 04:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri's romantic drama O'Romeo has been gaining momentum at the box office. It's steady growth was evident by the box office numbers on day 2 of its release, which also happened to be Valentine's Day. The Vishal Bhardwaj directorial hit the screens on February 13, 2026, and saw a steady but significant rise at the box office over its first two days in theatres. O'Romeo box office collection on day 2 After opening to approximately Rs 8.5 crore on Friday, its release day, the film witnessed noticeable growth on Saturday. As per trade reports, the film's second-day box office collection witnessed close to 45 per cent jump, earning approximately Rs 12.25 crore. With that, the film's two-day all-India nett total now stands at an estimated Rs 20.75 crore. O'Romeo has grossed Rs 24.6 crore so far at the Indian box office alone. The film also clocked around Rs 2 crore from overseas regions, thus taking its worldwide gross to an estimated Rs 26.6 crore. On Saturday, the film was reportedly screened across 4,747 shows nationwide, recording an average occupancy of 19.3 per cent. According to trade analysts, the spike was largely due to Valentine’s weekend, which usually sees couples and young audiences to step into cinemas. Another reason for the rise could be the growing curiosity and early word-of-mouth reviews of the film, which are majorly positive. The film was competing with another release, Tu Yaa Main, starring Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor, which reportedly earned an estimated Rs 1.4 crore on Saturday. Its total collection currently stands at around Rs 2 crore. About O'Romeo Apart from Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri, O'Romeo also stars Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Vikrant Massey and Tamannaah Bhatia in key roles. The film is backed by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment and directed by Vishal Bhardwaj. O Romeo is an emotionally charged story of love, loss and consequence. According to the makers, the film revolves around “the irreversible consequences of love denied.” The film draws inspiration from a chapter in Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, and is said to be on the life of gangster Hussain Ustara, played by Shahid Kapoor.
15 February,2026 03:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentImtiaz Ali has redefined romance in Indian cinema with classics like Jab We Met, Tamasha, and Rockstar, among other movies. He even backed Triptii Dimri and Avinash Tiwary’s Laila Majnu, which eventually attained cult status upon re-release. He is all set to expand the romantic universe with Heer Ranjha, which will be directed by Sajid Ali. While the filming will begin soon, reports of the lead actor have surfaced. Rohit Saraf in Heer Ranjha As per a report in Variety India, “Rohit Saraf is locked to play Ranjha. The 29-year-old actor, who has impressed audiences with performances in projects such as Ishq Vishk Rebound, Mismatched, and Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, has landed what is expected to be his most intense and challenging leading role to date. Saraf will essay the role of Ranjha, while a newcomer is set to be launched as Heer. Sources say the actress has already been finalized, though her identity is being kept under wraps for now.” Heer Ranjha first look out On the occasion of Valentine’s Day, the makers announced the film with a poignant poster. Rooted in classic romance yet shaped for today’s time, Heer Ranjha reimagines love for a new generation, promising a poetic and emotionally immersive cinematic experience. The title reveal has already sparked strong excitement among fans of the Laila Majnu franchise. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Balaji Motion Pictures (@balajimotionpictures) Heer Ranjha is the second chapter of the beloved Laila Majnu franchise, carrying forward its love legend and deep-rooted connection with audiences. Presenter Imtiaz Ali shared, “Heer Ranjha has its own world and rhythm — it speaks the love language of this generation while staying rooted in something eternal. Collaborating with Ektaa again feels like a natural continuation of a shared emotional language.” Rohit Saraf upcoming movies On the work front, Saraf will next be seen in the fourth and final season of Mismatched alongside Prajakta Koli. The series will stream on Netflix this year. Apart from this, he will be seen playing a freedom fighter in Nikkhil Advani’s historical web series The Revolutionaries. The show features Bhuvan Bam, Pratibha Ranta, Gurfateh Pirzada, and Jason Shah in key roles. The teaser gave a glimpse of the time period when India was governed by the British.
15 February,2026 01:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn the occasion of Valentine's Day, the makers of Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi-starrer ' Ek Din' unveiled a cute poster of the film. In the poster, Sai Pallavi is seen holding a muffin, seemingly to wish Junaid. The two share an adorable gaze filled with warmth and sweetness. Set against a warm, romantic winter setting, the poster shows Junaid and Sai's characters walking side-by-side on a snow-covered street, smiling softly. Both dressed in cosy winter clothes, the poster evokes the feeling of being lost in their own world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aamir Khan Productions (@aamirkhanproductions) 'Ek Din' is set to arrive as Junaid Khan's third major project in a leading role, while Sai Pallavi will make her Bollywood debut with the same. Directed by Sunil Pandey, 'Ek Din' is written by Sneha Desai and Spandan Mishra. The film is produced by Mansoor Khan, Aamir Khan, and Aparna Purohit under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions. The music is composed by Ram Sampath, with lyrics from Irshad Kamil.'Ek Din' will hit theatres on May 1, 2026. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 February,2026 12:36 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Shilpa Shetty's daughter Samisha has turned 6 years old, and to commemorate the special occasion, the 'Dhadkan' actress penned a lovely social media post for her little one. Shilpa uploaded a video on her IG that compiled some adorable moments of her baby girl over the years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shilpa Shetty Kundra (@theshilpashetty) She confessed that her daughter is the magic that lights up their lives on a daily basis. "Happy 6th Birthday to my little Samisha....You are the joy, the laughter and the magic that lights up our lives every single day. You are my miracle and watching you grow has been my greatest blessing. (sic)," Shilpa wrote on the photo-sharing app. Wishing her little munchkin great health and happiness, she went on to add, "May you always be blessed with great health, endless happiness and love beyond measure. Stay curious, stay kind and keep shining my baby girl… Mama loves you forever." Shilpa further added the track, "My Home" by Myles Smith, as the background score. For those who do not know, Shilpa tied the knot with businessman Raj Kundra in a lavish South Indian ceremony in November 2009. The couple welcomed their firstborn, son Viaan, in 2012. They embraced parenthood for the second time in 2020 as they welcomed their daughter Samisha. Shilpa keeps the netizens on the hook with some adorable social media updates connected to her personal and professional life. Marking Valentine's Day on Saturday, Shilpa decided to recreate the iconic pose from "Titanic" with her husband. She took to her official Instagram handle and posted a photograph of her and Raj standing on the edge of a boat with their arms stretched open, just like Jack and Rose did in the James Cameron directorial. "Filmy since day one! And unapologetically so...Happy Valentine’s Day my darling Cookie @onlyrajkundra," Shilpa penned the caption. Raj also reacted to the post with the comment, "Love you my cookie #Cheesy". This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 February,2026 12:24 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSShahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri’s O’Romeo was released on Valentine’s weekend. The film opened to a lukewarm response on Day 1. Amid the underwhelming response, O’Romeo’s ratings and reviews on BookMyShow have reportedly been removed. The makers reportedly moved court to disable the section. This development has left netizens perplexed, as it has happened for the first time with a Hindi film. O’Romeo ratings disabled The O’Romeo page on BookMyShow no longer shows the audience rating score or any reviews. Below the title and trailer, one can still see how many people are interested in the film (over 100K at the time of writing). Below that, it reads, “Reviews and ratings disabled as per court order.” This marks the first time a Hindi film has moved court to get audience reviews and ratings removed from an online platform. The move comes amid increasing cases of review bombing. Many believe the move was aimed at curbing negative word of mouth. Meanwhile, a section of the internet feels the film may have fallen victim to a negative PR campaign. Sajid Nadiadwala's banner, Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, is yet to issue an official statement on the move. O’Romeo box office Sajid Nadiadwala and Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo is showing solid box office momentum, collecting Rs 23.51 crore nett in India in its first two days. After a steady opening on Friday with over Rs 9 crore, the film witnessed a sharp upward trajectory on Day 2, registering an impressive 61 percent growth and emerging as a preferred Valentine’s Day watch across circuits. More about O’Romeo Backed by Sajid Nadiadwala, O’Romeo is based on Hussain Zaidi’s novel Mafia Queens of Mumbai. It is based on the life of gangster Hussain Ustara. With Triptii Dimri as the leading lady, the project also stars Randeep Hooda, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Disha Patani, Farida Jalal, and Tamannaah Bhatia in crucial roles, among others. The film marks the fourth collaboration between Shahid and Vishal Bhardwaj after Kaminey, Haider, and Rangoon. O’Romeo is a love story set in the 1990s that is also filled with action and gangsters. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai's underworld, the project follows the story of Hussain Ustara, a raw and emotionally conflicted gangster.
15 February,2026 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRanveer Singh’s Dhurandhar continues to receive praise from all corners, and the latest to join the bandwagon is actor Ranbir Kapoor. The Animal actor has shared his admiration for Ranveer Singh's blockbuster release, even listing the film's songs among his current favourites. In a special video shared on the official Instagram page of the actor's lifestyle brand, Ranbir responded to fan questions and expressed appreciation for Ranveer's latest work. Ranbir Kapoor calls Dhurandhar his favourite film When asked about his current favourite song, the actor said, "My current favourite song... I am still listening to all the amazing tracks from Dhurandhar. That's right up there," Ranbir said, further mentioning music sensation Talwiinder. The actor also went on to call Dhurandhar his current favourite movie. "My current favourite movie is Dhurandhar. I think the entire cast and crew really smashed it... Really good times at the movies," he added. When somebody asked #RanbirKapoor, about his current Favourite movie- HE SAID IT WAS DHURANDHAR ❤️🔥💥which smashed in the Box Office!! pic.twitter.com/x7vt9dEGkG — Tithi🇮🇳❤️ (@pattnaik_tithi_) February 14, 2026 Earlier in the day, Ranbir Kapoor stepped out in the city to visit the 'ARKS' Bandra store, marking one year of his lifestyle brand. Before entering the outlet, he met with paps and fans and happily posed for them. As expected, he once again won the hearts of fashion aficionados with his look. Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming movies On the work front, Ranbir will be seen playing Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari's much-awaited two-part epic Ramayana. He also has Sanjay Leela Bhansali's directorial Love & War, Animal Park, and Brahmastra 2 in the pipeline. During the candid interaction, Ranbir opened up about the release timelines of his next two major films — Ramayana and Love & War. Addressing eager fans, he confirmed that Ramayana will be his next theatrical release, followed by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, which also stars Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal. This statement confirms the postponement of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film. The romantic period drama Love & War was earlier expected to arrive in theatres in August this year. However, with Ranbir’s latest clarification, it now appears likely that the film may release either towards the end of this year or in early next year. About Dhurandhar Coming to Dhurandhar, the film is currently regarded as the biggest hit, achieving cult status. It has rewritten box office history by surpassing Pushpa 2: The Rule to become the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. The makers are set to bring the sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, in March this year. The official teaser for the film was unveiled earlier this month. Glimpses of returning cast members Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan are featured.
15 February,2026 09:03 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIf there’s one thing Swanand Kirkire has shown us, it’s that creativity can be channelled in many forms. Over the years, he has juggled the roles of a lyricist, composer, singer, and even an actor. With Bandwaale, he has taken on a bigger punt — Kirkire has taken up the roles of creator, writer, lyricist, composer and lead actor in Prime Video’s latest musical drama. “It’s the first time I haven’t compartmentalised my creativity,” said Kirkire, who leads the show along with Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey. “Usually, I am either writing lyrics, composing music, or acting. Here, I allowed myself to be everything at once. It wasn’t about proving that I could do multiple things, but about trusting that all these skills come from the same emotional core.” Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey Jointly created by Kirkire and Ankur Tewari, Bandwaale tells the story of three artistes in a small town. As a co-creator who doubled up as the lead actor, Kirkire found himself constantly “shifting between perspective and performance”. Juggling different roles not only fuelled his experimental side, but also made him feel liberated as an artiste. “Managing so many creative dimensions wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt and fatigue, but there was also immense joy in seeing an idea evolve from the page to music and finally to performance.” Did you know? Swanand Kirkire has won two National Film Awards for Best Lyrics. In 2019, he won his third National Film Award, for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Chumbak’ (2018)
15 February,2026 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
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