In a rehearsal room in Mumbai, long before the tickets for his India tour went live, singer Nisschal Zaveri found himself in an unusual moment. He was singing a familiar ghazal line, but he recalls that afternoon, the sound of the sarangi and a 30-piece Western orchestral palette rose around him. “That’s when I realised that the mehfil’s intimacy could coexist with orchestral scale,” he remembers. That realisation became Whispers of the Infinite, a production that blends ghazal and symphony. But grandeur isn’t what he is chasing with the concerts. If anything, he is gentle with the idea of scale. “Every arrangement is designed to breathe with the poetry, not sit on top of it. The strings rise only when the sher rises, the choir appears for a moment and disappears. In a way, the grandeur actually protects the silence,” shares the Delhi-born artiste who grew up training in Hindustani classical music. Now, with over 100 original ghazals to his credit, his discography includes collaborations with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and AR Rahman’s KM Conservatory. With the latest endeavour, Zaveri believes he is carrying ghazals forward without changing their core. “I’m not breaking the form, I am honouring it. The structure of the ghazal remains untouched. All I’ve done is expand the canvas around it. When the intention is rooted in respect, even traditional listeners feel included, not threatened.” The fear of alienating traditional listeners never found its way into his process. In a world filled with synths, loops, and hooks, the singer believes listeners are hungry and the ghazal offers an antidote. He shares a recent incident to prove how the young audience too tunes into ghazals. He recalls, “Just a few days ago, during a rehearsal for Whispers of the Infinite, five or six young girls, barely six to 10 years old, walked into the room and sat through almost four hours of rehearsal. I am certain they didn’t understand a word of the Urdu I was singing. But they sat there, listening. That moment reminded me that music, when it’s honest, can be boundless. A ghazal doesn’t rely on language; it relies on feeling. In a world full of hooks and algorithms, a ghazal gives you emotion in its purest form.” Ghazals rendered by Nisschal Zaveri: . Silsile Tod Gaya Woh Sabhi . Kabhi Kaha Na Kisi Se . Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar
08 December,2025 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAfter having built a robust career spanning over four decades, Manoj Pahwa often looks for a sense of responsibility in his work. The actor couldn’t be happier that it came in the form of Perfect Family. “When you come to this industry, you do a lot of work because you need to keep your kitchen running and pay the rent. But there are some works that make you realise your purpose and what you can do for society. After working for 30-40 years, you ask yourself, ‘Are you fulfilling your responsibility as an artiste?’ This is one of those shows,” he says of the Gulshan Devaiah and Girija Oak-led dramedy that highlights the importance of mental health. Personally, Pahwa believes that mental health awareness is essential. But it took him some time to reach this realisation. Initially, he was dismissive about therapy. “Seema [Pahwa, wife and co-actor] mentioned a few times that we should see a psychiatrist. My reaction was typical of a chauvinist Punjabi man from Delhi. I told her, ‘What’s wrong with my mind? Everything is going great.’ I had no big ambitions. We were getting to eat and drink what we wanted; that was enough. But gradually, I realised the importance of therapy and mental health. I haven’t sought therapy, but we’ve understood that it’s a good thing to do.”
08 December,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuOnly a month after his directorial venture Haq hit the screens, Suparn S Varma is presenting Flames, the maiden directorial feature of Ravi Kaushik. As it premièred at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival on December 6, Varma says the movie’s “visceral and brutal” quality made him come on board almost immediately. “Meeting Ravi felt like meeting a like-minded, passionate soul who had put everything on the line. He was doing a full-time job while making his film. I remember writing my first script while still working at [a news website]. That’s how it is for so many dreamers without a back-up system,” he says. Shot in rural Haryana with local residents and one professional actor, Vikram Kochhar, Flames follows a family under emotional strain while observing the caste currents woven into everyday village life. Varma analyses, “The [caste] divide can go unnoticed, yet it’s all around us. And when it hits you, it does like a hammer.”For Kaushik, however, the theme of casteism came second. Flames was born from an emotional urgency — he had spent over a year developing another story about a father grieving a child’s death. “Those thoughts impacted my mental health adversely. As part of therapy, I pivoted to a story about survival and what a parent would do for their offspring. Once I found that emotional core, I had to get the film out of my system before it affected my personal life,” he recalls, before adding, “The caste layer forms the subtext, and naturally shapes what happens to the family.” Suparn S Varma and Ravi Kaushik That said, the engineer-turned-director has tackled the subject head-on. “Casteism may not always be overt, but you feel the undercurrent in daily conversations. While I focused on the father’s journey, it was imperative to reflect that underlying layer of discrimination and exploitation.” Dec 6When ‘Flames’ premièred at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
08 December,2025 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuWhen Salman Khan turns 60 on December 27, it’s the superstar’s fans who will receive the birthday gift. Sources close to the production have told mid-day that Battle of Galwan’s first look will be unveiled on the actor’s big day. The Apoorva Lakhia-directed war drama is currently in post-production, with multiple departments working simultaneously to complete the first promotional asset. Chronicling the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, the film sees Khan as Colonel B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. A source reveals, “Though it’s a war drama, the first look won’t be cut as an action-driven piece. It will be more about positioning the world and introducing the film’s visual language.” Apoorva Lakhia Battle of Galwan, which went on floors in August, has been shot extensively in Ladakh and was wrapped up over the weekend in Mumbai. While speculation suggested that the movie — also starring Chitrangda Singh — would miss its Eid 2026 date, now sources indicate that Khan and Lakhia may be able to meet the March deadline. Did you know? ‘Battle of Galwan’ is based on a chapter from the book ‘India’s Most Fearless 3’, written by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh
08 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuThe journey of Bigg Boss 19 finally comes to an end today, and all eyes are on the highly anticipated Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale to see who lifts the coveted trophy. As usual, the grand finale episode is expected to witness the attendance of several celebrities, and one of them is Bhojpuri power star Pawan Singh. However , ahead of the grand finale, a controversy has allegedly erupted over Pawan's appearance even ahead of the night. According to reports, Pawan Singh has received a threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Pawan Singh receives a threat According to an IANS report, the popular Bhojpuri singer, actor and politician received a threat call ahead of the finale. The "power star" has reportedly been warned not to share the stage with Bigg Boss 19 host Salman Khan. Reports add that he has been cautioned that he will face "serious consequences" if he attends the event. Reports claim, "Pawan Singh’s team alerted security agencies, and police have begun investigating the number and strengthened his security (sic)." The police have also allegedly initiated an immediate technical investigation into the caller's number. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to trace the location, network, and call details through the CDRs (Call Detail Records) to understand from where the threat was made. This is due to the long-standing rivalry of Lawrence Bishnoi with Salman Khan. Just a day ago, Pawan announced on his Instagram about his appearance on Bigg Boss 19 grand finale. Taking to social media, he wrote, "Bhaijaan ke saath Bigg Boss 19 ke Grand Finale mein humare saath judenge Powerstar Pawan Singh (sic)." Bigg Boss 19 finale Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale is set to premiere on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 9 pm onwards. It marks the end of a season filled with drama and twists. The top five finalists are Tanya Mittal, Gaurav Khanna, Farrhana Bhatt, Amaal Mallik, and Pranit More. The anticipation among fans is skyrocketing to see who will emerge as the ultimate winner of Bigg Boss 19. Meanwhile, apart from Pawan Singh, the grand finale episode is set to feature several celebrity guests, including Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Sunny Leone, and Karan Kundrra.
07 December,2025 08:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIf the latest reports are to be believed, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested in an alleged fraud case worth Rs 30 crore. This comes after a lookout notice was earlier issued against filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals in a fraud case by a renowned IVF doctor. Vikram Bhatt arrested According to reports, the arrest was carried out in a joint operation by the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police at his sister‑in‑law’s residence. Following his arrest, the Rajasthan Police are now expected to seek a transit remand from the Bandra Court to transfer Bhatt to Udaipur. Seven days prior to the arrest, Udaipur Police had allegedly issued a lookout notice against Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals accused of defrauding Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira Group of Companies. They were accused of defrauding the doctor of Rs 30 crore. The notice required all the accused to appear before the Udaipur Police by December 8. The notice also barred them from travelling abroad without permission. About the fraud case An FIR for a Rs 30 crore fraud was registered in Udaipur about 20 days earlier, against eight people, including Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt. The complaint claimed that the couple had lured Dr Murdia with a promise of Rs 200 crore earnings. The investigation is currently being handled by the Bhopalpura police. According to the police report, Dr Ajay Murdia, who is owner of Indira IVF Hospital, filed a complaint against Bhatt, his wife, their daughter Krishna (resident of Andheri West, Mumbai), Dinesh Kataria (Saheli Nagar, Udaipur), Mehboob Ansari (producer, Thane), Mudit Butattan (Delhi), Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (DSC Chairman), and Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Mumbai). Dr Murdia claimed that he wanted to produce a biopic about his late wife and hence approached Dinesh Kataria for assistance. On the suggestions of Kataria, Dr Murdia visited Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai on April 25, 2024, where Kataria introduced him to Vikram Bhatt. During the meeting, the Raaz filmmaker said he would handle all filmmaking work. He also asked Dr Murdia to send money accordingly. Bhatt also mentioned that his wife and daughter were involved as associates in the project. Notably, Bhatt has registered a firm, VSB LLP, in his wife Shwetambari Bhatt’s name. Notably, earlier this year, Vikram Bhatt-directed Tumko Meri Kasam, starring Anupam Kher, Ishwak Singh, Adah Sharma, and Esha Deol in lead roles, was released. The film was inspired by the life of Dr Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF.
07 December,2025 07:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has wrapped up his upcoming film 'Haiwaan'. On Sunday, the makers of the film took to social media, and shared pictures from the wrap up of the film. In the pictures, Saif can be seen celebrating the completion of the film's shoot with director Priyadarshan. The film marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. However, Akshay Kumar wasn't seen in the pictures. The crew also celebrated by cutting the cake.The makers wrote in the caption, "It's a wrap of our film 'Haiwaan'! Our hearts are full today with love, gratitude and pride! See you soon at the Theaters".The film also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar and Salyami Kher in pivotal roles. The film went on floors in August this year. Back in August, Akshay took to his Instagram, and shared a BTS video in which he and Saif can be seen casually talking with director Priyadarshan.The Bollywood superstar wrote in the caption, "Hum sab hi hain thode se shaitaan... Koi upar se Saint, koi andar se Haiwaan :)) Starting the shoot for Haiwaan today with my absolute favourite captain of the ship, priyadarshan.official Sir. Great to be working with Saif after nearly 17 years. Let's get the haiwaniyat rolling!! kvn.productions thespianfilms_ind". Saif and Akshay last worked together in 'Tashan', which was a commercial and critical disaster. Haiwaan is produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, and jointly produced by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn. Meanwhile, Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar are working on a project titled 'Bhoot Bangla'. The horror drama is likely to release towards the end of 2025. The movie marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan, one of the most commercially rewarding actor-director pairs of Hindi cinema.
07 December,2025 07:37 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is no stranger to controversies. The filmmaker, recently caught in a fresh controversy after a video of him from a pub in Bengaluru on November 28 went viral. After the video, showing him flashing his middle finger at the crowd, went viral, a complaint was filed against him for his allegedly "obscene" gesture Now, politician Zameer Ahmed's son and actor Zaid Khan, who was accompanying Aryan there, has now come in Aryan's support. Zaid Khan defends Aryan Khan While talking to TV9Kannada, Zaid mentioned that the gesture was not meant for everyone present there, but for his manager. Zaid said, “I have known Aryan Khan for many years. We both learned acting at the same place. He had messaged me that he was coming to Bengaluru. So we went to an opening ceremony.” While explaining what actually happened that evening, he said, “There were more people there than we thought. Aryan said that if there were so many people, I wouldn't be able to do it. His manager (also a friend) went to disperse the people. He didn't come for a long time. Then we went to the balcony to see what happened. Then he showed Aryan to his friend-cum-manager. He didn't show it to the people.” About the controversy Advocate Owaiz Hussain S, a resident of Sankey Road, has reportedly submitted the complaint to the DGP, the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the DCP (Central Division), the Inspector of the Cubbon Park Police Station, and the Karnataka State Women's Commission against Ayan Khan. He noted that there were several women present at the venue when Aryan Khan allegedly made the gesture, adding that the gesture amounted to insulting their modesty and constituted vulgar and indecent behaviour in a public place. Aryan was in Bengaluru recently to promote his brand D'yavol. IN the video now going viral, Zaid Khan is seen showing Aryan something on his phone while talking to him. As the two, along with a bunch of others, appeared on the balcony of a pub, Aryan was seen flashing his middle finger to someone on the crowd, while waving to others.
07 December,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe buzz has been building since April when the announcement was first made — Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma would star in Dadi Ki Shaadi, marking Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s Bollywood debut. Now, director Ashish R Mohan tells mid-day that the family entertainer is set to wrap up soon, and he hopes to release it on Mother’s Day (May 10, 2026) or sometime in April. After a 40-day schedule in Shimla, Mohan shares that although most of the shoot is complete, some patchwork scenes, including an end-credit song, remain to be filmed in January. “I wanted to complete the film after I locked my release date. We had shot a song choreographed by Ganesh [Acharya] master in Shimla earlier this year, but a one-day shoot remained as there was talk of a [conflict between] India and Pakistan,” he recollects. On May 7, India launched strikes on Pakistan in an operation code-named Operation Sindoor. For safety, Mohan returned to Mumbai with the cast and crew. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Ashish R Mohan He shares that the finale number features “700 children from the schools in Shimla and outside and has the entire cast in it. I will invite the entire cast to come down [to] shoot the song and scenes — in Golden Tobacco Factory or Film City. [We also have] one-day scene to shoot with Riddhima,” adds the filmmaker. Currently in post-production, Dadi Ki Shaadi is a comedy revolving around a family who gets involved in a family matriarch’s marriage. Earlier, the film — also starring South superstar Sarath Kumar, Nikhat Hegde, Tejaswini Kolhapure, and Sadia Khateeb — was planned for a December release. The makers will now announce the release date on December 20.
07 December,2025 05:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRBollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit has always been called synonymous with charm and effortless grace for more than three decades. The actress recently took to her social media account in sharing a carousel post with an umpteen number of pictures of herself in her traditional best. The actress captioned it as, "A gentle glow of tradition flows through this mustard and black Sonepuri silk, carrying quiet grace in every fold. Soft ikat bandha patterns, subtle kangala motifs, and delicate woven butis give it a timeless, understated elegance," with heart emoticons. In the pictures, the 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!' actress radiates elegance in a stunning mustard and black 'Sonepuri' silk saree. Madhuri is further seen pairing the saree with a sleeveless black blouse that enhances her graceful look. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madhuri Dixit (@madhuridixitnene) For her accessories, Madhuri is seen wearing a striking gold necklace with a bold pendant, matching earrings, and multiple gold rings and bangles. With her hair neatly styled in a classic bun and her soft-glam makeup with kohl-lined eyes and a small black bindi, the actress exudes grace and timeless charm. On the professional front, the actress, after entertaining her audiences with her choices of movies and projects, is all set to appear in her next OTT show, titled 'Mrs. Deshpande'. The first glimpse of the show that was unveiled recently saw in an intense and thrilling avatar. Produced by Applause Entertainment in association with Kukunoor Movies and directed by Nagesh Kukunoor, 'Mrs. Deshpande' introduces audiences to a Madhuri Dixit that fans have never witnessed before. Her raw, stripped-back, and powerfully real avatar in 'Mrs. Deshpande' is sure to intrigue audiences. Madhuri Dixit Nene recently was on a US tour where her fans got to see their idol share some unknown facts about her personal and professional life and also watch her dance to some of her iconic Bollywood dance numbers. For the uninitiated, the actress debuted with the movie 'Abodh' in 1984 and rose to fame with her movies like 'Anjaam', 'Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!', 'Dil', 'Tejaab', 'Beta', among others. She was last seen in the OTT movie 'Majaa Ma', which was released in 2022. 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
07 December,2025 03:01 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAce cricketer Smriti Mandhana has ended her silence amid a raging controversy around her relationship with music composer Palaash Muchhal. The two were all set to tie the knot on November 23 in Sangli but it was postponed hours before the ceremony. Now, the cricketer has confirmed that the wedding has been called off and requested all to respect the privacy of her and her family. Meanwhile, Palaash addressed the 'baseless rumours' being made on the internet about him and threatened to take legal action Smriti Mandhana calls off wedding On Sunday, the vice-captain of the Indian cricket team shared a post on her Instagram stories to put an end to all speculations around her wedding. She confirmed that the wedding has been called off and requested all to give her privacy. In her statement, she said: “Over the past few weeks there has been plenty of speculation around my life, and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time. I am a very private person and I would like to keep it that way but I need to clarify that the wedding is called off. I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same. I request you to please respect the privacy of both families at this time and allow us the space to process and move on at our own pace. I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all and for me that has always been representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible and that is where my focus will forever be. Thank you for all your support. It's time to move forward.” Palaash Muchhal threatens legal action Palaash Muchhal also shared a note on his Instagram stories that read: “I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. It’s been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me. It’s the most difficult phase of my life and I will deal with it gracefully holding on to my beliefs. I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip, whose sources are never identified. Our words can wound in ways we may never understand." "While we think about these things, many people in the world are facing drastic consequences. My team will be taking strict legal action against those spreading false and defamatory content. Thank you to everyone who has stood by me with kindness in this tough time.”
07 December,2025 02:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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