The much-anticipated noir thriller Kennedy will be available for streaming in February, bringing Anurag Kashyap’s 28th directorial venture to audiences after it made a strong impact on the international film festival circuit. Zee Studios presents a Good Bad Films production, Kennedy stars Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. Kennedy's global run The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Midnight Screenings section and has since been showcased at numerous global festivals — including the Sydney International Film Festival, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (South Korea), Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (Switzerland), MOTELX – Lisbon International Horror Film Festival, Indie Meme Film Festival (Austin, Texas), Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, London Indian Film Festival, Fantastic Fest (USA), the Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival, and the Kolkata International Film Festival, among others Written during the lockdown and shot extensively across the nights of Mumbai over a tight 30-day schedule, Kennedy is a dark, atmospheric thriller that follows an insomniac ex-cop long presumed dead who continues to operate within a corrupt system while secretly searching for redemption. The film’s haunting background score, recorded in Prague with the Prague Philharmonic Choir, further elevates the moody, immersive experience. All set to premiere on Hindi ZEE5, the movie brings Anurag Kashyap back to his gritty storytelling roots. Kaveri Das, Chief Channel Officer &TV and Business Head Hindi ZEE5, said, “At Hindi ZEE5, we’ve been deliberately moving away from formula-driven narratives and investing in stories that are bolder, distinctive, and creatively disruptive. Kennedy is born from that belief, a film that doesn’t play by familiar rules and trusts its audience to engage with something raw and unconventional. Anurag Kashyap’s voice, the film’s neo-noir sensibility, and its journey across global festivals reflect the kind of storytelling we are proud to put out on the floor in Hindi. With Kennedy, we are excited to continue building a slate that expands what Hindi storytelling can look and feel like, while bringing this distinctive cinematic experience to viewers on ZEE5.” Anurag Kashyap on film reaching home audience Speaking about the film’s digital premiere, Anurag Kashyap said, “Kennedy was born one night when I couldn’t sleep with all that was going around me. I was alone and I was playing Tchaikovsky loud all over my house and there was whisky and empty A4 size sheets and my pilot V 10 that I write with. I didn’t know what I was writing and it all poured out. I have received love and an extraordinary response from across the world for it and now I’m excited that the film will now reach its home audience as well as a much wider one. I believe they will also like the film as much .” Secrets, shadows, and survival—Kennedy premieres on ZEE5 this February.
31 January,2026 08:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA Mumbai court on Friday temporarily barred filmmaker Abhinav Kashyap from making or publishing "derogatory" comments against Salman Khan and family, saying freedom of speech doesn't mean one can use abusive and threatening language against any individual. Judge P G Bhosale passed the ad-interim ex-parte injunction against Kashyap and two others while hearing a defamation lawsuit filed by the actor. The suit, filed in a civil court against Kashyap and several others, has sought a permanent injunction and Rs 9 crore in damages. The legal action was initiated by Khan in the wake of a series of 26 video interviews and podcasts released between September and December 2025. The suit claimed Kashyap made "scandalous, false, and grossly defamatory" statements against Khan and his family in these videos. Besides Kashyap, Khushboo Hazare and major social media platforms have been named in the suit. According to the suit, these videos, broadcast on "Bollywood Thikana" channel, contain derogatory remarks that target Khan's professional integrity and personal character as well as his family members. Some of the statements highlighted in the suit include Kashyap's alleged reference to the Khan family as "convicted criminals" and "jihadi ecosystem" members. It also cited instances where Kashyap used offensive language to describe Khan's appearance, age, and personal life, and allegedly compared him to notorious criminals. Specific derogatory remarks were reportedly made against the actor's father Salim Khan, and siblings Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, the plea claimed.The lawsuit, filed through advocate Pradeep Gandhi, has sought to permanently restrain the defendants from publishing any further defamatory content or interviews. It also pleaded for directions to the defendants and social media platforms to immediately remove all the contentious contents and tender an unconditional apology. Khan also moved the court for urgent interim relief. The court, after perusal of Kashyap's statements in the interview given on the podcast, found they are "prima facie defamatory, derogatory, abusive and insulting in nature". These statements lower the image of the plaintiff in the eyes of the general public, the court said. It asserted the reputation of the plaintiff (Salman) is harmed by the defendants. Further, the court underscored that "nobody can and nobody should make any defamatory statements against anybody's family". Each individual has his privacy to be protected and image to be protected, the court added. On the contention of freedom of speech and expression, the court clarified "the right to freedom of speech and expression doesn't mean that one can use abusive and threatening language against any individual". It then temporarily restrained Kashyap and others from making, uploading videos, posting, re-posting, giving interviews, corresponding, communicating, uploading, printing, publishing, re-publishing, hosting, circulating or re-circulating any further defamatory/slanderous content. It also barred them from making any further defamatory contents, derogatory remarks, posts, messages, tweets, videos, interviews, communications in relation to the plaintiff or his family on any social media platforms till they appear and file their reply. 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
31 January,2026 08:12 PM IST | Mumbai | PTIActress Rani Mukerji returned to the big screen with the third installment of her popular Mardaani franchise. The cop drama was released in theatres on January 30. Despite strong competition from Sunny Deol’s Border 2, which has been enjoying a successful run at the box office, Mardaani 3 managed to make a solid impact on its opening day. Mardaani 3 box office Mardaani 3 earned Rs 4 crore on its opening day, according to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, who shared the figures on X. The film recorded the highest opening-day collection of the franchise. Earlier, Mardaani (2014) opened at Rs 3.46 crore, while Mardaani 2 (2019) collected Rs 3.8 crore on Day 1. Rani on wearing the uniform again Rani Mukerji said that wearing the police uniform for the third time feels like both a privilege and an honour. Expressing her excitement about returning to the character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, the actress said portraying a woman in uniform carries immense responsibility. Speaking to IANS, Rani said, “I think it’s a huge privilege and a huge honour for me to be playing a woman in uniform. Their life struggles, the challenges they face every day, and the kind of crimes they solve make them extraordinary.” She further highlighted the sacrifices and resilience of Indian female police officers, adding, “Through Shivani Shivaji Roy’s character, I can show the world what Indian female officers do day in and day out.” About Mardaani 3 Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 continues the franchise’s tradition of socially relevant storytelling. While the first film tackled human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the psyche of a serial rapist, the third installment delves into another dark and brutal social reality. Actress Janaki Bodiwala, known for Shaitaan, joins the franchise in a pivotal role. The film is written by The Railway Men writer Aayush Gupta and was released worldwide on January 30. The original Mardaani was released in 2014 and featured Rani Mukerji alongside Jisshu Sengupta, Tahir Raj Bhasin, and Anant Vidhaat Sharma. The sequel, released in 2019, was directed by Gopi Puthran and starred Vishal Jethwa.
31 January,2026 05:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAanand L Rai and Colour Yellow have dropped the second song from their highly anticipated survival romance thriller Tu Yaa Main, and it arrives as the perfect showcase of the production house's commitment to fresh, contemporary storytelling. The track, titled Jee Liya, beautifully captures the essence of modern romance with its Gen Z sensibilities and atmospheric production, in a move that is quintessentially Colour Yellow, a production house that has built its reputation on encouraging diverse narratives and providing a platform for stories that resonate with today's audiences. Jee Liya out The song's visuals beautifully trace the budding romance between Adarsh Gourav's character, a rapper from Nalasopara, and Shanaya Kapoor's Avani Shah, a well-known influencer, as the duo navigate and blend into each other's diverse and starkly opposite lifestyles. It's a celebration of how love can bridge worlds that seem incompatible on the surface. Featuring vocals by Adarsh Gourav and Lothika Jha, Jee Liya delivers an atmospheric pop vibe with an irresistible earworm quality that perfectly captures Gen Z's musical sensibilities. It’s a track complete with catchy hooks, contemporary production, and an emotional core that feels both current and meaningful. Both Adarsh and Shanaya inhabit their characters convincingly, paying homage to the trailer's opening sequence where the duo talk about their respective neighbourhoods, Virar and Churchgate, that connect their contrasting realities. The romance number shows both characters blending into one another's worlds effectively and beautifully. Jee Liya serves as the perfect emotional companion piece to the film's first track Fame Us, which has already garnered over 25 million views and set social media ablaze. The production house's approach showcases an understanding that compelling romance thrillers require both high-stakes tension and authentic emotional investment, supported by a soundtrack that elevates the narrative at every turn. About Tu Yaa Main The edge-of-the-seat trailer pulls audiences into the world of two content creators until their lives take a terrifying turn when they come face-to-face with a menacing crocodile. It takes audiences into the world of two content creators from completely different backgrounds who come together for a collaboration driven by curiosity, clout and chemistry. Shanaya plays an influencer known as Miss Vanity with 2.3 million followers, while Adarsh Gourav essays the role of singer Aalaa Flowpura from Nalasopara, having 6k followers. The two grow close and eventually begin dating. What starts off as a fun, high-energy adventure quickly takes a dark turn, turning into a pulse-pounding fight for survival as they come face to face with a menacing crocodile. Will they manage to escape, or will the croc turn their collaboration into a nightmare? As Tu Yaa Main builds momentum ahead of its February 13 release under Bejoy Nambiar’s direction, Jee Liya sets the tone for the season of love.
31 January,2026 04:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTumbbad director Rahi Anil Barve has returned with his second feature film, Mayasabha. The film, starring Jaaved Jaaferi in the lead, was released in theatres on January 30. While it has opened to mixed reviews, Barve has been actively promoting the film on social media, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from its making. Following the release, the filmmaker revealed that work on Mayasabha began in 2018 with no money and that the film was made by just 23 people. The team behind Mayasabha Sharing a picture of the crew that made the film possible, Barve wrote, “2018 end. 23 crew men. 4 mad actors. Day and night in one old theatre. 21 days. 90-pager script written by hand. 0 fees (paid my own bike petrol money). Javedji’s asthma in dust and fog. Our exhaustion.” He further added, “Girishbhai and Ankur—just two men acting as line producers, EPs, producers, and financers, while the whole industry smirked. One day Raj-DK arrived to say hi. Later, I learned that before greenlighting my mega-budget Gulkanda Tales with Prime, they had come to judge my on-set capacities. What they saw was this team.” Mayasabha budget Barve also said that he is proud of the film and stressed that ratings are not what matter the most. “We 23 guys made Mayasabha on a 7-figure budget. Me, Kuldeep (DOP), Girishbhai, and Ankur. I’m proud of us. We are filmmakers. Money, fame, names—all aside—first, we make films we love. If that doesn’t matter, nothing does. Anyone who says ‘I alone made this film’ is lying—to the world or to himself. Enjoy creating. Don’t fear 2-3-5-star ratings. Just make sure the people who trusted you and invested in you get their money back,” he wrote. Mayasabha was made on a small budget by a small team, but with big ambitions. Concluding his note, Barve said, “Kuldeep. Girishbhai. Rahi. Ankur. Four broke guys made Mayasabha in 2018 with 19 young teammates, on a budget hardly anyone will believe. Almost zero-budget filmmaking, without losing production values and without any industry support, is possible. You may like or dislike Mayasabha, but it proves one thing—it’s possible. I’m proud of us. We did it. You can too.”
31 January,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe recent batch of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice has disclosed an email that names filmmaker Mira Nair in connection with a high-profile afterparty held in 2009. Along with the mother of democratic socialist politician Zohran Mamdani, other high-profile names like Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were also mentioned in the file. Mira Nair named in Epstein Files According to the newly revealed documents, the email was reportedly sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on October 21, 2009. The message mentioned an afterparty hosted at the New York townhouse of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex trafficking-related crimes. The event took place after a screening of the film Amelia, a biographical drama directed by Nair. In her email, Siegal wrote, “Just left Ghislaine’s townhouse…after party for film." Further listing several prominent figures present at the party, she said, "Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were there…Jean Pigozzi, director Mira Nair…etc. Film received tepid reaction though women like it much more…Hillary Swank and [Richard] Gere are at stupid party in Bloomingdales cheap sportswear department…very weird." Siegal also shared her personal review of the film’s response at the time. “Film received tepid reaction though women like it much more," she wrote in the email giving a brief commentary on audience feedback. The message further mentioned other celebrity appearances at a separate promotional event, which she described in dismissive terms. “Hillary Swank and [Richard] Gere are at stupid party in Bloomingdales cheap sportswear department…very weird," the email read. She added details about the promotional strategy, saying, “Studio went for free party from store and windows for a month… Going to be in Wall Street 2 tomorrow ….more to come. xoxo Peg." About the case Notably, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is facing imprisonment for sex trafficking, is currently serving a 20–year sentence in connection with the deceased financier, convicted sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The recently released documents highlight what the government knew about the millionaire financier's sexual abuse of young girls. Notably, these files were withheld from an initial release in December. Subsequently, they were finally disclosed on January 30, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The latest files include correspondence with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew, along with some other Epstein's friends.
31 January,2026 01:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3’s hard-hitting message about saving the girl child of our country has deeply connected with top cinestars from the Indian film fraternity as well as the country’s female sporting icons like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandanna, PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Deepti Sharma, to name a few. Rani has now joined hands with the Delhi Police to raise awareness on how to protect girls and women in the national capital. Rani has lent her support to a bunch of causes focussed at protecting girls, and she lauds the efforts of the Delhi Police for their vigilance day in and day out. Rani Mukerji praises Delhi Police for keeping women safe Rani says, “Safety is not a privilege. It is a right, and no girl in this country should grow up learning fear before freedom. A society is judged by how it protects its women, and the police stand on the front line of that promise. Every uniform carries responsibility, courage, and compassion. When a woman steps out of her home, she should feel confident, not concerned, and the Delhi police force is always vigilant to take care of every girl.” She adds, “The law stands with you steadfastly. The uniform stands with you like a protective cloak around you. A nation cannot move forward while its women look over their shoulders, and I salute Delhi Police for their dedication and resilience to keep girls and women safe across the national capital.” The only female-led hit franchise of India and also the only female-led cop franchise of the country, Mardaani has always been lauded for bringing to light several atrocities faced by girls and women. About Mardaani 3 Ever since Yash Raj Films unveiled the trailer of Mardaani 3, it has become the biggest talking point in the Hindi film industry. Unanimously positive appreciation has been pouring in from all quarters for Rani Mukerji, who returns to reprise her widely loved character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, a daredevil cop who risks her life to save 93 young missing girls in a race against time. This time, Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3 focuses on a new issue of how young girls aged 8-9 years, from low-income groups, are kidnapped for a specific reason across our country. The makers have hidden the plot thus far brilliantly. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 released yesterday in theatres. Rani Mukerji is also celebrating 30 years of her glorious career with Mardaani 3, a milestone moment that has galvanised the entire film industry to come out and celebrate her legacy.
31 January,2026 01:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFrom portraying a rape survivor in her debut film Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat to playing a resilient woman battling social injustice in Mehendi, a teacher living with Tourette syndrome in Hichki, a fearless police officer in Mardaani, and a mother who takes on an entire nation for her children in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Rani Mukerji has consistently brought stories of strength and courage to the screen. The Bollywood star says she makes a conscious effort to present Indian women in the best possible light through her choice of roles. “Since the time I started working in this industry, I have always tried to portray Indian women in the best possible light. Whether they are journalists, police officers, teachers or housewives, for me, they are the real heroes, the real Mardaanis. I want to show the entire global audience how special Indian women are, how strong and empowered they are,” Rani told IANS. According to her, the empowerment of women is directly linked to the strength of the nation, which is why her film choices have always aligned with this belief. “And when Indian women are empowered, only then can our country truly become strong. That is why my choices have always reflected this belief,” she added. Rani emphasised that every Indian woman carries a unique strength within her. "I want to always show Indian women in the best light. I want to show how special Indian women are, because each one of them has a superpower within her, whether she is a housewife, a teacher, a journalist, or a police officer.” “I believe they perform their duties beautifully, balance their family lives with grace, and that is the most inspiring aspect of women in uniform and women in positions of power,” said the actress. She further spoke about women who navigate everyday life with resilience, continuing to move forward despite the challenges they face. “These are women who go about their daily lives carrying immense strength within them, powering through despite all the challenges thrown their way,” said the National Award-winner. As an Indian woman herself, Rani said it is important for her to portray what real Mardaanis and real heroes truly represent. "For me, as an Indian woman, it is very important to show what real Mardaanis and real heroes are like, because I am deeply inspired by all of them. I am inspired by every character I have played." Talking about her characters, the actress said she draws inspiration from every role she has played. She cited Debika from Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway as one such character, who fights an entire nation to bring her children back. “These are powerful women, strong women, and they inspire future generations. As an artist, my role is simply to bring them to life so that millions of people across the globe can see what they do,” concluded Rani. 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
31 January,2026 12:21 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Sunny Deol is presently basking in the success of his recent release Border 2. Commemorating the massive box office triumph of the war drama, Sunny posted a video on his Instagram handle, where he was seen celebrating with a cake-cutting ceremony surrounded by his team. As Sunny was cutting the cake, everybody was heard singing, "Happy Border to you...Happy Border to you, Happy border to Sunny Ji", Happy Border to you". Rejoicing in the moment, Sunny was also singing along with them. Later, he even lovingly asked someone to feed him the cake, "Mereko koi Khila dega kya?" On Thursday, Sunny expressed gratitude to movie buffs for showering Border 2 with love and affection. He decided to post a video message on social media, thanking the audience for making the film a huge success. Sunny said in the clip, “Aawaz kahan tak gayi, aapke dilon tak. I am so grateful for the love and warmth you showered on my movie Border. Thank you so much for it all.” "Meri, aapki, Hamari Border2 ko itna pyaar dene ke liye, aap sab ko bohot," the caption on the post read. Made under the direction of Anurag Singh, the movie enjoys an ensemble cast with Sunny, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in lead roles, along with Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana playing supporting roles. A standalone sequel to J. P. Dutta's Border, the drama expands beyond the original film and revolves around joint operations of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Co-written by Singh and Sumit Arora, the movie has been jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J. P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta under the banners of T-Series Films and J. P. Films. Border 2 got a theatrical release on January 23. 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
31 January,2026 12:05 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor and producer Kamaal R Khan, who was arrested last week in connection with an incident of firing in the Oshiwara area of Mumbai, has been granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. He claimed that the industry had conspired to seek revenge on him. Kamaal R Khan granted bail Sana Raees Khan, a Supreme Court Advocate, representing him, called the arrest an "abuse of the process of law," saying it was carried out in an "arbitrary manner" and disregarded his "constitutional safeguards." Sana Raees Khan said, "His arrest was carried out in an arbitrary manner, completely disregarding his constitutional safeguards, and definitely amounts to an abuse of the process of law. This case doesn't even stand. It's just an abuse of the process of law. He was arrested without notice. There was also this strange allegation that certain cartridges are missing, specifically six bullets. So I said that at most that could be an administrative breach, for which he could be punished by the licensing authority, for which he cannot be tried before a criminal court." "This is not even the allegation that he aimed at the building or aimed at the person and fired from his arms. Anyway, he's a licensed owner. Suddenly, after six days, a person whose name is not mentioned in the remand report states that he heard that firing had occurred from his building. However, the pistol's effective range is limited to 20 to 30 meters, and the distance between my client's (KRK) bungalow and the building is 1500 meters. So, hypothetically and practically, it is impossible for this act to occur. So, absolutely, you know it is just abuse of the process of law and misuse of provisions of law," she added arguing there was no ballistic evidence. About the firing case Last week, Kamaal R. Khan was arrested by the Mumbai Police following questioning in connection with the firing incident. According to the Mumbai Police, after the firing incident at a residential building in Oshiwara was reported, police reviewed CCTV footage from the area and spoke to several people. According to the police, KRK was initially taken into custody for questioning and later arrested after he admitted during questioning that the firing was done with his licensed gun. The actor was later sent to judicial custody in the Oshiwara firing case for two weeks after he was produced before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on Tuesday at the end of his police custody. (With inputs from ANI)
31 January,2026 11:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe much-awaited release of Vadh 2 is just around the corner, starring Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta in the lead roles. The actor duo have now taken the excitement several notches higher with a stunning, retro-glam photoshoot that has taken the internet on fire. On his Instagram, Sanjay Mishra shared a series of photos of himself and Neena Gupta, showcasing their killer looks with unapologetic swag and style. The photoshoot perfectly captures the duo's upcoming film Vadh 2, where elegance masks darkness, and secrets simmer beneath calm exteriors. While sharing the photos, the actor wrote, "Serving killer looks. Hiding killer secrets." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Mishra (@imsanjaimishra) Lead actors Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta return as Shambhunath and Manju, respectively, in Vadh 2, which offers a glimpse into their lives: Manju has been jailed, and her husband undertakes a dangerous mission to get her out. In the 2-minute 25-second trailer, Shambhunath is seen dodging the police while carrying out his act, while Manju continues to live as an inmate and is complicit in her husband's crimes. As tensions rise, with the police adamant about catching the culprit, the story takes an extreme turn as emotional conflict, unspoken truths, and the chase intensify. Joining the cast are actors like Kumud Mishra, Akshay Dogra, Amitt K Singh, Shilpa Shukla, and Yogita Bihani, adding more layers to the mystery. Written and directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg's Luv Films. The film releases theatrically on February 6, 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
31 January,2026 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIADVERTISEMENT
-1769855575289_d.png "Still from Jee Liya")
-1769844197923_d.png "Rani Mukerji with Delhi Police")
