Sajid Nadiadwala’s O’Romeo has the anticipation soaring and is touted to be one of the highly-awaited movies of the year. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj and inspired by true events, O’Romeo stars Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary and Farida Jalal in the lead. Avinash Tiwary’s look as Jalal in the movie is menacing and sends a chill down your spine. With powerful dialogues, intense looks and a never-seen-before avatar, Avinash is all set to win hearts with his acting chops in this action-romantic drama. Avinash Tiwary reveals the advice Vishal Bharadwaj gave him O’Romeo marks the first collaboration between Avinash Tiwary & Vishal Bhardwaj. Talking about one unexpected piece of advice he received from director Vishal Bhardwaj, he said, “The most unexpected piece of advice would be ‘extreme.’ Make your choices extreme. It started right from the way we thought about how he would look, to the choices that he would make as the person I was playing. So yes, I wasn’t expecting that voice to be extreme.” Avinash Tiwary has also learnt the Spanish folk dance Flamenco for an important sequence in O’Romeo, choreographed by renowned International Flamenco artist Kunal Om. It will be interesting to watch him perform this expressive dance form on screen for the very first time in Bollywood. Vikrant Massey-Tamannah Bhatia did O'Romeo for free O’Romeo is mounted on a substantial budget of Rs 75-80 crore and will need to cross the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office to be declared a hit. The film ranks among the big-budget projects of Shahid Kapoor’s career and marks one of Vishal Bhardwaj’s most ambitious directorial projects to date. With its OTT and satellite television rights already sold, the film enters its theatrical release with a strong pre-release recovery in place. Speaking about Vikrant Massey, Vishal Bhardwaj shared that the actor had committed to O’Romeo years ago when he was still an emerging talent. Despite becoming a major star after 12th Fail, Vikrant honoured that promise when approached again, choosing to do the role free of cost. He further revealed that Tamannaah Bhatia also agreed to do the film without charging a single penny. Though her role is brief, it plays a crucial part in unveiling a major plot twist in the film. Tamannaah immediately said yes when approached and went on to shoot for nearly 12 days more than initially planned. Sajid Nadiadwala presents O’Romeo, a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. Releasing theatrically on 13th February 2026.
10 February,2026 01:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentYash Raj Films is famously protective of its antagonists, often cloaking them in secrecy until the big reveal. This was certainly the strategy for Prajesh Kashyap, the actor behind Ramanujan, the calculating mastermind and surprise villain of Mardaani 3. In the film, Prajesh's character aligns with the fearsome matriarch Amma (portrayed by Mallika Prasad Sinha). In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, the actor reflects on his professional trajectory and the experience of going toe-to-toe with Rani Mukerji. Prajesh Kashyap on bagging Mardaani 3 Prajesh, who was studying at Drama School Mumbai, maintains that he has no idea how YRF’s casting director, Shanoo Sharma, discovered him eight years ago. Thereafter, she called him to audition for various projects while he simultaneously pursued theatre. “She had more faith in my ability than I did!” He approached the audition for Mardaani 3 not expecting a callback, giving it his best and moving on, but fate had other plans. "This time I got lucky, and maybe I was at the right place at the right time. Prepared and hungry for a part like this,” he shares. Prajesh was thrilled with his role. He elaborates, “It’s fun to play something dark. Of course, it’s very challenging. When I read the killing scene, I freaked out. I was like, ‘Dude, this is crazy.’ That was one of the scenes I had to do in my first audition. I always saw Ramanujan as a snake. He slithers his way through the narrative until he’s attacked! I was excited to bite into this extremely layered and meaty character. Unlike the villains we have seen, this one was not caricature-ish. His evil was more mental than physical, perhaps very close to the evil we see in real life.” Prajesh Kashyap on working with Rani Mukerji Prajesh, who had to take a few punches from Rani Mukerji in the film, states that he had to pinch himself multiple times while working with Rani. “I was star-struck!” However, he had no choice but to bottle up the excitement till the film’s release and not tell a soul about his association. The actor explains, “I was not supposed to let anybody know I'm doing this for a year. And that was so difficult. Rani ma’am is not just a fantastic actor, but I think she is a school in herself. Her vision for a scene is very clear. There have been instances where she helped me. This was my first attempt at such action, so I had to train hard, but she was simply outstanding.” Prajesh feels overwhelmed with the newfound fame and acknowledges how there are many actors in the country still waiting for such an opportunity. “I feel validated as an actor. People are constantly writing to me and giving their love and support. I'm just trying to soak it in,” he concludes.
10 February,2026 01:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesGovinda’s manager recently made a shocking revelation about the actor being attacked by a mob. He claimed that the actor was saved because he owned a licensed gun and was able to scare the group away. Now, Govinda himself has opened up about the incident, narrating what unfolded when a mob of over 20 people surrounded his residence. The actor said he took out his gun only after he failed to get through to the police. Govinda on mob entering his residence Recalling the incident, Govinda told ANI, “There were 22–23 people. Luckily, I saw them coming. At first, I thought they were here for a party, but they didn’t seem like party people. So I captured their video.” He said that he immediately called the city police but received no response. “When Mumbai Police didn’t pick up my call, I called the police of another country and asked them to be on the line,” he added. Govinda felt the situation was far from normal when one of the people from the group climbed onto his terrace. “They’d started surrounding me. In the meantime, I informed everybody. I have a licensed gun, so I took it out,” he shared. The actor said he confronted the group and asked them who they were. This was followed by complete silence before one of them replied, “We’re here to fix the power system.” When Govinda questioned why they had been there for a while and why they weren’t leaving, the group reportedly had no answer. “So I pointed the gun and asked them to leave. They were not expecting that,” he recalled. Govinda says finding who they were is waste of time When asked whether he later found out who the mob was, Govinda said, “That’s a waste of time. People divert your energy into thinking about all that. A good actor can’t work like that. They can either act or react. An actor’s job is to act. If an actor starts reacting to everything anyone and everyone in society is saying, that doesn’t feel nice. Yes, if you stay silent for too long, that silence can be misconstrued with suspicion. Even that’s not good.”
10 February,2026 01:09 PM IST | MumbaiBollywood actor Rajpal Yadav has been a part of the Hindi film industry for the last three decades. However, he is currently in the news after he surrendered in Tihar Jail as he failed to comply with the timeline in a cheque bounce case. While he claimed there are no friends from the industry supporting him, Sonu Sood has now come out in support of the actor and offered him help. Sonu Sood backs Rajpal Yadav Taking to X, Sonu Sood wrote, “Rajpal Yadav is a gifted actor who has given years of unforgettable work to our industry. Sometimes life turns unfair, not because of talent, but because timing can be brutal. He will be part of my film, and I believe this is the moment for all of us—producers, directors, colleagues—to stand together.” Sonu also appealed to the industry to provide Rajpal with dignity and suggested financial help in the form of adjustable remuneration. He wrote, “A small signing amount, adjustable against future work, is not charity, it’s dignity. When one of our own is going through a tough phase, the industry must remind him he’s not alone. This is how we show we are more than just an industry.” Rajpal Yadav’s emotional statement According to a report in NewsX, the actor made an emotional statement before he surrendered to the authorities. He said, "Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain. Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta… Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own." About the cheque bounce case In 2010, Rajpal Yadav took a loan of Rs 5 crore from Murali Projects Pvt Ltd to finance his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata. The film turned out to be a massive flop, leaving Rajpal and his wife, Radha Yadav, in serious financial trouble, resulting in a debt of Rs 9 crore. The sentence awarded by the trial court in June 2024 was to facilitate an amicable settlement between the parties. However, the court recorded that commitments made in successive judicial orders were not honoured. The court further refused his plea for extending time, and he had to surrender. On the work front, Rajpal Yadav will next appear in Akshay Kumar’s horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, which is slated for release on April 10. The film, directed by Priyadarshan, also stars Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Mithila Palkar, Asrani, and many other actors.
10 February,2026 12:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger Sonu Nigam has a heart of gold, and he proved it with his sweet gesture during a Hubbali concert. During the show, a young child lost his way in the crowd, and the singer helped him reunite with his family. Nigam held the boy’s hand, crooned playful improvised tunes, and humorously engaged him on stage, drawing laughter and applause. Sonu Nigam helps a lost child in midst of concert The incident occurred when the visibly anxious child, later identified as Sri Sai, was brought to the stage by organisers. Nigam held the boy’s hand and calmed him by crooning fun tunes and diverting his attention. To help locate the child’s family, Nigam broke into an improvised song, singing, “Sri Sai aa jao, mummy papa isko le jao jaldi aake isko le jao,” drawing applause and laughter from the audience. The interaction became even more charming when Sonu jokingly told the boy, “Papa, mummy tumhare bina masti kar rahe hain, pata hai?” (Your parents are having fun without you, you know that?). The child innocently replied, “Papa nahi hai” (There is no papa), leaving Sonu momentarily stunned. Sri Sai then said that he was accompanied by his uncle. The singer then addressed the crowd, jokingly calling out to the uncle. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonu Nigam (@sonunigamofficial) After a brief search, the concert’s production team located the child’s uncle. Sonu ensured the team verified the relationship before allowing Sri Sai to leave. Sharing the video, he wrote, "A scared and nervous Sri Sai after getting lost in the crowd of 30,000 in Hubballi last night. Not so scared or lost, I assume, after he found me (wink emoji)." More about Sonu Nigam Sonu Nigam is currently touring India with his Deewana Tera concert series, with several shows lined up across the country into early 2026. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, the singer said how concerts are physically demanding. He also shared details about his pre-show ritual that helps him organize a great performance. He said, “On the day of the shows, I don’t meet people or go out, however beautiful the place may be. For people, the show starts at 7 pm, but for me, it starts when I wake up. I start getting ready mentally, practice on my tanpura, and work out for an hour at the gym. Before the concert, I hold hands with my entire team, thank God and the audience as they are the reason that I am here.”
10 February,2026 11:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Rani Mukerji says Hindi cinema has always celebrated strong women on screen and credits legendary performers like Nutan and Nargis for setting that foundation decades ago. It was during an exclusive session with IANS, Rani engaged in an insightful talk with women officers of the Delhi Police. Talking about the portrayal of strong women in Hindi cinema, Rani said: “I believe our industry has always had very strong characters. Nutan ji did films like Bandini, Nargis ji did Mother India. So strong female characters have always been portrayed in our industry.” Rani, who has completed three decades in Hindi cinema, added that in her current phase, she is consciously trying to carry forward the work left behind by her seniors. “In my own way, in this phase of my career, I am trying to carry forward the work that our seniors left behind, so that in every decade, the women who do films and the stories we bring to the screen continue to remain strong,” said the actress, whose latest release is Mardaani 3. Talking about her latest release, Mardaani 3, the film is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra. While Mardaani exposed the grim realities of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the disturbing psyche of a serial rapist who challenged the system, Mardaani 3 delves into another dark and brutal reality of our society, further strengthening the franchise’s legacy of impactful, issue-based storytelling. Actress Janaki Bodiwala of Shaitaan fame also enters the Mardaani franchise to play a pivotal role. Mardaani 3 has been written by Aayush Gupta of The Railway Men fame. The first installment of the Mardaani franchise was released in 2014. It featured Rani, Jisshu Sengupta, Tahir Raj Bhasin, and Anant Vidhaat Sharma in supporting roles. The second installment hit the screens in 2019. It was directed by Gopi Puthran. It also stars Vishal Jethwa. 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
10 February,2026 11:28 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSGovinda’s wife Sunita Ahuja has been in the news for quite some time as she has spoken with striking candour about her life, marriage, and kids. She recently claimed how Govinda never helped their son Yashvardhan while he makes his way in the industry. Reacting to the allegation, Govinda has now said how he left politics to protect his family and even approached Sajid Nadiadwala to help Yashvardhan. Govinda reveals helping son Yashvardhan In a conversation with ANI, Govinda was asked about his wife Sunita Ahuja’s statement about not helping their son Yashvardhan’s career. He replied, “I left politics for my family as I did not want political life to hamper my family life and have an adverse effect on them—especially my children. So, I stepped out of politics.” He further added that he took measures to guide Yashvardhan professionally. Govinda said that he reached out to producer Sajid Nadiadwala and asked him to guide Yashvardhan. “Maine Nadiadwala se kaha, toh he gave his guidance to Yash kaise filmein banayi jati hain, kaam kiya jata hai. (I asked Nadiadwala to guide my son, and he helped him learn different aspects of filmmaking).” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Govinda (@govinda_herono1) About Sunita Ahuja’s statement In a recent interview with Miss Malini, Sunita Ahuja accused Govinda of not supporting their son Yashvardhan professionally. “Yash is a self-made boy. He hasn’t taken help from his father. He has given 90 auditions, being Govinda’s son. He didn’t ask Govinda to call anyone. Govinda also never helped Yash. I told Govinda on his face, ‘Tu baap hai ki kya hai? If you won’t help our kids, who will?’ See Shah Rukh Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Shetty, Jackie Shroff—how they all are supporting their sons,” she said. Details about Yashvardhan’s debut Meanwhile, mid-day had reported that Sajid Khan will helm a film launching Govinda’s son, Yashvardhan Ahuja, marking his Bollywood debut with Nitanshi Goel and Krithi Shetty. An insider told mid-day, “Sajid has been approached by the studio, but he hasn’t said yes yet. The studio heads are keen to have him helm the film as the comedy elements are right up his alley. Yashvardhan has another project with Phantom Studios, but he is likely to start shooting for this first.”
10 February,2026 11:01 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actress Zeenat Aman, who is often dubbed the queen of Instagram, has shared a thoughtful and sarcastic remark. On Monday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a throwback image of a magazine cover, which declared that her career had fallen. She also penned a long note in the caption, as she wrote, “I’m filing this magazine headline under “things that didn’t age like fine wine" though at least they chose a charming photograph of me”. She also took a shot at the publication behind the cover, saying that the publication that claimed her end didn’t exist long enough to see her rise in the era of OTT. “I don’t think this publication is around anymore, but guess which ‘fallen’ woman still is. Anyway, take this as your Monday reminder that resilience is a virtue, and, to quote one of the youngsters on set recently, ‘haters gonna hate,'" she added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zeenat Aman (@thezeenataman) Earlier, the actress decided to turn back the clock and reflect on the change that came in the projection of Hindi cinema heroines within a short span between her two movies, Dostana and Teesri Ankh. Zeenat Aman was watching some scenes from her old movies, which brought something very interesting to her notice. She pointed out, "A few weeks ago, you watched me be eve-teased and slut shamed by Amitji’s character in a clip from Dostana, this week, you can watch me be the aggressor to Dharamji’s character in Teesri Ankh! (sic)". In her Instagram post, the actress revealed how things had changed so much within a short span of only two years. The veteran actress further pointed out that the reason why one scene seems delightful but the other one is infuriating is due to the traditional role reversal. She shared, "The truth is, I can’t endorse Barkha’s approach, just as I couldn’t endorse Inspector Vijay’s! Banter and mischief are excellent tools of courtship, but I think our industry sometimes took these to the extreme”. Zeenat Aman shared that several of our films glorify obsession and limerence, instead of portraying real and healthy love, something she also finds herself guilty of. "Now I recognise that I have played a part in propagating the ludicrous idea of romance that Bollywood has exported to Indians everywhere”, she added. 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
10 February,2026 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSPlayback singer Mohit Chauhan, who has crooned the song Mann Hawa from the upcoming film Assi, has shared that he fell in love with the honesty of the song from its first note. Mann Hawa is a soulful yet stirring track that perfectly mirrors the spirit of this fast-paced investigative courtroom drama that dares to ask uncomfortable questions. It is composed by Rochak Kohli with lyrics furnished by Kumaar, and brought alive by the evocative voices of Mohit Chauhan, Parampara Tandon, and Rochak Kohli, the song captures the inner strength and quiet courage it takes to stand tall against the world. Talking about the song, Mohit Chauhan said, "Songs that unfold a story have always resonated with me, and I’ve always been drawn to those that have something to say. Mann Hawa felt honest from the first note, and while recording it, I found myself just following the emotion and letting the story breathe”. Anubhav Sinha shared, “Mann Hawa is not just a song, it is the emotional heartbeat of Assi. In a story that challenges truths and confronts the uncomfortable, this track stands for the courage to speak up, to rise, and to stand tall against all odds. It celebrates the strength we find within ourselves when we choose to confront the world with honesty and resilience”. Mann Hawa is about choosing resilience over fear, truth over silence, and conviction over compromise. It gently uplifts the heart while instilling a sense of resolve, making you feel empowered to fight for yourself and what you believe in no matter the odds. The film stars Taapsee Pannu in lead, along with Kani Kusruti, Revathy, Manoj Pahwa, Kumud Mishra, and Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, with special appearances by Naseeruddin Shah, Supriya Pathak, and Seema Pahwa. Presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series, the film is a Benaras Media Works production, directed by Anubhav Sinha and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, and Anubhav Sinha. The film is set to release in theatres on February 20, 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
10 February,2026 10:02 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe unit of director Srikanth Odela's eagerly awaited action entertainer The Paradise, featuring Telugu star Nani in the lead, has now begun shooting Aaya Sher, actor Nani's introduction song in the film on a massive set erected here in the city. Sources in the film unit say that Nani is turning up the heat on the sets of his ambitious film The Paradise. Shooting, they point out, is progressing at a brisk pace. The team has started filming Nani's explosive introduction song titled Aaya Sher on a colossal set, swarming with hundreds of dancers. Music director Anirudh Ravichander is believed to have delivered an electrifying mass number packed with grit and high-adrenaline vibes, perfectly tuned to suit Nani's raw, uninhibited dance style. Choreographer Sudhan, who recently worked on Vijay's Jana Nayagan, is believed to have incorporated sharp, dynamic moves to elevate the song into a goosebump-inducing spectacle. It may be recalled that only recently, the makers of the film had disclosed that actor Sampoornesh Babu plays a character called Biryani in the film. The film has triggered huge expectations among fans and film buffs for a number of reasons. Many of the fans believe The Paradise will turn out to be yet another cinematic spectacle from Srikanth Odela, showcasing his distinctive vision. For the unaware, Srikanth Odela previously served as an assistant director to ace director Sukumar in Nannaku Prematho and Rangasthalam. He made his directorial debut with Dasara, which featured Nani in the lead. The film garnered critical acclaim and became a box office success, crossing the Rs 100 crore mark. Now, Odela and Nani have teamed up again for The Paradise. Well-known Bollywood actor Raghav Juyal too is a part of The Paradise. It may be recalled that the makers of the film had welcomed actor Raghav Juyal on board the film's unit last year. Also, actor Raghav Juyal, who is basking in the success of Bads of Bollywood, has already announced that he will be changing his look for the film. Backed by SLV Cinemas, The Paradise is set for a grand release on March 26, 2026. It is to release in eight languages, namely Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, English, Spanish, Bengali, Kannada, and Malayalam. 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
10 February,2026 09:40 AM IST | Hyderabad | IANSThe legal troubles surrounding Rajpal Yadav took a serious turn. After the Delhi High Court rejected his extension plea in connection with his conviction in cheque-bounce cases, the actor on Thursday surrendered before the Tihar Jail authorities. According to a recent report, Rajpal made an emotional statement moments before surrendering to the authorities. Rajpal Yadav records statement ahead of surrendering According to a report by NewsX, Rajpal Yadav broke down while addressing the situation shortly before surrendering. As quoted, he said, “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain. Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta… Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rajpal Naurang Yadav (@rajpalofficial) About Rajpal Yadav’s cheque-bounce case The legal trouble dates back to 2010, when Rajpal Yadav reportedly took a loan of around Rs 5 crore for his production venture Ata Pata Laapata. Over the years, due to accumulated interest, penalties and delayed payments, the outstanding amount swelled to nearly Rs 9 crore. To settle the dues, Yadav issued cheques that later bounced, triggering criminal proceedings. In April 2018, a Magistrate’s Court convicted Rajpal Yadav and his wife under Section 138 of the Act and sentenced them to six months’ imprisonment. In June 2024, the high court had temporarily suspended his conviction, subject to him adopting “sincere and genuine measures” to explore the possibility of reaching an amicable settlement with the opposite party. Rajpal Yadav breaches court order In the order passed on February 2, while directing him to surrender by 4 pm on February 4, the high court observed that Yadav’s conduct deserved to be deprecated as he repeatedly breached his undertakings to the court to repay the amount to the complainant. The court noted that Yadav was required to make a payment of Rs 1.35 crore in each of the seven cases against him and directed that the amount already deposited with the Registrar General of the high court be released in favour of the complainant. In October 2025, two demand drafts of Rs 75 lakh were deposited with the Registrar General, and an amount of Rs 9 crore remained payable, it noted in the order. On February 4, the court refused to extend the deadline given to Yadav to surrender before jail authorities.
10 February,2026 09:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
