Veteran actress Saira Banu faced a hard time putting into words the enormous personality of the legend called Dharmendra. Remembering Dharmendra on his 90th birthday, Saira Banu wrote on her Insta, "Dharam ji… if I were to put the man into words, it would never be easy. Some people are too large for language, too gentle for description, and too loved for boundaries and he was all of that. (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu) She pointed out how both Dharmendra and Dilip Kumar were extremely humble people and ended up touching every soul who came in contact. "His humility was unlike…very much like Dilip Sahib…anything I have ever seen. In a world filled with stars, he shone differently… quietly with a warmth that touched every soul lucky enough to know him. He was always very close to our family, effortlessly bridging the worlds of stardom and simplicity," she added. Reflecting on the unique bond between Dharmendra and Dilip Kumar, Saira Banu admitted that at times she was left confused as to who loved her husband more, she or Dharam ji. She shared, "And the way he loved Dilip Sahib… sometimes I could never decide who loved Dilip Sahib more Dharam Ji or I. Their bond was beyond friendship. It was something rare, something pure, something that made you believe that souls truly recognise each other." Sending her heartfelt wishes to the 'He-Man' of Bollywood on his birthday, the veteran actress penned, "Today, on his birthday, my heart feels both heavy and full. Heavy because I wish he were still here with us… and full because I want to believe with all my heart that he is with Dilip Sahib once again. That somewhere, in a quieter, kinder world, the two of them have reunited… laughing, talking, sharing that indescribable bond only they understood." "Happy Birthday, Dharam ji. You may not be here, but your goodness, your warmth, your humility they remain. And so does our love for you," Saira Banu's post concluded. 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
09 December,2025 11:25 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSFilmmaker Aditya Dhar's latest release, Dhurandhar, which arrived in theatres last Friday, has been creating a strong buzz online, drawing enthusiastic praise from both audiences and critics. Seeing the audience's abundant love, Arjun Rampal, who plays a pivotal role in the film, took to Instagram and penned a note of gratitude. "Ladies&Gentlemen, we were not ready for this. Thank you Thank you Thank you for this incredible love, support and acceptance you have given dhurandhar which is a vision and passion of one man, my Boiya (Kashmiri for brother) adityadharfilms the day you narrated me the film I realised what an important film you wanted to make, a story would unfold,in the uniquest narrative style. the level of research, the depth in all characters, the creation of each character from their look to their attitudes. You surprised, kept surprising. But most importantly you soaked up all the pressure while filming and never had a bad day. Thank you Boiya. Love you," he wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Rampal (@rampal72) Arjun further gave a shout-out to the entire cast and crew. "The man whose lens I would give anything to be captured by vik_now Wow man. You are poetically brutal. Can't wait to do more. Another warrior the youngest one ojas_gautam I can't thank you enough for the hours you spent with me prepping for Maj Iqbal. Your future is brighter than all the stars. shashwatology I am still grooving. castingchhabra paaji thank you for all the confidence you have in me. preetisheel smriti.schauhan you were the angels of the angel of death lakshsingh__ flaviagiumua ty for being my rocks sainisjohray for the world u created. Ur passion. MrOh and his whole team for the incredible action.#akshaykhanna you owned it. Ruled it. Hit it out of the park. More power to you. actormaddy you are pure genius. Can't wait to do scenes with you one day. duttsanjay you know I love you. Thank you for just being you. Big Jappi. therakeshbedi Mazza agaya brother. What a full circle," he wrote. "saraarjunn congratulations onwards and upwards. To the beast, the wrath of God. ranveersingh Hamza. Man it was a beautiful journey to watch your focus, determination, mad methods, to stay in character. You were unabashed, fearless and endearing. Thank u for the ice baths. The last dance belongs to me. Love you. None of this would have been possible without the support of the silent Angel jyotideshpande and officialjiostudios whose belief and grit, saw us through. Thank you Jyoti.I know this is long, kya kare baddi picture hain. To all those who read till here. All I can say is welcome to the cult," Arjun added. According to trade analyst Taran Adarsh, the film posted a Day 1 collection of Rs 28.60 crore nett in India, marking one of the strongest openings for a Hindi film this year. As per Adarsh, the film showed significant momentum as the day progressed. While the mass belts started slower, there was a noticeable pickup toward the evening shows. Adarsh wrote, "Dhurandhar takes a superb start on Day 1. The film has opened stronger at major centers, with national chains contributing a substantial chunk of the business. The mass pockets and heartland markets also showed improvement as the day progressed... However, the film needs to make up for the shortfall in these markets on Saturday and Sunday to post an impressive opening weekend total. Given its hefty price tag, Dhurandhar [Week 1] Fri Rs 28.60 cr. #India biz | Official Nett BOC | Boxoffice." Dhurandhar is directed by Aditya Dhar and stars Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, and Ranveer Singh in lead roles. 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
09 December,2025 11:20 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIAjay Devgn shared that 'his birthday feels different this year' as he remembered legendary actor Dharmendra on his special day. Ajay took to social media and posted a throwback photo with the late star. Paying a heartfelt tribute to Dharmendra, he wrote, "His birthday feels different this year... but the love and laughter Dharam paaji brought into our lives will stay forever. (sic)" Ajay's better half, and actress, Kajol, also treated the netizens with an old photo of hugging Dharmendra on social media, and wrote, "Remembering Dharmendra ji today…You will live in our hearts forever (sic)," followed by a red heart emoji. Kajol got the opportunity to share screen with Dharam Ji in the 1998 release, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. Made under the direction of Sohail Khan, the project also starred Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan in key roles. Salman, who is believed to have been very close to Dharmendra and also visited him in the hospital, got emotional as he talked about the legendary actor during the grand finale of the reality show Bigg Boss 19 on Sunday. A teary-eyed Salman said, “Dharmendra passed away on the 24th of November, on my father Salim Khan’s 90th birthday.” “He was the He-Man of Bollywood, with an innocent face and the body of a He-Man, with a 60+ years of legacy,” he added. Salman further broke down more when he mentioned that Dharmendra's birthday falls on the 8th of December, coincidentally on the same day as Salman Khan's mother's. The actor also spoke about Dharmendra's funeral being handled with extreme dignity. “I have seen two funerals being conducted with full dignity to date; one was of filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya’s mother, and the second was Dharamji’s. Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and the entire family of Dharmendra ji conducted the prayer meetings also with so much dignity, love, and grace. It was such a beautiful moment to see so many people celebrate his life with so much love,” he 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
09 December,2025 10:57 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSVeteran actor Prem Chopra was hospitalised due to severe congestion. The actor later got discharged and is now recuperating. Weeks after the veteran actor’s hospitalization, his son-in-law, actor Sharman Joshi, has shared details surrounding his health condition. Taking to Instagram, Sharman Joshi, in a post, revealed Prem Chopra's diagnosis of severe Aortic Stenosis, adding that he underwent a successful TAVI procedure, a narrowing of the aortic valve without open-heart surgery. Prem Chopra diagnosed with Aortic Stenosis Taking to his social media handle, Sharman shared pictures from the hospital and wrote a long caption that read, "On behalf of our family, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude and admiration for the exemplary treatment my father-in-law Mr. Prem Chopra Ji received from esteemed cardiologists Dr. Nitin Gokhale and interventional cardiologist Dr. Ravinder Singh Rao." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sharman Joshi (@sharmanjoshi) He added, "Dad was diagnosed with severe Aortic Stenosis, and Dr. Rao successfully performed the TAVI procedure, replacing the valve without open-heart surgery. Dr. Gokhale's consistent guidance at every step gave us immense confidence. Their expertise ensured a smooth procedure, complication-free treatment, and a fast recovery. Dad is now home and feeling much better. We will always be thankful for the exceptional support and care he received." Veteran star Jeetendra was also seen in the pictures, suggesting that he might have visited Prem Chopra at the hospital. About Prem Chopra’s health Earlier in November, Prem Chopra was admitted to Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital due to chest congestion. He was discharged a week later, on November 15. As per reports, doctors at the hospital confirmed that he has an existing heart condition and had also developed a viral and lung infection, but clarified that he was never in a critical state. The doctor further mentioned that he has age-related issues, and that is why it takes time for an elderly gentleman to recover. Actor Prem Chopra has carved a niche for himself by delivering cult classics such as Prem Nagar, Upkar, and Bobby in the industry, and he became one of the most popular and undisputed villains of all time. In a career spanning over four decades, the actor also courted fame overseas with some iconic negative roles.
09 December,2025 10:25 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Sunny Deol shared a deep bond with his father and legendary actor Dharmendra. Their loving father-son relationship was often reflected in the social media posts. On his 90th birth anniversary, Sunny shared a video and wrote an emotional message in remembrance of the late icon. Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24 after a prolonged illness, had a career spanning over six decades with more than 300 films to his credit. The veteran actor, known for iconic roles in movies like Sholay, Chupke Chupke, Phool Aur Patthar, Ankhen, Shikar, and Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke, leaves behind a legacy as one of Hindi cinema's most beloved stars. His last film, the military drama 'Ikkis', is set to release on December 25. Taking to his Instagram, Sunny posted a touching tribute to his father, capturing heartfelt moments with him, highlighting the love and warmth he shared with his dad. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol) Sunny wrote, "Aaj mere papa ka janamdin hai. Papa hamesha mere saath hai, mere andar hain, love you papa, miss you." (Today is my father's birthday. Papa is always with me, inside me. Miss you) Dharmendra is survived by his first wife, Prakash Kaur; his second wife, actress Hema Malini; and six children - sons Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol, and daughters Vijeta and Ajeita from his first marriage and daughters Esha Deol and Ahana Deol from his second marriage. To honour his life and legacy, the Deol family organised a prayer meet, titled 'Celebration of Life' was held on November 27 at Seaside Lawns, Taj Lands End in Bandra, Mumbai. In an emotional moment, the entire Deol family, including Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, and Karan Deol, expressed their gratitude to the attendees with folded hands for the outpouring of support. A heartfelt musical tribute was also performed, honouring the late actor's enduring legacy. Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Rekha, Akshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan gathered together to remember the late actor. He was known not only for his versatility on screen but also for his contributions to the film industry and for inspiring millions of fans worldwide. The actor's demise has been mourned across the country, with fans and colleagues paying heartfelt tributes that reflect the profound impact he had on Indian cinema and popular culture.
09 December,2025 10:20 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIMohit Chauhan is one of the known voices in Indian cinema. He rose to fame with his soulful music and by becoming the voice of Jordan (Ranbir Kapoor) in Rockstar. His other notable hits include Tum Se Hi (Jab We Met), Ilahi (Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani), and Matargashti (Tamasha). The singer was recently at AIIMS Bhopal for a concert. However, an unfortunate moment left him worried. Mohit Chauhan falls on stage mid-performance In the viral video, Mohit Chauhan was performing the song Nadaan Parinde from Rockstar when the mishap took place. As he moved closer to the stage lights while singing with the audience, he accidentally stumbled over a lighting fixture and lost his balance. A widely circulated video shows the singer falling forward, prompting an immediate reaction from the crowd. Within moments, organisers and on-ground staff rushed to his aid, temporarily halting the performance to ensure he was unharmed. The accident happened on December 7 at the school's Retina 8.0 event. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mohammed niyaz (@mdniyaz194) Videos and photos from the evening quickly went viral across social media. Fans expressed concern and sent well-wishes. A netizen wrote, "This proves he is one of the finest singers who actually sing live on stage." Another netizen wrote, "Hope he is well. At least he wasn’t lip-syncing." He is yet to issue a statement on the mishap. Mohit Chauhan on remix culture For the unversed, former frontman of the band Silk Route, Mohit Chauhan is a well-known Indian playback singer with several accolades. Earlier, in a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Chauhan had shared his perspective on the current remix culture and use of AI in music. “Mujhe lagta hai ki woh khaali business ke liye kiya jaata hai. Nahi toh ek gaane ko remake karne ka reason kya hai? Kuch bhi nahi hai. Ab main ek gaane ko baar-baar… usme drum beat nikal doon, phir usme shehnai daal doon—gaana toh wahi hai. Uska original form hi best rehta hai," he said. He added, “Uske baad agar aap socho ki main lyrics change kar doon, toh jo sunne wale hain unke liye toh woh change ho gaya na — phir woh usse relate nahi kar paayenge. Log use film mein ya kisi collection mein daalna chahte hain, woh ek alag business model hai.”
09 December,2025 09:48 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentApart from being a celebrated actor, Rahul Bose is also the current president of the Indian Rugby Football Union. He was also a national team player for 11 years. However, the actor is at the centre of a fraud case in Himachal Pradesh after allegations surfaced that he secured a Himachal Pradesh domicile certificate through fraudulent means, allegedly to strengthen his position as the national president of the Rugby Federation. Rahul Bose in legal trouble The controversy began in 2023 after Rahul Bose pledged to the royal family of Shimla that he would help establish and recognise a state-level rugby association. Two years later, the promised recognition did not materialise. As per reports in India Today, Divya Kumari, a member of the Jubbal royal family in Shimla district, claims that after two years of effort building an association with hundreds of members across multiple districts, it is being sidelined in favor of creating a new rugby association from scratch. She says the community’s efforts have been ignored and that Bose “did not honour what he committed to." According to the complaint, Bose allegedly used the royal family’s reputation to advance his own standing within the Rugby Federation. Divya also mentioned that Rahul Bose fraudulently obtained a Himachal Pradesh domicile certificate to secure his position as national president. She even questioned the validity of Bose’s domicile certificate. Divya questions how Bose, born in Kolkata and holding an Aadhaar card, passport, and domicile from Maharashtra, could also possess a Himachal domicile. She alleges that the certificate was obtained solely to secure two crucial votes for Himachal Pradesh during national selections. The matter has now escalated to the Himachal Pradesh High Court, where Divya Kumari has formally registered her grievances and demands an investigation. The next hearing in the Himachal Pradesh High Court is scheduled for December 18. Rahul Bose on Rugby In a podcast recently, the actor admitted that rugby taught him lessons even his parents couldn’t. He credited the sport for shaping his life. “This game teaches you that if you try and play it alone, you’ll either end up in hospital or in the morgue. You cannot succeed without others. That lesson alone is priceless,” he said.
09 December,2025 09:10 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentUnequal rules of divorce Model, actor, and reality show host Malaika Arora has criticised society’s double standards around divorce and remarriage. Addressing society’s bias against women, she said, “Today, if a man decides to move on — get a divorce, marry someone half his age — it’s like, ‘Wow, what a man!’ But when a woman does it, she is questioned. [People say], ‘Why would she do something like that? Doesn’t she have sense?’” She highlighted that men are often congratulated for such decisions, while women face harsh judgment. Malaika and Arbaaz Khan, who had tied the knot in 2002, divorced in 2017. The two have a 23-year-old son Arhaan. Arbaaz is now married to Sshura Khan and recently embraced parenthood again as the couple welcomed baby girl Sipaara. And that’s how you wrap it! (L-R) Director Priyadarshan with his leading men Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. Pics/Instagram The makers of Haiwaan, on December 8, announced that the Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan-led film has wrapped its shoot. The team marked the completion of Priyadarshan’s directorial venture with a celebratory post on Instagram, which saw the cast cutting a cake. The final schedule was conducted at St Xavier’s College in Mumbai, a location that left actor Saiyami Kher emotional. She said that shooting at her alma mater felt “like coming back home” and “a full-circle moment”. Also featuring Sharib Hashmi, the thriller now moves into post-production ahead of its 2026 release. Larger than life, or nothing Jeethu Joseph Filmmaker Jeethu Joseph has said that many actors today, whether in Bollywood or the South film industry, are worried about their public image and want roles that present them as larger-than-life heroes — a challenge that he faced with his recent directorial venture Mirage. The director, known for the Drishyam franchise in Malayalam, noted that actors are worried that if they take on grey or negative roles, the audience might reject them. “Not just in Bollywood, many actors here [Malayalam cinema] are stuck in their image. That’s the problem. They’re scared that if they do a negative character, the audience will hate them,” he said.
09 December,2025 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamOpen your Instagram account, and chances are your feed is filled with reels of Akshaye Khanna’s entry sequence in Dhurandhar. Since the Aditya Dhar-directed actioner released on December 5, the actor has been unanimously praised for his intense performance as Rehman Dakait, standing out in the all-star cast of Ranveer Singh, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, and Arjun Rampal. Now, his entry song, FA9LA, created by Bahraini hip-hop star Flipperachi, has gone viral. And here’s the kicker — it was an impromptu dance by Khanna. Vijay Ganguly, who choreographed the number, tells mid-day, “The song is a celebration of Akshaye’s character being crowned as the Sher-E-Baloch. Originally, he was supposed to enter, walk through the dancers, and sit on the throne. Seeing the scene’s mood and the dancers’ performance, the fantastic actor that Akshaye is, he said he would dance a bit when he walks in. None of us knew what he was going to do. Akshaye entered the scene, took it from that point, and spontaneously performed.” Vijay Ganguly Even as he looks back on it, the choreographer is amazed that FA9LA was shot in barely two hours in Ladakh. For that, he credits Khanna’s precision. “It was the first shot we took that day, and it was perfect. Then we did a close-up, and we were done. Akshaye knows exactly what he has to do in a scene and plays with it,” shares Ganguly. Shooting in the high altitude of Ladakh is tricky, dancing more so. The choreographer shares that Khanna was suffering from high-altitude sickness during filming. “Akshaye would carry a small oxygen cylinder with him. When we were shooting this song, his oxygen level had dropped. So, after every shot, he would put the oxygen mask on. He did the sequence unflinchingly, and then went home.” Before Dhurandhar, Ganguly worked on Chhaava that featured the actor as Aurangzeb. Even though their interaction was limited on the historical drama’s set, it was enough for the choreographer to understand the actor’s undivided attention to his craft. “Akshaye didn’t have any dancing to do in Chhaava. When he is on set, there is not much interaction outside of work. He is completely immersed in his character, thinking and trying to see what more he can do to enhance his scene.” Social media users are drawing parallels between Akshaye Khanna’s ‘FA9LA’, and Bobby Deol’s entry song ‘Jamal Kudu’ in ‘Animal’
09 December,2025 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRIn the last week of November, Deepika Padukone was spotted at Maddock Films’ office in Santacruz, Mumbai. Her appearance intensified the industry chatter that the actor is set to join the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe. But sources now indicate that she is, instead, in early conversations to star opposite Vicky Kaushal in ‘Mahavatar’. Centred on the immortal warrior Parashurama, director Amar Kaushik’s ambitious mythological epic was announced in November 2024. Even as the project is in pre-production, casting for the female lead has remained one of its most closely guarded decisions. Deepika Padukone spotted outside Maddock Films’ office A production insider told mid-day, “The team has been looking for someone who can bring gravitas and emotional depth to the role written opposite Parashurama. Deepika fits that space perfectly. Conversations have begun, but they are still at an early stage. She is among the top names the studio has engaged with.” Vicky Kaushal in the first look of ‘Mahavatar’ Even as the mythological drama focuses on the story of Parashurama, it is heard that the female lead will have a strong character graph. “Amar Kaushik has been clear from the beginning that the character must have equal footing in the narrative,” added the source. If the talks result in a deal, this will be Padukone’s first collaboration with leading man Kaushal. mid-day reached out to Vijan, who didn’t respond till press time. Dinesh Vijan 2Movies Deepika Padukone and producer Dinesh Vijan have collaborated on — ‘Cocktail’ (2012) and ‘Finding Fanny’ (2014)
09 December,2025 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuThe late actor Shammi Kapoor was fond of Dahi Puri, a street food of Mumbai. On Sunday, Jatin Prithviraj Kapoor, the grandson of Prithviraj Kapoor took to his Instagram, and shared a video recollecting his fond memories of gorging on Pani Puri whenever his uncle, Shammi Kapoor visited his flat in the Matunga area of Mumbai. He said in the video, “Shri Prithviraj Kapoor Sahib's lane in Matunga, where he used to live, there was a Pani Puri wala in that lane. I’ll tell you the story of Shammi Kapoor today. Shammi uncle, whenever he came to Matunga, we all had a great time. The Pani Puri vendor would come upstairs, he would come to the flat in Matunga, carrying his puri container, tucking his stand to the side, he would set up his entire cart outside our flat, and start selling his Pani Puri. One plate after another would start coming, and we didn't even have to pay. The plates that used to be there, the Pani Puri vendor's plate had 5 or 6 puris. Shammi uncle’s plate was about 20 puris, and everyone's plates at that time were 20 puris, not just his, and we would eat two plates each”. He further mentioned that Shammi Kapoor was very fond of Pani Puri and Dahi Puri. He said that the actor was very stylish, and his lifestyle was also amazing. He was legendary, but his feet were grounded, and they also loved these things very much. He went on, “He used to put a lot of yogurt in the dahi puri. Let me tell you what their specialty was that we didn't eat because our plates were prepared differently. There used to be chutney, even tamarind chutney, and inside there was moong, there was also potato, and they would put the chura on top. One special thing, the vendor would put red chili powder on top, and if you looked at uncle’s plates from above, they always appeared red. Then we would realize, this is Shammi uncle's plate”. “We used to eat so much, so much, that we wouldn't even mention the name of Pani Puri for a week or ten days. Whenever he went back, after a week or ten days we would go to the Pani Puri vendor and say, ‘Give us some dahi puri too’. So the vendor used to say, "Shall I make the Shammi Sahab plate?’. We used to tell him, ‘No no, we only have two rupees, just make our plate, the one with five puris’. And, he used to make it. The plate would get smaller, but the love, the taste, and the enjoyment remained the same”, he 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
08 December,2025 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
