Veteran Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff paid a heartfelt tribute to the late filmmaker-actor Manoj Kumar on his death anniversary, remembering him as the iconic 'Bharat Kumar' of Indian cinema. Jackie took to Instagram, where he shared a sepia-hued picture of Manoj Kumar, who was noted for his acting in patriotism-themed films. Paying his tribute, Jackie wrote: “Always in our hearts. Remembering Manoj Kumar Ji on his death anniversary.” Manoj Kumar made his debut in 1957 with Fashion and was later seen in minor roles in Sahara, Chand and Honeymoon. He had his first lead role in Kaanch Ki Gudiya in 1961. Manoj Kumar had his breakthrough in 1962 with Vijay Bhatt's Hariyali Aur Rasta opposite Mala Sinha. He tasted success with Shaadi (1962), Dr. Vidya (1962), Grahasti (1963) and Phoolon Ki Sej. He shot to fame with the mystery thriller Woh Kaun Thi? opposite Sadhana. In a career spanning over four decades, he worked in 55 films. He passed away last year at the age of 87 due to chronic heart-related complications. The secondary cause of death was decompensated liver cirrhosis, according to the medical certificate issued by the hospital. Talking about Jackie, his latest release is Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, a romantic comedy film directed by Sameer Vidwans. The film stars Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday in the roles, alongside Neena Gupta and Tiku Talsania. He will next be seen in Ahmed Khan’s upcoming comedy film titled Welcome To The Jungle. The film has a huge star cast including names such as Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Aftab Shivdasani, Mika Singh, Mukesh Tiwari, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Tusshar Kapoor, and Sayaji Shinde. 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
04 April,2026 11:15 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAmid much speculation, Ranbir Kapoor has confirmed that he will play a double role in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. While he is primarily headlining the film as Rama, he will also briefly be seen as Parshurama, Vishnu’s avatar before Rama. Earlier, the double role was teased in the latest Rama teaser; however, there had been no confirmation until Ranbir cleared the air. Ranbir Kapoor confirms double role While talking to Collider at the recently held Ramayana teaser launch in LA, Ranbir Kapoor opened up about using his body language and voice to play both Rama and Parshurama, since both characters have different temperaments. He said, “Lord Vishnu had different avatars. Lord Rama was an avatar, and Lord Parshurama was an avatar before Lord Rama." Ranbir Officially Confirms He is Playing Bhagwan Parshuram!#Ramayana pic.twitter.com/n2WxVroeP0 — RK🐰 (@rksbunny) April 3, 2026 Ranbir added, “Just to get the opportunity, you know, how I got to play Lord Rama, to also play Lord Parshurama was fantastic. I think as an actor, apart from body language, I think if you deeply understand the spirituality and the emotionality of the characters, I think everything starts from there. I think that’s what I did the year leading up to the shoot of Ramayana, to understand who these people and characters are, what they stand for and what their motives are." The teaser of Ramayana hints at Rama’s clash with Parshuram, whom, as per the epic, he meets while on his journey back to Ayodhya after marrying Sita. As per the legend, Parshuram challenges Rama to combat, but the fight doesn’t take place after he realises that Rama is also Vishnu’s avatar. In the teaser, this moment also has Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Arun Govil as King Dashratha. About Ramayana While Ranbir Kapoor is playing the role of Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi plays Goddess Sita. KGF star Yash will be seen as Ravana in this magnum opus, while Sunny Deol and Ravie Dubey will play the roles of Hanuman and Lakshman, respectively. On the other hand, the film also stars Kajal Aggarwal and Rakul Preet Singh as Mandodri and Surpanakha. Arun Govil, Kunal Kapoor, Adinath Kothare, Sheeba Chaddha and Indira Krishnan are also part of the ensemble cast.. Ramayana Part I is scheduled for a theatrical release on Diwali 2026, while the second instalment will release on Diwali 2027.
04 April,2026 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Rajpal Yadav says he has marked a special milestone in his career, completing a “half-century” of collaborations with filmmakers Ram Gopal Varma, David Dhawan and Priyadarshan. Rajpal was seen speaking to filmmaker Farah Khan’s Youtube Vlog, where they were seen discussing films and gorging on mixed veg rice. Farah first shared that Rajpal is doing a film titled 100 with her brother Sajid Khan Rajpal said, “And the best part is that many times our shoots almost happened together but didn’t, yet we’ve been friends for so many years. Your show had gone to Birmingham in 1997–98… my association with Sajid and Suresh Menon dates back to then.” Farah then shared that she and Rajpal first worked together in the 1999 film Mast, which marked the debut of Aftab Shivdasani. “We did our first song in Ram Gopal Varma’s Mast. In Mast, he was playing a waiter. And he used to get scolded the most,” Farah said. To which Rajpal said that getting scolded by Farah Khan is auspicious, as people become stars after it. “I did my first song with you, and I had never even thought of doing songs. That was truly an amazing time,” Rajpal added. Farah recalled that they worked together next in the Salman Khan-starrer Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya. Rajpal responed saying that in that too she made him dance with crutches on. Asked if he agrees he is Ram Gopal Varma’s discovery, to which he said: “100 percent”. “Ramu has also discovered such gems,” added Farah. “Ramu brought me out of the ‘villain jungle’… Just think, on one side, Hrithik was receiving the Best Actor award for Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai, and Rakesh Roshan was getting Best Director, while on the other side, Rajpal was receiving Best Negative Character.” He added: “Since then, the industry has given me so much that even if I had 500 births, it wouldn’t be enough to repay it. With every new release, I feel grateful.” Farah asked if he has done 100 films with Priyadarshan. “Now, I’ve completed a half-century with these three—Ram Gopal Varma, David Dhawan and Priyadarshan.” 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
04 April,2026 09:30 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSOn the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti on April 2, director Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra unveiled the first look of actor Ranbir Kapoor as Rama from their upcoming film Ramayana. The teaser clip introducing the character took the internet by storm for the VFX and the look. Amid this, filmmaker Sanjay Gupta made a cryptic tweet on X, which many speculated was a dig at the teaser. Sanjay Gupta on viral tweet The Kaabil director wrote: “KHODA PAHAAD... NIKLA CHUHA.” In the comment section of the tweet, many scratched their heads if this tweet was for Ramayana, considering the timing. However, Sanjay has now denied the rumours. The filmmaker responded to Hindustan Times, saying, “No, not at all. I don’t want to comment on it and it’s not regarding Ramayana." Sanjay Gupta's cryptic tweet sparked speculations Many speculated that Sanjay’s post was for Ramayana, with one of the users commenting, “Ramayana ke teaser ke liye bol rahe hai." Another comment read, “Kuch bhi! Ramayana looks absolutely beautiful.” Meanwhile, another social media post by Sanjay, which has now been deleted, read, “Obvious observation. VfX companies don’t win Oscars. The technicians do” further sparked buzz. Many interpreted it as an indirect dig at VFX giant DNEG, which is handling the VFX of Ramayana and boasts of an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two at the 97th Academy Awards. Before launching the teaser in India, Ranbir with Namit and Nitesh, launched the first look of Rama from Ramayana at a special screening in Los Angeles . At the event, Ranbir opened up about playing Rama in the upcoming film, saying , “Lord Rama has been the conscience keeper of billions of people around the globe for centuries. He enlightens us about the triumph of the human spirit. He stands for compassion, for courage, for righteousness and forgiveness, and is called Maryada Purushottam, which stands for an ideal man.” Ramayana also stars Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman and Sunny Deol as Hanuman. Ramayana: Part 1 will hit the theatres on Diwali 2026, followed by Ramayana: Part 2, which will release on Diwali 2027.
04 April,2026 09:11 AM IST | MumbaiNew faces, familiar Bollywood echoes Shashank Khaitan and Sajid Nadiadwala A few days ago, mid-day reported that producer Sajid Nadiadwala’s son, Subhan, had begun shooting his debut feature in Mumbai (Day one, take one — March 23). Now, there’s more fresh casting chatter. Rohit Roy and Manasi Joshi’s daughter, Kiara Bose Roy, is also set to make her Bollywood debut with the romantic drama. She will star opposite Subhan in the film, directed by Shashank Khaitan. Titled Aisi Deewangi, the film is a nod to the iconic track from Deewana (1992), which starred Sajid’s late wife Divya Bharti. After wrapping up its Mumbai schedule, the team will head to Manali for the next leg. Sounds like a filmi mix already. Feeling gratitude Mithun Chakraborty While many would say the honours are long overdue, Mithun Chakraborty isn’t quite ready to bask in the glory. The actor, who was recently conferred the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, admitted he feels undeserving. “For a poor boy, a man who came from the footpath, it is overwhelming, and I am not able to handle it. So grateful for it all.” From his debut in Mrigayaa (1976), which won him a National Award, to Disco Dancer (1982), Mithun da’s journey has been one for the books.
04 April,2026 07:51 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamThings are moving fast on Yami Gautam Dhar’s Nayyi Navelli. In January, mid-day had reported that the actor was finalised for producer Aanand L Rai’s next (Yami Gautam preparing for Aanand L Rai’s horror comedy, Jan 8), and Prime Video officially announced the horror comedy in March. Now, it’s time for execution. From April 7, Gautam will face the camera for Balaji Mohan’s directorial venture that revolves around a new bride who is not what she seems. Aanand L Rai. Pic/Yogen Shah The director will begin with a month-long schedule in Mumbai. A source told mid-day, “Yami and some of the cast members, including theatre actors, will begin shooting in Malwani near Malad. Production designer Ravi Srivastava and his team have built a massive set reflecting an Indian town, where Yami’s introductory scenes with her friends and family as well as her wedding sequences will be filmed.” Pic/Youtube In May, the cast and crew will move to Bhopal and then Meerut for a two-month schedule. That’s where the story will unravel, as Yami’s character is shown moving into her in-laws’ house in a small town after her wedding. The source added, “They will film the sasuraal portions, in which certain inexplicable events take place. At first, her character is shown as a picture-perfect bride. But soon, her brother-in-law and his family members start suspecting her motives and wonder whether she possesses supernatural powers. The story blends horror, comedy, and mythology.” While Rai previously backed the horror film Tumbbad (2018), this marks his first supernatural comedy. Did ya see? Yami Gautam Dhar sprang a surprise on her fans with ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’. She has a cameo in her husband and filmmaker Aditya Dhar’s movie, playing a nurse in Pakistan who is actually an undercover Indian agent Pic/Youtube After ‘Bhoot Police’,‘Nayyi Navelli’ is Yami Gautam Dhar’s second horror comedy
04 April,2026 07:27 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRAbhishek Bachchan has grown up witnessing intense fandom, being the son of iconic actors Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Later, his marriage to global star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan did not make him feel insecure, something he attributes to his upbringing. Abhishek Bachchan on being married to a global star In a recent conversation with Lilly Singh, Abhishek shared that his understanding of equality in relationships stems from his early years. Recalling how Jaya Bachchan once had a larger fan following than Amitabh Bachchan, he said, “I had that at home as well, to get that out of the way. When my parents got married, my mother was the much bigger star than my father was. So it was not an unnatural thing. I wasn’t brought up to think that you have to be the dominant one; it was always about partnership." The actor also mentioned that the idea of being “the man of the family" was never a topic of discussion between him and Aishwarya. He explained that they shared a strong friendship long before their relationship evolved. “I have known Aishwarya from the start of my career. The second film I did was with her, and she is the one actress I have worked with the most. We weren’t in a relationship then, we were buddies, we were always friends. When we finally did come together, and throughout our courtship, engagement, and marriage, it was always about partnership. It was never, ‘I am going to bring the food and you take care of the house.’ It’s not even discussed; it flows very naturally." About Aishwarya and Abhishek For years, reports have suggested that not all is well between Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai, who married in 2007. They welcomed their daughter Aaradhya in November 2011. While the couple often shared happy pictures, rumours of tension escalated last year when they started making separate public appearances. Reports even claimed they were not living together, rumours further fuelled by Abhishek’s absence from certain family events. However, in recent months, the couple has put these rumours to rest. From dancing together on “Kajra Re” to attending Ashutosh Gowariker’s wedding and recently vacationing together, they have dispelled separation speculations.They recently also attended Dharmendra's prayer meet together. Recently, Abhishek spoke to PeepingMoon, how his daughter Aaradhya is reacting to rumours around her parents. He said she likely isn’t, as she doesn’t have a phone. “I hope not. She’s a very mature girl. She’s a wonderful girl, and her mother has done a wonderful job. I don’t think she’s aware, and it’s not part of her priority. She doesn’t have a phone; she’s 14. If her friends want to get in touch with her, they have to call her mother’s phone. That’s something we decided on a long time ago.” Bachchan added that even though she doesn’t own a phone, she does have access to the internet. However, she has no interest in reading rumours about her parents.
03 April,2026 10:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar took the box office by storm, with the filmmaker releasing two parts within a span of four months. Both films made a strong impact on audiences. After the release, Akshaye Khanna gained significant attention for his role as Rahman Dakait, a notorious Lyari ganglord. However, he was not the first choice for the role, in fact, he was the fourth actor approached, as three actors had earlier turned it down. Mukesh Chhabra on Rahman Dakait casting In a conversation with Bollywood Hungama, casting director Mukesh Chhabra revealed that three actors rejected the role for unusual reasons. Without naming them, he said, “Ek actor South se thhe, aur baki do Bollywood ke thhe. They gave me a very weird logic. They said, ‘Ye ensemble cast hain (This is an ensemble cast).’ ‘Ye toh Ranveer ki picture hain (This is Ranveer Singh's picture).’ I said okay leave, and Aditya [Dhar] is a cool guy and he said it is fine. He was sure about his film. I did feel bad because we think of an actor after a lot of thought.” Mukesh added that they then approached Akshaye Khanna, who immediately agreed to hear the script and loved. Praising the actor, Mukesh said that Akshaye makes decisions from the heart and is not influenced by external opinions. Mukesh Chhabra on casting challenges Talking about his casting approach for the film Dhurandhar on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, Season 3, Mukesh Chhabra revealed, "Initially, even Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt and Akshaye Khanna were not sure about being a part of the film. Only R Madhavan said yes. For the others, it took time. Aditya and I were considering so many people, and honestly, earlier we had never thought we would cast so many big stars. We had a very different kind of actors in mind. Then I pushed him to think bigger." He further added, "When you start a film, you wonder how so many big actors will come on board. At first, none of this was there, but gradually, as we discussed, it started falling into place" Explaining why the actors were hesitant, he shared, "Madhavan and Arjun were on the set of the film only for 12 days. Most actors usually worry about how much screen time they will get. We said that here, the impact is what matters. If you look at Madhavan’s part, with only 12 to 14 days of work, the impact of the role is huge."
03 April,2026 09:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Aditya Dhar has reportedly issued a legal notice to writer Santosh Kumar RS after the latter accused the makers of Dhurandhar 2 of copying his script. The controversy has sparked a fresh debate around originality and intellectual property in the film industry. Aditya Dhar to go the legal route According to reports, Santosh Kumar RS had earlier alleged that the storyline of Dhurandhar 2 was lifted from a script he had written in 2023. He claimed that he had registered the script with the Screenwriters Association and had also pitched it to several production houses while trying to develop the project. The writer further stated that he realised the similarities only after watching the film, which has emerged as a major box office success. He alleged that key elements of the narrative closely resembled his original work and claimed to have supporting documents, including registration records and email communications, to back his case. However, the situation appears to have escalated, with Aditya Dhar now taking legal action against the accusations. As per reports, a notice has been sent to Santosh Kumar RS, challenging his claims and seeking clarification over the allegations made in public forums. The move indicates that the filmmaker is strongly contesting the plagiarism charges. The controversy has unfolded at a time when Dhurandhar 2 is enjoying massive commercial success and widespread attention. The film, starring Ranveer Singh, has been praised for its scale and storytelling, even as it continues to face scrutiny over its themes and narrative choices. All about the controversy Industry insiders suggest that such disputes are not uncommon in filmmaking, especially in large-scale projects where multiple ideas and scripts are in circulation. However, legal escalations like this highlight the growing importance of protecting creative ownership and ensuring transparency in the development process. While Santosh Kumar RS has maintained that his claims are backed by evidence, the makers of Dhurandhar 2 have not publicly accepted any wrongdoing. Instead, the legal notice signals a pushback against what they may view as baseless allegations. As the matter develops, it could potentially move into a prolonged legal battle, depending on how both parties proceed. The case also underscores the challenges faced by writers in safeguarding their work in a highly competitive industry. With both sides standing firm, the dispute is likely to draw continued attention, especially given the film’s high profile and ongoing success at the box office.
03 April,2026 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRappers Yo Yo Honey Singh and Badshah are currently facing both legal trouble and fan backlash, as controversies surrounding their music and live performances unfold simultaneously. Honey Singh and Badshah get legal notice The duo has been issued notices by the Delhi High Court in connection with their controversial track Volume 1, after a petition challenged the song’s lyrics as offensive and derogatory towards women. The court took serious note of the content and ordered the immediate removal of the track from digital platforms, calling it “grossly vulgar” and unacceptable in a civilised society. According to legal representatives associated with the case, the petition was filed not only to target a single song but also to highlight broader concerns about explicit and objectionable content in the music industry. The court emphasized that freedom of expression cannot be used as a shield for material that violates basic standards of decency, especially when it is widely accessible online. Amid this legal controversy, Honey Singh has also found himself at the centre of another issue involving his live performances. His much-anticipated concert in Pune, which was part of his ongoing tour and reportedly sold out, has now been postponed. The announcement came shortly before the scheduled date, leaving fans frustrated and confused. Pune concert gets postponed Honey Singh shared the update on social media, informing fans that the show had been pushed to a later date. While a new date has been promised, many fans expressed their disappointment online, with several calling the last-minute postponement “not acceptable” and questioning the lack of prior communication. Adding to the tension, authorities had earlier issued a notice ahead of the Pune event, directing that no songs promoting vulgarity, violence, or drug culture be performed during the concert. This directive followed complaints regarding the potential impact of such content on younger audiences. The overlap of legal scrutiny and concert-related issues has intensified the spotlight on the rapper, raising questions about accountability and content regulation in the entertainment industry. While the court proceedings are ongoing, both artists are expected to respond formally to the notice in the coming weeks. As debates around censorship, artistic freedom, and responsibility continue, the outcome of the case could have wider implications for the music industry. Meanwhile, disappointed fans now await clarity on the rescheduled Pune concert, hoping for a smoother experience when it finally takes place.
03 April,2026 07:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Akshay Kumar has been keeping his selfless act to the world of martial arts away from the limelight, a fact that was shared by contestant Vispy while an episode of the quiz reality show Wheel of Fortune. Akshay Kumar funds martial arts training Following the high-octane ‘Double Dhamaka’ round, Vispy took a heartfelt moment to step away from the game and share how Akshay has been actively involved in the welfare of martial arts students. Vispy revealed to the audience that he is a long-time student of the training programs championed by Akshay. He highlighted how the superstar helps students to train in the art in Thailand and takes care of their end-to-end finance too. He said, “Sir, main aapka student hoon saalo se. Main yeh kehna chahta hoon ki Akshay Sir kaafi eligible students ko select karte hain aur unko training ke liye apne khud ke paison se Thailand bhejte hain International competitions ke liye bhi woh financially help karte hain.” He also expressed deep gratitude for Akshay’s instrumental role in bringing Kudo,a hybrid martial art, to the forefront in India. Rather than dwelling on his financial contributions, Akshay chose to focus on the core values of the sport that shaped his own life. He stated, “Main sirf yeh kehna chahta hoon ki self-discipline is one of the greatest things to do. Martial arts seekhne ke liye koi age nahi chahiye.” For the uninitiated, Akshay himself is a trainee in the field of martial arts and other similar forms, for years. Akshay Kumar's work front Akshay Kumar is preparing for the release of 'Bhooth Bangla', directed by Priyadarshan. The film marks their reunion after nearly 14 years. The project also features Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles. Earlier, talking about the film, Akshay Kumar called it a "real horror comedy" and clarified that it is completely different from his earlier hit Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Speaking about the film, Akshay said that while many are comparing the two, Bhooth Bangla belongs to a different space altogether. "Nahi ye bilkul alag hai (No, this is completely different). Bhool Bhulaiyaa..usme psychological thriller, horror..horror bhi nahi tha psychological comedy thi ( That was more of a psychological comedy). This is a fantasy. Iske andar vakai mein koi bhoot hai ya nahi dekhna hai ( In this, whether there is a ghost or not, you have to see.) Yeh actually kahunga to asli mein horror comedy hai (So if I say, this is a real horror comedy)," he shared.' Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a psychological horror comedy film directed by Priyadarshan starring Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Shiney Ahuja, and Ameesha Patel, alongside Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Manoj Joshi, Asrani, and Vikram Gokhale.
03 April,2026 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
