A Division Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday set aside its earlier order in the legal rivalry between the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and KVN Productions over the certification of Jana Nayagan. The bench sent the case back to a single-judge to reconsider its order of granting censor clearance to Vijay-starrer. Madras HC sets order aside, asks single judge to reconsider The Divisional Bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Srivastava and Justice Arul Murugan maintained that the single judge had erred in considering the merits of a complaint made about the Jana Nayagan's content. As a result, the Division Bench sent back the case to the single-judge for reconsideration. "Single-judge ought not to have gone into the merits. The decision of the writ court has to go, the appeal is allowed and the impugned order is set aside. The writ petitioner is given the opportunity to amend the writ petition," the Division Bench order stated. The latest order means that the release of the movie will be delayed further, as the makers have not received any relief. About the Jana Nayagan censor controversy The Division Bench had stayed the order of the single-judge on January 9, on the ground that the Central government was not allowed enough time to file its response to the plea. Later, on January 15, the Supreme Court rejected a plea filed by the producer against the Division Bench order and the delays in granting the final censor certificate. Jana Nayagan, which is Vijay’s last film before his switches into full-time political career, was originally scheduled for release on January 9, coinciding with the Pongal festival. The producers approached the High Court claiming delay on the part of the CBFC in issuing the final censor certificate despite compliance with the cuts suggested by the examining committee. The controversy erupted after the film was referred to a revising committee on a complaint claiming improper portrayal of defence forces and potential hurt to religious sentiments. It was later discovered that the complaint was made by a member of the examining committee itself. The makers of the film informed the Court that they applied for censor certification on December 18, 2025. After a personal hearing, the Examining Committee, via a communication dated December 22, 2025, recommended the grant of certification under the UA 16+ category, due to depictions of violence, fight sequences, gory visuals, and brief references to religious sentiments. The Committee allegedly ordered certain excisions and modifications, which the producers claim were fully complied with. A revised version of the film was then resubmitted on December 24, 2025. The modifications were reportedly verified on December 29, 2025, following which the producers were told that the film would be granted UA 16+ certification. Later on January 5, the producers received an email stating that the film was being referred to a Revising Committee under Rule 24 of the Cinematograph (Certification) Rules based on an alleged complaint relating to religious sentiments and the depiction of armed forces. Following the email, the producers then approached the High Court. A single-judge granted relief to the film, but the same was stayed by the Division Bench.
27 January,2026 11:49 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Ranbir Kapoor has heaped praise on Rani Mukerji, who has clocked three decades in Hindi cinema, and said that he has always felt that she is one for the ages, one of the greatest ever actors in India, and someone who has defined the Hindi film industry through her work. Talking about his Sawaariya co-star, Ranbir said: “Rani is the co-star of my first film Sawaariya, and she is the first person who told me that if I worked hard, I would go a long way. I will never forget that interaction because it gave me so much confidence when I needed it the most.” “I have seen her as a person closely, I have seen her work closely and have been bowled over by her grace, charm, and brilliance.” He says it is amazing to see the entire industry come forward to celebrate 30 years of her iconic legacy. “I have always felt that Rani is one for the ages, one of the greatest ever actors in India, and someone who has defined our industry through her work. Her choice of projects and roles has shaped how women are portrayed on the screen today,” said Ranbir. Ranbir reveals Rani only wants to spread joy through her cinema. He says, “Thank you, Rani, for the movies, the memories, the nostalgia, and the powerhouse performances. She is an entertainer who has dedicated her life to making people happy, and I don’t have words to describe the impact her films have had on me.” Rani will soon be seen in the third installment of Mardaani, which is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra. Mardaani 3 delves into another dark and brutal reality of our society, further strengthening the franchise’s legacy of impactful, issue-based storytelling. 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
27 January,2026 11:30 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan’s mother Pinkie Roshan has taken to her social media account to express her happiness as her ‘uncle’ and Bollywood superstar Dharmendra, is being honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award. Sharing his picture in her social media account, Pinkie wrote, “My Heart feels elated as my Dearest Uncle Dharmendra, who is part of my childhood as family is being honoured by our Govt.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pinkie Roshan (@pinkieroshan) She further wrote, “Felt his warmth and love as I grew up, being the most gentle and kind human who will continue to live in my Heart. I just wish he could have witnessed this Himself - His Legacy remains deeply felt Love you Uncle. Earlier in the day, actress Esha Deol and Dharmendra’s daughter expressed her delight as her late father is being honoured with the Padma Vibhushan award, the second-highest civilian award of the Republic of India. Wishing everyone on Republic Day, Esha took to her social media account and wrote, "Happy Republic Day Really happy that our papa is being conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award (folded hands emoji) (sic)." The actress also uploaded a picture of herself posing with half-brother Sunny Deol and sister Ahana Deol, and urged everyone to watch his recently released Border 2 with their family and friends. Congratulating Sunny and the rest of the team, Esha went on to write, "Watch Border 2 with your family and friends We watched the film last night iamsunnydeol you are the best (flexed bicep emoji) Shout out to ahan.shetty varundvn diljitdosanjh nidhiduttaofficial fantastic. Salute." Prior to this, veteran actress and politician Hema Malini had also thanked the Government of India for conferring the Padma Vibhushan award on her late husband. Taking to her X (Formerly known as Twitter) handle, she wrote, “So so proud that the govt has recognised Dharam ji’s immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award”. On Sunday, it was announced that Dharmendra is being posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan, along with Satish Shah, who will be posthumously honoured with the Padma Shri. Apart from these two, some other members from the industry, who have received the Padma Awards, are Malayalam superstar Mammootty, who will also be awarded Padma Bhushan, and actor R Madhavan, who will be receiving Padma Shri. Both Dharmendra and Satish Shah left for heavenly abodes in 2025. 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
27 January,2026 11:04 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Anupam Kher extended his heartfelt birthday wishes to his niece Tanvi, on whom the actor based his directorial film Tanvi The Great, which was released last year. Taking to his Instagram handle, Anupam Kher shared throwback photos of Tanvi, which feature the actor posing with Tanvi and actress Shubhangi Dutt. In the series of pictures, Tanvi appeared to be posing candidly with her family and Anupam Kher. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Anupam Kher penned a long birthday note describing Tanvi as autistic yet full of goodness, intelligence, honesty, humour, and "a brilliant singer," while crediting Tanvi for the idea that made the film possible. Titled 'Happy Birthday to the real Tanvi', Anupam Kher wrote, "The seed of my film Tanvi The Great came from my niece Tanvi! She is one of my most favourite persons in the whole world! Being autistic, she has only goodness in her heart! She otherwise is Smart, very intelligent, funny, completely straightforward and a brilliant singer! Here is wishing her a long, healthy and happy life. Love you the most, Tanvi! You gave me the most amazing gift with the idea for the film." The actor concluded the message with heartfelt love, gratitude and blessings for Tanvi's long, healthy and happy life. "It made me the richest man on this planet! With Tanvi The Great, I understood the complete meaning of KINDNESS, GOODNESS, COMPASSION, and the POWER OF TRUTH! Thank you for these teachings! You have not only impacted my life but also of the 250 odd unit members and so many people who watched the film. God bless you, beta! Love and blessings always!" concluded Anupam Kher. Tanvi The Great, directed by actor Anupam Kher, features Shubhangi in the lead role of Tanvi Raina. The film explores themes of autism and the Indian Army. Shubhangi plays a young girl inspired by her late father's army service, as she dreams of following in his footsteps. The film also stars Anupam Kher, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani, and Karan Tacker in key roles. It has received praise internationally, having been screened at major festivals in Cannes, New York, Houston, and London. It also received standing ovations at special screenings at the National Defence Academy and Southern Command in Pune. 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
27 January,2026 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Neil Nitin Mukesh has penned a tender note to wish his wife Rukmini on her birthday. He went on to tag her as his strength, peace, and his biggest blessing. Neil took to Instagram, where he shared a string of pictures with his wife Rukmini, whom he married in 2017. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Neil Nitin Mukesh (@neilnitinmukesh) “Happy Birthday my love rukminineilmukesh. You are my strength, my peace, and my biggest blessing,” wrote the actor. He added: “Thank you for filling my life with love, laughter, and warmth every single day. May this year bring you all the happiness you truly deserve. Love you always baby.” It was in 2017 when Neil, who will reportedly be seen next in the Malayalam film Khalifa, married Rukmini. A year later, he went on to announce via Instagram that the couple were expecting their first child. On the work front, Neil’s latest release is the black comedy thriller titled Ek Chatur Naar, written by Himanshu Tripathi and directed by Umesh Shukla. It also stars Divya Khossla. The film is set against the backdrop of a quirky small-town Indian landscape, and the story follows a seemingly charming woman with a naivety that masks her razor-sharp wit. Ambitious and cunning, she effortlessly outsmarts everyone around her. When a lucrative opportunity comes her way, she dives in headfirst but is tangled with unpredictable twists and darkly comedic turns that test her cunning at every step. On the OTT front, he was seen in Hai Junoon! Dream. Dare. Dominate directed by Abhishek Sharma. The series Hai Junoon! is about rivalry and passion at Mumbai's Anderson's College, focusing on underdog dancer Sebi and his Misfits crew challenging the elite Supersonics team, led by music maestro Gagan, in the college's prestigious "GOAT" competition, exploring themes of dreams, ambition, and identity with reimagined Bollywood songs and diverse characters. 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
27 January,2026 10:38 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood diva Karisma Kapoor and Akshay Kumar treated fans with a dose of sheer nostalgia on the show Wheel of Fortune, as the latter revealed the actress to be his life's first heroine ever. The duo also recreated magic on stage by revisiting their memorable song Deedar Ho Gaya Mujhko Pyaar Ho Gaya, marking 34 years of the film Deedar and leaving fans thrilled. Karisma graced the show, along with Anu Malik and Mouni Roy, who joined in on the fun. It was here that Akshay Kumar shared a heartfelt moment, saying, “As you all know, she is my first heroine. I did my first film with her, my first song with her. I want to tell you how beautiful you are.” To this, Karisma responds warmly, “Thank you.” In another promo Akshay joked, “Bandra main har building ke andar inke ek-ek flat hain.” Joining the banter, Anu Malik, who accompanied Karisma to the show, quipped, “Akshay never lies,” while Karisma teasingly fires back, “You know, he owns entire Juhu!” Akshay ups the ante, adding Santacruz and Khar to the list. For the uninitiated, Deedar was released in 1992 and was directed and produced by Pramod Chakravorty. The movie featured Akshay Kumar and Karisma Kapoor in the lead roles, marking one of their early on-screen pairings. Akshay Kumar played Anand K. Malhotra, and Karisma Kapoor essayed the role of Sapna Saxena. The film also starred Anupam Kher, Laxmikant Berde, Tanuja, Dan Dhanoa, Rajeev Verma, Viju Khote and others in supporting 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
27 January,2026 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood actor Kartik Aaryan marked Republic Day by sharing a powerful picture featuring himself with the Indian armed forces personnel, and extended his wishes to the nation. The actor took to social media and wrote, “Happy Republic Day.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by KARTIK AARYAN (@kartikaaryan) The picture shared by Kartik features the actor standing amid a group of uniformed commandos, all raising their fists in a spirited gesture of unity and pride. The Indian national flag can be seen fluttering high in the background of the picture. Dressed in a black outfit, Kartik looks smart. The timing of the photo is not known. On the professional front, Kartik Aaryan has carved a strong space for himself with movies like as Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety, Dhamaka, Satyaprem Ki Katha, Chandu Champion and Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2, among others. Kartik was last seen in Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, which also starred Ananya Panday opposite him. The romantic drama, however, met with an extremely lukewarm response at the box office despite pre-release buzz. During the promotion of the movie, the actor has graced the latest episode of the streaming sketch comedy show The Great Indian Kapil Show with co-star Ananya Panday, where he had opened up about the wedding festivities of her sister Kritika Tiwari. He told the show host and star comedian, actor Kapil Sharma, “Everything was done by mother and my sister. I was the guest in my own family’s wedding festivities. I also danced at the wedding for free; my sister didn’t give me a single penny”. 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
27 January,2026 10:10 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSOn the occasion of Republic Day, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan took to Instagram and shared an adorable video with his niece Ayat and nephew Ahil. The video showed Salman spending quality time with little ones Ayat and Ahil as they listened to Maatrubhoomi, a patriotic song from his Battle of Galwan. This is for all the chota chota nanna munna desh bhakts and patriots . Happy Republic Day love your Maatrubhumi... Jai Hind salmankhanfilmsmusic," he captioned the post. Maatrubhumi is composed by Himesh Reshammiya, with lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan. The song is sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. The music and vocals aim to evoke strong patriotic emotions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) The film's teaser was released in December last year and gave a glimpse of Salman's character, who portrays an Indian Army officer. The teaser shows him with a serious and restrained expression. The visuals depict rough terrain, cold weather, and close combat, offering a preview of the challenges soldiers face at high altitudes. Battle of Galwan is based on the Galwan Valley clash between India and China in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were killed. Actor Chitrangada Singh is also a part of the movie, which will be released on April 17. 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
27 January,2026 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran Hindi cinema star Saira Banu has reflected on the idea of India, her husband and late megastar Dilip Kumar believed in, and wanted to protect. “He often said that the soul of India doesn’t lie in its monuments or history books, it lives in its people. In their kindness. In their empathy. In their belief that we rise by lifting others. For him, humanity wasn’t an ideal. It was a responsibility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu) He believed that when compassion guides us, even the impossible becomes achievable. Despite all our diversities of caste, culture, language, or belief, what truly unites us is dignity for every human being. That was the India he believed in. And that is the India we must protect.” Talking about her idea of Republic Day, Saira said, “Republic Day has never been just a date on the calendar for me. It has always been a feeling.” Remembering her childhood days in England, she said, “As a child, I moved to England and spent my growing years in London. But strangely, distance didn’t dilute my connection with India; it deepened it. The farther I went, the closer my country.” She added, “Living away made me realise something profound: nations are not remembered for their borders or buildings. They are remembered for their humanity.” The actress further added, “Peace and humanity may sound like different ideas, yet one cannot exist without the other. True peace is born only where humanity breathes. In every corner of this land, from crowded streets to silent villages, there lives an unspoken truth: we may look different, speak different languages, follow different customs… yet our hearts beat with the same instinct to help, to care, to stand by one another.” The actress further added, “Sometimes it’s just a glance of reassurance from a stranger. Sometimes, a hand that reaches out in difficult times. Sometimes laughter shared without a common language. These small moments define us far more than grand speeches ever could. Dilip Sahib deeply believed in this very spirit. Happy 77th Republic Day.” For the uninitiated, Dilip Kumar, fondly remembered as the Tragedy King of Indian cinema, was also part of several films whose main plot revolved around deep patriotism and love for the country. Some of his notable patriotic and socially rooted films include Shaheed in 1965 and Kranti in 1981. On the personal front, Dilip Kumar shared a legendary love story with Saira Banu. The couple got married on October 11, 1966, despite a 22-year age gap. They then went on to become one of Bollywood’s most enduring and admired pairs. Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98. 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
27 January,2026 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs the coming-of-age political action film Rang De Basanti clocked 20 years since its release, actor Sharman Joshi said that Hindi cinema will remember the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial forever. “Time flies,” said Sharman as the film turned 20-years-old. Rang De Basanti follows a British film student traveling to India to document the story of five freedom fighters of the Indian revolutionary movement. She befriends and casts five young men in the film, which inspires them to fight against the evils of their own present-day government. It also stars Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan along with names such as Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, British actress Alice Patten, Waheeda Rehman, and Soha Ali Khan. “Rang De Basanti is a memorable film, a cult film and a film that Hindi cinema will remember forever. I was fortunate and blessed enough to be a part of a rare cinema that continues to touch people from across generations.” For Sharman, Rang De Basanti, and 3 Idiots stand at the top throughout his work. “And I feel so fortunate that I was given the opportunity by the Almighty, the directors and producers, to be part of such wonderful films,” he expressed. Further, the actor looks back at the shooting days, recalling memories where shooting the film didn’t feel like work. “I had the most fun shooting the film, it never felt like work - but every scene, every laugh , every shot, and every emotion added to my experience that I will cherish forever,” he added. The film was honoured with a National Film Award for Best Popular Film and was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2007 BAFTA Awards. Additionally, the film was also chosen as India’s official entry for the Golden Globe Awards and Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. 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
27 January,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Varun Dhawan was subjected to heavy critism before the release of Border 2. Now that the film has released and is enjoying a significant run at the box office, Varun has seemingly taken a dig at trolls who had been making comments against him. Although earlier he had reacted to the trolling, noting that online noise does not affect his mindset. Varun Dhawan hits back at trolls The actor recently took to his Instagram Story to share a picture of himself surrounded by fans. On the occasion of Republic Day, the actor wished his fans while also expressing gratitude and wrote, Border 2 (National Flag emoji). Love will always triumph hate. Thank you (folded hands emoji)." When Varun Dhawan reacted to the backlash Earlier, Varun had reacted to the criticism while speaking at the Braves Of The Soil tribute trailer launch for Border 2. At the event, he highlighted that he believes in letting his work do the talking rather than responding to negativity. “I believe that you shut down the noise and just let your work do the talking. Yeh sab cheezein chalti rehti hai (All these keep happening). It doesn’t really matter. Main iske liye kaam karta hoon. Main jis cheeze k liye kaam karta hoon woh iss Friday ko pata chalega (I don’t work for this. What I work for, you will get to know this Friday)," Varun shared. The Border 2 actor further stressed, “Mujhe film pe bharosa hai. Ek achi film banana bohut important hai. Obviously, numbers yeh sab cheezein mera kuch lena dena nahi hai isse. But I believe ki humne ek achi film banayi hai (I believe in the film. It’s very important to make a good film. I’m not concerned with numbers. I believe we made a good film). That’s the most important thing," he said. He added that audiences eventually cares about entertainment when they step into theatres. “Log jab theatre mein jaate hai, sab bhool jaate hai (When people go to theatres, they forget everything). They want to be entertained, that’s it. Aur kuch maine nahi rakhta hai. Main use school se aata hoon jaaha aapka kaam bolta hai (Nothing else matters. I come from the school where a person’s work speaks)," he said.
27 January,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
