Global icon Priyanka Chopra, in her latest social media post, has said that “there’s a lot unfolding around the world. It’s hard. It’s heavy,” hinting at the current global tensions, including the ongoing strains between the US, Iran, and Pakistan, Afghanistan. Marking the festival of Holi, the global icon shared a powerful visual that symbolized hope amid turmoil. The picture posted by Priyanka captures a towering bonfire lit for Holika Dahan. Sharing the picture, she wrote, “There’s a lot unfolding around the world. It’s hard. It’s heavy. But light has a way of showing us the way. Here’s to the triumph of good over evil. #HolikaDahan” Talking about Holika Dahan, it is observed on the eve of Holi to commemorate the victory of good over evil, a belief rooted in the legend of Prahlad and Holika from ancient Hindu mythology. The ritual bonfire of Holika Dahan symbolises the burning away of negativity, ego and evil forces, and highlighting the victory of positivity, faith, righteousness and truth. Talking about Priyanka Chopra, on the professional front, is gearing up for her upcoming movie helmed by filmmaker SS Rajamouli. The much-anticipated project is titled as Varanasi and also features Mahesh Babu in the lead alongside her. The actress, a few days ago had turned heads as she walked down one of the busiest streets in New York City casually serving looks amid the hustle and bustle. Taking to her social media account, Priyanka shared a carousel of striking images and captioned it as, “Couture chaos. NYC edition.” Dressed in an all-white ensemble paired with a plush fur coat, the actress stood out effortlessly amid pedestrians crossing the street. Peecee, after working in the Hindi film industry for a decade, made her big switch from Bollywood to Hollywood almost a decade ago. In Bollywood, she has delivered many hits like Aitraaz, Fashion, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, and many more. 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
03 March,2026 09:08 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe treatment of female characters in mainstream Hindi cinema has evolved over the years. From being just supporting roles to leading roles. Filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya recently opened up about the same, saying his own stories are a testament of how women have transitioned from being just homemakers in the 90s to being career-oriented working women now. Sooraj Barjatya says Hum Aapke Hain Koun cannot be made today For the unversed, Barjatya’s new show, Sangamarmar, starring Sheen Savita Dass, shows a woman taking over her father’s business after his untimely death. Talking about the story, the filmmaker told Hindustan Times, “Where stories are concerned, agar main aaj bhi sochoon ki ghar pe baithengi ladies (the women will sit at home), that is over. You cannot make a Hum Aapke Hain Koun where everybody lives together, because it’s not possible today. But the values remain the same.” Hum Aapke Hain Koun is Barjatya's most successful film. Released in 1994, it went on to become India's highest-grossing film for over a decade. The film narrates the story of a tightly-knit family, and is popular even three decades later. Sooraj Barjatya on changing roles of women Barjatya added that the stories in Indian cinema have evolved to a point where being career-oriented does not automatically mean being opposed to family values. He says that this change is related to more women being involved in the filmmaking process. “My sets have more women than men today,” he says. “This is a big change. When I started, the only women (on set) were the actresses, their mothers, and hairdressers," he shared. “The energies are different. The way to look into a scene is different. We never used to pay so much attention to costumes and production design. The number of kitchen sets and temples I have put on screen that no one else has. That is where women come in with new ideas,” the filmmaker adds. The filmmaker further admitted that women in positions of power in the Indian cinema still find it difficult to exercise that authority. “They say it is so difficult to give orders to men,” he says, adding that the women tell him, "We have to manoeuvre by massaging their egos in order to get the work done."
03 March,2026 07:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActors and celebrity couple Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal celebrated Holi 2026, marking their first as parents. As usual, they celebrated the festival with their family. However, this year’s festivities were special after they became parents to their baby boy, Vihaan Kaushal. Vicky and Katrina celebrate first Holi after welcoming baby boy On Tuesday, March 3, Katrina took to her Instagram handle to drop a photo offering a glimpse of her Holi celebration with husband Vicky, brother-in-law Sunny Kaushal and sister Isabelle Kaif. She simply wrote, "The Happiest Happy Holi," in the caption. In the picture, the family is seen all dressed in white outfits, with colours smeared all over their faces. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katrina Kaif (@katrinakaif) Soon after she shared the picture, fans flooded the comments with reactions and wishes. One fan wrote, “Her glow is reflecting her happiness," while another fan commented, “Vihaan mamma glow." One of the users went on to say, “Her glow after becoming mama is something different." Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal's baby boy Refreshing your memory, Katrina and Vicky, who tied the knot back in 2021 in a private ceremony, welcomed their firstborn, a son, on November 7, 2025.Announcing the arrival of their little bundle of joy on social media, the newparents shared a joint post that read, "Our bundle of joy has arrived. With immense love and gratitude, we welcome our baby boy. 7th November, 2025. Katrina & Vicky." "Blessed. Om (sic)", they simply captioned the post. Two months after welcoming their son, Katrina and Vicky disclosed the name of their little munchkin on social media. Revealing the name of their son in a joint post, they published an adorable picture of little Vihaan's hand on Katrina and Vicky's hands. Disclosing the name on Instagram, the Bollywood couple wrote, "Our Ray of Light... Vihaan Kaushal... Prayers are answered...Life is beautiful... Our world is changed in a instant... Gratitude beyond words." Work-wise, Katrina last graced the screen in 2024 with the mystery thriller Merry Christmas. Starring Vijay Sethupathi, Ashwini Kalsekar, Luke Kenny, and Pari Maheshwari Sharma, the movie is believed to be based on Frederic Dard's French novel Le Monte-charge. Talking about Vicky, he will soon be seen sharing the screen with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's highly discussed Love and War. (With inputs from IANS)
03 March,2026 06:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAhaan Panday made his acting debut with the film Saiyaara last year. Directed by Mohit Suri, the romantic musical received unexpected love from the audience, turning into a blockbuster. The film, which also introduced Aneet Padda to the big screen, saw people across different age groups reacting emotionally. Many viewers were seen crying inside cinema halls while watching the film. Ahaan Panday on man with IV drip watching Saiyaara However, one video from a theatre that caught everyone’s attention showed a man watching the film with an IV drip attached to him. The clip sparked a meme fest online, with some calling it a marketing gimmick allegedly pulled off by the film’s team. Now, Ahaan has reacted to the viral video, saying he was equally surprised by it. Ahaan Panday recently spoke to Esquire India about the love he received following the release of Saiyaara, in which he played struggling singer Krish Kapoor. Addressing the viral IV drip video, Panday revealed that the man was actually undergoing dialysis. “You know what, that was actually a person who had dialysis. Mohit sir found out later because we were curious about how all of this was happening,” he shared. In the same conversation, Panday explained why Saiyaara resonated so deeply with audiences. He said, “I feel people reacted this way because for so many years we had such a set way of thinking about how things had to be done. It became so rigid. Maybe people just wanted something with artists not trying to be perfect, and this film allowed that. Romance is not perfect. Love is never perfect.” Ahaan Panday’s upcoming film Filmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar is set to direct Ahaan Panday in his upcoming, yet-untitled project. Ahaan will begin shooting for the film on March 30 in Mumbai before heading to the UK for a 60-day schedule for the action entertainer, which also features Sharvari opposite him. Talking about undergoing a physical transformation for the action film, Ahaan revealed, “There’s a certain physical requirement for my next film, and I’m halfway there. Right now, there are about seven hours of daily physical activity — three hours of action training, followed by two-and-a-half hours of strength training in the gym, which is way more than people usually do.”
03 March,2026 05:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter Esha Gupta, actress Sonal Chauhan returned to India safely on March 3. The Jannat actress was seen arriving back in Mumbai after being stuck in Dubai amid rising tensions in West Asia. The actress was spotted at the Mumbai airport. Earlier today, Sonal even took to social media and gave fans a peek into her return to Mumbai after a terrifying stay in Dubai. Like Sonal, several celebrities were stuck in the UAE due to the flight cancellations. Sonal Chauhan returns to India Sonal was seen at the Mumbai airport heading back home in style after being stranded in Dubai. She wore denims paired with a white tank top and a leather jacket. The actress chose not to interact with the paps as she exited the Mumbai airport. The actress also took to her Instagram story to share visuals from Dubai before leaving for India. She shared a picture of her flight with the song ‘I am coming home’. Sonal Chauhan was stranded in Dubai Sonal had earlier sought help from PM Narendra Modi after she was unable to travel back home. She took to X (previously Twitter) and made a public appeal. In her post, she wrote, “Hon’ble PM narendramodi ji, I am currently stranded in Dubai due to the ongoing crisis, with flights cancelled and no clear way to return to India, I respectfully seek the Government’s guidance for a safe journey home. Grateful for any support extended." Later she had shared an update, saying, “To everyone messaging me and checking up on me - Thank you, and I'm sorry for not being able to reply. Your concern really means a lot. I am safe and I assure you, the authorities are doing their best to keep everyone safe,” Sonal wrote. The Jannat actor continued, “There's nothing to panic about. Surely, Dubai is the safest place in the world. modgovae is in protecting and safeguarding everyone. Things are totally under control. And I request everyone to refrain from spreading panic. Praying for everyone's safety (multiple folded hand emojis).” Several other celebs like Esha Gupta, PV Sindhu, Ammy Kirk’s wife and daughter, Ajith Kumar, Erica Fernandes and more were stuck in Dubai. Esha and PV Sindhu had also taken to social media to confirm that they had returned to their homes safely earlier today. For the unversed, Sonal Chauhan is known for her work in Hindi and Telugu cinema. She rose to popularity after her debut in the film Jannat (2008 film), where she starred opposite Emraan Hashmi. Talking of her upcoming projects, Sonal will be seen in Mirzapur: The Film alongside Ali Fazal and Pankaj Tripathi.
03 March,2026 05:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMany celebrities have shared their views on the ongoing working hours debate in the film industry. The discussion gained momentum after Deepika Padukone reportedly walked out of a project when her demand for an eight-hour shift was not accepted. Now, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha has commented on the matter, saying the issue between Deepika and Sandeep Reddy Vanga was overblown and such matters should ideally be resolved privately between actors and filmmakers. Anubhav Sinha recalls working with Rishi Kapoor In a conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Anubhav Sinha shared his views on actors setting boundaries. “If an actor wants to work six hours a day and you’re not okay with it, then don’t work with that actor. It’s as simple as that,” he said, adding that collaborations in the film industry must be based on mutual agreement. Anubhav then recalled his experience of working with the late actor Rishi Kapoor in the 2018 film Mulk. He revealed that a clear conversation before the shoot helped avoid conflict later. Rishi Kapoor had initially refused to shoot at night after reading the script. However, after discussions, he agreed to do a limited number of night shoots. During filming, the number of night shoots increased, but the matter was handled amicably. Sinha said he had a delightful experience working with Kapoor. Since he was keen on casting him, scheduling adjustments were never a problem. He fondly recalled meeting Kapoor after his treatment in New York at Amitabh Bachchan’s Diwali party. “He even suggested we shoot one more scene for Thappad with Taapsee, saying he would quietly walk in from behind. That was my last meeting with him. I found a friend in him, just because he didn’t want to shoot nights doesn’t make him difficult,” Sinha said. Sinha on Deepika's shift hours controversy Sinha added that although he has not worked with Deepika Padukone, he has only heard positive things about her from those who have collaborated with the Om Shanti Om star. “I don’t believe in gossip. I’ve barely met her once at a party years ago. But I asked people who have worked with her, and they said she’s a delightful actress to work with,” he shared. Calling the debate overblown, he said, “I think it’s unfair the way this has been blown up. If you don’t like an actor, fire them. Actors and directors have been fired before, it happens. It should remain between the concerned people.” He also underlined the practical realities of the profession. “People can have working conditions. An actor stands in front of the camera. They have to look good on a 50–60 foot screen. If there are eye bags, they look huge. So yes, working hours matter. These issues can easily be resolved privately.”
03 March,2026 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Rajpal Yadav recently expressed gratitude to everyone who financially supported him when he was lodged in Tihar Jail. He was granted interim bail after clearing a part of his Rs 9 crore debt. Rajpal also reacted to an earlier appeal by actor Sonu Sood, who had urged the industry to offer him work. Yadav clarified that he has sufficient work and does not need to ask for it. Sonu Sood reacts to Rajpal's comment Now, Sonu Sood has responded to Rajpal Yadav’s remarks. “Happy for him. I didn’t say he needs work. I said, ‘Sign him and pay advances because he deserves it,’” he told HT City. Earlier, in a conversation with SCREEN, Rajpal Yadav dismissed Sonu Sood’s public appeal and said he is not short of work. “Please get over the misconception that I need to keep asking for work. And there is no shame in asking for work. I live through my job, cinema is my passion, and I work in such a way that I get four times more work. I work even on vacations. Work doesn’t find me; it has lived with me for the last 11 years,” he said. When Rajpal Yadav was put behind bars earlier this month in connection with a Rs 9 crore financial case, Sonu Sood urged the industry to support him by signing him for future films and paying him in advance. In a note shared on Instagram Stories, Sonu 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. 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 upcoming movies Despite the ongoing legal issues, Rajpal Yadav has a packed slate of projects. He will next be seen in Bhoot Bangla. He also stars in Welcome To The Jungle, which features 27 actors including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Tushar Kapoor, and Shreyas Talpade, among others. Additionally, he has Haiwaan, where he plays a small but impactful role, along with two web series currently in the pipeline.
03 March,2026 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSandeepa Dhar recently starred in Do Deewane Seher Mein alongside Mrunal Thakur and Siddhant Chaturvedi. She essayed the role of Naina, Mrunal’s elder sister who is constantly seeking validation. In an exclusive chat with mid-day, Sandeepa opens up about how she resonated with the character. She also talks about dealing with unrealistic beauty pressures. Sandeepa Dhar on her idea of love Describing Siddhant Chaturvedi’s character, Shashank, as a green flag, Sandeepa sheds light on how relationships have become complicated. “Relationships have never become complicated. We've complicated it more than what it needs to be. I think we've become very stubborn with things. As women, we've reached a point where we don't want to settle for less. We do not want to compromise for certain things, which I think is right.” In the film, Naina is perceived by others as a “perfect” woman, but she struggles with internal loss of identity and self-worth. Talking about how she resonates with the character, Sandeepa shares, “There are aspects of Naina that I relate to because we're all struggling. Especially as women, we have multiple personalities. We're so different with everybody in our lives to live up to their expectations. And we all at some point are seeking validation.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sandipa Dharr (@iamsandeepadhar) She adds, “We just want to be accepted for who we are, but that doesn't happen. There's always something that we think we can do in order to make ourselves look better, feel better, be better. And I feel if you really look at the root cause of all of this, it goes back to our childhood. I feel this constant comparison is really dangerous. You don't realize it as kids, but it all kind of comes up when we're older, and then we've got traumas that we're healing from.” Sandeepa on making debut with Rajshri film Sandeepa Dhar made her Bollywood acting debut in the 2010 Rajshri Productions romantic drama Isi Life Mein. Recalling her early days, she shares, “My parents would have probably been very against my being an actor if it was not Rajshri Films. Because the general perception of the film industry from a non-filmy background is very different. They always think that I don't know how it will be, how the people will be, what kind of stuff she will have to go through.” However, the film failed to strike gold at the box office. Reflecting on work coming her way after that film, she said, “I don't think I'm very upset about the opportunities given to me because I think you have to go through a little bit of frustration, irritation, all of that in order to really understand life. And for an actor, understanding life is the most important thing.” Sandeepa Dhar on beauty standards In the film, Naina is expected to maintain her looks and be a certain way. Reflecting that all women are pressured in today’s time, Sandeepa says nobody accepts you for who you are. “The business of films is based on the way you look. So, for people to comment on that, I can still understand it. But I think in our real life this is happening. Somebody or the other is always telling you, either you are too fat, or you are too thin, either you are dark or too fair. Being fair is an issue and being dark is also an issue.” Revealing if she has ever been rejected for the way she looked or for coming from a non-filmy background, Sandeepa concludes, “I don't think I have lived my life on the basis of why someone is getting the opportunity. When I look at actors like Sanjay Mishra, Pankaj Tripathi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Jaideep Ahlawat, it's taken so many years for them to actually be recognized for their craft, and they were talented from the beginning. Everything has its own time. There are a lot of people who come from star families and they still don't make it.”
03 March,2026 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | Aakruti BaglaActors Sunny Deol and Jyotika's yet-to-be-titled film went on floors on February 27, 2026. The film is being directed by Balaji Ganesh. Ritesh Sidhwani, Farhan Akhtar and AR Murugadoss have backed the project as producers. In January, the film was officially announced with an intimate puja attended by Sunny, Jyotika, and Balaji Ganesh, among others. Although not much was revealed about the film, the announcement itself was enough to excite the fans. Meanwhile, Sunny Deol is basking in the success of 'Border 2', which hit the theatres on January 23. Now all eyes are on his upcoming films, especially 'Gabru'. Directed by Shashank Udapurkar and produced by Vishal Rana and Om Chhangani, 'Gabru' will hit the theatres on May 8, read a press note. Recently, in an interview with ANI, Sunny described 'Gabru' as one of the closest films to his heart. The film stars Simran and Prit Kamani in pivotal roles along with Sunny Deol. It reflects "themes of courage, identity, and resilience; elements that have always defined his cinematic journey." 'Gabru' boasts of tracks composed by Mithoon and lyrics by Sayeed Quadri, Satinder Sartaj and Anurag Saikya. The film will be distributed nationwide by PVR INOX Pictures. 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
03 March,2026 04:18 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Janhvi Kapoor is no stranger to online trolling. However, she has largely taken it sportingly and has occasionally given it back as well. Recently, the actress addressed online bullying and harassment, explaining how trolling sometimes crosses the line and becomes insensitive. She also spoke about how her brother, actor Arjun Kapoor, has been facing constant trolling, which she feels is unjustified. Janhvi Kapoor on not taking online trolling seriously In a conversation with Grazia, Janhvi said that celebrities like her often become subjects of trolling. She believes that social media users engage in it largely for views and virality rather than genuine hatred toward the targeted person. “From what I understand about social media culture, everyone wants prominence, views and virality. So, if they are making content about you, you’re just a scapegoat; they’re using your name for clickbait, rage bait and whatever else to boost engagement. That’s the only purpose you serve. Once you look at it from that lens, you understand that what they’re saying about you has nothing to do with you. Then you start taking it less to heart,” she shared. Janhvi added that there is no point in taking such things too seriously. “Everyone’s doing what they have to- sab ghar chalane ki koshish kar rahe hai. You need to be transactional; nothing is that deep. It’s stupid to occupy your brain for more than five minutes with this.” Janhvi on Arjun Kapoor getting bullied online However, Janhvi acknowledged the negative impact of trolling when it turns into bullying and harassment, something she believes her stepbrother Arjun Kapoor has faced in recent times. “Of course, it hurts to feel misunderstood, or when it turns into bullying and harassment, the way I’ve seen happen with my brother sometimes. There’s no excuse for that kind of behaviour. Negativity fuels negativity, and you just have to remove yourself from it,” she said. Janhvi’s work front Janhvi Kapoor was last seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari alongside Varun Dhawan, Rohit Saraf and Sanya Malhotra. She will next be seen in Peddi, starring Ram Charan and directed by Buchi Babu. The film is slated for release in May this year.
03 March,2026 04:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe controversial film The Kerala Story 2, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and produced by Vipul Shah, was released in theatres on February 28. After a back-and-forth legal battle at the Kerala High Court, the film was allowed a theatrical release on the evening of February 28. Madras HC restrains unlawful broadcasting of film On March 3, the Madras High Court restrained internet service providers and cable TV operators from unlawfully broadcasting the film. According to a report in The Indian Express, Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed the interim order in two applications filed by the film’s producer, Sunshine Pictures Limited, which apprehended copyright infringement ahead of the release. The court noted that, as evidence of copyright ownership, the producer-plaintiff submitted the CBFC certificate identifying it as the producer. The court observed, “In matters of this nature, it is likely that irreversible injury will occur unless unlawful broadcast is prevented at the threshold. At the same time, it is possible that the legitimate business interests of one or more respondents may be affected, in view of the expansive nature of the relief claimed. Therefore, it is necessary that the plaintiff shall indemnify in respect thereof.” The court granted an ad interim injunction as requested until March 23. “Subject to this condition, orders of ad interim injunction as prayed for are granted in these two applications until 23.03.2026. Issue notice to the respondents returnable on 23.03.2026. Private notice is also permitted. The applicant shall comply with Order XXXIX Rule 3 of CPC,” the order stated. Vipul Shah on making The Kerala Story 2 Filmmaker Vipul Shah said he felt compelled to make a sequel to The Kerala Story, his controversial 2023 film about religious conversion, as he wanted to expose what he described as a “much larger evil” extending beyond Kerala and across the country. The sequel portrays the stories of three Hindu women from different states who defy their families to marry Muslim men and are subsequently forced to convert. Shah, who co-wrote and produced the film under the banner Sunshine Pictures, said there was no pre-planned franchise strategy after the first film, which earned over Rs 300 crore at the box office and won two National Awards. “There was no plan to make even ‘Kerala Story 2’. But after ‘Kerala Story 1’, we started receiving many stories. I realised that there is a much larger issue persisting not just in Kerala but across the country, and we had to tell this story because it is bigger and different from what happened in ‘Kerala Story 1’. That’s why we decided to make part 2. “It was not a marketing gimmick like, ‘Let’s make part two because it’s a good brand and take it forward.’ Nothing like that,” Shah told PTI in an interview.
03 March,2026 02:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
