Three’s already a crowd with Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, and Pooja Hegde featuring in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. What if we told you that another stunner has joined the mix? mid-day has exclusively learnt that Dhawan’s Bhediya (2022) co-star Kriti Sanon has a cameo in the upcoming comedy, featuring in a post-credit scene starring Maniesh Paul. Apparently, the duo filmed the high-energy sequence – what is being described as the film’s “big finale” by insiders – at the Santacruz restaurant, Eve, on April 16. Catch Kriti during the credit roll Sources say Kriti Sanon has a cameo in ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’; actor filmed a post-credit scene with Varun Dhawan this week According to a source close to the production, the team had been planning a glamorous end-credit track, but Sanon’s involvement was a late addition. “It was meant to be a fun comedy track that captures the film’s spirit. The scene also has Maniesh Paul. Getting Kriti on board was an inspired choice, given her crackling screen presence with Varun in Dilwale [2015] and Bhediya [2022],” a source said. The source added, “Director David Dhawan wanted it to feel like a comic twist, not just for the characters, but for the audience walking out of the theatre.” ‘Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai’ sees Varun Dhawan romance (L-R) Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur The song is your classic party number with a packed dance floor, neon-lit visuals, and fast beats. The source added, “Director David Dhawan wanted it to feel like a celebration, not just for the characters, but also for the audience walking out of the theatre.”
18 April,2026 02:54 PM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuActress Kalki Koechlin has spoken about how tough it was for her to deal with a heartbreak that further led to major sleeping issues. The actress was recently seen on the podcast show hosted by actress Soha Ali Khan, where she spoke about her tough times. Opening up about her journey, Kalki Koechlin shared, “I did have a series of months of insomnia from heartbreak, and it really made me realise how psychological it all is.” She added, “I just could not sleep, I would wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning and end up playing the guitar or doing something to occupy myself, because there was no way of going back to sleep." "On the days I had to work, I remember feeling like I didn’t know if I was in a dream state or awake, I was really confused, wondering, ‘Is this really happening, or am I still asleep?’ It went on like that for about four months,” she further revealed. Talking about Kalki Koechlin, the actress is known for her unconventional choices across Bollywood, theatre, and independent cinema. She is known for her performances in movies like Dev.D, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Margarita with a Straw, Gully Boy and others. She has also made a mark on OTT with shows like Sacred Games and Made in Heaven. On the personal front, Kalki was earlier married to filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, but the marriage did not last for long. She later found love with her current partner, Guy Hershberg. The couple welcomed their daughter Sappho in 2020. Talking about actor and author Soha Ali Khan, her podcasts titled All About Her air on her social media accounts. From mental well-being to physical issues, especially those of women, the actress invites guests who are well-learned in the respective domain and topic for conversation and to share insights. 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
18 April,2026 02:50 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAkshay Kumar began his career as a bona fide action star, earning the nickname “Khiladi” for his work. With the technological transition in the industry, filmmakers are relying on VFX and AI. However, Akshay always believes in maintaining authenticity and prefers performing his own stunts. In a recent interview, he recalled life-threatening on-set incidents during action films. Akshay recalls near-death experience during action scenes In a candid conversation with Subhankar Mishra, Akshay shared, “Ek baar Sainik mein hua tha. Ek building se doosri building jaate-jaate mera haath thak gaya tha, and I thought mein chala jaunga, ek building se dusre building. Tab kuch nahi tha, VFX bhi nahi tha, khud hi sab karna padta tha. International Khiladi mein, boat ke scene mein mera aadha shareer cut jaata. Samne se catamaran aa raha tha, aur meri boat uske beech se jaane wali thi, main poora cut ho jaata, lekin bach gaya.” Akshay further added, “Once, during International Khiladi, in a boat scene, half of my body could have been cut off. A catamaran was coming from the front, and my boat was about to pass right through it, I could have been completely sliced, but I survived. Jab maine Khiladi 786 mein jump maara tha, mujhe hot air balloon par dive karna tha, tab bhi bach gaya,” added Kumar. Akshay Kumar upcoming movies The actor recently reunited with Priyadarshan for Bhooth Bangla. The film has received a mixed response on Day 1. The film also features Paresh Rawal, Asrani, Rajpal Yadav, and Wamiqa Gabbi. Apart from this, he also has Haiwaan alongside Saif Ali Khan, which marks the latter’s return to the big screen after a while. He also has Welcome To The Jungle in his kitty, which features around 27 actors and is touted to be a multi-starrer entertainer. The film is all set to release this year. It features Suniel Shetty, Paresh Rawal, Raveena Tandon, Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, Disha Patani, and many others. He recently confirmed that the war drama Gorkha has been shelved. Sharing an update on Hera Pheri 3, the actor stated the film is not happening anytime soon due to multiple issues. Akshay has joined the cast of the fifth instalment of the popular Golmaal franchise, directed by Rohit Shetty. He will join co-stars Ajay Devgn, Arshad Warsi, Tusshar Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, Kunal Kemmu, and Shreyas Talpade.
18 April,2026 02:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo years ago, they created magic with Amar Singh Chamkila!! Now A.R. Rahman, Diljit Dosanjh, Imtiaz Ali, and Irshad Kamil come together for what promises to be another chartbuster from their upcoming film Main Vaapas Aaunga. Following the tremendous response to the teaser, Imtiaz unveils the film’s first song- Kya Kamaal Hai, bringing together the much-anticipated collaboration between Diljit Dosanjh, A. R. Rahman and Irshad Kamil. Kya Kamaal Hai is a ‘song of hope,' highlighting the beauty of human connection in times of strife. It draws its inspiration from the love that refused to fade away when everything else was lost during the partition era. Imtiaz Ali on what the song means to him According to Imtiaz Ali, “All of us are going through a tumultuous time today. The world is burning, towns and cities have been devastated, everybody is insecure. This reminds us of the time of partition of our country in 1947, which has left behind hurt but also beautiful stories of enduring love. The first song is a dream collaboration; we bring it out with love at a time where all of us need hope and positivity – Kya Kamaal Hai!” Diljit Dosanjh said, "Kya Kamal Hai is very close to my heart. There’s a certain honesty in this song… it makes you pause and just feel, without trying too hard. Working with Imtiaz Ali Sir is always special because his world feels real, nothing forced, nothing superficial. With A. R. Rahman sir, it doesn’t feel like work… it’s an honour to be working with someone as legendary as him. And Irshad Kamil bhai’s words… they come straight from the heart and land there. There’s a lot of noise and chaos around us today, but this song has a certain stillness. It reminds you to slow down, breathe, and just be in the moment.” AR Rahman on the experience of working on the song AR Rahman said, “Working with Imtiaz and Irshad always feels like continuing a conversation that never really ended. With Diljit, there was a beautiful sense of reflection from the world created by the script. This time, we collaborated in a more direct musical way. In a film that speaks about separation and displacement, the idea was to create something that gently stays with you, especially in a time when there is so much happening around the world. Kya Kamaal Hai carries longing and the beauty we fail to see, which is screened by the noise of violence - sometimes, music just has to echo the beauty of silence and poetry.” Irshad Kamil said, “Kya Kamaal Hai is not a song; it is a world! A wonderful world where nothing ever goes wrong, neither within nor without. Kya Kamaal Hai is definitely not a song, but a dream! A shared and collective dream of love, peace, and hope. This dream reflects on the beauty of the world. It also tries to imagine a world without any pain or problems, a world with no tears and no fears. I feel this song will work as a soul -soother for all. Although this is a Hindi film song, but the feeling is beyond languages and countries.”
18 April,2026 12:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn his 34th birthday on Saturday, model and actress Athiya Shetty penned a mushy note for her cricketer husband KL Rahul, whom she tagged as “my person” and said that she loves him “so much.” Athiya Shetty pens birthday wish for KL Rahul Athiya took to Instagram, where she shared a handful of candid and unseen glimpses from their journey, starting from marriage to parenthood, and even shared some memorable moments like getting matching heart tattoos together. “Happy birthday my person, love you so much, (red heart emoji)” Athiya wrote as the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) Rahul and Athiya first crossed paths in January 2019 through a mutual friend, and they immediately hit it off. Over the years, their bond grew stronger, leading to a relationship that flourished. After dating for several years, the couple tied the knot in 2023. Their wedding took place at Athiya’s father, actor Suniel Shetty’s, farmhouse in Khandala. They welcomed their daughter last year and named her Evaarah, which means “Gift of God”. The two revealed the name of their daughter on Rahul's 33rd birthday on Friday. They also shared a beautiful picture of the cricketer holding the baby while Athiya looked at her lovingly. “Our baby girl, our everything. Evaarah ~ Gift of God,” read the caption. The couple took to their Instagram story section and shared that their daughter has been named Evaarah, V.R. (Evaarah Vipula Rahul)." The post further read: "Evaarah, meaning Gift of God. Vipula, in honour of her great nani and protector. Rahul, her papa." Athiya's Bollywood career Athiya made her Bollywood debut in 2015 with the film Hero opposite Sooraj Pancholi. She was then seen in the comedy of errors, Mubarakan, starring Arjun Kapoor. She was last seen in Motichoor Chaknachoor, directed by debutante Debamitra Biswal. The film also stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Vibha Chibber, Navni Parihar, Vivek Mishra, Karuna Pandey, Sanjeev Vats, Abhishek Rawat, Sapna Sand and Usha Nagar. It follows the story of a 36-year-old man, Pushpinder Tyagi, working abroad in Dubai, trying to find a wife back home in Bhopal meets his much younger neighbor, Anita "Ani" Awasthi, who wants to marry someone settled abroad.
18 April,2026 12:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEver since its announcement, Bhooth Bangla has kept audiences excited, and the trailer offered a glimpse into its much-awaited horror-comedy world. Packed with the perfect mix of humour and scares, the film promises to be a wholesome family entertainer. Now, the film has finally arrived in theatres and opened to a roaring response. It dominated the box office on its very first day, collecting Rs 21.60 crore in India. Bhooth Bangla's box-office performance Bhooth Bangla has certainly exceeded expectations with its whopping box office collection. Backed by strong buzz and excellent word of mouth, the film has amassed Rs 21.60 crore at the Indian box office. It has truly hit it out of the park with its phenomenal day-one performance. Interestingly, with such an impressive collection, it has also surpassed Akshay Kumar’s previous releases. This clearly reflects that the film has begun to win the hearts of audiences and has registered a phenomenal start. Well, this is just the beginning, and it will be exciting to see the film continue to dominate the box office in the days ahead. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, presents Bhooth Bangla starring Akshay Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, Paresh Rawal, Tabu, and Rajpal Yadav. Directed by Priyadarshan and Produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor. Bhooth Bangla has now been released in theatres. More about Bhooth Bangla The ensemble cast also includes Mithila Palkar, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Manoj Joshi in key roles, along with others. Bhooth Bangla further brings together Akshay and Tabu after 25 years. Prior to this, the duo shared screen space in movies such as Hera Pheri and Tu Chor Main Sipahi. Bhooth Bangla revolves around a mysterious haunted house in Mangalpur, plagued by a rakshas called Vadhusur, who abducts newly-wed brides, and the chaos surrounding it. Certain sections of the movie were shot across Rajasthan, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. The story of the forthcoming drama has been penned by Akash A Kaushik, with the screenplay provided by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. Rohan Shankar is credited with the dialogues for Bhooth Bangla.
18 April,2026 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRajkummar Rao, known for his versatile roles across films like Stree, Maalik, HIT: The First Case, and Srikanth, opens up about entering a new phase, choosing to slow down professionally while focusing on personal growth and family. Rajkummar Rao says he will do fewer films now Opening up on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra, Season 3, produced by Gautam Thakker Films, Rajkummar Rao says, “Whenever anyone talks to me about Parvati, it brings a big smile to my face. When my co-star once asked me my toddler’s name and I said Parvati, he pointed out how my smile instantly brightened. Everything has changed now. My motivation to work is driven by how she would feel about it and the kind of films she would like to watch when she grows up. I want to give her the time and freedom to do whatever she wants.” He further adds, “I took a five-month break when she was born, and then I had to leave for another film’s shoot. It was very tough because I wanted to be with her 24/7 and watch her grow up. I’ve now decided to take on less work than I did earlier. I plan to do only two films a year and be more selective. I want to push myself, and now there’s my mother, Patralekha, and Parvati, whom I want to make proud.” With a renewed outlook, Rajkummar Rao is choosing balance over burnout. As his Netflix film Toaster finds its audience, he looks ahead to Raftaar with Keerthy Suresh, keeping family, growth, and meaningful choices at the core of his journey. Sourav Ganguly biopic goes on floors On April 1, Rajkummar Rao took to his Instagram and shared BTS pictures from the sets of the Sourav Ganguly biopic. The first picture is of the clapperboard from the sets. The second picture is of the Sourav Ganguly stand at the Eden Gardens stadium in Kolkata The actor wrote in the caption, “And it begins … The one and only DADA. souravganguly motwayne LuvRanjan gargankur82 luv_films”. Backed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Luv Ranjan, the film will be shot at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the UK and Eden Gardens in Kolkata. According to sources, the makers have identified Lord’s and Eden Gardens as key locations to authentically recreate defining chapters from Ganguly’s cricket career.
18 April,2026 11:30 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAkshay Kumar and Priyadarshan recently reunited for Bhooth Bangla, sparking excitement among fans. Their collaboration hinted at the possible making of the much-awaited Hera Pheri 3, co-starring Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty. However, the film continues to remain in limbo due to legal issues. Amid this, Akshay Kumar has confirmed that the film is not happening anytime soon. Akshay Kumar on Hera Pheri 3 In an interaction with Subhankar Mishra, Akshay Kumar commented on whether Hera Pheri 3 is in the making amid disputes. He shared, “Hera Pheri 3 abhi filhaal toh nahi ban rahi (The film is not happening as of now),” said the actor. When the host said he was in shock after hearing this, the actor replied, “Mujhe khud jhatka laga tha. Koi baat nahi, Welcome bana li. Thoda kuch mantra padna padega ki sab theek ho jaaye. Abhi ek saal toh nahi hai. Uske bohot saare issues hain. Aisa nahi hai ki hum teeno [actors] saath nahi hain. (I am myself in shock. But that's okay. I think we need some good mantras to make it happen. For the next year, the film is not on track. There are many issues, but not with us three actors.) We are working on Welcome to the Jungle. There are some things that I cannot speak about on camera. There are agreements that take the project backwards.” He added, “It will come in its own time. When the time is right, the film will be made. I hope we are not old by that time.” About Hera Pheri 3 controversies The highly awaited comedy Hera Pheri 3 has encountered a major legal hurdle after a South Indian production house moved the Madras High Court, claiming that it holds the copyright to the franchise, not producer Firoz Nadiadwala. The dispute has cast uncertainty over the future of the film. Speaking about the legal issue, Priyadarshan confirmed that the matter is not resolved. He said, “We are trying to sort it out. Once that is sorted, then we’ll go ahead with that film.” At one point, Paresh Rawal had exited the film, following which Akshay Kumar reportedly moved court against him, seeking Rs 25 crore in damages. However, the matter was resolved quickly, with Akshay later withdrawing the case.
18 April,2026 10:18 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Pulkit Samrat ended up creating history during the trailer launch event of his upcoming sports drama Glory. He became the first Indian actor to step into the ring with a professional boxer and the third to achieve this feat globally. Before him, only Tom Hardy and Jake Gyllenhaal have dared to box with a professional. On Friday, Pulkit participated in a powerful and unprecedented live boxing match against professional boxer Neeraj Goyat at the trailer launch of Glory. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Not just a promotional gimmick, it was a full-fledged, high-impact bout, demonstrating intense preparation, discipline, and grit from Pulkit's side for his next. In a display of sportsmanship and mutual respect, Neeraj spoke highly of Pulkit after the match — applauding his dedication, courage, and the sheer effort it takes for an actor to step into a real combat scenario. Earlier, Pulkit revealed what made him say yes to Glory. He said, "What pulled me into Glory was the truth of that world, it’s tough, it’s unforgiving, and that’s what makes it beautiful, because every win matters and every step is earned. Ravi doesn’t react, he absorbs, calm on the outside, the fire within, and that space between control and breaking is where real strength is built. Playing him reminded me that greatness is about showing up again and again, even when it hurts, because champions are made in everything they survive. Grateful for this journey, this is just a glimpse”. Created by Karan Anshuman and Karmanya Ahuja, Glory also stars Divyenndu, Suvinder Vicky, Jannat Zubair, Ashutosh Rana, Sikandar Kher, Kunal Thakur, Sayani Gupta, Yashpal Sharma, and Kashmira Pardeshi in pivotal roles, along with others. Produced by Mohit Shah and Anshuman under the Atomic Films banner, the series has been written by Anshuman, Ahuja, and Vaibhav Vishal. Directed by Karan Anshuman and Kanishk Varma, Glory is expected to premiere on May 1. 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
18 April,2026 10:13 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor-producer Richa Chadha has questioned why independent filmmakers continue to cast “commercial” actors who, she says, bring neither box-office pull to stories that don't need such faces nor festival credibility to benefit the indie film. “If an actor isn’t opening a film theatrically for you on a Friday and doesn’t add any real weight at festivals either, then what exactly is the advantage of casting them in an independent film?” Richa said in a statement. The actress said that she is not suggesting anything, but “at least with trained actors you have the assurance that the performance quality will be maintained.” “There's a commerce behind Indie films too, some stories don't need that big a face always to pull the crowds. It's a more economical thought to hire an actor who brings credibility without having to create a huge hole in the budget.” She added, “Not taking away from any actor's ability or worth, the idea is for Indie films to survive in 2026, truly, we have to know and learn that audiences want to see quality stories, with credible actors who won't dent the budget because the entourage has to be accommodated as well." Richa highlighted that independent cinema was historically built on risk-taking, authenticity, and strong storytelling. "Indie films are meant to discover new voices, actors, writers, and technicians who bring freshness and honesty. When filmmakers compromise on casting for the illusion of ‘commercial value,’ the film loses its soul,” she said. The actress added that in the 1980s, “we had a thriving indie cinema movement and legendary actors like Faroque Sheikh, Amol Palekar, Shabana Azmi were all stars in their own right.” “That space has disappeared today. If the whole industry is going to sit around waiting for a nod from 5 top male actors, who are very tired and busy, on whose shoulders you want to mount the films, all the best to you, meaning there won't be enough output,” she added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
18 April,2026 10:05 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe buzz is that after Sitaare Zameen Par (2025), Aamir Khan may be gearing up to headline a biopic on Ashneer Grover, best known for Shark Tank India. The project, reportedly in pre-production, will be directed by Rahul Mody. “Aamir has read the script and loved it; he is doing this film. It’s highly relatable, given Ashneer’s popularity today,” a source told Pinkvilla. An official confirmation is awaited from the actor’s team. Aamir’s full kitty Aamir Khan has a film with Lokesh Kanagrajan, which is apparently a major superhero film. He has yet another movie with Rajkumar Hirani, a biopic on Dadasaheb Phalke. The actor is reportedly also working on the sequel of ‘3 Idiots’ (2009).
18 April,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamADVERTISEMENT
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