Actor Bhumi Pednekkar is reflecting on the positive reception that her latest series Daldal has received from the audience. Taking to her Instagram handle, Bhumi shared a series of pictures from the show, offering fans a glimpse of the BTS moments as the actor prepared for her role as DCP Rita Ferreira. She penned down her thoughts in the caption and wrote, "This last week with Daldal has been nothing short of a dream. I can't believe this has happened. I just can't. It's been so long since I've felt love like this. Am still pinching myself. Thank you. I find myself pausing often, just breathing it all in. The love, the honesty, the way you've engaged with this story and Rita." Noting that the show was made with "honesty", she expressed immense gratitude toward her fans. "I knew Daldal was made with honesty, but the response, the love, the appreciation, the fact that we are trending globally, all has left me full of hope, courage, and motivation for what comes next. I've read every message. And I carry them with me. Thank you for giving Daldal so much heart," she added. Reacting to the post, while fans showered the actor with much love, actors Dia Mirza and Vineet Kumar Siingh also reacted to the post. Tahira Kashyap wrote, "You were Rita and Rita was you! So so so good." Daldal is directed by Amrit Raj Gupta and produced by Vikram Malhotra and Suresh Triveni under Abundantia Entertainment. The series is created by Suresh Triveni and written by Sreekanth Agneeswaran, Rohan D'Souza, Priya Saggi, and Hussain Haidry. Along with Bhumi Pednekkar, the show also stars Samara Tijori and Aditya Rawal in key roles. The story is based on Vish Dhamija's book Bhendi Bazaar. It focuses on how the police track a killer who plans his crimes carefully and leaves behind few clues. Bhumi Pednekkar as DCP Rita Ferreira is seen leading a tough investigation as a series of murders shakes the city. The trailer shows that the case puts heavy pressure on her both at work and in her personal life. Daldal premiered on Prime Video on January 30. 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
06 February,2026 09:20 AM IST | Mumbai | ANISequels have clearly become Bollywood’s latest obsession, and joining the bandwagon now is Bhagam Bhag 2. In 2006, the chemistry and comic timing of Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Govinda made Bhagam Bhag an instant fan favourite. Now, if reports are to be believed, the film is undergoing a major casting change. Actor Manoj Bajpayee will reportedly join the cast, replacing Govinda. Manoj Bajpayee replaces Govinda As per a report in Variety, “Manoj Bajpayee has joined Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal in Bhagam Bhag 2. He has been brought on board in place of Govinda. The sequel is said to have a fresh storyline centred on mistaken identities, comedy of errors and escalating chaos, delivering a thrilling madcap adventure while staying true to the spirit of the original. Shooting begins next month in Mumbai.” It was earlier reported that Bhagam Bhag 2 is being helmed by Raaj Shaandilyaa, and also stars Meenakshi Chaudhary as the female lead. The diva will be making her comeback to Hindi cinema and is paired opposite Akshay Kumar. She was last seen in Upstarts (2019). Earlier, reports were rife that after the massive success of Dhurandhar, Akshaye Khanna has also joined the cast of the comic caper. About the Bhagam Bhag franchise The film will serve as a follow-up to the 2006 blockbuster Bhagam Bhag. The first instalment was directed by Priyadarshan and featured Akshay Kumar, Govinda and Paresh Rawal in the lead roles. The film also starred Lara Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Jackie Shroff, Arbaaz Khan, Shakti Kapoor, Manoj Joshi, Asrani and several others in key roles. Manoj Bajpayee’s upcoming movies On the work front, Manoj Bajpayee is all set to reunite with Satya director Ram Gopal Varma for Police Station Mein Bhoot. It follows Bajpayee’s honest cop who kills a notorious gangster, only to get possessed by the criminal’s spirit. The haunting turns the disciplined cop into a maniacal force, spiralling into hilarious situations inside the police station. The film also stars Genelia Deshmukh as Bajpayee’s wife, and Rajpal Yadav. Apart from this, his recent release includes Jugnuma. He is also part of the crime thriller Ghooskhor Pandat on Netflix. However, the title has landed in legal trouble after a legal notice alleged that the film defames the Pandit community.
06 February,2026 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancing rapidly, it has led to increased conversations around protection of copyrighted material and personality rights. Now, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and the film industry at large find itself at crossroads. On February 4, IMPPA shot a letter to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), opposing its subsidiary Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright Committee’s proposal of Hybrid Copyright Licensing Framework for AI Training. Abhay Sinha According to the proposal, AI developers — comprising individuals and corporate entities — would use “lawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of right” and the original copyright holders would get “fair compensation”. The “flat” compensation rate would be decided by the government-appointed committee, Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT). Also, the compensation will be given not at the training stage, but only when the AI developer generates revenue from its content. The paper was published on December 8 by the DPIIT, which sought feedback from various fields. Not on my watch In its letter to DPIIT, a copy of which is in mid-day’s possession, IMPPA asserted that there is “widespread concern within the film, music, and entertainment industry” regarding the framework’s far-reaching consequences. The body, which includes producers Karan Johar, Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, and many others, shot down the proposal that opens the floodgates to use copyrighted material. Anil Nagrath Talking to mid-day, Abhay Sinha, President, IMPPA, said that if implemented, it will adversely affect Indian film producers. “The government will take all decisions on its own. They will take our films, but we don’t know whether they will give us [adequate] money for it. We make films worth '100 crore! The film industry will incur huge losses. All our producers are in disagreement with what the government wants to introduce.” Anil Nagrath, Secretary, IMPPA, revealed that the body sent its first letter on January 2, questioning why nobody was included in the committee and seeking an extension of the deadline. He said that most bodies are fundamentally opposed to the plan, adding, “How can you allow anybody to modify my content on a blanket permission, and pay me [any sum] you want? Suppose [somebody] makes a modified film on Dhurandhar [2025], and sells it to anybody they want. This will destroy the Indian film industry!” Joining the chorus Nagrath added that small films will be even worse hit with this move. He added that IMPPA has alerted producer bodies across the country. “We have sent [our] letter to the film producers bodies in the various cities of India. Indian Broadcasters Association and Producers Guild have also written letters to the DPIIT, opposing the proposal.” What’s the proposal? AI developers, including individuals and corporate entities registered with Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT), will use “lawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of right”. The original copyright holders will get “fair compensation”, which will be a “flat” rate decided by the CRCAT. Where will the content originate from? More than 35 bodies come under the purview of the proposed policy. It includes music bodies such as Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) and Indian Singers and Musicians Rights Association (ISAMRA), film bodies such as Producers Guild of India, and bodies in the publishing sector like Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) and Association of Publishers in India. Hard no, says IMPPA In its February 4 letter, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) opposed the proposal. It said that the approach is a “serious encroachment upon established rights and a direct threat to the long-term stability and viability of the creative sector.”
06 February,2026 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR‘Main Hoon Na’ with double tadka Farah Khan The buzz is that Farah Khan is gearing up to return to the director’s chair after nearly a decade, reuniting with Shah Rukh Khan for a possible sequel to ‘Main Hoon Na’ (2004). The project’s working title is reportedly ‘Main Hoon Na 2’, and it is said to feature SRK in a double role, exploring two contrasting characters. The film is expected to blend patriotism, action, and comedy, with the original cast likely to return and a new threat to India forming the core conflict. SRK is expected to hear the full narration after completing ‘King’, after which a final decision on the project will be taken. My body, my rules only Mrunal Thakur Actor Mrunal Thakur says it took her a long time to accept herself as she felt underconfident for the longest and had many insecurities even after entering the film industry and becoming a successful actor. Mrunal, who is set to feature alongside Siddhant Chaturvedi in Ravi Udyawar’s Do Deewane Seher Mein, spoke at the film’s trailer launch event in Mumbai. She said, “When I used to change schools all the time, there were some insecurities. I used to feel underconfident. I realised it took me a lot of time to accept that I am beautiful the way I am. There was so much noise around looking perfect, [to] look a certain way, and have a certain kind of body. But I’ve realised that I’m just perfectly imperfect and I love it (sic).”
06 February,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIt’s raining releases for Anil Kapoor. Earlier this week, the actor announced his Netflix series, Family Business. But before his tycoon turn, Kapoor will be seen in Subedaar. mid-day has learnt that the action drama, which was announced by Prime Video last year, is set to première on the platform in March. Deets on the director: Suresh Triveni previously made ‘Tumhari Sulu’ and ‘Jalsa’ “The film wrapped up in early 2025, giving the team ample time to work on post-production. It will drop online in early March, marking Anil’s first offering of 2026,” said a source. Radhikka Madan plays Anil Kapoor’s daughter in the film The movie, also starring Radhikka Madan, has been helmed by Suresh Triveni. Kapoor has co-produced the feature, and will be seen as a retired army man who turns into a fighting machine when his family comes under attack. The source added, “In Subedaar, Anil has explored a combination of heavy action and drama as the film has not only some great stunts, but also an emotional father-daughter story.”
06 February,2026 07:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaSuch is the popularity of Animal (2023) among Ranbir Kapoor’s fans that they’ve kept their eyes peeled for Animal Park. As the superstar recently united with director Sandeep Reddy Vanga for a virtual press meet, ahead of the blockbuster’s release in Japan on February 13, the duo talked about the way ahead for the franchise. Sandeep Reddy Vanga Expressing his excitement to play two characters — Rannvijay and his cousin Aziz — in the sequel, Kapoor said, “I can’t wait to get back on set with Sandeep and play these characters. Sandeep and I keep chatting through the week or month and keep discussing different ideas.” Vanga, who is currently helming Spirit, shared that Animal Park will go on floors by mid-2027. Besides Rockstar (2011) and Barfi (2012), Animal has become a career-defining movie for Kapoor. The actor admitted that Vanga’s faith in him convinced him to say yes to a “scary character”. “Before this, I was always playing the lover boy and coming-of-age characters. When Sandeep narrated Animal to me, I found the character extremely scary to approach for an actor like me. But [thanks to] his confidence, I believed I could do it,” he said. Raj Kapoor Ranbir Kapoor said he felt a deep bond with Japan, thanks to his late grandfather Raj Kapoor. “I have such a deep connection with Japan. One of my grandfather’s most popular songs around the world is ‘Mera Joota Hai Japani’,” he reasoned, adding that he now wants to take his daughter Raha to the country. “I cannot wait to show Japan to her.”
06 February,2026 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAbhishek Bachchan celebrated his 50th birthday on Thursday, February 5. His wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, like every year, made sure to wish her husband with an adorable post on social media. The actress penned a heartwarming birthday wish for her dear husband on social media. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan wishes Abhishek Bachchan on birthday Aishwarya took to her Instagram handle and posted a cute childhood picture of Junior Bachchan. The black-and-white picture only showed Abhishek's eyes and head. In the caption, she wrote a heartwarming note and fondly called him 'Baby-Pappa', referring to a name she calls him, and 'Pappa' on behalf of their daughter Aaradhya. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AishwaryaRaiBachchan (@aishwaryaraibachchan_arb) She wrote, "Happy HAPPY 50th Birthday dearest Babyyy-Papa (evil eye, cake, hugs and sparkling heart emojis) with lots of love, peace, happiness, contentment and best health God Blesssss (sparkles emoji) Stay Golden… Shine on Love (smiling face with hearts, heart and sparkles emojis). The post soon garnered a lot of likes and comments from fans, many of whom extended thier birthday wishes to Abhishek Bachchan. Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan reportedly fell in love during the filming of thier film Guru. The couple later tied the knot in 2007 in an intimate, star-studded wedding ceremony at the Bachchan residence, Prateeksha, in Mumbai. The couple welcomed a daughter, Aaradhya in 2011. Recently, Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan were spotted together after a very long time at their daughter Aaradhya's annual day function. The couple was accompanied by Aishwarya's mother, Vrinda Rai, as well as Abhishek's father, and legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan at the event. On the work front, Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnam's Ponniyin Selvan: Part 2, where she played the role of Oomai Rani. The film was released back in 2023. Meanwhile, Abhishek was last seen in the multii-starrer Housefull 5 in 2025. Prior to that, he appeared in I Want to Talk (2024), for which he was critically acclaimed and even won a Filmfare Best Actor Award in 2025. Next, he will be seen in King, alongside Shah Rukh Khan in his multi-starrer. He will also be reportedly seen in Riteish Deshmukh's Raja Shivaji.
05 February,2026 09:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Rhea Chakraborty is finally ending her hiatus and returning to the screen with the upcoming series, Family Business. The project was recently announced at a Netflix event and has since created buzz around Rhea's return to acting. Following the announcement, she has now shared a video reflecting on her long journey returning to the craft, while also expressing her gratitude. Rhea Chakraborty on making a comeback On Wednesday, Rhea took to Instagram to share a video of herself getting ready. In the video, she expressed joy over her return, recalling how the last time she shot it was in 2019 for Chehre. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rhea Chakraborty (@rhea_chakraborty) Rhea shared, "7 years. It’s actually really bizarre and surreal, almost. I didn’t expect to act ever again. It’s unreal in a way because it’s like a dream, right? This was my dream when I was 17, and then all of that happened, and I stopped getting work, and I had to stop living this dream. And then you are back on it, but you have changed a lot because now you have a different career, and now in many ways it doesn’t mean as much to you, but in many ways it still means more than it ever did (sic)." "7 years have passed since I went to set ..But I’m still the same girl who came to Bombay at 17 with a dream to be an actor. A part of me moved on, but a part of me stayed and waited. And I’m here, once again in my chapter2...It seems 'Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans'," the Jalebi actor added. About Family Business Family Business is created by Niren Bhatt and Hansal Mehta, and stars Vijay Varma, Anil Kapoor, Dhruv Sehgal, Neha Dhupia, Raima Sen, Akash Khurana, Apara Mehta, Nandish Sandhu, Anant Nag, Rohan Vinod Mehra, Tina Desai, Kanwaljit Singh, Madhoo and Inayat Sood along with Rhea in key roles. Rhea was last seen in the film Chehre, which was released in 2021. The mystery thriller film directed and co-written by Rumi Jaffery also starred Amitabh Bachchan and Emraan Hashmi in lead roles.
05 February,2026 08:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTaha Shah Badussha became a name on everyone's lips after his breakthrough performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Heeramandi. He once again grabbed headlines recently when his film Paro: The Untold Story of Bride Slavery made it to the contention list for the Oscars 2026. One's film making it to such a stage is no ordinary feat and arguably the dream for many. So was it for Taha, he told us. When mid-day caught up with Taha Shah Badussha, he got candid about Paro, Heeramandi, his career, and more. Taha Shah Badussha on Paro making it to Oscars contention list He recalled the moment he got the news, saying, "To be honest, I was sitting here when they messaged me. So first of all, I was thinking that these people were pulling my leg and were joking. I was told by the producer and actress, Trupti (Bhoir). And I'm like, 'No, no'. She had to really convince me. She said, 'Hey, check the link.' I checked the link. Then I went up and down. I was seeing that these people were not joking around." "When I found out that this was actually happening, I think I went very quiet because I didn't understand that a film made from the heart, but a small film, can reach this level. It was a wish, but I never thought that it would actually reach this level. And then it takes a moment to sink in. I was shocked. After that, it took me half an hour to realise that it is true. Then I called everyone again, and everyone was very happy," he further shared. Talking of releasing in India, Taha added, "Now we're just trying to push it to get the right release." Taha Shah Badussha recalls feeling left out in school When asked why he chose acting as a career, Taha shared, "I think when you are young, you really want respect from your classmates. You want adoration from your classmates. You want people to clap for you or cheer for you. And I feel I didn't get that in my childhood. I always felt that I was left out. Nobody used to cheer for me, even if I did well. So I wanted to make myself so strong. I wanted to make myself so talented." The 38-year-old adds, "It's very funny. When you were young, you wanted it, and you put in all the effort to get that. And when you put all the effort, you realise that you need to be your biggest cheerleader." Recalling his childhood, he shared, "I think since childhood. I have always wanted to be on stage. I like stage shows. I used to watch a lot of plays, and I used to love it. At that time, I didn't know about acting. But when I was about 20 years old, I told my mom, and she put me into the New York Film Academy." Taha Shah Badussha reveals his highest and lowest points When asked about the highest and lowest points in his career, he quips Heeramandi as the undisputed high point. Reflecting on the lowest point, he revealed it was COVID-19. He shared. "The lowest point would be somewhere around 2020 after COVID." Explaining why the time was tough on him, he shared, "I was in the US. So the people here (in Mumbai) forgot me. I was doing something in the US, but then COVID happened." Adding how the situation left him hanging, he said, "So I was not from here nor from there. I was lost. And I believe, to get myself out of that was a hard time. I thought my time would end."
05 February,2026 07:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Amarylisa GonsalvesIt's been almost two months since Dhurandhar released, and fans have not yet got over the hype. The buzz around the film was reignited when the film released on Netflix last week. Fans have since been closely analysing every detail of the film, be it dialogues to background elements and even the end credits and drawing theories on thier observations. Among them, one speculation emerged after a user on social media posted a screenshot from the end credits which mentioned three vanity vans under Ranveer Singh's name Rumours around Ranveer Singh's vanity vans For a long time now, there has been a debate around the entourage of actors. It was earlier reported that Dhurandhar star Ranveer Singh required three vanity vans for films. Although the claim was never confirmed, the recently observed end credits of Dhurandhar on Netflix resurfaced the speculations. . It started after a Reddit user shared a screenshot of the film’s end credits, which mentioned three vans under Ranveer’s character Hamza, namely, Hamza Van, Hamza Staff Van, and Hamza Normal Van. This gave rise to assumptions that the actor had multiple vanity vans on set. Truth behind Ranveer Singh's vanity vans Now, clearing the air, a source close to the production explained that the term 'van' was also used to refer to regular transport vehicles used during the Thailand shooting schedule of the film. “These were Thai vans being referred to in the end credits from Dhurandhar’s Bangkok shoot, which had a long shooting schedule. One vanity and two cars (Thai vans) were deployed for the actor, staff, luggage, etc, to travel around the locations,” the source told Hindustan Times. The source went on to explain that the Bangkok leg of the shoot involved extensive outdoor sequences. “Even now, with the teaser, you see two characters and a drastic transformation of Ranveer. He sometimes shed 15 kgs, gained 25 kgs within months or days and shot for 12–14 hours a day. In general, with actors, sometimes for drastic body transformations, a gym or private chef or both on sets are required for the magic to happen within production timelines,” the source added. Notably, Dhurandhar and its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, were shot together. It was initially conceived as a single film, however, it was later split into two parts due to its length.
05 February,2026 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Epstein Files have got everyone talking globally. Multiple high-profile names have surfaced in the files that include documents, pictures and videos detailing the criminal activities of convicted sex offender, late Jeffrey Epstein. Among others, one more name recently surfaced and has allegedly doing the rounds is that of filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. After the news spread, the Gangs of Wasseypur director has now broken his silence on the matter. Anurag Kashyap reacts to his name in Epstein Files The alleged mail refers to Anurag as the ‘Bollywood guy’ and ‘a Famous Bollywood director’, who had reportedly come on board for an event connected to Epstein held in Beijing in 2017. Anurag Kashyap has now reacted to his name being listed in the email. He told Hindustan Times, “I’ve no clue about this. I get invitations as a speaker, about 15 a month. I rarely respond. Also, I have never been to Beijing in my life!” He goes on to add that the nature of the documents itself isn’t convincing, “It’s some random email, that’s self explanatory . The click baits in my name are more popular than my films.” Notably, tycoon Bill Gates' name has also emerged in the Epstein Files. Reacting to it, Bill, during an interview, clarified that he ‘regrets’ all contact he had with him. Anurag Kashyap's name appears in Epstein files According to recent reports, Anurag Kashyap is mentioned as the 'Bollywood guy' in email exchanges between Epstein and individuals such as Giuseppe Bersani, Gino Yu, and Ornella Corazza, in the Epstein Files. The emails allegedly discussed Epstein’s planned trips to Cuba along with other locations, and mentioned Kashyap as one of the expected guests at workshops on Buddhism, technology, and medicine. In one of the messages in the email, Kashyap was also described as 'a famous Bollywood director.' Notably, Kashyap’s name appears along with other famous personalities such as Ben Goertzel, Bruce Damer, and DJ Spooky. Although Kashyap’s name appears in the files, it does not imply that the filmmaker attended any of the events or was involved in Epstein’s criminal activities. There is no evidence about Kashyap and Epstein being present at the same place at the same time. Furthermore, Kashyap's clarification has settled the dust on the speculations doing the rounds about the Dacoit actor.
05 February,2026 06:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
