After her breakup with Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora has been rumoured to be dating a young man named Harsh Mehta. Reports first surfaced after the two were spotted together at a concert in Mumbai and later at the airport. Now, relationship rumours have intensified after a picture of Arora with Mehta went viral on social media. Malaika Arora spends Valentine's Day with Harsh Mehta A Reddit user shared a photo of Malaika Arora and Harsh Mehta spending time together in Italy. It is assumed that the picture was clicked during their holiday in the country during Valentine’s week. The Redditor captioned the image: “Malaika’s Valentine at Trevi Fountain?? Spotted Malaika Arora with her (not so) little boyfriend at Trevi Fountain on 14th February…” In the image, Malaika and Harsh can be seen taking a selfie in front of the iconic Trevi Fountain. Not much is known about Harsh Mehta, but some reports claim that he is a diamond merchant in his early 30s. Malaika’s Valentine at Trevi Fountain??by u/Paranoid_xxx in BollyBlindsNGossip Malaika Arora on her relationship rumours Speaking on The Namrata Zakaria Show, Arora addressed the scrutiny around her personal life and relationships. Responding to constant link-up rumours, she said, “People like talking. If you are spotted with somebody, you go out, and it becomes a huge discussion. I don’t really want to give chatter unnecessarily, too much fuel. Trust me, every time I have stepped out even if it’s a longtime friend, a gay friend, a married friend, an old friend, a manager or anybody — I am immediately linked to that person. We laugh and joke about it. My mother calls me and asks, ‘Who is this now, baby? Who are they talking about?’ It has just become laughable.” She further spoke about how her relationships often become headline news. “My relationships have always been spoken about and they’ve always made headlines. At one point, I remember saying that my life is much more than just my personal life. It was becoming too much of a centre of attention. Unfortunately, people forget that because it doesn’t make a headline or copy. I am at that stage of life now where I don’t need to prove anything, but I need to do things that make me happy, and I want people to see that.”
22 February,2026 11:30 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Hrithik Roshan used social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to Veteran filmmaker M M Baig, who passed away at his home in Andheri West in Mumbai at the age of 70. Hrithik shared that he will forever be thankful to the late filmmaker for being a pillar of support for him during his initial days in the industry. The 'War' actor credited M M Baig for helping him with his speech and also playing a crucial role in shaping him as an actor. Hrithik revealed that he continues to practise the lessons taught by M M Baig to this day. Hrithik Roshan remembers MM Baig Offering his condolences to the Baig family in a nostalgic post, the Guzaarish actor penned on social media, "My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence over my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness , at the same time empowering my vulnerability. I was lost. And you helped me find my way . Back when I was only 18years old. I still practice the lessons to this day. I will miss you. Rest in peace, my teacher - M.M Baig. My thoughts and prayers for the Baig family. (sic)" My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence over my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness , at the… — Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) February 21, 2026 About MM Baig's career Baig began his career as an assistant to J Om Prakash, Vimal Kumar, and Rakesh Roshan on films like Govinda's Aadmi Khilona Hai, Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii, and Karz Chukana Hai, Anil Kapoor-starrer, Kala Bazaar and Kishen Kanhaiya, among others. As an independent director, he directed two films including Naseeruddin Shah's Massom Gawah (1990), which remains unreleased, and Chhoti Bahu (1994), starring Shilpa Shirodkar. "Baig sahab shared a warm equation with Rakesh Roshan sahab. He helped Hrithik Roshan with diction, voice modulation, and dialogues since he was well-versed with these things. Baig sahab would help Hrithik with mouthing dialogues, this was much before his debut film, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai happened," Zaveri said. Baig's daughter Baby Guddu, born as Shahinda Baig, was one of the beloved child artists in Hindi cinema during the 1980s. Some of her popular films include Rajesh Khanna and Smita Patil's Aakhir Kyon?, Sridevi-starrer Nagina, Anil Kapoor's Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge, and Jeetendra and Sridevi's Aulad, among others.
22 February,2026 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Aamir Khan and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani’s collaborations have consistently proven to be box office hits. Their film PK was one of the most talked-about movies of its time. Despite the controversy surrounding it, the film went on to become a massive success. Recently, Aamir revealed that he and Hirani were not entirely satisfied with the final product. Why PK script was changed? In an interview with Variety India, Aamir shared that the original script of PK was different. He said, “In the case of PK, which was a huge success, both Raju and I were not really fully happy with the film. Originally, he had written a different script, and the second half was slightly different from what we made. But there was another film that came out just before us called Oh My God!, and the themes were kind of similar.” Khan revealed that they decided to tweak the second half of PK after the release of Oh My God!, which starred Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. He added, “The plot was totally different, because here (in PK) there is an alien, and it’s all totally different, but some of the themes were similar. Raju was very adamant that we must change our second half, and we did. The film was also a success. But before the release, Raju and I discussed how we were not totally happy with the film, but how this was the best we could have done. Luckily, the film worked, and it was a big success.” Aamir Khan’s work front Meanwhile, Aamir Khan has started the year on a positive note. His production house backed the film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which hit theatres in January. The film marked the directorial debut of stand-up comedian Vir Das. It also features Imran Khan, who made his first screen appearance in nearly a decade after teasing a comeback for several years. Speaking about this, Aamir said, “It is not a proper comeback for Imran. Both Imran and I have cameo roles. I haven’t done too many comedy roles in my career, although people still remember Andaz Apna Apna.” The actor is now looking forward to the release of his production Lahore 1947. The film reunites him with director Rajkumar Santoshi, who helmed Andaz Apna Apna. Sunny Deol plays the lead role, alongside Preity Zinta, who marks her return to a lead role. The film has been slated for an Independence Day release this year.
22 February,2026 10:33 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNearly three years after The Kerala Story, the makers of the film are back with its sequel titled The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond. Like its predecessor, the film has been in the news after triggering a debate over the authenticity of the facts presented under the tagline ‘Inspired by many true events’. Now, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has termed the film “propaganda” and said it was a greedy move by the makers to earn money. Anurag Kashyap slams The Kerala Story 2 Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap recently arrived in Kochi for the Filmfare Awards. At the airport, he was questioned by a reporter about the controversy surrounding the film produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah and directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh. An unfiltered and candid Kashyap said, “The Kerala Story is bullsh*t propaganda.” Referring to the viral beef scene from the trailer of The Kerala Story 2, Kashyap added, “Aisa beef kaun khilata hai? Aisa koi khichdi bhi nahi khilata hai (Who feeds someone beef like this? No one is fed even khichdi in this manner).” He further said, “They just want to make money and please everybody; divide people. The filmmaker is a greedy man. He just wants to make money.” Kerala HC issues notice over certification of The Kerala Story 2 Last week, the Kerala High Court issued notice to the producers of The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond on a writ petition challenging the certification granted to the movie by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The court issued the notice while considering the plea, which raises objections to the teaser and trailer of the film. According to the petitioner, the promotional material depicts women from multiple states being lured into relationships and coerced into religious conversion. However, despite the storyline allegedly spanning several states, the film’s title associates incidents of terrorism, forced conversion, and demographic conspiracy exclusively with Kerala. The petition also flags the concluding Hindi slogan in the teaser- “Ab sahenge nahin… ladenge (We will not tolerate it anymore… we will fight)” — arguing that it amounts to a call for retaliatory action and carries the potential to incite communal tension. It was alleged that the CBFC failed to properly apply the statutory safeguards under Section 5B of the Cinematograph Act, 1952, which bars certification of films that are against public order, decency, or morality, or those likely to incite the commission of an offence. The plea further refers to litigation surrounding the first instalment of The Kerala Story in 2023 before the Supreme Court, where the producers had agreed to add a disclaimer clarifying that certain figures cited in the film lacked authentic data and that the narrative was fictionalised. The petitioner argues that despite earlier judicial scrutiny, the sequel was certified without adequate examination of its potential impact on communal harmony and regional dignity. The petitioner has sought quashing of the certification, reconsideration of the title and disclaimers, and suspension of the film’s release pending further review. Vipul Amrutlal Shah on the film’s title Producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah also explained the justification behind the film’s title, despite it not being a direct sequel to The Kerala Story. He told ANI, “Kerala Story 2 goes beyond Kerala and exposes the massive conspiracy of manipulative conversion going on throughout India. Because its central theme is the same as Kerala Story 1, we named it Kerala Story 2. Till now, there has been no threat to this film. When you are telling the truth, perhaps you are not in that much danger because people feel that if we threaten a person who tells the truth, there could be backlash.”
22 February,2026 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSequel in the works Farhad Samji Here’s a piece of news that will surely spread cheer among fans of Govinda and Sanjay Dutt. The buzz in the industry is that a sequel is being planned to the hit comedy, ‘Haseena Maan Jaayegi’ (1999), which saw the two actors as rich, good-for-nothing brothers who are always up to mischief. Scripting of the second part is reportedly underway, with Farhad Samji taking on the directorial reins. Why not David Dhawan, you ask. According to reports, the makers wanted the senior director to helm the sequel, but he wasn’t keen to revisit it. Let’s see how Samji and his team give a modern update to the 1999 offering, which also starred Karisma Kapoor and Pooja Batra.
22 February,2026 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamTeam saree, always When in doubt, reach out for a saree. These gorgeous ladies brought six yards of glam to the red carpet. (L-R) Rakul Preet Singh with Mrunal Thakur Taapsee Pannu and Shefali Shah Just in Hrithik Roshan and Ishaan Khatter
22 February,2026 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamThere’s something about the 1990s superstars that not only makes them relevant but also sees them at the top of their game today. Director Abhiraj Minawala may have an idea or two about it. After all, he worked closely with Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan on Jawan (2023) and Tiger 3 (2023) respectively, while his latest directorial venture Mardaani 3 enabled him to collaborate with Rani Mukerji. Abhiraj Minawala He found one striking similarity between the two Khans’ approach to work. He shared, “Their passion and dedication [are unmatched]. Their conversations are ‘Yeh karte hain, audience ko maza aayega!’ The thought is not that we should do this, but that the audience will love it. One thing common between them is that they think from a larger perspective of the audience. [It probably stems from] the fact that they started their journey as an audience, and then ended up here.” The director is equally in awe of Mukerji, who has completed 30 years in the industry. Having worked with her on Mardaani 3, Minawala walked away with keen observations about her. “She has achieved a lot, but I’ve seen that she still comes on set with the openness that she is here to perform. She is willing to learn things and collaborate with the team.”
22 February,2026 07:14 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaDuring the release of Anek (2022), filmmaker Anubhav Sinha had proposed that small films could adopt a model of limited theatrical release, followed by a quick OTT première. He believed the approach would give small movies the chance to co-exist alongside big-screen spectacles. However, now, days after his latest offering Assi has arrived in cinemas, the director admits he has had a change of heart. “I’m saying the exact opposite today. The future is this size [of films]. Mid-size, medium budget, and high-concept films have the highest chance of a good ROI [return on investment],” he tells mid-day. Anubhav Sinha In the past eight years, Sinha has championed mid-budget movies, delivering thoughtful stories in Mulk (2018), Thappad (2020), and Bheed (2023). “That’s the only cinema I know as a maker,” he smiles. Even as tentpole movies dominate theatres today, the director remains clear that filmmakers should continue to make rightly budgeted, content-driven movies and they will find their audience. “I love Rajkumar Hirani and Rohit Shetty films as a viewer. But as a filmmaker, this is all I want. So, I will fight for my and my peers’ right to make films we believe in.” Is making such films in today’s ecosystem difficult? Sinha admits it’s tough, probably tougher for others than him. “[You have to] make a good film and recover the money. I make my films frugally. But it’s not easy for everybody. There will be six more directors who want to make such films; they are running around with their scripts. But they won’t get funded. I’m too senior and I’ve seen more than reasonable success. [So] I get to do this.”
22 February,2026 07:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuDirector Ahmed Khan has brought Welcome to the Jungle to the finish line. Well, almost. All that’s left is the shoot of an elaborate song featuring the ensemble cast, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Disha Patani, Jackie Shroff, and Arshad Warsi. We’ve heard that Khan called action on the song earlier this week, and intends to conclude the shoot in 10 days. Disha Patani and Raveena Tandon Sources close to the unit describe it as a high-energy celebratory number. An expansive set depicting a jungle has been built at Bahubali Studios in Borivali for the track, choreographed by Adil Shaikh. “Shooting a song with so many stars isn’t easy. Every actor has their moment in the song. Before beginning filming on February 17, extensive rehearsals were conducted so that principal actors and background dancers move seamlessly through the frame without disrupting camera continuity. It will be used as a post-credit track,” revealed a source. After this leg, Welcome to the Jungle will move to post-production. June 26When ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ is slated to arrive in cinemas
22 February,2026 07:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuVeteran Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was recently spotted at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, where he visited veteran screenwriter Salim Khan amid concerns about the latter’s health. The visit came after reports emerged that Salim Khan, father of superstar Salman Khan, had been admitted following a health scare that drew widespread attention from fans and members of the film fraternity. Shah Rukh Khan reached at the hospital Salim Khan, aged 90, was rushed to the Bandra hospital earlier this week after reportedly feeling unwell. Doctors determined that he had suffered a minor brain haemorrhage and placed him under close medical observation. Initial reports had speculated that surgery might be required, but it was later clarified that he underwent a medical procedure rather than a major operation. He remains in the Intensive Care Unit under supervision as doctors monitor his recovery and gradually reduce medical support. Shah Rukh Khan’s presence at the hospital quickly made headlines, with videos and photographs of his arrival circulating widely on social media. His visit reflected the longstanding respect and personal bond he shares with the Khan family. Over the years, Shah Rukh has spoken warmly about Salim Khan’s guidance and encouragement during his early days in the industry. In past interviews, he has recalled receiving support and kindness from the family during his struggling phase in Mumbai, memories that resurfaced online following his hospital visit. All about Salim Khan's health Meanwhile, Salman Khan and other members of the family have been by Salim Khan’s side throughout his hospitalisation. Several friends from the film industry have also visited to express solidarity and offer prayers for his speedy recovery. The veteran writer’s immense contribution to Hindi cinema over decades has earned him deep admiration across generations of filmmakers and actors. Hospital sources have indicated that Salim Khan’s condition is currently stable, though doctors are exercising caution given his age. As news of his health update continues to trend, fans across the country have been sending heartfelt messages, hoping for the screenwriting legend’s swift and full recovery. Recently, Salman Khan had requested the hospital not to share any statements or updates regarding his father's health.
21 February,2026 10:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court has moved to protect the personality rights of veteran actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha, ruling that his iconic dialogue “Khamosh” is exclusively associated with his public persona and cannot be used without authorization. The interim order restrains individuals and online platforms from misusing his name, image, voice, or distinctive style, particularly for commercial purposes or through artificial intelligence generated content. Shatrughan Sinha's khamosh gets a ruling The order was passed by Justice Sharmila Deshmukh, who observed that Sinha’s trademark dialogue delivery and screen presence are inseparably linked to his identity in the public domain. The court agreed that unauthorized usage of these attributes amounts to a violation of his personality rights and could potentially harm his reputation and goodwill. Sinha had approached the court alleging widespread misuse of his identity across digital platforms. His legal team argued that his famous catchphrase and unique style have become symbolic of his persona over decades in cinema and public life. The court recognized that such distinctive elements deserve protection under the law, especially in an era where digital manipulation is increasingly common. Bombay HC issues the hearing in Sinha's favour The High Court directed websites, social media platforms, and other online entities to immediately take down infringing content and refrain from publishing similar material in the future. It also took note of the growing misuse of artificial intelligence tools to create deepfake videos and manipulated audio clips that imitate celebrities without consent. Such AI generated content, the court said, can mislead the public and damage an individual’s carefully built public image. The ruling reflects a broader shift in India’s legal landscape, where courts are increasingly acknowledging and safeguarding personality rights. Public figures have been seeking judicial intervention to prevent unauthorized endorsements, fake profiles, and digitally altered content that exploits their identity for profit or attention. Although the current order is interim and the matter will be heard further, it sends a strong message about respecting individual identity in the digital age. By recognizing that “Khamosh” is uniquely tied to Shatrughan Sinha’s persona, the court has reinforced the principle that a celebrity’s name, voice, image, and signature style cannot be commercially or digitally exploited without permission.
21 February,2026 08:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
