Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar: The Revenge seems to be ruling the box office and the hearts of people across the country. People from all walks of life are heading to the cinema halls to enjoy the film. In one such rare and interesting case, nearly 500 policemen from Meerut were seen watching the film in theatres. Meerut SSP watches film with 498 officers According to news reports, Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey went to watch the Ranveer Singh-starrer blockbuster film along with 498 sub-inspectors. In videos shared online, SSP Avinash Pandey is seen arriving at Wave Cinema in a shopping mall on Delhi Road with 498 inspectors. Pandey had reportedly booked two halls of the multiplex for this special screening for his officials. The inspectors even expressed their gratitude to SSP Avinash Pandey for organising the event. A user named Deepak Mahato, on X, shared the news saying, "600 UP Police Sub-Inspectors to Watch 'Dhurandhar-2'... Two Cinema Halls Booked in This District; They Will Arrive at the Multiplex in Official Vehicles! On Thursday, Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey will take 600 Sub-Inspectors from the 2023 batch to a cinema hall to boost their morale. Two screens have been booked at Wave Cinemas, located within the Shopprix Mall on Delhi Road, where the police personnel will arrive in official government vehicles to watch 'Dhurandhar-2'—a film featuring a connection to Uttar Pradesh." He later shared an update on the same writing, "Breaking: 498 sub-inspectors of 2023-batch will be shown Dhurandhar-2 in a special screening in UP's Meerut on 26 March 2026. Two halls have been booked at a multiplex. Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey while reacting to it, said, 'There will be a debriefing after the movie at police lines. This is one such occasion to uplift morale and belongingness to the organisation'." Notably, the Aditya Dhar directorial features a brief scene with a character resembling a former Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP). The film also includes a character that resembles the former Lok Sabha MP and mafia figure from UP, late Atiq Ahmed. Dhurandhar 2 shows an alleged direct link between Atiq Ahmed and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Dhurandhar box office collections The film has been witnessing ground-breaking success at the box office. Overseas, the film has grossed a total of Rs 261.92 crore in gross collections, pushing its total worldwide gross collection to Rs 1,067.24 crore in eight days. The espionage spy-thriller was released on March 19. It stars Ranveer Singh in the lead along with Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun, among others, in pivotal roles. Dhurandhar 2 is directed, written and produced by Aditya Dhar.
27 March,2026 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNo critics please Actor Abhishek Bachchan has said his understanding of criticism has evolved over time, calling it an essential part of his craft. Speaking at the Critics’ Choice Awards 2026, he noted, “We tend to see criticism as something negative, but it shouldn’t be. If I expect audiences to spend their time and money on my films, then I am answerable to them.” Reflecting on his early years, he admitted he once doubted critics’ judgement but later realised, “They are not my opponents. Their feedback helped me build my journey. Only a fool would ignore that.” What’s next On the work front, the actor will play an antagonist in Shah Rukh Khan’s action-thriller ‘King’, which will release this December. He is also set to star in the historical drama ‘Raja Shivaji’. No PR running behind me Saurabh Shukla Veteran actor Saurabh Shukla has weighed in on the growing influence of PR (Public Relations) and image-building in the film industry, calling it a useful but limited tool. “PR is important, it is a part of the strategy. It helps your work reach people,” he said, adding, “but it cannot replace the work itself.” Emphasising substance over hype, Saurabh noted, “You cannot build yourself only on hype, because eventually the audience is not staying for that. They stay for what you do on the screen.” He also revealed he has never relied on a full-time personal PR, saying his work has always spoken for itself.
27 March,2026 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIn 2021, Captain India was announced with Kartik Aaryan as its face and Hansal Mehta at the helm. But for the next five years, no progress was in sight. Delayed? Shelved? Just as the industry was wondering what happened to Aaryan’s film, there is news. mid-day has learnt that the aviation drama will finally go on floors this summer. “The makers are eyeing the window between May and July for filming,” said an insider. Shimit Amin With Mehta no longer attached to Captain India, Shimit Amin of Chak De India (2007) fame took over the project. Recently, there were murmurs that he too had exited the film. But a source close to the production said, “The delays caused these rumours. But the film is on track and Shimit is helming it. Kartik is shooting for another T-Series film, after which he will start this.” July 2021When the first look of ‘Captain India’ was unveiled
27 March,2026 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaWeeks after mid-day reported that Tumbbad 2 is in the works (Khatarnaak combo, March 4), it’s time for Nawazuddin Siddiqui to step into the world of fear and folklore. We’ve heard that the actor and Sohum Shah, who is co-producing the sequel, will kick off the shoot in Madh Island today with an elaborate opening sequence that involves 200 people. Adesh Prasad, who was one of the writers on Tumbbad (2018), is directing the second part. “On the first day, the crowd will be smaller, but by March 28 and 29, the scale will increase. A massive crowd sequence is being shot. Adesh wanted to start with the opening sequence itself; it is designed as a major set-piece that establishes the scale of the world imagined,” said a source. A few days ago, Siddiqui and Shah were spotted in Madh Island, where the set was being built over weeks. Details about Siddiqui’s role remain under wraps, but the source indicated that his character has dark shades. “It’s not a straightforward antagonist. Sohum has been involved at every stage — from script development to building the film’s look.”
27 March,2026 07:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuWhen you hear Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan, and a horror comedy, the first thing you think of is Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007). Comparison of their upcoming horror comedy, Bhooth Bangla, with the 2007 hit is inevitable. That’s something Rohan Shankar knew right when he began writing the April 10 release. “The two are different films, even if they share a genre,” insisted Shankar when we called him. “Bhool Bhulaiyaa leaned toward psychological thriller with humour, while Bhooth Bangla has action, fantasy, romance, humour, and multiple layers. From the start, I knew it was a different story with a bigger scale.” A still from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’. Pic/Youtube Nowadays horror comedies risk slipping into a predictable template. According to Shankar, however, Bhooth Bangla takes a broader approach to the genre. “We didn’t lean on those horror comedy clichés. We kept the Priyadarshan-Akshay Kumar brand of situational comedy. But rather than falling into clichés, we expanded the genre.” Priyadarshan and Rohan Shankar If the film marks Kumar and the filmmaker’s reunion 16 years after Khatta Meetha (2010), it also sees the superstar team up with Tabu after decades. Reflecting on how the dynamic on set was shaped by the contrasting energies of the lead actors, Shankar said, “Tabu ma’am can do complex scenes in one or two takes, making it look effortless. Akshay sir wants every scene to be elevated, always pushing his co-actors and the scene itself to be funnier and better. When the camera rolls, his chemistry with Priyan sir and his conviction in his craft shine. Akshay sir, Priyan sir, and Tabu ma’am are reuniting almost 30 years after Hera Pheri [2000]. So, it’s a special film.” Tabu in ‘Bhooth Bangla’ and ‘Saiyaara’ (2025). Pics/Youtube Rohan Shankar previously wrote Kriti Sanon’s ‘Mimi’ (2021) and the blockbuster ‘Saiyaara’ (2025)
27 March,2026 07:07 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAditya Dhar and Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2 was passed with 21 cuts by the CBFC ahead of its release. As per the modifications, the film was granted an A certificate and cuss words were muted. However, actor Deepak Tijori has questioned the logic behind muting cuss words. Reacting to the film’s censorship, he criticised the inconsistency in partially muting abuses despite its adult certification, also highlighting the contrast between theatrical cuts and unfiltered OTT versions. Deepak Tijori on muting cuss words in Dhurandhar 2 Taking to Instagram, Tijori questioned the logic behind partially muting abusive words in theatrical versions. He expressed, “Maybe I just don’t have the kind of intellect that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) or its board members possess, because I genuinely don’t understand this – why mute half the abuses and let the other half stay? At places, keep some and fully mute others?” He further pointed out that films carrying an ‘A’ certification are already meant for adult audiences, making the partial censorship seem redundant. “Especially when the film is already certified 18+, which clearly means it’s meant for adults. So who exactly are we protecting here? And from what… half a word?” he added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Deepak Tijori (@deepaktijoriteam) What seems to trouble Tijori even more is the stark contrast between theatrical and digital versions of the same film. “And then comes the part that really confuses me – the same film, within a month or two, releases on OTT… completely unmuted… untouched… exactly as it was meant to be. And that’s where kids end up watching it… at home… sitting with family… with everything fully audible.” “So I’m just trying to understand, honestly – how smart is it to ‘half mute’ something in theatres for adults, when the same thing plays out in full volume at home soon after? Maybe there’s a logic here I’m unable to see… or maybe, just maybe… we’re overthinking the wrong things,” he wrote. About Dhurandhar 2 CBFC modifications The makers have reportedly been asked to make as many as 21 modifications to the final cut. The changes include violence disclaimers and the reduction of scenes featuring ‘abusive words’, ‘hitting the head with a hammer’, ‘beheading and kicking’, ‘hitting the head with cement blocks’, and ‘smashing the eye’. Dhurandhar 2 picks up from where the first film left off. The sequel will see Ranveer Singh’s Hamza Ali Mazari’s rise to power in Pakistan’s criminal underworld. The storyline draws loosely on real-life geopolitical events and conflicts in South Asia, including Operation Lyari, the 2014 Indian general election, the 2016 Indian banknote demonetisation, and other incidents.
26 March,2026 09:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRam Gopal Varma has been one of the most ardent admirers of Aditya Dhar’s blockbuster spy thriller franchise Dhurandhar. His praise has only grown manifold after the release of the sequel. The filmmaker has called the film a benchmark shift and revealed how it has pushed him to rethink his storytelling approach and reinvent himself. He also confirmed his next project, Syndicate, putting the Sarkar franchise on hold. Ram Gopal Varma confirms Syndicate Ram Gopal Varma reflected on how his aspirations and creative influences evolved over time, from wanting to be an auto rickshaw driver to eventually becoming a director. He shared how literature and cinema constantly reshaped his perspective, with benchmark inspirations like The Sound of Music, The Exorcist, and The Godfather influencing many of his films, especially the latter. The director also lauded the recently released Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar: The Revenge and shared that he has made a conscious decision to put the upcoming part of the Sarkar franchise on hold and work on Syndicate. WHY SYNDICATE and not SARKAR?SYNDICATE is based on a premise “ What if the entire law and order of INDIA collapses in just one single day”It will be almost like a HORROR film , not because of any super natural elements , but because it will bare open the horrors that exist in… — Ram Gopal Varma (@RGVzoomin) March 26, 2026 He shared, “WHY SYNDICATE and not SARKAR? Syndicate is based on a premise: ‘What if the entire law and order of India collapses in just one single day?’ It will be almost like a horror film, not because of any supernatural elements, but because it will bare the horrors that exist in some human minds, which they can enact terrifyingly. Syndicate is about the rise of an organisation so powerful, so integrated, and so maniacally driven that it threatens the very existence of India. I believe that Syndicate is something which will match up to the post-Dhurandhar 2 era, and that is the reason for my decision. Here’s my take on why I want to wipe out my entire past and be a newborn or a reborn director post watching Dhurandhar 2 (sic).” Ram Gopal Varma lauds Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2 He expressed his wish to be inspired by the new school of Aditya Dhar, writing, “But now, after seeing Dhurandhar 2, all my earlier films look like nothing. If The Godfather was my earlier benchmark in this genre, I now feel Dhurandhar 2 is like The Godfather’s Godfather in the way it redefined and reinvented everything—whether it’s craft, storytelling style, character design, background music, emotional landscapes, performances, or action choreography. So it’s common sense that I need to abandon the lessons learnt from the old schools of Coppola and join the new school of @AdityaDharFilms, and that’s the only way one can stay updated.” “It will be a suicidal blunder on the part of any filmmaker, writer, or star not to shed their egos and do an intensive academic study of Dhurandhar 2, then take a deep relook and rework whatever they believed so far, and drastically adapt. By not doing so, and if you still stick to the same old cinematic beliefs, which were brutally killed on March 19, 2026,” he added. When RGV confirmed Sarkar 4 National Award-winning filmmaker-producer Ram Gopal Varma had earlier confirmed the next instalment of his political crime franchise, Sarkar 4, while speaking on the opening day of the Red Lorry Film Festival. He had said that Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan will reprise their roles, while Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will not be part of the franchise.
26 March,2026 07:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAjay Devgn has landed in legal trouble as the makers of the original Tamil film Kaithi have approached the Bombay High Court, alleging violations related to the remake rights of Bholaa. Dispute between Kaithi and Bholaa began in 2019 The dispute has been initiated by Dream Warrior Pictures, the production house behind Kaithi. According to reports, the company has claimed that it holds the sole copyright and remake rights to the 2019 hit film. The production house had earlier entered into agreements regarding the Hindi remake, which later became Bholaa. However, the producers now allege that certain financial obligations tied to the remake rights agreement were not fulfilled. As per their claims, only a partial payment was made, while the remaining agreed-upon amount including additional tranches and variable payments linked to the film’s earnings remains unpaid. The issue escalated after multiple attempts by the original producers to resolve the matter reportedly went unanswered. Following this, they issued a legal notice demanding dues along with interest, warning that failure to comply would lead to termination of the agreement and reversion of rights. When the dispute was not resolved, Dream Warrior Pictures moved legal forums, initially approaching the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). However, the tribunal dismissed the plea, stating that contractual and intellectual property disputes should be addressed in civil courts. Further proceedings in the case Subsequently, the producers filed a commercial intellectual property suit in the Bombay High Court. In their plea, they have sought an injunction to restrain the makers including Ajay Devgn’s production banner and associated companies from distributing, streaming, or monetising Bholaa and any related content. They have also requested damages and a formal declaration that the agreement stands terminated. On the other hand, the defence has reportedly argued that jurisdiction over the matter lies with courts in Chennai, as per the original agreement terms. The matter has since been heard by the court, with the judge reserving the order on the issue of jurisdiction. The controversy has once again highlighted the complexities involved in remake rights within the film industry, especially when multiple parties and agreements are involved. As the legal battle unfolds, the outcome could have significant implications for how such contracts are structured and enforced in the future.
26 March,2026 07:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Sayani Gupta is all set to explore a new side of storytelling as she makes her directorial debut with the short film Aasmani. Not just directing, she has also written and produced the film, making it a very personal project close to her heart. The film stars veteran actor Revathi as the protagonist, along with Daria Bedi, who is being introduced in this film. Sayani Gupta talks about making her directorial debut A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India, Sayani shared that this moment has been years in the making. “Making a film has been a 17-year-long dream ever since I stepped foot into film school,” she said. “All these years, with every set I’ve been on as an actor, that desire has only grown stronger. In a world ridden with so much chaos and atrocity, cinema can truly act as a medium for discourse, resistance, evocation, and perhaps even a balm.” "Aasmani is a film about love, companionship and freedom with themes of redundancy, values and loss,” Sayani said. “It’s a story about these spunky women (of different age groups) who know their minds and worth. I hope for the film to be a spot of sunshine, love and joy for anyone who watches it.” Sayani has always been known for picking unique and meaningful roles. From Margarita with a Straw to Four More Shots Please!, Article 15, Pagglait, Fan, Jolly LLB2 Axone, etc., she has built a strong and diverse filmography over the years. About Aasmani Aasmani is produced by Sayani Gupta Movies along with the Sumitra Gupta Foundation for Arts and One India Stories. The film is backed by names like Nikkhil Advani, Dia Mirza and Ananya Rane as Executive Directors. The film also marks the first project from the Sumitra Gupta Foundation for Arts, while One India Stories presents it as their second release. For the makers, Aasmani is not just a film but a step towards telling more heartfelt and meaningful stories. We are excited to see what this Magic Trio of Sayani Gupta, Nikkhil Advani and Dia Mirza has created. The film's script has won multiple international awards already. And the film is all set for its world premiere.
26 March,2026 06:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBhumi Pednekar had a stressful start to her day after a hoax bomb threat disrupted her flight plans. The actress took to social media to recount the unsettling incident, revealing how an irresponsible remark by a man triggered security protocols, leading to delays and chaos. She also highlighted the need for better civic sense and accountability in such situations. Bhumi on hoax bomb threat that left her agitated In a video, she explained how a man who wasn’t even a passenger on the flight triggered a security protocol and caused inconvenience. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Bhumi Pednekar shared a video explaining a concerning experience she had that morning. She says in the video, “We had a crazy morning. Richa and I were flying for some Backbay work.” The Bhakshak actress continues, “Now, when we were boarding our flight, this guy was kind of misbehaving with the on-ground staff. And he wasn’t even a passenger on our flight. The on-ground staff had to call out, find a call, and so on. He kept getting triggered, saying, ‘Why are you disturbing me?’ We kind of laughed about it and entered.” “Ten minutes after we were deboarded, there was a security threat. We later found out that the same guy, who wasn’t even a passenger on our flight, thought it was funny to scream that there was a bomb on that flight. Obviously, Indigo had to follow protocol and take all the necessary security measures, and kudos to them for doing that. But he wasted three hours, and I’m sure there was a massive economic impact,” she adds. In an overlaying text on the video, she also wrote, “Crazy morning. Woke up at 5 am for an 8:45 am flight. Because of a silly joke or a loose statement some irresponsible man made, we were delayed by 3 hours. I’m told hoax calls/jokes like this happen often. We really need more civic sense. Finally reached.” Bhumi Pednekar upcoming movies The actress was last seen in the web series Daldal, which received a mixed response. She next has Danish Aslam’s romantic drama, tentatively titled Adhoore Hum Adhoore Tum. The film will release on OTT this year and marks Imran Khan’s comeback. Alongside Bhumi Pednekar and Imran Khan, the film also features Gurfateh Pirzada in a key role.
26 March,2026 05:36 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirector Aditya Dhar's spy thriller Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its strong run at the box office, and actor Aamir Khan has now sent his best wishes to the team as the film keeps drawing large crowds to theatres. Speaking on the second day of the International Film Festival of Delhi (IFFD) 2026, Aamir said he has been hearing only "praises" about the film's performance and success. Aamir Khan on Dhurandhar The actor, while talking to the media said that he has been hearing good things about the Ranveer Singh-starrer. "I have not seen the film yet. But I hear only praises of the film. Dhurandhar 1 and now Dhurandhar 2. Both the films have done exceptionally well, and my very best wishes to the team." Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is a sequel to Dhurandhar (2025), which was the highest-grossing Hindi film of that year. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the project features a multi-starrer cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal. Aamir on Sitaare Zameen Par Aamir also spoke about his own film Sitaare Zameen Par being screened at the festival. Sharing his happiness about the "first year" of the festival and the opportunity to connect with audiences, he said, "It's a real pleasure that our film Sitaare Zameen Par is being screened at the Delhi Film Festival. And I think this is the first year of the festival? First time, yeah. And I'm really happy that our film is being screened here. It's a film that Prasanna has directed and both of us are very happy and proud of the film and what it says. And it gives us an opportunity to interact with audiences over here, which I think mostly are young films." Organised by the Delhi Tourism & Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC) in association with the Government of Delhi, with KPMG as knowledge partner, the International Film Festival of Delhi is a government-led, city-wide festival showcasing Indian and international cinema while making film culture accessible to audiences across the capital. The week-long festival, running from March 25 to 31, will offer a series of screenings, discussions, and industry events across various venues in New Delhi, uniting filmmakers, industry professionals, and audiences from around the globe. (with inputs from ANI)
26 March,2026 05:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
