Actor Rani Mukerji has found herself at the centre of an online debate following a recent interview in which she spoke about respect within households and how parental behaviour shapes children. While promoting her upcoming film Mardaani 3, Rani shared her views on family dynamics, a section of which did not go down well with many on social media. Rani Mukerji talks about the influence parents have on their kids Speaking about the influence parents have on young minds, Rani said, “I think respect starts at home. Very easily, when you see your mother being ill treated, it empowers boys to think that if my mother can be treated like this, every other girl can be treated the same way.” She further added, “Fathers need to be responsible for how they treat their wives at home, because that’s what a boy grows up seeing.” However, her next statement sparked criticism online. “Even a small thing like a father raising his voice at the mother shouldn’t happen. The mother should raise her voice at the father, that’s how it should be,” she said, prompting mixed reactions. Rani also made a light hearted remark while recalling her younger days, jokingly bringing her husband Aditya Chopra into the conversation. “Only one boy I slapped, and the rest of the boys were my friends. And just don’t go and ask my husband what happens to him every day at home,” she said with a laugh. Netizens react to Rani Mukerji's statement While some viewers felt her comments were made in jest, others questioned the idea of normalising raised voices in relationships. Several social media users expressed discomfort with the statement, with one comment reading, “Why would anyone raise their voice at anyone? Communication should be about calm conversation, not shouting.” Another wrote, “Normalising shouting in a relationship, regardless of who does it, is problematic.” Despite the backlash, Rani remains focused on her professional commitments and is set to reprise her role as fearless cop Shivani Shivaji Roy in Mardaani 3. The actor has consistently used her platform to speak about women’s safety and empowerment, though her latest comments have clearly divided opinion online.
29 January,2026 03:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGrief swept through Baramati in Pune district on Thursday as Maharashtra bid farewell to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who lost his life in a tragic plane crash. His last rites were performed with full state honours. Riteish attends Ajit Pawar's last rites Several political leaders arrived in Baramati to attend the funeral of the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Actor Riteish Deshmukh, son of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, also arrived in Baramati to pay his last respects. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde were present at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, the Pawar family’s hometown, located about 100 km from Pune. Thousands of mourners gathered as chants of “Ajit Dada amar rahe” echoed when his mortal remains, draped in the national flag, were brought from his village Katewadi to the venue. #WATCH | Actor Riteish Deshmukh attends the last rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in Baramati pic.twitter.com/rV0Klhfl6v — ANI (@ANI) January 29, 2026 As the funeral pyre was lit by Pawar’s sons, Parth and Jay, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar sat in silence. His younger brother Prataprao Pawar was also present. Several leaders, including Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Naveen Patnaik, Ramdas Athawale, Pramod Sawant, Sushilkumar Shinde, Rahul Narwekar, and Nara Lokesh, paid floral tributes. Ajit Pawar’s younger brother Shriniwas Pawar, his sisters, and other family members also offered their respects. His cousin Supriya Sule, the NCP (SP) Lok Sabha member from Baramati, stood with Sunetra Pawar to console her as she paid tributes to her late husband. Riteish Deshmukh’s tribute to Ajit Pawar Actor Riteish Deshmukh expressed deep grief over the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar. Calling him “one of Maharashtra’s most dynamic leaders,” Riteish praised his work ethic, sharp wit, and straightforward nature. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Riteish wrote that Pawar’s untimely passing has left behind an irreplaceable void. He extended his heartfelt condolences to the Pawar family, loved ones, and supporters. Ajit Pawar passed away in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) confirmed that all six passengers on board, along with Pawar, did not survive the crash. The aircraft reportedly went down while landing near Baramati, nearly an hour after taking off from Mumbai.
29 January,2026 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Imtiaz Ali’s next with Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari Wagh, and Naseeruddin Shah has already managed to create some massive buzz among movie buffs. Now, the makers, Applause Entertainment and Window Seat Films, have announced the release date for the yet-untitled drama, which is currently in its post-production phase. Imtiaz Ali's next film gets release date The film will be released in theatres on 12th June. Applause Entertainment took to their social media account and shared a black and white photo of Imitaz Ali, capturing him in the midst of directing. Dressed casually, he gestures towards something behind the camera during the film's shoot. Unveiling the release date, the makers wrote, "Imtiaz Ali’s next, a charming story of love and longing to release in cinemas on 12th June, 2026. Applause Entertainment Presents, A Window Seat Films Production. Starring: Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, Sharvari, Naseeruddin Shah Directed by Imtiaz Ali Music by A.R. Rahman Lyrics by Irshad Kamil Produced by: Applause Entertainment, Window Seat Films, Mohit Choudhary. (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Applause Entertainment (@applausesocial) About Imtiaz's next film Backed by Applause Entertainment, Window Seat Films, and Mohit Choudhary, the project enjoys a contemporary and witty narrative that explores the depth of human connection. The film also brings back the legendary trio of A.R. Rahman, Irshad Kamil, and Imtiaz Ali. Previously, Imtiaz, who is both the writer and director of the drama, had shared a statement saying, “‘Tum mere paas hote ho goya, Jab koi doosra nahin hota’ (‘You are with me, however, when there is no one else’) -Momin. Can love really be lost? Can home be taken away from someone’s heart?” Ali had shared that the film “has a big heart.” “It has a large canvas, yet is very personal. It is a story of a boy and a girl, but also a country. Wish us well as we dive into the currents of this dynamic story, we hope to emerge next year with a touching cinematic experience in a theatre near you,” the Rockstar maker added. Other details about the much-discussed drama have been kept under wraps for now. The project will mark Diljit's first on-screen collaboration with Vedang Raina and Sharvari and second collaboration with Imtiaz Ali after the 2024 biopic, Amar Singh Chamkila.
29 January,2026 03:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVarun Dhawan is currently basking in the success of Border 2, in which he plays the role of Major Hoshiar Singh Dahiya. Inspired by the 1971 India-Pakistan war, the film features several intense battlefield sequences. During the shoot of one such scene, the actor suffered a serious injury. Varun Dhawan's injury on set On Thursday, Varun Dhawan shared a video from the sets of Border 2. In the clip, he is seen engaging in combat with a co-star playing a Pakistani army soldier. As the scene unfolds, Varun gets pushed towards a cameraman and, in an attempt to avoid colliding with the camera, lands hard on a rock, injuring his tailbone. Sharing the video on Instagram, Varun wrote, “The worst injury I ever got on Border 2. I smashed my tailbone into a rock when I tried to avoid banging into the camera. It was the worst pain I ever felt. Thankful to my team for helping me continue that day. I could barely walk, but I kept going. Grateful for the journey.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) Earlier, the actor had also shared a series of photos from the film’s sets, stating that Border 2 pushed him to his physical and emotional limits. He revealed that the making of the film coincided with a challenging phase in his life, marked by injuries and personal changes. View this post on Instagram A post shared by VarunDhawan (@varundvn) Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series in association with J.P. Films. Directed by Anurag Singh, the film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, and is slated for release on January 23. Varun Dhawan's work front Talking about Varun, post Border 2, he will be seen in Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. The film also stars Pooja Hegde, and Mrunal Thakur. It is all set to hit the screens on June 5. The film was earlier scheduled to release on April 10, 2026. For those who do not know, Hai Jawani Toh Pyaar Hona Hai is a hit song from David Dhawan's film Biwi No 1, featuring Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and Sushmita Sen. The name of the forthcoming drama is believed to have been inspired from this popular track. Touted to be a blend of a lighthearted narrative with romantic elements, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai reportedly shares a tale of a guy who was rejected by several women, but ends up getting help from God.
29 January,2026 01:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger and composer Vishal Dadlani pointed out that Arijit Singh's retirement from playback singing is proof that "Success doesn't guarantee peace". Dadlani shared that one should make every single moment of our short lives count and not lie to ourselves. He further stated that one needs to be true to themselves and not try to be someone else's version of themselves. His latest Insta post read, "Learn anything? Success doesn't guarantee peace or contentment. Riches & power don't guarantee safety. Life is strange, life is short. Don't waste a single moment lying to yourself about yourself. Don't try to be what somebody else said you must be! (sic)." The composer ended the post by sharing some advice - "Live Fully". "All we truly have is the thin sliver of “now” that exists between memory and hope," Dadlani captioned the post. The entire music industry has been left in a massive state of shock ever since Arijit announced his retirement from playback singing. On Tuesday, Arijit announced through an Instagram post that he has decided not to take up any new assignments as a playback vocalist. He wrote, “Hello, Happy new year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much of love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not gonna be taking any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it off. It was a wonderful journey.” The ace singer further expressed his gratitude to his admirers for showering him with unconditional love and support all these years. Reacting to the announcement, singer and composer Armaan Malik said that the soul is the ultimate guide that helps us navigate through the path of life. "The soul knows when it’s time to change direction. What’s being offered no longer feeds its highest calling. I don’t know where the river meets the sea again, but I trust the current and the grace guiding it. Here’s to the magic ahead! thank you for everything you’ve given to the craft of playback singing arijitsingh," he shared. 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
29 January,2026 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Pankaj Tripathi has described the selection of his play Lailaaj for the 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav as a deeply emotional and humbling experience, calling it a moment that reconnects him with his roots. Expressing his emotions about Lailaaj being part of Bharat Rang Mahotsav, Pankaj Tripathi shared in a heartfelt note: “Bharat Rang Mahotsav holds a very special place in the world of Indian theatre, and to have Lailaaj selected for its 25th edition is truly humbling. Theatre is where my roots lie, and NSD has always represented discipline, honesty, and deep respect for the craft.” Pankaj, along with his wife Mridula’s maiden theatre production Lailaaj, a musical comedy play under their banner Roopkatha Rangmanch, has been officially selected to be showcased at Bharat Rang Mahotsav, India’s largest and most prestigious theatre festival, hosted by the National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi. The festival will be held across January and February, beginning in the last week of January. Pankaj added, “To bring our very first production under Roopkatha Rangmanch to a platform like this feels like a full-circle moment. Lailaaj is a simple, musical, and heartfelt story, but behind it is the hard work of many people who believe in theatre as a living, breathing art form.” Written and directed by Faiz Mohammed Khan, Lailaaj holds special significance for the Tripathi family. Along with marking Pankaj’s return to the stage after over a decade, the play also features the stage debut of their daughter Aashi, making it an intimate and meaningful family collaboration. “Sharing this stage with my daughter Aashi adds an emotional layer that I will always cherish. I see this not just as a performance, but as an offering to the theatre community that shaped me.” Pankaj’s wife, Mridula, co-producer of the play, also shared her thoughts on the achievement. She said that when they started Roopkatha Rangmanch, the intention was never to chase scale or recognition, but to tell stories with sincerity and warmth. “For Lailaaj to be selected for Bharat Rang Mahotsav, especially in its 25th year, feels incredibly validating. This play has been nurtured with love, patience, and belief in the process. Watching it travel to a platform like NSD, where some of the finest theatre work is celebrated, makes the journey even more meaningful.” Talking about her daughter’s theatre debut, Mridula said: “Seeing Aashi take her first steps on stage within this environment is deeply emotional for us as parents. We are grateful to the festival, the audience, and every artist who believes that theatre still has the power to move, heal, and connect.”
29 January,2026 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSMona Singh is enjoying a strong phase in her career. In recent years, the actress has been part of several interesting films and series, experimenting with a wide range of roles. She has delivered critically acclaimed performances in Netflix shows Kaala Paani and The Bads of Bollywood, as well as Prime Video’s Made in Heaven 2. She has also played prominent roles in films such as Munjya, Happy Patel, and the upcoming Border 2. However, many of her on-screen roles depict characters much older than her real age. Notably, she played Aamir Khan’s mother in Laal Singh Chaddha, despite being younger than the superstar in real life. Mona Singh on women's age on screen Talking to PTI, Mona Singh said that she never cared about her on-screen age. She finds it strange that there is an expiry date attached to women while male stars continue to play romantic roles even in their sixties. The actor, who plays a challenging role of a cop investigating a woman's murder while dealing with personal tragedy in the second season of Sudip Sharma's hit Netflix show Kohrra, said she has always taken risks and now the time has come to celebrate. "I have not cared about my on-screen age. I really haven't because I'm very confident and I know who I am. There's nothing to prove, which is why I keep taking risks. People often ask me, 'Why are you so old on screen?' I would say it doesn't matter. It's the character that I'm playing and it really excites me," Singh said. "You see, it's only in this industry that women come with an expiry date. And it is so sad. Whereas men in their 60s can still play the romantic leads, women can't. But I have never really cared about that because I didn't want to be that," she added. Mona Singh on success Singh broke out in a major way with her role of a bespectacled Jassi in her TV debut Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahi in 2003 when she was just 22-23. She forayed into movies, playing Kareena Kapoor's elder sister in the 2009 blockbuster "3 Idiots", which also featured Aamir Khan, R Madhvan and Sharman Joshi. The 44-year-old actor said the feeling that 'she has arrived' came to her when Jassi became a household name but she still does not feel that she has made it. "I don't get the feeling that I have made it. I got that feeling of 'I have arrived' at the time of 'Jassi'... The feeling that I'm at the right place is now, definitely. I've found my bearings. OTT has given me a lot and still gives. I'm very grateful for that. I'm doing just the right kinds of shows that I wanted to be a part of as an actor... I'm loving this phase.
29 January,2026 11:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court dismissed the defamation case filed by former Narcotics Control Bureau officer Sameer Wankhede on Thursday. Sameer had filed a lawsuit against streaming platform Netflix and actor Shah Rukh Khan's production house Red Chillies Entertainment over his portrayal in the series The B***ds of Bollywood directed by SRK's son, Aryan Khan. Sameer Wankhede's defamation suit rejected The Delhi High Court, during the hearing, ruled that it has no territorial jurisdiction to hear IRS officer Sameer Wankhede's defamation lawsuit against The Ba***ds of Bollywood series, which is produced by Shah Rukh Khan-owned Red Chillies Entertainment Pvt Ltd. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav refused to entertain the lawsuit, saying Wankhede could file his plea before a court having jurisdiction over the issue. "This court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the plaint. The same is, therefore, returned to the plaintiff to be presented, if so advised, before a court of competent jurisdiction," the court noted. During the hearing today, senior lawyer J Sai Deepak, who represented Wankhede, argued that the defamation suit was maintainable in Delhi. He said in addition to the presence of Wankhede’s relatives in the capital, the case could be heard in Delhi due to the departmental proceedings concerning the former NCB officer were also pending here. The legal team for Red Chillies Entertainment opposed the plea, and challenged its territorial maintainability. They asserted that the suit should have been filed in Mumbai, not Delhi. The advocate highlighted that Wankhede resides in Mumbai and the production house’s registered office is also located there, which makes Mumbai the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. About the lawsuit According to Wankehde, "defamatory content" was created in the web series to settle personal scores with him and avenge the arrest of Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan in a 2021 drugs case. He said the series, written and directed by Aryan Khan, was orchestrated to target and malign him. Wankhede sued Red Chillies and Netflix for defamation and sought Rs 2 crore in damages, which he wants donated to the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital for cancer patients. Wankhede, in his lawsuit, claimed that the series depicts a character making an obscene gesture, specifically, showing a middle finger, after the character recites the slogan "Satyamev Jayate", which is part of the National Emblem. This act constitutes a grave and sensitive violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which attracts penal consequences under law, it said. (With inputs from PTI)
29 January,2026 11:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Anupam Kher recently had a pleasant surprise when he "accidentally" bumped into former Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma, and the unexpected meeting clearly made his day. On Wednesday, Kher took to Instagram to share pictures with Sharma and his wife, Ritika Sajdeh. In the photos, the trio can be seen smiling warmly as they pose together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Kher was at a shoot location where several vanity vans were parked. While looking for his own, he mistakenly walked into the wrong one, only to find Rohit Sharma and Ritika inside. However, what could have been an awkward moment quickly turned into a memorable one. Along with the pictures, the Marathon Man actor posted a heartfelt note, calling Rohit his "favourite cricketer" and praising not just his talent on the field but also his personality off it. Kher spoke about Sharma's calm nature, honesty, and the way he stays "real" whether cameras are around or not. He also said Rohit never tries to create a "myth" about himself and remains the same person in public and private. "The GREATEST RohitSharma! My favourite cricketer and his beautiful and hugely supportive wife Ritika. I love Rohit! Of course for his brilliance as an amazing player. But I equally love the person in him... Having watched Rohit on and off the field, I can easily say that he is so, so REAL! No pretence! No hunger for particular titles! I like his calmness," Kher wrote. "He laughs easily! Doesn't make an effort to make a myth about himself! Doesn't change his persona in front of paps. Stays HIMSELF!! And that is the greatest quality of a cool dude! Thank you my friend and hero Rohit for your warmth and appreciation! May God give you both long and healthy life. Lots of love and prayers! Jai Ho!!" he added. On the work front, Anupam Kher has recently wrapped up shooting for Khosla Ka Ghosla 2. The original film, released in 2006 and directed by Dibakar Banerjee, went on to become a fan favourite for its simple storytelling and strong performances. Prior to Khosla Ka Ghosla 2, Kher directed his second film, Tanvi The Great, which stars debutant Shubhangi Dutt in the lead role. 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
29 January,2026 11:16 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIWeeks after Ranveer Singh exited from Don 3, recent reports claim that Farhan Akhtar is planning to put the film on hold. Meanwhile, he has decided to work on Jee Le Zaraa for now, which was initially announced in 2021 with Priyanka Chopra, Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif in the lead. Farhan Akhtar puts Don 3 on hold According to a PinkVilla report, Akhtar does not want to decide on Don 3’s casting in a hurry and has therefore taken the decision to put the project on hold. A source reportedly told the portal, “Farhan feels the casting of Don is crucial. He wants to be absolutely sure about who steps into the role, and it is a longer process," while adding that Farhan is likely to soon begin work on Jee Le Zaraa. An insider told them, “Jee Le Zaraa has always been special for Farhan. With Don 3 taking time at the casting stage, he felt this was the right moment to revive discussions with the original team and push the film forward." According to reports, the script of Jee Le Zaraa has already been finalised. The delay in the film has largely been because of the date alignment of all three lead actresses. However, the film is likely to go on floors later this year, if everything goes well. The sources added, “If the dates align, the film could finally go on floors in the second half of 2026. Creatively, everything is in place, and it’s now about managing schedules. Farhan has started discussions with all three actresses and is hopeful their timelines can align. Everyone is keen, it’s just about finding that common window." About Jee Le Zaraa Jee Le Zaraa is expected to star Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt. The film was announced in 2021; however, there has been no update on the movie ever since. Several reports claimed that the conflicting shoot schedules of all three actresses have kept the film in limbo. In February last year, Farhan broke his silence on the delay. He told The Hindu, “The astronomy of it is all messed up: my rahu is in my ketu (laughs). Unfortunately, it will take more time. I am optimistic that it will happen when it has to happen. There is a time for everything. I don’t want to stress out over this one project. I have other things to do (like Don 3 with Ranveer Singh)."
29 January,2026 10:37 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirector Rahi Anil Barve, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Mayasabha, has spoken up on the issue of stealing credits in the industry. The director recently spoke with IANS during the promotions of the film, and said that the issue is very much a part of the industry, and he has made his peace with it. He told IANS, “It’s how the world works. This thing is not limited to just the film industry; it happens in many other sectors. I have lived with it and made my peace with it. Nothing that I say can change the world. So, the peace lies in accepting it, and moving on”. Meanwhile, Mayasabha marks his return to the big screen 8 years after his cult-classic Tumbbad, which opened new avenues of horror in India. The film stars Jaaved Jaaferi in an intriguing role. The film centres on Parmeshwar Khanna (played by Jaaved Jaaferi), who is a disgraced, reclusive producer who lives inside a crumbling, abandoned theatre with his mentally unstable son. Local lore claims that 40 kg of 24-carat gold biscuits were hidden within the building decades ago and never recovered. When two outsiders enter the theatre to verify the rumour and hunt for the treasure, they find themselves trapped in a claustrophobic maze of secrets. What follows is a tense cat-and-mouse pursuit, where paranoia and fixation steadily replace reason, and the search for wealth turns into an exploration of obsession and existential despair. Mayasabha features a background score by Sagar Desai, with Kuldeep Mamania handling cinematography and Aasif Pathan overseeing editing. The film is set to release on January 30, 2026. 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
29 January,2026 10:35 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
