Amid growing unrest among the Sikh community over the portrayal of Ranveer Singh's character in Sikh attire in Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, director Aditya Dhar has now clarified that Ranveer Singh’s viral smoking photo is ‘fake’ and ‘AI-generated’. This comes hours after the Sikh group voiced disappointment over the alleged scene and filed a police complaint. Aditya Dhar issues an official statement against AI visuals of Dhurandhar 2 Dhar took to his official Instagram handle to issue an official statement, urging the audience not to believe in AI-created fake images of Ranveer Singh’s character Jaskirat shown smoking. He also reiterated that he holds the utmost respect for the Sikh community, requesting fans to rely only on official content. He also warned of strict action against those involved in creating the 'malicious' content. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aditya Dhar (@adityadharfilms) In his statement, Dhar said, “I am deeply grateful and indebted for the overwhelming love that Dhurandhar The Revenge has received from audiences across the country and the world. However, it has come to my attention that certain individuals are circulating manipulated visuals by morphing officially released promotional material using artificial intelligence to create false and misleading narratives." “One such fabricated image falsely depicts the character Hamza/Jaskirat smoking while wearing a turban. This is completely untrue and does not form part of the film or any official material released by us. It is a deliberate act of misrepresentation intended to provoke and create mischief," he added. Dhar further clarified, “Let me state this unequivocally: I hold the highest respect for the Sikh community, and every portrayal in the film has been handled with utmost sensitivity, dignity, and responsibility. Any attempt to suggest otherwise through any doctored content is malicious and dishonest." "I urge audiences to rely only on official content and watch the film as it is intended, and not fall prey to Al-generated misinformation being circulated with ulterior motives. Such acts will be dealt with firmly," Aditya concluded. Sikh community opposing Dhurandhar 2 A Sikh organisation recently filed a police complaint in Mumbai against the makers of Dhurandhar 2 and actor Ranveer Singh, claiming that a promotional poster from the film has hurt religious sentiments. The complaint was submitted at Mulund police station on March 17 by a group that identified itself as Sikhs in Maharashtra. The group raised objections to the portrayal of the actor in Sikh attire. In the complaint, the organisation also objected to a poster that allegedly shows Ranveer Singh wearing a turban, sporting a long beard, and a kada, all of which are sacred symbols in Sikhism, while holding a cigarette in the same visual. The group claims it is offensive. According to officials, no FIR has been registered so far, and the matter is currently under investigation.
26 March,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMonalisa Bhosle, the young woman who became an overnight sensation during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela in 2025, has sparked a major controversy after she alleged that film director Sanoj Mishra had misbehaved with her and several minor girls in the guise of offering them films. She levelled the allegation at a press conference in Kochi, where she was accompanied by her husband, Farman Khan. She also sought help from the Centre and State governments of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh, claiming that she and her husband were receiving death threats. Monalisa Bhosle accuses Sanoj Mishra of sexual assault As per a PTI report, Monalisa and Farman held a press conference and told reporters that they both were receiving death threats from people. She also said that her posters were being burnt. At the same time, she also claimed that director Sanoj Mishra was slandering her and said he would not cast her in his movies. She revealed that he had harassed her multiple times on film sets when she was still a minor. She said that he touched her inappropriately during the shooting of The Diary of Manipur in Nepal and Dehradun before she turned 18. She added that his actions could fall under the POCSO Act. "Who wants to be part of his films? He is such a bad and disgusting person. He misbehaves with minor girls in the name of films. I am even ashamed to utter his name,” she said. Breaking down, she said, "Sanoj Mishra touched me 10 times. I told my family that Sanoj Mishra had touched me." However, her family urged her not to take action as it was her first film. Monalisa accuses Sanoj Mishra of spreading a 'love jihad' narrative She also requested the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments not to level wrong allegations against her husband regarding their marriage. She further revealed that Mishra was spreading misinformation about her marriage, calling it 'love jihad' to incite extremism and communal narratives. “We got married according to Hindu rites at a temple. Everyone in the country knows that. The director wishes that there should be extremism, and people should fight each other. He is calling our marriage a 'love jihad'. I respect all religions,” she said. Farman added that the director was calling him a "terrorist" because he was unhappy with their marriage. About Monalisa Bhosle Monalisa was a garland seller from Indore who unexpectedly shot to fame on social media due to her striking features. A content creator shot a video of her selling her handmade malas and rudraksha beads at the Triveni Sangam in the Kumbh Mela, which went viral. The video sparked a lot of discussion online, with many comparing her to her namesake, Leonardo Da Vinci's famous painting. She recently married her husband, Farman, by fleeing to Kerala, as her parents were against their inter-religious marriage. She recently arrived in Thiruvananthapuram for a film shoot.
26 March,2026 09:29 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Sanjay Dutt paid a courtesy visit to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday. The two held discussions on the development of the film industry in Andhra Pradesh. Sanjay Dutt expressed his interest in establishing infrastructure related to the film industry in the state. They discussed the government's vision of making Andhra Pradesh a hub for film shootings, along with the opportunities available. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) Meanwhile, on the acting front, Sanjay is basking in the success of Dhurandhar: The Revenge. In the film, he plays Pakistani police officer Chaudhary Aslam. The film, which hit theatres on March 19, has already crossed Rs 700 crore worldwide. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: 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 also features Ranveer Singh, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal. In the first part, Akshay Khanna also played a pivotal 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
26 March,2026 09:24 AM IST | Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh) | ANIAditya Dhar's Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues it dominance at the box office, now storming past the coveted Rs 1,000 crore mark worldwide. With that, the Ranveer Singh-starrer has joined Pushpa 2: The Rule, becoming the fastest Indian film to enter the Rs 1,000 crore club globally. Both Ranveer Singh and Allu Arjun starrers took exactly seven days to reach the Rs 1,000 crore club. Dhurandhar 2 day 7 collection Dhurandhar 2 released on Thursday, March 19, in theatres, after record-breaking paid previews on Wednesday. With the paid previews, the film opened to a record Rs 145 crore domestically and grossed Rs 240 crore worldwide. Additionally, it collected Rs 750 crore worldwide in its extended four-day opening weekend. After adding an additional Rs 100 crore to that on Monday, the spy thriller went on to collect Rs 56 crore net on Tuesday domestically. On Wednesday, March 26, the Aditya Dhar directorial earned Rs 47.7 crore in India from 20,352 shows on its seventh day. Talking of its overseas numbers, the film had a strong USD 7 million start, which increased to over USD 22 million in its first weekend globally. On day 7, the film earned Rs 11.92 crore globally. Dhurandhar 2 total box office collection This brings its India domestic net box office collection to Rs 623.42 crore and domestic gross box office collection to Rs 744.58 crore. Similarly, its total overseas gross now stands at Rs 261.92 crores, pushing the worldwide gross collection to Rs 1,006.50 crores. With the numbers, it has also emerged as the fastest Indian film to enter the Rs 1000 crore club, a record it now shares with Allu Arjun's Pushpa 2. Meanwhile, Dhurandhar 2 has surpassed the likes of Kantara Chapter 1, Animal, and Bajrangi Bhaijaan and entered the list of the top 10 highest-grossing Indian films of all time. Its next target now is Kalki 2898 AD, which had grossed Rs 1,042.25 crore in its lifetime worldwide run.
26 March,2026 09:07 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent‘Vvan’ on Raksha Bandhan The makers of Vvan, starring Sidharth Malhotra and Tamannaah Bhatia, have officially announced a new theatrical release date. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared that the folklore-driven thriller will arrive in cinemas on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. Sidharth had earlier spoken about the film, where he had said, “I have never had a producer narrate a film so passionately,” while Tamannaah called it a “dream collaboration” as she is joining forces with Sidharth, and producer Ektaa R Kapoor for the first time. Is it a love story? Zoya Akhtar Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar has teased a new project, titled A Perfect Match, as she shared a glimpse of the script on her social media. Zoya uploaded a post on her Instagram handle on Wednesday (March 25), which featured the script’s first page. The upcoming project will be directed by Kho Gaye Hum Kahan (2023) director Arjun Varain Singh and is created by Zoya. The picture of the draft also had ‘Pilot’ and ‘Writer’s draft’ written over it. “Kabir and Navya. Stay tuned,” read the caption. On the work front, Zoya has reportedly completed the first draft of the sequel to Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011). An undying friendship Veteran actor Shabana Azmi penned a heartfelt birthday tribute to her college friend, late Farooque Shaikh on March 25. Recalling decades of friendship, in a social media post, she wrote, “My college mate, co-founder of Hindi Natya Manch at St Xaviers, thank you for seeing me through so many exams, filling my pens with ink so I don’t run out during writing, ever present when I was unwell but teasing me endlessly and never saying a kind word.” The two actors had co-starred in the popular play Tumhari Amrita, directed by Feroz Abbas Khan. It is a Hindi adaptation of AR Gurney’s play Love Letters.
26 March,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWhen Akshay Kumar and Rajpal Yadav first shared screen space in David Dhawan’s Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2003), little did they know that they would go on to work together in many popular comedies. The upcoming episode of Wheel of Fortune India, which is hosted by Kumar, served as a platform for the duo to reminisce about their on-screen chemistry and off-screen friendship. On February 27, the superstar shot the episode with his Bhooth Bangla producer Ektaa R Kapoor, co-actors Yadav and Wamiqa Gabbi. According to sources, Kumar introduced Yadav as the undisputed comedy king of the Hindi film industry. A source revealed, “Akshay delivered a touching tribute to his co-star. On the show, he attributed his comic timing to Rajpal. Akshay told the audience, ‘Sach bolu toh, inki badolat se meri comedy chalti hai’.” Yadav returned the compliment by admiring the superstar’s love for fitness as he said, “I’ve known him for so many years. Inki fitness kamaal ki hai, aur khaane mein bhi inka bohot achchha control hai.” Films that the duo has teamed up for: A still from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ . ‘Mujhse Shaadi Karogi’. ‘Garam Masala’ . ‘Phir Hera Pheri’. ‘Bhagam Bhag’ . ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa’ . ‘De Dana Dan’ . ‘Khatta Meetha’
26 March,2026 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRSalman Khan’s ‘Maatrubhumi’ may be going through changes, making it difficult to lock its release date (Hindi-Chini bhai bhai, Bhaijaan giving that a try? March 17). But things appear to be moving fast on the superstar’s next with producer Dil Raju and director Vamshi Paidipally. Industry insiders have told mid-day that the actor is expected to kick off the actioner around April 14. Dil Raju. Pic/Instagram Naturally, preparations are underway in full swing in Mumbai. We’ve heard that a massive set is being constructed at the SRPF Ground in Goregaon. A source close to the production shared, “This isn’t a regular set, it’s practically a mini-city. The set has been designed to resemble a dense urban area, which will be shown as a high-conflict zone where a large-scale action sequence plays out. Think of it almost like an industrial township.” The decision to build such an elaborate set-up stems from the film’s action-heavy narrative. A new song of ‘Maatrubhumi’ was recently released. Pic/Youtube While casting for the yet-untitled movie is being finalised, the production team is racing against time to have everything ready by mid-April. The source added, “Many elements are being pieced together simultaneously — set design, action choreography, and final casting. The goal is to hit the ground running.”
26 March,2026 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar: The Revenge is on a spree to shatter records. It was one of the most awaited films of 2026, and its unprecedented footfalls speak volumes about the audience’s love for the film. Following the juggernaut success of Dhurandhar 2, starring Ranveer Singh, the film continues to spark buzz across borders. Taking fandom to another level, a viewer reportedly travelled all the way to California just to watch its uncensored version. Fan travels to California to see Dhurandhar 2 A user named Manali Dey recently took to her Instagram handle and dropped a brief video of the “uncensored version” of Dhurandhar 2, claiming she watched it in California. She wrote on the video that she took a 20-hour flight and waited four days just to watch the uncensored version, which features an additional six minutes of runtime. She also captioned the post saying that there are indeed benefits, adding a spoiler alert and mentioning that the full version can only be watched outside the country. She further urged viewers to share it with friends who have watched Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The user humorously added that jet lag and common sense were out, but the six extra minutes of Dhurandhar 2 made it all worth it, proving her priorities were never in question. More about Dhurandhar 2 Headlined by Ranveer Singh, the film has already emerged as a major commercial success, crossing Rs 700 crore worldwide since its release. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the project features a multi-starrer cast including Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and Arjun Rampal. The sequel charts the rise of Singh’s character, Hamza Ali Mazari, in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of a young man who eventually transforms into a covert operative. 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. Due to its political themes, the film also faced criticism from several religious leaders for allegedly inciting communal divide. However, the makers have dismissed these claims, denying any propaganda angle.
25 March,2026 09:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRanveer Singh-led Dhurandhar 2 continues its mad ride in theatres, shattering records. In a rare move, a Canadian theatre, Cineplex, introduced an interval during a screening of Dhurandhar 2, surprising audiences. The mid-film break, uncommon in international cinemas, was reportedly added after repeated viewer requests due to the film’s long runtime. Canada theatre adds interval during Dhurandhar 2 show The rare break was documented by a fan, who shared a video from a Cineplex screening on Instagram. “Unlike theatres in India, Cineplex doesn’t usually have an intermission. But Dhurandhar 2 changed that (sic),” she wrote, adding that the 15-minute pause came midway through the film’s lengthy runtime. According to the post, the decision followed multiple requests from viewers who wanted a breather during the nearly four-hour film. “We couldn’t believe it. I’ve never seen this happen in my 20+ years of living in Canada. We were all cheering (sic),” she shared. The post quickly gained traction online, with viewers sharing mixed but largely excited reactions. While some said they didn’t get an interval at their screenings, others pointed out that long Indian films, especially recent South hits, have occasionally prompted similar breaks in international markets. However, a few days back, screenings of the film in Montreal, Canada, were disrupted after incidents of sabotage were reported in two cinema halls. According to viral reports on social media, miscreants were seen slashing the theatre screen mid-show, causing interruptions during screenings. More about Dhurandhar 2 Dhurandhar 2 has taken the box office by storm within days of its release. Starting with its paid previews on March 18, the Ranveer Singh-starrer has been smashing records and drawing packed audiences ever since. The film, which hit theatres on March 19, has already crossed Rs 700 crore worldwide. Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar: The Revenge is a sequel to Dhurandhar (2025), which was the highest-grossing Hindi film of that year. The sequel charts the rise of Singh's character, Hamza Ali Mazari, in the Karachi underworld while also delving into his origins as Jaskirat Singh Rangi, tracing the journey of the young man who eventually transforms into the covert operative. Produced by Jio Studios and B62 Studios, the project features a multi-starrer cast including Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi, and Arjun Rampal.
25 March,2026 06:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAbhay Arora is known for his intense role as Yasir in Dhurandhar 2, but the actor insists the character is far removed from who he is in real life. In an exclusive interaction, he opened up about portraying brutality on screen, sustaining an injury during filming, and fulfilling a dream of working with stars like Ranveer Singh. Abhay Arora on bagging the role of Yasir Reflecting on his character, Abhay admitted, “It’s very unlike my personality. They call me a gentle giant, but as an actor it was lovely.” He added that the role gave him a chance to explore a darker side. “As much opportunity I had to express the brutality of this character, I did. As you could see in some of the scenes, it’s evident in the eyes. It was quite nice to be like that.” Despite playing an intense role, the actor shared that he maintains a clear boundary between work and personal life. “As a professional, it doesn’t really go back with you to home… but you know what audience would feel when they see it. That is something which comes to your mind,” he explained, emphasising how audience perception plays a crucial role in his performance choices. Talking about the action sequences, Abhay revealed a painful incident on set. “We had the best action team… but there was this sharp edge of the equipment which I was getting pulled off and it went in my ankle. It just kept going in,” he recalled. Describing the moment, he said it felt like a real-life version of what is often portrayed on screen. “Like how we see in action sequences… a sharp edge going in, cutting further and further. I felt that was happening.” On sustaining a serious injury What stood out was his determination to complete the shot despite the injury. “The director said cut and we were like, oh, it’s bleeding… but the shot was ready. It was just the last bit,” he shared. Remembering a famous line, he added, “I remember someone from the industry said that the show must go on and that’s Raj Kapoor. So I was like, this can be fixed after, the shot is more important.” Only after finishing did he receive first aid. Abhay also spoke about sharing screen space with industry veterans. “It’s like a dream come true to share a screen with people you have grown up seeing… they are just phenomenal,” he said, adding that beyond their talent, their humility left a lasting impression on him. Looking ahead, the actor expressed excitement for future opportunities. “I’m ready for whatever challenging character comes my way… I feel more evolved and more accepted by the industry,” he said, hoping his work and range continue to be recognised.
25 March,2026 06:15 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti SampatThe trend of older actors being paired opposite younger actresses is not new. It has existed for decades. While some actors have addressed it, others have slammed it, demanding age-appropriate roles. Akshay Kumar has been one such actor who has been in the spotlight for romancing young actresses. He will next be paired alongside Wamiqa Gabbi in Bhooth Bangla, who is 26 years younger than him. Akshay Kumar on age gap with Wamiqa Gabbi In a conversation with News18, Akshay, 58, reacted to backlash for romancing 32-year-old Wamiqa Gabbi. He said, “Toh kya hai? Humne pehle dekha nahi hai kya kabhi? (So what? Haven’t we seen this before?) It happens in Hollywood as well. Sometimes, it’s the requirement of the script. (In real life too), so many people get married to partners older or younger than them.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wamiqa Gabbi (@wamiqagabbi) Director Priyadarshan also addressed the matter, emphasising that he sees no issue with it. He said, “There’s something that people like MGR and NTR used to say… that there’s a big difference between chronological age and screen age. An actor’s screen age may not be his real age. But people accept you for your screen age too. I don’t see any issue there… When I shoot, I may look at a pair and feel like it isn’t the right pair (and that may have nothing to do with their age gap).” He added, “When I shoot with Akshay or Tabu, I never feel there is an issue when looking at them. And once audiences watch the film, I notice that they don’t feel that issue either. That’s because of their characters and their screen age.” This is not the first time Akshay has been under scrutiny for his age gap. He has earlier shared screen space with young actresses like Sara Ali Khan in Atrangi Re, Radhikka Madan in Sarfira and Manushi Chhillar in Prithviraj. More about Bhooth Bangla Made under the direction of Priyadarshan and jointly backed by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, and Ektaa R Kapoor, the project is expected to be released in cinemas on April 10 this year. Along with Akshay and Wamiqa, Bhooth Bangla features a stellar cast, including Paresh Rawal, Asrani, and Rajpal Yadav in pivotal roles, among others. The project marks the return of Akshay and Priyadarshan after a long gap of 14 years. However, according to a report, the makers of the horror-comedy are planning to postpone the release date by a week due to Dhurandhar 2, which is wreaking havoc at the box office.
25 March,2026 05:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
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