Bollywood star Alia Bhatt has finally addressed the online backlash that followed her appearance at the 79th British Academy Film Awards, where a short interview clip went viral and sparked widespread debate. The actor, who presented the award for Best Film Not in the English Language at the ceremony, was praised for representing India on a global platform but also faced criticism over her reaction and body language in a post-event interaction. Alia Bhatt mentions Gone Girl The controversy revolved around a red-carpet moment when she was asked to name a film with a memorable plot twist. Alia mentioned Gone Girl, but a brief pause before answering and her facial expression quickly became the subject of intense social media scrutiny. Some users questioned whether she had actually watched the film, while others described her response as hesitant or awkward. A section of online commentary even suggested she appeared uncomfortable while trying to project confidence at an international event. Responding to the chatter, Alia clarified what had really happened during that brief exchange. She explained that she genuinely believes Gone Girl has one of the most striking twists in recent cinema. However, she admitted she had not revisited the film in years. When the interviewer referenced specific scenes, including the iconic monologue and certain tense moments, she was mentally retracing the storyline in her head. That internal recollection, she said, may have come across as hesitation on camera. Reacts to trolls on her expressions Addressing the criticism with humour and self-awareness, Alia added that people often overanalyse simple expressions. She even described herself playfully, saying she considers herself a “sweet girl,” though she joked that she is probably not as “cool” as some expect her to be. Her candid response reflected a sense of ease with who she is rather than trying to fit into a perfectly polished celebrity mould. Despite the brief social media storm, Alia’s professional journey continues to move forward at full speed. She will next be seen in the upcoming spy thriller Alpha, part of the YRF Spy Universe. She is also set to collaborate again with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali in the much-anticipated romantic drama Love & War, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
28 February,2026 09:38 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirector Ali Abbas Zafar believes Ahaan Panday embodies the charm of a classic romantic lead as the two collaborate on a yet-to-be-titled action love story. “What I love about Ahaan is his sincerity. He brings an old-school honesty, like the romantic heroes we have grown up watching and loving. The camera picks up on that. You can’t act vulnerable on screen, it doesn’t land and he isn’t afraid to be vulnerable which is incredible.” The film will roll in Mumbai on March 30 before heading to the UK.
28 February,2026 09:13 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamAn ambitious movie like ‘Ramayana’ deserves a global audience, and filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari is ensuring a rollout that matches its scale. Earlier this week, the makers held a focus group screening of the Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash-starrer in Los Angeles. Buoyed by the positive response at the screening, the team is now apparently in advanced talks with San Diego Comic-Con for a grand trailer launch in July. Producer Namit Malhotra and filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari are planning to host a live musical event featuring composers Hans Zimmer and AR Rahman in October If finalised, the unveiling would position ‘Ramayana’ — planned as a two-part film — alongside some of the biggest international franchise showcases. An industry insider revealed, “Comic-Con gives it a global platform. The idea is to present the mythological drama not just as an Indian epic, but as a cinematic spectacle to the world. The feedback at the screening has strengthened the team’s belief that the film can travel across cultures.” The movie may also be screened at major film festivals before its November release. The title and first look of ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ was unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con in 2023 mid-day reached out to producer Namit Malhotra’s team, who did not respond till press time.
28 February,2026 08:57 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuHe had sorely missed the stage. That realisation hit Mahesh Manjrekar last December when he returned to theatre as an actor with Shankar Jaikishan, after a 31-year gap. Now, the filmmaker and actor is making up for lost time. Lovable Rascal, a play directed by him, opened in January. Up next is Animal, a play that he has directed, written, and will act in when it premières on March 7 at the Tata Theatre in NCPA. Manjrekar views Animal as a story that he couldn’t get out of his system. “You cannot call it a social drama. It is an expression of anger,” he told mid-day, adding that the all-pervasive apathy around him “compelled” him to write it. “It is based on the apathy of humans against everything that is happening in our society. We have become indifferent to things around us.” Ranbir Kapoor in Animal In the Hindi drama, Manjrekar plays a small-town man, Dattu, who chases stardom in Mumbai. It is through the protagonist’s eyes that we see the society’s indifference. “My character reacts to whatever is happening around us. There are other characters, but I am the only actor who has dialogues. I have called it Animal because Aristotle had said ‘Man is a [social] animal.’ But we have proved Aristotle wrong by showing that man is more vicious and dangerous than an animal.” The filmmaker has plans of making a movie adaptation of the play. For now, he is keeping his cards close to his chest. “I’ll tell you in due time. There are plans of making it in Hindi and English, but I will not act in it,” he shared.
28 February,2026 08:44 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRDirector: Anubhuti KashyapActors: Konkona Sensharma, Pratibha RanntaRating: 1.5/5 Accused got me confused. And not just for the female protagonist, accused by multiple, anonymous sources for sexual misconduct at the workplace. But the film itself, which looks at female predatory behaviour. For, how do you explain a movie subversively observing a supposed #SheToo, for lack of a better term — when there hasn’t been a single, mainstream Hindi picture that I can think of, shining a harsh, full-frontal light on the infinitely more common, male misdemeanours in professional environments, yet? That is, ever since what got exposed as the #MeToo movement, gaining momentum in the US, late 2017; and in India, a year later. There’ve been a few, fine Hollywood movies/series (She Said; Bombshell; The Loudest Voice). Even Malayalam has a great one (Attam). None in Hindi, still. Think of it as how Bollywood had a zombie-comedy (Go Goa Gone) as a send-up/parody of a genre, before there was a proper zombie-movie (in the western sense)! Well, you do you. No knock. I can hazard an uneducated guess on how this pic could’ve come about. Perhaps the writers onboard (Sima Agarwal, Yash Keswani; either), or anyone associated with this film’s origins, pitched a script about #MeToo accusations that could potentially turn out to be false. That being the running mystery. And what such allegations could do to someone in the world of social media that’s essentially interested in making villains — rather than seeking the truth, about any such cases. For all you know, those being briefed felt, well, why not switch the lead’s gender, which might make it safer, if not more novel? Here’s the rub, though. I agree, it sounds bizarre — whether or not at the workplace, there’s no Indian criminal law that can net a woman for being a sexual predator, harasser, stalker…. This story’s set in the UK, while probably shot in Poland. Konkona Sensharma plays an ambitious doctor, moving up a predominantly male ladder, at her hospital/medical profession. Her steady girlfriend (Pratibha Rannta), she plans to adopt a baby with, belongs to the same field. Frankly, there’s barely a backstory to these leads for you to care for either. Besides, of course, for what’s happening to them, in the immediate present. As in, Konkona’s character’s been MeToo-ed multiple times at a go. Her young, insecure partner’s just as baffled by it all. To jog your hazy memory, you saw Pratibha last as the rural girl in Kiran Rao’s Laapataa Ladies — making her role, a pretty inspired casting against type. Konkona, given her own cred, bears an innate capacity to seem convincing, even when there isn’t so much conviction in the script per se. She’s the reason I switched on this film; or sat through the suspense to its severely bumbling end! This direct-to-Netflix flick has been produced by Dharma/Karan Johar. That’s possibly why, the first thing that strikes you about it is the unexpectedly amateurish Star TV type quality or look/feel of the production, that reminds you more of the deliberately downgraded television-movies from back in the day! It’s directed by Anubhuti Kashyap, who debuted with such a decent Doctor G, about a male gynaec, played by Ayushmann Khurrana; sadly, soon after the pandemic (2022), when audiences had begun to deem Ayushmann’s quirky pix as unfit for theatres. Accused feels unique by way of wholly normalising a lesbian relationship. You watch it as a mystery rather than an LGBT movie. Is it so hard to simply switch the gaze, and enjoy it for its own worth? I tried. It feels too frickin’ fake, between Bhargav, Rahul, Natasha, Meera, Geetika etc, in their desi accents, dishing out a totally contextless movie, amongst each other, from London.
27 February,2026 10:12 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharAditya Dhar’s directorial venture Dhurandhar 2 is one of the most-awaited films of the year. Titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge, it is the follow-up to Ranveer Singh-starrer-Dhurandhar, which created history at the box office in December. The spy drama continues the story from where Part 1 ended. Yami Gautam on Dhurandhar 2 Now, actress Yami Gautam, who is married to Aditya Dhar and will also be seen in a special role in the sequel, has spoken about the film. At the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2026, Yami revealed that she has already watched the film and shared her thoughts on it. Yami said that she has already watched Dhurandhar 2, which is scheduled to be released in theatres on March 19. “I have already watched Dhurandhar 2. It is beyond extraordinary. I was really emotional. I had to catch a flight that day, so I couldn’t say anything to Aditya.” She further added, “Later, I couldn’t do anything. I had to read a script, but I couldn’t. I had to watch something, but I couldn’t. I was just watching the beautiful sunset outside and wondering what I would tell Aditya when the flight landed. I wanted to justify my feelings about the film and what I experienced. Aditya loves his audience and the country, and he has given his life’s effort to make this film. Dhurandhar 2 will be an experience the audience will never forget.” Talking about the success of Dhurandhar Part 1, Yami said, “I always had that belief. I had said earlier as well that Dhurandhar would be a film that would make every Indian proud. I was shooting for Article 370 when I first read the script of Dhurandhar. It was just 40 pages, but my eyes welled up. I wasn’t able to say anything, and my reaction was enough to tell Aditya how I truly felt. I know how hard he worked on this film, with honesty and belief.” About Dhurandhar Dhurandhar also stars R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal. Serving as the first instalment of a two-part film series, it centres on a high-stakes covert counter-terrorism operation. The film follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent who infiltrates Karachi’s criminal syndicates and political power structures in Pakistan in an attempt to dismantle a terror network targeting India. The storyline draws loose inspiration from several real-life geopolitical events and conflicts in South Asia, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and developments linked to Pakistan’s Operation Lyari.
27 February,2026 09:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn Friday, the division bench of the Kerala High Court stayed the earlier order of single-bench judge halting the release of The Kerala Story 2. After the verdict, producer Vipul Shah addressed the media at a press conference in Mumbai to announce the release of the film. He also expressed his gratitude to Kerala High Court for allowing the film's release and looked at it as a win for the film's team. Vipul Shah says film does not show Kerala negatively Addressing the media, Vipul Shah clarified, "Neither our film, nor I, nor anyone in my team is against the state of Kerala or the people of Kerala. Kerala is a beautiful place, a God-loving country, but if something wrong is happening in this God-loving country, it is our endeavour to bring it to the notice of the people and correct it." He further said, "I promise you that if you watch the film, you will understand that we have not said anything negative about Kerala or its people in this film. This film exposes some criminals. Some criminals live in Kerala, some are from Madhya Pradesh, some are from Rajasthan, and that's why we named this film 'The Kerala Story 2 Goes Beyond'. I assure them that when you watch the film, you'll realise we're not portraying Kerala in a negative light at all...I believe the biggest proof of our film's authenticity is that the Kerala court lifted the stay order. So I am deeply grateful to the Justice of the Kerala court." What HC said while allowing The Kerala Story 2 release A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the interim order on the appeal moved by the film's producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah late Thursday night, hours after the movie's release was stayed. In its order, the bench said that the single judge's finding that guidelines for certification have not been borne in mind by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) were "merely on the basis of a few clippings and without viewing the movie" and therefore, it "cannot be countenanced". "That apart, the fact that insertions, excisions and modifications, have been carried out by the appellant (Shah) in the movie as per the directions of the CBFC would only further reinforce the fact that there is an application of mind from the part of Board while granting the certificate," the bench said.It further said that once a certificate has been issued, there is, prima facie, a presumption that the authority concerned has taken into account all the guidelines, including public order. "... if, due to the release of the movie, any issue of public order arises, it is the duty of the state to maintain it," the bench said. The court also said that this presumption includes that the film has been judged in its entirety from the point of view of its overall impacts, by taking into consideration the principles enunciated in the Cinematograph Act, 1952 and the relevant guidelines. "In such circumstances, merely on the basis of a few clippings and without viewing the movie, the finding of the single judge that the guidelines for certification have not been borne in mind by the CBFC while granting certification, cannot be countenanced.
27 February,2026 08:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe makers of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s upcoming film Spirit have dropped a new poster from the movie. The poster features Vivek Oberoi in a commanding role. However, he is not the only one in the frame. An actress is seen seated near a glass table with dishevelled hair, wearing oversized black sunglasses. While many initially assumed the woman in the poster was Triptii Dimri, who plays the female lead in the film, that is not the case. The actress featured alongside Oberoi is Aishwarya Desai. Who is Aishwarya Desai? The film introduces Aishwarya Desai, a fresh face stepping into a significant role in this ambitious project and bringing intriguing new energy to the narrative. Following the poster release, there has been considerable curiosity about her. According to her Instagram profile, she is a lifestyle and beauty content creator with over 36,000 followers at the time of her debut announcement. She is also a model and aspiring actress. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Spirit (@inspiritmode) Vivek Oberoi first look from Spirit The intense world of SPIRIT expands with the powerful introduction of Vivek Oberoi, adding another formidable presence to one of the most anticipated cinematic spectacles on the horizon. Unveiled in a striking first look, Oberoi steps into the layered and high-stakes universe of SPIRIT with commanding screen presence and gravitas. After the thunderous impact of Animal, producer Bhushan Kumar and director Sandeep Reddy Vanga continue to shape SPIRIT with bold creative choices and an uncompromising vision. Fronted by India’s biggest superstar Prabhas and featuring Triptii Dimri in a pivotal role, the film promises a commanding and deeply intense cinematic experience mounted on scale and conviction. It also stars Prakash Raj and Kanchana in pivotal roles. More about Spirit Mounted as a large-scale pan-world entertainer, Spirit is set to release in eight languages on March 5, 2027. Spirit went on floors in November 2025. The mahurat ceremony was attended by several big names from the entertainment industry. On New Year, the makers unveiled the striking first look of Prabhas, in which he is wounded, with Triptii lighting a cigarette for him. It must be noted that while Spirit marks Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s first professional association with Prabhas, he has worked with Triptii in Animal, co-starring Ranbir Kapoor.
27 February,2026 08:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSudipto Sen directed the first instalment of The Kerala Story. In an exclusive conversation with midday, the filmmaker got candid about his experience with the film and also reacted to the sequel. Sudipto Sen talks about his experience with The Kerala Story Sudipto Sen is known for backing his films with research, he chooses topics which are often a mirror to society. While sharing his former experiences with The Kerala Story, the filmmaker mentioned how such strong stories often fall under trolls and threats, sharing an anecdote he mentioned, "When the film was released, my limbs, hands, every part of my body was a prized bounty due to which for sometime I was under security. As the threats were quite serious. However, amid all the hate there was a larger group of audience who showered us with immense love that made us feel safe to tell such stories." Sudipto detailed on how they didn't spend on promoting The Kerala Story, instead spent on this, "When we made the film, I must tell you that we didn't spend anything on its promotions. Already the film was made in a limited budget and all of our spending went in the court case. And that is what brought the film in front of the viewers. I believe no filmmaker should go through such a process where their work leads to a court hearing. All I say is that one must first watch the film before making judgements about it." Recalling an anecdote regarding the constant social media trolling, the filmmaker mentioned, "When the film's promo was released, there was a young girl from Kerala who had sent me long notes on my social media handle abusing me for misinterpreting their religion. However, after the film was released in May after a 2 month long battle, the girl again messaged me. And this time, I was quite emotional reading the first word, she called me 'bhaiya' and apologised, mentioning that the film was actually a message that helped people see how the religion was being misused by people." Reacts to the legal battle for The Kerala Story 2 Sudipto Sen even reacted to the recent controversy around The Kerala Story 2, sharing his views he mentioned, "A legal battle for a film does put the filmmakers under pressure. One mustn't go through it, as it kills the person. You must watch the film before taking such a route. I can't say much about the sequel as I haven't watched the film yet. But every film must get a chance to be released for the viewers to decide." Sudipto Sen is known for picking topics that are sensitive to the viewers and may hurt sentiments of few, on navigation the tough path, he mentioned, "I am making the films with the intention to hurt those who are on the other side of the truth. It is all about showcasing the reality beyond the set norms and superstitions. So if you are getting hurt by watching my film then you are on the other side."
27 February,2026 08:02 PM IST | Mumbai | Shruti SampatDhadak 2 has found a meaningful audience far beyond Indian theatres, with special screenings being held at several prestigious Ivy League universities in the United States. The film, produced by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions along with Zee Studios and Cloud 9 Pictures, is being recognised in academic spaces for its exploration of social themes in contemporary Indian cinema. Dhadak 2 gets screened in Ivy League universities Starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Triptii Dimri, the film has already been screened at Brown University and Yale University. Upcoming screenings are scheduled at Columbia University and Princeton University. At Yale, the screening was hosted by the political science department, while Brown showcased the film through its School of International and Public Affairs, highlighting its relevance to discussions around caste, class and systemic inequality. Expressing his pride, Karan Johar shared on social media that the screenings marked “such a great moment of pride for us.” He praised director Shazia Iqbal, calling her “the soul of our film,” and credited her vision for bringing depth and authenticity to the narrative. Johar emphasised that the overwhelming respect and engagement from students and faculty reflected the film’s larger social impact. A spiritual sequel to the 2018 film Dhadak and an adaptation of the Tamil film Pariyerum Perumal, Dhadak 2 follows the story of Neelesh and Vidhi, two young individuals from different caste and class backgrounds whose relationship challenges entrenched social hierarchies. While the film experienced delays related to certification and received a modest box office response, its academic recognition has added a new dimension to its journey. The film had touched upon the serious issue of ragging, the caste biases and more. Which also lead to violence in the film that created mental health awareness for the viewers. The movie turns into a case study The inclusion of Dhadak 2 in university programmes suggests that it is being viewed not merely as mainstream entertainment, but as a cultural text capable of sparking meaningful conversations. Its themes of identity, discrimination and social mobility resonate strongly in academic environments where global perspectives on inequality and representation are actively explored.
27 February,2026 06:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day after The Kerala High Court stayed the release of the controversial film The Kerala Story 2. However, a day later, the division bench of the HC stayed for two weeks its single judge's interim order, putting on hold for 15 days the release of The Kerala Story 2-Goes Beyond film. T The Kerala Story 2 gets greenlight A bench of justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and P V Balakrishnan passed the order on the appeal moved by the film's producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah late Thursday night, hours after the movie's release was stayed. The bench had reserved order in the appeal on Thursday night. The detailed order is awaited. Shah in his appeal had claimed that the film does not harm or denigrate the state of Kerala or any religious community. "The film only portrays a social evil," his lawyers had told the court. Vipul Shah says film's stay will impact producers financially Shah had also contended that if the film's release was put on hold, it would "financially finish" the producers as the movie is set to be screened in 1,500 theatres in India and over 300 abroad on February 27. The single judge had stayed the release of the film on the ground that prima facie there was a manifest non-application of mind to the requirement of law by the censor board, CBFC. The judge also said that "the possibility of communal disharmony or denigration of a community also being prima facie involved in the movie", its release without scrutiny by the higher authorities would be legally improper. The court had further said that the content of the film's teaser has "a prima facie potential to distort public perception and disturb communal harmony". Directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh and featuring actors such as Ulka Gupta, Aditi Bhatia and Aishwarya Ojha, the film has faced scrutiny since its announcement. Critics have argued that its narrative could potentially create social tensions, which led to the legal challenges in the first place. (with inputs from PTI)
27 February,2026 06:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
