Ranbir Kapoor’s Ramayana is one of the most anticipated films of 2026. The makers are planning to release the film on a global scale. Namit Malhotra and Yash recently jetted off to Las Vegas and represented the film on CinemaCon 2026’s global stage. During an interaction with international media, Yash spoke about working with Ranbir Kapoor and revealed why they have no scenes together. Yash on Ramayana with Ranbir Kapoor In a chat with Fandango, Yash was asked about his camaraderie with Ranbir Kapoor on the set of Ramayana. He replied, “Interestingly, we both have never come together on screen in this film. As you all know, it’s a two-part film. So, in the first part, I think we have, as Ravana, I have my own kingdom, and Rama has his own kingdom.” He added, “But yeah, we have met a couple of times, and he’s such a fabulous actor. I think it is mutual respect which has played out. Chemistry is like, when you’re out to do something phenomenal, and it’s as ambitious as Ramayana, all of us have a single agenda: to give our best to present this story. I think our visions are aligned, so the chemistry’s not even an issue. We’re enjoying it.” Yash talks crafting the dynamic between him and Ranbir Kapoor on the set of #Ramayana. pic.twitter.com/umCtuTiHUr — Rotten Tomatoes 🍅 (@RottenTomatoes) April 14, 2026 As for Yash’s Ravana, director Nitesh Tiwari had previously revealed that the film will not portray him as a villain. Ranbir Kapoor also spoke about Yash’s Ravana and said, “Yash, of course, has the stardom that he has. To play Ravana, you need somebody who has that aura and screen presence. His interpretation of Ravana is very different from what we have seen over the years.” More about Ramayana Ramayana: Part 1 brings together a wide ensemble, including Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, Sunny Deol as Hanuman, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. The first part of Ramayana is set to release in theatres globally during Diwali 2026. The film also stars Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul Preet Singh, Lara Dutta, Kunal Kapoor, Arun Govil, Indira Krishnan, Sheeba Chadha, and many other actors. Yash’s upcoming movies On the work front, the actor will next be seen in Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. The film, written and directed by Geetu Mohandas, also features Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. The first look was unveiled on the Rocking Star’s birthday and faced massive backlash. It was supposed to hit the screens on March 19; however, due to West Asia tensions, the makers have pushed the release to June 4.
15 April,2026 09:15 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs Nepal celebrates its Navo Varsha on Tuesday, actress Manisha Koirala expressed her happiness and said that she loves ringing in New Years with people she admires. Manisha posted a photograph on Instagram from her New Year celebrations with friends and family. She wrote in the caption: “Love ringing in new years #2083 with people I admire and cherish.. missing few of my other loved ones..may this new year bring heaps of joy to everyone…” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manisha Koirala (@m_koirala) The Nepali New Year is being celebrated on April 14, 2026, marking the first day of Baisakh 2083 in the Vikram Samvat calendar. Talking about Manisha, a Nepalese actress working in Indian films, predominantly in Hindi and some Tamil films, was last seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, a period drama television series released in 2024. Since then, the actress has been away from the screens. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, the show marked Bhansali’s debut on the web space. With grand and beautiful sets and costumes, the show was set in the red-light district of Heera Mandi in Lahore during the Indian independence movement. It traced the lives of tawaifs and their intersection with political and personal struggles under British colonial rule. The cast also includes Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal, and Taha Shah Badussha. In films, she was last seen in Shehzada directed by Rohit Dhawan. A remake of the Telugu film Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo, the film also stars Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Paresh Rawal, Manisha Koirala and Ronit Roy. The 54-year-old actress is one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of her time. She made her acting debut with the Nepali film Pheri Bhetaula in 1989, and later debuted in Indian cinema with the Hindi drama Saudagar in 1991. 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
15 April,2026 08:44 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSIt has been 39 years since they got engaged in 1987, and to mark the occasion, acclaimed actress Seema Pahwa shared a photograph with her renowned husband, Manoj Pahwa. Seema took to Instagram, where she shared a photograph of herself with her husband. In the image, the couple is seen standing together and smiling at the camera. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Seema Bhargava Pahwa (@seemabhargavapahwa) “Was engaged today 1987,” she wrote as the caption. The couple reportedly met in 1984. They featured in a play titled Aadhe Adhure, and during this time, they started having a feeling attachment towards each other. Seema and Manoj have two children Manukriti Pahwa and Mayank Pahwa. Mayank married Sanah Kapur whereas in September 2023 Manukriti Pahwa married Ruhaan Kapoor, both siblings being children of actors Pankaj Kapur and Supriya Pathak Kapur. Manoj’s latest OTT work included “Single Papa”. Single Papa also stars Kunal Kemmu, Dayanand Shetty, Prajakta Koli, Neha Dhupia and Ayesha Raza Mishra. The series follows Gaurav Gehlot, a lovable man-child whose emotional age can best be described as “work in progress.” His sudden decision to adopt a baby right after his divorce, leaves his family so shocked they briefly consider rebooting him. He was also seen in Perfect Family, which also stars Gulshan Devaiah, Neha Dhupia, Seema and Girija Oak.The eight-episode show blends humor and drama while exploring family dynamics, emotional well-being, and the use of therapy to navigate conflicts. In films, he was seen in the Taapsee Pannu-starrer “Assi”. The courtroom drama revolves around an unexplained sexual assault case. An investigator and defense team fight to reveal shocking truths hidden beneath statistics and uncover the human cost behind the headlines. Meanwhile, Seema was seen in the 2025 film “Bhool Chuk Maaf”, which also features Rajkummar Rao and Wamiqa Gabbi. The film follows Ranjan, a Varanasi man trapped in a time loop on his wedding day because he broke a promise to God regarding a corruptly acquired government job. 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
15 April,2026 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood multi-hyphenate Karan Johar had a witty reaction to Hollywood legend Meryl Streep when she told him that they have the same phone. KJo recently met Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway during ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ Tokyo tour. KJo, who is one of the most stylish filmmakers in Hindi cinema and a Meryl Streep fan, had his moment when he accidentally dropped his phone, and Meryl Streep, who leaned forward to help him pick his phone, said, “We have the same phone, Karan”. KJo immediately said, “I’ll never change it now” drawing laughs from everyone in the room. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2' is an upcoming sequel to the 2006 film, with an official trailer released ahead of its planned May 1, 2026 theatrical debut. The film is directed by David Frankel and written by Aline Brosh McKenna, and brings back original cast members including Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, and Emily Blunt. Earlier, Meryl Streep appeared on the chat show ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, and told the host, “20 years ago, it was categorized as a chick flick, and that designation has kind of not worn well, you know, after ‘Barbie’ and ‘Mamma Mia’, and other films that completely catch the studios by surprise that people want to see them, because they have girls in the center of the story, women in the center of the story”. She further mentioned, “So they were not, we had to scrabble for our budget. And that was true. I think I've talked to Greta Gerwig about it. That was true with Barbie a little bit, in comparison to what they spend on other films. This one, honey, they spent the money”. ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ also stars Kenneth Branagh, Simone Ashley, Justin Theroux, Lucy Liu, Patrick Brammall, Caleb Hearon, Helen J. Shen, Pauline Chalamet, B. J. Novak, and Conrad Ricamora, Tracie Thoms and Tibor Feldman. The film is set to release in cinemas on May 1, 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
15 April,2026 08:41 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Kriti Sanon, who is gearing up for the release of Cocktail 2, has spoken about her preparation for the sequel to the 2012 cult romantic drama and shared that she was on a “very strict diet” and a “consistent workout routine” to prep for the upcoming film. “Honestly, during Cocktail, it was the only time when I was on a very strict diet and a consistent workout routine. And for the first time, I followed a calorie deficit diet, which had never happened in my life. We were shooting in Italy, in Sicily… and when it comes to food there, it’s mostly pizza, pasta, pizza… all of that. And I was like… ah,” Kriti said in a statement. Earlier, she had revealed the emotional reason behind choosing the film, sharing, “Tere Ishk Mein was so emotionally draining, it had completely emptied me emotionally. I felt I needed something light and fun, and that’s when Cocktail came my way.” Highlighting the importance of balance, Kriti had also shared, “I thought, ‘This is it. This is the space I want to be in.’ It’s also nice to play characters that are poles apart, to not get too much of the load on you emotionally, because going back-to-back with deeply layered roles can take a toll on you.” Kriti shared that she’s looking very different from what she has ever looked and it's probably the hottest character that I've done so far. “And I think Homi is someone who has great great aesthetic visual sense and he's just inherently cool and I think he's brought a cool side to me which I didn't know I had.” The film also stars Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna. Cocktail 2 is by filmmaker Homi Adajania. It explores modern relationships amid emotional turmoil. The sequel features new characters facing current challenges while revisiting themes of love, friendship, and heartbreak. This is the first time Rashmika will be seen sharing screen space with Kriti and Shahid. The film is set to bow in cinemas on June 19, 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
15 April,2026 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Medha Shankr is currently all geared up for her movie Ginny Weds Sunny 2, in the capacity of the movie's lead actress. With her role as the lead in the sequel of the movie, comes inevitable comparisons to Bollywood star Yami Gautam, who headlined the first installment of Ginny Weds Sunny. Medha has now addressed these comparisons with complete clarity. While speaking to IANS in an exclusive conversation, Medha shared, “Nothing like that. I love Yami Gautam and Aditya Dhar. They are quite aware of how much I admire them. I think Yami has always been a great actor. It happens that after a while, you start getting that kind of respect, it just wasn’t her time earlier.” She added, “But it’s not about comparison. I am always inspired by people who have done a great job, before me, after me, or alongside me. I have never drawn comparisons, and even if someone else does, it doesn’t matter to me.” The first part of Ginny Weds Sunny, which released in 2020, featured Yami Gautam and actor Vikrant Massey in lead roles. The movie was a light-hearted romantic comedy that struck a chord with audiences on OTT. The sequel, Ginny Weds Sunny 2 has brought on board a fresh pairing with Medha Shankar alongside Avinash Tiwary. The movie is slated for release on April 24. Talking about Medha Shankar, the actress who garnered immense appreciation for her performance in 12th Fail opposite Vikrant Massey, has already set a strong benchmark with her acting skills. 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
15 April,2026 08:11 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAge is just a number, and Sham Kaushal has just proved it with action and a lot of strength. At 70, the veteran action director and father of actor Vicky Kaushal is winning admiration online after sharing a glimpse of his fitness routine. Sham Kaushal took to Instagram Story to post a video from the gym, showing himself doing a bench press with weights. Dressed in workout gear and fully focused on his routine, Sham looked determined as he powered through the exercise. The video also proved that fitness is less about age and more about consistency. Along with the post, he kept the caption simple and humble. Referring to "God's grace" and his "small efforts" to keep going, he wrote, "God's grace small efforts to continue.....Rab Rakha.." Take a look Picture Courtesy/Sham Kaushal's Instagram account Sham Kaushal has choreographed action sequences for several major Hindi films over the years. His work can be seen in acclaimed titles such as 'Gangs of Wasseypur,' 'Bajirao Mastani,' 'Padmaavat,' 'Raazi,' 'Dangal' and 'Sanju,' among many others. While Sham Kaushal is inspiring people in the gym, his son actor Vicky is busy on the professional front. The actor will next be seen in Love and War, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The upcoming film also stars Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor in key roles. It marks Ranbir Kapoor's reunion with Bhansali after his debut film 'Saawariya,' while Vicky will be working with the filmmaker for the first time. Alia, meanwhile, has previously collaborated with Bhansali on 'Gangubai Kathiawadi.' 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
15 April,2026 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIDouble trouble Actor Ahaan Panday is set to reunite with filmmaker Mohit Suri for a new romantic drama backed by Yash Raj Films, following the success of ‘Saiyaara’ (2025). Reports suggest Mohit had initially developed a different rom-com idea, which did not materialise. The buzz is that the script is now being reworked to suit the actor, with filming expected to begin later this year. An official announcement is expected soon. The taste of success ‘Saiyaara’ — starred Ahaan Panday and Aneet Padda; earned R577 crore worldwide; the highest-grossing romantic film in Indian cinema is now streaming on OTT. ‘Voice of an angel’ (L-R) Asha Bhosle and Damon Albarn Legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle, 92, passed away on April 12, leaving behind an unparalleled musical legacy. Her funeral, held with state honours at Shivaji Park, saw several celebrities pay their respects. Among global tributes, Damon Albarn of the band, Gorillaz, remembered her fondly, saying, “Asha Bhosle was someone I had admired from afar for many years, her voice was my gateway to the marvellous world of Bollywood. I met her twice in Mumbai and was entranced by her grace and poise at the age of 91. Asha, you had the voice of an angel, we love you.” Asha Bhosle in the art work of Gorillaz’s song ‘The Shawdowy Light’ Asha Bhosle x Gorillaz Gorillaz collaborated with Asha Bhosle on their latest album ‘The Mountain’ (‘Parvat’), blending her timeless vocals with the band’s experimental alt-rock sound, marking one of her final and most unexpected global musical ventures. Hit the big four Kartik Aaryan. Pic/Instagram Actor Kartik Aaryan is reportedly set to reunite with filmmaker Luv Ranjan for a new romantic comedy after months of discussions. We have learnt that the duo has finalised a concept rooted in the Punchnama space, with Kartik approving the script and tentatively scheduling dates from October. The filmmaker, who was earlier considering an action project, is said to have shifted to a lighter, humour-driven narrative that aligns with Kartik’s on-screen image. The project is expected to go on floors late next year. Colour me kesari Varun Dhawan. Pic/Yogen Shah Actor Varun Dhawan, last seen in Border 2, is reportedly in talks for Operation Sindoor backed by Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri and Bhushan Kumar. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “Varun has been offered Operation Sindoor and has shown interest in the lead, but he will take a call after the full narration.” The actor, however, is said to be choosing carefully as he finalises his next project. Think before you sign a film Nag Ashwin. Pic/X; (right) Mrunal Thakur. Pic/Yogen Shah Actor Mrunal Thakur, currently basking in praise for Dacoit, received a special compliment from filmmaker Nag Ashwin at the film’s success meet. Praising her performance, he said, “Mrunal, I think you are amazing. I am generally very protective of the stuff that you pick. Whenever you do something that’s not great, I am like, ‘Why is she doing that? She deserves to do much better stuff.’ And whenever there’s a character that has that depth, or sorrow or pain, I think you are like that era of Madhubala and Smita Patil. So please don’t do random stuff and do good stuff.” Their film together ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ was directed by Nag Ashwin, starring Amitabh Bachchan, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan. The film crossed R1,000 crore worldwide. Natural chemistry (L-R) Sai Tamhankar and Vijay Varma Actor Sai Tamhankar, who will soon be seen in Matka King, an upcoming web show, shared a playful behind-the-scenes video with co-star Vijay Varma. The clip captures candid moments of the duo’s off-screen banter. “We found comfort very early on, which allowed us to be more spontaneous,” Sai said, praising Vijay’s generosity as a co-actor.
15 April,2026 07:41 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWhat was once positioned as one of the year’s biggest releases has now become a project shrouded in uncertainty. Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi: May War Rest in Peace was said to release in April and then apparently pushed to June. Now, the latest buzz is that the war drama — originally envisioned as a retelling of the 2020 Indo-China Galwan Valley clash — is stuck in limbo amid mounting regulatory complications. Sources have told mid-day that the film, despite being rechristened and its tone reworked, is no closer to reaching viewers. Apparently, the makers have not submitted it to the Central Board of Film Certification yet. “At this stage, after making the necessary changes, the team is trying to understand what would be the next steps to ensure its smooth release. No department, whether the Ministry of Defence, the Army, or the CBFC, has seen the film yet,” revealed a source. Apoorva Lakhia. Pic/Instagram Trouble began right after the first teaser was launched in December 2025, which elicited sharp reactions from Chinese state-affiliated media, including Global Times that accused the film of “distorting facts”. Sources said that in February, the Indian government authorities informally advised the makers to remove explicit references to China and the Galwan conflict, citing India’s improving relations with its neighbouring country. A few weeks later, Khan unveiled the new title — Maatrubhumi. This was followed by rumours that director Apoorva Lakhia is reshooting parts of the war drama. The source clarified, “Maatrubhumi has not been rewritten from scratch or reshot. In the Mumbai leg, the team shot additional parts depicting family sequences and love stories of a few supporting characters. Now, the makers have shifted the film’s focus on family and relationships, making it a human drama. That said, a bit of the war portions have been retained. But if you remove references to China and Galwan, what is the conflict about? That’s the central question they’re grappling with.” Mar 16When ‘Battle of Galwan’ was rechristened ‘Maatrubhumi’ Did you know? ‘Mera Desh’ was the other title the makers were considering. They renamed it ‘Maatrubhumi’ since the song, with the same title, was a hit by then
15 April,2026 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBR | Mohar BasuAditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar duology, consisting of Dhurandhar (2025) and Dhurandhar: The Revenge (2026), has officially made it the highest-grossing franchise in the history of Indian cinema. The films starring Ranveer Singh, Sara Arjun, and others have collectively earned over ₹3,000 crore worldwide. With that, the Dhurandhar franchise has left the Telugu film industry’s Baahubali and Pushpa franchises behind. Dhurandhar combined collection When Dhurandhar released in December last year, it collected over Rs 1,307 crore gross worldwide in its lifetime. What made the feat noteworthy was that the numbers came despite the film being released only in Hindi and getting banned in six Gulf countries, along with Pakistan. On March 19, its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, hit screens, this time in Hindi and in all South Indian languages. The success of the first part ensured the sequel had no competition, as films such as Yash’s Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, Peddi, The Paradise, Dacoit, and more postponed their March releases. According to trade websites, Dhurandhar 2 has now crossed the Rs 1,712 crore mark worldwide. This takes the film's combined worldwide total to over Rs 3,019 crore, making it the first franchise in Indian cinema to achieve the feat. Dhurandhar had a net collection of Rs 840 crore in India, making Dhurandhar 2 the first Hindi film to cross Rs 1,000 crore domestically. The sequel has collected Rs 1,083 so far in the country and is still counting. Meanwhile, Pushpa 2: The Rule, KGF: Chapter 2, and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion are the only other Indian films to have earned over Rs 1000 crore gross domestically. Dhurandhar franchise beats Baahubali, Pushpa Until today, SS Rajamouli’s Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah Bhatia-starrer Baahubali franchise held the record for being the highest-grossing franchise for a long time. Baahubali: The Beginning (2015) and Baahubali 2: The Conclusion (2017) had made Rs 2, 438 crore collectively. The first instalment collected Rs 650 crore worldwide, while the second film grossed Rs 1,788 crore. At the second spot was Sukumar’s Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil-starrer Pushpa. Pushpa: The Rise (2021) grossed just Rs 350 crore worldwide at its release during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Pushpa 2: The Rule’s (2024) Rs 1,871 crore haul pushed it second to Baahubali with a Rs 2,221 crore collection. Similarly, Prashanth Neel's Yash-starrer KGF films grossed Rs 238 crore and Rs 1,215 crore, respectively, bringing the franchise total to Rs 1,453 crore. This also makes Dhurandhar the only franchise in India to have two films earn over Rs 1, 000 crore worldwide.
14 April,2026 09:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActors Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda's intimate wedding ceremony in Udaipur in February left fans and the internet stunned. As their wedding photos went viral on social media, people couldn't stop gushing over how beautiful the actress looked in her full traditional bridal attire. Interestingly, her makeup artist, Tanvi Chemburkar, recently revealed that the actress got ready in just 90 minutes and wanted a minimal look rather than a traditional bridal look. Rashmika Mandanna's makeup artist about her bridal look In a recent podcast with Masoom Minawala, Tanvi, who has been working with Rashmika for four years now, revealed that she did not expect Rashmika's wedding look to go viral. She shared, "When we were discussing what she wanted to do, because we keep creating so many looks, she wanted to keep it super clean. I was like, really? It's your wedding day, don't you want to add kohl? She was very clear that she wanted to keep it very true to how she looks. But I didn't think at all that it would get so much appreciation, and she then said, ‘See, I told you, keeping it minimal would help.’" Tanvi went on to add that Rashmika had a vision and was very clear about her hair and make-up. Thus, she had a blast working on her looks, even though it was hectic amid the festivities. She added, "She was radiating with so much joy. She had an event the previous evening, so she had not slept enough. So she came cut-to-cut, and she was like, ‘Guys, you have just 40 mins to get me ready,’ but we took an hour. Overall, she took only one and a half hours to get fully ready from top to bottom. But she was so happy, even while walking down the aisle, you could see that excitement on her face, that's why she looked the way she did." Vijay and Rashmika's wedding Rashmika and Vijay secretly got engaged in September last year. After keeping theri relations and engagement under wraps for a long time, the couple finally confirmed their relationship in February by announcing their wedding. The couple tied the knot in an intimate yet lavish wedding ceremony on February 26 in Udaipur in the presence of their family and friends. After the wedding, the couple had a grand reception for their industry friends in Hyderabad, which was attended by several big stars, including Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Kriti Sanon, Karan Johar, and more. The couple also celebrated their marriage with fans by holding a meet-and-greet in Hyderabad, where they not only interacted with their fans but also served them food.
14 April,2026 08:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
