Veteran actor Dipika Chikhlia, best known for portraying Sita in Ramayan, has revised her opinion about Ranbir Kapoor’s upcoming film Ramayana after watching its teaser. Months after expressing reservations about modern adaptations of the epic, the actor now appears impressed by the scale and presentation of the new project. Dipika Chikhlia reacts to the teaser The teaser of the ambitious film, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, recently dropped and quickly sparked widespread discussion online. While reactions have been mixed among audiences, Dipika’s response signals a notable shift from her earlier skepticism. Speaking about the teaser, Dipika praised its visual richness and grand execution. She said, “I watched the teaser and it's very grand. Bahut rich lag raha hai. Unhone bahut achhe se banaya hai.” Her remarks reflect admiration for the film’s scale and the effort that has gone into crafting the cinematic retelling of the epic. She further added that the visuals left a strong impression on her, noting that the film “is looking very beautiful, there's no doubt about it.” The actor also expressed eagerness to see the final product on the big screen, indicating that the teaser has successfully raised her expectations. Dipika’s reaction is particularly significant given her earlier comments about contemporary interpretations of mythological stories. Having been closely associated with one of the most beloved versions of the Ramayana, her views often carry weight among fans of the original series. Her change in stance suggests that the teaser may have addressed some of the concerns she previously had. All about Ramayana The film itself is being mounted on a massive scale and features a star-studded cast, with Ranbir Kapoor playing Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash portraying Ravana. The teaser offers glimpses of the film’s grand visuals and mythological world, hinting at an epic cinematic experience. With anticipation continuing to build, Dipika’s positive reaction adds to the growing buzz around the film. While audiences remain divided, her endorsement could help strengthen confidence among viewers who hold the original Ramayana close to their hearts. As the film gears up for release, all eyes are now on how this modern retelling will balance spectacle with the emotional and spiritual depth of the timeless epic.
03 April,2026 01:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentJio Studios & B62 Studios’ Aditya Dhar directorial Dhurandhar: The Revenge continues its historic box-office domination, now just inches away from the coveted Rs 1,000 Crore nett milestone in India, earning a phenomenal Rs 961 Crores nett by the end of Week 2, a feat never achieved at this pace before. After a thunderous opening and a record second weekend, the film has held exceptionally strong through the weekdays of Week 2 (Monday to Thursday), delivering remarkable collections and maintaining its dominance across India and key international markets. Globally, the film continues to soar with a staggering Rs 1,501 Crores worldwide gross, underlining its extraordinary international dominance as well. Dhurandhar 2's box office break up BREAK-UP (INDIA) WEEK 1 TOTAL (8 DAYS) – Rs 690.00 Cr (nett)Second Weekend Total – Rs 177.00 Cr WEEK 2 WEEKDAYS Day 12 – Monday – Rs 26 CrDay 13 – Tuesday – Rs 28 CrDay 14 – Wednesday – Rs 21 CrDay 15 – Thursday – Rs 19 Cr Week 2 Total – Rs 271 Cr India NBOC – Rs 961.00 Cr India GBOC – Rs 1,134 Cr OVERSEASWeek 1 + Week 2 – Rs 367 Cr GROSS BOX OFFICE WORLDWIDE Rs 1,501 CRORES Dhurandhar 2's box office records • Biggest Hindi opener of all time• Highest paid previews ever• Biggest opening weekend worldwide• Highest first week collections• Highest second week collections• Fastest film to cross Rs 1000 Crores globally• Fastest 100 cr, 200 cr, 300 cr, 400 cr, 500 cr, 600 cr, 700 cr, 800 cr & 900 cr• Biggest Indian film ever in overseas markets (within Week 1)• Highest-grossing Indian film in North America• Surpassed Dhurandhar Part 1 overseas lifetime collection in just 10 days
03 April,2026 01:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSonam Kapoor and Anand Ahuja welcomed their second child, a baby boy, on March 29, 2026, and congratulations have been pouring in ever since. Ecstatic maasi Rhea Kapoor shared the first picture with the newborn after his arrival. Now, mommy Sonam has offered a heartfelt glimpse into her motherhood journey as she shared the first picture with her newborn baby boy from the hospital. Sonam Kapoor shares first glimpse of second baby boy Bollywood actress and new mom Sonam Kapoor shared a deeply personal moment on her social media account on Friday, posting her first picture holding her newborn baby close to her chest straight from the hospital. Sonam is seen lying on a hospital bed, gently cradling her newborn, with her eyes closed and a faint smile of fulfilment on her face. The baby, wrapped in a white cloth, rests peacefully in her arms. The actress refrained from revealing the face of her newborn. The second picture shows Sonam seated beside a hospital tray, dressed in comfortable black loungewear. She is seen having a meal, and the picture appears to be a candid click. The actress simply captioned the post, “Grateful beyond words.” In the caption, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, staff, and hospital team for taking care of her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam A Kapoor (@sonamkapoor) Sonam Kapoor announces arrival of second baby For the uninitiated, Sonam Kapoor welcomed her second baby, a boy, on March 29 this year. Sharing the exciting news on social media, Sonam expressed her joy. She wrote, "With immense gratitude and hearts full of love, we are delighted to announce the arrival of our baby boy on March 29, 2026. Our family has grown, and with his arrival, our hearts have expanded in the most beautiful way. (sic)" The Raanjhanaa actress further revealed that son Vayu is extremely thrilled to be an elder brother. "Vayu is overjoyed to welcome his little brother, and we feel deeply blessed by this precious new life who has filled our home with happiness and grace. Sonam and Anand are grateful to begin this beautiful new chapter as a family of four," the post concluded. More about Sonam Kapoor Sonam is the daughter of Anil Kapoor and Sunita Kapoor. She made her debut with Saawariya and went on to be a part of several popular movies. After her last stint, Blind, she took a sabbatical from acting and focused on raising her child, Vayu. For the uninitiated, Sonam tied the knot with businessman Anand Ahuja in a grand wedding ceremony in May 2018. The couple had been in a relationship for several years before taking the plunge. They welcomed their first child, a baby boy, Vayu, in August 2022.
03 April,2026 12:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Ali Abbas Zafar recently took to social media to share an exciting first glimpse from his upcoming untitled YRF project, starring Ahaan Panday. Ahaan Panday's first glimpse from YRF project The image Ali shared offers audiences a peek at Ahaan Panday's smouldering intensity. It captures Ahaan's piercing eyes paired with a classic clapboard, teasing his romantic leading man charm ahead of high-stakes action sequences. Ali captioned the post: "And it BEGINS (fire emoji)". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ali Abbas Zafar (@aliabbaszafar) Many celebrities reacted to the post and sent their good wishes. Arjun Kapoor hyped him up, writing, "Mass (fire emoji)". TV actor Hiten Tejwani commented, "Congratulations Ali sir." Reality TV star Rajat Bedi wrote, "Congratulations Ali bhai & god bless." The YRF project has already started generating buzz with a stellar star cast including Sharvari, Aaishvary Thackeray and Bobby Deol. Known for delivering stylish, large-scale entertainers, Ali Abbas Zafar is expected to bring his signature flair to this ambitious venture, positioning it as a compelling addition to the action romance genre. While details about the storyline remain tightly under wraps, this early preview has successfully heightened anticipation. Ali Abbas Zafar praises Ahaan's performance Ali feels Ahaan has an old-school romantic hero charm that no one else has from his generation of actors. He says, “What I love about Ahaan is his sincerity. In today’s time, when everything can feel performative and an act, he brings a kind of old-school honesty to his performances, 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." Ali adds, “Audiences have connected with Ahaan because he’s not trying to impress them. He’s simply present in the moment. There’s a softness to him but also strength. That balance is what makes people root for him, especially in love stories. I genuinely believe he has the potential to become one of those rare romantic heroes who make you feel something long after the film ends.” The Saiyaara star began shooting for Ali’s film on March 30th in Mumbai and will later head to the UK to shoot for about 60 days.
03 April,2026 12:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Veer Pahariya took a nostalgic trip down memory lane on the 3rd of April, as he wished his brother Shikhar Pahariya on his birthday, followed by a series of adorable childhood pictures on his social media account. Sharing the unseen throwback moments, Veer posted a heartwarming picture from their early years that shows the two brothers at a birthday celebration, dressed in bright red dungarees. The post was accompanied by a simple “Happy” sticker. In another picture, the siblings are seen as babies in a close-up frame, and was captioned as ‘birthday.’ One of the standout pictures shared by Veer also featured veteran politician Sushil Kumar Shinde. In the photograph, Sushil Kumar Shinde is seen warmly holding the hands of the two young boys. For the picture, Veer wrote, “To You.’ For the uninitiated, both Veer and Shikhar are grandchildren of Sushil Kumar Shinde. Their mother is the daughter of the former minister. Earlier in the day, actress Khushi Kapoor also shared a picture on her social media account to wish Shikhar on his birthday. Khushi wrote, “Happy birthday to my favourite person shikharpahariya.” The picture featured a Polaroid-style photograph of Shikhar hugging Khushi warmly. Talking about Veer, on the professional front, has been trained in acting and made his much-anticipated Bollywood debut with Sky Force released in 2024 alongside Akshay Kumar and Sara Ali Khan. Talking about Shikhar Pahariya, as per reports, has been dating actress Janhvi Kapoor for quite a few years now. Though neither Janhvi nor Shikhar has publicly confirmed their relationship, but their frequent public appearances, social media posts for one another, and affectionate gestures speak volumes of their close bond. 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
03 April,2026 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Mrunal Thakur is currently juggling a packed schedule, balancing promotional activities for Dacoit while simultaneously working on dubbing for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai. On Thursday, Mrunal shared that she has finished dubbing for Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, which also stars Varun Dhawan and Pooja Hegde in key roles. Mrunal took to her Instagram stories to announce the dubbing wrap from the studio, with a capture featuring a mic. She accompanied the picture with a caption that simply stated, "It's a dub wrap on HJTIHH." The film will hit the theatres on June 12. Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai was previously scheduled to release on June 5, and was originally slated for April 10, before being rescheduled earlier this year. The makers confirmed the latest change through an official statement shared on Instagram. In the statement, the team clarified that the decision was made after reviewing recent developments and the broader industry situation. "We would like to clarify that our film Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai was originally scheduled for release on 5th June, a date we had announced several months ago. However, after recent developments and considering the prevailing situation, we felt it would be more appropriate to shift our release," the statement read. The producers further emphasised the importance of cooperation within the film industry. "We strongly believe that it is always healthier for the industry when filmmakers support one another rather than compete unnecessarily on the same date. In that spirit of solidarity, we have decided to move the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai to 12th June and bring our film to the audiences a week later," the note read. Produced by Ramesh Taurani and directed by veteran filmmaker David Dhawan, the upcoming entertainer promises a lively blend of romance and comedy. 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
03 April,2026 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIDirector Sanjay Gupta is not really happy with the first look of Lord Ram from the upcoming Indian epic Ramayana. On Thursday, the director took to his X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “Obvious observation. VfX companies don’t win oscars. The technicians do (sic)”. The director referred to the VFX giant DNEG, which boasts an Oscar for Best Visual Effects for Dune: Part Two at the 97th Academy Awards. DNEG is looking after the VFX of Ramayana, and has done a good job so far considering the assets from the film. Ramayana is directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, with Sai Pallavi cast as Sita and Yash reported to play Ravana. Sunny Deol is associated with the role of Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey has been linked to Lakshman. The project is mounted on a large scale and is planned as a multi-part cinematic adaptation of the epic. The music is being composed by A. R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, marking a cross-industry collaboration. The film’s visual effects are being handled by international VFX studios, including DNEG, known for work on major Hollywood productions. Production involves extensive use of green screen, motion capture, and large-scale set design to recreate mythological settings. The film is backed by major production houses and is positioned as a high-budget project aimed at both domestic and global audiences, with emphasis on technical scale, casting, and visual presentation. Earlier in January, Sanjay Gupta reflected on how electricity and power are integral parts of modern life. The director shared how just one hour of power outage almost brought the financial capital of the country to a standstill. He said that residents of Mumbai are truly blessed to get unlimited power supply unlike small towns and cities of India. He wrote, “One hour power cut ne aukaad bata di. Imagine where this happens normally in major cities. Small towns ki toh baat hi chhod do. We Mumbaikars are truly blessed”. In January, a power outage disrupted electricity supply in the Andheri West area of Mumbai. The blackout affected homes, shops, and businesses, causing inconvenience to residents and traders. 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
03 April,2026 09:21 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSRajpal Yadav’s tryst with troubles does not seem to end in the Rs 9 crore cheque bounce case. The Delhi High Court reserved its verdict in the matter after settlement talks between the parties failed despite repeated efforts by the Court. During the hearing, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma expressed displeasure over inconsistent submissions, while the actor made an emotional appeal. Delhi HC rejects Rajpal Yadav’s plea The matter was heard by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, who expressed visible dissatisfaction over the shifting stand taken by Yadav regarding repayment of dues. At one point, the Court remarked, "I am not getting my answers. The undertaking said something else, and now you are saying something else," indicating concern over inconsistency in submissions. Frustrated, the judge added, "You are saying you are willing to pay, but your lawyers are saying that since you have already gone to jail, you will not pay. If you are willing to pay, then why am I hearing the matter? Make the payment." During the proceedings, the Court made earnest attempts to bring the parties to a negotiated settlement. On being asked, the complainant agreed to accept a reduced amount of Rs 6 crore as a full and final settlement. However, in a visibly emotional submission, Yadav opposed the proposal, stating that he had already suffered severe financial setbacks. Appearing virtually, he told the Court that he had been compelled to sell five flats and had already paid a substantial amount. In a moment reflecting distress and frustration, he stated, "I am not emotional... send me to jail five more times." Rajpal requested the Court to grant him 30 more days to pay the remaining Rs 6 crore. However, Justice Sharma refused, saying, "No means no. I will reserve. I will not give more time." In an effort to break the deadlock, the Court even proposed a structured payment of Rs 3 crore within a fixed timeline, clarifying that it was a judicial intervention and not a concluded settlement. Despite this, no consensus could be reached. The Court also took strong exception to the manner in which the proceedings unfolded, cautioning, "Never think the judge weak if the judge is nice to you," and noting that valuable judicial time was being wasted. With settlement efforts collapsing and differences remaining unresolved, the Court ultimately reserved its judgment in the matter. About Rajpal Yadav’s cheque bounce case Earlier, the High Court had extended Yadav's interim bail after taking note of partial payments made towards the outstanding dues. The case stems from multiple cheque dishonour complaints in which the actor was convicted by the trial court. While the High Court had previously granted opportunities to facilitate a settlement, it had also flagged repeated non-compliance with payment undertakings. On the work front, the actor is all set to appear in Bhooth Bangla, directed by Priyadarshan. The film is set to release on April 16 and stars Akshay Kumar, Wamiqa Gabbi, and Tabu in lead roles. He also has Haiwaan in his pipeline.
03 April,2026 08:41 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRobot love story is back The idea of tech-meets-family drama has charmed audiences since ‘Small Wonder’ (1985). Over the years, the concept has found new life in different languages across mediums. In 2024, Maddock Films joined the bandwagon with ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’, starring Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon — with the latter playing a robot. Now, reports suggest the makers are gearing up for a sequel. The first instalment ended with Janhvi Kapoor’s introduction, and the sequel will begin where the first film left off. ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya 2’ will apparently reunite Shahid and Kriti, while bringing Janhvi into the mix. According to a Pinkvilla report, the script is underway and is expected to be locked by August. If all goes as planned, the sci-fi romance will go on floors by early 2027. Insiders also say the final call hinges on how the banner’s other release ‘Cocktail 2’ performs at the box office. Will they? Won’t they? Stay tuned. Rs 133.64 crReported global box-office collection of ‘Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya’ Movie marathon Ranveer Singh in ‘Dhurandhar 2’. Pic/Youtube; (right) Aditya Dhar. Picture Courtesy/PR Got nine hours to spare? If yes — and if you happen to be in Hong Kong — you’re in luck. If the soaring box-office numbers of Dhurandhar: The Revenge are anything to go by, the frenzy for the actioner is only intensifying. So much so that a multiplex in Hong Kong is offering a full-on marathon, the first part followed by the sequel. The Aditya Dhar directorial venture will run for nine hours, complete with three breaks for survival (and snacks). Taking to social media, Hong Kong distributor AA Tech wrote, “You’ve been asking for it... and we’re making it epic! Dhurandhar movie marathon is finally here — the full spy saga you demanded! Watch Dhurandhar + Dhurandhar: The Revenge back-to-back with three planned breaks for comfort, snacks, and pure adrenaline recovery.” April 12Date of the movie marathon Returning to Phulera Jitendra Kumar. Pic/Instagram Jitendra Kumar is probably humming Mere Desh Ki Dharti while strolling through fields. The actor teased the return of the beloved series Panchayat with pictures of himself soaking in rural life. Sharing a few shots, he wrote, “Colours I like.” Fuelling further excitement around Panchayat 4, Prime Video commented, “Phulera returns.” And just like that, fans got the confirmation they needed. Not off-air Aasif Sheikh and Shilpa Shinde in ‘Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain’. Pic/Instagram Rumours suggest that Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain, starring Aasif Sheikh and Shilpa Shinde, is going off air. The speculation began after reports about the &TV channel shutting down surfaced. Aasif, who has been with the show since its inception, clarified that the show will move away from &TV and will now stream on Zee5. “We were informed of the shift to the digital platform a month back,” he said in an interview.
03 April,2026 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamLooking at the long queue of enthusiastic people outside PVR Palladium in Lower Parel at 8.30 am on April 2, it felt like the release day of a much anticipated film. Except it was for a teaser. That was enough indication of the high anticipation around the upcoming epic, Ramayana Part 1. Filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari and producer Namit Malhotra invited media and fans as they launched the first teaser, titled Rama, giving us more than a glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram. For Tiwari, it was an emotional moment as he opened up on creating the big-budget two-part movie. Fans queue up for the teaser launch. Pic/Satej Shinde “It has taken me seven years to reach this moment. Filmmaking is a speculative and lonely process. In these years, I wondered about this moment, the reaction when it finally comes out. Today, seeing your reaction, those seven years feel worth it,” said an overwhelmed Tiwari, as fans clapped and cheered for the two-minute-38-second teaser. Ranbir Kapoor in the teaser. Picture Courtesy/PR Introducing us to the expansive world of Ramayana, the teaser shows glimpses of crucial moments — from Lord Ram lifting the bow at the swayamvar, to being exiled. Malhotra, whose company DNEG has worked on the VFX, revealed that the film is a result of the work of a 10,000-strong crew around the globe. “We have teams from Canada, the UK, Australia, Europe, and every corner of India, who are pouring their heart and soul into making this happen,” he said. Arun Govil. Picture Courtesy/PR An ode to the past: Arun Govil plays Lord Ram’s father Dashrath. The actor previously played Ram in Ramanand Sagar’s ‘Ramayana’ Pic/Youtube Ravana next? The teaser ends with a back shot of Kannada star Yash, who plays Ravana, followed by a glimpse of Ravana’s grand Pushpak Vimana
03 April,2026 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaBollywood actress Kajol celebrated her husband, superstar Ajay Devgn’s birthday in her trademark style. On Thursday, the actress took to her Instagram and shared a picture of her husband in which he can be seen looking into the camera with a sarcastic and exhausted expression. Kajol wishes Ajay Devgn Kajol shared a picture of Ajay Devgn on her Instagram feed and penned a birthday note. She wrote in the caption, “At some point the candles on the cake look less like a celebration and more like a fire hazard. I think u have reached that point. Happy birthday anyways. May u always have cake (sic)”. The actor responded to her and wrote, "You’re also not far off from that point, just letting you know." Kajol and Ajay Devgn are known to hilariously roast each other and their camaraderie is enjoyed by their fans. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) About Ajay Devgn Ajay Devgn is one of the biggest superstars of Hindi cinema with a solid track record at the box-office. He made his debut with Phool Aur Kaante, and established himself as a leading actor in Hindi cinema through the 1990s and 2000s. He is known for his restrained acting style, he built a career spanning action, drama, and comedy. His notable films include Jigar, Dilwale, The Legend of Bhagat Singh, and the Golmaal franchise. He has also directed and produced films under his banner. His one of the most critical performances is Zakhm. The film was directed by Mahesh Bhatt, and saw the actor playing a man dealing with personal and communal conflict, the role earned him the National Film Award for Best Actor. He later won another National Award for ‘The Legend of Bhagat Singh’. Ajay Devgn married Kajol in 1999. The couple has two children and has occasionally collaborated on films. Over time, he has maintained consistent box-office presence, balancing commercial entertainers with content-driven cinema. His stardom is built on longevity, versatility, and steady audience acceptance rather than reliance on a single genre or image. The actor will be next seen in Golmaal 5, helmed by his friend and long-time collaborator Rohit Shetty.
02 April,2026 10:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1774495575054_d-1775203636047_d.png "Still from Dhurandhar 2")
-1775199803131_d.png "Picture Courtesy/Ali Abbas Zafar's Instagram account")
