Jealous much? Actor Jaideep Ahlawat, who will next appear in filmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s Ikkis, admits he gets “jealous” every time he spots someone in an Army uniform — his childhood dream career. The Pataal Lok star, who has several friends in the Army, revealed that he failed the Services Selection Board exams twice, a fact he now narrates with a mix of nostalgia and mischief. He said, “I thought I’d be a good Army officer, but unfortunately, I was sent back home. It is an emotional moment for me. I have many friends in the Indian Army. Whenever I see someone in uniform, I get goosebumps because that was my first dream as an 18–19-year-old boy who wanted to join the Army.” In a happy space Kiran Rao, Aamir Khan and Gauri Spratt Superstar Aamir Khan opened up about his harmoniously blended family during his appearance at a recent event in New Delhi. The actor said that he remains close to ex-wives Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao, sharing, “Reena is an amazing person. The fact that we fell apart as husband and wife does not mean we fell apart as human beings.” On Kiran, he added, “We decided to part ways as husband and wife, but we are family.” Aamir also revealed he did not expect to find love again at the age of 60, but praised his new partner Gauri Spratt, stating, “She brings a lot of calm and steadiness [in my life]. I feel very fortunate that I met Reena, Kiran, and now Gauri.” ‘Actors are very insecure’ Manoj Bajpayee Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is earning widespread praise for The Family Man 3, recently opened up about industry insecurity during a chat with comedians and actors Kusha Kapila and Ravi Gupta. He said, “In our industry, actors will never praise each other. They’ll never call to appreciate someone’s work because they are very insecure. Even now, I still call people to ask for work. Kyunki main paidayshi struggler hoon.” The show’s new season dropped last month after a wait, after a wait of four years. According to Prime Video India, it has reportedly become this year’s most-watched series. It follows Manoj’s Srikant Tiwari as he becomes a wanted man after a mishap in the Northeast. Shooting the final act Meghna Gulzar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, and Kareena Kapoor Khan Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has begun the final shooting schedule of her upcoming film Daayra, starring Kareena Kapoor Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran. The filmmaker shared the update on Instagram. She posted a photo of a car salon with packed bags on Sunday (December 7), and captioned it, “Final schedule.” The film is described as a crime-drama that taps into the “pulse of the people” as it confronts the “topical and diabolical realities unfolding in society today.” On helming this movie, Meghna had said, “Kareena and Prithviraj bring the lead characters to life, the narrative dynamics are all set to elevate further.”
08 December,2025 08:08 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamThe year 2025 will always be memorable for Delhi Indie Project. It not only marks the band’s tenth year together in the music world, but also saw them release their first album, Lakshya 2025. As the band — comprising lead vocalist Ashish Chauhan, vocalist Nysha, keyboard player Ayush Gupta, drummer Siddhant Boruah, and bassist Akhil Sindhwani — marks a decade of music-making, they are now looking ahead to a future filled with experimentation, global ambitions, and original work. “From opening for Bryan Adams to headlining a show of his calibre — that is the vision,” says Chauhan. But so much of the future is shaped by the past, and it has been a glorious past 10 years for the band, which is known to blend rock, fusion, and folk music. Their most defining moment, as Chauhan mentions, was the chance to open for Bryan Adams in the Gurugram leg of his India tour in 2024. “We were selected from numerous bands,” he remembers. Having started out in 2015 by doing covers of hit songs, Delhi Indie Project released its maiden single Guzarish in 2018, the first of many hit numbers to follow over the years. With time, the band’s sound continues to evolve — shaped not just by global influences and individual journeys, but also by diverse audiences across the world. With more than 800 shows behind them, every destination has taught them something. “Every location possesses its unique culture, cuisine, and musical style. Goa remains our favourite though,” Chauhan reflects. Performances in Dubai, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand have expanded their artistic vocabulary. Beyond the stage, Delhi Indie Project has composed for internationally recognised titles, including Jalpari — The Desert Mermaid, and Discovery Channel’s I Should Have Stayed Home. The creative process shifts dramatically across mediums. “For film and television, one has a storyboard or theme to guide the composition. In a live band performance, there is the freedom to craft our own narrative,” notes Chauhan. As they step into their 11th year, they hope to take their sound global with projects for film, television, and OTT. Yep, it’s that band! Delhi Indie Project shot to fame in 2024 when they opened Bryan Adams’s concert in Gurugram
08 December,2025 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ PanchalIn a rehearsal room in Mumbai, long before the tickets for his India tour went live, singer Nisschal Zaveri found himself in an unusual moment. He was singing a familiar ghazal line, but he recalls that afternoon, the sound of the sarangi and a 30-piece Western orchestral palette rose around him. “That’s when I realised that the mehfil’s intimacy could coexist with orchestral scale,” he remembers. That realisation became Whispers of the Infinite, a production that blends ghazal and symphony. But grandeur isn’t what he is chasing with the concerts. If anything, he is gentle with the idea of scale. “Every arrangement is designed to breathe with the poetry, not sit on top of it. The strings rise only when the sher rises, the choir appears for a moment and disappears. In a way, the grandeur actually protects the silence,” shares the Delhi-born artiste who grew up training in Hindustani classical music. Now, with over 100 original ghazals to his credit, his discography includes collaborations with Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and AR Rahman’s KM Conservatory. With the latest endeavour, Zaveri believes he is carrying ghazals forward without changing their core. “I’m not breaking the form, I am honouring it. The structure of the ghazal remains untouched. All I’ve done is expand the canvas around it. When the intention is rooted in respect, even traditional listeners feel included, not threatened.” The fear of alienating traditional listeners never found its way into his process. In a world filled with synths, loops, and hooks, the singer believes listeners are hungry and the ghazal offers an antidote. He shares a recent incident to prove how the young audience too tunes into ghazals. He recalls, “Just a few days ago, during a rehearsal for Whispers of the Infinite, five or six young girls, barely six to 10 years old, walked into the room and sat through almost four hours of rehearsal. I am certain they didn’t understand a word of the Urdu I was singing. But they sat there, listening. That moment reminded me that music, when it’s honest, can be boundless. A ghazal doesn’t rely on language; it relies on feeling. In a world full of hooks and algorithms, a ghazal gives you emotion in its purest form.” Ghazals rendered by Nisschal Zaveri: . Silsile Tod Gaya Woh Sabhi . Kabhi Kaha Na Kisi Se . Jhuki Jhuki Si Nazar
08 December,2025 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAfter having built a robust career spanning over four decades, Manoj Pahwa often looks for a sense of responsibility in his work. The actor couldn’t be happier that it came in the form of Perfect Family. “When you come to this industry, you do a lot of work because you need to keep your kitchen running and pay the rent. But there are some works that make you realise your purpose and what you can do for society. After working for 30-40 years, you ask yourself, ‘Are you fulfilling your responsibility as an artiste?’ This is one of those shows,” he says of the Gulshan Devaiah and Girija Oak-led dramedy that highlights the importance of mental health. Personally, Pahwa believes that mental health awareness is essential. But it took him some time to reach this realisation. Initially, he was dismissive about therapy. “Seema [Pahwa, wife and co-actor] mentioned a few times that we should see a psychiatrist. My reaction was typical of a chauvinist Punjabi man from Delhi. I told her, ‘What’s wrong with my mind? Everything is going great.’ I had no big ambitions. We were getting to eat and drink what we wanted; that was enough. But gradually, I realised the importance of therapy and mental health. I haven’t sought therapy, but we’ve understood that it’s a good thing to do.”
08 December,2025 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuOnly a month after his directorial venture Haq hit the screens, Suparn S Varma is presenting Flames, the maiden directorial feature of Ravi Kaushik. As it premièred at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival on December 6, Varma says the movie’s “visceral and brutal” quality made him come on board almost immediately. “Meeting Ravi felt like meeting a like-minded, passionate soul who had put everything on the line. He was doing a full-time job while making his film. I remember writing my first script while still working at [a news website]. That’s how it is for so many dreamers without a back-up system,” he says. Shot in rural Haryana with local residents and one professional actor, Vikram Kochhar, Flames follows a family under emotional strain while observing the caste currents woven into everyday village life. Varma analyses, “The [caste] divide can go unnoticed, yet it’s all around us. And when it hits you, it does like a hammer.”For Kaushik, however, the theme of casteism came second. Flames was born from an emotional urgency — he had spent over a year developing another story about a father grieving a child’s death. “Those thoughts impacted my mental health adversely. As part of therapy, I pivoted to a story about survival and what a parent would do for their offspring. Once I found that emotional core, I had to get the film out of my system before it affected my personal life,” he recalls, before adding, “The caste layer forms the subtext, and naturally shapes what happens to the family.” Suparn S Varma and Ravi Kaushik That said, the engineer-turned-director has tackled the subject head-on. “Casteism may not always be overt, but you feel the undercurrent in daily conversations. While I focused on the father’s journey, it was imperative to reflect that underlying layer of discrimination and exploitation.” Dec 6When ‘Flames’ premièred at the Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival
08 December,2025 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuWhen Salman Khan turns 60 on December 27, it’s the superstar’s fans who will receive the birthday gift. Sources close to the production have told mid-day that Battle of Galwan’s first look will be unveiled on the actor’s big day. The Apoorva Lakhia-directed war drama is currently in post-production, with multiple departments working simultaneously to complete the first promotional asset. Chronicling the 2020 clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley, the film sees Khan as Colonel B Santosh Babu, the commanding officer of the 16 Bihar Regiment. A source reveals, “Though it’s a war drama, the first look won’t be cut as an action-driven piece. It will be more about positioning the world and introducing the film’s visual language.” Apoorva Lakhia Battle of Galwan, which went on floors in August, has been shot extensively in Ladakh and was wrapped up over the weekend in Mumbai. While speculation suggested that the movie — also starring Chitrangda Singh — would miss its Eid 2026 date, now sources indicate that Khan and Lakhia may be able to meet the March deadline. Did you know? ‘Battle of Galwan’ is based on a chapter from the book ‘India’s Most Fearless 3’, written by Shiv Aroor and Rahul Singh
08 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuThe journey of Bigg Boss 19 finally comes to an end today, and all eyes are on the highly anticipated Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale to see who lifts the coveted trophy. As usual, the grand finale episode is expected to witness the attendance of several celebrities, and one of them is Bhojpuri power star Pawan Singh. However , ahead of the grand finale, a controversy has allegedly erupted over Pawan's appearance even ahead of the night. According to reports, Pawan Singh has received a threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Pawan Singh receives a threat According to an IANS report, the popular Bhojpuri singer, actor and politician received a threat call ahead of the finale. The "power star" has reportedly been warned not to share the stage with Bigg Boss 19 host Salman Khan. Reports add that he has been cautioned that he will face "serious consequences" if he attends the event. Reports claim, "Pawan Singh’s team alerted security agencies, and police have begun investigating the number and strengthened his security (sic)." The police have also allegedly initiated an immediate technical investigation into the caller's number. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to trace the location, network, and call details through the CDRs (Call Detail Records) to understand from where the threat was made. This is due to the long-standing rivalry of Lawrence Bishnoi with Salman Khan. Just a day ago, Pawan announced on his Instagram about his appearance on Bigg Boss 19 grand finale. Taking to social media, he wrote, "Bhaijaan ke saath Bigg Boss 19 ke Grand Finale mein humare saath judenge Powerstar Pawan Singh (sic)." Bigg Boss 19 finale Bigg Boss 19 Grand Finale is set to premiere on Sunday, December 7, 2025, from 9 pm onwards. It marks the end of a season filled with drama and twists. The top five finalists are Tanya Mittal, Gaurav Khanna, Farrhana Bhatt, Amaal Mallik, and Pranit More. The anticipation among fans is skyrocketing to see who will emerge as the ultimate winner of Bigg Boss 19. Meanwhile, apart from Pawan Singh, the grand finale episode is set to feature several celebrity guests, including Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Sunny Leone, and Karan Kundrra.
07 December,2025 08:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIf the latest reports are to be believed, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested in an alleged fraud case worth Rs 30 crore. This comes after a lookout notice was earlier issued against filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals in a fraud case by a renowned IVF doctor. Vikram Bhatt arrested According to reports, the arrest was carried out in a joint operation by the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police at his sister‑in‑law’s residence. Following his arrest, the Rajasthan Police are now expected to seek a transit remand from the Bandra Court to transfer Bhatt to Udaipur. Seven days prior to the arrest, Udaipur Police had allegedly issued a lookout notice against Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals accused of defrauding Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira Group of Companies. They were accused of defrauding the doctor of Rs 30 crore. The notice required all the accused to appear before the Udaipur Police by December 8. The notice also barred them from travelling abroad without permission. About the fraud case An FIR for a Rs 30 crore fraud was registered in Udaipur about 20 days earlier, against eight people, including Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt. The complaint claimed that the couple had lured Dr Murdia with a promise of Rs 200 crore earnings. The investigation is currently being handled by the Bhopalpura police. According to the police report, Dr Ajay Murdia, who is owner of Indira IVF Hospital, filed a complaint against Bhatt, his wife, their daughter Krishna (resident of Andheri West, Mumbai), Dinesh Kataria (Saheli Nagar, Udaipur), Mehboob Ansari (producer, Thane), Mudit Butattan (Delhi), Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (DSC Chairman), and Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Mumbai). Dr Murdia claimed that he wanted to produce a biopic about his late wife and hence approached Dinesh Kataria for assistance. On the suggestions of Kataria, Dr Murdia visited Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai on April 25, 2024, where Kataria introduced him to Vikram Bhatt. During the meeting, the Raaz filmmaker said he would handle all filmmaking work. He also asked Dr Murdia to send money accordingly. Bhatt also mentioned that his wife and daughter were involved as associates in the project. Notably, Bhatt has registered a firm, VSB LLP, in his wife Shwetambari Bhatt’s name. Notably, earlier this year, Vikram Bhatt-directed Tumko Meri Kasam, starring Anupam Kher, Ishwak Singh, Adah Sharma, and Esha Deol in lead roles, was released. The film was inspired by the life of Dr Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF.
07 December,2025 07:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Saif Ali Khan has wrapped up his upcoming film 'Haiwaan'. On Sunday, the makers of the film took to social media, and shared pictures from the wrap up of the film. In the pictures, Saif can be seen celebrating the completion of the film's shoot with director Priyadarshan. The film marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. However, Akshay Kumar wasn't seen in the pictures. The crew also celebrated by cutting the cake.The makers wrote in the caption, "It's a wrap of our film 'Haiwaan'! Our hearts are full today with love, gratitude and pride! See you soon at the Theaters".The film also stars Shriya Pilgaonkar and Salyami Kher in pivotal roles. The film went on floors in August this year. Back in August, Akshay took to his Instagram, and shared a BTS video in which he and Saif can be seen casually talking with director Priyadarshan.The Bollywood superstar wrote in the caption, "Hum sab hi hain thode se shaitaan... Koi upar se Saint, koi andar se Haiwaan :)) Starting the shoot for Haiwaan today with my absolute favourite captain of the ship, priyadarshan.official Sir. Great to be working with Saif after nearly 17 years. Let's get the haiwaniyat rolling!! kvn.productions thespianfilms_ind". Saif and Akshay last worked together in 'Tashan', which was a commercial and critical disaster. Haiwaan is produced by KVN Productions in association with Thespian Films, and jointly produced by Venkat K Narayana and Shailaja Desai Fenn. Meanwhile, Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar are working on a project titled 'Bhoot Bangla'. The horror drama is likely to release towards the end of 2025. The movie marks the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan, one of the most commercially rewarding actor-director pairs of Hindi cinema.
07 December,2025 07:37 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAryan Khan, the son of Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, is no stranger to controversies. The filmmaker, recently caught in a fresh controversy after a video of him from a pub in Bengaluru on November 28 went viral. After the video, showing him flashing his middle finger at the crowd, went viral, a complaint was filed against him for his allegedly "obscene" gesture Now, politician Zameer Ahmed's son and actor Zaid Khan, who was accompanying Aryan there, has now come in Aryan's support. Zaid Khan defends Aryan Khan While talking to TV9Kannada, Zaid mentioned that the gesture was not meant for everyone present there, but for his manager. Zaid said, “I have known Aryan Khan for many years. We both learned acting at the same place. He had messaged me that he was coming to Bengaluru. So we went to an opening ceremony.” While explaining what actually happened that evening, he said, “There were more people there than we thought. Aryan said that if there were so many people, I wouldn't be able to do it. His manager (also a friend) went to disperse the people. He didn't come for a long time. Then we went to the balcony to see what happened. Then he showed Aryan to his friend-cum-manager. He didn't show it to the people.” About the controversy Advocate Owaiz Hussain S, a resident of Sankey Road, has reportedly submitted the complaint to the DGP, the Bengaluru City Police Commissioner, the DCP (Central Division), the Inspector of the Cubbon Park Police Station, and the Karnataka State Women's Commission against Ayan Khan. He noted that there were several women present at the venue when Aryan Khan allegedly made the gesture, adding that the gesture amounted to insulting their modesty and constituted vulgar and indecent behaviour in a public place. Aryan was in Bengaluru recently to promote his brand D'yavol. IN the video now going viral, Zaid Khan is seen showing Aryan something on his phone while talking to him. As the two, along with a bunch of others, appeared on the balcony of a pub, Aryan was seen flashing his middle finger to someone on the crowd, while waving to others.
07 December,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe buzz has been building since April when the announcement was first made — Neetu Kapoor and Kapil Sharma would star in Dadi Ki Shaadi, marking Riddhima Kapoor Sahni’s Bollywood debut. Now, director Ashish R Mohan tells mid-day that the family entertainer is set to wrap up soon, and he hopes to release it on Mother’s Day (May 10, 2026) or sometime in April. After a 40-day schedule in Shimla, Mohan shares that although most of the shoot is complete, some patchwork scenes, including an end-credit song, remain to be filmed in January. “I wanted to complete the film after I locked my release date. We had shot a song choreographed by Ganesh [Acharya] master in Shimla earlier this year, but a one-day shoot remained as there was talk of a [conflict between] India and Pakistan,” he recollects. On May 7, India launched strikes on Pakistan in an operation code-named Operation Sindoor. For safety, Mohan returned to Mumbai with the cast and crew. Riddhima Kapoor Sahni and Ashish R Mohan He shares that the finale number features “700 children from the schools in Shimla and outside and has the entire cast in it. I will invite the entire cast to come down [to] shoot the song and scenes — in Golden Tobacco Factory or Film City. [We also have] one-day scene to shoot with Riddhima,” adds the filmmaker. Currently in post-production, Dadi Ki Shaadi is a comedy revolving around a family who gets involved in a family matriarch’s marriage. Earlier, the film — also starring South superstar Sarath Kumar, Nikhat Hegde, Tejaswini Kolhapure, and Sadia Khateeb — was planned for a December release. The makers will now announce the release date on December 20.
07 December,2025 05:01 PM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRADVERTISEMENT
-1765116031101_d.png "Haiwaan shoot wrapped up")
