Sunny Leone has been hosting the dating reality show Splitsvilla for several seasons. But never before has a season been “absolutely cuckoo, crazy, and bananas”. “I don’t know what happened. Everybody in the creative and production team went crazy,” laughs Leone, referring to the constant twists in the 16th season. The creative aspect and the contestants in this instalment, Leone shares, were too much to handle. “I can’t even tell you how many pep talks and counselling sessions I had with the contestants this season,” says Leone. She adds that it was emotionally challenging for both the contestants and her. “I am sensitive to violence. So, I wanted to help the boys and girls grow as individuals, without resorting to [unfavourable] behaviour. They are young kids, so they’re [bound] to make mistakes,” she says. (L-R) Uorfi Javed and Sunny Leone In a recent episode, Leone scolded contestant Himanshu Arora for his insolent behaviour towards Uorfi Javed during an interaction. Leone, who is particularly protective of Javed, shares that it was important to school them. “I don’t want people to mess with Uorfi. Himanshu had spoken awfully to her when she was only doing her job. Lines should not be crossed.” 10Number of ‘Splitsvilla’ seasons hosted by Sunny Leone
10 February,2026 07:52 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaThere are films that create noise over the release weekend and then fade away. Boman Irani is glad that his directorial debut, The Mehta Boys (2025), hasn’t been one of them. As the father-son drama completed a year of release on February 7, the first-time director told mid-day that to him, the movie’s enduring emotional connect has mattered far more than any conventional metric of success. “People keep discovering it, revisiting it, and talking about how it resonated with them. That is gratifying. The film is about relationships we all recognise,” he said. Pics/AFP, Getty Images, Youtube, Instagram Irani not only helmed The Mehta Boys, but also played the aged father trying to fix his strained relationship with his son, essayed by Avinash Tiwary. Was going behind the camera a radical shift from facing it? “The biggest difference was that for the first time, the creative vision — the tonality, framing, and visual language — was in my control,” he reflected. Now, he is back in front of the camera for Khosla Ka Ghosla 2. While Dibakar Banerjee hasn’t returned to the director’s chair, the original cast members have reprised their roles. “The new director is doing a fantastic job. The spirit of the story is intact,” said the actor. Is the ‘3 Idiots’ sequel happening? Boman Irani, who played the eccentric Viru Sahastrabuddhe in the 2009 comedy, said he has no concrete information, before adding, “Whatever Rajkumar Hirani [director] chooses to do, I’ll be there for him.” ‘The Mehta Boys’ premièred at the Chicago South Asian Film Festival in September 2024
10 February,2026 07:43 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ PanchalLots of Pankaj Tripathis of the next five years are here,” said Pankaj himself, introducing the play, La-ilaaj, directed by Faiz Mohammed Khan, at Bandra’s Rangsharda auditorium, late Sunday night. The play’s been produced by Pankaj, with his wife, Mridula Tripathi. And the actor as the female lead was their daughter, young Aashi Tripathi. Present in the audience were some of Pankaj’s co-stars from the series, Mirzapur: Shweta Tripathi and Rasika Dugal. A mention of the show in the play had the audience in splits. (L-R) Omkar Patil and Aashi Tripathi. Pics/By Special Arrangement What did we think of the play? A fine, fun, rustic musical with the quality of onstage singing so stellar that it felt as if it was pre-recorded. Especially, from the male lead (Omkar Patil). Young Aashi did a dance number that seemed an evocative ode to Umrao Jaan (1981). The surprise package was still Pankaj in the third/final act, coolly encouraging the fresh cast, including the new talented Tripathi in town!
10 February,2026 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIt was love at first read for Mihir Ahuja with Shabad — Reet Aur Riwaaz, in which he plays a boy whose football dreams clash with his father’s hopes of him becoming a singer. But the actor knew the role would demand intense prep, since he was to play a guy with a stammer. Ahuja shares, “My speech therapist [made me understand] that there can be multiple reasons for the stammer. It can be PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder], family pressure, or trauma. My character is an amalgamation of all the [cases] I studied, thanks to the speech therapist.” The actor, 27, also had to shed kilos to look younger in the ZEE5 series. He recalls, “Jayati Pandya, the showrunner, was not convinced about [casting me] because the role was of a 16-year-old. I asked her to give me a month, and I lost around six-seven kilos in that period.”
10 February,2026 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaHave you ever wondered what the three principal characters of ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011) would be like in their 40s, years after their famous trip across Spain? It’s something filmmaker Zoya Akhtar is wondering about. The buzz in the industry circles is that the filmmaker has completed the first draft of the hit’s sequel, which is likely to be her next directorial venture. Abhay Deol, Hrithik Roshan, and Farhan Akhtar in the film From what we’ve heard, the sequel revisits the core trio — essayed by Hrithik Roshan, Farhan Akhtar, and Abhay Deol — years later, reflecting on their evolving friendships, mid-life choices, and unresolved dreams. An insider told mid-day, “Zoya has finally locked a draft she is happy with. She was always clear that a sequel to ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ would only happen if it had something new to say. It’s not a nostalgic rehash; the film acknowledges the time elapsed and the changes that have taken place in the three men’s lives.” Meanwhile, the other Akhtar sibling, Farhan, is keen to roll his long-in-the-works road trip film, ‘Jee Le Zaraa’. Priyanka Chopra, Katrina Kaif, and Alia Bhatt have been attached to the project since its 2021 announcement While no announcement has been made, discussions are said to be underway with the male leads. The insider added, “The intent is to reunite the boys, but it all depends on alignment of dates.” If things go as planned, the sequel to ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ will roll only later this year after Zoya Akhtar’s banner wraps ‘Dahaad 2’ shoot
10 February,2026 07:21 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuHrithik Roshan's Krrish 4 has seemingly hit yet another hurdle. The superhero film has been in the pre-production stage and does not seem to be going on floors anytime soon. If the latest reports are to be believed, Krrish 4 has now been put on hold as Hrithik and Aditya Chopra are not mutually agreeing on the budget. Reasons for Krrish 4 delay Notably, Hrithik Roshan will be making his directorial debut with the fourth instalment of the superhero franchise. As a result, he is envisioning the film on a massive budget, while the Yash Raj Films head is not keen on the budget proposed by Hrithik. According to a Bollywood Hungama report, Hrithik wants Krrish 4 to be made on a budget close to Rs 500 crore. He believes that the film needs grand visuals, strong VFX, and large action set pieces to satisfy audience expectations, especially at a global level. However, Aditya Chopra is of the opinion that the budget should be controlled and capped at around Rs 350 crore. The YRF head thinks that a tighter budget will help manage risks and ensure better returns at the box office. Following several rounds of discussions, the two have reportedly decided to put the project on the back burner for now. That being said, the film has not been shelved, but just paused until a clear agreement is reached. Hrithik Roshan looking at another studios Meanwhile, reports also suggest that Hrithik is reportedly in talks with different studios to see if someone else is willing to produce the film on the budget he has in mind. Simultaneously, he is also reworking the script and reviewing Aditya Chopra's feedback seriously. Additionally, Hrithik is planning to take up another film as an actor before fully committing to Krrish 4. Reportedly, he has even heard several scripts and is close to finalising one. Likewise, an official announcement about his next acting project is expected to be made soon. For now, Krrish 4 will not go on floors in 2026 as planned. Things will only start moving if Aditya Chopra agrees to increase the budget, or Hrithik moves ahead with a new producer.
09 February,2026 08:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKaran Johar is one filmmaker whose name inevitably comes up when discussing fashion in Indian cinema. Over the years, his films have delivered iconic costumes that have not only stood the test of time but also set major fashion trends. Beyond his films, Johar himself is known for his distinctive personal style and willingness to experiment with fashion. Karan Johar on what happens to used sarees In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Karan spoke about sustainable fashion and revealed what happens to costumes once a film’s shoot is completed. Talking about their fate, he shared, “The saris go into our godown. And then they get used in other movies.” When asked whether audiences notice costumes being repeated across films, Johar confidently responded, “You won’t know it. And a lot of it is worn; there are extras wearing it all the time.” He clarified that while iconic costumes are preserved to avoid recognition, most outfits are constantly recycled. “Everything gets used in other movies — it’s constantly recycled. And my wardrobe is used all the time for films,” he said. Johar added that whenever stylist Anaita Shroff Adajania works on a project, she has full access to his personal wardrobe due to their close friendship. Ananya wore Karan's clothes in Call Me Bae Revealing an interesting detail, Johar shared that much of what Ananya Panday wears in the Amazon Prime Video series Call Me Bae actually comes from his own closet. “She’d come for Call Me Bae to pick up the clothes. What she does is genius. You won’t notice that Ananya Panday is wearing a lot of my clothes, because she puts it together so efficiently and beautifully,” he explained. He added that Anaita often jokes that his closet is “the best shop in the world,” frequently picking up jackets, sweatshirts, and bags. When asked whether he gets all his clothes back, Johar admitted that some do go missing, but it rarely bothers him. “No. Some just get lost. But I don’t even know. Half the time I’ve given her things that still have tags on them. I’m a compulsive retail maniac — it’s a disease. I need rehab to stop shopping,” he said candidly.
09 February,2026 07:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentNitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, starring Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, and Yash, is one of the most anticipated projects. The magnum opus has been making it to the headlines because of its cast and scale. Recently, Vikrant Massey shut down reports claiming he was to play the role of Meghanad in the film. And now, Tamil star Vijay Sethupathi has revealed that he is not a part of the film. Earlier reports suggested that the Farzi actor plays the role of Vibhishana in Ramayana. Vijay Sethupathi denies being a part of Ramayana According to Bollywood Hungama, Vijay Sethupathi dismissed the rumours while talking to senior journalist Subhash K Jha. Vijay said, “No, sir. I am not a part of this project. No clue where this is coming from.” Earlier reports emerged suggesting Raghav Juyal had been roped in to play the role of Meghanad in the film, replacing Vikrant Massey, who was initially playoing the role. On Sunday, Vikrant took to social media to clarify, saying, "Ok. To put the rumours to rest. I never was a part of Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayan. The many media portals reporting about my supposed 'replacement' should've done the requisite background check. Disappointing. Nonetheless, wishing everyone a part of the movie all the very best. Love (sic)." About Ramayana While the lead cast of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita and Yash as Ravana is confirmed, other actors who are confirmed to be a part of Ramayana are Sunny Deol (Hanuman), Ravi Dubey (Laxman), Arun Govil (Dashrath), Lara Dutta (Kaikeyi), Indira Krishnan (Kausalya), and Kunal Kapoor (Indra). Meanwhile, there are even reports of Rakul Preet Singh, Kajal Aggarwal, Mohit Raina, Adinath Kothare, and many other actors also being a part of the film. However, these have not been confirmed yet. Ramayana will be released in two parts. Ramayana Part 1 is set to hit the big screens on Diwali this year. Last year, the makers had shared a glimpse of the film. If recent reports are to be believed, the makers could unveil a teaser of the film on Rama Navami March 27, this year. On the other hand, Ramayana Part 2 will release on Diwali 2027.
09 February,2026 06:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Sunny Deol is currently enjoying the success of his Republic Day weekend release Border 2. The actor will also be seen on the big screen for the upcoming Independence Day weekend. The actor's next release titled Lahore 1947 will be released on August 13, 2026. Produced by Aamir Khan Productions, the film has been directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. The film brings together Sunny Deol, director Rajkumar Santoshi, and producer Aamir Khan for the first time. Lahore 1947 locks Independence day release Announcing the release date of the film, producer Aamir Khan said, “This was one of the favourite scripts of Dharamji, and I am so glad he could see the film.” Dharmendra passed away in November 2025. His last film Ikkis was released in theatres on January 1, 2026. Starring Sunny Deol, Shabana Azmi, Preiti Zinta, and Karan Deol, with music by AR Rahman and lyrics by Javed Akhtar. Lahore 1947 marks Sunny’s next project following his recent blockbuster successes. About Lahore 1947 Asghar Wajahat’s play, Jis Lahore Nai Dekhya O Jamyai Nai, has long fascinated Rajkumar Santoshi. Finally, the director decided to make its screen adaptation, titled Lahore 1947. It’s not surprising that Santoshi has roped in his frequent collaborator Sunny Deol for the historical drama. While the two had a falling-out before the making of The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002), they resolved their differences soon after. “I can only be upset with someone I have an equation with. The mutual admiration and respect has always remained,” said the director in an interview nearly three years ago. Wajahat’s famed play revolves around a family that moves to Lahore after the Partition. While Santoshi had taken the subject to Anil Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt in the past, he is glad that it is eventually materialising with his first choice. That’s not all — Sunny’s actor-son Karan Deol will also star in the period drama. “Karan plays Sunny’s son, and represents the next generation [in the narrative]. His character takes the story forward. When I went to narrate the film to Sunny, Karan was also there. He liked the subject and [his role].”
09 February,2026 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Ranveer Singh is reportedly caught in a major financial and legal standoff with production house Excel Entertainment after stepping away from the much-anticipated action film Don 3. Industry insiders suggest the disagreement has turned into a Rs 40 crore deadlock, with the studio allegedly seeking compensation for losses incurred during pre-production. Fallout due to Don 3 escalates into a financial dispute The conflict reportedly stems from Excel Entertainment’s significant investment in the early stages of the film, including scheduling, logistical planning, and hiring crew members. Sources claim the production house believes Singh’s sudden exit stalled the project and resulted in substantial financial damage that they should not have to bear alone. Ranveer Singh, however, is said to be pushing back strongly against the demand. According to reports, the actor does not believe he should be held financially responsible for stepping away from the film. Insiders indicate that Singh’s decision was driven by creative differences, particularly concerns regarding the script and the film’s direction. He reportedly maintains that the project had moved forward only after he initially approved it, making the current compensation claim unfair. A meeting between representatives of both parties was reportedly held to resolve the matter, but it ended without a breakthrough. With no immediate solution in sight, uncertainty now surrounds the future of Don 3. The production house is believed to have slowed down certain pre-production activities, with some teams allegedly advised to explore other opportunities until clarity emerges. All about the dispute The film was expected to be one of Excel Entertainment’s biggest ventures, generating significant buzz due to its scale and Ranveer Singh’s involvement. The ongoing stalemate has raised questions about whether the project will proceed with a new lead actor or face further delays. As neither side appears willing to compromise, the situation has become a talking point across the film industry. Trade experts note that disputes of this scale are rare and could potentially influence how contracts and exit clauses are handled in big-budget Bollywood projects moving forward. For now, all eyes remain on whether the disagreement will be settled through negotiation or escalate into a more formal legal confrontation.
09 February,2026 05:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith just four days to go for its theatrical release, Sajid Nadiadwala and Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo is fast emerging as one of the most anticipated films of the year. Starring Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal, Disha Patani, and Tamannaah Bhatia, with Vikrant Massey making a special appearance, the film has already generated strong pre-release buzz. Adding to the excitement, director Vishal Bhardwaj revealed that both Vikrant Massey and Tamannaah Bhatia chose to come on board the film without charging any fee, driven by their belief in the story and their respect for the filmmaker. Why Vikrant Massey did not charge money for O'Romeo? O’Romeo is mounted on a substantial budget of Rs 75–80 crore and will need to cross the Rs 100 crore mark at the box office to be declared a hit. The film ranks among the big-budget projects of Shahid Kapoor’s career and marks one of Vishal Bhardwaj’s most ambitious directorial projects to date. With its OTT and satellite television rights already sold, the film enters its theatrical release with strong pre-release recovery in place. Speaking about Vikrant Massey, Vishal Bhardwaj shared that the actor had committed to O’Romeo years ago when he was still an emerging talent. Despite becoming a major star after 12th Fail, Vikrant honoured that promise when approached again, choosing to do the role free of cost. The actor told Bhardwaj that watching Maqbool inspired him to enter the film industry and changed his life forever, making this special appearance his way of paying tribute. Vikrant shot for nearly 8–9 days, delivering a powerful performance that adds significant weight to the narrative. Tamaannah immediately said yes Vishal Bhardwaj further revealed that Tamannaah Bhatia also agreed to be part of O’Romeo without charging a single penny, despite budget constraints. Though her role is brief, it plays a crucial part in unveiling a major plot twist in the film. Tamannaah immediately said yes when approached and went on to shoot for nearly 12 days far more than initially planned also participating in workshops and rehearsals to prepare for the layered character. Her commitment and generosity, Bhardwaj noted, left a lasting impact on the film. Sajid Nadiadwala presents O’Romeo, a film by Vishal Bhardwaj, produced by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. The film releases theatrically on 13th February 2026.
09 February,2026 05:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
