An irritated actor Sanjay Mishra Veteran actor Sanjay Mishra has opened up about being typecast as comic relief despite delivering several dramatic performances over his three-decade career. Admitting that the label has often “irritated” him, Mishra said producers tend to rely on familiarity. Comparing casting to cooking, he remarked, “You keep spices in the kitchen, if it’s comedy, Sanjay Mishra will do it in one take.” While the typecasting frustrated him, the actor acknowledged it ensured steady work during lean phases. Collaboration, no one can deny Guneet Monga Kapoor The production house of Guneet Monga Kapoor, Sikhya Entertainment, has received a majority investment from Reliance Strategic Business Ventures Limited, which has acquired a 50.1% stake. Sikhya has backed Academy Award-winning documentaries Period. End of Sentence. (2018) and The Elephant Whisperers (2022). The partnership brings Sikhya together with Jio Studios, combining its globally recognised storytelling with Jio’s distribution reach to develop films and series for Indian and international audiences. Ready for global dominance Shah Rukh Khan in ‘King’ Superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s King is set for a massive international push as Red Chillies Entertainment and Marflix join hands with Yash Raj Films for global distribution. The collaboration signals a strategic move to take the film beyond Indian markets. A source told mid-day that the makers are “aiming for an unprecedented overseas footprint as King is being positioned as a truly global spectacle”. The film, also starring Deepika Padukone, will release on December 24.
04 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamSometimes talent is not the only factor; you need to be at the right place, at the right time. Janki Bodiwala, who plays a cop in Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3, will vouch for this. The actor was on a day trip to Mumbai and it surprisingly ended with her bagging the cop fare. “I had gone to Mumbai for some other work. That very day, I got a call from Shanoo ma’am [Sharma, casting director], who asked me to audition for a part. I went [to YRF Studios], she helped me prepare, and then auditioned me. Later, when I was returning to Ahmedabad, she called and said that the [makers] had liked me and wanted me to come back. I thought to myself, ‘I had gone for some other work and now I’m doing a YRF film’,” she marvels, still surprised at how it all panned out. Janki Bodiwala If Bodiwala starred with Ajay Devgn in her maiden Bollywood film Shaitaan (2024), her second outing saw her rub shoulders with Mukerji. “For the first two-three shots, I was quite nervous. But your co-actors’ energy helps you. She was so involved in her character that it set the tone on the set,” she says. Off set, she saw a completely different side to Mukerji. “At the mahurat puja, she was there with her family. She was exactly how we are with our families. There was no hint of her stardom.”
04 February,2026 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaUntil mid-January, director Milap Zaveri and producer Bhushan Kumar were going full throttle on their next, an intense action drama with Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal. But things have a way of changing overnight in the film industry. Now, it is heard that Zaveri and the T-Series head honcho will start another project, which will see the director reuniting with his Ek Deewane Ki Deewaniyat (2025) actor Harshvardhan Rane. Tiger Shroff and Vidyut Jammwal mid-day has learnt that Anil Kapoor is in talks to play a pivotal role in the yet-untitled movie that is expected to roll this month. A trade source revealed, “The makers are in the final stage of discussion with Anil. Milap will direct the actor for the first time.” What of the Shroff and Jammwal-starrer then? Apparently, the actors had started training for the actioner. The source indicated that creative differences led to the film being put on the backburner. Aakankshaa Sharmaa, who got noticed in Badshah’s single ‘Jugnu’, has been cast opposite Harshvardhan Rane in the film “Milap chose to do Harshvardhan’s movie over the other as too many creative differences were creeping in. It can happen when you cast two action heroes, but they shouldn’t interfere in the script. That said, it was an amicable parting. There was also a date clash as the makers wanted to begin the Harshvardhan movie in February, and no way would the Vidyut-Tiger film be complete by then.” Milap Zaveri
04 February,2026 07:45 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRThere’s a process Bejoy Nambiar follows. He usually directs only those films that have been written by him. Naturally then, he walked into Tu Yaa Main’s narration prepared to say no. “The script came from Himanshu Sharma, Aanand L Rai [producer], and Abhishek Bandekar [co-writer]. I was immediately hooked,” recalled Nambiar, smiling. You can’t blame him. It’s not every day that you get a thriller about two content creators — played by Adarsh Gourav and Shanaya Kapoor — battling for survival against a crocodile. “I enjoyed it so much that after the narration, I called my wife and said, ‘If the narration itself was this engaging, my job is to execute it honestly.’ Plus, this was a genre I hadn’t explored before,” said the director, who broke out with the crime drama, Shaitan (2011). Shanaya Kapoor and Adarsh Gourav in the film. Pics/Instagram, Youtube Gourav was already cast in Tu Yaa Main when it was being written. Kapoor bagged the part after two rounds of audition. That brought Nambiar to the main player in the creature feature. Against repeated advice, the director insisted on working with a real crocodile for certain portions. “We broke the shoot into three parts — real crocodile, animatronic crocodile, and VFX. Everyone told me not to shoot with a real crocodile. But I felt that even if I got one authentic shot, it would be worth it.” Bejoy Nambiar The team eventually chose a crocodile farm in Thailand after scouting locations in Australia and Indonesia. Breaking down the process, he said, “We had four wranglers, a local safety team, and a small crew. We first shot the crocodile alone for half a shift, letting it get used to the environment. Only after that did we bring the actors in. After a point, the crocodile was so used to the wranglers that it almost felt like working with a trained animal. There was never a moment of aggression.” In total, the team shot nearly seven-eight hours with the reptile. Considering the actors filmed certain sequences with it, preparation was key. “We over-prepped. The entire second half was animated in advance. Every sequence [with the reptile] was broken down shot by shot, so the actors knew exactly what was expected. I’d tell them, ‘Focus only on these specific beats. Don’t think beyond that’.” Remember that film? Rakesh Roshan Crocodiles immediately remind Indian viewers of Rakesh Roshan’s ‘Khoon Bhari Maang’ (right). Bejoy Nambiar sought permission from Roshan to reference the film and use certain shots. “He was so gracious. Later, he texted that he loved the trailer. I even heard from Rekha,” he shared.
04 February,2026 07:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuSince its announcement almost a year ago, Tu Yaa Main has been much-anticipated, given its theme of survival as well as the intriguing dynamics between its primary characters. Now weeks ahead of the release, the Adarsh Gourav-Shanaya Kapoor starrer, finds itself at the receiving end of online criticism. Reason? It is adapted from the 2018 Thai film The Pool. Miffed audience members are calling the film a copy, despite the survival thriller being an official adaptation. Furthermore, the makers are being criticised for allegedly lacking originality. We reached out to director Bejoy Nambiar, who expressed his displeasure at the discourse. “It is an official adaptation. We have mentioned it in the credits in the trailer and also in the film. I am just annoyed how people just assume that we are just copying and remaking. Since it’s the first time I am adapting another film, I made it a point not to watch the original,” he said. The end credit slate of Tu Yaa Main official trailer mentions “adapted from the original screenplay ‘The Pool’, written by Ping Lumpraploeng.” The Pool tells the horror of a couple trapped in a deep pool with a crocodile being their opponent. For Tu Yaa Main, Himanshu Sharma has been credited with the story, while screenplay and dialogues have been written by Abhishek Arun Bandekar. Co-produced by Aanand L Rai’s Colour Yellow and Bhanushali Studios, Tu Yaa Main is slated to arrive in theatres on February 13.
04 February,2026 07:26 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaFarhan Akhtar's 120 Bahadur released in theatres in November 2025. However, despite a strong plot, the film failed at the box office. Now, Farhan Akhtar's mother, writer Honey Irani, recently opened up about how the film's failure emotionally impacted Farhan Akhtar and how he is coping with the setback. Honey Irani on 120 bahadur's failure During a conversation with Vickey Lalwani, Honey Irani shared, "We have all gone through it. He and Zoya both have gone through it. Of course, it is your personal loss because you have worked so hard on it, and so many people are involved with the film, and so much money is involved. And when that film doesn't work, it pains a lot." She further continued, "It will take Farhan time to get over it, and to get over it, you have to move on to the next thing. But it will take time." The veteran writer further explained how she has always advised her children to "not take success to their head and failures to their heart." Honey said, "This is a part of life. Sometimes those films work that you didn't expect to work, and sometimes even good films don't work. Kaagaz Ke Phool was a masterpiece, but it did not work. These things happen in life. One has to analyse it." Previously, Farhan Akhtar had shared how filming 120 Bahadur was challenging, given that the team was shooting at 14,000 feet in Ladakh. He said, "You're shooting in any place that is inhospitable to a certain degree; it's always a challenge. Ladakh, of course. So we were shooting at about 14,000 feet. The weather was extremely hot at times and then extremely cold. We experienced dust storms as I'd never seen before in Ladakh, and I've been there many times myself." About 120 Bahadur Farhan Akhtar plays the character of Major Shaitan Singh Bhati, the revered Param Vir Chakra awardee who fiercely led the Ahir Company with extraordinary bravery. The film was helmed by Razneesh 'Razy' Ghai and was released in cinemas on November 21, 2025. Despite some positive reviews, the film turned out to be a box office disappointment and earned hardly Rs 24 crore.
03 February,2026 10:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSunny Deol, who is currently basking in the success of Border 2, is all set to take on the courtroom once again in his upcoming film Ikka. The recently unveiled slate of content by Netflix announced the upcoming courtroom drama, which will have Sunny Deol play a lawyer, against Akshaye Khanna, who plays a convict. Sunny Deol plays a lawyer after 33 years Sunny Deol plays a lawyer, as he is seen donning his black and white ensemble and walking towards the courtroom. Notably, the last time he played a lawyer on screen was in the 1993 film Damini. The character and Sunny's portrayal became legendary for his iconic 'Tareekh pe Tareekh' dialogue. The award-winning film also starred Meenakshi Seshadri, Rishi Kapoor, and Amrish Puri, among others. Interestingly, what makes Ikka more special is that it marks the reunion of Sunny Deol and Akshaye Khanna on screen after 28 years. The two were last seen together in Border, a war epic that became a classic. Ikka is set to revive that on-screen chemistry, but this time, both stand on opposite sides. While Sunny Deol is soaking in the success of Border 2, Akshaye Khanna is receiving a lot of reviews and recognition for his recent blockbuster Dharundhar. It will be interesting to see the legendary actors reunite on screen, both at their peak in their second innings. About Ikka Ikka is the story of a celebrated, incorruptible lawyer, played by Sunny Deol, who is arm-twisted into defending a murder accused, Akshaye Khanna. Sunny stands at a point where he has notoriously ended his career, and now is pushing to use every trick in the trade, ethical or not, to win the case. However, if he fails, he stands to lose everything he holds dear. The team of Ikka shared, “We are excited to deliver IKKA, our second original for Netflix after Maharaj, which garnered immense audience love. This deeply personal script nurtured for years unfolds as a riveting face-off between two arch-rivals: a top lawyer forced to defend the man whose past with him and his wife hold many painful memories. Brace for a relentless thriller packed with emotional depth, a father’s unyielding quest to shield his family, even at the cost of his principles, in a deal with the devil. Ideological clashes fuel this high-octane battle from the word go till the last frame with twists and turns galore. Our profound thanks to Netflix for this platform, and to the cosmos for uniting Sunny Deol, Akshaye Khanna, along with Tillotama Shome, Dia, Sanjeeda, Jyoti and a stellar cast and even better crew. We hope viewers revel in the pace and champion these characters.”
03 February,2026 06:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court recently directed Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav to surrender in connection with multiple cheque bounce cases. The court was reportedly dealing with a series of petitions filed by Yadav and his wife challenging their conviction and sentence under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Rajpal Yadav asked to surrender A single-judge Bench of Swarana Kanta Sharma deprecated Rajpal Yadav's conduct in the matter after taking into consideration his repeated failure to honour settlement commitments despite being given several opportunities. The High Court order the actor to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 4 p.m. on February 4 "This Court is of the view that the conduct of the petitioner no. 1 (Rajpal Yadav) deserves to be deprecated. Despite repeatedly giving assurances and seeking indulgence of this Court, he has failed to comply with the orders passed from time to time," Justice Sharma observed. Court cites repeated delays Taking into consideration the conduct of the petitioners, Justice Sharma observed that despite "considerable leniency" shown over a prolonged period, the settlement amount was still not paid in terms of the undertakings given to the court. "This Court finds no justification to continue the indulgence granted to the petitioner no.1 earlier," the Delhi High Court noted, adding that the actor had "repeatedly breached undertakings given before this Court". In its order, Justice Sharma noted that the sentence awarded by the trial court had been suspended as early as June 28, 2024, after the petitioners expressed willingness to amicably settle the dispute with the complainant company, and the matter was even referred to mediation. The order further recorded that no payment was made for nearly a year, despite assurances and specific timelines fixed by the Delhi High Court from time to time. While directing the release of the amount already deposited with the Registrar General to the complainant company, Justice Sharma granted limited indulgence by allowing time till February 4 for surrender, accepting the submission that the actor was presently engaged in professional work in Mumbai. "However, in the interest of justice, the petitioner no.1 is directed to surrender before the concerned Jail Superintendent by 04.02.2026 at 4:00 PM, to serve the sentence awarded to him by the learned Trial Court," the Delhi High Court said. The matter was listed on February 5, seeking compliance from the concerned jail authorities. (With inputs from IANS)
03 February,2026 05:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAs the buzz about the sequel to Nag Ashwin’s sci-fi Kalki 2898 AD continues, every new update from the film has kept the fans on their toes. A few days ago, the film once again made headlines after reports emerged suggesting that the makers are planning on replacing Deepika Padukone, who quit the film in September 2025, with Sai Pallavi. Now, the makers have reacted to the reports. Sai Pallavi to replace Deepika Padukone in Kalki 2? Hindustan Times recently spoke to a representative of Kalki 2 about reports of Sai Pallavi being brought on board after Deepika Padukone’s exit. The representative confirmed that the makers are looking at Sai to replace Deepika. “Nothing has been finalised yet. But yes, the makers are looking at Sai to play SUM-80 after Deepika’s exit. They think she’ll be a perfect fit for the role,” they tell us. They also brushed off rumours that Sai has been finalised by Nag and that shooting will resume soon. “All these are just rumours because nothing has been finalised yet. Please wait for official confirmation,” they said. Notably, the producer and director are yet to release a statement on this. Deepika Padukone's exit from Kalki 2 Deepika Padukone had a controversial exit from the sequel, which came to light in September 2025, soon after she stepped away from Spirit, directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga. According to reports, she had shot for nearly 20 days for the sequel before leaving due to a fee-related issue. Although neither Deepika nor the makers commented on the reason for her exit, the makers had confirmed the exit via a controversial X post. In the first film, Deepika played the role of SUM-80, also called Sumati, who is a pregnant test subject in Project K and the prophesied mother of Kalki. After escaping from Supreme Yaskin’s lab, she is protected by Amitabh Bachchan’s character, Ashwatthama. Produced by Vyjayanthi Movies, Kalki 2 is expected to continue exploring this storyline, making the role and casting of SUM-80 a crucial one. And with reports of Sai Pallavi now possibly coming on board, fans are eager to see how the role may evolve.
03 February,2026 04:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Delhi High Court has allowed former Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) officer Sameer Wankhede to move to a Mumbai court with his defamation lawsuit against a Netflix show referencing the Aryan Khan case. The Delhi court had earlier dismissed his plea after holding that the national capital court lacks territorial jurisdiction. Delhi HC allows Sameer Wankhede to move Mumbai court The matter was brought before Justice Vikas Mahajan, who allowed Wankhede's application seeking permission to present his complaint before a competent court in Mumbai. The court granted permission and asked the parties to appear before the Mumbai court on February 12, which is when Wankhede proposes to institute the suit. Justice Vikas Mahajan directed, "The application is allowed. Let the parties appear before the City Civil and Sessions Court, Dindoshi, Malad in Mumbai on February 12 when he [Wankhede] proposes to present the plaint." During the hearing, Wankhede's counsel informed the court regarding the January 29 order of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, which returned the complaint under the Civil Procedure Code and granted him permission to approach the appropriate forum. Acting on that liberty, Wankhede moved an application under Order VII Rule 10A CPC to facilitate the transfer of the case to Mumbai. Permitting the request, the court noted that procedural requirements had been met and formally cleared the way for the suit to be undertaken before the City Civil Court. About the lawsuit Back in 2021, Wankhede, then Zonal Director of NCB, had arrested Aryan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act) following a drug raid in Mumbai. Aryan was later cleared of the charges. Recently, Wankhede had approached the Delhi High Court claiming that a character shown in Episode 1 of the Netflix series The Ba***ds of Bollywood, produced by Red Chillies Entertainment and directed by Aryan Khan, was a veiled and defamatory portrayal of him. The series is linked to events surrounding the Aryan Khan drugs case. He sought orders for removal or restraint on certain scenes, arguing that the depiction damaged his reputation and dignity. Wankhede alleged that the character's appearance, conduct, and mannerisms bore an unmistakable resemblance to him and had been widely identified as such in media reports. The defendants, however, raised a preliminary objection on territorial jurisdiction, arguing that the suit ought to have been filed in Mumbai since Wankhede resides there and Red Chillies Entertainment's registered office is also located in the city. They further maintained that the series is a fictional and satirical work and does not recreate the Cordelia cruise raid. Accepting these submissions, Justice Kaurav had earlier ruled that the Delhi High Court could not entertain the suit and ordered the plaint to be returned. With Monday's order, that decision has now been procedurally operationalised, enabling Wankhede to continue his legal challenge in Mumbai. (With inputs from ANI)
03 February,2026 03:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar 2 is among the most talked-about and highly anticipated films of 2026. Amid the growing buzz, leaked images from the sets of Dhurandhar: The Revenge recently went viral on social media. The pictures featured Sanjay Dutt and Arjun Rampal shooting in South Mumbai’s Ballard Estate, which had been transformed into Karachi’s Lyari locality, where a key portion of the film is set. However, the shoot was halted two days ago following police intervention. Dhurandhar 2 lands in trouble According to a report by Mumbai Mirror, the Mumbai Police took action after the film’s crew allegedly flew a drone in the area without proper authorisation. A First Information Report (FIR) was filed against location manager Rinku Rajpal Valmiki under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for “knowingly disobeying lawful orders from officials.” The FIR stated that drones were used without the required permissions. As per the report, on February 1, Sanjay Dutt arrived on set to shoot a crucial sequence for Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The actor, who plays SP Choudhary in the film, was seen dressed in a Pathani suit and holding a gun, with the drone intended to capture his dramatic walk. However, police officials arrived on set and ordered the shoot to be halted after discovering that the drone was being operated without permission in a high-security area. Zonal DCP Pravin Mundhe reportedly confirmed the incident and stated that the location manager was taken into custody. Police sources told the tabloid that while the line producers had secured permission from the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited for the shoot, they failed to obtain clearance for drone usage. The tabloid also quoted a local resident who claimed that the Dhurandhar 2 team had blocked two parallel roads—Fort-Nariman Street and Modi Street—on January 30, 31, and February 1 for the shoot. Dhurandhar 2 streaming rights Recently, the makers unveiled a new poster announcing the sequel’s title as Dhurandhar: The Revenge. The striking visual teased the next chapter of the high-octane franchise. Ranveer Singh shared the poster on Instagram, featuring deep, ominous red tones that set a dark and intense mood. The actor is seen soaked in rain, staring ahead with a fierce, unflinching expression. Behind him, carved into a blood-red wall, looms the title The Revenge, dominating the frame like a warning. The release date—19.03.26—is prominently displayed at the top. Notably, the poster carries the logos of Star Gold and JioHotstar, indicating that the satellite and OTT rights for Dhurandhar 2 have been sold to the respective platforms. The first instalment is currently streaming on Netflix. Dhurandhar 2 resumes with Hamza Ali Mazhari, an Indian undercover agent who has successfully infiltrated Pakistan’s underworld. After eliminating Rehman Dakait, Hamza rises through the ranks of power, only to confront his most formidable adversary yet—Major Iqbal, the ISI mastermind known as Bade Sahab.
03 February,2026 02:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1770136474569_d.png "Still from 120 Bahadur")
