Troubles seem to be mounting for actress Shilpa Shetty and her husband Raj Kundra in the Rs 60-crore fraud case. The couple, facing a Mumbai police probe in a Rs 60-crore criminal breach of trust case, have now been charged with cheating, officials said on Wednesday. Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW), probing the case, has invoked a cheating charge against the high-profile couple in addition to criminal breach of trust. Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra accused of cheating According to an official, earlier the case was registered under Section 406 of the IPC (punishment for criminal breach of trust) against the celebrity couple, and after investigation, Section 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) has been added. They were booked under the IPC as the case was filed before the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) came into force on July 1, 2024. On conviction, cheating under the IPC attracts imprisonment for up to seven years, plus a fine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raj Kundra (@onlyrajkundra) About the fraud case The case was registered on a complaint filed by a 60-year-old businessman, Deepak Kothari, a resident of Mumbai's Juhu, alleging he was duped of Rs 60.4 crore in a loan-cum-investment deal linked to the now-defunct company Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd (where Kundra and Shetty were directors). The EOW has already recorded statements of Kundra and Shetty in connection with the case. The couple's legal team has dismissed the allegations, stating the matter is purely civil in nature and had already been adjudicated by NCLT Mumbai in October 2024. Apart from this, Shilpa Shetty was in the news as an FIR was filed against her restaurant Bastian in Bengaluru for violating operating rules. After the news surfaced, Shilpa and Raj denied allegations against them and dubbed them baseless. "We categorically deny the baseless and motivated allegations being circulated. The issues sought to be raised are being given a criminal colour without any lawful basis," he said in a post. "A quashing petition has already been filed before the Hon'ble High Court and is pending adjudication. Having fully cooperated with the investigation, we are sanguine that justice will prevail and have complete faith in law enforcement authorities and the Indian judiciary. We respectfully urge the media to exercise restraint as the matter is sub-judice," Kundra said further.
18 December,2025 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent‘O Romeo’ and his friends While the buzz around O Romeo remains relatively understated, the film is steadily emerging as a project of note. Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, it marks his much-anticipated reunion with Shahid Kapoor after Kaminey (2009), Haider (2014) and Rangoon (2017). The film also stars Triptii Dimri and Nana Patekar. Now we have learnt that actors Vikrant Massey, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Disha Patani have also joined the ensemble. Speaking about the film, Shahid said in an Instagram interview, “What’s next for me as an actor is a movie called O Romeo, and there might just be a Juliet in there too. It’s a love story with a lot of action.” New reforms, paps now have uniforms! Varinder Chawla (centre) with his team Mid-day had recently reported how Jaya Bachchan’s remarks once again put the spotlight on paparazzi culture in Bollywood (See it from their lens, December 5). Responding to the claims of being unprofessional on field, prominent paparazzo Varinder Chawla has introduced official uniforms for his team. Sharing the news on Instagram, he wrote, “In light of the recent conversations around professionalism in the paparazzi industry, we’ve taken the feedback in a positive and constructive spirit. As an initiative, Team Varinder Chawla now has official T-shirts that we will proudly wear on duty. A small step towards doing our work with more respect, responsibility, and pride.” Not dancing at weddings Saif Ali Khan Actor Saif Ali Khan has said he is uncomfortable performing at weddings, despite it being common practice in the film industry. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Saif recalled being discouraged by a family member early in his career. “I was dancing at a wedding once in Bombay and my aunt came backstage and said, ‘Don’t tell me you are dancing at this wedding,’” he said, admitting that the incident left a lasting impression. Saif explained that blurred lines between being a guest and a performer often cause discomfort for him. While acknowledging that such performances remain an accepted industry practice, it “no longer aligns” with his personal comfort.
18 December,2025 08:02 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamCelebrity stylist and costume designer Rick Roy was to style for a Bollywood-themed segment in the British show, Rob & Romesh Vs, featuring comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan. To his surprise, what began as a styling assignment soon turned into an on-screen role as director Graham Proud and producer Bill Brighton suggested that he feature in the opening episode of the ongoing eighth season. “They told me that they liked my personality, and decided, ‘Let’s put him in the show’,” recalls Roy. Initially, his role was to be under a minute. However, his presence in the episode kept expanding. “The concept was that Rob and Romesh are coming to Bollywood. Anupam Kher, Ali Fazal, and I are part of the Bollywood fraternity trying to groom them into getting a role in Bollywood. I thought it was just going to be a scene of me bringing the clothes or something. But they enjoyed whatever I was doing, and in the final edit, I have a lot of screen time.” Roy equally enjoyed styling Beckett and Ranganathan for the episode. “They asked me the most famous looks in Bollywood. So, I suggested a cop avatar and a full Indian wedding look,” he shares, adding that he thoroughly enjoyed their deadpan humour. 2019When the first season of ‘Rob & Romesh Vs’ aired
18 December,2025 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuJust a little past midnight on Wednesday, the team of Homebound in India received a news alert worth losing sleep over. Director Neeraj Ghaywan’s friendship drama, which was among the 86 contenders for the Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards, had secured a spot in the shortlist of 15. When mid-day reached out to Apoorva Mehta, co-producer of the Ishaan Khatter and Vishal Jethwa-starrer, he said that it is both a moment of celebration as well as the time to chart out the campaign’s next phase before the final five nominees are announced on January 22. Before the voting lines close on January 15, participating voters — that consist of members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — will view all shortlisted films before choosing the final five. Apoorva Mehta The key, Mehta said, is to tap the new voters who haven’t participated yet. “You have many new voters. So, the key is to make the film more visible to them; have more people see the film and hopefully they will spread the word,” he said. In the first leg of the Oscar campaign that began from November, producers Karan Johar and Mehta held screenings in Los Angeles, New York, and London, while also hiring award consultants to raise awareness about the film. It’s time to do more of the same. Despite the four-week window, things will gain momentum only in the last two weeks, stated Mehta. “Nobody [the competitors] will do anything this week because the holidays will start soon. We plan to go all out in the first two weeks of January. [Our strategy] will be a mix of screenings, PR, press, and advertorials. We will again travel to Los Angeles and New York with Homebound. Nobody can tell you how many registered voters watched it in the last month. You don’t even know who is registered [to vote] in the international category. So you have to depend on publicists [for that].” An aggressive Oscar campaign needs a robust budget. When asked about assigning budget for the next leg, he said, “That’s what we’re working on now.” Jan 22When the five nominees of the Best International Film category will be announced Also in the 15-film shortlist ‘Sirat’ (Spain) ‘It Was Just An Accident’ (France) ‘The Secret Agent’ (Brazil) ‘Sentimental Value’ (Norway)
18 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaRadhika Apte is currently basking in the success of her latest release, Saali Mohabbat. Amid the acclaim, the actress recently made an honest and unfiltered confession about being ill-treated by the producers of her debut film, Vaah! Life Ho Toh Aisi!. Radhika added that she would like to forget the film. Radhika Apte recalls horrible treatment from producers During a conversation with The Indian Express, Radhika revealed, "The awful producers didn't put me up and didn't pay me. When my mother and I asked them to sign a contract, they said, 'Arey, even Urmila Matondkar didn't sign a contract.' I don't know if she signed or not, but they treated us horribly." She added, "Mahesh Manjrekar was a great guy. That's why I like to forget my film, because the production was awful! And I say it out loud." SHe further opened up about how she was cast in the 2005 comedy film, saying, "I was doing a play called Brain Surgeon. It was a good play. We won an award in a state competition. Mahesh Manjrekar was one of the judges. He called me after the play and said, 'I want to cast you.'" The Ghoul actress further adds, "Then I didn't do a film for a long time. I finished college, and then I went back to films after a long time. So, I don't really count that as one of the films I did. But yeah, it's been two decades." Radhika Apte work front On the work front, Radhika is currently seen in Saali Mohabbat, a drama-thriller set against the backdrop of a small old town. Alongside Radhika Apte, the film also stars Sauraseni Maitra, Divyendu Sharma, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Anurag Kashyap, who play key roles. Saali Mohabbat is produced by Tisca Chopra, Jyoti Deshpande, Dinesh Malhotra, Vipin Agnihotri, and Manish Malhotra and written by Tisca Chopra. Next, she will be seen in Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders alongside Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Ila Arun, Chitrangda Singh, Deepti Naval, Revathy, Rajat Kapoor, and Sanjay Kapoor. The series is set to release on December 19. Later, she will be seen in a Telugu film starring Vijay Sethupathi. Meanwhile, she is also working on Kotya, her directorial debut, an action-fantasy film in Hindi-Marathi.
17 December,2025 10:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe launch of the upcoming war drama Border 2’s teaser has triggered a powerful wave of excitement and patriotic pride across the country. The brief yet impactful glimpse into the film’s world captures the intensity, courage and emotional depth of India’s soldiers, instantly positioning the film as one of the most anticipated cinematic tributes to the nation’s armed forces. The film stars Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty in pivotal roles. Varun Dhawan earns praise for his portrayal Varun Dhawan, who takes on the role inspired by the late Indian Army officer, Colonel Hoshiar Singh Dahiya, PVC, has drawn early acclaim for the sincerity and conviction evident in the teaser. Among the most meaningful responses has come from the hero’s own family, who shared their emotions after watching the first look. Colonel Sushil Kumar Dahiya, along with his family, expressed their appreciation, saying, “We just watched the Border 2 teaser and definitely Varun Dhawan has done justice. The teaser looks very promising, and it’s truly special for me and my family to see our legacy being told with such spirit and sincerity. Super excited to see the film. Wishing you and the entire team all the very best for the film.” About Border 2 teaser The teaser offers a commanding glimpse of the four leading men, Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh and Ahan Shetty, as they step into their respective roles across the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, each introduced in moments charged with valour, intensity and purpose. The video is laced with Sunny Deol’s iconic battle-scared avatar, Varun’s fierce intensity on duty, Diljit’s raw strength and determination in the middle of conflict and Ahan’s courage and grit as he takes on the war head-on. With battalions advancing, naval fleets cutting through the seas and fighter jets tearing across the skies, underscored by a rousing background score of the song ‘Hindustan Meri Jaan’ that heightens the emotion. The clip ends with Sunny saying, "‘Aawaz kaha tak jaani chahiye?" to which "Lahore tak!" can be heard in response. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 by T-Series and JP Films, is scheduled for a theatrical release on January 23, 2026. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunny Deol (@iamsunnydeol)
17 December,2025 06:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actor Dino Morea, who is gearing up for his latest release, Four More Shots Season 4, has applauded actors Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna for creating a strong impact with their recent performances, and also noted how the digital era has amplified their reach. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, the actor also reminisced about his movies Raaz and Aksar and revealed how people still remember him due to those films. Dino Morea's reaction to actors becoming internet sensations When asked about Dino's reaction to Bobby Deol and Akshaye Khanna becoming internet sensations, the actor replied, “The way Bobby has got his chance to shine in Animal and Akshaye has got his chance to shine, especially in Dhurandhar more than Chaava, is incredible.” He added, “When I had Raaz as a success or Aksar as a success, there was really no social media, right? So, people saw the movies and still remember me from then.” Dino recalled how Raaz travelled “from villages to top-tier cities” and revealed how the feedback then came only from real viewers. Comparing it with today, he said, “Today, people don't see a film, but they are all over the internet. And that spread is faster and wider.” Reflecting on his own journey, from being one of India’s top models to delivering a breakout performance in Raaz, Dino said that fame functioned differently in the pre-social media era. He further added, “If I had to do something like Akshay or Bobby did today in a certain role, I think that would spread really fast through the internet. And I would probably have the same craze that they are having today. And I feel fantastic for the both of them because they are brilliant.” Dino concluded by saying that the attention both actors are receiving is well deserved and reflective of their talent. The actor will soon be seen in the fourth season of the OTT series Four More Shots Please Season 4 alongside Kirti Kulhari, Sayani Gupta, Maanvi Gagroo, Bani J, Prateik Babbar, Neil Bhoopalam, Rajeev Siddhartha, and Lisa Ray. Dino Morea pens note for late father Dino Morea lost his father, Ronnie Morea, recently. On 17 December, Dino shared pictures of his father from his younger days, along with recent moments spent enjoying family time. He also posted a video of his late father working out at their home gym and another clip showing him grooving at what appeared to be a house party. Taking to Instagram, Dino wrote, "Live life to the fullest everyday, laugh everyday, be passionate in what you do, exercise, spend time out in Nature, get some Sun, eat well, climb a mountain, swim in the Sea, trek thru a forest, work hard, be nice, be kind and be loving and do all this on your own terms!! This list goes on. One person for me who embodies all this - my mentor, my hero, my father, DAD!! Thank you for the life lessons Dad." Ronnie Morea was Italian, and Dino spent the first 11 years of his life in Italy before moving to India. Born on December 9, 1975, Dino grew up in a culturally diverse household with an Italian father and Indian mother. He later completed his schooling in Bengaluru.
17 December,2025 05:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe release of the upcoming war drama Ikkis has been pushed by a week. The film, headlined by Agastya Nanda, was set to hit the big screens on December 25. However, on Wednesday, the makers announced that the film will now be released in theatres a week later, on January 1, 2026. This will mark the first theatrical release of the year. Ikkis, directed by Sriram Raghavan, marks the last film of late Dharmendra. Ikkis gets new release date The postponement of Ikkis comes as Ranveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar continues to cause havoc at the box office. The film, which was released in theatres on December 5, is enjoying an exceptional run even in its second week and is expected to maintain the momentum into its third week. Apart from this, Hollywood biggie Avatar: Fire and Ash is also set to release in theatres on December 19. This new year, gift yourself courage.Final #Ikkis trailer drops this weekend in theatres. A new chapter unfolds in legendary director Sriram Raghvan’s first war film.The true story of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra Awardee, Second Lt. Arun Khetarpal. Some heroes die young.… pic.twitter.com/NaiEHPSOBm — Maddockfilms (@MaddockFilms) December 17, 2025 Amid this, Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films has pushed the release date of Ikkis by a week. The final trailer of the film, based on the life of war hero Arun Khetarpal, will be unveiled on December 19. About Ikkis Maddock Films and Dinesh Vijan present Ikkis, directed by National Award–winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan. Ikkis is the untold true story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, the youngest recipient of the Param Vir Chakra at just 21, honoured posthumously for his unmatched courage and sacrifice during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Through Arun’s journey, Ikkis explores questions of morality, mortality, patriotism, and the power of young blood that rises when the nation calls. The film also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and marks the debut of Akshay Kumar’s niece Simar Bhatia. Expressing excitement about it, the actor wrote, “Holding you as a tiny baby to now watching you step into the world of films… life really has come full circle. Simar, I’ve seen you turn from a shy little girl who would hide behind her mom into this confident young woman ready to face the camera like she was born for it. Safar mushkil hai, but knowing you, you’ll walk into it with that same spark, that same honesty, and that same stubborn determination that runs in our family.”
17 December,2025 05:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe impact of the recently released film Dhurandhar has been profound, but for many. Among the many moments, actor Ranveer Singh's performance in the 26/11 sequence has emerged as the emotional core of the film, drawing an overwhelming response from audiences, critics, and even survivors of the tragedy. Among the most powerful reactions is that of a survivor who was inside the Taj Hotel on the night of the tragic attacks, whose words underline just how deeply Ranveer’s portrayal cuts. 26/11 terror attack survivor reviews Dhurandhar The survivor took to her X handle and wrote, "I was in the Taj Hotel on the night of 26/11 with my husband Ajay_Bagga. We were fortunate to survive the heinous terrorist attack that night and were rescued alive after 14 hours." She added, "The most bone-chilling scene in Dhurandhar for me was the red screen where the actual voice recordings of the 26/11 terrorists and their handlers were played. To hear what the handlers were instructing the terrorists to do, how brutal, inhuman and disgusting it was - just sent shivers through my body. To see the scene recreated from the other side- the handlers celebrating at every bomb going off & every person killed - if that doesn’t fill us with rage and renewed commitment to national security, what else will? 17 years have passed but the memory of what happened and what could have happened to us just shook me to the core . Gut wrenching and painful". She also tagged the makers of the film in her post. "Huge credit to Dhurandhar and its makers Aditya Dhar for ensuring that an entire new generation understands what truly happened on 26/11 in just those 2–3 minutes. That look of RanveerOfficial will haunt an entire generation." I was in the Taj Hotel on the night of 26/11 with my husband @Ajay_Bagga . We were fortunate to survive the heinous terrorist attack that night and were rescued alive after 14 hours .The most bone-chilling scene in #Dhurandhar for me was the red screen where the actual voice… pic.twitter.com/OJ6Zbf1wPm — Rajita Bagga (@RajitaBagga) December 16, 2025 About Dhurandhar Dhurandhar also stars R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Rakesh Bedi, with Manav Gohil, Danish Pandor, Saumya Tandon, Gaurav Gera, and Naveen Kaushik in supporting roles. The film draws inspiration from real-life events involving geopolitical tensions and covert operations conducted by India’s RAW, particularly those associated with Operation Lyari, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the crackdown on gangs and criminal syndicates. Ever since its release, the film has been subjected to polarised opinions.
17 December,2025 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Wamiqa Gabbi, who will next be seen in a film with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, calls the experience surreal, saying it feels like a childhood dream coming full circle. Wamiqa Gabbi on working in a Dharma film “It feels surreal,” Wamiqa said. “I’ve grown up on these films. To now be part of that world is pure joy.” For her, this association goes deeper than just a banner name as it taps into the nostalgia of being a kid watching Hindi films. “Growing up, Dharma films, YRF, even everything Sanjay Leela Bhansali created, that was my childhood. Those films shaped how I saw cinema,” she added. “So to now be doing a film with Dharma Productions feels surreal,” she said. The actress added: “It’s nostalgic, emotional and honestly, pure joy. I’m very happy and excited to see myself in that world. There’s always a special Dharma touch you feel when you watch one of their films.” On the work front, Wamiqa was last seen in Bhool Chuk Maaf, a fantasy romantic comedy directed by Karan Sharma. The film also stars Rajkummar Rao and Seema Pahwa. Wamiqa Gabbi's upcoming projects Wamiqa has a slew of films ahead, such as Kuku Ki Kundali, Tiki Taka, and Goodachari 2 Kuku Ki Kundali stars Bhuvan Bam, and the drama will be made under the direction of Sharan Sharma, who is known for his work in Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl and Mr. & Mrs. Mahi. She will be a part of the highly discussed sequel, Pati Patni Aur Woh 2, co-starring Ayushmaan Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan. Helmed by Mudassar Aziz, the project will get a theatrical release next Holi on March 4, 2026. She will also be seen in Bhoot Bangla, helmed by Priyadarshan. The film brings the iconic trio of Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. The project will also see Tabu, Rajpal Yadav and Mithila Palkar in crucial roles, along with others. Priyadarshan's directorial has been produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms in collaboration with Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali. The story has been written by Akash A Kaushik, and the screenplay by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. The dialogues have been penned by Rohan Shankar. Bhooth Bangla is slated for a theatrical release on April 2, 2026.
17 December,2025 04:57 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAditya Dhar’s directorial Dhurandhar has no intention of slowing down at the box office. The film, which is currently in its second week, has broken yet another record. The film refuses to budge even on weekdays in its second week, which is quite a remarkable feat for the Ranveer Singh-starrer. Dhurandhar box office On Thursday, trade analyst Taran Adarsh revealed that Dhurandhar is the first-ever Hindi film to earn Rs 200 crore in its second week alone. The previous record for the highest Week 2 collection was held by Pushpa 2, which collected Rs 199 crore in seven days. Dhurandhar achieved the double-century mark in just five days of Week 2. Taking to his X handle, Taran wrote, “Dhurandhar becomes the FIRST FILM in the history of #Hindi cinema to cross Rs 200 cr in Week 2 – and that too in just 5 days [Fri to Tue]. The previous record was held by Pushpa 2 Hindi, which had collected Rs 199 cr in Week 2 [7 days; Fri to Thu]." He added, "The second Tuesday business – without discounted ticket pricing – is beyond outstanding... Such collections on Day 12 – on a working day, for an A-certified film – are truly unimaginable... A new benchmark has been set". Dhurandhar Week 2 collection:Friday – Rs 34.7 croreSaturday – Rs 53.7 croreSunday – Rs 58.2 croreMonday – Rs 31.8 croreTuesday – Rs 32.1 crore SIMPLY UNSTOPPABLE: 'DHURANDHAR' CREATES HISTORY, YET AGAIN... #Dhurandhar becomes the FIRST FILM in the history of #Hindi cinema to cross ₹ 200 cr in *Week 2* – and that too in just *5 days* [Fri to Tue].The previous record was held by #Pushpa2 #Hindi, which had collected ₹… pic.twitter.com/svc7IhCKxh — taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) December 17, 2025 Ranveer Singh on Dhurandhar’s success Reacting for the first time to the overwhelming love, Ranveer shared a deeply grateful Instagram story that resonated across the industry. In his story, Ranveer wrote, “Kismat ki ek bohut khoobsurat aadat hai, ki woh waqt aane par badalti hai... Lekin filhal... Nazar aur sabr” (sic). In his message, Ranveer expressed heartfelt gratitude to the audience, acknowledging the faith, patience, and unwavering support that stood by him through time. The understated yet emotionally charged note reflected the actor’s humility, revealing an artist who values connection over celebration. It wasn’t just a reaction to numbers—it was a salute to the people who turned belief into a phenomenon. This roaring comeback marks a defining moment in Ranveer Singh’s journey. With this film, he has not only reaffirmed his position as one of the finest actors of his generation but also proved his ability to shoulder big-scale cinema while delivering performances that strike a chord. The records broken and milestones achieved are a testament to his star power and his relentless commitment to his craft.
17 December,2025 03:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
