If things had gone as planned, Sapna Bhavnani would be unveiling the sixth edition of the Wench Film Festival at Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata today. But events over the past week have compelled the filmmaker to cancel the Kolkata leg of the horror film festival. ‘Fly’, a short film, will be screened at the festival in Mumbai Things came undone a week ago when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) shared a few updates with her, which included the removal of SRFTI as the venue. “On February 11, SRFTI’s PR manager informed me that they were told to put all festival activities on hold. A day later, my team member got an email from the I&B ministry in which they had mentioned the two films that they didn’t clear for screening. Also, they removed SRFTI as the venue. We never heard directly from the institute,” she shared. With little time to arrange a new venue, Bhavnani had to cancel the screenings. She added, “It was too late for me to even set up a whole screening in Kolkata, in such short notice. Many of the filmmakers, whose films we were to screen, are also alumni of SRFTI, so they were naturally very excited for the festival. When we announced the cancellation, one of them said, '‘We had already bought our tickets and booked a hotel on a non-refundable fee.’ So, I thought we have to clear our name, because we have absolutely nothing to do with this. As a festival, we have done everything we were required to do. We needed an NOC, so we provided that. We were even setting up master classes for the college without budgets. They told us they would give us budgets but you didn’t. But the point being is that there is still radio silence." The cancellation hurt her on many levels, the filmmaker said. “It’s been very sad for us, especially since this is a film school. I don't know what they have given into, what the backstory is, because they have not given us any idea, if it's censorship, or some pressure. Whatever it is, we don't know, but the point is, you're a film school. You should not be able to give into all this. As a film school, you should not even censor anything. Hence, I'm really disappointed at the way the whole thing went down. We have a great audience base in Kolkata that reaches out to us all the time, so a lot of people were very disappointed. I obviously refunded all the money for the passes that we had collected. And obviously, I'm going to cancel our MoU because we've not heard from SRFTI, and we don't want to work with someone who has kind of jeopardised our entire reputation of building such a massive festival.” This is not the only last minute development that the festival director had to deal with, as we learnt that National Film Development Corporation of India (NFDC) dropped out as the fest's Mumbai venue the same week. While Bhavnani had locked Alliance Francaise de Bombay for the Mumbai leg since the beginning itself, in months leading up to the festival, the filmmaker got to know that NFDC was open to collaborating with festivals for their venue. "When we received that email, I was thrilled. I spoke to people at Alliance Francaise. I told them, 'We'll still be partners. We'll just move the venue there, and it might be really wonderful for our filmmakers to have a bigger theater.' We followed whatever protocol was needed to get a clearance from NFDC. In the meantime, we submitted our final selection of films to the censor and we got an NOC from them. Until then, our venue partners were SRFTI and Alliance Francaise. If we had to proceed ahead with NFDC, we needed a letter from them saying they were okay to screen our films. That letter has to be submitted to the censor. Then they said they were coming on board and we could use their logo. So, we began announcing that on our social media. But we still needed a formal letter of confirmation. That took some time and finally they sent us the letter confirming us as our venue partner. But as we began our promotions on social media, we saw that they weren't accepting our posts. I sent them an email last Thursday asking for clarity. In the evening, we received an email, saying, 'We're very sorry. Because of unforeseen circumstances, we can't be a venue partner.' Of course, the filmmakers were disheartened." Putting this episode behind her, Bhavnani is directing energies towards the upcoming Mumbai leg of the festival, which is slated to take place at Alliance Francaise de Bombay from February 26 to March 1. "We love the vibe of this venue. They were always supposed to be our collaborators," Bhavnani said. The feeling is mutual for Alliance Francaise de Bombay as its executive director Laurent Vergain said, "Our association with the Wench Film Festival over the past year has been a truly rewarding journey. We are excited about the upcoming festival this February, which promises a dynamic line-up of films and conversations. We look forward to welcoming cinephiles for another edition that celebrates imagination, diversity, and the power of cinema to connect communities." The upcoming edition will feature 54 films, with filmmaker Ritesh Gupta's The Red Mask set to open the festival. While Mother of Flies, by Adams Family, will bring the curtains down on the horror/sci-fi/fantasy fest.
19 February,2026 12:46 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaPriyanka Chopra Jonas, award-winning actor, producer, and global cultural figure, appeared during promotions for her upcoming film, The Bluff, wearing Gaurav Gupta Couture. Priyanka Chopra wears Gaurav Gupta Couture The actor wore Golden Arc, a saffron-hued saree gown from Gaurav Gupta’s couture collection The Divine Androgyne, showcased in Paris in January 2026. Crafted in fluid chiffon, the design features a corseted structure anchored by a sculpted wrap bodice, unfolding into a softly pleated fall and finished with an extended veil drape. Styled with Wayman and Micah, the silhouette reflects the house’s ongoing exploration of strength and fluidity, reinterpreting classical drapery through a contemporary couture lens. Speaking on dressing Priyanka, Gaurav Gupta said, “Dressing Priyanka is always intuitive. She brings strength, fluidity, and a natural authority tocouture.” The appearance reinforced Gaurav Gupta Couture’s continued presence within global cinema-led fashion moments, where Indian craftsmanship and modern couture intersect seamlessly on the international stage Priyanka gets emotional seeing Harvard students in Indian attire Priyanka addressed students at Harvard Business School during an India Week session. However, at one moment, she turned emotional, seeing an auditorium filled with young Indians in sarees and kurtas filled her with pride. Reflecting on her own teenage years in the US, the global star said the moment made her hopeful for her daughter Malti Marie's future. "Looking out into the audience today, I only had one thought - you are the India I imagined." Priyanka shed light on her own experience while studying in the US years ago as a teenager. "When my 12-year-old self landed in a high school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and subsequently at Newton North High School in Massachusetts in the mid-'90s, there were not many who looked like me." She said she never imagined that decades later she would be addressing a packed hall at Harvard. "I would have never imagined in 30-something years that I would be speaking to you, the future of our culture, our world, on this stage, in this iconic chamber, where so many incredible people have not only spoken, but where so many leaders of the world as we know it were born. The audience was packed and we were Desi and Desi allies," she shared. "It made me want to cry, because this is not what my teenage experience looked like. But I'm so happy that you get to have it. We all stand on the shoulders of the generations before us. I'm so excited that my daughter will have all of you to look up to."
19 February,2026 12:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Mrunal Thakur is currently gearing up for the release of Do Deewane Seher Mein. The actress, along with co-star Siddhant Chaturvedi, attended comedian Raunaq Rajani’s show RelationShit Advice to promote their film. On the show, Mrunal recalled how her Scandinavian ex-boyfriend was jealous of her working with good-looking actors like Hrithik Roshan and Shahid Kapoor. Mrunal Thakur on insecurity in relationship During a discussion on insecurities in relationships, Mrunal admitted that she tends to feel insecure at times and went on to share a story about her ex-boyfriend. She recalled how he became insecure when she began working with Hrithik Roshan on Super 30. “In the initial stages of my career, I was shooting with Hrithik Roshan, then Shahid Kapoor. I prefer long-distance relationships because you can focus on your work,” she said. “This guy, who was Scandinavian, thought I was hanging around and shooting with a lot of good-looking men. So, he started working out and lost around 15–17 kg. He built muscles. Later, I found out that he stopped working out, started eating more, and gained 20 kg. He said he was tired of catching up. But I told him I never asked him to lose weight. It was his insecurity. I never made him feel like I needed to date a man with muscles,” she added. Mrunal on rumours of wedding with Dhanush For some time, Mrunal has been linked with actor Dhanush, and it was also reported that the two were set to get married on Valentine’s Day. Before the day arrived, Mrunal clarified in an interview that none of it was true. In an interview with Galatta Plus, she was asked if she had plans to get married soon. Addressing the ongoing rumours about her alleged wedding with Dhanush, she said, “Me? No. I think February 14 is going to be like April 1- April Fools’ Day. I don’t know who started this. First of all, I’ve been quoted, but I never said anything. And they just said, ‘Mrunal said so.’ I was like, wow, how beautiful. It’s scary.” Rumours about Dhanush and Mrunal’s close bond began circulating after the two were seen holding hands at a party in Mumbai. In a video shared on social media, the actress was also seen whispering something in the Raanjhanaa star’s ear, which made him smile. The 42-year-old actor reportedly flew from Chennai to Mumbai to attend the screening of Mrunal’s film Son of Sardaar 2, grabbing attention as he is known to rarely make public appearances. Meanwhile, Mrunal Thakur will next be seen in Do Deewane Seher Mein, co-starring Siddhant Chaturvedi. The film releases in theatres on February 20. She also has Dacoit with Adivi Sesh in the pipeline..
19 February,2026 12:41 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRanveer Singh’s Dhurandhar is enjoying a monstrous run at the box office even after 75 days of release. Its sequel, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is one of the most anticipated films of March 2026. While the teaser has raised anticipation, the CBFC certificate details of the film are out. The film has a runtime shorter than Part 1 and has received a U/A certificate. Dhurandhar 2 runtime details According to the Central Board of Film Certification website, Dhurandhar 2 was certified on February 9, 2026. The runtime of the film is 208 minutes, which means it is 3 hours and 28 minutes long. Not just that, the website has mentioned that the film has received a U/A 16+ certificate. The runtime of the first part was 3 hours and 34 minutes. While there's not a huge difference, Dhurandhar 2 will be six minutes shorter than the first instalment. As per unverified reports, Dhurandhar 2 resumes with Hamza Ali Mazhari (Ranveer Singh), an Indian undercover agent who has successfully infiltrated Pakistan’s underworld. After taking down Rehman Dakait, Hamza ascends the ranks of power, only to face his most formidable adversary yet, Major Iqbal, the ISI mastermind known as Bade Sahab. Titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the film is slated to release on March 19. To note, it will witness a box office clash with Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. The film also stars Nayanthara, Tara Sutaria, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, and Rukmini Vasanth in pivotal roles. More about Dhurandhar Dhurandhar also stars R. Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, and Arjun Rampal. Serving as the first instalment of a two-part film series, it centres on a high-stakes covert counter-terrorism operation. The film follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent who infiltrates Karachi's criminal syndicates and political power structures in Pakistan in an effort to dismantle a terror network targeting India. The film's storyline draws loose inspiration from multiple real-life geopolitical events and conflicts in South Asia, including the 1999 IC-814 hijacking, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and developments linked to Pakistan's Operation Lyari. Dhurandhar 2 has come under the scanner of the authorities for alleged violations of safety protocols during filming. In fact, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has also sought the blacklisting of Aditya Dhar’s production house, B62 Studios. The recommendation comes amid allegations that safety norms and civic regulations were repeatedly violated during the shooting of Dhurandhar 2. In a letter, AICWA addressed its concerns and slammed the production unit of the upcoming film. (With inputs from IANS)
19 February,2026 11:43 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter 25 years of marriage, love no longer comes wrapped in roses and surprise dinners. Instead, it's found in the laughter you share, the playful teasing, and those moments when you don't need to say anything to know exactly what the other person is thinking. That's exactly where Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna are today. One of Bollywood's most loved couples, Akshay and Twinkle, celebrated 25 years of togetherness earlier this year. With Valentine's Day now behind us, "Mr. Khiladi" found himself fielding questions during a special Q&A session with the media last week on his show, Wheel of Fortune. True to his form, the actor responded in his signature style. When asked by ANI about his Valentine's Day plans, Akshay first laughed off the idea of being labelled a "power couple," admitting that such titles only add pressure. With his trademark wit, the Singh is King actor also joked about how remembering every special occasion after 25 years of marriage could mean he's always scrambling for a gift! The actor joked, "Dekhie power couple bol ke aap phir pressure mein daal rahe hain... Ab pachis saal ho gaye hain. Ab Valentine, phir birthday, phir 25vi salgirah, bohot saari cheezein hoti hain. Yaad karne ki zarurat nahi, warna phir kuch laake dena padega." (You call us a power couple and put pressure on us. It's been 25 years now. There's Valentine's Day, birthdays, anniversaries, and too many occasions. Better not remember them all, otherwise I'll have to keep buying gifts.) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Earlier in January, Akshay marked their silver jubilee with a deeply personal post for Twinkle. In his caption, he recalled what his mother-in-law, veteran actress Dimple Kapadia, jokingly told him about Twinkle on their wedding day 25 years ago. "When we got married this day in 2001, her mother had said, 'Beta, get ready to burst out laughing in the most weird situations because she'll do exactly that.' 25 years, and I know ki meri mother-in-law kabhi jhooth nahi bolti hai... Her daughter refuses to even walk straight... she prefers to dance through life instead. From day one to year twenty-five, cheers to my lady who keeps me laughing, guessing, and slightly anxious at times! Happy anniversary to us, Tina. 25 years of madness that we both love," Akshay wrote. Akshay Kumar and Twinkle Khanna tied the knot on January 17, 2001, and are parents to son Aarav and daughter Nitara. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 11:39 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBollywood star of the 80s, Meenakshi Seshadri has credited ace filmmaker Subhash Ghai for shaping her career and portraying her so finely and immaculately in his films. The actress took to her social media account to share a video montage from their recent appearance on the reality show Indian Idol, where Subhash Ghai showered praises on Meenakshi’s acting skills, professionalism and talent. Expressing her gratitude, Meenakshi wrote, “The words Guruji and my mentor Subhash Ghai said about me were very kind and heartfelt. Those were Subhashji’s personal feelings towards me, and for that, I bow to him first of all.” She added, “I am not saying that I am a diamond, but he presented me like that as Radha in his films. The way you see me today is because of how he shaped and portrayed me on screen.” The clips from the video montage show Meenakshi standing on the stage of Indian Idol, alongside young contestants as she smiles warmly. Another throwback image that featured in the video, captures a younger Meenakshi with Subhash Ghai at an award event, holding a trophy. It also features the filmmaker addressing the audience while Meenakshi stands beside him. The actress also added a few more unseen pictures from their professional journey together. For the uninitiated, Subhash Ghai directed Meenakshi in the 1983 film Hero, which marked her Hindi film debut. The film also starred Jackie Shroff and was a major box office success. Meenakshi essayed the role of Radha Mathur in the romantic drama. The movie revolved around love, redemption and transformation, and went on to become one of the most iconic films of its time. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 11:28 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSVeteran actress Madhoo revealed that she resonates with elephants as her spirit animal. Sharing her reason for the same in her latest social media post, Madhoo went on to state that she finds elephants to be extremely gentle, something she can connect with. Madhoo dropped two photos of herself petting an elephant named Indrani on her Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madhoo Shah (@madhoo_rockstar) Posing in an orange ethnicwear, the Roja actress confessed her love for elephants, saying, "Indrani and I (red heart emojis) if someone asked me what animal I identify myself with, I always said elephant because they are gentle and giant. I love you Indrani. (sic)" Madhoo often uses social media to voice her opinion on a variety of subjects, while staying in touch with her InstaFam. In January, she urged everyone to be a little less judgmental, as we all have committed some sins. She uploaded a clip of herself on social media, explaining that everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally, tends to 'commit sins. Madhoo was heard saying, “Hi guys. Hi everyone. Just a quick thought—something I read that really made a shift in me, and I wanted to share it in the hope that it helps someone out there." “Please listen carefully. All of us are sinners. Each and every one of us is a sinner. So don’t judge someone else for their sins just because you’re not committing that particular sin," she went on to elaborate. Stressing her point, she went on to add, “Let me say it again: all of us are sinners. Don’t judge someone else for the sin they are committing, because that sin is not yours. Think about it.” Madhoo, who has been a part of several B-town and South movies, made her Bollywood debut with Ajay Devgan's Phool Aur Kaante back in 1991. Some of her noteworthy projects are Roja (1992), Allari Priyudu (1992), Yoddha (1992), and Gentleman (1993). This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 11:24 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSKartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday-starrer Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri hit theatres on December 25, 2025. However, the film failed to impress audiences and performed poorly at the box office. It was released on an OTT platform on Valentine’s Day at a price of Rs 349. Now, the film has arrived on Amazon Prime Video for free, and viewers can enjoy it. TMMTMTTM arrives on OTT Prime Video, India’s most-loved entertainment destination, today announced the exclusive global streaming premiere of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri, a contemporary romantic comedy that blends modern dating dilemmas with the enduring charm of old-school romance. The makers shared joyful glimpses of Kartik and Ananya while announcing the news and wrote, “Popcorn toh taiyyar hai, bas aapka intezaar hai.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) Directed by Sameer Vidwans and produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Bhumika Tewari, Shareen Mantri Kedia, and Kishor Arora under the banner of Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri stars Kartik Aaryan, Ananya Panday, Neena Gupta, and Jackie Shroff in key roles. Starting today, February 19, the film is streaming exclusively on Prime Video in India and across more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. More about TMMTMTTM Set against the scenic backdrop of Croatia, the film follows Rehaan “Ray” Mehra, a cynical Los Angeles-based wedding planner who has long stopped believing in grand romantic gestures. But his worldview is challenged when he meets Rumi Vardhan, an aspiring novelist who finds comfort in the idea of timeless Bollywood love stories. What begins as a clash of perspectives during a yacht cruise slowly sparks friction, banter, and unexpected chemistry. As their bond deepens, reality catches up in the form of family duties, cultural values, and personal choices that test whether love can truly bridge opposing philosophies. With its breezy humour, catchy music, and picturesque locales, Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri delivers a comforting romantic escape while gently addressing ideas of compromise, emotional honesty, and evolving relationships, making it a feel-good viewing experience for family and friends. On the work front, Kartik will be seen in Naagzilla and the T-Series romantic drama Tu Meri Zindagi Hai with Sreeleela. Meanwhile, Ananya has Chand Mera Dil and Call Me Bae 2 in her kitty.
19 February,2026 11:09 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Priyanka Chopra Jonas on Thursday took to her social media account to wish her parents on their wedding anniversary and also remembered her late father with an emotional tribute. Sharing a heartfelt post on her social media, Priyanka wrote, “Happy anniversaryToday and always in my heart drmadhuakhorichopra” The picture shared by Priyanka captures a beautiful moment between her parents, late Dr. Ashok Chopra and Dr. Madhu Chopra. Her father is seen leaning forward towards her mother with a rose in his hand, smiling warmly, looking at her while she reciprocates the same warmth. On the occasion, Dr. Madhu Chopra also remembered her late husband and shared a series of throwback pictures on her social media account. One picture shows her seated with her husband on seaside rocks with waves rolling in behind them. Another picture captures them posing near a lighthouse and a beautiful house in the backdrop. A third click shows them smiling in a garden setting, and the last one features them dressed formally at a social gathering. Dr. Madhu Chopra captioned the post as, “miss you, today and everyday.” For the uninitiated, both of Priyanka’s parents served as medical professionals in the Indian Army. Dr. Ashok Chopra passed away on June 10, 2013, after battling cancer. Priyanka has often spoken about how close she was to her father all throughout her life. She even has a “Daddy’s lil girl” tattoo inked on her wrist in his handwriting. During her wedding to Nick Jonas on 2018, she had embroidered her father's name on her wedding gown as a tribute to him and to make him a part of her special day. In many of her earlier interviews, Priyanka has revealed that her father’s favourite film of hers was Barfi! It was shortly after the film’s release that he passed away. On the professional front, Priyanka is gearing up for her Hollywood flick The Bluff. In India, she has SS Rajamouli’s highly anticipated Varanasi that also stars South star Mahesh Babu. It is slated for a January 2027 release. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 11:00 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Ishita Dutta has shared an honest video on her social media account where she has spoken about dealing with toddler meltdowns, further revealing how she handles emotional outbursts of her two-and-a-half-year-old son Vayu. The actress has suggested that instead of gentle parenting all the time, a more balanced approach is necessary, where parents remain calm while their toddlers are throwing a tantrum and not beat themselves if at all they themselves have a breakdown at times. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ishita Dutta Sheth (@ishidutta) Sharing her experience, she said, “Vayu is two and a half years old and I have seen a big change in his personality. The biggest one is that he wants to do things on his own. It can be simple things like eating by himself, wearing his clothes, putting on his shoes and tying his shoelaces. But he is still small, so he cannot do everything. That makes him irritated and it leads to a meltdown.” She further explained, “I have tried everything, yelling, being strict, being extremely sweet, even crying with him. But I realised that once the meltdown starts, there’s nothing you can do. You just have to wait. I sit with him and tell him it’s okay, mama is here, and I let it pass.” She added, “I give him choices. Instead of doing things for him, I ask him if he wants me to feed him or cut his food into small pieces. Instead of opening the cupboard, I take out two options and ask him to choose. That way he feels heard and independent, but I am still guiding the decision. You have to repeat yourself again and again. It may feel like he will never get it, but one day it sinks in. Sometimes it’s okay to give in to a tantrum — not because you’ve lost, but because you can explain it later when they are calm.” The Drishyam actress added, “There are days when I handle his temper well and days when I don’t. And that’s okay. I hope sharing this helps someone. This phase is difficult not just for the child, but also for the parents.” Talking about Ishita Dutta, on the personal front, the actress married actor Vatsal Sheth in 2017. The couple welcomed their first child, son Vayu, in 2023 and were blessed with their second child, a daughter, in 2025. On the work front, Ishita was last seen in Delhi De Pyaar De 2 alongside Ajay Devgn, Rajul Preet Singh, R Madhavan, Gautami Kapoor and is now all set to be seen in the third instalment of the Drishyam franchise. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood diva Sonam Kapoor took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as her critically acclaimed film Neerja completed 10 years since its release. Marking the milestone, the actress reflected on the journey of portraying brave flight attendant Neerja Bhanot and expressed gratitude for the love the film continues to receive a decade later. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Sonam shared scenes from the 2016 film, adding a simple text overlay that read, “10 years of Neerja,” as she marked the milestone. Ram Madhvani directed Neerja. It also stars Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri, and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles. The plot is based on a real-life event: the attempted hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73 in Karachi, Pakistan by the Libyan-backed Abu Nidal Organization on 5 September 1986. The film is shown from the point of view of the head purser of the flight, Neerja Bhanot, who thwarted the hijack attempt by alerting the pilots, thus grounding the plane. She died trying to help save the passengers and crew, of whom 359 of the 379 on board survived. The film won 2 awards at the 64th National Film Awards - Best Feature Film in Hindi and Special Mention. On the professional front, she was last seen in the film Blind in 2023. Sonam Kapoor, the daughter of Bollywood star Anil Kapoor, began her career as an assistant director on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 2005 film Black. She made her acting debut in Bhansali's romantic drama Saawariya in 2007. The movie also starred Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, and Rani Mukerji. It also marked the debut of Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor. She was then seen in I Hate Luv Storys and Raanjhanaa. She was also seen in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Sanju, Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Neerja, and Veere Di Wedding. Sonam Kapoor was lined up to headline the film adaptation of Anuja Chauhan’s novel Battle for Bittora, but the project has remained stalled for years. Produced by her sister Rhea Kapoor, the film was envisioned as a blend of romance and politics. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
19 February,2026 10:09 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
