Bollywood veteran star Anupam Kher on February 17, paid an emotional tribute to legendary Hollywood star Robert Duvall post his demise, and also remembered him as a ‘master of understated brilliance and profound depth’. Taking to his social media account, Anupam shared a monochrome image that read “ROBERT DUVALL 1931 – 2026,” mourning the veteran actor’s passing. In his heartfelt note, Anupam further penned a note that reflected on Duvall’s extraordinary craft and the quiet power he brought to the screen. “IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROBERT DUVALL…. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Robert Duvall was the kind of actor who never needed noise to command attention. Quiet, precise, and profoundly truthful, he brought an extraordinary depth to every role he inhabited. For me, he was always one of the favourites — not because he sought the spotlight, but because he never needed to.” He added, “From the restrained power of Tom Hagen in The Godfather to the haunting intensity of Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now, Duvall created characters that linger long after the screen fades to black. His Oscar-winning performance in Tender Mercies revealed a rare vulnerability, while films like The Apostle and Lonesome Dove showed his fearless commitment to complex, deeply human stories.” “He was brilliant without flamboyance. Powerful without theatrics. A masterclass in understatement. Actors like Robert Duvall don’t just perform — they become. And in doing so, they quietly raise the standard for all of us who love this craft.” “Rest in grace. Your work will continue to teach, inspire, and endure. Om Shanti!” Talking about Robert Duvall, the veteran was widely regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation in Hollywood. The actor was widely known for his impeccable performances in cult classics like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now, and Tender Mercies, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor. According to reports, The Oscar winning actor passed away died peacefully at his home in Middleburg, Virginia, on Sunday, according to a statement sent by his PR agency on behalf of his wife, Luciana. On his official Facebook account, his wife Luciana Duvall shared a statement that read, “Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time. Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.” It further read, “To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented. In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.” She concluded, "To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything," she said. "His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court.” 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
17 February,2026 10:14 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAashiqui actress Anu Aggarwal took to her social media account to explain the significance of Mahashivratri in her own way, and also wished everybody a Happy Valentine's Day. Sharing a few selfies of herself on her social media account, Anu wrote, “Valentine’s Day celebrated love. Mahashivaratri dissolved it. What remains when devotion burns and ego rests? Presence. Meditation is not escape. It’s maintenance. Like updating your inner software — delete drama, keep awareness. Love isn’t a person. It’s a state you carry. Still. Alert. Unbothered. Shiva teaches: destroy what is false. Shakti whispers: build from truth. I’m not glowing. I’m grounded. Back — but from a deeper place." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anu Aggarwal (@anusualanu) The actress who rose to fame in the 90s with her superhit movie Aashiqui, went on to rule the era of Bollywood back then. A few weeks ago, Anu had spoken about her life and career during an exclusive conversation with IANS. During the interaction, she was asked if she still keeps in touch with Mahesh Bhatt and her other old friends from the industry, "Yes everyone is there. Like I say, an old friend is just a phone call away." When she was asked about her response to criticism about her recent New York photo, Anu Aggarwal was quoted saying, "Why are we so against controversy? Controversy is a part of life. So, like your appreciation, controversy is also equally a part of one's life. It's okay, everybody has a right to think the way they think and of course sometimes what happens is when you start succeeding too quickly, people start getting jealous of you, so people plant controversies to bring you down. If you read Buddha's story, this used to happen to him a lot. When he became the Buddh, people used to accuse him of various things. Lastly, the yesteryear diva was questioned if there are any young actors she is interested in working with "Yes, I feel there are a lot of actors both male and female in today's time who are doing good work, but I will remember more on the topic as I dive further into it." 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
17 February,2026 10:07 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Lara Dutta is celebrating 15 years of her and husband Mahesh Bhupathi's choosing each other every single day, as they completed another year of enjoying marital bliss. Lara revealed that their relationship is like that of fire and air. While she keeps starting flames, her husband enjoys the task of fanning them out. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lara Dutta Bhupathi (@larabhupathi) The Partner actress shared that all these years, they have had a blast annoying each other and pretending that they are not competitive. Posting some lovey-dovey pictures with her husband on IG, Lara shared, "15 years of Fire ( ME) + Air ( HIM) = me starting the flames, him fanning them ferociously … and somehow we haven’t burned the house down…….. yet!!! We’ve mastered the art of: . Annoying each other professionally . Fighting like it’s a sport . Pretending we’re not competitive . And still choosing each other every day. mbhupathi (sic)". Talking about their love saga, Lara and Mahesh first met for a business meeting. If the reports are to be believed, the meeting was just an excuse for Bhupathi to meet Lara. However, things were not easy for the two as Bhupathi was already married to model Shvetha Jaishankar at the time, but the couple ended up getting amicably divorced in 2009. After being in a relationship for some time, Lara and Mahesh finally got married in a simple ceremony on February 16, 2011, in Mumbai, followed by a Church wedding on February 20, 2011. The lovebirds embraced parenthood on January 20, 2012, as they welcomed their firstborn, daughter Saira. Work-wise, Lara will be a part of Welcome To The Jungle, made under the direction of Ahmed Khan. The sequel enjoys an ensemble cast with Suniel Shetty, Johnny Lever, Rajpal Yadav, Tusshar Kapoor, Shreyas Talpade, Krushna Abhishek, Kiku Sharda, Daler Mehndi, Mika Singh, Rahul Dev, Mukesh Tiwari, Sharib Hashmi, Inaamulhaq, Zakir Hussain, Yashpal Sharma, Jacqueliene Fernandez, and Vrihi Kodvara. 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
17 February,2026 09:40 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Rajpal Yadav has been in the news for quite some time after he surrendered in a cheque bounce case. It now appears that actress Ameesha Patel has also found herself in a similar legal soup. A Moradabad court has issued a non-bailable warrant against her in connection with a 2017 event dispute. The actress has now reacted to the claims and clarified that it is an old dispute that has been settled. Ameesha Patel reacts to reports Ameesha took to social media and reacted to the claims, writing, “Media reports suggest certain proceedings at Moradabad by one Pawan Verma. I wish to inform one and all that this is a very old matter from years back, in which the said Pawan Verma had signed a settlement deed and received the entire agreed amount.” She added, “Despite this, it seems he has lodged proceedings making false allegations. My lawyers are initiating appropriate criminal proceedings of cheating against this person to expose his lies and deceit, while I prefer to focus on my work and ignore people who choose to make a public spectacle for gaining attention on false pretexts.” About the case The case dates back to 2017 and was filed by an event management company owner, Pawan Kumar Verma. According to the complaint, Ameesha had been invited to perform at a high-profile wedding event and was paid an advance of Rs 11 lakh. However, she allegedly cancelled her appearance at the last moment, causing embarrassment and financial loss to the organisers. Pawan Verma alleged that when he asked for a refund, the actress delayed the repayment for a long time. He claimed that although a portion of the money was eventually returned, a cheque issued for the remaining amount bounced upon deposit. Nearly two years ago, Ameesha appeared before the Moradabad court and was granted bail. However, it is alleged that she failed to adhere to the bail conditions afterward, leading the court to reissue a non-bailable warrant against her. On the work front, Ameesha Patel was last seen in Gadar 2 alongside Sunny Deol. The film, directed by Anil Sharma, became a box office hit, beating biggies like Pathaan. The actress is yet to announce her next project.
17 February,2026 09:08 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMake me Gandhi Manoj Bajpayee and Sudhir Mishra Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has confirmed that Manoj Bajpayee will portray Mahatma Gandhi in his upcoming biopic. Ending weeks of speculation, the director wrote on social media, “That’s roughly the plan. Hope it all works out.” The announcement marks the first official detail about the project, with production likely to begin in Kolkata this September. For the industry’s wellbeing Varun Dhawan Actor Varun Dhawan, along with his father, filmmaker David Dhawan, has contributed R20 lakh to Cine & TV Artistes’ Association (CINTAA) to support industry workers. The association said the funds will go towards the welfare of members, particularly those in need. On the work front, the actor was last seen in Border 2.
17 February,2026 07:50 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamSounds, lyrics, collaborators, distribution of music — a lot has changed in the last five decades that Hariharan has spent in the music industry. But one thing hasn’t. The singer, 70, says his approach to music as a source of healing remains the same. That may well be the secret to his 50-year career. In a chat with mid-day, Hariharan reflects on reaching the career milestone and remaining relevant in times of Instagram virality. Excerpts from the interview. Fifty years in music is extraordinary. What has changed the most?There have been many changes. But one thing has not changed — music has always been a healer. Years before and even today, it has that healing touch. How do you view the drastic change in the way music is consumed today?Society has changed, as has infrastructure. The way we distribute music has changed. But at the end of it, you still need good music. The tools — recording machines, electronic instruments — may be different, but rhythm is the same. You just have to keep abreast of technology. Now, songs are designed to have hooks for reels. How does a musician function in the Instagram era?Instagram is instantaneous and sensational. But you cannot become an instantaneous success. Musicians have to live a musician’s life — wake up, practise, get inspired, write songs, all for the love of it. Don’t take virality too seriously. Longevity is what matters. That takes time. Film music has changed too.Earlier films were dreamy; now they are realistic. Nobody lip-syncs like before. If the script is realistic, a song can feel out of context. The soundscape used to change every 10 years; now it changes every five. For me to sustain for 50 years in films was fantastic. Was the journey easier in your time?Not at all. Maine 15 years papad bele hain before I got a foothold. Nothing came instantly. This idea of instant success is an illusion. If you love music, you will stay. Colonial Cousins’ reunion in the works? Hariharan, one half of the popular Colonial Cousins, revealed that he may soon reunite with his former collaborator Leslee Lewis. “There are talks about making another album. Leslee and I are in touch. We meet, think about music, and spend time together,” the singer shared. Farhat Shahzad Hariharan has released his new album, ‘Jaan Meri’. The five-song album is written by poet Farhat Shahzad and presented by Sufiscore. “We started planning this album during COVID-19 and worked on it for three to four years. There are two traditional ghazals, one romantic song, and one I call a ‘ghazal nova’,” said Hariharan.
17 February,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Komal RJ PanchalFor 17 years, Yash Raj Films (YRF) has been home to Abhiraj Minawala, who worked as an assistant director on its several productions. It’s not surprising then that YRF head honcho Aditya Chopra gave him the duty of helming Mardaani 3, led by Rani Mukerji. Minawala tells mid-day, “Among the many ideas we discussed, one dealt with the emotions of a parent and a child [against the backdrop of] human trafficking. As soon as I read the script of Mardaani 3, as a father, I was scared. So, the decision of taking this up was more important to me as a father than a filmmaker.” Abhiraj Minawala, who worked on a few scenes of ‘Jawan’, hopes to work on ‘King’ Minawala may have made his directorial debut with Loveyatri (2019) outside the YRF fold, but his equation with Chopra has always been of faith. So much so that the producer recommended him to Shah Rukh Khan for a few sequences of Jawan (2023). “I ended up working on two-three small sequences in Jawan. Shah Rukh sir is so sweet. He just called and said, ‘Beta kya kar raha hai? Chal, aaja.’ That’s it,” he recalls. Aditya Chopra Abhiraj Minawala also worked as an associate director on ‘War 2’ (2025)
17 February,2026 07:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaIn its first 10 seconds, the trailer of Assi tells you a chilling statistic — that there are 80 reported rape cases in India every day. “That’s one every 20 minutes. By the time you finish this interview, one more would have happened,” director Anubhav Sinha told us, when we met him to discuss his upcoming film that sees Taapsee Pannu as a lawyer, who takes up the case of a sexual assault survivor, essayed by Kani Kusruti. With Assi, Sinha aims to show how rape culture is rooted in patriarchy. More importantly, he wants to examine our society’s generational failure. “Mothers tell their daughters at 13 that this [sexual violence] may happen, and this is how you deal with it. But men don’t tell their sons about gender equality. We don’t tell them that you might be attracted to another person’s body, but you can’t snatch it,” he rued. Anubhav Sinha The director teamed up with Gaurav Solanki to write the social drama. Yet, they entered the writing process at a disadvantage. “Every time Gaurav and I went to write a scene, we were trying to think like a woman. That was the toughest part for me. I was watching a lot of films about women to understand women, to feel like one.” Reuniting with Pannu after Thappad (2020) was a deliberate choice. The director knew she’d front the film for the right reasons. “I meet a lot of actors who want to be in my movies because they think they should want to be in a movie like that. That doesn’t work for me. You will see Taapsee’s honesty in her eyes. She walks the talk.” ‘Mulk’ (2017) and ‘Thappad’ (2020) Filmmaker Anubhav Sinha and actor Taapsee Pannu previously collaborated on ‘Mulk’ (2017) and the acclaimed ‘Thappad’ (2020)
17 February,2026 07:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken strict action against Bollywood director Aditya Dhar’s production house, B62 Studios. The action comes after they repeatedly violated rules on the set of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, the much-awaited sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar, in Mumbai. BMC seeks permanent blacklisting of Aditya Dhar’s production house BMC's A ward office has written to the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Zone 1). In the letter, they recommended that B62 Studios be permanently blacklisted from applying for future filming permissions. According to an Indian Express report, the civic body has also proposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh for shooting on a building terrace and using two generator vans without proper authorisation. In addition to this, the Rs 25,000 security deposit submitted by the applicant has been forfeited. What's the issue? According to officials, the team was granted permission for the February 7 and 8 shoot between Modi Street and Perin Nariman Street in A ward on January 30 through the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited. However, according to the authorities, the production team 'violated' police conditions during the shoot, which banned the use of crackers and flammable materials. Following these alleged breaches, Komal Pokhriyal submitted a subsequent application seeking permission to film on February 13 and 14. Quoting the earlier violations, the authorities cancelled the request. Later, a fresh application was made for shooting between 12.30 am and 4.00 am on February 14. Officials state that this time, conditional permission was granted after the applicant assured them that no flammable materials would be used. However, despite their assurance, police allegedly received complaints around 12.45 am on February 14 about the use of flammable torches during filming. A senior BMC official revealed that their officers reached the location within 15 minutes, where they seized five lit torches. After the second incident, the applicants reportedly assured authorities that visuals involving fire would be created using VFX in the film. The A ward office has now sought approval to levy fines, and formally register the seized items along with permanently blacklist the applicants, namely Komal Pokhriyal, Nashir Khan, as well as the production house, from future permissions via the state film corporation portal.
16 February,2026 09:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actor and Lok Sabha MP Shatrughan Sinha recently approached the Bombay High Court seeking protection of his personality rights. In his plea, he alleged rampant online misuse of his name, image and his iconic dialogue 'Khamosh', which featured in the film Vishwanath. He also claimed damages of Rs 20 crores or payment of profits. Shatrughan Sinha moves Bombay HC Justice Sharmila Deshmukh on Monday reserved her order on Sinha's plea seeking an interim injunction. Invoking his right to privacy under Article 21 of the Constitution and the performers’ rights under the Copyright Act, the actor claimed that his performances are being modified in a manner that is prejudicial to his reputation. During the pendency of the suit, the actor asked for a temporary injunction from the Bombay HC restraining John Doe parties from using his name, persona and mannerisms. Shatrughan Sinha also asked for a temporary injunction to stop passing off through the sale of unauthorised merchandise. About the lawsuit The suit was filed through his son Luv Sinha, against unknown parties and global tech companies, including Meta, X (formerly Twitter), Google, e‑commerce sites, bloggers, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology as well as the Union Department of Telecommunication. In his plea, he sought a permanent injunction against parties from using his name, voice, mannerisms, signature dialogue ‘Khamosh’ and his overall persona from commercial exploitation without his consent. Shatrughan has also claimed damages of Rs 20 crores or payment of profits earned from the use of this persona. Advocate Hiren Kamod, who represented Sinha, argued that over the years, the veteran actor has created considerable goodwill and commercial value in his persona. However, he informed court that unknown individuals as well as various platforms are misappropriating his goodwill by creating fake social media profiles, sharing caricatures using clips of his performance, and also selling merchandise with his image and catchphrase. These acts often mislead the public into believing that the Vishwanath actor is associated with the goods or content, and taint his reputation by association with unsavoury humour, depriving him of control over the context in which his persona is used, Kamod added.
16 February,2026 08:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe buzz around Tumbbad’s sequel has intensified ever since actor-producer Sohum Shah officially joined hands with Pen Studios, helmed by veteran producer Jayantilal Gada. With a studio known for mounting cinematic spectacles like RRR and Gangubai Kathiawadi backing the sequel, trade circles are already positioning Tumbbad 2 as one of the most ambitious projects currently in development. Tumbbad 2 casting in works Released in 2018, Tumbbad evolved from a sleeper hit into a globally celebrated cult phenomenon. Its 2024 re-release further strengthened its legacy, drawing new audiences into its haunting world of greed, mythology, and psychological horror. Now, with the sequel set to go on floors early this year, the makers are looking to deepen and expand the dark universe that redefined Indian fantasy-horror. Amid mounting anticipation, fresh industry chatter suggests that the sequel’s antagonist could be a major casting masterstroke. Akshaye and Nawazuddin in consideration “A powerful antagonist is central to the narrative of Tumbbad 2. The team is keen on elevating the sequel with a layered and formidable negative lead,” shared a source close to the development. “Akshaye Khanna and Nawazuddin Siddiqui are two names currently being discussed. Their ability to portray morally complex, unpredictable characters makes them compelling choices for the world of Tumbbad.” According to the source, the makers aim to introduce an antagonist who is not just menacing but deeply layered — someone who can stand toe-to-toe with Sohum’s character in terms of intensity and depth. For Sohum Shah, Tumbbad 2 marks not just a sequel but a strategic expansion of a cinematic universe he has passionately nurtured over the years. As both actor and producer under his banner Sohum Shah Films, he has remained deeply invested in preserving the tonal integrity and mythological richness that made the original a landmark film. His collaboration with Pen Studios signals a larger vision, combining creative ambition with robust production backing. With Pen Studios’ scale and distribution strength, and speculation mounting over who will play the antagonist, Tumbbad 2 appears poised to raise the stakes both narratively and cinematically. While an official casting announcement is awaited, industry buzz suggests that the next chapter in the Tumbbad universe could be darker, grander, and more intense than before.
16 February,2026 08:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
