A heartwarming throwback picture shared by Tusshar Kapoor on social media on Saturday has taken fans on a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The vintage photograph features his father, Bollywood legend Jeetendra, alongside superstar Hema Malini, seemingly captured during a break from their film shoot. In the picture shared by Tusshar, Jeetendra is seen seated with his children, little Ekta Kapoor and Tusshar Kapoor, on his lap, while Hema Malini looks at them with warmth in her eyes. Tusshar in his caption mentioned that the picture seems to be from a movie of his father from the late 70s era of Bollywood. Kapoor captioned the post, “#majorthrowback visiting dad on set”. Jeetendra who now is in his late 80s, is a proud father to his stalwart producer daughter Ekta Kapoor and actor son Tusshar Kapoor. While neither of his children chose to marry, both are proud parents to two sons each, whom they welcomed through surrogacy. Ekta and Tusshar also share an extremely warm and close bond as siblings. On account of Tusshar’s birthday a few months ago, Ekta had penned a beautiful note for him. She had taken to social media to describe him as her “guide and support,” highlighting the special bond they share. Sharing a heartwarming video featuring their cherished memories on her social media account, she captioned it, “Happy birthday to the best boy, I know! You are my guide, you’re my support ! May you get everything you want in life! Loveeeeee uuuuuuuuuuuu.” Ekta also added the track ‘Rabba Mere Rabba’ from Tusshar’s debut film “Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai” as background score for the video. 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
11 January,2026 10:01 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs a screenwriter, you rarely get to put a face to your words. Sometimes, years pass before the audience even knows who wrote their favourite story. So, when Divy Nidhi Sharma got the chance to perform his own story at the ongoing seventh edition of the Udaipur Tales International Storytelling Festival, he grabbed it with both hands. “When you’re a screenwriter, there are many people involved between you and the audience before the story reaches them. But when you recite a story, there are no mediators,” says the writer, who has penned a new story, Jewan, for the festival. As Sharma kicks off the year with fresh writing, he reflects on how his last outing — the Aamir Khan-starrer comedy Sitaare Zameen Par — has made Bollywood’s top studios take him “more seriously” now. “A film like Sitaare Zameen Par opens a lot of doors. Now when you go to pitch to a studio or a producer, you know your word is taken more seriously. It wasn’t just a commercial hit, it was well-received by the common people because of the intent with which the film was written,” he shares. His past works . ‘Anupamaa’ — Co-wrote dialogues from 2020-2024. ‘Laapataa Ladies’ – wrote additional dialogues. ‘Nayi Naveli’ — upcoming Aanand L Rai production. ‘Nakhrewaalli’ — Not released yet Aamir Khan Connection with Aamir remains “We made a film that was well received. The film made decent money. It got families back into theatres. That was our objective. Beyond that, there is no end to wishes and wants.”
11 January,2026 09:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaBack from the dead The team of ‘Mirzapur The Film’ Shriya Pilgaonkar’s Mirzapur season one character Sweety Gupta is officially “back from the dead” — and she’s currently shooting for the film adaptation of the popular Prime Video crime thriller series. She shared two pictures on social media and wrote, “Eight years later… Guess who’s back from the dead. Currently filming. Jald hi milenge (sic).” One photo showed Mirzapur The Film’s clapboard, while the other featured a group shot with cast members Ali Fazal, Shweta Tripathi, Divyenndu, Pankaj Tripathi, Rasika Dugal and others. For the unversed, Sweety is killed by Munna Bhaiyya at her own wedding in the first season. Playing the antagonist The evil sorceress Rita Repulsa; (right) Priyanka Chopra After nearly 24 years in the industry, Priyanka Chopra has no qualms about playing the negative lead. She did it in Aitraaz (2004), then Baywatch (2017), and We Can Be Heroes (2020). Going by recent rumours, we hear the actor is being considered to play the iconic villain Rita Repulsa in Disney’s upcoming Power Rangers reboot series. While there’s been no official confirmation from Disney or Priyanka, the buzz is that she’s in the running because she has previously proved “her ability to play high-stakes, menacing characters”. Other names reportedly in the mix or testing for Ranger roles, include Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Mason Thames, Shaun Dixon, and Momona Tamada.
11 January,2026 08:42 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIn an industry where relationships can turn seasonal, filmmaker Priyadarshan and Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar have kept their bond steady for over 25 years. The veteran filmmaker, who worked with Dhar long before the latter’s glory days, gets nostalgic about their journey — and doesn’t hide how “proud” he feels about his former student. “Do you know who wrote the dialogues for the Ajay Devgn and Akshaye Khanna-starrer Aakrosh (2010)? It was Aditya. He also wrote the dialogues for Ajay, Anil Kapoor, and Kangana Ranaut-starrer Tezz (2012),” shares Priyadarshan, who worked with Dhar for three years. “He is one of my best disciples and assistants I’ve ever had. Aditya is one of my loyal boys; he takes my blessings for everything,” smiles the senior director, adding that he recently watched the Ranveer Singh and Khanna-starrer, and “loved it.” (L-R) Priyadarshan and Aditya Dhar on the set of ‘Tezz’ In 2006, it was Aakrosh’s screenplay writer Robin Bhatt — who wrote it with Akash Khurana — who introduced Dhar to Priyadarshan. “Aditya [became my] assistant director. He also sat on the script with me,” remembers the filmmaker. “It was during the shoot of Tezz in Scotland that Aditya told me that he was a budding cricketer, in the under-19 team, but he didn’t get in because the son of a top Indian cricketer beat him to it. [Seeing his] depressed state, his friends took him to watch my film Gardish [1993]. That day he decided to quit cricket and become a filmmaker.” Priyadarshan says Dhar still gives him the same respect. During the shoot of Bhooth Bangla, Dhar dropped by the sets to show him the trailer of Dhurandhar. “That’s the kind of relationship I share with him — a guru and shishya.” Recalling how Dhar, despite writing a couple of scripts that became big hits, “never got his due credit because the directors took his research, hard work, and talent but kept him aside”, he says, “I am very proud of him; he has made it so big.” Ranveer Singh in ‘Dhurandhar’ Did you know? Aditya Dhar has been a lyricist in the movies ‘Kabul Express’ (2006), ‘Haal-e-Dil’ (2008), and ‘Daddy Cool’ (2009) Akshaye Khanna On Akshaye Khanna “In my first film with Akshaye Khanna, ‘Doli Saja Ke Rakhna’ [1998], everybody had discouraged me from signing him on. They said he is difficult and moody. But I fell in love with him from the first film itself. I never found him difficult. If I called him at 5am he would be there on time. He is a darling and we’ve never had a bitter moment together in [the six films we did]. He is least bothered by criticism.”
11 January,2026 08:13 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRActress Saba Azad marked boyfriend and Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan’s 52nd birthday with a series of warm and intimate pictures, calling him her ‘heart’. The couple has been dating for a while now and often share pictures with each other on social media. Saba Azad's birthday wish for Hrithik Roshan She wrote, “Nothing in the world makes me happier than seeing you happy. On the best day of the year I wish upon you joy and days of quiet, rest intercepted with days of fulfilling creation, work that deserves your talent, books that make you think, time with your friends and family and peace endless peace. Happy birthday my heart. I love you hrithikroshan.” In one photo shared by Saba, the couple is seen smiling during what appears to be a relaxed outdoor ride. Another click captures a cozy indoor moment, with Hrithik and Saba seated close together, sharing laughter in a calm. Saba and Hrithik have been dating for quite a few years now. They made their relationship public in 2023. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saba Azad (@sabazad) About Hrithik Roshan Referred to as the millennial superstar, Hrithik is one of the highest-paid actors in India. Starting from 2012, he has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 several times based on his income and popularity. He made brief appearances as a child actor in several films in the 1980s and later worked as an assistant director on four of his father's films. His first leading role was in the box-office success Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai. Performances in the 2000 terrorism drama Fiza and the 2001 ensemble family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham helped him gain major stardom. The 2003 science fiction film Koi... Mil Gaya, was a turning point in his film career; he later starred as the titular superhero in the Krrish franchise. In Lakshya, he played an army officer and earned critical acclaim. Hrithik was then seen in films such as Dhoom 2, Jodhaa Akbar, Guzaarish, Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Agneepath, Super 30, Bang Bang!, War, and Fighter. Looking forward, Hrithik is now making his debut on the OTT space as a producer with Storm. Hrithik is joining hands with Prime Video for the thriller, which is set in Mumbai. Production is scheduled to begin imminently, reports variety.com. In April 2025, it was announced that Hrithik is all set to make his directorial debut with Krrish 4. Hrithik will be swinging between the two departments of direction and acting for the film as he essays the titular superhero in the franchise. The shooting for the film is set to begin early next year.
10 January,2026 09:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIt has been one year since Fateh made its mark on screens, and Sonu Sood’s directorial debut continues to live on, not just in memory, but in the moments that shaped it. The film’s journey over the past year reflects its lasting impression, balancing grit, emotion, and cinematic ambition in equal measure. Sonu Sood marks one year of Fateh Marking the milestone, Sonu Sood reflected on the journey by sharing a heartfelt note, calling Fateh his “most special film till date.” He wrote, “1 year of #Fateh š¤ Grateful for every memory, every lesson, and all the love you gave it. Thank you for standing by me. Back to work now — the next one awaits.” The message underlined the deeply personal nature of the project and its significance in his creative journey. Released amid high expectations, Fateh stood out for its stylised action and grounded storytelling. At its core was Sonu Sood’s powerful turn as Fateh, a man shaped by conflict, resilience, and an unspoken sense of duty. Co-starring Jacqueline Fernandez and Naseeruddin Shah, the film added emotional depth and contrast to Fateh’s intense, driven world. Jacqueline’s presence, in particular, brought emotional grounding to the high-stakes narrative. About Fateh Directed with a keen eye for realism and scale, the film unfolded as a personal journey set against a larger, unforgiving world. The cinematography played a crucial role in shaping Fateh’s visual identity, lending the film a raw, immersive texture that elevated its emotional stakes. A key highlight was its high-octane action design, helmed by award-winning international action director Lee Whittaker, known for X-Men, Fast & Furious 5, and Jurassic Park 3. Every frame reflected the collaborative effort behind the camera — moments created off-screen that ultimately became etched on screen. Over the past year, Fateh has found renewed appreciation among audiences who continue to revisit the film for its layered narrative, striking visuals, and the performances of its lead cast. As it completes one year, Fateh stands as a defining chapter in Sonu Sood’s career — a debut marked by quiet intensity, strong craft, and the promise of what lies ahead.
10 January,2026 08:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Ajay Devgn on January 10 marked six years of his historical epic Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior by sharing an illustrated artwork showcasing some powerful scenes from the film. Ajay Devgn completes 6 years of Tanhaji Ajay wrote in Marathi language on his social media that translated into, “The fort is won but the lion is dead” but the story isn’t over yet…6YearsOfTanhaji." The artwork shared by Ajay shows him as the fearless Maratha warrior Tanhaji Malusare, standing tall amid a raging battlefield. In another artwork still, he can be seen clad in traditional attire with a turban and sword in hand. Another one showcases Kajol in the role of Tanhaji Malusare’s wife. Talking about Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the movie was directed by Om Raut, and was released on January 10, 2020. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ajay Devgn (@ajaydevgn) The film that was produced by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, and Krishan Kumar under T-Series and Ajay Devgn’s FFilms, went on to become a massive box-office success. Tanhaji also starred Saif Ali Khan as the antagonist, while Kajol played Tanhaji’s wife Savitribai. For the uninitiated, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior won the National Award for Best Popular Film. The movie was not Kajol and Ajay Devgn's first movie in the professional space. The couple earlier too had been a part of many movies. Ajay Devgn's work front On the professional front, Ajay is all set for his upcoming movie Dhamaal 4, which is locked for a 2026 release. The film also stars Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Sanjay Mishra, Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar and Ravi Kishan. The actor also started shooting for Drishyam 3. The shoot for the highly anticipated film commenced in Mumbai in December. After the Mumbai schedule, the makers headed to Goa earlier this week. Goa is a crucial part of the Drishyam 3 narrative. The entire cast will be part of the Goa schedule with Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shriya Saran and Rajat Kapoor returning for this edge-of-the-seat family thriller. The anticipation around Drishyam 3 has entered an exciting new phase as Jaideep Ahlawat officially joins the franchise as the film moves from Mumbai schedule to a crucial leg in Goa.
10 January,2026 06:19 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentYash Raj Films have preponed the release date of Rani Mukerji-starrer Mardaani 3 to January 30. Along with the announcement, the release first poster revealing a racing against time hunt to rescue missing girls. The film was earlier scheduled to hit theatres on February 27, 2026. Mardaani 3 release preponed Yash Raj Films’ Mardaani is the biggest solo female-led franchise in Hindi cinema that has garnered love and acclaim for over 10 years now. The blockbuster franchise has received unanimous love from people and has attained a cult status amongst cine-lovers. Also, the biggest and only female cop franchise of India, Mardaani is now in its third instalment and Mardaani 3 will see Rani Mukerji reprise the role of a daredevil cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy, who selflessly fights for justice. On Saturday, YRF announced the preponement of the release date of Mardaani 3 to January 30, 2026. The makers are pegging this film to be a bloody, violent clash between Shivani’s goodness vs sinister evil forces as she begins an extraordinary race against time hunt to rescue scores of missing girls of the country. Here’s the link to the first poster of Mardaani 3: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf) Rani Mukerji had earlier revealed that the edge-of-the-seat thriller is going to be ‘dark, deadly and brutal’ and it had immediately piqued curiosity amongst netizens, the fans of the star and the franchise. More about Mardaani franchise Mardaani 3 is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and has been produced by Aditya Chopra. Mardaani 3 is delving into a dark, brutal reality of our society, continuing the franchise’s legacy of gripping, issue-based storytelling. Mardaani, which was released in 2014, was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. The second instalment was directed by Gopi Puthran, who wrote the first part of the film franchise. While Mardaani followed the story of human trafficking. Mardaani 2, which was released in 2019, followed the story of a psychopath, rapist and murderer. The film franchise is known for sketching dreadful characters of its villains, who are eventually countered by the titular character symbolising the victory of good over evil.
10 January,2026 05:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVidyut Jammwal is a fitness enthusiast who leads a life of discipline. The actor often shares videos showcasing his fitness routines, and his latest post has set the internet abuzz. The Force actor, who is trained in Kalaripayattu, shared a video of himself climbing a tree completely naked, leaving many social media users surprised. Vidyut climbs tree naked In the video, Vidyut is seen climbing a tree without wearing any clothes. He also explained the reasoning behind the act, revealing that it is part of his annual Sahaj practice. “As a Kalaripayattu practitioner, I delve into the yogic practice of Sahaja once a year. Sahaja means returning to a state of natural ease and instinct, fostering a deeper connection to nature and inner awareness,” he explained in the post. He further wrote, “Scientifically, it activates numerous neuroreceptors and proprioceptors, enhancing sensory feedback and improving balance and coordination. This leads to greater body awareness, heightened mental focus, and a profound sense of grounding.” The internet had mixed reactions to the video. While some users supported Vidyut and elaborated on the yogic practice, others found the post amusing. One user commented, “Pure Kalaripayattu energy, Jammwal sir. Seeing this takes me back to 2021. During the lockdown, I used to climb trees just like this and dive straight into the village pond. That feeling of connecting with nature was pure therapy.” Another wrote, “It requires great awakening to understand this truth of life. Knowing that you’ve reached this level through Kalari, ancient wisdom, and life experiences makes you one of the most genuine people out there. Huge respect!” A third user joked, “Tarzan bhi patte pehenta tha, but sir aap toh mahaan ho.” Vidyut Jammwal’s work front Vidyut will next be seen in the Hollywood film Street Fighter. An official synopsis reads: “Set in 1993, estranged Street Fighters Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo) are thrown back into combat when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the next World Warrior Tournament — a brutal clash of fists, fate and fury. But behind this battle royale lies a deadly conspiracy that forces them to face off against each other and the demons of their past. And if they don’t, it’s game over.”
10 January,2026 04:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPashmina Roshan shared a touching message for Hrithik Roshan that reflected their close family bond. Taking to social media, the actress wished the superstar with a loving note that instantly resonated with fans and followers. Pashmina wishes Hrithik Roshan Pashmina Roshan took to social media to wish her cousin Hrithik Roshan on his birthday with a heartfelt message. She shared a photo of herself with Hrithik and his girlfriend, Saba Azad, on her Instagram Stories. Sharing her love for the superstar, Pashmina wrote, “Happy Birthday Duggu Bhaiya. Have the best day, best year ever, love you!” The sweet note quickly caught fans’ attention, highlighting the close bond the Roshan cousins share. As Hrithik celebrated another year, wishes poured in from family, friends, and fans across the globe, making the day even more special for the actor. Pashmina’s heartfelt words added a personal and emotional touch to Hrithik Roshan’s birthday celebrations. As love and wishes continued to pour in for the actor from all corners, the sweet family moment stood out, reminding fans of the strong ties that bind the Roshan family. Rakesh Roshan also shared a heartwarming birthday note for his superstar son. Rakesh took to social media to wish his son, fondly nicknamed as Duggu, a very happy birthday. He also shared a unique art creation featuring an older Hrithik hugging his younger self. For the caption, Rakesh wrote: “Duggu love you more every year. Happy birthday! Creative by artofroshans. Thank you”. Hrithik's debut production Storm goes on floors Roshan, who announced his entry into the streaming space as a producer on October 10, 2025, has taken his first production, Storm, on floors. Sources tell mid-day that the thriller series began shooting in Mumbai in November 2025. “The shooting for Storm is in full swing. Ajitpal Singh serves as the show’s director, writer, and creator. It’s largely a start-to-end schedule. Ajit is looking at wrapping it by February,” says a source of the series, which stars Parvathy Thiruvothu, Alaya F, Saba Azad, Srishti Shrivastava, Rrama Sharma, Ashish Vidyarthi, and Rajit Kapur. The show marks the first of many collaborations between Prime Video and Roshan’s HRX Films, a division of his FilmKraft Productions. The makers worked on the script for over three years before taking the series on the floors.
10 January,2026 03:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor- television host Maniesh Paul marked a special milestone as his daughter turned 15, sharing a warm note hoping that they keep laughing at their stupid inside jokes all their life. Calling her his “heart”, the 44-year-old TV host and actor wished her a very happy birthday and showered her with love and blessings on Instagram, where he also shared a string of images featuring him and his daughter. “And in no time you are 15!!! To my heart, wish you a very Happy Birthday. May we always keep laughing at our stupid jokes which only we understand. I love you to the moon and back sp daughter blessing,” Maniesh wrote as the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maniesh Paul (@manieshpaul) Maniesh is married to Sanyukta Paul, whom he met at school in 1998. They finally got married in 2007. They have a daughter born in 2011 and a son born in 2016. Maniesh started his career in Delhi as a host in cultural events in schools and colleges. He was then seen in Ghost Bana Dost playing the role of a ghost. Maniesh has acted in many serials such as Radhaa Ki Betiyaan Kuch Kar Dikhayengi, Zindadil, Ssshhhh...Phir Koi Hai and Kahani Shuru with Love Guru. He appeared in Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif-starrer Tees Maar Khan in 2010. Maniesh made his debut in the lead role of the computer geek Mickey in Mickey Virus. Maniesh was recently seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari. Set against the vibrant backdrop of a big fat Indian wedding, the film takes you into a world filled with romance, comedy, and festive sparkle. Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari features Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf and Akshay Oberoi. The movie is directed by Shashank Khaitan and produced by Karan Johar. 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
10 January,2026 02:08 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
