There’s only one Rehman Dakait It’s impossible to imagine anyone other than Akshaye Khanna as Rehman Dakait in Dhurandhar (2025). While recent rumours suggested that filmmaker Aditya Dhar had first approached Nagarjuna Akkineni for the role, the South superstar has now rubbished them. Nagarjuna told Bollywood Hungama, “I was not offered Akshaye Khanna’s role in Dhurandhar, I wish I was.” The actor heaped praise on the action thriller, before adding, “[It had] incredible direction by Aditya Dhar. I loved his earlier film, Uri [The Surgical Strike, 2019] also.” A big miss Bhumi Pednekkar and Karan Johar Remember the magnum opus, Takht, which Karan Johar had announced in 2019 with Ranveer Singh, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Bhumi Pednekkar, and Janhvi Kapoor? In the latest episode of mid-day’s Sit with Hitlist, Bhumi reflected on her disappointment after the period drama did not take off amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “At that time, there was so much happening in my life that I didn’t realise what the film not happening could mean. But it’s a big opportunity that didn’t happen,” she recalled, adding that Takht was a big miss for all actors involved.
15 February,2026 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIf there’s one thing Swanand Kirkire has shown us, it’s that creativity can be channelled in many forms. Over the years, he has juggled the roles of a lyricist, composer, singer, and even an actor. With Bandwaale, he has taken on a bigger punt — Kirkire has taken up the roles of creator, writer, lyricist, composer and lead actor in Prime Video’s latest musical drama. “It’s the first time I haven’t compartmentalised my creativity,” said Kirkire, who leads the show along with Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey. “Usually, I am either writing lyrics, composing music, or acting. Here, I allowed myself to be everything at once. It wasn’t about proving that I could do multiple things, but about trusting that all these skills come from the same emotional core.” Zahan Kapoor and Shalini Pandey Jointly created by Kirkire and Ankur Tewari, Bandwaale tells the story of three artistes in a small town. As a co-creator who doubled up as the lead actor, Kirkire found himself constantly “shifting between perspective and performance”. Juggling different roles not only fuelled his experimental side, but also made him feel liberated as an artiste. “Managing so many creative dimensions wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt and fatigue, but there was also immense joy in seeing an idea evolve from the page to music and finally to performance.” Did you know? Swanand Kirkire has won two National Film Awards for Best Lyrics. In 2019, he won his third National Film Award, for Best Supporting Actor for ‘Chumbak’ (2018)
15 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuFor creator Suresh Triveni, the post-release window of Daldal has been as busy as the pre-release weeks. Since the Bhumi Pednekkar-starrer dropped online on January 30, the creator has been not only basking in the praise, but also making notes of the criticism. And for good reason — he could apply the lessons if there is a second season. When asked if they are planning to take the psychological crime thriller ahead with a second edition, Triveni said, “We are ready to go for it. The writers have given three to four years working on the show, and they’re raring to go.” Suresh Triveni While the series ends with Pednekkar’s Rita Ferreira solving the murder case she was investigating, her traumatic backstory and its lasting effects are left open-ended. Triveni already has ideas to explore them further. He shared, “We have a couple of ideas. Also, I’m taking all the feedback from season one. We will take the right decision if everything falls in place.” Producer Vikram Malhotra added that a lot of factors, from Triveni’s availability to the streamer’s vision, will decide the way ahead. He said, “The story lends itself to a second season. A lot of ducks need to get in a row for the show’s subsequent season — Suresh’s availability, the right story, and Amazon Prime Video’s desire to go ahead. We’d love to continue the story.”
15 February,2026 07:42 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaEvery film finds a home, and Sunny Leone’s Kennedy has found one after a three-year wait. Director Anurag Kashyap’s neo-noir crime thriller is set to premiere on ZEE5 next week, and the actor can’t wait to see the audience’s response to it. After all, Leone considers Kennedy an opportunity of a lifetime. She remembers going into the shoot, eager to be moulded by Kashyap into her character Charlie. Oddly, that included mastering a peculiar laugh. Recalling Kashyap’s strange demand from her, Leone said, “Anurag sir sent me reference videos of how Charlie’s laugh should be. I saw the videos and thought, ‘How am I going to do this?’ Then I started practising laughing everywhere I went — in the plane, in the car, even mid-conversation with somebody! I remember I was on the set of a song, dressed in glamorous clothes, with 100 dancers around me, and I was practising my laugh!” Sunny Leone in the film That naturally makes us curious about who featured in the reference videos. But Leone isn’t one to spill the details. She teased, “I’ll give you a hint. The reference video was of two beautiful, amazing actresses in Bollywood. [Their] laugh is loud and unabashed, comes straight from the gut and the heart.”Unabashed is also how many would describe Kashyap. But the actor, who worked for the first time with the director, asserted that he is different from his public image. “We look at his films or an interview and have a perception, but that is not what you get when you meet him. He is warm. He is like a big teddy bear, and so easy to work with. He makes you feel heard, seen, and values your opinions.” Feb 20When the film drops on ZEE5
15 February,2026 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaThe announcement marks the much anticipated collaboration between two formidable creative forces in Indian cinema, Imtiaz Ali and Ekta Kapoor, who reunite after the cult success of Laila Majnu. Their new project, Heer Ranjha, serves as the second chapter in the beloved Laila Majnu franchise, carrying forward its timeless love legend and the deep emotional resonance it built with audiences over the years. Rooted in classic romance yet shaped for contemporary viewers, Heer Ranjha promises to reinterpret an iconic love story for a new generation. The makers aim to blend poetic storytelling with emotional intensity, crafting a cinematic experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly modern. The title reveal alone has already generated considerable buzz among fans who continue to cherish Laila Majnu as a cult favourite. Filming for Heer Ranjha is set to commence soon, with the project to be directed by Sajid Ali. Known for his sensitive storytelling, Sajid is expected to bring a distinctive visual and emotional texture to the film while maintaining the thematic depth that defined its predecessor. Speaking about the announcement, Ekta Kapoor said, “Imtiaz and Sajid have the rare ability to capture love with honesty and depth. While Laila Majnu found its audience over time and became a cult classic, Heer Ranjha is a love story that aims to transcend time and emotions. We hope to touch audiences across the Indian diaspora and beyond with our storytelling.” Imtiaz Ali echoed similar sentiments, sharing, “Heer Ranjha has its own world and rhythm. It speaks the love language of this generation while staying rooted in something eternal. Collaborating with Ektaa again feels like a natural continuation of a shared emotional language.” Presented by Imtiaz Ali, directed by Sajid Ali and produced by Shobha Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor and Preety Ali under Pi Films Pvt Ltd, Heer Ranjha expands an iconic romantic universe. The Valentine’s Day announcement has made the moment even more special for fans of sweeping and timeless love stories. More updates on Heer Ranjha are expected soon.
14 February,2026 09:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Vicky Kaushal bowed his head in gratitude to the great legacy of the Maratha empire as his acclaimed historic actioner, Chhaava, completed one year of release on Saturday. Marking the milestone on social media, he posted some BTS photos from Laxman Utekar's directorial. "1YearOfChhaava...I bow my head in gratitude to the great Maratha legacy and to all of you for celebrating it with us. Your love has truly been very special! (sic)," Vicky wrote on his Instagram. He concluded the post with, "Jai Bhawani, Jai Shivarai", followed by a folded hands emoji. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) Chhaava is based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire, a character beautifully brought to life by Vicky. The movie is a cinematic adaptation of the Marathi novel Chhaava written by Shivaji Sawant. Directed by Laxman Utekar and produced by Dinesh Vijan under Maddock Films, the drama further saw some noteworthy performances of Rashmika Mandanna as Maharani Yesubai (Sambhaji's wife), Akshaye Khanna as Mughal Shahenshah Aurangzeb, Ashutosh Rana as Sarsenapati Hambirao Mohite, Divya Dutta as Soyarabai, and Diana Penty as Zinat-un-Nissa Begum (Aurangzeb's daughter). Chhaava enjoys the tunes scored by music maestro A. R. Rahman, with Saurabh Goswami looking after the camera work. Manish Pradhan is on board the technical crew as the head of the editing department. Previously, speaking about the movie, Vicky revealed that he poured his heart into every moment of the film. “It’s an honour to bring the legacy of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj into every home. Chhaava has been a journey of courage and pride, and I poured my heart into every moment," he shared. Rashmika also talked about her experience of playing Yesubai, saying, "Playing Maharani Yesubai in Chhaava was an honour for me. She was a woman of immense strength, grace, and resilience, a true pillar beside Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Bringing her story to the screen, especially in such a monumental historical drama, has been truly special.” 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
14 February,2026 05:44 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Sandeepa Dhar, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming film Do Deewane Seher Mein, has shared that her character in the film changed her perspective towards life. The actress took to her Instagram on Saturday, and shared a series of pictures from the film with actress Mrunal Thakur. She also penned a long note in which she spoke about how her character taught her that comparison is the thief of joy. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sandipa Dharr (@iamsandeepadhar) She wrote, “‘Look at your brother/sister, how well they’, That sentence alone probably just triggered something in you. Who hasn’t been compared like this at some point in their life? To their sibling, a cousin or even a friend? The Sharma ji ka beta meme did not appear out of nowhere. I had no idea what it was being the “favoured” one until I played a sister-sister dynamic that landed too close to home”. She further mentioned, “In do deewane sehar mein, Naina and Roshni go through this vicious cycle. Roshni is told she’s not enough, while Naina is told she’s too much. Playing Naina taught me that comparison is the thief of joy. Naina feels the pressure to maintain an impossibly high standard. Roshni feels like she will never measure up. It turns siblings into rivals. It makes love conditional. It creates wounds that take years to heal. Parents, teachers, relatives; they have no idea." "A casual “be like your sister” at the dinner table becomes a voice in your head that never quite goes away. Growing up, were you Naina or Roshni?” Do Deewane Seher Mein also stars Siddhant Chaturvedi and Ayesha Raza. The film, produced by Zee Studios, Bhansali Productions, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Prerna Singh, Umesh Kumar Bansal and Bharat Kumar Ranga in association with Ravi Udyawar Films. The film is set to release on February 20, 2026. 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
14 February,2026 04:55 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThink Valentine's Day, and you picture dramatic proposals and grand declarations of love. But the day is different for India's queer community, who do not have the right to marry their partner or even the luxury to proclaim their love openly. Aditi Anand, co-founder of Neelam Studios with Pa Ranjith, founder of Little Red Car Films, and producer of movies like Bison, Paan Singh Tomar and No One Killed Jessica, shares her take on the holiday of love as a queer woman. Aditi and her partner, Susan, were among the petitioners in India’s Equal Marriage case before the Supreme Court. She has co-founded and led a range of social initiatives -To Dharavi With Love, Rabies Mukt Bharat. Aditi and Susan are also parents to a son, whom they are raising within a loving joint family. For Aditi, the definition of love is simple: "Understanding, and the ability to fully be yourself with someone." Aditi shares her Valentine's Day plans Revealing how she plans to spend Valentine's Day, she said: "I am organising a protest, and Susan is being very patient with me." When asked how she is able to hold space for a celebration when queer couples do not have equal rights, she states that one must always hold on to joy, even in difficult circumstances. "My grandparents lived life always choosing the fun road even in sometimes adverse situations. Days before we lost my grandfather he took off to Dilli Haat with his wife to eat Mishti Dahi, they still held hands in the back seat. I wasn't always like this but I think I'm trying to be, life can be worn lightly! No one, nothing should deny your joy and fun. Reclaiming that part is also part of the revolution." "'Inqalab aa.ega raftar se mayus na ho bahut ahista nahin hai jo bahut tez nahin' - Ali Sardar Jafri." Aditi reflects on the non-legalisation of same-sex marriage Aditi affirms that although the battle to secure the legalisation of same-sex marriage is tough, she will never lose hope. "Everyday I meet more and more queer people who are choosing to have families, creating their families in the way that empowers them, building lives and careers. Of course, there are challenges, but nothing there would or should make this community lose hope," she says. She cites her own journey as an example of being hopeful, while acknowledging that she is immensely privileged. "Today, my son is the absolute apple of my parents’ eye - and not just my parents, but our entire extended family and circle of friends. He has his grandparents completely wrapped around his fingers. As I like to joke, my life has taken on the very saturated colours of a Sooraj Barjatiya movie. The hardest part came much earlier - before I told my parents what I had built for myself. There was a persistent dread that I was going to break them. In that fear, I ended up denying both them and myself years of being more present in each other’s lives." Aditi on the representation of queer stories in Indian Cinema Aditi believes Indian cinema still has to figure out how to tell queer stories with depth and authenticity. She believes it is equally important to get queer people behind the camera. "I think the standout films for me have been Moothon (Malayalam) and Sabar Bonda (Marathi). It’s nice to see stories where queer people are being people—they aren’t long-suffering, one-dimensional characters. Sabar Bonda is proof that true authenticity and diversity come with the people behind the camera too. She also raises a pertinent question about the need for an Indian grammar to express queerness. "Films have to do the very difficult task of creating our Indian grammar for queerness. Most of the words that we use are imported. We have to be able to have a language which is “ours”. I would not be able to explain this conceptually to my kid in Hindi without using words that feel really alien. How do we reclaim that language? That's an important aspect of queer storytelling in India."
14 February,2026 04:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Nandini ShahSunny Deol began the year on a strong note with the release of Border 2, which reaffirmed his stardom by earning over Rs 400 crore at the box office. Interestingly, the film was released a month after the box office hit Dhurandhar, starring Ranveer Singh, which featured a viral dialogue referencing Deol’s iconic film titles. Sunny Deol on Dhurandhar dialogue Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar included the line, “Ghayal hoon, isiliye Ghatak hoon,” which quickly went viral. Ghayal and Ghatak are among Sunny Deol’s most popular films. In a recent interview with ANI, Sunny was asked about the use of his film titles and whether he or the makers received any royalty for it. Reacting to the question, the actor smiled and said he found the gesture sweet. He said, “Nahi, humare jo director hai, he is a great fan. Unhone meri picture dekhi hai aur unhone Ghayal, Ghatak, yeh sab filmein dekhi hai. So I think just out of respect, maybe he used the dialogue. I mean, they have used the titles, which is very sweet.” The film, Dhurandhar, released on December 5, also stars Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun, Rakesh Bedi, Saumya Tandon, and Gaurav Gera, among others, in supporting roles. The first installment of a two-part film series depicts an anti-terror covert operation in which an undercover agent infiltrates Karachi's criminal and political underworld in Pakistan. The film has shattered several box office records. Despite its OTT release, it continued its monstrous run in theatres. It earned over Rs 850 crore and became the highest-grossing Hindi film, beating Pushpa 2. Meanwhile, the sequel to Dhurandhar, titled Dhurandhar: The Revenge, is set to release in theatres on March 19. The story will continue after Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza Mazhari, kills Akshaye Khanna’s Rahman Dakait. The film is expected to clash with Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups, starring Yash. Sunny Deol’s work front Sunny has teamed up with Aamir Khan and Preity Zinta for Lahore 1947, which is scheduled for release on Independence Day 2026. Apart from this, he has a Netflix project titled Ikka and another film, Gabru. He will also be seen in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana Part 1, where he plays the role of Hanuman. The film also stars Ranbir Kapoor, Yash, and Sai Pallavi, and is slated for a Diwali release this year.
14 February,2026 02:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Ajay Devgn marked Valentine’s Day in an adorable way by sharing a special reel dedicated to his wife, actress Kajol. In the video montage, the actor was seen revisiting his on-screen journey with Kajol. Sharing a montage, Ajay wrote, “Will you be my Valentine? kajol”. He captioned the video as “His valentine in every era.” The video brought together clips from all the movies the two have worked on as co-stars over the years. The montage includes glimpses from including Ishq, Pyaar To Hona Hi Tha, Dil Kya Kare, Raju Chacha, U Me Aur Hum and Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior. The video montage traced their collaborations from the mid-1990s through later projects. For the uninitiated, Ajay and Kajol fell in love while filming their movie Hulchul and strengthened their bond through their work journey on Pyaar Toh Hona Hi Tha. After dating for a few years, Kajol and Ajay got married on February 24, 1999, in a traditional Maharashtrian ceremony held in Mumbai. The couple is blessed with two children, daughter Nysa and son Yug. On the professional front, Kajol was last seen hosting the talk show Too Much with Kajol and Twinkle alongside actress Twinkle Khanna. She will next be seen in an upcoming project with Rishab Shetty, with further details awaited. Kajol is the daughter of veteran actress Tanuja. Ajay, meanwhile, is all geared up for his upcoming movie Drishyam 3. 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
14 February,2026 01:55 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAfter the phenomenal response to “Matrubhumi,” which crossed 50 million views across platforms, Salman Khan Films has released the much-awaited Valentine’s special romantic track. Featuring Salman Khan and Chitrangda Singh, the song beautifully captures the emotional heartbeat of the film. Main Hoon from Battle of Galwan unveils the tender side of a soldier’s world, and the full song is now out. Main Hoon released on Valentine's Day Sharing the track on social media, the makers wrote, “This Valentine’s, let love take over with MainHoon. Song out now!” Main Hoon reflects the many shades of love — from moments of togetherness and joy shared with family to the inevitable loneliness that follows when duty calls. The song poignantly captures the emotional contrast in a soldier’s life: the warmth of home and the silent ache of separation. This transition is seamlessly woven into the narrative, making the track intimate and deeply moving. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan Films (@skfilmsofficial) Visually, the song strikes a balance between happiness and longing. Salman Khan is seen sharing tender, heartfelt moments with his family, juxtaposed with scenes that convey emotional distance. Chitrangda Singh brings grace and quiet strength to her role. Their chemistry appears mature, organic, and sincere. Ayaan Lall, who serves as the music director and composer, has created a soothing melody that lingers. Sung by Shreya Ghoshal and Ayaan Lall, the vocals enhance the emotional depth of the song. The lyrics, penned by Ayaan Lall and Shabbir Ahmed, beautifully echo the sacrifices and silent resilience of those who stand behind a soldier. Battle of Galwan to reschedule release? According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the makers of Battle of Galwan are considering pushing the release date as the shoot is yet to be completed. Quoting a source, the portal stated, “Battle Of Galwan is scheduled to be released on April 17. But the shoot is not yet over, and the reshoot is taking more time than expected. From Monday, February 9, a one-week schedule will commence at the Golden Tobacco Factory in Mumbai. After this schedule gets over, a few more days of shooting are left, and by February-end, it’ll be a wrap.” Director Apoorva Lakhia is also yet to begin editing the reshot portions. Apart from completing the shoot, the makers are required to screen the film for the Ministry of Defence as per protocol. The source added, “Due to these two reasons, the makers feel they may not be able to meet the April 17 deadline. Salman Khan is clear that such a special, patriotic film needs to be nurtured well. He has told the team not to rush the process and to take their time to ensure the final product looks appealing, compelling, and cinematic.”
14 February,2026 01:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1771070215486_d.png "Vicky Kaushal in Chhava")
