When Paresh Rawal had briefly exited Hera Pheri 3, many on the internet felt Pankaj Tripathi would be a good fit for the role. Well, even as everyone’s happy that Rawal has returned to Hera Pheri 3, it looks like the internet was on to something. Filmmaker Priyadarshan is teaming up with Tripathi for another film. With this, the actor-director duo will reunite after Aakrosh (2010), in which Tripathi played a hitman. “It’s been over 15 years,” exclaimed the National Award-winning filmmaker. In his yet-untitled next, the actor will play a lovable, comic character. He will be joined by two actors, said Priyadarshan, who recently wrapped up the shoot of Haiwaan, starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan. “It will be an all-out comedy like Hungama [2003] or Hera Pheri [2000], with Pankaj as the pivotal character. He is one of the finest actors we have today and it will be a pleasure working with him again. I am currently writing the story and once that is finalised, I will approach the other two actors,” he told mid-day. The director shot (from left) ‘Bhooth Bhangla’ and ‘Haiwaan’ this year The director will have two releases in 2026 — Bhooth Bangla, a supernatural thriller starring Akshay Kumar, Tabu, and Wamiqa Gabbi, and the action thriller Haiwaan. If things go as planned, he will take the comedy on floors by the summer. “I will begin shooting for Pankaj’s movie from May, after these two movies release. It’s refreshing to write a comedy after so many years as I recently helmed an action movie and a psychological thriller.” But wasn’t he planning to take a short break after Haiwaan’s completion? The director laughed as he admitted, “You know I cannot stay idle for long. I had this story in mind, and narrated it to Pankaj, who liked it. So, I started writing it.” A still from ‘Bhagam Bhag’ A sequel to Priyadarshan’s hit comedy ‘Bhagam Bhag’ (2006) is in the works. While Akshay Kumar and Akshaye Khanna are rumoured to star in ‘Bhagam Bhag 2’, Priyadarshan told mid-day, “I am not a part of it. My next movie [to be shot in 2026] is the Pankaj Tripathi-starrer.” Reports suggest that Raaj Shaandilyaa of ‘Dream Girl 2’ (2023) fame will helm it.
15 December,2025 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRThanks to Dhurandhar, Ranveer Singh is ending 2025 with a bang. His 2026 looks equally promising. mid-day has learnt that the actor’s ambitious post-apocalyptic film, tentatively titled Pralay, is set to go on floors sometime between July and August. A source revealed, “Don 3, helmed by Farhan Akhtar, will roll first in 2026. After that, Ranveer will focus on Pralay. The final timeline will be locked in January after he gets his Don 3 schedule.” Jai Mehta That gives director Jai Mehta time to build the world of the post-apocalyptic zombie thriller. Pralay reportedly follows the protagonist’s fight for survival, with Mehta using the zombie framework to explore social, emotional, and moral collapse. It is said to reimagine Mumbai in The Hunger Games’ style set-up. Insiders said the makers are planning to recreate a devastated Mumbai, blending physical sets with artificial intelligence (AI) extensions. The source elaborated, “Large sections of the city will be digitally aged, to give it an abandoned look. Parts of the film will be shot in Mumbai, before moving to other locations.” Deets on the director Jai Mehta co-directed the smash hit, ‘Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story’, with filmmaker and father Hansal Mehta, following it up with the web series ‘Lootere’. ‘Pralay’ will mark his feature film debut
15 December,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuBollywood actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra, who took her son, Viaan-Raj Kundra to meet the football legend Lionel Messi at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, said that her son's dream was fulfilled after meeting the G.O.A.T. The actress was seen coming out of the stadium, as she briefly interacted with the media, and shared her experience of meeting Messi. She told the media stationed outside the venue, "It was very nice. Iska (Viaan) ka toh dream poora ho gaya (his dream has been fulfilled)". Messi landed in Mumbai on Sunday as a part of his India tour. This comes after the embarrassing situation in Kolkata, where the football legend spent only 20 minutes after a promised time of 2 hours. Messi left early considering the situation at the Salt Lake stadium turned dangerous with political and influential figures hijacking the event irking fans, who didn't get to see the football player despite spending thousands on tickets. The sporting legend then visited Hyderabad with Mumbai being third in line. Several Bollywood celebrities are said to be attending the meeting at Wankhede Stadium. They are also expected to take part in a 7 vs 7 exhibition football match at the stadium. Messi's visit to India became a landmark moment for football fans across the country, underlining the sport's growing cultural footprint beyond cricket. The Argentine icon drew massive crowds, with fans gathering in thousands just to catch a glimpse of the World Cup-winning captain. His presence sparked celebrations across cities, social media trends, and renewed conversations about grassroots football development in India. Messi's visit was not just symbolic fandom, it highlighted India's increasing relevance as a global sports market. From interactions with young players and officials to high-profile public appearances, the trip reinforced football's aspirational pull among Indian youth. 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 December,2025 09:34 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSRanveer Singh-starrer Dhurandhar has been creating big waves at the box office. Directed by Aditya Dhar, the film is also gaining a lot of acclaim from viewers and critics alike. The film is believed to be inspired by real-life events and crime syndicates in Karachi's Lyari area. Ittakes inspiration from true incidents to depict India's fight against terror in Pakistan. Pakistan's Sindh government announces Mera Layari Amid the success of Dhurandhar, Pakistan's Sindh government announced Mera Layari, a film intended to showcase Lyari's culture, on Saturday, December 13. Interestingly, the announcement comes in response to the allegedly portrayal of Lyari in Dhurandhar, which was described as negative propaganda by many. The Sindh government has announced the release of a new film titled ‘Mera Lyari’ in response to the Indian propaganda movie Dhurandhar, which has drawn criticism for its negative portrayal of Pakistan and Lyari area. pic.twitter.com/FVpgTBPHCJ — Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) December 14, 2025 Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon revealed the posters of the film on X and wrote, "Indian movie Dhurandhar is yet another example of negative propaganda by the Indian film industry against Pakistan, especially targeting Lyari. Lyari is not violence—it is culture, peace, talent, and resilience. Next month, Mera Lyari will be released, showing the true face of Lyari: peace, prosperity, and pride. MeraLyari." Netizens react Soon after the announcement, several netizens slammed the Sindh government. One user called it 'lame,' while another user wrote, "The response will badly fail." A third user wrote, "Who watch but Mera Layari. Pakistani bhi Dhurandar enjoy kr rhe Mera Layari jaisi movie koi free mai bhi nhi dekhega." Another said, "I am going to watch Dhurandhar. Seems like a movie showing reality." Notably, Pakistani audiences had earlier praised Dhurandhar after watching the film in theatres. Many called it a 'must-watch' while stating that it simply presents the facts rather than being 'anti-Pakistan.' In a viral video on X, showed a review of Dhurandhar by Pakistani audiences living abroad. In the video, a woman was seen saying, "Movie must-must watch hai. Mujhe samajh nahi aa raha ki acchi acting kisne ki hai. Aur itni acchi movie, mere khyaal mein maine kabhi pehle nahi dekhi. Go and watch it, don’t miss it." Another man added, "To all my Pakistani fellows, yeh movie dekhne aayein. Bilkul anti-Pakistan movie nahi hai. History dikhayi gayi hai, facts dikhaye gaye hain..."
14 December,2025 06:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA controversy recently erupted in Bengaluru after videos of a late-night altercation at a pub co-owned by actor Shilpa Shetty went viral. The incident allegedly involved former Bigg Boss contestant and businessman Satya Naidu. He was accused of misbehaving with the staff following a dispute over bill settlement. Brawl at Shilpa Shetty's Bastian in Bengaluru The incident occurred on Thursday night at Bastian, a popular pub co-owned by Shilpa Shetty, located on St Mark’s Road and Langford Road. The restaurant is owned by the actress along with restaurateur Ranjit Bindra. According to eyewitnesses, an argument broke out after a disagreement regarding service and payment. This soon escalated into chaos inside the establishment. According to sources, Satya Naidu, who was present with a group of friends, was seemingly under the influence of alcohol and hence behaved aggressively towards the staff. Drunk, Powerful, and Out of Control? Bigg Boss Fame Satya Naidu Caught on Camera Assaulting Pub Staff in BengaluruA major controversy has erupted in Bengaluru after a video showing former Bigg Boss contestant and businessman Satya Naidu, who is also the ex-husband of a… pic.twitter.com/ZgTLn7Sq6w — Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) December 13, 2025 The altercation was captured on CCTV camera. The clips of the same quickly circulated online, sparking outrage and calls for action. Some videos shared online show physical assault on staff members; meanwhile, CCTV footage that surfaced later reportedly shows a heated verbal exchange and brief heckling, but no signs of a physical attack. The Cubbon Park police have taken a suo motu cognisance of the viral videos. They visited the pub and initiated an inquiry into the incident. Officials have confirmed that they have collected the available video footage, including CCTV recordings. They have also recorded preliminary statements from pub staff and management. Meanwhile, police stated that further action would be taken after verifying the sequence of events and examining all evidence. Satya Naidu reacts Satya Naidu responded to the allegations, denying enied any wrongdoing. He added that he had visited the pub only for dinner with friends while claiming that the disagreement arose during bill payment. The former Bigg Boss fame also added that there was no physical altercation and that the matter had been exaggerated. Talking of the restaurant, Shilpa Shetty partnered with Ranjit Bindra in 2019 to bring the Bastian brand to Bengaluru. So far, she has not issued a public statement regarding the incident. The investigation is currently underway as authorities work to find out the facts surrounding the viral pub brawl.
14 December,2025 05:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThere is truly no stopping Aditya Dhar’s directorial Dhurandhar, which seems to be on a path to break every record at the box office. The film, starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Sara Arjun, and Akshaye Khanna in prominent roles, has registered the highest second Saturday collection in the history of Hindi cinema. This comes a day after it recorded the highest second Friday collection as well. Dhurandhar second Saturday collection The film ended its first week by crossing the Rs 200 crore mark at the box office, and within the next two days, it surged past Rs 300 crore. On its second Saturday, Dhurandhar earned Rs 53.7 crore at the box office, making it the highest second Saturday collection for a Hindi film. Prior to this, the Hindi version of Pushpa 2 held the record with Rs 46.5 crore on its second Saturday. Earlier this year, Vicky Kaushal-starrer Chhaava collected Rs 44.1 crore on the same day. With this, the total domestic collection of the film now stands at Rs 306 crore. Post-midnight shows added for Dhurandhar Reportedly, in Mumbai, cinemas have begun screening Dhurandhar as late as 12:45 am onwards. The decision was taken after advance bookings surged across multiplexes and single screens alike. In Pune, post-midnight shows commence at 12:20 am. A similar trend has also been observed in Gujarat, with late-night screenings added in Ahmedabad. Notably, even during the film’s first weekend, post-midnight shows were introduced due to overwhelming demand. Dhurandhar OTT rights sold for a whopping price As per a Bollywood Hungama report, the film has closed a massive deal for its OTT rights. The streaming rights of Dhurandhar have reportedly been sold to Netflix for a whopping ₹130 crore for both parts. Sources told the portal, “Netflix has paid Rs 130 crore for the streaming rights of Dhurandhar. This includes both parts. Hence, one can say that the rights were sold for around ₹65 crore each for Dhurandhar Part 1 and Part 2.” The source further added, “This is a huge figure in today’s times when OTT prices have crashed. It is also a significant shot in the arm for Ranveer Singh, marking his biggest OTT deal yet if we consider the combined amount for both parts.”
14 December,2025 12:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWishing Meghna Gulzar on her birthday, actor Kareena Kapoor Khan on Saturday treated fans to her candid BTS pictures with the ace director from the sets of their upcoming film 'Daayra'. Kareena also penned a sweet note on Instagram, calling Meghna a 'tigress'. "To sum up in words the feeing I have had working with @meghnagulzar will always be less...Daayra is nothing short of one of my most special films as it marks my first with the kind, gentle, passionate, smart and ever so sharp Meghna Gulzar... and to bring to life a subject that is so exciting... To be in your direction and under your guidance has been one of my most fulfilling acts... What an honour to be directed by you director sahiba...but... on this journey I have discovered such a wonderful soul...On your big day I wish you nothing but the best and can't wait for the world to see the genius in our film Daayra... Happy Birthday you Tigress... So grateful our paths crossed," she captioned the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kareena Kapoor Khan (@kareenakapoorkhan) In September, the lead stars Kareena and Prithviraj Sukumaran of the film shared glimpses from the first day of shoot, adding several BTS moments. "Day 1. 68th film Daayra with the most amazing @meghnagulzar and @therealprithvi...Send love and blessings," Kareena wrote in the caption. From holding a puja ceremony on the first day of production to discussing scenes with director Meghna Gulzar, trying look tests, shooting scenes, and reading scripts, the actor offered an intimate insight into their preparations. In a special highlight, veteran lyricist Gulzar also arrived on the sets and engaged in a conversation with the team. Likewise, Prithviraj expressed a feeling of thrill in his post as he added, "#Daayra is officially rolling. A new story, a new journey that challenges and excites in equal parts. Thrilled to be stepping into this world." Director Meghna Gulzar dedicated a special post to mark the beginning of a journey of "blurred and crossed lines." 'Daayra' was announced earlier this year when Kareena Kapoor confirmed her part in the film."I've always said that I'm a director's actor... and this time I cannot wait to work with one of the finest director's we have, @meghnagulzar & alongside the magnificent @therealprithvi, whose work I deeply admire. To my dream team, #Daayra let's do this," she wrote on Instagram. Prithviraj, too, expressed his excitement about working with Meghna Gulzar and Kareena."Some stories stay with you from the moment you hear them. DAAYRA is that for me. Excited to work with Meghna Gulzar, the incredible Kareena Kapoor Khan and Team Junglee Pictures! Wish you all a very happy Vishu! #Daayra," he posted on Instagram. As explained by the National Award-winning filmmaker, 'Daayra' tells a story that will compel viewers to reflect on society and its institutions. 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 December,2025 10:47 AM IST | Mumbai | ANI'Tenu Zyada Mohabbat' song from Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday-starrer 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' was released on Saturday. With music by Vishal-Shekhar and lyrics by Kumaar, the song was sung by Talwiinder. Check out the track here. Talking about the tune, Talwiinder shared, "Tenu Zyada Mohabbat is very close to my heart. Being part of Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri and creating it with Karan Johar and Kartik Aaryan feels truly special." Sharing his thoughts on the track, Kartik Aaryan said, "Love has many shades, and heartbreak is one of them. Tenu Zyada Mohabbat explores this vulnerable side of love. One thing I really love about the song is that it has a melodious tune that you will never forget, and lyrics that will always resonate with believers of true love. The composition of Vishal - Sheykhar is yet again magical. The cherry on top is Talwiinder's beautiful voice that is tailor made for the song. The track makes for a great addition to our Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri's album, and I'm sure this tune will grow on audiences beat by beat." 'Tenu Zyada Mohabbat' is out now on all major streaming platforms, and the music video is available on Saregama's official YouTube channel. Directed by Sameer Vidwans, 'Tu Meri Main Tera, Main Tera Tu Meri' is presented by Dharma Productions and Namah Pictures, and produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, Shareen Mantri Kedia, and Kishor Arora. Besides Kartik and Ananya, the film also features Jackie Shroff and Neena Gupta. It will hit the theatres on December 25. Kartik and Ananya were last seen together in the film 'Pati Patni Aur Voh.' 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 December,2025 10:45 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIActor Arjun Rampal has been living with his girlfriend, Gabriella Demetriades, for a long time. The couple also has two sons together. However, they never tied the knot. Now, it turns out that the couple has taken the first step towards marriage. Arjun Rampal has confirmed that he and Gabriella are engaged. He made the confirmation during an appearance on Rhea Chakraborty’s new podcast, Chapter 2. Arjun Rampal and Gabriella get engaged Rhea Chakraborty shared a teaser from the episode featuring the couple, in which Gabriella said, “We’re not married now, but who knows?” Reacting to the statement, the Dhurandhar star said, “We are engaged! We just broke it on your show.” Arjun and Gabriella have been together since 2019 and have two sons, Arik and Ariv. On the show, the couple spoke about love, parenting, and how their relationship evolved. Gabriella said, “Your love comes with conditions. It’s like if a person behaves a certain way, then they get my approval or love. But when you have a child, you can’t do that, right?” The couple also joked about how they got together. Gabriella quipped that she did not approach Arjun because he was really hot. Rampal reacted honestly and said, “No, no. I went after her because she was hot. Then I realised there is a little more to it than just the hotness.” For the unversed, Arjun Rampal married model Mehr Jesia in 1998, and the couple welcomed two daughters, Mahikaa and Myra. After being married for nearly two decades, they decided to part ways in 2018. Some time later, Arjun introduced Gabriella as his girlfriend, and the couple are now parents to two sons. Arjun Rampal’s work front The actor is currently enjoying the success of his recently released film Dhurandhar, which is witnessing a phenomenal run at the box office. Overwhelmed by the audience’s love, Arjun Rampal—who plays a pivotal role in the film—took to Instagram to pen a note of gratitude. “Ladies & Gentlemen, we were not ready for this. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this incredible love, support and acceptance you have given Dhurandhar, which is a vision and passion of one man, my boiya (Kashmiri for brother) adityadharfilms. The day you narrated the film to me, I realised how important a story you wanted to tell, unfolding in the most unique narrative style. The level of research, the depth in all the characters, and the creation of each character—from their look to their attitude—was remarkable. You surprised me and kept surprising me. Most importantly, you absorbed all the pressure while filming and never had a bad day. Thank you, boiya. Love you,” he wrote.
14 December,2025 10:43 AM IST | MumbaiThere is no stopping Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar at the box office. The film is currently in its second week and has already crossed the Rs 300 crore mark. It has recorded the biggest single-day collections for a second Friday and Saturday, with demand continuing to rise. Viewing this surge, post-midnight shows have been introduced in major cities across Maharashtra. Post-midnight shows for second week of Dhurandhar Reportedly, in Mumbai, cinemas have begun screening Dhurandhar as late as 12:45 am onwards. The decision was taken after advance bookings surged across multiplexes and single screens alike. In Pune, post-midnight shows commence at 12:20 am. A similar trend has also been observed in Gujarat, with late-night screenings added in Ahmedabad. Notably, even during the film’s first weekend, post-midnight shows were introduced due to overwhelming demand. Gulf countries ban Dhurandhar According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, the narrative of the Aditya Dhar directorial has led to a ban in the UAE/GCC region. A source told the portal, “Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE have not released Dhurandhar. There were apprehensions that this would happen, as the film is perceived as an ‘anti-Pakistan film’. In the past, such films have failed to secure a release in this region. The makers still attempted a submission, but none of the countries approved the film’s theme.” Dhurandhar OTT rights sold for a whopping price As per another Bollywood Hungama report, the film has closed a massive deal for its OTT rights. The streaming rights of Dhurandhar have reportedly been sold to Netflix for a whopping Rs 130 crore for both parts. Sources told the portal, “Netflix has paid Rs 130 crore for the streaming rights of Dhurandhar. This includes both parts. Hence, one can say that the rights were sold for around Rs 65 crore each for Dhurandhar Part 1 and Part 2.” The source further added, “This is a huge figure in today’s times when OTT prices have crashed. It is also a significant shot in the arm for Ranveer Singh, marking his biggest OTT deal yet if we consider the combined amount for both parts.”
14 December,2025 10:14 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Salman Khan walked the red carpet at the recently concluded Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. At the event, he participated in an interactive session where he reflected on his cinematic journey. The actor was in a candid mood and did not hold back while admitting that he lacks acting skills. Salman Khan mocks his acting skills At the session, Salman Khan poked fun at himself, saying he does not see himself as a great performer. He also joked that he feels the audience laughs when he cries on screen. Joking that he never really tries to act, Khan said, “Acting has also left this generation. Toh mujhe nahi lagta ki main koi bahut hi kamaal ka actor hoon. You can catch me doing anything, but you can’t catch me acting. Woh hoti hi nahi mujhse. Jaisa feel hota hai, waise karta hoon. Bas yahi hai.” However, the audience did not agree with Khan’s statement. The host of the interaction turned to the audience and asked if they agreed with the superstar, to which the hall erupted with a resounding no. This led Khan to share another moment of self-deprecating humour. He added, “Kabhi-kabhi jab main rota hoon, mujhe lagta hai aap log mujh par hans dete ho.” The Dabangg star also walked the red carpet at the awards ceremony, where he bumped into global star Johnny Depp. A picture of Salman with the Pirates of the Caribbean actor was shared on the official Instagram account of the Red Sea Film Festival and quickly went viral on social media, courtesy of Bhaijaan’s fans. On the red carpet, Salman also praised fellow Bollywood star Alia Bhatt. Speaking about her receiving the Golden Globe Horizon Award, he said, “Yes, Alia Bhatt, it’s amazing! I think only Saudi could’ve done this. It’s amazing. They’re going places really rapidly. It’s a good thing. I like it that they bring their best and our culture together.” Salman Khan's work front Meanwhile, on the film front, Salman was last seen on the big screen in Sikandar, which failed to impress audiences. He was also seen hosting the reality show Bigg Boss 19. In the coming months, Salman will be seen headlining Battle of Galwan, which also stars Chitrangda Singh.
14 December,2025 08:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
