Have you heard? Raid 2 to releaseon OTT this week; Vidya Balan joins Raja Shivaji

R Madhavan is set to return to screens with Aap Jaisa Koi, an upcoming OTT release co-starring Fatima Sana Shaikh. The trailer of the romantic drama film, unveiled yesterday. While the trailer has received a lot of love, what truly caught audiences off guard was Madhavan’s notably youthful appearance —leading many to speculate about the use of de-ageing technology. “They’ve all been accusing me of de-ageing, but I don’t think I have the budget for that. It hasn’t happened,” said Madhavan, at the trailer launch event in Mumbai. So, what’s the secret then? He said, “Good old nutrition and exercise.” He also shared that he discovered that simply eating less worked wonders. His comments have stirred speculation online, with many wondering if it was a quiet jab at Bollywood stars like Aamir Khan and Salman Khan, both of them associated with using digital de-ageing techniques and VFX to look younger on screen.

Weekend binge alert

Ajay Devgn’s Raid 2, the sequel to the hit Raid (2018), has officially arrived on OTT. The streaming platform announced the release with a punchy caption: “Aaj se ulti ginti shuru! Amay Patnaik [Ajay’s character] is back with a new case and the same old fire.” The film started streaming on Netflix on June 26. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 opened in theatres on May 1 and has already made waves at the box office, becoming only the second Hindi film after Chhaava this year to surpass Rs 200 crore globally. The film also stars Vaani Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh.

Vidya to go pan India?

Riteish Deshmukh’s ambitious directorial debut Raja Shivaji, has reportedly added Vidya Balan to its already star-studded cast. Riteish, who also plays the titular role, has assembled a formidable line-up, including Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sachin Khedekar, Bhagyashree, Genelia Deshmukh, Fardeen Khan, Jitendra Joshi, and Amole Gupte. According to reports, Vidya was quick to come on board after hearing the script, as she was apparently drawn to the film’s historical significance. We have learnt that she has even completed her look test and is expected to join the shoot next month. The film is slated to release in cinemas on May 1, 2026. The strategic Maharashtra Day release date holds particular significance, as the holiday commemorates the formation of the state.