There 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 correspondentVeteran actress Hema Malini, has shared a tribute to her husband, and the late actor Dharmendra through a special video. On Saturday, the actress took to her Instagram, and shared a video featuring clips from Dharmendra’s films. She revealed that the video was made for the two prayer meetings that she had arranged in Delhi and Mathura. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dream Girl Hema Malini (@dreamgirlhemamalini) She wrote in the caption, “Special tribute to Dharam ji highlighting his evergreen appeal, his charisma, his immense talent and his tremendous, impactful presence in all his movies. This visual tribute was made for the two prayer meetings that I had arranged in Delhi and Mathura”. Hema Malini, and the Deols had arranged separate prayer meet for the late actor, who passed away on November 24, 2025. Hema Malini and the Deol family have often drawn public attention for the way personal, religious, and familial boundaries are handled with discretion. The separate prayer meetings reflects long-standing personal dynamics rather than discord. Hema Malini, Dharmendra’s second wife, is known for her deep spiritual inclination and structured religious observances, often preferring quiet, faith-based rituals within her own circle. The Deols, meanwhile, sons Sunny and Bobby along with the extended family, are known to follow their own customs and emotional expressions of solidarity, shaped by their upbringing and close sibling bond. Hema Malini has consistently maintained dignity in public life, balancing her roles as an actor, parliamentarian, and devotee. Dharmendra passed away at the age of 89. He was one of Bollywood’s most enduring and beloved stars. He was born in 1935 in Punjab, and began his career in the early 1960s, after he was discovered through a talent hunt competition. In the late 1950s, Filmfare magazine, in collaboration with Bimal Roy Productions, organized a nationwide talent contest to find new faces for Hindi cinema. Dharmendra quickly rose to fame with his charming looks, emotional depth, and effortless screen presence. His versatility allowed him to excel in romance, action, and comedy alike. Some of his most iconic films include ‘Phool Aur Patthar’, which established him as a leading man, and ‘Sholay’, where his portrayal of the lovable, witty Veeru became legendary. 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 08:22 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe new lease of life post ‘Gadar: The Katha Continues’ (2023) he got has Sunny Deol looking at his career differently. He is now picking projects that surprise him and his loyal audience. While the actor is set to play Hanuman in Nitesh Tiwari’s ‘Ramayana’, sources now inform that Namit Malhotra (producer and CEO Double Negative) is fast-tracking a Hanuman-centric musical film, with Deol as the top choice to headline it. The project, described internally as a “mythological-pop opera with thunderous action”, is rumoured to be the second major entry in the Ramayan Universe (R-Verse). “The moment they saw the initial writing of Hanuman’s sequences in ‘Ramayana’, the team knew he needed his own stage. And Sunny paaji’s name kept coming up because who else could play it better than him, as he is also part of the original,” shares a source close to the development. Insiders inform that the makers plan to blend legend, music, high-octane set pieces, aerial combat, flaming-torch choreography, and a 12-minute song described as a battle hymn. They add that the makers plan to have “Avengers-styled interconnected storylines with recurring characters and crossovers. Hanuman is their Hulk — unstoppable, beloved, and built for spectacle.” If things fall into place, the musical may roll into production by late next year. Sunny Deol in ‘Border 2’ Sunny Deol’s line-up . ‘Border 2’ — set to come on January 2026. ‘Gabru’ — scheduled for March 13, 2026. ‘Ramayana – Part I & Part II’ — Sunny is rumoured to play Hanuman. ‘Lahore, 1947’ — The period drama directed by Rajkumar Santoshi. ‘Soorya’ — The Hindi remake of ‘Joseph’ (2018). ‘Baap’ — Nostalgic action ensemble film with veteran stars. ‘Jaat 2’ — Sequel to ‘Jaat’. ‘Coal King’ — Film in discussion with director Anil Sharma
14 December,2025 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIt’s always a mental fight before societal pressure for a new mother to return to work while battling the unbearable desire to spend time with her newborn. For Yami Gautam, who had a son with director and husband Aditya Dhar in May 2024, the decision to go back to the screen was also clouded by this guilt. But she found solace and support in her husband and family. “Initially, there was a feeling of mom-guilt [because I was] resuming work so soon. But my mother had told me to not allow the sentiment of motherhood hold me back as I have worked hard all my life [to be] an independent woman,” shares Gautam, who had two releases this year — Dhoom Dham and Haq. While the actor is thrilled to embrace this phase of life, she shares that her “strong and progressive mother’s support helped me to resume work.” (L-R) Yami Gautam in ‘Dhoom Dhaam; and ‘Haq’ Dhar shares the load by being a hands-on father. Gautam shares that her filmmaker husband also encourages her to continue working. “When he saw Haq he said some of the nicest things to me. I always look forward to his feedback on my work as an actor. Being a mother is a blessing in my life but I must work as I want to,” smiles the actor. Being bold in her choice of films has almost always worked in Gautam’s favour, whether with Uri: The Surgical Strike (2019) or Article 370 (2024). She believes that one must have “courage to tell a story that is based on or is inspired from real life stories”. “You cannot have fear in your mind when making a film. You have to be brave to tell such stories, should you choose to do one,” she says.
14 December,2025 07:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRMore than a decade after Peepli Live (2010), filmmaker Anusha Rizvi came out with her family dramedy The Great Shamsuddin Family. While it took her eight years to tell the story of the dysfunctional Shamsuddin family, she has been dabbling in multiple projects, including a large-scale documentary on the late Punjabi singer, rapper, and songwriter Sidhu Moosewala, who passed away in 2022. “I’ve been working on multiple projects which have not seen the light of day for various reasons. Just before The Great Shamsuddin Family, I was intently working for two years on a documentary about Sidhu,” shares Rizvi, adding that she also took time to spend with her seven-year-old son, “especially in his initial years for emotional stability,” though the creative work never stopped. What she envisioned as a film on Moosewala soon shifted course during research; the director realised that encompassing his life experiences in a short frame of time and fictionalising them convincingly would be nearly impossible. Instead, she decided to make it a multi-part documentary. “I think the Sidhu Moosewala story is a grand masala film, but this is real. From his growth in a small village to cycling miles to study, it is like the original Bollywood story of rise,” she explains, admitting that the sheer volume of material from police narratives and others was not something she could write. “I cannot fictionalise the story and write it better than what I can show in real life.” Even filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj, who collaborated with her in the process, was struck by the informaion she had assembled. Though the film remains unfinished, she is unwilling to let go of it. “I don’t know when I’ll be able to do it fully,” she confesses. “But I hope I am able to because it’s a story worth telling. Even Vishal Bhardwaj was riveted [by] just watching what was shrunk together to the point of Moosewala being killed.” While Rizvi is busy with multiple projects, including adapting Amitav Ghosh’s Sea of Poppies, she still carves out time to revive and lead the Dastangoi Collective — an ensemble dedicated to the traditional Urdu art of storytelling. “We finished 20 years this year of reviving the art form. It’s the kind of work in the nature of nation building. We bring out academics to the audiences and local people, so it is not only restricted to serious professors or lectures. I think that is my lifelong work,” she says. The rapper-singer Sidhu Moosewala Born in 1993 in Moosa village, Punjab, Sidhu Moosewala rose from modest beginnings to become one of the most influential Punjabi musicians of his generation. Known for his distinct blend of folk, hip-hop, and raw storytelling, he quickly became a global sensation. His outspoken persona and political foray in 2021 made him a polarising yet iconic figure. In May 2022, at the age 28, his life was cut short in a targeted shooting that sparked nationwide grief and debate.
14 December,2025 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuDirector Prahlad Kakkar has shared his opinion on music composer Vishal Dadlani’s sarcastic remark on the discussion about Vande Mataram in the Parliament. Earlier, Vishal had criticised the discourse in the Parliament. Without naming individuals, he used irony to question why symbolic nationalism often dominates legislative attention while pressing issues like unemployment, inflation, education, and healthcare receive comparatively less focus. Responding to the same, Prahlad Kakkar told IANS, “If you take the politics out of a politician, what's left? They will remain ordinary people. They are politicians, and politics is their job. You have to do something for leadership. All these controversies and statements don't matter because leaders will just keep being leaders”. Earlier, Vishal had said, “Hello, brothers and sisters. I have good news for you. Yesterday, our Parliament debated on Vande Mataram for 10 hours. Vande Mataram is a very famous and well-known folk song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. People love it”. He further mentioned, “It was debated in the parliament. And because of this debate, let me tell you, India’s unemployment problem has been solved. The Indigo problem has been solved. The air pollution problem has been solved. Imagine! A debate was held on a poem for 10 hours. These things were not even mentioned, but all these things have been solved because of this debate. This debate costs Rs. 2.5 lakh per minute of your tax money in the parliament. 10 hours means 600 minutes. Count it”. His comment reflected a broader liberal critique that patriotism should be measured through governance, accountability, and citizens’ welfare rather than enforced slogans. Supporters viewed his remark as a defense of free expression and personal choice, while critics accused him of disrespecting national symbols. The episode highlighted ongoing tensions between cultural nationalism and constitutional freedoms in public discourse. 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
13 December,2025 07:03 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
