The recent batch of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice has disclosed an email that names filmmaker Mira Nair in connection with a high-profile afterparty held in 2009. Along with the mother of democratic socialist politician Zohran Mamdani, other high-profile names like Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were also mentioned in the file. Mira Nair named in Epstein Files According to the newly revealed documents, the email was reportedly sent by publicist Peggy Siegal to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on October 21, 2009. The message mentioned an afterparty hosted at the New York townhouse of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was later convicted of sex trafficking-related crimes. The event took place after a screening of the film Amelia, a biographical drama directed by Nair. In her email, Siegal wrote, “Just left Ghislaine’s townhouse…after party for film." Further listing several prominent figures present at the party, she said, "Bill Clinton and Jeff Bezos were there…Jean Pigozzi, director Mira Nair…etc. Film received tepid reaction though women like it much more…Hillary Swank and [Richard] Gere are at stupid party in Bloomingdales cheap sportswear department…very weird." Siegal also shared her personal review of the film’s response at the time. “Film received tepid reaction though women like it much more," she wrote in the email giving a brief commentary on audience feedback. The message further mentioned other celebrity appearances at a separate promotional event, which she described in dismissive terms. “Hillary Swank and [Richard] Gere are at stupid party in Bloomingdales cheap sportswear department…very weird," the email read. She added details about the promotional strategy, saying, “Studio went for free party from store and windows for a month… Going to be in Wall Street 2 tomorrow ….more to come. xoxo Peg." About the case Notably, Ghislaine Maxwell, who is facing imprisonment for sex trafficking, is currently serving a 20–year sentence in connection with the deceased financier, convicted sex offender and paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The recently released documents highlight what the government knew about the millionaire financier's sexual abuse of young girls. Notably, these files were withheld from an initial release in December. Subsequently, they were finally disclosed on January 30, under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The latest files include correspondence with Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain’s Prince Andrew, along with some other Epstein's friends.
31 January,2026 01:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3’s hard-hitting message about saving the girl child of our country has deeply connected with top cinestars from the Indian film fraternity as well as the country’s female sporting icons like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandanna, PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Deepti Sharma, to name a few. Rani has now joined hands with the Delhi Police to raise awareness on how to protect girls and women in the national capital. Rani has lent her support to a bunch of causes focussed at protecting girls, and she lauds the efforts of the Delhi Police for their vigilance day in and day out. Rani Mukerji praises Delhi Police for keeping women safe Rani says, “Safety is not a privilege. It is a right, and no girl in this country should grow up learning fear before freedom. A society is judged by how it protects its women, and the police stand on the front line of that promise. Every uniform carries responsibility, courage, and compassion. When a woman steps out of her home, she should feel confident, not concerned, and the Delhi police force is always vigilant to take care of every girl.” She adds, “The law stands with you steadfastly. The uniform stands with you like a protective cloak around you. A nation cannot move forward while its women look over their shoulders, and I salute Delhi Police for their dedication and resilience to keep girls and women safe across the national capital.” The only female-led hit franchise of India and also the only female-led cop franchise of the country, Mardaani has always been lauded for bringing to light several atrocities faced by girls and women. About Mardaani 3 Ever since Yash Raj Films unveiled the trailer of Mardaani 3, it has become the biggest talking point in the Hindi film industry. Unanimously positive appreciation has been pouring in from all quarters for Rani Mukerji, who returns to reprise her widely loved character of Shivani Shivaji Roy, a daredevil cop who risks her life to save 93 young missing girls in a race against time. This time, Rani Mukerji’s Mardaani 3 focuses on a new issue of how young girls aged 8-9 years, from low-income groups, are kidnapped for a specific reason across our country. The makers have hidden the plot thus far brilliantly. Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 released yesterday in theatres. Rani Mukerji is also celebrating 30 years of her glorious career with Mardaani 3, a milestone moment that has galvanised the entire film industry to come out and celebrate her legacy.
31 January,2026 01:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFrom portraying a rape survivor in her debut film Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat to playing a resilient woman battling social injustice in Mehendi, a teacher living with Tourette syndrome in Hichki, a fearless police officer in Mardaani, and a mother who takes on an entire nation for her children in Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway, Rani Mukerji has consistently brought stories of strength and courage to the screen. The Bollywood star says she makes a conscious effort to present Indian women in the best possible light through her choice of roles. “Since the time I started working in this industry, I have always tried to portray Indian women in the best possible light. Whether they are journalists, police officers, teachers or housewives, for me, they are the real heroes, the real Mardaanis. I want to show the entire global audience how special Indian women are, how strong and empowered they are,” Rani told IANS. According to her, the empowerment of women is directly linked to the strength of the nation, which is why her film choices have always aligned with this belief. “And when Indian women are empowered, only then can our country truly become strong. That is why my choices have always reflected this belief,” she added. Rani emphasised that every Indian woman carries a unique strength within her. "I want to always show Indian women in the best light. I want to show how special Indian women are, because each one of them has a superpower within her, whether she is a housewife, a teacher, a journalist, or a police officer.” “I believe they perform their duties beautifully, balance their family lives with grace, and that is the most inspiring aspect of women in uniform and women in positions of power,” said the actress. She further spoke about women who navigate everyday life with resilience, continuing to move forward despite the challenges they face. “These are women who go about their daily lives carrying immense strength within them, powering through despite all the challenges thrown their way,” said the National Award-winner. As an Indian woman herself, Rani said it is important for her to portray what real Mardaanis and real heroes truly represent. "For me, as an Indian woman, it is very important to show what real Mardaanis and real heroes are like, because I am deeply inspired by all of them. I am inspired by every character I have played." Talking about her characters, the actress said she draws inspiration from every role she has played. She cited Debika from Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway as one such character, who fights an entire nation to bring her children back. “These are powerful women, strong women, and they inspire future generations. As an artist, my role is simply to bring them to life so that millions of people across the globe can see what they do,” concluded Rani. 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
31 January,2026 12:21 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Sunny Deol is presently basking in the success of his recent release Border 2. Commemorating the massive box office triumph of the war drama, Sunny posted a video on his Instagram handle, where he was seen celebrating with a cake-cutting ceremony surrounded by his team. As Sunny was cutting the cake, everybody was heard singing, "Happy Border to you...Happy Border to you, Happy border to Sunny Ji", Happy Border to you". Rejoicing in the moment, Sunny was also singing along with them. Later, he even lovingly asked someone to feed him the cake, "Mereko koi Khila dega kya?" On Thursday, Sunny expressed gratitude to movie buffs for showering Border 2 with love and affection. He decided to post a video message on social media, thanking the audience for making the film a huge success. Sunny said in the clip, “Aawaz kahan tak gayi, aapke dilon tak. I am so grateful for the love and warmth you showered on my movie Border. Thank you so much for it all.” "Meri, aapki, Hamari Border2 ko itna pyaar dene ke liye, aap sab ko bohot," the caption on the post read. Made under the direction of Anurag Singh, the movie enjoys an ensemble cast with Sunny, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty in lead roles, along with Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh, and Medha Rana playing supporting roles. A standalone sequel to J. P. Dutta's Border, the drama expands beyond the original film and revolves around joint operations of the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy against the backdrop of the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war. Co-written by Singh and Sumit Arora, the movie has been jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J. P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta under the banners of T-Series Films and J. P. Films. Border 2 got a theatrical release on January 23. 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
31 January,2026 12:05 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor and producer Kamaal R Khan, who was arrested last week in connection with an incident of firing in the Oshiwara area of Mumbai, has been granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 25,000. He claimed that the industry had conspired to seek revenge on him. Kamaal R Khan granted bail Sana Raees Khan, a Supreme Court Advocate, representing him, called the arrest an "abuse of the process of law," saying it was carried out in an "arbitrary manner" and disregarded his "constitutional safeguards." Sana Raees Khan said, "His arrest was carried out in an arbitrary manner, completely disregarding his constitutional safeguards, and definitely amounts to an abuse of the process of law. This case doesn't even stand. It's just an abuse of the process of law. He was arrested without notice. There was also this strange allegation that certain cartridges are missing, specifically six bullets. So I said that at most that could be an administrative breach, for which he could be punished by the licensing authority, for which he cannot be tried before a criminal court." "This is not even the allegation that he aimed at the building or aimed at the person and fired from his arms. Anyway, he's a licensed owner. Suddenly, after six days, a person whose name is not mentioned in the remand report states that he heard that firing had occurred from his building. However, the pistol's effective range is limited to 20 to 30 meters, and the distance between my client's (KRK) bungalow and the building is 1500 meters. So, hypothetically and practically, it is impossible for this act to occur. So, absolutely, you know it is just abuse of the process of law and misuse of provisions of law," she added arguing there was no ballistic evidence. About the firing case Last week, Kamaal R. Khan was arrested by the Mumbai Police following questioning in connection with the firing incident. According to the Mumbai Police, after the firing incident at a residential building in Oshiwara was reported, police reviewed CCTV footage from the area and spoke to several people. According to the police, KRK was initially taken into custody for questioning and later arrested after he admitted during questioning that the firing was done with his licensed gun. The actor was later sent to judicial custody in the Oshiwara firing case for two weeks after he was produced before the Andheri Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on Tuesday at the end of his police custody. (With inputs from ANI)
31 January,2026 11:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe much-awaited release of Vadh 2 is just around the corner, starring Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta in the lead roles. The actor duo have now taken the excitement several notches higher with a stunning, retro-glam photoshoot that has taken the internet on fire. On his Instagram, Sanjay Mishra shared a series of photos of himself and Neena Gupta, showcasing their killer looks with unapologetic swag and style. The photoshoot perfectly captures the duo's upcoming film Vadh 2, where elegance masks darkness, and secrets simmer beneath calm exteriors. While sharing the photos, the actor wrote, "Serving killer looks. Hiding killer secrets." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Mishra (@imsanjaimishra) Lead actors Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta return as Shambhunath and Manju, respectively, in Vadh 2, which offers a glimpse into their lives: Manju has been jailed, and her husband undertakes a dangerous mission to get her out. In the 2-minute 25-second trailer, Shambhunath is seen dodging the police while carrying out his act, while Manju continues to live as an inmate and is complicit in her husband's crimes. As tensions rise, with the police adamant about catching the culprit, the story takes an extreme turn as emotional conflict, unspoken truths, and the chase intensify. Joining the cast are actors like Kumud Mishra, Akshay Dogra, Amitt K Singh, Shilpa Shukla, and Yogita Bihani, adding more layers to the mystery. Written and directed by Jaspal Singh Sandhu and produced by Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg's Luv Films. The film releases theatrically on February 6, 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
31 January,2026 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIShahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna, who will be seen coming together on screen for Homi Adajania's Cocktail 2, were seen celebrating as they wrapped up the shoot for the highly anticipated sequel. Commemorating the occasion, director Homi Adajania took to his official Instagram handle and dropped a picture of himself celebrating with Shahid, Kriti, and Rashmika. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Homi Adajania (@homster) The delightful and vibrant pic of the Cocktail 2 team further included the text, "Love you fools" and "Fun was had!". Announcing the shoot wrap for his next, the filmmaker penned on social media, "Cocktail2 shoot wrapped...I may be biased, but this one feels a tad special...Big love to my fab crew & cast for tolerating the absurdity that I am. Love you guys (red heart emoji) (sic)." Reacting to this, Kriti commented, "Love you Homsterrrr!!" She further re-shared Homi Adajania's post on the Stories section of her Instagram handle and penned, "Love you guys!!", followed by two red heart emojis. Backed by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films, the story of Cocktail 2 has been penned by Luv Ranjan. The details regarding the plot of the sequel have been kept under wraps for now. The primary instalment in the franchise, Cocktail, starring Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty, which was also helmed by Homi Adajania, reached the cinema halls back in 2012. Adding to the buzz, Homi Adajania, Rashmika, and Kriti keep on providing fun sneak peeks into the behind-the-scenes chaos from the shoot of Cocktail 2. Recently, Rashmika was seen trying her hand at cinematography on the set. The Animal actress was seen giving a goofy expression as she looked into the camera for the pic captioned "Shots without actors". Taking a hilarious jibe at her DoP, Rashmika added, "My 2nd job is secure..No? santha_dop." Cocktail 2 is likely to be released in the cinema halls in 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
31 January,2026 09:49 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSFilmmaker Zoya Akhtar has taken a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and recalled a time when, in her words, “actors were friends that hung out on sets.” Sharing a carousel post featuring a series of behind the scenes moments from her debut directorial Luck By Chance, 18 years ago, Zoya reflected back on an era that felt simpler, and more creatively driven. Posting the throwback pictures on her social media account, Zoya captioned them it as, “Luck By Chance 2008 Those were the days: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zoya Akhtar (@zoieakhtar) 1. It was my first 2. We shot on film 3. We had prints 4. Romance ruled the screen 5. My first hero was my first hero 6. The skies were blue 7. Actors were friends that hung out on sets 8. This was a nuanced conversation 9. Akira was a baby 10. Carlos was also a kid 11. Reema and me were unofficial co writers 12. No one looked at their phone in the morning 13. Life was a dream” The series of pictures offers a warm sneak peek into the making of the 2008 movie. In one picture, a clapperboard from Luck By Chance can be seen marking the beginning of Zoya Akhtar’s journey as a director. Another picture captures Zoya behind the camera with cinematographer Carlos Catalan, completely engrossed in a shot. A still from the film features Hrithik Roshan and Isha Sharvani. Other images show veteran actress Dimple Kapadia in an intense conversational scene with Bollywood late star Rishi Kapoor. Another picture also captures a candid moment of Zoya with baby Akira Akhtar. Talking about Zoya Akhtar, the director is the daughter of veteran lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar and writer Honey Irani. She is the sister of actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar. Over the years, Zoya has directed hit movies like Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, Dil Dhadakne Do, Gully Boy and The Archies. For the uninitiated, Luck By Chance starred Farhan Akhtar, Konkona Sen Sharma, Hrithik Roshan, Dimple Kapadia, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Kapoor, Isha Sharvani and Rishi Kapoor in key roles. The plot of the story revolved around Farhan Akhtar's journey as an industry outsider navigating Bollywood and offered a realistic image of the Hindi Film Industry. 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
31 January,2026 09:26 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSOne Friday can change everything. That’s a reminder Ahan Shetty would hear frequently from actor and his father Suniel Shetty. A week after the release of Border 2, as Ahan got on a call with us, flushed from the war drama’s success, he opened the conversation with, “Last Friday changed everything for me.” Border 2, also starring Sunny Deol, Diljit Dosanjh, and Varun Dhawan, is Ahan’s second feature in a five-year career. He forayed into the movies with Tadap (2021), backed by Sajid Nadiadwala. While the romantic actioner underperformed at the box office, the newcomer hit a low — not so much by the film’s fate, but the events that transpired after the release. “Tadap made Rs 40 crore at a time when films weren’t crossing Rs 10 crore. People said that the film did horribly in terms of numbers, but we made profit. That said, the film came with expectations. After that, it was difficult. I was very low on confidence during that period. I was tied down to a contract with Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment. So, I wasn’t allowed to sign any other movie for four years. A lot of offers came my way, but you can’t [breach] a contract,” he recalled. Sajid Nadiadwala Good things come to those who wait. For the actor, it came in the form of producer Nidhi Dutta’s offer. “JP Dutta sir and Nidhi didi were home for dinner. Nidhi didi turned to me and said, ‘How would you like to be a part of Border 2?’ I told her that we’ll talk about it when it happens. She laughed and said, ‘Ahan, it’s happening now.’ For a couple of days, I was skeptical, because I couldn’t believe they wanted me, a newcomer, to be a part of such a big film. I had not been able to do anything for four years and was fighting certain battles in my own head. So, being a part of the film means a lot to me.” Rs 245 crEstimated domestic collection of ‘Border 2’ so far Did you know? Sajid Nadiadwala had produced ‘Waqt Hamara Hai’ (1993), which was the first film Suniel Shetty had signed. Life came full circle when 28 years later, the producer launched the senior actor’s son Ahan.
31 January,2026 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAhead of the second edition of the All-Stars Tennis Ball Cricket League (ASTBCL), Sanjay Dutt has come on board as an owner of Glenwalk Lions team. League founder Bunty Walia says that the actor’s association is the result of his faith in the new-age cricket format. Launched last year, the ASTBCL was conceptualised as a bridge between gully cricket nostalgia and stadium-style presentation. Featuring television actors and industry insiders as players, it introduced street-style rules and a faster version of the game. Walia reveals that Dutt had attended the league last year as a guest, and it piqued his interest. “He saw the energy and competition, and asked me why I hadn’t involved him earlier. [When discussions for season two began], I asked him if he’d like to invest in a team. He said it made business sense,” recalls the founder. Walia credits his first set of believers — the eight team captains from season one — for bringing the league to its second season. Today, it has expanded to 10 teams. He believes one of the biggest boosts came when Amitabh Bachchan attended the inaugural season matches. “His presence there was validation beyond anything I could have asked for,” he recalled, adding that while Bachchan initially planned to stay for a few minutes, he ended up watching the games for over an hour. 10Teams in the upcoming edition of the cricket league Feb 9-14When the matches will stream on SonyLIV
31 January,2026 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuMardaani 3Director: Abhiraj MinawalaActors: Rani Mukerji, Mallika PrasadRating: 3 stars It’s taken me rather long to draw the connection that since Rani (Mukerji) plays the lead in this franchise, Mardaani, the title comes from Subhadra Kumari Chauhan’s poetic tribute to the rani of Jhansi, from 1857 rebellion: ‘Khoob ladi mardaani….’ That said, the film itself is fine counterpoint to macho-man rodeo savage heroes that we are more used to, onscreen, watching their hair fly in the air as they swing on harnesses like circus clowns. While equally feisty, and very much an actioner still, Mardaani adds a suitably feminine energy with a heroine in the same part. The stakes, on the face of it, may not seem as high as hyper-masculine heroes affecting transnational politics, as it were. The lead cop, Shivani Shivaji Roy (mark the middle-name), chiefly specialises in relatively more local crimes against women; trafficking of minors, in this case (and in the previous ones too). But then again, someone only has to mention Epstein files, about powerful paedophiles, for the American President to go around invading another country, as we speak! So, who’s to say female minors, pushed into prostitution, isn’t grave enough to alter the globe? Be that as it may, the plot here, mercifully, gets slightly denser still. In the sense that we know little girls are getting picked up from the boondocks to serve as beggars on streets. But the villains are on the lookout for a particular type of girls, sampling/testing their blood alongside, making you wonder, what’s really at play, beyond the obvious. As an audience, this assists you with staying hooked to what happens next. In addition to what’s going on, of course. The screenplay and dialogues are credited to Aayush Gupta (The Railway Men), with story attributed to Deepak Kingrani (Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai), Baljeet Singh Marwah, along with Aayush. Their script, sufficiently detailed, plays out with a bunch of twists, where it’s hard to tell between the good guys, and the bad guys. Some of it clearly contrived. Yeah, and I do have a few questions in that regard. But they border on spoilers. I do wish for you to watch the film. So, saving that for when/if I meet the abovementioned blokes sometime. While the crimes depicted in the picture, under the larger begging syndicate/mafia, apparently, have been going for a while, Mardaani starts off with the unintended kidnapping of a li’l girl, in Bulandshahar, UP. The action shifts to the nation’s capital, nearby, with chaos/confusion over ransom, swiftly executed in a packed Delhi metro station (by the newish director Abhiraj Minawala; old-time assistant with the producers, Yash Raj). The missing kid happens to be an Indian ambassador’s daughter. Hence, the demand for state intervention through the special cop, Shivani, who’s had a fairly impossible career as a police officer, if you ask me. What with starting out as an inspector in Mumbai’s crime branch (first part) to an SP in Rajasthan (sequel), and then with the CRPF, currently deputed for a special investigation by India’s home secretary. There’s no need to look particularly incredulous. She’s a whiz alright, cracking complicated clues like easy-peasy puzzles in her head. Physically, I don’t think petite Rani ever fit this part. Well, neither did lanky Bachchan, when he pulled off the fight-master ‘angry young man’. What’s undeniable is her connect. I attribute a lot of it to the ’90s. Forget fad diets and longevity science, there’s something the stars from that decade ate, along with butter-chicken or maachh-bhaat, that the longevity of their careers seems infinite. It’d be hard for many 30-year-old actors to match Rani’s vigour and energy. She’s been around in the movies for 30 years! Here’s the thing, though. The first Mardaani came out in 2014, the year India’s politics changed. As did our screen-viewing experience, shortly after — with OTTs streaming content, almost entirely focussed on dark, crime thrillers. Many of them with female cops in the centre. For instance, the Indian series I’m watching now, Daldal, almost right after Delhi Crime 3, and the one I intend to catch next, Kohrra 2, are all police procedurals, with female stars playing cops! What remains Mardaani’s USP then? I suspect the fact that the main-character energies have equally emanated from freshly introduced villains, who scripted decent careers for themselves thereafter: Tahir Raj Bhasin (from one), Vishal Jethwa (two). Not gonna compare here. The main villain in Mardaani 3 is a woman (Mallika Prasad), who could well be a dark alter-ego of Rani herself — same light brown eyes, husky voice, slightly calm demeanour. There’s a scene where this dark, female lord of flesh-trade turns around from a quilt in bed to reveal herself. I felt a slight jolt, as if experiencing Sadashiv Amrapurkar from Sadak, for a sec. I got goosebumps observing her over a couple of scenes after. Yes, this can only happen in a dark hall. Nope, it wouldn’t, on a small screen, at home.
30 January,2026 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | Mayank ShekharADVERTISEMENT
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