Real locations The biopic based on the life of Indian cricketer Sourav Ganguly is set to go on floors in March, with Rajkummar Rao stepping into the former skipper’s shoes. Backed by Vikramaditya Motwane and Luv Ranjan, the film will be shot at Lord’s Cricket Ground in the UK, and Eden Gardens in Kolkata. According to sources, the makers have identified Lord’s and Eden Gardens as key locations to authentically recreate defining chapters from Ganguly’s cricket career. Tapping into trauma Kani Kusruti in ‘Assi’ In the upcoming film Assi, actor Kani Kusruti takes on the role of a rape survivor and she believes it is impossible to comprehend the trauma but she has tried to bring authenticity to it based on the collective reality that women face in India. Talking about her role, Kani told PTI, “I don’t think one can tap into the trauma [of a survivor] exactly. As an actor, we tried to go closest to it and there can be moments you are probably in it because you are almost believing this has happened to you.”
20 February,2026 07:49 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWas it Shammi Kapoor’s charm, filmmaker Shakti Samanta’s storytelling, or Shankar-Jaikishan’s music? Maybe it was all of these that made ‘An Evening in Paris’ (1967) a jubilee hit on its release. And it looks like the Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore-led musical, which has remained much loved over the decades, might have a sequel of sorts. With French President Emmanuel Macron’s India visit putting the spotlight on Indo-French collaborations in cinema, Samanta’s son and filmmaker Ashim Samanta has revealed to mid-day that French national Georges-Emmanuel Morali has proposed “relaunching” the movie in France. (L-R) Filmmaker Shakti Samanta with son Ashim “If all goes well, and with the backing of proactive financial, creative, and governmental support, there is a possibility of a modern spiritual sequel, ‘An Evening in Paris’. Our home production has influenced French national Georges-Emmanuel Morali to consider relaunching this romantic film in France,” said Ashim. The film has been envisioned as a love story between a French boy and an Indian girl. “The girl visits Paris after watching ‘An Evening in Paris’, and desires to see every heritage spot shown in the film. The French boy takes her to all those locations, and in the process, both fall in love. The clips of the scenes and songs from ‘An Evening in Paris’ would be seen in this movie,” explained Ashim.
20 February,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Chaitanya PadukoneRumours about Govinda facing financial trouble have been circulating on social media, with some reports even claiming the 90s superstar has “sadak par aa gaye.” Reacting strongly to these bankruptcy rumours, his nephew Vinay Anand dismissed the speculation in a bold statement, calling the claims baseless and absurd. Vinay Anand quashes the rumours Speaking on a podcast, Vinay did not hold back while defending his uncle’s stature and financial standing. He said, “He is a superstar, Govinda aaj woh ek jagah khade hojaaye Rs. 25-30 lakh rupaya aaramse mil jaaye.” Emphasising that Govinda can still command significant fees for appearances, he criticised those spreading gossip. He added angrily, “Log likh rahe hain Govinda sadak par aagaye, Govinda ke saath ye hogaya… Abe pagalon, kidhar ho, kiske liye bakwaas kar rahe ho.” Vinay further reminded people of Govinda’s peak stardom during the 1990s, when he was one of the highest paid actors in Bollywood. Highlighting his earnings from that era, he stated, “Jab Lokhandwala mein Rs. 12-13 lakh mein flat aata tha, he used to charge Rs. 1 crore for one film.” He stressed that Govinda worked in around 70 to 80 films and earned crores at a time when such figures were rare in the industry. Vinay Anand comes out in support Expressing disbelief over the rumours, Vinay said, “Tum itne bade legend ke baare mein aise kaise bewakoofi waali baatein kar sakte ho. Mujhe bahot ajeeb lagta hai.” According to him, it is irresponsible to spread such narratives about an actor who has contributed immensely to Indian cinema and enjoyed decades of success. Vinay also pointed out that Govinda’s name continues to trend frequently, proving that his popularity remains intact. He suggested that instead of circulating unfounded financial rumours, people should acknowledge the actor’s achievements and legacy. With this strong rebuttal, Vinay Anand has firmly shut down speculation surrounding Govinda’s financial condition, asserting that the superstar remains secure and respected in the industry. Recently, Govinda was in a controversy where the actor revealed that there were men who had come to attack him in the building in the wee hours and he had to point his gun at them for safety.
19 February,2026 11:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and actress Mithila Palkar, who will soon be seen sharing screen in the upcoming film Bhoot Bangla, recently reunited on the sets of the reality game show, Wheel of Fortune. Mithila joined Akshay, who hosts the show for a fun-filled episode, where the actor revealed her role in the upcoming film. Akshay Kumar reveals Mithila Palkar's role in Bhoot Bangla During the episode, Akshay Kumar revealed that the actress will be seen playing the role of his sister in the upcoming film. Akshay Kumar extended a warm welcome to Mithila Palkar on the set, as he introduced her to the audience. He said, "Mithila started her journey from the internet and is working in many films now. And soon, she will be seen with an actor who is very well known to me, guess who, me." Speaking about their collaboration, Akshay shared, "In "Bhoot Bangla', Mithila will be seen playing the role not of the 'bhoot', but of my sister." While Akshay shared details about Mithila's onscreen character, the young actress was also quick to share fun behind-the-scenes moments from the set. She said, "I've come on the show to recover and repay all the money I lost to you (Akshay) during the course of shooting for 'Bhoot Bangla". Continuing their fun banter, Akshay quipped, "You better win and repay me for all the games you lost on set, otherwise this time we will play Judo, not Ludo" Both Akshay and Mithila were seen in high spirits as they reminisced about shooting together for 'Bhoot Bangla' and playing brother-sister onscreen for the first time. About Bhoot Bangla Bhoot Bangla is directed by Priyadarshan. The film brings the iconic trio of Priyadarshan, Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. The project will also see Wamiqa Gabbi, Tabu, Rajpal Yadav and Mithila Palkar in crucial roles, along with others. The Priyadarshan directorial has been produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms in collaboration with Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali. The story of the movie has been written by Akash A Kaushik and the screenplay by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. The dialogues have been penned by Rohan Shankar. Bhooth Bangla is slated for a theatrical release on May 15, 2026. (With inputs from IANS)
19 February,2026 10:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Krystle D’Souza reacted to reports suggesting that Tamannaah Bhatia was initially considered for the song “Shararat” from “Dhurandhar” but later was replaced by Krystle herself along with actress Ayesha Khan. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Krystle said she was completely unaware of any such reports or developments if any on the same. “I had no idea about all this. But Tamannaah is amazing. She is beautiful and so good at what she does. More power to her. Whatever is written in someone’s fate, they get it,” she said. Speaking about landing the opportunity herself, Krystle further told IANS, “I feel it was in my fate, it was in Ayesha’s fate, and we got it. But that doesn’t take away from how beautiful Tamannaah is and what a great performer she is. Maybe she would have added her own spunk to the song. She brings her own aura and her own limelight, and that’s beautiful.” The Ek Hazaaron Mein Meri Behna Hai actress further said that she believes in women supporting one another in the industry and that each woman in the entertainment industry is doing so well for herself. “Every woman who is doing well makes me proud. I would love to see more women doing amazing, crazy performances and supporting each other,” she said. Talking about “Dhurandhar,” the movie which released in December 2025, featured a fine ensemble cast starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Rakesh Bedi and others. Apart from it's plot, storyline, fine performances, it also generated buzz for its music, including the track “Shararat.” 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
19 February,2026 08:09 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSPriyanka Chopra recently recalled a frightening childhood incident that revealed her mother’s fierce protective side. While promoting her upcoming film The Bluff, Priyanka shared how a late night cab ride in Delhi turned tense when the driver suddenly took an unfamiliar route. Priyanka Chopra recalls a scary childhood incident Speaking about the moment, she said, “I remember when her inside Ka Bloody Mary came out once we were in a cab. I must have been 11 years old. Raat mein hum Delhi ke kisi hotel mein jaa rahe the and suddenly, I don’t know, all I saw was my mother holding the throat of the driver.” According to Priyanka, the driver insisted, “Nahi nahi main short cut le raha hoon,” but her mother was not convinced. Recalling the intensity of the situation, she added, “Raat ke 11 baj rahe the mummy aur main akele the but she just held his neck from the back and said drive back to the main road.” Priyanka revealed that her mother, Madhu Chopra, did not hesitate to take control. “And she slapped him. She said, ‘Drive back to the main road. I’m here with my teenage daughter.’” The actress admitted that she had never seen her mother react so aggressively before. The incident left a lasting impact on her. She shared with a laugh, “After that, I never debated her on anything for the next four months.” Despite her strong reaction in the moment, Priyanka remembered that her mother was visibly shaken once they safely reached their destination. Priyanka Chopra gets candid about her character in The Bluff Priyanka explained that this real life experience helped her connect with her character in The Bluff, a film that explores a mother’s relentless determination to protect her child. Reflecting on that instinct, she said, “In every scene I just kept thinking about what would I do to make sure that my child, my family is safe.” For Priyanka, the memory is not just dramatic but deeply meaningful. It shaped her understanding of courage and maternal strength, proving that when it comes to protecting loved ones, fear often takes a backseat to instinct and bravery.
19 February,2026 07:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran filmmaker M M Baig was found dead at his home in Andheri West in Mumbai, confirmed his publicist Hanif Zaveri. His body was found by the local police. He was the father of popular yesteryear child artist Baby Guddu aka Shahinda Baig. The veteran filmmaker was involved with films such as Razia Sultan and directed Chhoti Bahu. He was in his 70s. MM Baig dies The senior filmmaker was unwell for quite sometime and was reportedly living alone. His publicist told PTI that the neighboours raised alarm after a foul smell started coming from his apartment. "He was unwell for quite some time. Since, he didn't come out of the house for four-five days, the neighbours complained to the cops about a foul place coming from his house," Zaveri told PTI. His body was found by the police on February 18 and was taken to a hospital in Bandra for further procedure. His daughter was also informed. "The police opened the door and found Baig sahab's dead body and informed his daughter about it. They later took his body to Cooper Hospital for post-mortem at around 1:30-2:00 am. He was a loving man. I pray for his departed soul," Zaveri said. About MM Baig's career Baig began his career as an assistant to J Om Prakash, Vimal Kumar, and Rakesh Roshan on films like Govinda's Aadmi Khilona Hai, Jaisi Karni Waisi Bharnii, and Karz Chukana Hai, Anil Kapoor-starrer, Kala Bazaar and Kishen Kanhaiya, among others. As an independent director, he directed two films including Naseeruddin Shah's Massom Gawah (1990), which remains unreleased, and "Chhoti Bahu" (1994), starring Shilpa Shirodkar. "Baig sahab shared a warm equation with Rakesh Roshan sahab. He helped Hrithik Roshan with diction, voice modulation, and dialogues since he was well-versed with these things. Baig sahab would help Hrithik with mouthing dialogues, this was much before his debut film, Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai happened," Zaveri said. Baig's daughter Baby Guddu, born as Shahinda Baig, was one of the beloved child artists in Hindi cinema during the 1980s. Some of her popular films include Rajesh Khanna and Smita Patil's Aakhir Kyon?, Sridevi-starrer Nagina, Anil Kapoor's Pyar Kiya Hai Pyar Karenge, and Jeetendra and Sridevi's Aulad, among others.
19 February,2026 07:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger Jubin Nautiyal recently approached the Delhi High Court on Thursday, where he filed a suit for the protection of his personality rights. However, the Delhi HC, which has seen an influx of celebrities approaching it, why Jubin, who is based in Uttarakhand, did not approach a local high court and instead came to Delhi. Delhi HC blasts Jubin Nautiyal The judge Justice Tushar Rao Gedela questioned Jubin’s lawyer about why the singer did not approach a court in Uttarakhand, and how the Delhi High Court would have jurisdiction to consider Nautiyal's suit. The judge also remarked that the courts in Uttarakhad were not abolished. The counsel argued that the Delhi HC was approached because the controlling authorities, such as the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the Department of Technology (DoT), were located in the national capital. Nevertheless, the court did not buy the reason. "What is the reason for coming here? Court in Uttarakhand can’t call them [defendants] and pass directions? Are you saying Google is not available in Uttarakhand? You have to tell us this, no? Why Uttarakhand doesn’t have jurisdiction when you yourself are located there? Is it the law that because the ministry is here, whatever will be against them, all jurisdiction, whether from Madras, Calcutta or Bombay will come here?" the Court asked. Further, the counsel also stated that many other celebrities, like Vivek Oberoi, also approached the Delhi High Court for the protection of personality rights. To which the Court noted that those are interim orders and they may not create a precedent. "They are all Order 39, Rules 1 and 2 orders. Will that create a precedent?" Justice Gedela asked. In the end, the judge said that he will pass appropriate orders in the case, saying, "We will pass orders." Jubin Nautiyal's plea Jubin approached the Delhi HC claiming that several entities have been exploiting his name, voice, image, likeness, and other elements of his persona without authorisation, license or permission. The singer claimed that this constitutes an infringement of his personality and publicity rights. It was also a violation of registered trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. However, during the hearing of the case, Justice Gedela noted that Nautiyal is from Uttarakhand and the defendants against whom he was seeking reliefs can be made parties in the Uttarakhand courts as well. Notably, an order has yet to be issued in the case.
19 February,2026 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVishal Bhardwaj's directorial O'Romeo was released in theatres on February 13. The film reunited him with Shahid Kapoor. The movie, based on true events, also stars Triptii Dimri and Avinash Tiwary, with special appearances by Tamannaah Bhatia and Vikrant Massey. However, fans who watched the film in theatres were curious about Aamir Khan being thanked in the opening credits of the film. He was, however, not seen in the film. So what was his contribution to O'Romeo? Vishal Bhardwaj has opened up about the same. Aamir Khan's contribution to O'Romeo Talking to Bollywood Hungama, Vishal Bhardwaj said, “Aamir wanted to hear the script of O'Romeo. And when he heard it, he gave me this idea that someone should be killed at a crucial point in the film.” The filmmaker further said, “Killing the lawyer Anjum Ansari (Resh Lamba) in the restaurant was his idea. This is the reason why I thanked him. This suggestion changed many things for me. Because from there, the protagonist, Ustara (Shahid Kapoor), gets attracted towards the girl (Afshan, played by Triptii Dimri). He realizes, ‘Oh my God, she can do anything to exact revenge.’ So, he starts taking her seriously and even nurses her back to health after she gets injured.” Vishal Bhardwaj continued, “So, the whole love story starts from there. That was a big plot point for me. And that's why I wanted to thank Aamir from the bottom of my heart.” Vishal Bhardwaj on O'Romeo box office O'Romeo is also touted to be director Vishal Bhardwaj’s most successful film so far. Sharing his thoughts, Vishal Bhardwaj said, “To evoke a reaction from the audience, one has to reinvent oneself with every story. Creation begins where comfort ends. O’Romeo was born in that space. I believe O’Romeo is going to be my most successful film at the box office.” O'Romeo is an emotionally charged story of love, loss, and consequence. According to the makers, the film revolves around “the irreversible consequences of love denied.” The film draws inspiration from a chapter in Mafia Queens of Mumbai by Hussain Zaidi and is said to be based on the life of gangster Hussain Ustara, played by Shahid Kapoor.
19 February,2026 06:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVishal Bhardwaj's directorial O'Romeo produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, continues to maintain a strong hold at the worldwide gross box office. The film inspired by true events has minted a total of Rs 75.80 cr globally. O'Romeo starring Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri has won hearts across for its gripping storyline, the layered, flawed characters, the refined music along with adrenaline-gushing action sequences. O'Romeo also has emerged as the first film to bring the Spanish dance form Flamenco into Bollywood. The film stars Shahid Kapoor, Triptii Dimri, Avinash Tiwary, Nana Patekar, Farida Jalal along with Tamannaah Bhatia, Disha Patani, Vikrant Massey in special appearances. O'Romeo box office At the box office, the Vishal Bhardwaj film has grossed Rs 75.8 crore globally. After opening to approximately Rs 8.5 crore on Friday, its release day, the film witnessed noticeable growth on Saturday. As per trade reports, the film's second-day box office collection witnessed close to 45 per cent jump, earning approximately Rs 12.25 crore. In its first week, the film has been collecting steadily in the range of Rs 5-6 crore at the domestic box office. Vishal Bhardwaj on O'Romeo box office O'Romeo is also touted to be director Vishal Bhardwaj's most successful film so far. Sharing his thoughts, Vishal Bhardwaj said, “To evoke a reaction from the audience, one has to reinvent oneself with every story. Creation begins where comfort ends. O’Romeo was born in that space. I believe O’Romeo is going to be my most successful film at the box office.” O Romeo is an emotionally charged story of love, loss and consequence. According to the makers, the film revolves around “the irreversible consequences of love denied.” The film draws inspiration from a chapter in Hussain Zaidi’s book Mafia Queens of Mumbai, and is said to be on the life of gangster Hussain Ustara, played by Shahid Kapoor. O’Romeo ratings disabled O’Romeo’s ratings and reviews on BookMyShow have reportedly been removed. The makers reportedly moved court to disable the section. This development has left netizens perplexed, as it has happened for the first time with a Hindi film.The O’Romeo page on BookMyShow no longer shows the audience rating score or any reviews. Below the title and trailer, one can still see how many people are interested in the film (over 100K at the time of writing). Below that, it reads, “Reviews and ratings disabled as per court order.” This marks the first time a Hindi film has moved court to get audience reviews and ratings removed from an online platform. The move comes amid increasing cases of review bombing.
19 February,2026 06:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAnurag Kashyap’s film Kennedy is all set to release in India. The film had a successful international festival run over two years ago. However, its Indian release was delayed due to several reasons. Now, the film will be available for streaming on ZEE5 from February 20. Kennedy CBFC changes Before its streaming release, the film underwent multiple changes mandated by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which passed it with an A certificate. Bollywood Hungama shared the list of changes demanded by the board. The makers were asked to mute an expletive. The name of US President Donald Trump was altered to “Pump Trump.” References — both visual and verbal — to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim were removed and replaced with “Pakistan Don.” A 14-second scene featuring the dialogue “Matunga Matunga… Pungi bajaao” was deleted. Additionally, anti-smoking disclaimers were required during all smoking scenes. After implementing these changes, the film was granted an A certificate on November 23, 2023. The total runtime of the film is 148 minutes and 54 seconds (2 hours, 28 minutes, 54 seconds). What is Kennedy about? Written during the lockdown and shot extensively across the nights of Mumbai over a tight 30-day schedule, Kennedy is a dark, atmospheric thriller that follows an insomniac ex-cop long presumed dead who continues to operate within a corrupt system while secretly searching for redemption. The film’s haunting background score, recorded in Prague with the Prague Philharmonic Choir, further elevates the moody, immersive experience. All set to premiere on Hindi ZEE5, the movie brings Anurag Kashyap back to his gritty storytelling roots. The trailer gives a gripping glimpse into Anurag Kashyap’s unmistakable noir universe that is categorically dark, moody, and razor-sharp. Rahul Bhat commands the screen with an intense, brooding performance as the titular character, proving why he remains one of the most compelling actors in contemporary cinema. His portrayal is layered, restrained, and deeply unsettling. Adding to the drama is Sunny Leone, who brings a striking charm and quiet strength to the narrative. Together, Rahul, Sunny and Anurag promise a cinematic experience that is raw, fearless, and unapologetically Kashyap. With the trailer setting the tone, Kennedy’s homecoming to the Indian audience feels fitting
19 February,2026 06:06 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
