Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar's niece Simar Bhatia stepped into the entertainment industry on Thursday, 1st January, with the release of her debut film Ikkis. She decided to start the year 2026 on a gratitude note, giving thanks to her mother, her family, and also her teachers for shaping the person she is today. Talking about Ikkis, Simar was all praises for her director, Sriram Raghavan, for being patient with her during her introduction to the world of cinema. Her elongated note on Insta went like this, "An incredibly special blessing. A beginning I would not have even known how to pray for. To my director, sriram.raghavanofficial, it is an honour to be introduced into the world of cinema by you. Thank you for your gentleness, patience, and love for storytelling. That passion is something I carry forward. (sic)". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Simar Bhatia (@simarbhatia18) Simar thanked her co-star Agastya Nanda, who is also making his debut with the movie, for sharing this journey with her. She wrote, "Aggy, I have grown so fond of you. You are truly incredible in this film. I can’t wait for the world to witness the greatness of 2/Lt Arun Khetrapal through you. Thank you for making this journey feel shared, never lonely." Simar further thanked the entire team of Ikkis, who played a crucial role in turning the project into a reality. "To the entire team of IKKIS. The ones behind the camera, the ones who shaped the world of the film, the technicians, the people who decided which silhouette I wore, which fabric I carried, and which strand of hair framed my face. Thank you for taking care of me and sharing your laughter so generously." Sharing what the movie means to her, Simar penned, "IKKIS is not just a film to me. It means I am finally getting the chance to do the one thing I dared to dream of doing. Your reassurance and courage in giving me a beginning is something I will always honour." She hopes that 2026 will be the year of expression, where we do not forget to tell people in our lives that we love them and care for them. Simar concluded the note saying, "Mann Neevan. Matt Ucchi (Simple living high thinking)". 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
02 January,2026 03:10 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Minissha Lamba, who has worked in films such as Corporate, Bachna Ae Haseeno and Bheja Fry 2, has completed five years of embracing a vegetarian lifestyle, a decision she says has transformed her life in more ways than one. Minissha took to Instagram, where she shared a picture of herself looking stunning in a black top paired with a monotone skirt. She reflected on how the change began, not as a lifelong resolution, but as a simple one-month commitment driven by her conscience. Minissha wrote in the caption section: “Today is 5 years, since I turned Vegetarian. Can’t believe I made it this far. It started out within a month. Which is always a Long Time to give up anything that you like. But the thing is, I wasn’t feeling good about eating meat for years leading up to that point.” She shared that for years, she struggled with guilt over eating meat despite having vegetarian choices available. “Constant guilt over eating animals when there were vegetarian options available. I didn’t wanna live in this messed up no man’s land of eating and feeling guilty. The guilt had to go. And intellectualising my meat consumption wasn’t working anymore,” she mentioned. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Minissha Lamba (@minissha_lamba) “At that point it wasn’t meant to be Forever. Coz forever was too long and a permanent commitment for something I had no idea how I would feel about soon. Forever was too long to commit to give up something I actually liked. And for no reason other than my own conscience. A voice that was building up inside for years. So finally it started. Some action.” Starting with a month, Minissha gradually extended her goal. She added: “A month breezed by and I said hey, let’s push this to 6 weeks. 6 weeks became 2 months. Nothing like hitting smaller, closer placed, series of goals to keep ones faith in ones ability going. 2 months then got extended to 3 coz obvs that’s a goal to feel some pride at. 4 months became 5 and then boom… half a year was approaching! Once I hit that, I knew I could potentially do this for life. I hope I stay strong. Stay the Course.” Calling the experience deeply fulfilling, Minissha said vegetarianism has brought her a sense of peace and alignment with her inner voice. “Life really has been beautiful being vegetarian. It’s brought me peace. And I wish I hadn't wasted years before listening to the voice in my heart,” said the actress. As she welcomed the New Year 2026, the actress encouraged others to approach their personal goals with patience rather than pressure. Minissha concluded: “Happy New Year 2026 everyone.. if you do have any goals for yourself. Try the method I used. Don’t say forever. Give yourself time. Ease into the unknown and see how it makes you feel. 02-01-2021 to hopefully Forever vegetarian happynewyear.” 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
02 January,2026 02:13 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSBattle of Galwan, starring Salman Khan, is one of the year's most anticipated movies. Netizens' reactions to the movie's teaser, which was posted on the actor's birthday a few days ago, were not entirely positive. Netizens are now saying that a video that has surfaced on social media is a scene from Battle of Galwan. In actuality, though, the film was produced by artificial intelligence. A scene from Battle of Galwan gets leaked Salman is seen in the footage lying on the ground with facial injuries. Later, he stands up and beats up the Chinese soldiers with a baseball bat. You will genuinely think you are watching a scenario from Battle of Galwan since the AI movie is that well-made. "But there was no snow over there, when this incident took place," a netizen tweeted. It appears to be AI-generated. "Please trick people with this AI-generated shite on Instagram," another X user commented. Yahan par padhe likhe log hain (sic). "This one is better than the original teaser," remarked another internet user. This would have been more effective than releasing (sic) instead. LEAKED FOOTAGE from #BattleOfGalwan 😯Few scenes from #SalmanKhan's #BattleOfGalwan are being shared across the internet pic.twitter.com/hUDZaETYqu — HonestlySid (@Ibeingsid) January 1, 2026 The release date of Battle of Galwan is April 17, 2026. Both audiences and admirers of Salman are anticipating the movie. But the teaser didn't make a big impression, and now everyone is anticipating the movie's trailer. The actual conflict between Indian and Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley of eastern Ladakh on the evening of June 15–16, 2020, served as the inspiration for the Battle of Galwan. Chinese media alleged that the movie was misrepresenting the truth once the teaser was aired. Salman and filmmaker Apoorva Lakhia have not made any comments regarding it. Chitrangada Singh plays the main part in Battle of Galwan as well. Numerous more performers play important roles in the film, including Zeyn Shaw, Ankur Bhatia, Abhilash Chaudhary, Vipin Bhardwaj, and Heera Sohal. Recent controversy around the film On December 27, 2025, Salman Khan's 60th birthday, the Battle of Galwan teaser was published, sparking the debate. The film, which is directed by Apoorva Lakhia, intends to dramatize one of the most severe confrontations in modern India-China relations by depicting the terrifying June 2020 hand-to-hand combat between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Battle of Galwan cannot "rewrite history," according to criticism released by the Chinese government-affiliated Global Times, which also charged that the movie presents a biased account of events. Additionally, it criticized the teaser's alleged factual errors and dismissed the depiction of Indian Army sacrifices as exaggerated or overstated.
02 January,2026 01:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Ahan Shetty shared a deeply personal moment as he reflected on being associated with the Border 2 song Ghar Kab Aaoge, calling it a quiet full-circle moment in his life. The actor revealed that he grew up watching his father, Suniel Shetty, be a part of the iconic patriotic song Sandese Aate Hain, making his own journey with Ghar Kab Aaoge all the more emotional. Ahan took to Instagram, where he shared a picture posing alongside his father Suniel with a clapboard of Border 2. In a heartfelt note, Ahan said some experiences go beyond words and are felt more than explained. “They say a picture is worth a thousand words… but I don’t have the words for this. I only know what I feel. I grew up watching my father be part of Sandese Aate Hain. Today, I find myself a part of Ghar Kab Aaoge,” Ahan wrote as the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ahan Shetty (@ahan.shetty) According to the actor, the journey from then to now unfolded quietly, bringing with it a sense of completion he intends to carry with him forever. “Somewhere between then and now, life quietly came full circle.” Ahan concluded: “This isn’t about a song or a project, it’s about time, love, and a quiet gratitude. I'll carry it with me forever. A song that carries the unspoken emotions of every soldier, and the silent prayers of every family waiting back home. Ghar Kab Aaoge out now! Jai hind, Jai Bharat.” The original song Sandese Aate Hai from the 1999-released war drama Border was sung by Sonu Nigam and Roopkumar Rathod. The lyrics of the much-loved song were penned by Javed Akhtar, and it featured Sunny Deol, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna, and Jackie Shroff. Directed by Anurag Singh, Border 2 brings together a powerful ensemble led by Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, Medha Rana, Sonam Bajwa, and Anya Singh. The upcoming film is presented by Gulshan Kumar & T-Series, in association with J.P. Dutta’s J.P. Films. Backed by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, J.P. Dutta, and Nidhi Dutta, Border 2 is slated to hit theatres on January 23rd, 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
02 January,2026 01:22 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSFilmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s directorial Ikkis was released in theatres on January 1, 2026. The first film of the year is a war drama with a strong anti-war core. It stars Agastya Nanda in the lead as Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, on whose life the film is based. Dharmendra plays Brigadier ML Khetarpal, father of India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra recipient, Arun Khetarpal. While the film focuses on Arun’s bravery, Dharmendra’s character emerges as the emotional soul of this anti-war narrative. Ikkis box office Ikkis exceeded expectations on Day 1, opening to healthy collections. The film collected over Rs 7 crore despite Dhurandhar having a successful run in the theatres. Trade analyst Taran Adarsh took to social media to share the box office collection of the Sriram Raghavan directorial. This also marks Agastya Nanda's first theatrical release. "Ikkis exceeds all expectations, opening to a healthy Day 1 total... Business gathered momentum post-noon, with the new year [1 Jan 2026] holiday giving a clear boost to collections. The film also benefited from the presence of legendary actor Dharmendra, whose final screen appearance happens to be Ikkis. The film now needs to maintain this pace over the extended weekend to post a respectable total," he wrote on X. Bobby Deol dubs for Dharmendra The film’s narrative swings between 1971 and 2001. Dharmendra’s character travels to Pakistan for personal reasons and is hosted by Brigadier Jaan Mohammed Nissar (played by Jaideep Ahlawat). Their conversations recall Arun’s final year with pride and fondness. Interestingly, in portions set in the 1970s where Dharmendra appears as a younger father, his voice has been dubbed by his son, actor Bobby Deol, who is duly credited at the start of the film. About Ikkis Directed by National Award-winning filmmaker Sriram Raghavan, Ikkis tells the inspiring story of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, India’s youngest Param Vir Chakra awardee. The brave soldier fought valiantly during the Battle of Basantar, destroying 10 Pakistani tanks before sacrificing his life. The film stars Agastya Nanda and Simar Bhatia in their debut roles and features Dharmendra, Jaideep Ahlawat, Sikandar Kher, and Deepak Dobriyal in pivotal roles.
02 January,2026 01:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA new controversy involving Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan has arisen as a result of anger among some Hindu organizations over the participation of Bangladeshi players in the Indian Premier League. Amid protests connected to recent violence in Bangladesh, the actor, who owns an IPL franchise, has received harsh criticism. In a highly provocative declaration on Thursday, Meera Rathore, district president of the All India Hindu Mahasabha in Agra, declared that anyone who "brings Shah Rukh Khan's tongue" would receive a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh. Speaking to reporters in Mathura, where she had traveled to give a testimony regarding the ongoing Aniruddha Acharya Maharaj case, Rathore made the comments. Meera Rathore's controversial remark against Shah Rukh Khan In protest, she also struck a poster of Shah Rukh Khan with slippers and charred it during the exchange. Rathore went on to explain her remark, "Our Hindu brothers were burned to death in Bangladesh, and this man is buying and feeding them to the locals. Today, I smeared his face with soot and hit him with my shoes. If this happens to our brothers, we will not spare them. What is happening to our brothers is wrong. We will give a cash reward of Rs 1,00,000 to anyone who brings us his tongue." The outcry about violence against Hindus in Bangladesh, which has sparked strong protests from various Indian groups, coincided with her remarks. In this regard, Rathore is not the first to challenge Shah Rukh Khan. The actor was previously criticized by storyteller Devaki Nandan Thakur and BJP leader Sangeet Som, who went so far as to term him a traitor. However, the BJP and other prominent political figures have not yet responded to these remarks in an official manner. What happened in Bangladesh? Hindu organisations in India have called for government action in response to reports that multiple Hindus were killed during disturbances in Bangladesh. Although Shah Rukh Khan was not the focal point of these demonstrations at first, his affiliation with Bangladeshi players in his IPL team has suddenly brought him into the fray. Keep reading this space for more updates
02 January,2026 12:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour More Shots Please co-stars Kirti Kulhari and Rajeev Siddhartha were rumoured to be dating for quite some time. However, they remained tight-lipped about it despite dropping mushy pics time and again. Now, as we enter the New Year, it looks like the couple has seemingly made their relationship Instagram official by sharing a love-filled post. This also comes soon after the fourth season of the renowned series streamed on Netflix. Kirti Kulhari confirms relationship with Rajeev Siddhartha On New Year 2026, Kirti Kulhari and Rajeev Siddhartha took to their Instagram to share their cosy pictures together. The caption of the post read, “A picture is worth a thousand words… happynewyear happy2026 everyone…." Soon after they shared the post, Maanvi Gagroo commented, “Happy new year, lovelies." While Kirti plays Anjana Menon in the series, Rajeev plays Mihir Shah, who is romantically paired opposite Siddhi, the character essayed by Maanvi Gagroo. Many even tagged Maanvi and penned fun comments. One of them read, “Anjana and Mihir in a parallel universe... Sidddiii pidddiii, are u seeing what Anj is doingg?" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kirti Kulhari (@iamkirtikulhari) Their dating rumours surfaced last month, after fans noticed their sweet notes for each other on social media. The speculation gained momentum after Kirti posted a photo with Rajeev on social media in November. A report in India Today also stated that the two started off as friends while working together and soon realised their bond was deeper than friendship. About Kirti Kulhari and Saahil Sehgal For the unversed, Kirti Kulhari was married to actor Saahil Sehgal, but the two parted ways in 2021 after five years. Announcing the separation, the actor had issued a statement on social media, stating how the decision was 'mutual'. The note posted on Instagram read, “A simple note to let everyone know that my husband Saahil and I have decided to separate. Not on paper, but in life. A decision that's probably harder than the decision of ‘being with somebody,’ because coming together is celebrated by everyone you love and care about, and the decision of ‘not being with somebody’ brings along pain and hurt to the same people. It's not easy.” On the work front, Kirti was last seen in Tannishtha Chatterjee-directed Full Plate. The film premiered at several acclaimed festivals, and the actress was praised for her stint as a homemaker with a talent for cooking, fighting customs, patriarchy, and stereotypes while keeping her quirky spirit alive.
02 January,2026 11:53 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood star Anil Kapoor has extended warm birthday wishes to his colleague and long-time friend Nana Patekar on the 1st of January. The actor also shared a fun throwback clip from their hit film Welcome Back. Taking to his social media, Anil posted a heartfelt message celebrating the actor’s birthday with love and laughter. He also shared a funny clip from their hit movie Welcome Back featuring both of them at their funny best. The caption read, “Happy Birthday to the OG! nanagpatekar The greatest male co-star any actor could ask for, and an even more solid dost! Hope you relive the madness and joy of our time on Welcome together with this hilarious clip Looking forward to our next collaboration.” For the uninitiated, Anil and Nana have worked together in superhit Bollywood films like Parinda in 1989, Welcome in 2007 and Welcome Back in 2015. Their most popular collaboration, Welcome, directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Firoz Nadiadwala, showed both the acting stalwarts in a comic space. Nana played the loud yet lovable gangster Uday Shetty, while Anil appeared as the chill and ‘artsy’ Majnu Bhai. Their characters, even 18 years after the movie's release, are still considered to be some of the most iconic ones in the history of Bollywood. The movie was a blockbuster at the box office. Welcome also starred Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Paresh Rawal, Feroze Khan, and Vijay Raaz. Looking at the humongous success of Welcome, a sequel was released in 2015 titled Welcome Back, but the latter received a lukewarm response from both critics and fans alike in comparison to its prequel. 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
02 January,2026 10:31 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSRanveer Singh’s latest actioner Dhurandhar has proved to be a box-office juggernaut, dominating theatres across India. The film has completed a month of successful run in theatres and continues to garner great footfall. While a section of the audience is praising the film, some are heralding it as propaganda. Now, filmmaker Sudhir Mishra has come out in support of Aditya Dhar and slammed those criticizing the film. Sudhir Mishra defends Dhurandhar When a user slammed Dhurandhar and asked if any filmmaker would make a film on the Unnao rape case, Sudhir Mishra reacted by saying, “One of us has the guts. There is a film. You’ll see it soon. Also, please stop lumping us all under one brand, called Bollywood. We belong to the Indian Film Industry and we are all different. By the way, Dhurandhar is a well-made film. Aditya Dhar is extremely skilled." “The acting is terrific. The most difficult thing in filmmaking is a director’s ability to make us, the audience, smell the place, and Aditya Dhar, with the help of his brilliant cinematographer and production designer, manages to do just that. The casting, including the minor parts, is bang on. I am, of course, a filmmaker from another school," Mishra added. One of us has the guts . There is a film . You’ll see it soon . Also please stop lumping us all under one brand , called Bollywood. We belong to the Indian Film Industry and we are all different. By the way Dhurandhar is a well made film . Aditya Dhar is extremely skilled . The… https://t.co/I6Kx2rkKba — Sudhir Mishra (@IAmSudhirMishra) December 31, 2025 When a user called the blockbuster a propaganda film “with an evil intent to monetise on pop nationalism & sectarian mindset,” the filmmaker replied, saying, “Make a powerful film, with all the virtues of a great cinema experience, which counters it.” More about Dhurandhar Dhurandhar was released in theatres on December 5. The film, directed by Aditya Dhar, has been getting an overwhelming response from the audience and has crossed the Rs 1000 crore mark at the global box office. While the film is praised for cinematic brilliance, a section of the audience condemned the politics shown. Hrithik Roshan was among the first celebrities to voice his opinion regarding the same. After him, YouTuber Dhruv Rathee accused the makers of spreading propaganda with their movie. As per a report, a new version of the Aditya Dhar blockbuster will be playing in cinemas from January 1, 2026. The reason for the change is that the makers have muted two words and changed a dialogue in the film, as per the directives received from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of India.
02 January,2026 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe New Year 2026 seems to have brought in a warm dose of nostalgia for Bollywood fans, as two of the stars from the iconic movie Chak De India. Sagarika Ghatge and Vidya Malvade reunited to celebrate the new year in Jaisalmer. Both Sagarika and Vidya shared a picture of themselves posing with their families and other friends who joined them in the celebration. In the picture shared on social media, the duo can be seen smiling brightly, standing hand-in-hand with their loved ones. The picture also features several familiar faces, including actress Kritika Kamra, cricketer and Sagarika’s husband Zaheer Khan and others from their close circle. Zaheer can be seen holding their little one, as Sagarika looks into the camera. The Chak De girls, remembered for their powerful roles in the 2007 sports blockbuster, seemed to have shared a happy moment together on the last day of 2025, welcoming 2026. Talking about Chak De! India, the movie revolves around the story of a hockey coach who builds a demotivated and scattered team of women's hockey players and gets them to win internationally. The movie was directed by Shimit Amin and produced by Aditya Chopra. It starred Shah Rukh Khan in the role of Kabir Khan, the coach of the Indian women’s hockey team. The film also featured a strong ensemble cast, including Chitrashi Rawat, Tanya Abrol, Shilpa Shukla, Anaitha Nair, Shubhi Mehta, Sandia Furtado, Arya Menon, Masochon Zimik, and Kimi Laldawla. Sagarika essayed the role of Preeti Sabharwal, while Vidya essayed Vidya Sharma, the team’s captain. Released in 2007, the film was a humongous success at the box office. 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
02 January,2026 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSLegendary screenwriter Javed Akhtar has warned of legal action against those who have circulated a deepfake video of him showing that he has turned into God. Sharing a note on X (formerly Twitter), the veteran lyricist and poet condemned the video as “rubbish” and warned he may report it to cyber authorities. Javed Akhtar warns action against fake AI video On Thursday, Javed Akhtar took to his X, formerly Twitter, and shared a long note in which he spoke about the alleged video and issued clarification. He wrote, “A fake video is in circulation showing my fake computer-generated picture with a topi on my head claiming that ultimately I have turned to God. It is rubbish.” He further mentioned, “I am seriously considering reporting this to the cyber police and ultimately dragging the person responsible for this fake news, and those few who forward it, to court for damaging my reputation and credibility.” A fake video is in circulation showing my fake computer generated picture with a topi on my head claiming that ultimately I have turned to God . It is rubbish . I am seriously considering to report this to the cyber police and ultimately dragged the person responsible for this… — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) January 1, 2026 The tweet quickly gained traction on social media, with many users expressing concern over how easily AI-generated content can misrepresent public figures. Several fans and colleagues extended their support to Akhtar. About Javed Akhtar’s debate on God and justice For those unaware, the AI-generated video of Javed Akhtar reportedly surfaced shortly after he participated in a public debate on Gaza, God, and justice. A few days ago, Javed Akhtar and Islamic scholar Mufti Shamail Nadwi engaged in a high-profile public debate in New Delhi titled Does God Exist? Akhtar, well known for his secular and atheistic views, challenged traditional theistic arguments, raising questions about faith, evidence, and reason. Mufti Nadwi, educated in classical Islamic scholarship, defended theistic positions, grounding his arguments in logic, philosophical reasoning, and theological premises. The exchange quickly went viral online, drawing sharp reactions across social media and commentary platforms from believers, agnostics, and secular thinkers alike. Some viewers hailed the mufti’s rebuttals as persuasive and applauded his delivery, while others felt Akhtar’s secular reasoning was compelling. The debate reignited broader conversations about faith, logic, and public discourse in India’s diverse society. The issue of AI misuse in the entertainment industry has come into focus in recent times. Several celebrities have raised alarms over deepfake videos, morphed images, and fake audio clips. Some have even approached the high court to protect their personality rights.
02 January,2026 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
