The Kerala Story 2, a sequel to the 2019 film, has raked up controversy ever since the trailer of the film was released. The film has left everyone, including politicians, divided by attracting polarising reactions. The film revolves around one of the protagonists being forced to eat beef by a Muslim family. The film is set to release in theatres on February 27. Prakash Raj takes a jibe at The Kerala Story 2 On Sunday, actor Prakash Raj took to his X (formerly Twitter) account to share his take on the row around the film. He shared pictures of pork, beef, fish and sadya delicacies on his X account and wrote, “The real KeralaStory is how pork, beef and fish coexist with vegetarian sadya and all of them live in harmony. Please relish justasking happy Sunday everyone.” The real #KeralaStory is how pork, beef and fish coexist with vegetarian sadya and all of them live in harmony. Please relish 😍😍😍 #justasking happy Sunday everyone ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ea2JCPd6n6 — Prakash Raj (@prakashraaj) February 22, 2026 Prakash, who is known to be vocal about his opinions, implied how people of all faiths and communities live harmoniously in the state. The Kerala Story 2 controversy Earlier, filmmaker Anurag Kashyap had slammed the film in harsh words saying, "The Kerala Story is a s*** movie. It is bull**** propaganda. Total bull****. Aisa kaun beef khilata hai? Aisa koi khichdi bhi nahi khilata hai (Who feeds someone beef like this? No one is fed even khichdi in this manner). Bakwaas (nonsense) picture. It is called crap.” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, a few days ago, had also issued a statement, condemning the film. “We must collectively reject attempts to portray Kerala, a land of religious harmony that stands at the forefront of sustainable development and is a model in maintaining law and order, as a center of terrorism. It is the responsibility of each of us to ensure that Kerala's secular foundation is not undermined by false propaganda and to reject it by upholding the values of secularism and brotherhood,” Vijayan said. Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in Kerala High Court seeking a halt on the release of The Kerala Story 2. The petitioner has stated, “The teaser shows the story of 3 women from Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan who fall into the trap of terrorists who weaponise romance to convert unmarried girls and change the demography of the country. As the characters speak to the screen in the teaser, they make several statements that have the potential to create a law and order situation in the country." Meanwhile, the film has secured a U/A certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
22 February,2026 09:02 PM IST | MumbaiBollywood actor-producer Arbaaz Khan recently made a real estate investment in Mumbai's Jogeshwari, adding another property to his real estate portfolio. He has reportedly purchased a premium apartment in Jogeshwari's locality for Rs 2.78 crore. Arbaaz Khan purchases new apartment The transaction details, accessed through property registration documents by Zapkey, indicate that the property deal was officially registered earlier this month. According to a Hindustan Times report, the new home is located in Jogeshwari West, which stands at one of Mumbai’s rapidly developing residential areas. The apartment is reportedly a part of the Autograph Residency project located on Link Road and is positioned on the 27th floor of the building. The apartment is believed to be spread across a RERA carpet area of 1,243 square feet, and has been bought at a per square foot price of over Rs 22,000 by the actor-producer. According to reports, the deal also includes two designated parking spaces. As per the registration papers, Arbaaz Khan completed the transaction on February 17, 2026, for which he paid a stamp duty of over Rs 16 lakh along with a registration fee of Rs 30,000 in order to formalise the purchase. The apartment has reportedly been acquired directly from the developer of the project, Mutistar Builders LLP. The residential project is currently under construction, and the possession is expected to be handed over in December 2030. With this acquisition, Arbaaz Khan added another property to his real estate portfolio in Mumbai. This comes amid his father Salim Khan's growing health concerns. The veteran writer was hospitalised on February 17 and was kept on a ventilator. Arbaaz Khan work front On the professional front, Arbaaz Khan was last seen in Kaal Trighori, which also starred Rituparna Sengupta, Mahesh Manjrekar, Aditya Srivastava, Rajesh Sharma and Mughda Godse. Next, the actor is set to appear in upcoming projects including Bihu Attack, Sridevi Bungalow and Kesar Singh. In his personal life, Arbaaz frequently makes headlines for sharing social media moments with his wife, Sshura Khan. The couple tied the knot in December 2023 and welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Sipaara, in November 2025.
22 February,2026 08:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFor years, superstar Amitabh Bachchan has followed a regular Sunday ritual of stepping out of his Mumbai home, Jalsa, to greet a sea of fans who religiously gather just to get a glimpse of him. The weekly tradition has, over the years, become an emotional association between the actor and his fans. BigB often shares pictures and videos from the meet-and-greet on his personal blog. However, the actor skipped his regular tradition this Sunday, February 22. Amitabh Bachchan reveals reason for skipping Sunday meet and greet Breaking from his custom, Amitabh informed fans that he would not be able to meet them outside the gates of Jalsa on Sunday. Taking to his Tumblr blog, the veteran star shared a note revealing the reason for his absence. "The work continues with some vigour ..but .. a but appears .. and the day ends for me .. to take in the break of a Sunday .. Sunday here .. but none at the Jalsa Gate, regrettably .... so save the energy of travel and shall meet up soon ..till then .. thoughts and thinking and even more in the silence of thought," he wrote. Although he did not specify any particular reason for his absence, his note suggested that the actor needed rest after ongoing work commitments. In the note, he also reassured fans that the pause is temporary, just for this weekend. He also encouraged his admirers to conserve their energy, while also promising to meet them again soon. Amitabh Bachchan's Sunday meet and greet Amitabh Bachchan's Sunday appearances outside Jalsa have been going on for decades and are considered one of Bollywood’s most iconic fan traditions, which his fans eagerly look forward to. Irrespective of the weather or his busy schedule, the superstar has, over the years, made it a point to acknowledge the unwavering support of his admirers, who religiously gather outside his house. Meanwhile, on the work front, Amitabh Bachchan was last seen in the film Vettaiyan with Rajinikanth. Next, he will be seen in the sequel of Kalki 2898 AD with Prabhas and Kamal Haasan in the upcoming courtroom drama Section 84. Apart from this, not much has been revealed about the 83-year-old's upcoming projects.
22 February,2026 07:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Sriram Raghavan’s recently released film Ikkis went on to receive much appreciation from critics and audiences alike. Now, months after the film was released in theatres, Sriram has opened up about a disclaimer in the film that called Pakistan untrustworthy. The director shared that he himself was not happy with the said disclaimer. Sriram Raghavan on Ikkis disclaimer Speaking to The Wire during a recent conversation, Sriram Raghavan said, “A lot of people have asked me about the disclaimer. So, I have decided not to talk about it. There were some givens for me from A, B, C." Raghavan further shared that there are some decisions that are not entirely in his control. He cited the example of Badlapur, saying, “I don’t know whether people who ask me about it have seen another film of mine, Badlapur (2015). There’s a music video in the end, which completely negates what the film is doing. It screwed up the mood of the film! It was inserted at the insistence of my producer (Dinesh Vijan)." “Ikkis is also made by the same producer. He’s a superb guy; he let me make this film and helped me immensely. But the disclaimer was not something I was happy with personally," he added Ikkis disclaimer A disclaimer at the end of Ikkis reads, “The humane treatment of Pakistani Brigadier K.M. Nisar is an exceptional case. Otherwise, our neighbouring country is not at all trustworthy. Pakistani forces have treated our soldiers and civilians with extreme cruelty and inhumanity, both in war and peacetime. They have blatantly violated the Geneva Conventions by torturing them on numerous occasions. Given the terrorist activities sponsored by Pakistan, as concerned citizens, we need to remain vigilant and prepared." For the unversed, Ikkis is produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films and stars the late Dharmendra, Agastya Nanda, Simar Bhatia, Vivaan Shah, Sikandar Kher, and Jaideep Ahlawat in prominent roles. The story of Ikkis revolves around Arun Khetarpal, portrayed by Agastya Nanda. Khetarpal was 21 years old when he was killed in the Battle of Basantar during the 1971 Indo-Pak War, and received the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his remarkable courage and sacrifice. Arun was the youngest recipient of India’s highest military honour at the time.
22 February,2026 05:50 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Kriti Sanon, who has been reportedly dating businessman Kabir Bahia secretly, seems to be ready to make her relationship more public. The alleged couple who has been spotted together on multiple occasions was recently spotted once again in London. Notably, although neither Kriti nor Kabir has officially confirmed or denied the dating buzz, their frequent public appearances and photos have continued to make headlines, fuelling the rumours. Kriti Sanon and Kabir Bahia spotted in London Amid this, a video recently shared on Reddit's BollyBlindsNGossip shows Kriti and Kabir spending quality time in London. In the clip, the rumoured lovebirds are seen walking hand-in-hand on the streets of London. The 26-year-old UK-based businessman is dressed in a blue sweatshirt with matching co-ord pants, while Kriti kept it casual in a brown fitted T-shirt paired with blue baggy denim jeans and a brown puffer jacket. She completed the look with a stunning pair of black boots. Kriti Sanon Spotted with her Boyfriend Kabir in Londonby u/bollyfanboi in BollyBlindsNGossip In the video, Kriti and Kabir are seen strolling together before Kabir notices the camera filming them. However, Kabir did not ask for the recording to be stopped and continued walking as Kriti continued to talk. Regardless, it is unknown if the video is old or recent. Notably, Kriti is seen sporting short hair in the video, while she currently has long, coloured hair. However, it is true that Kriti is presently in London. Kriti Sanon, Kabir Bahia dating rumours The rumours about love blooming between Kriti and Kabir started after the actress celebrated her 34th birthday with him in Greece. Several photos and videos of them getting cosy during the vacation had surfaced online. Although she did not include any pictures with Kabir while sharing photos with her friends, eagle-eyed netizens noticed the similarities in a photo shared by Kabir on Instagram. Additionally, Kabir was also seen actively participating in Kriti's sister, Nupur's, wedding with Stebin Ben recently. Notably, Kriti and Kabir have a nine-year age gap. On the work front, Kriti was last seen in Tere Ishk Mein. Next, she has Cocktail 2 in her pipeline, alongside Rashmika Mandanna and Shahid Kapoor in the lead. The film marks a sequel to the 2012 movie of Cocktal, which starred Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Diana Penty in the lead role.
22 February,2026 04:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Taapsee Pannu, who was recently seen in the courtroom drama Assi, opened up about South Indian cinema's obsession with the navel, while comparing it to Hindi cinema. She also spoke about set awkwardness, item song culture, and double standards in the Indian film industry. The actress reacted to questions about why Bhojpuri and South Indian cinema seemingly focus heavily on the navel in their song sequences and item numbers. Taapsee Pannu about South Cinema's navel obsession During the conversation with Shubhankar Mishra, Taapsee Pannu said, "I am also trying to understand. It’s not that item songs in Hindi cinema don’t focus on it, but it’s not as much as in South Cinema. Hindi cinema is more about cleavage." Further, the actress added that in South Indian films, actresses are often asked to wear padded bras. She describes how such directions are typically conveyed, while questioning the indirect communication chain on set. She shared that it starts from the director to the assistant director, then passes on to the styling team, moving to hair and wardrobe departments before finally reaching the actress. She also highlighted how awkward these situations can become. Taapsee added, "Imagine how embarrassing it would be. You’re shooting a song, someone gets up in the middle, walks off, everyone knows exactly what’s happening. All the men are sitting there, watching what looks different when you come back." Taapsee Pannu's career For the unversed, before entering Bollywood, Taapsee Pannu worked as a South Indian actress and starred in several Telugu and Tamil films. The actress made her debut with the 2010 Telugu film Jhummandi Naadam, wherein she was seen sharing screen with Manoj Manchu. She was working actively in South Indian cinema before setting foot in Bollywood with Baby (2015), starring alongside Akshay Kumar. The 2016 courtroom drama, Pink, which established her place in Hindi cinema. The film, also starring Amitabh Bachchan, changed the conversation around her in Hindi cinema and established her as a prominent name in Bollywood. Most recently, she was seen in Anubhav Sinha's Assi, which hit the screens on February 20, 2026. It marked Taapsee's second collaboration with the filmmaker after 2020's Thappad.
22 February,2026 03:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Raveena Tandon used social media to flaunt her new hair color. She took to her official Instagram handle and dropped a string of photos showing off her look from a bad hair day. Then we see the 'KGF: Chapter 2' actress in a salon, getting her long tresses colored in an attempt to turn things around, hair-wise. Raveena uploaded a couple of pictures of herself flaunting her newly colored red hair. Sharing her transformation journey on the photo-sharing app, she penned the caption, "From bad hair day to - Rambo Ho Ho Ho (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Raveena Tandon (@officialraveenatandon) The "Rambha Ho" track, originally crooned by acclaimed singer Usha Uthup, recently went viral again after it was rehashed for Aditya Dhar’s "Dhurandhar", starring Ranveer Singh. Raveena loves to stay on top of her social media game and keeps on treating the netizens with lovely updates from both her personal and professional life. Recently, Raveena joined the "2026 is the new 2016" trend, revisiting some fond memories from 10 years ago. In one of the throwback photos dropped by the 'Shool' actress on her Insta, Raveena and her actress daughter Rasha Thadani were seen facing the camera together with a smile. The post also had little Rasha posing alongside her mom Raveena and brother Ranbir Thadani. Raveena also used the opportunity to flaunt some precious moments with her loved ones, such as her parents and husband Anil Thadani. Moreover, Raveena's 2016 diaries also showed her having a gala time with filmmaker Karan Johar, designer Manish Malhotra, legendary actor and filmmaker Jackie Chan, Ranveer Singh, Rana Daggubati, and former Indian cricket team captain Kapil Dev. Work-wise, Raveena will next grace the screen with Akshay Kumar’s upcoming laughter ride "Welcome to the Jungle". Made under the direction of Ahmed Khan, the project enjoys an ensemble cast with Suniel Shetty, Jackie Shroff, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Johnny Lever, Aftab Shivdasani, Lara Dutta, Shreyas Talpade, and Tusshar Kapoor, in key roles, along with others. 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
22 February,2026 02:13 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Madhuri Dixit recently took a short break from work and travelled to Japan with her husband, Shriram Nene. The 'Tehzaab' actress, on Saturday, took to her Instagram account to share a joint post, giving fans a peek into their getaway. The first picture shows the two holding each other and smiling, with Mount Fuji in the background. Madhuri can be seen in a cream sweater, black pants, and a scarf, with her hair tied back and sunglasses on. Shriram chose a grey sweater and trousers. The post also included solo pictures of both. Another photo shows Madhuri dressed in a printed saffron kimono with a cream sash. The couple also shared a selfie taken in front of a Japanese temple. Along with the pictures, the actress added a caption that read, "Fuji: A view from the top of an active volcano, full of tradition, temples, snow, and samurai." Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr. Shriram Nene (@drneneofficial) Soon after the pictures were shared, fans chimed in the comment section to shower love on the couple. One fan said, "The most beautiful smile in the world, evergreen superstar diva Madhuri ji, a very nice person, Nene sir ji, my favorite star, so elegant, amazing, lovely post," while another added, "You both look absolutely stunning." Madhuri married Shriram, a doctor, on October 17, 1999. She relocated to the US and lived there for over a decade. The couple's first son, Arin, was born in 2003, and their second child, Ryan, was born in 2005. On the work front, Madhuri was last seen in the series 'Mrs Deshpande,' which started streaming on JioHotstar on December 19. She will next be seen in Netflix's upcoming film 'Maa Behen,' where she stars alongside Triptii Dimri and Ravi Kishan. 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
22 February,2026 02:06 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIAfter her breakup with Arjun Kapoor, Malaika Arora has been rumoured to be dating a young man named Harsh Mehta. Reports first surfaced after the two were spotted together at a concert in Mumbai and later at the airport. Now, relationship rumours have intensified after a picture of Arora with Mehta went viral on social media. Malaika Arora spends Valentine's Day with Harsh Mehta A Reddit user shared a photo of Malaika Arora and Harsh Mehta spending time together in Italy. It is assumed that the picture was clicked during their holiday in the country during Valentine’s week. The Redditor captioned the image: “Malaika’s Valentine at Trevi Fountain?? Spotted Malaika Arora with her (not so) little boyfriend at Trevi Fountain on 14th February…” In the image, Malaika and Harsh can be seen taking a selfie in front of the iconic Trevi Fountain. Not much is known about Harsh Mehta, but some reports claim that he is a diamond merchant in his early 30s. Malaika Arora on her relationship rumours Speaking on The Namrata Zakaria Show, Arora addressed the scrutiny around her personal life and relationships. Responding to constant link-up rumours, she said, “People like talking. If you are spotted with somebody, you go out, and it becomes a huge discussion. I don’t really want to give chatter unnecessarily, too much fuel. Trust me, every time I have stepped out even if it’s a longtime friend, a gay friend, a married friend, an old friend, a manager or anybody — I am immediately linked to that person. We laugh and joke about it. My mother calls me and asks, ‘Who is this now, baby? Who are they talking about?’ It has just become laughable.” She further spoke about how her relationships often become headline news. “My relationships have always been spoken about and they’ve always made headlines. At one point, I remember saying that my life is much more than just my personal life. It was becoming too much of a centre of attention. Unfortunately, people forget that because it doesn’t make a headline or copy. I am at that stage of life now where I don’t need to prove anything, but I need to do things that make me happy, and I want people to see that.”
22 February,2026 12:43 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Indian film Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is a timeless masterpiece by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. The film starring Aishwarya Rai, Ajay Devgn and Salman Khan was recently screened at the Indian Film Festival in Rome, presented by the Embassy of India, Rome. The screening turned into a grand celebration of Indian cinema, bringing together film enthusiasts, cultural connoisseurs, and members of the diplomatic community to experience Bhansali’s unparalleled cinematic vision. Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam screened in Rome From the very first frame, the audience was mesmerised by the artistry that defines Bhansali’s films. The sweeping visuals, intricately designed sets, opulent costumes, and a symphony of vibrant colours transformed the screen into a living canvas. Every scene unfolded like a work of art, where emotion, tradition, and visual grandeur converged seamlessly to leave viewers spellbound. The film’s soul-stirring music and layered performances added further depth and intensity, turning the screening into an immersive experience rather than just a film showing. Applause punctuated key moments, reflecting the audience’s genuine admiration for the artistry on display. Through his body of work, Sanjay Leela Bhansali has consistently set a benchmark for portraying Indian stories with authenticity and visual spectacle. Frequently spoken of alongside these cinematic greats, Bhansali stands tall today as a living legend whose work transcends mere box office success. The Rome premiere of Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam reaffirmed this legacy, once again proving that Bhansali’s artistry transcends borders, languages, and generations, leaving audiences worldwide mesmerised by the magic only he can create. Looking ahead, his upcoming film Love & War promises to be another ambitious chapter in his illustrious career. About Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam is a 1999 romantic drama directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Starring Aishwarya Rai, Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn, the film explores love, longing and sacrifice. It follows Nandini, who falls in love with Sameer, but is compelled to marry Vanraj due to family opposition. What unfolds is an emotional journey across India and Europe, where love is tested by duty and destiny. Known for its opulent visuals, rich costumes and soul-stirring music by Ismail Darbar, the film became a critical and commercial success, and remains one of Hindi cinema’s most celebrated romantic classics.
22 February,2026 11:39 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Hrithik Roshan used social media to pay a heartfelt tribute to Veteran filmmaker M M Baig, who passed away at his home in Andheri West in Mumbai at the age of 70. Hrithik shared that he will forever be thankful to the late filmmaker for being a pillar of support for him during his initial days in the industry. The 'War' actor credited M M Baig for helping him with his speech and also playing a crucial role in shaping him as an actor. Hrithik revealed that he continues to practise the lessons taught by M M Baig to this day. Hrithik Roshan remembers MM Baig Offering his condolences to the Baig family in a nostalgic post, the Guzaarish actor penned on social media, "My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence over my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness , at the same time empowering my vulnerability. I was lost. And you helped me find my way . Back when I was only 18years old. I still practice the lessons to this day. I will miss you. Rest in peace, my teacher - M.M Baig. My thoughts and prayers for the Baig family. (sic)" My dear Baigji, I will forever be grateful to you for being the teacher I so needed at the start of my journey as an actor. You helped me gain confidence over my speech and delivery ... you were instrumental in shaping the actor in me. For helping me overcome my shyness , at the… — Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik) February 21, 2026 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.
22 February,2026 11:02 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
