Actors Dhanush and Mrunal Thakur have sparked dating rumours for quite some time now. The latest reports suggest that the duo may be ready to take their relationship to the next level by tying the knot. According to reports, the couple is aiming for a February wedding. Mrunal and Dhanush to marry? As per a report by Free Press Journal, Dhanush and Mrunal are planning a close-knit wedding, which will be attended only by family members and close friends. While rumours of the two tying the knot have been doing the rounds, neither of the actors has confirmed or denied their relationship so far. Timeline of Mrunal and Dhanush's relationship Speculation about Mrunal and Dhanush dating gained momentum after they were spotted together at the screening of Son of Sardaar 2. Following the screening, the actors were also seen at Mrunal’s birthday bash, where a viral video showed them holding hands and smiling while chatting. Prior to this, Mrunal’s presence at the wrap party of Dhanush’s film Tere Ishk Mein had raised eyebrows. Interestingly, reports suggest that Dhanush has even introduced Mrunal to his family, as the actress was seen with his sisters amid the ongoing rumours. According to a News18 report, Dhanush and Mrunal met during an event in Hyderabad. Given that Mrunal actively works in the South film industry alongside Bollywood, their interaction soon turned into friendship, and eventually, love blossomed between the two. A source told the portal, “Yes, it’s true that they are dating. But it’s too new, and they have no plans of making their relationship official before the public or the media. At the same time, they’re unfazed about being spotted together.” Sources further added, “Friends are truly rooting for them as they’re quite similar and compatible when it comes to their values, choices, and thoughts.” For those unaware, Dhanush was previously married to Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth for 18 years. The former couple, who share two sons, Yatra and Linga, announced their separation in 2022 and officially divorced in 2024. Work front Meanwhile, Mrunal is currently focused on her upcoming film Dacoit which has been shot in Telugu and Hindi. The film also stars Adivi Sesh and Anurag Kashyap. The film will clash in theatres with Toxic and Dhurandhar 2 on March 19, 2026.
16 January,2026 12:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGlobal head-turner Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her American pop star husband, Nick Jonas, marked a special milestone as their daughter, Malti Marie, turned four. Priyanka took to her Instagram Stories to share a glimpse from Malti’s birthday party. Going by the image, it appeared that Malti had a The Little Mermaid-themed celebration, complete with a cake featuring Ariel and Sebastian, the beloved Jamaican-accented crustacean. The party also included mermaid-shaped cookies, while the decor was inspired by the seafloor, with conch shells adding to the undersea theme. Priyanka wrote as the caption: “She’s 4.” Nick shared a stunning picture of Malti but covered her face with a birthday cake emoji. “I can’t believe it. Our little angel is four.” Joining in the celebrations, Priyanka’s mother, Madhu Chopra, also penned a loving message for her granddaughter. He wrote: “You made me a grandmom and filled my life with magic. Happy fourth birthday, my angel.” Priyanka and Nick welcomed their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas in January 2022 via surrogacy. The couple had later revealed how Malti Marie was born prematurely and spent over 100 days in the NICU before coming home. The couple had met for the first time at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, where he expressed his feelings for the Indian actress. At the Met Gala, the two made their primary public appearance as a couple, and in 2018, reports of Priyanka and Nick being romantically involved started surfacing on the internet. Nick finally proposed to Priyanka for marriage on her birthday in July 2018, in London, and the actress immediately said yes. It was in December 2018, the couple married at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur in traditional Hindu and Christian ceremonies. Talking about her film work, Priyanka is currently in Hyderabad for the shoot of her upcoming movie starring South star Mahesh Babu, helmed by SS Rajamouli. Priyanka, who has been feted with two National Film Awards and a Padma Shri, will next be seen sharing screen space with Mahesh Babu for the first time in her next film, Varanasi. In addition to this, she has also been roped in for the latest instalment in the popular franchise Krrish 4, marking Hrithik Roshan’s debut as a director. The 42-year-old actress, who is the winner of the Miss World 2000 pageant, will also be seen as a 19th-century Caribbean pirate in the forthcoming swashbuckler action drama, The Bluff. She was last seen in Heads Of State, directed by Ilya Naishuller. It stars Idris Elba and John Cena as the UK Prime Minister and US President, respectively. 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
16 January,2026 12:41 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood actress Ameesha Patel has taken to her social media account to laud her Gadar co-star and Bollywood star Sunny Deol, following the release of the trailer of Border 2. Sharing her excitement on social media, Ameesha referred to Sunny’s much-loved character Tara Singh from Gadar, and wrote, “Kya baat hain TARA iamsunnydeol no wonder SAKINA ki JAAN n HINDUSTAN ki SHAAN hain AAP – BORDER 2 Trailer is,” adding fire emoticons. For the uninitiated, Ameesha Patel and Sunny Deol were a part of the blockbuster movie Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, which was released in 2001 and went on to become one of the biggest hits of that year. Directed by Anil Sharma, the period romantic action drama was set against the backdrop of the 1947 Partition. Sunny Deol starred as Tara Singh, won hearts as a fierce yet emotional Sikh truck driver, and Ameesha Patel played Sakina, a Muslim educated woman torn between her love for her husband and the pressure of her father's patriotism. The film also featured the late veteran star Amrish Puri in a memorable antagonist role, and also actress Lillete Dubey, among others. After two decades of the movie's release, Ameesha and Sunny reunited for the sequel to the movie, titled Gadar 2, which was released in August 2023. The movie, again directed by Anil Sharma, revisited the story of Tara and Sakina amid rising India–Pakistan tensions of the 1970s. Talking about Border 2, the movie is a sequel to the 1997 war classic Border. The upcoming film is backed by JP Dutta and produced by Bhushan Kumar along with Nidhi Dutta under the banners of T-Series and JP Films. Border 2 is directed by Anurag Singh and stars Sunny Deol along with Varun Dhawan and Ahan Shetty. 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
16 January,2026 12:39 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Shraddha Kapoor feels that there’s something truly special about exploring one’s own city after dark and said that nothing compares to the comfort of late-night drives through familiar streets. Shraddha took to her Instagram Stories to share a video of herself inside a car during the wee hours, with the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus glowing beautifully in the background. She added the A.R. Rahman track Rehna Tu from the 2009 film Delhi-6. For the caption, the daughter of veteran actor Shakti Kapoor wrote: “Nothing better than night drives in your own city (sic).” Shraddha, who is the most-followed Indian woman on Instagram, began her acting career with a brief role in the 2010 heist film Teen Patti. She bagged her first major role in the teen drama Luv Ka The End in 2011. However, her fandom skyrocketed with her work in Mohit Suri's romantic musical Aashiqui 2 in 2013. She also featured in Vishal Bhardwaj's acclaimed drama Haider, Ek Villain, ABCD 2, Baaghi, Chhichhore, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Saaho, and the Stree franchise. Shraddha is set to return with Stree 3. The third instalment in the popular franchise is scheduled to reach the audience by August 2027. She has also been roped in for a biopic based on the legendary Marathi folk performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, and the forthcoming drama has been named Eetha. The project will chronicle the journey of dancer Vithabai Narayangaonkar, who was one of Maharashtra’s most prominent Tamasha performers of her time. The actress will also be seen in the upcoming movie Nagin, produced by Nikhil Dwivedi. On January 9, the actress shared sun-kissed pictures of herself on her social media. She looked radiant in the pictures and flaunted her no-makeup look. Shraddha wrote, “Kis kisko dhoop nahi pasand??? Aapko abhi block karti hoon.” 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
16 January,2026 12:20 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSIndian film producer Karan Johar has purchased an apartment in Khar West, Mumbai, for Rs. 8.05 crore, according to property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards on the website of Inspector General of Registration (IGR). The transaction was registered in November 2025. Khar West enjoys excellent connectivity to Mumbai’s key business districts and lifestyle destinations, with seamless access via Linking Road, SV Road and the Western Express Highway, along with Khar Road Railway Station on the Western Line, ensuring efficient suburban rail connectivity. Details about Karan's new apartment According to the IGR property registration documents reviewed by Square Yards, the property is located in Pali Vintage, Khar West. The purchased apartment features a carpet area of 1060.13 sq. ft. (98.49 sq. m.). It comes with a total of two car parking spaces. The transaction incurred a stamp duty payment of Rs. 48 lakh and registration charges of Rs. 30,000. Karan Johar is an Indian filmmaker, producer and television personality, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the Hindi film industry. He is the founder of Dharma Productions and made his directorial debut with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), followed by iconic films such as Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001), Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006), My Name Is Khan (2010) and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil (2016). Known for shaping modern Bollywood cinema, Karan has played a significant role in launching and mentoring new talent, while also maintaining a strong presence as a television host through Koffee with Karan and as a prominent voice in fashion and popular culture. Karan Johar on Homebound's Oscar campaign The filmmaker is currently busy with the Oscar campaign for his production Homebound. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, the film has made it to the shortlist in the Best International Feature Film category. In a chat with PeepingMoon and the Telly MEK podcast, Karan Johar spoke about Homebound making it to the Oscars shortlist. He revealed that his business partner, Adar Poonawalla, spared no expense while launching the Oscar campaign for the film, which stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. “We were doing Homebound. I told him that doing an Oscar campaign will cost money and sometimes it is a bottomless pit, because you don’t know what the end result will be, and whether you will even make it to the shortlist of 15 and then five. It is an uphill task,” Karan said. Karan added that Adar did not view it as a financial risk, but as a valuable opportunity for a deserving film.
16 January,2026 12:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentGlobal icon Priyanka Chopra’s mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, has shared a very emotional post on social media to mark her granddaughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas’ fourth birthday. She has also offered a beautiful and rare glimpse into her journey as a grandmother, expressing how it has filled her life with magic. Sharing a carousel post of heartwarming pictures featuring little Malti Marie, Dr Madhu Chopra wrote, “You made me a grandmom and filled my life with magic. Happy fourth birthday, my angel.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dr Madhu Akhouri Chopra (@drmadhuakhourichopra) The images show the grandmother engrossed in spending quality time with her granddaughter. From their warm home moments to various family outings, Senior Chopra shared a sneak peek reflecting the close bond they share. Malti Marie’s face in every picture has been covered with a heart emoticon to maintain privacy. For the uninitiated, Priyanka Chopra and her singer-husband Nick Jonas welcomed their daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas in January 2022 via surrogacy. The couple had later revealed how Malti Marie was born prematurely and spent over 100 days in the NICU before coming home. Priyanka and Nick who are busy as bees with their professional commitments, have often acknowledged how they can work at ease knowing that their daughter is in safe hands with her grandparents. Recently, during an interview on the Golden Globes red carpet, Priyanka and Nick were asked how they manage their professional commitments while also being full-time parents. Responding candidly, the actress had credited her daughter's grandparents for playing a crucial role in maintaining balance. She shared that the presence and support of her mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, along with Nick’s parents, makes it easy for both of them to fulfill their work commitments with all dedication. 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
16 January,2026 12:11 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActors Anupam Kher, Boman Irani and Ranvir Shorey, fondly known as the Khoslas and Khuranas, spent a memorable and quality evening with "cinema icon" Ramesh Sippy, calling it a truly special experience. Anupam took to Instagram, where he shared a gamut of images featuring his Khosla Ka Ghosla! co-stars Boman Irani and Ranvir Shorey, along with Ramesh Sippy and his wife Kiran Juneja. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Anupam took to the caption section, where he mentioned that they discussed Sholay, Andaaz, and Seeta Aur Geeta. He also shared that the filmmaker played the ‘word building’ game for the first time with them and almost became a champion by the end. Anupam wrote: “We the ‘Khoslas and Khurana’ had the privilege of spending some quality time with the cinema ICON and one of my favourite people Mr. RameshSippy last night!” He added: “Heard some amazing BehindTheScenes stories of the epic Sholay Andaaz and SeetaAurGeeta! Also Sippy Saab played the ‘word building’ game for the first time with us and almost became a champion by the end of it! Thank you sir for your love, warmth and generosity!” Anupam, Ranvir, and Boman are currently shooting for the second installment of the 2006 film Khosla Ka Ghosla! Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, the story follows Kamal Kishore Khosla, a middle-class Delhiite, and his family's attempt to reclaim their land, which has been seized by a builder, Khurana. The film was screened at the 2006 Kara Film Festival. It won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi at the 54th National Film Awards. It was later remade in 2008 in Tamil and in Kannada in 2010. On January 3, Anupam reflected on his cinematic journey on the first day of shooting his 550th film, Khosla Ka Ghosla 2. "So You are the MARATHON MAN of Indian Cinema!!” Said an International Director at the CannesFilmFestival last year when I told him the number of films I have acted in! (sic)," he recalled. Looking back at the day when he first arrived in Mumbai in 1981 with just a heart full of dreams, Kher wrote on his Instagram, "So today as I start my 550th film KhoslaKaGhosla2 my heart is filled with GRATITUDE and THANKFULNESS ! When I landed in Mumbai, the city of dreams on the 3rd June 1981 never had I dreamt that I will reach this LANDMARK of 550 films." He claimed that despite his long journey, he has only reached his 'interval' point and still has a lot more to give. Revealing his biggest strength during these years, he added, "My Optimism, my Never Giving up attitude and my ability to Work Hard has been my biggest strengths!" 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
16 January,2026 11:48 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Suniel Shetty has been an active part of the film industry for over 30 years. The actor, who is in his 60s, is ageing like fine wine and continues to entertain audiences with new roles. He has also been vocal about industry-related issues and has often spoken up on matters that concern him. For some time now, the industry has been witnessing a debate around work culture, especially regarding long working hours. When asked about his views in an interview with mid-day, Shetty said he does not believe in overextending oneself and stressed the importance of taking breaks. Suniel Shetty on working hours debate “I’ve lived my life the way I have. Even being a part of the industry, I have only made sure that I work during my work hours. If it’s a 9 to 6, I would expect it to be 9 to 6. If my producer is in trouble, I’ll do a 9 to 9 the next morning, but that understanding is important; otherwise, you can’t get the best output from me,” he said. Shetty does not believe in overworking or pushing oneself beyond one’s capacity. “You’re talking about 12-hour or 18-hour work. It’s not possible,” he said. He added, “I was an action hero. If I don’t get my break or my lunch, I become the most irritable person. I need that break because that’s what recharges me. So, if you want the best output, you give me my breaks.” “I honestly believe you can’t achieve anything in life by overextending yourself or constantly pushing your limits. For me, fitness is my life. I am who I am at 65 only because of that fitness. If you take away the gym from me, you take away my life. What’s important for me is something I need to realise, and the people who expect me to work need to realise it too,” he added. Suniel Shetty on Bharat Ke Super Founders Meanwhile, the actor will take on hosting and mentoring duties on Amazon MX Player’s new show Bharat Ke Super Founders. Talking about what sets the show apart from others like Shark Tank, he said the format brings interior India into focus in a big way. “While you have the usual funders and investors, there’s another layer added to the show—the market. You have excellent founders and seasoned investors, or tycoons as we call them, with a very positive mindset. A lot of research goes into selecting the founders, so there’s clarity when they come on board,” he explained. Shetty added that the show offers nearly an 80 percent assurance that the right founders with impactful products will receive funding. Even if investors choose to step back, the market can offer financial support in the form of debt linked to sales rather than fixed interest. “It’s a win-win for everyone. There’s no show anywhere in the world that comes close to what we are trying to do,” he concluded.
16 January,2026 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarThe BMC elections saw a fairly good turnout of Bollywood celebrities who were seen stepping out to cast their votes. While most prominent faces were seen exercising their democratic rights, a few film personalities gave the civic exercise a miss this time. Among the notable names who were seen absent at the polling booths were megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan. The Bachchan bahu and global icon Aishwarya Rai Bachchan also seemed to have given the elections a miss. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and family were also seen missing on the election day. Bollywood superstar Madhuri Dixit was also missing at the booth. Stars Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Ajay Devgn and actor Farhan Akhtar were also not seen present at the elections. Also absent from the voting process were Sonakshi Sinha, Kajol, Karan Johar, Rani Mukerji too seem to have given the elections a miss. The reasons for the absence of the stars were not immediately known, as none of them addressed skipping the polls publicly. Meanwhile, superstar Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and stars Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal, Shraddha Kapoor, Sonali Bendre, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Karisma Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan and others were seen casting their votes. Veteran star poet and lyricist Gulzar was seen exercising his democratic right and arrived at the voting booth to cast his vote at the age of 91. Veteran star Saira Banu, Hema Malini and Shabana Azmi were seen at their respective voting booths to cast their votes. Talking about the BMC elections, the polling for the 29 municipal corporations began on January 15, at 7.30 AM and concluded at 5.30 PM. In Maharashtra, the elections were being held in Municipal Corporations across major cities, including Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Kalyan-Dombivli, Vasai-Virar, Mira-Bhayandar, Solapur, Kolhapur, Amravati, Akola, Latur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Jalna, Chandrapur, Parbhani, Nanded-Waghala, Panvel, Bhiwandi-Nizampur, Malegaon, Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, Ichalkaranji, Ahilyanagar, and Ulhasnagar. 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
16 January,2026 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSBollywood star Aamir Khan has been looking noticeably fitter in his recent appearances and has been grabbing eyeballs for the same. The actor has lost 18 kilograms with the help of a special anti-inflammatory diet. He revealed that the weight loss happened by default when he switched to the new diet for health reasons. Aamir on his drastic weight loss In an interview with Bollywood Hungama, Khan opened up about his weight loss, which he believes worked because of his change in diet. “It happened by default. The new diet I am following for health reasons is working like magic for me,” he said. The actor revealed that he had to start the new diet due to recurring migraines. “I undertook the diet for migraines. It is an anti-inflammatory diet. I not only lost eighteen kilos, my migraines have also reduced considerably,” he shared. Aamir Khan’s work front Meanwhile, the actor has started the year on a positive note. His production house has backed the film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos, which hits theatres today. The film marks the directorial debut of stand-up comedian Vir Das. Imran Khan, who has been teasing his comeback for years, will make his first screen appearance in nearly a decade. Speaking about this in the interview, Aamir Khan said, “It is not a proper comeback for Imran. Both Imran and I have cameo roles. I haven’t done too many comedy roles in my career, although people still remember Andaz Apna Apna.” Vir Das’s Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos has been granted an A certificate, meaning the film is restricted to adult audiences in theatres. Vir took to Instagram to share the censor certificate, which revealed that the film has a runtime of 121.42 minutes—slightly over two hours. Aamir Khan Productions has consistently ventured into unconventional storytelling with finesse. Having delivered acclaimed films like Lagaan, Taare Zameen Par, Dangal, and Secret Superstar, this marks yet another attempt at presenting unique cinema. Interestingly, the banner is collaborating once again with stand-up comedian Vir Das, who has performed globally with acclaimed comedy specials and acted in films such as Go Goa Gone, Badmaash Company, and Delhi Belly. This film marks Vir Das’s second collaboration with Aamir Khan Productions after Delhi Belly.
16 January,2026 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Neeraj Ghaywan’s Homebound, backed by Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions, has made it to the shortlist for the 98th Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The makers are now hoping for a final nomination, and the team is pulling out all stops to lobby the film in the West. Karan Johar has shed light on how expensive campaigning for the Oscars can be, describing it as a “bottomless pit.” Karan Johar on financing Oscar campaign for Homebound In a chat with PeepingMoon and the Telly Talk podcast, Karan Johar spoke about Homebound making it to the Oscars shortlist. He revealed that his business partner, Adar Poonawalla, spared no expense while launching the Oscar campaign for the film, which stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor. “We were doing Homebound. I told him that doing an Oscar campaign will cost money and sometimes it is a bottomless pit, because you don’t know what the end result will be, and whether you will even make it to the shortlist of 15 and then five. It is an uphill task,” Karan said. Karan added that Adar did not view it as a financial risk, but as a valuable opportunity for a deserving film. The filmmaker further explained, “You have to employ publicists, travel, create noise, do media interactions abroad, and hold screenings overseas. But Adar said, ‘Karan, this is a great opportunity and a great film. Let’s do everything in our capacity. Let’s not think of profit and loss on this one. Let’s think of passion over any monetary benefit.’ That’s what we did. It is not a money-making exercise for us. It is about credibility. We will do other films for survival, but Homebound was always a passion project. There is no monetary game in that film.” About Homebound Homebound has received significant global acclaim, including premieres at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Melbourne International Film Festival. With its recent Oscars shortlist, the film has achieved a rare milestone, becoming only the fifth Indian film to be shortlisted for Best International Feature Film in the 98-year history of the Academy Awards. The film follows childhood friends Shoaib (Ishaan Khatter) and Chandan (Vishal Jethwa), whose shared dream of joining the police force shapes their lives, with Janhvi Kapoor adding emotional depth to a story rooted in friendship, duty, and the pressures faced by young India. Directed by Neeraj Ghaywan, Homebound is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, and Apoorva Mehta, and co-produced by Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan du Plantier, with Martin Scorsese and Pravin Khairnar serving as executive producers.
16 January,2026 09:47 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
