On the occasion of Republic Day, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan took to Instagram and shared an adorable video with his niece Ayat and nephew Ahil. The video showed Salman spending quality time with little ones Ayat and Ahil as they listened to Maatrubhoomi, a patriotic song from his Battle of Galwan. This is for all the chota chota nanna munna desh bhakts and patriots . Happy Republic Day love your Maatrubhumi... Jai Hind salmankhanfilmsmusic," he captioned the post. Maatrubhumi is composed by Himesh Reshammiya, with lyrics written by Sameer Anjaan. The song is sung by Arijit Singh and Shreya Ghoshal. The music and vocals aim to evoke strong patriotic emotions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) The film's teaser was released in December last year and gave a glimpse of Salman's character, who portrays an Indian Army officer. The teaser shows him with a serious and restrained expression. The visuals depict rough terrain, cold weather, and close combat, offering a preview of the challenges soldiers face at high altitudes. Battle of Galwan is based on the Galwan Valley clash between India and China in 2020, in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and an unspecified number of Chinese soldiers were killed. Actor Chitrangada Singh is also a part of the movie, which will be released on April 17. 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
27 January,2026 10:03 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran Hindi cinema star Saira Banu has reflected on the idea of India, her husband and late megastar Dilip Kumar believed in, and wanted to protect. “He often said that the soul of India doesn’t lie in its monuments or history books, it lives in its people. In their kindness. In their empathy. In their belief that we rise by lifting others. For him, humanity wasn’t an ideal. It was a responsibility. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saira Banu Khan (@sairabanu) He believed that when compassion guides us, even the impossible becomes achievable. Despite all our diversities of caste, culture, language, or belief, what truly unites us is dignity for every human being. That was the India he believed in. And that is the India we must protect.” Talking about her idea of Republic Day, Saira said, “Republic Day has never been just a date on the calendar for me. It has always been a feeling.” Remembering her childhood days in England, she said, “As a child, I moved to England and spent my growing years in London. But strangely, distance didn’t dilute my connection with India; it deepened it. The farther I went, the closer my country.” She added, “Living away made me realise something profound: nations are not remembered for their borders or buildings. They are remembered for their humanity.” The actress further added, “Peace and humanity may sound like different ideas, yet one cannot exist without the other. True peace is born only where humanity breathes. In every corner of this land, from crowded streets to silent villages, there lives an unspoken truth: we may look different, speak different languages, follow different customs… yet our hearts beat with the same instinct to help, to care, to stand by one another.” The actress further added, “Sometimes it’s just a glance of reassurance from a stranger. Sometimes, a hand that reaches out in difficult times. Sometimes laughter shared without a common language. These small moments define us far more than grand speeches ever could. Dilip Sahib deeply believed in this very spirit. Happy 77th Republic Day.” For the uninitiated, Dilip Kumar, fondly remembered as the Tragedy King of Indian cinema, was also part of several films whose main plot revolved around deep patriotism and love for the country. Some of his notable patriotic and socially rooted films include Shaheed in 1965 and Kranti in 1981. On the personal front, Dilip Kumar shared a legendary love story with Saira Banu. The couple got married on October 11, 1966, despite a 22-year age gap. They then went on to become one of Bollywood’s most enduring and admired pairs. Dilip Kumar passed away on July 7, 2021, at the age of 98. 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
27 January,2026 09:57 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs the coming-of-age political action film Rang De Basanti clocked 20 years since its release, actor Sharman Joshi said that Hindi cinema will remember the Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra directorial forever. “Time flies,” said Sharman as the film turned 20-years-old. Rang De Basanti follows a British film student traveling to India to document the story of five freedom fighters of the Indian revolutionary movement. She befriends and casts five young men in the film, which inspires them to fight against the evils of their own present-day government. It also stars Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan along with names such as Siddharth, Atul Kulkarni, Kunal Kapoor, British actress Alice Patten, Waheeda Rehman, and Soha Ali Khan. “Rang De Basanti is a memorable film, a cult film and a film that Hindi cinema will remember forever. I was fortunate and blessed enough to be a part of a rare cinema that continues to touch people from across generations.” For Sharman, Rang De Basanti, and 3 Idiots stand at the top throughout his work. “And I feel so fortunate that I was given the opportunity by the Almighty, the directors and producers, to be part of such wonderful films,” he expressed. Further, the actor looks back at the shooting days, recalling memories where shooting the film didn’t feel like work. “I had the most fun shooting the film, it never felt like work - but every scene, every laugh , every shot, and every emotion added to my experience that I will cherish forever,” he added. The film was honoured with a National Film Award for Best Popular Film and was also nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 2007 BAFTA Awards. Additionally, the film was also chosen as India’s official entry for the Golden Globe Awards and Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category. 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
27 January,2026 09:35 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Varun Dhawan was subjected to heavy critism before the release of Border 2. Now that the film has released and is enjoying a significant run at the box office, Varun has seemingly taken a dig at trolls who had been making comments against him. Although earlier he had reacted to the trolling, noting that online noise does not affect his mindset. Varun Dhawan hits back at trolls The actor recently took to his Instagram Story to share a picture of himself surrounded by fans. On the occasion of Republic Day, the actor wished his fans while also expressing gratitude and wrote, Border 2 (National Flag emoji). Love will always triumph hate. Thank you (folded hands emoji)." When Varun Dhawan reacted to the backlash Earlier, Varun had reacted to the criticism while speaking at the Braves Of The Soil tribute trailer launch for Border 2. At the event, he highlighted that he believes in letting his work do the talking rather than responding to negativity. “I believe that you shut down the noise and just let your work do the talking. Yeh sab cheezein chalti rehti hai (All these keep happening). It doesn’t really matter. Main iske liye kaam karta hoon. Main jis cheeze k liye kaam karta hoon woh iss Friday ko pata chalega (I don’t work for this. What I work for, you will get to know this Friday)," Varun shared. The Border 2 actor further stressed, “Mujhe film pe bharosa hai. Ek achi film banana bohut important hai. Obviously, numbers yeh sab cheezein mera kuch lena dena nahi hai isse. But I believe ki humne ek achi film banayi hai (I believe in the film. It’s very important to make a good film. I’m not concerned with numbers. I believe we made a good film). That’s the most important thing," he said. He added that audiences eventually cares about entertainment when they step into theatres. “Log jab theatre mein jaate hai, sab bhool jaate hai (When people go to theatres, they forget everything). They want to be entertained, that’s it. Aur kuch maine nahi rakhta hai. Main use school se aata hoon jaaha aapka kaam bolta hai (Nothing else matters. I come from the school where a person’s work speaks)," he said.
27 January,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Karan Johar recently announced a digital detox, stating that he will be away from doomscrolling and also from direct messages (DMs) on social media platforms for a week. Karan Johar takes a break from social media Taking to his Instagram stories, Karan announced, "Digital Detox for a week! No doom scrolling! No DMs! No posts! May the universe give me the strength to stay away!!!!" Notably, the filmmaker, who is highly active on platforms, has often spoken about the negative sides of social media. Earlier in July 2025, he had shared that he was considering a digital detox, admitting to feeling overwhelmed by the barrage of distressing updates. Voicing his anxiety over the constant stream of negative news, he had asked his followers if they were feeling the same. .On his Instagram, he had shared, "Is everyone else getting anxious seeing only bad news on the gram??? Have seriously considered a detox!" Karan Johar's recent posts Before going on a digital detox, Karan's last post featured Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt in a video still wishing everybody a Happy Republic Day. The filmmaker had also taken to his social media account to celebrate the success of the recent Bollywood releases, Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar and Sunny Deol's Border 2. Johar has shared that the box office results of both these movies hint that Bollywood is here to stay. He also added that people are willing to go to cinema halls, provided that they are able to connect with the film, something which was evident with Dhurandhar and Border 2. Karan Johar maker took to his social media account to pen his thoughts. He wrote, "The mega success of the two recent back-to-back mega Hindi film successes proves one thing... Bollywood (yes, incorrect terminology, but here to stay) is back. Naysayers can fly a kite. All Dhurandhars will cross borders of excellence when the films strike emotional chords with a paying audience (sic)". A few days ago, Karan Johar was seen hosting the grand session celebrating his dear friend and Bollywood star Rani Mukerji's 30 years in Bollywood, organised by Yash Raj Films. (With inputs from IANS)
27 January,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOscar-winning composer A.R. Rahman recently found himself at the centre of a heated debate following remarks he made during an interview. While he has apologized, many celebs are still condemning his stance on the reason for the dearth of work in the industry. Now, Waheeda Rehman has come forward and weighed in on his statement. Waheeda Rehman on AR Rahman’s remark While speaking to The Indian Express, she said, "Yes, I read about it, but I try to dig less into it. I prefer not to pay attention to it when everything is going fine. These small things happen in every country." "So, what to believe and how much to believe? If it’s even true or not. Why should we get involved? At least at my age, I don’t want to get involved with anything or anybody. Apni shaanti se raho, yeh mulk hai humaara, bas khush raho, that’s what I can say (this is our country, live in peace and stay happy)," Waheeda Rehman went on. "Kaam toh upar neeche hota hi rehta hai (work opportunities keep fluctuating). Ek umar ke baad, log kehte hain ki bring somebody new or different (your ability to get work changes after a certain age). All this can lead to a few people staying behind," she highlighted. "Agar vo bahut oonchaai par pahuche hain aur vo vahin rahenge, unhi ko lenge, aisa bhi toh nahi hota na. Upar neeche hota hi rehta hai, aisi koi nayi baat nahi hai (It is nothing new; this fluctuation keeps happening)," Waheeda added. About AR Rahman’s communal remark During an interview with BBC Asian Network, Rahman was asked whether he ever felt prejudice in Bollywood as a Tamil composer. He said, “Maybe I never got to know of this, maybe it was concealed by God, but I didn’t feel any of this. The past eight years, maybe, because a power shift has happened, and people who are not creative have the power now. It might be a communal thing also, but it is not in my face.” He added, "It comes to me as Chinese whispers that they booked you, but the music company went ahead and hired their five composers. I said, 'Oh, that's great, rest for me, I can chill out with my family.'" This statement has now gone down well with several actors and musicians. Javed Akhtar, Kangana Ranaut, Manoj Muntashir, and several others are slamming him.
26 January,2026 07:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDisha Patani’s personal life has grabbed attention again. The actress is rumoured to be dating popular singer Talwiinder after they were spotted together at Nupur Sanon’s wedding. While they have not reacted to the claims, their appearances have left everyone gawking. On Lollapalooza Day 2, the rumoured couple was seen walking hand-in-hand as they exited the venue. Disha Patani, Talwiinder walk hand-in-hand Talwiinder and Disha were seen entering the venue separately. At one point, Disha was seen turning to look at Talwiinder, who stood a short distance away. While exiting the venue, they were seen walking hand-in-hand, openly strolling together in front of the crowd. Videos of the moment quickly went viral on social media, with fans calling it their “official debut” as a couple. This was after Talwiinder performed on stage with Kehlani, making the audience go gaga with his music. Later, the singer and Disha were snapped exiting the venue together in the same car, accompanied by friends. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Disha's Faheem (@dishu.myworld) About Disha and Talwiinder During Nupur Sanon’s Udaipur wedding, a viral video surfaced, sparking dating rumours between Disha and Punjabi singer Talwiinder. In the video, they are seen holding hands and were later spotted at the Mumbai airport. They were also seen at Nupur’s reception. As of now, neither Disha nor Talwiinder has commented on the rumours. Prior to this, Disha was rumoured to be in a high-profile relationship with actor Tiger Shroff. They began dating in 2018 and parted ways in 2022. The ex-couple maintain a cordial relationship, with Disha being close to Tiger’s sister, Krishna Shroff. While it is not yet known whether Talwiinder was in a relationship earlier, a few days ago there were reports that he was dating a model named Soni Kaur. However, Soni shared a long post on Instagram clarifying that she is not the singer's ex-girlfriend and had only met him socially. On the work front, Disha has some interesting films lined up, including O Romeo, Awarapan 2, and Welcome to the Jungle. She has reportedly been roped in for Anees Bazmee’s next, which also stars Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan.
26 January,2026 06:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty are beaming with pride as their Republic Day release, Border 2, is striking gold at the box office. It was yet another proud moment for the Deol family as late actor Dharmendra was honoured with the second-highest civilian honour, the Padma Vibhushan award. To celebrate the milestones, Esha Deol took to social media and turned cheerleader for brother Sunny. Esha Deol hails Border 2 and remembers Dharmendra Esha shared pictures showing her posing with her sister Ahana and brother Sunny at the screening of his film Border 2. They all shared smiles, with Sunny standing between the two sisters, his hands resting gently on their shoulders. This marked their first public appearance together since their father, veteran actor Dharmendra, passed away last year. Taking to her Instagram handle, Esha Deol wrote, “Happy Republic Day. Really happy that our papa is being conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan Award.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by ESHA DHARMENDRA DEOL (@imeshadeol) Further in the post, Esha also hailed her elder brother Sunny Deol's performance in Border 2. “Definitely watch Border 2 with your family and friends. We watched the film last night. iamsunnydeol you are the best. Shout out to @ahan.shetty @varundvn @diljitdosanjh @nidhiduttaofficial. Fantastic. Salute,” she added. Dharmendra conferred with Padma Award On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) unveiled the official list of Padma awardees for 2026. Dharmendra, who passed away on November 24, 2025, has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan posthumously. Reacting to the announcement, veteran actor-politician Hema Malini expressed pride and gratitude, saying, “So, so proud that the government has recognised Dharam ji's immense contribution to the film industry by bestowing on him the prestigious Padma Vibhushan award.” Dharmendra is widely regarded as one of the most iconic actors of his time. Apart from him, actors like Satish Shah, R. Madhavan, Mammootty, and Prosenjit Chatterjee, among others, have also been honoured. About Border 2 Directed by Anurag Singh and backed by T-Series and J P Films, the film was released on January 23. It is a sequel to the 1997 film Border and revolves around the strength of the Army, Navy, and Air Force during the 1971 Battle of Longewala. The film also features Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anyaa Singh, and Medha Rana in pivotal roles.
26 January,2026 05:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentT-Series' Bhushan Kumar is currently basking in the success of the latest film under his banner, Border 2. His recent production has already earned Rs 167 crore gross worldwide within just the first three days. Notably, the film marks the first collaboration between Bhushan Kumar and director Anurag Singh. Amid the staggering success of Border 2, the two are already planning of more collaborations in the future. In fact, the two are already planning a third Border film. Bhushan Kumar confirms Border 2 In an exclusive interview with Hindustan Times, Anurag Singh and Bhushan Kumar revealed they were initially collaborating on a different film before Border 2 happened. Now that Border 2 has released, they will get the project back on track. Bhushan added that the Border franchise is not the first thing he and Anurag will work on. “But before that, we will continue what we were discussing even before Border 2 came into the picture. Now is the time for that. The next film will be on those lines. Then, we will return to Border,” he said. Confirming Border 3, he shared, “We are doing a joint venture with his company and my company. He’ll be directing, and it will be something new. Border 3 will happen in due course." He further reiterated, “Obviously, it is such a big franchise,” before adding “Anurag has worked so hard to rebuild it. If you bring something back after almost 30 years and it is getting so much love, we will definitely take it forward.” About Border 2 Border 2 is directed by Anurag Singh. It marks a spiritual sequel to JP Dutta’s 1997 hit Border. The film features Sunny Deol, Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, and Ahan Shetty. It also stars Mona Singh, Sonam Bajwa, Anya Singh and Medha Rana in pivotal roles. Border 2 released in theatres on January 23, 206, coinciding with the Republic Day weekend. So far, it has been doing very well at the box office. After a strong opening of Rs 32.1 crore at the domestic box office, the film has registered a massive number of Rs 57.2 crore on Sunday in India. With this, the film has collected Rs 129 crore in its first weekend.
26 January,2026 03:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSiddharth Anand’s directorial Fighter completed two years on January 25. On the occasion, the filmmaker penned a note looking back at the film’s journey and described it as his best work so far. He also said that he plans to raise the bar with his upcoming film King, starring Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter Suhana Khan. Siddharth Anand on Fighter On Republic Day, Siddharth Anand took to X to share a note celebrating the second anniversary of Fighter, which starred Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone and Anil Kapoor in lead roles. “Two years of my best work. Fighter. The film I’m so proud of. Seeing so many scenes on my timeline reminded me how beautiful those moments were. The scene between Patty and Saachi at the cemetery, and the scene with Minni and her father — both are the most emotional scenes I’ve ever shot. They will remain timeless for me,” he wrote. Looking ahead, Siddharth teased his next project, calling it one of the most anticipated films. “Thank you for the love. Now, time to better it. King,” he added. 2 years of my best work. FIGHTER. The film I’m so proud of. Seeing so many scenes on my timeline reminded how beautiful those 2 scenes were. The scene between Patty and Saachi at the cemetery. And the scene with Minni and her father. Both the most emotional scenes I’ve ever shot.… — Siddharth Anand (@justSidAnand) January 25, 2026 Inspired by a story written by Siddharth Anand, along with Ramon Chibb, the movie stars Hrithik Roshan and Deepika Padukone as the lead, along with Karan Singh Grover, Akshay Oberoi, Rishabh Sawhney, and Sanjeeda Sheikh in supporting roles. Backed by Viacom18 Studios in collaboration with Marflix Pictures, the flick marks the primary instalment in the planned aerial action franchise. Fighter saw camera work by Satchith Paulose, with Aarif Sheikha as the head of the editing department. Composer duo Vishal–Shekhar have scored the music for the drama. King release date announcement After days of teasing, the makers of Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film King have officially announced its release window. The film is set to hit theatres during the Christmas weekend, positioning it as a year-end blockbuster that will carry momentum into 2027. The announcement was made by Shah Rukh Khan and Siddharth Anand on the eve of Pathaan’s third anniversary, further amplifying excitement around their reunion. Along with the release update, the makers also unveiled striking visuals offering a glimpse into the world of King. Shah Rukh Khan is seen in a bold and fierce new avatar, set against dramatic landscapes, with the powerful imagery heightening anticipation for the film’s release later this year.
26 January,2026 03:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOrry is a social media influencer who is well-connected with influential figures from the film industry, business, and politics. His rise in popularity is largely attributed to his high-profile connections and extravagant lifestyle. Recently, rumours surfaced about a fallout between Orry and his old friend, actress Sara Ali Khan. The two have reportedly unfollowed each other on social media. Amid this, Orry took a dig at Sara’s film career, drawing sharp criticism from netizens who are now calling him a bully. Orry takes a dig at Sara Ali Khan's career On Monday, Orry shared a reel in which he gave his own twist to the trending ‘no civic sense’ videos. In the clip, he is seen recording himself while two people argue loudly in the background, disrupting his shoot. In the video, Orry was dressed in a blue mesh top featuring a printed dotted outline resembling a bra. A curious social media user commented, “Genuine question: What exactly is that bra holding together?” To this, Orry replied, “Sara Ali Khan’s hits.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Orhan Awatramani (@orry) Netizens call Orry a bully The remark did not go down well with social media users, and the discussion soon spilled over to Reddit. Reacting to the comment, one user wrote, “Y’all need to stop giving him attention. He’s a pick-me and now a bully.” Another person wrote, "The best thing to do is to not post abt him. Like genuinely ignore him, that is way more powerful that canceling him or negative PR". Another person wrote, "A horrible human being that useless people made famous!" "I can't believe he is speaking trash so openly," commented another person on Reddit. A user said, "Sara ali khan can be wrong in many ways but whatever orry is doing is next level pathetic!! Imagine a grown up person is behaving like this. Problem of having everything in their life so that they don't have to worry about anything other than throwing shade on others!! Sorry this isn't cool anymore". More shade at Sara Ali Khan from Orry.byu/thetrollslayer1508 inBollyBlindsNGossip About Sara and Orry's fallout Recently, Orry had posted a video where he listed '3 worst names' and added the names Sara, Amrita and Palak as examples without mentioning their surnames. The internet assumed he was referring to Sara Ali Khan, her mother Amrita Singh and actress Palak Tiwari who is rumoured to be dating Ibrahim Ali Khan. Following this, Sara and Ibrahim unfollowed Orry on Instagram.
26 January,2026 03:03 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
