Debutante Aneet Padda basked in the mammoth success of her musical romance, Saiyaara, all of last year. Now, she is ready to move on to her next project. The climax of the Ayushmann Khurrana-led supernatural romance, Thamma (2025), teased with a glimpse of Shakti Shalini, the next story in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). Sources tell mid-day that the first schedule of the horror comedy has been chalked out, with the pre-production about to wrap up. “Aneet will begin shooting for the film in March. It’s going to be a marathon schedule. The film was earlier set to start rolling in January, but pre-production needed more time,” informs a source. Kiara Advani Rumours are rife that Homebound (2025) actor Vishal Jethwa is paired opposite Padda in the film. While the makers are mum about the director, mid-day has learnt that Aditya Sarpotdar — who helmed Thamma — has been signed on to captain this ship. Dinesh Vijan “Aditya’s relationship with Maddock Films began with Munjya (2024). He has a flair for combining mythology, horror, and humour. Shakti Shalini is fleshed out slightly different from the other MHCU films. [It will have] far more drama,” says an insider of the Christmas release. Did you know? Producer Dinesh Vijan was initially considering Kiara Advani for the role in ‘Shakti Shalini’ In the pipeline Aneet Padda has a romantic drama with Yash Raj Films, directed by Maneesh Sharma. She has also lent her voice for Adi Shankar’s ‘Devil May Cry 2’
08 February,2026 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaActor Sunil Thapa, who is known for his role in the film Mary Kom and series The Family Man, has passed away at the age of 68. He had an illustrious career in Nepali cinema with over 300 films. As the actor passes away, Priyanka Chopra has penned a heartfelt note remembering how her late Mary Kom co-star helped her through her toughest time after the passing of her father, Ashok Chopra. Priyanka Chopra mourns Sunil Thapa’s demise In the 2014 movie, Priyanka played the boxer Mary Kom, while Sunil Thapa was seen as her coach Narjit Singh. Mourning Sunil Thapa’s demise, she shared a clip and wrote, “You will always be my Coach Sir. You kept me together when I had just lost my dad. You loved me and helped me through many tough days without even realizing. Your warm hugs and your laugh will always be part of my memories. Gone too young but never forgotten." Offering her condolences to the family and loved ones of Sunil Thapa, she added, "Thank you for your kindness at a time that I was broken. Rest in peace, Sunil Thapa. My condolences and prayers are with the family and loved ones." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra) Manoj Bajpayee also took to his Instagram stories and wrote, “It’s so, so sad! God bless your soul, Sir! My 3rd season TFM memories will live forever because of you!" About Sunil Thapa’s death The actor passed away while undergoing treatment at the Norvic Hospital in Kathmandu. As per the hospital, the patient was brought for medical attention in an unconscious state. Following an ECG, the doctors confirmed Thapa's death, suspecting cardiac arrest as the cause. A prominent figure in Nepali cinema, Thapa worked extensively in Nepali, Bollywood, and Bhojpuri films over several decades. The actor was widely known for his iconic role as Rate Kaila in the Nepali action-drama film Chino. In Indian cinema, Thapa earned wider recognition for his supporting role in the biopic Mary Kom, which also starred Priyanka Chopra in the lead role. He was also a part of The Family Man. He had earlier debuted in Bollywood with Ek Duuje Ke Liye and went on to work in several Hindi, Tamil, and Bhojpuri productions.
07 February,2026 09:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAkshay Kumar and Priyadarshan are all set to reunite after 14 years for Bhooth Bangla. While the film is anticipated, makers had earlier revealed that the film has locked May release. Now, there is a change in the release date and the film will now hit the screens in April. With the shift in its release date, the makers aim to tap into a favourable theatrical window while avoiding box office congestion. Bhooth Bangla locks April release The film, which was previously slated to hit the theatres on May 15, 2026, has now been preponed and will arrive in the cinema halls on April 10, 2026. The decision to change the release date has been taken keeping in view Akshay’s packed theatrical lineup and the audience engagement. Bhooth Bangla, which has been generating steady buzz since its announcement, is expected to showcase Akshay Kumar in a genre-driven entertainer. With Akshay and Priyadarshan reuniting, the film is expected to recreate the cinematic magic movie buffs are used to from them. The beloved actor and director duo previously collaborated for memorable hits like Hera Pheri, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Garam Masala, and Khatta Meetha. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) More about Bhooth Bangla Aside from Akshay, the film also stars Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Mithila Palkar, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi in key roles, along with others. Bhooth Bangla further brings together Akshay and Tabu after 25 years. Prior to this, the duo shared screen space in movies such as Hera Pheri and Tu Chor Main Sipahi. If the reports are to be believed, Bhooth Bangla revolves around a mysterious haunted house and the chaos surrounding it. Certain sections of the movie were shot across Rajasthan, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. Balaji Motion Pictures, a division of Balaji Telefilms Ltd, in association with Cape of Good Films, presents Bhooth Bangla directed by Priyadarshan and produced by Akshay Kumar, Shobha Kapoor, Ektaa R Kapoor. The story of the forthcoming drama has been penned by Akash A Kaushik, with the screenplay provided by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair, and Priyadarshan. Rohan Shankar is credited with the dialogues for Bhooth Bangla. Priyadarshan upcoming movies Additionally, Priyadarshan and Akshay are working together on two more projects, including Haiwaan, co-starring Saif Ali Khan, and Hera Pheri 3, alongside Suniel Shetty.
07 February,2026 08:53 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Vishal Jethwa has heaped praise on Bollywood star Rani Mukerji and said that he wants to come back as a “villain” in the fourth installment if it is made. Vishal, who played a pivotal role in Mardaani 2, has often spoken about the deep respect and admiration he holds for Rani. Vishal said, “Mardaani will always be very special to me, and so will Rani ma’am. Working with her has been one of the most important learning experiences of my life.” “She leads by example with honesty, strength, and so much grace. Reuniting with her at the screening brought back so many memories, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have been a part of this journey.” The actor added: “Mardaani is Rani Mukerji ma’am and Rani Mukharjee ma’am is Mardaani. No one can perform Shivani Shivaji Roy better then Rani ma’am. Saw Mardaani 3 and she again proved that she is Rani Mukharjee for a reason. I want to come back as a villain in Mardaani 4”. A special screening was held, and it was a star-studded affair. It saw the presence of several prominent names from the industry, including legendary actor Rakha, Huma Qureshi, Ahaan Pandey, Aneet Padda, and Keerthy Suresh. Talking about “Mardaani 3”, the film is directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra. Mardaani exposed the grim realities of human trafficking and Mardaani 2 explored the disturbing psyche of a serial rapist who challenged the system, Mardaani 3 delves into another dark and brutal reality of our society, further strengthening the franchise’s legacy of impactful, issue-based storytelling. Aayush Gupta has written Mardaani 3 of The Railway Men fame. “Mardaani 3” is scheduled to release in theatres worldwide on January 30. The first installment of the Mardaani franchise was released in 2014. It featured Rani, Jisshu Sengupta, Tahir Raj Bhasin, and Anant Vidhaat Sharma in supporting roles. The second installment premiered in 2019. It was directed by Gopi Puthran. 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
07 February,2026 07:53 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSVeteran actor Boman Irani's directorial debut, The Mehta Boys, completed one year of release on Saturday. Reflecting on the milestone, Boman, who made his directorial debut at 65, shares that for him, the biggest thing is that the drama didn’t stop with its release. "Films often have a brief moment, but this one seems to have stayed with people in a quieter, lasting way,” he shared. During the last year, discussions around the film have continued both online and offline, with viewers often pointing out how the story mirrored their own family dynamics. Sharing his experience, Boman noted, “When people reach out and tell me they saw their own families in the story, that stays with me far more than any number ever could." For those who have still not watched the show, "The Mehta Boys" revolves around relationships between parents and children, siblings, and families as they all navigate complicated emotions. “These are relationships we all recognise, and I think that familiarity is what allows the film to endure,” Boman said. Boman also used social media to thank the audience for showering the project with so much love and appreciation. His Insta post read, "It’s been a year since The Mehta Boys found its way into the world. I carried this story for a long time… and the love you’ve shown it has been deeply humbling. To every person who believed in it, and to my wonderful team who helped shape it, thank you for making this journey so special. (sic)." Jointly backed by Irani Movietone and Chalkboard Entertainment banners, "The Mehta Boys" stars Boman, Avinash Tiwary, and Shreya Chaudhary as the leads, with the screenplay written by Boman. Up next, Boman will soon return in his beloved avatar in the highly-awaited sequel, "Khosla Ka Ghosla 2". Over and above this, he will further be a part of "Haiwaan", co-starring Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, and "Peddi", led by Ram Charan. 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
07 February,2026 07:28 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe makers of director Samjad's eagerly awaited vampire thriller, 'Half - The Chronicles of Two Half-Blooded Vampires', on Friday released another brand new poster from the film, much to the delight of fans and the new poster offers a striking glimpse into the dark and intense world of the film. 'Half' is being produced by Anne Sajeev and Sajeev PK under the banner of Fragrant Nature Film Creations, known for 'Pranayam', 'Pariwar', and 'Golam'. The film has been directed by Samjad, who made a strong and impressive debut with 'Golam'. The newly released poster is marked by bold colours and striking imagery, visually reflecting the film’s themes of transformation and inner conflict, while firmly establishing its dark, atmospheric tone. The poster prominently features Amala Paul, Ranjith Sajeev, and Aiswarya Raj, while also highlighting the presence of renowned South Indian actor Abbas, marking his much-anticipated return to cinema after a long hiatus. Widely known for his work across South Indian cinema, Abbas is also familiar to Malayalam audiences through films such as 'Kannezhuthi Pottum Thottu', 'Kadha', and 'Greetings'. His return adds a strong emotional and dramatic layer to the ensemble, sparking curiosity around his role in the narrative. Another key highlight of the project is its international collaboration, with action choreography by Very Tri Yulisman, whose work spans major Hollywood productions, lending the film a distinctive global edge. The film also features award-winning Indian technicians, including National Award-winning editor Mahesh Bhuvanend, known for 'Aattam', 'Vela', and 'Madhuram', and production designer Mohandas, whose work in '2018', 'Ayyappanum Koshiyum', and 'Lucifer' has been widely recognised. Cinematography is handled by Pappinu, known for films such as 'Matinee' and 'Konthayum Poonoolum'. Music is being composed by Midhun Mukundan, whose work in 'Rorschach' and 'Abraham Ozler' received wide acclaim. The screenplay for the film has been co-written by director Samjad and Praveen Viswanath. Ranjith Sajeev reunites with Samjad as one of the half-blooded protagonists, while Aiswarya Raj essays the other central role. Amala Paul appears in a pivotal role, adding further depth and intrigue to the story. Abbas’s return further strengthens the cast, bringing added weight and anticipation to the film’s ensemble. Conceived as a large-scale pan-Indian cinematic spectacle, Half is designed for a wide theatrical experience across multiple languages and regions. Shot extensively across varied locations, the film blends scale and visual grandeur to create an immersive world rooted in vampire mythology. The film is set to be released in Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada. The team also has National Award-winning sound designer Vishnu Govind, known for Malik, Unda, and Ishq, handling the film's audiography. 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
07 February,2026 07:11 PM IST | Chennai | IANSPadma Shri awardee Ektaa Kapoor is asking if she is the ‘Naagin’. On Friday, the producer took to her Instagram, and shared a clip from the ‘Nagin’. In the clip, her father, Jeetendra can be seen transforming into a snake. She wrote in the caption, “My dad was the original NAAG (icchadari) does that make me a nagin?” Incidentally, Ektaa Kapoor is also the producer of the superhit television show ‘Naagin’. The show is currently in its 7th season. Earlier, Ektaa celebrated 20 years of her show ‘Kasamh Se’ starring Prachi Desai, Roshni Chopra, Arunima Sharma, and Ram Kapoor. The show first aired on Zee TV on January 16, 2006. Commemorating the occasion, Ektaa took to her official Instagram handle and posted a video compilation of some iconic scenes from ‘Kasamh Se’. Produced by Ekta Kapoor under her home banner, Balaji Telefilms, the show revolves around the lives of three sisters: Bani (Prachi Desai), Piya (Roshni Chopra/ Manasi Varma), and Rano (Arunima Sharma/Pallavi Purohit). Revisiting some fond old memories, Ektaa penned the caption, "20 years million memories ! Kasam Se (sic)". Featuring Jaya Bhattacharya, Gurdeep Kohli, Manasi Varma, Pallavi Purohit, Ashwini Kalsekar, and Vivian Dsena as the supporting cast, ‘Kasamh Se’ was on air till 12 March 2009. In the meantime, Ektaa kicked off the year 2026 by going on a trip to Darjeeling with popular television actress Urvashi Dholakia. Urvashi took to her Instagram account and posted a video capturing a glimpse of her picturesque mountain getaway. The clip showed Urvashi and Ektaa posing with their close friends, creating memories for a lifetime against a serene, mountainous backdrop. “Pure Hearts..Open skies..Quiet joy love love love ektarkapoor 4umehra”, Urvashi captioned the post. In another post, Urvashi shared some more photos and videos on social media from her time off with the producer. 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
07 February,2026 07:07 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSLyricist Manoj Muntashir, who is known for his work in ‘Adipurush’, ‘Kesari’, and others, has reacted to veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah’s allegations of disinvite from a university at the last moment. The lyricist spoke with IANS at an event, and shared, “I think universities are run independently in this country. Universities are governed by the government. This is new information for me. I did not know this. They have autonomous management. I do not know what happened. But Naseeruddin Shah is a great artist. He is a great actor”. He further mentioned, “We all respect him a lot. I read a statement. He said that the country where he grew up is not that India. Maybe he is right. The country where he grew up and I was growing up, was the country of appeasement. This is a new India. This is a better India. This is a good India. I like this India more”. The veteran actor sparked fresh controversy after claiming he was abruptly disinvited from a Mumbai University event he had been invited to attend. Shah said he was initially scheduled to appear at Jashn-e-Urdu, a cultural and literary programme organised by the Urdu department at the University of Mumbai, on February 1, an opportunity he valued mainly for the chance to engage with students. However, he alleges that late on the night of January 31 he was informed the invitation was withdrawn without any explanation or apology, a move he described as both insulting and disappointing. He also criticised what followed: he claims the organisers publicly told the audience that he had chosen not to attend, a narrative he strongly denied and called misleading. He suggested the real reason for the reversal may be his outspoken views and criticism of the current political climate, challenging those who labelled him as someone who “openly makes statements against the country” to point to any specific statement to that effect. 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
07 February,2026 07:02 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSSinger Arijit Singh has been in the news ever since he quit playback singing. While several celebs are reacting to his decision, superstar Aamir Khan visited him at his hometown in Jiaganj for a pending shoot. The actor and singer have now found themselves in trouble after they were accused of entering Rani Dhanya Kumari Government College in Jiaganj, Murshidabad district, West Bengal, without permission late at night. Allegations against Arijit Singh, Aamir Khan According to Principal Ajay Adhikari’s allegations, nearly ten motorcycles entered the college campus around 1:05 a.m. The group reportedly played badminton inside the indoor games hall and carried out shooting activities without permission. They left the campus around 2:25 a.m. The principal, in a now-deleted post, said, “My question is: At such a late hour, without informing the college (permission aside), they clearly did not come for social or personal reasons. They came for commercial purposes and used the college premises without authorisation, even influencing the local night guard. Just because they are famous, can they do whatever they want? Are government educational institutions to be treated with such disregard?” However, within a few hours, Ajay Adhikari deleted both the videos and his allegations. In a brief message written in English, he stated that he was “forced to delete the post.” As per news reports, when contacted by phone, Principal Ajay said he did not wish to pursue the matter further. “We have not taken any decision to file a police complaint. There was both pressure and requests to delete my first post,” he said. As of now, neither Arijit nor Aamir has issued any official statement regarding the allegations. About Arijit Singh quitting playback singing As per reports, Aamir visited Arijit to persuade him to change his mind regarding his decision to quit playback singing. On January 27, Arijit Singh shared on his social media handles that he won’t take any new assignments as a playback singer. “Hello. Happy New Year to all. I want to thank you all for giving me so much love all these years as listeners. I am happy to announce that I am not going to take any new assignments as a playback vocalist from now on. I am calling it quits. It was a wonderful journey,” he wrote in a note on Instagram.
07 February,2026 06:55 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShahid Kapoor is all set to star in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’Romeo in an intense avatar. The makers are leaving no stone unturned to amp up excitement around the film. Recently, the peppy number Paan Ki Dukaan was launched at a grand event. However, the festivities turned chaotic after fans thronged the stage in large numbers, forcing Shahid to briefly step away for his safety. Shahid Kapoor leaves O’Romeo event Shahid Kapoor is the latest celebrity to fall victim to a mobbing incident. During the song launch, Shahid invited a few fans on stage to dance with him. However, the moment turned chaotic when several fans rushed the stage simultaneously, crowding and mobbing the actor. For his safety, Shahid briefly stepped off the stage and returned only after security restored order and the fans were asked to move back. Once the situation was brought under control, Shahid Kapoor returned to the stage and went on to dance with fans. He also thanked his fans for turning up in large numbers, saying, “Thank you, guys. You have been amazing.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Tiwari (@bollywoodhelpline) About O’Romeo The film features a distinguished ensemble cast, including Triptii Dimri, Nana Patekar, Avinash Tiwary, Tamannaah Bhatia, Farida Jalal and Disha Patani, with Vikrant Massey in a special appearance. O’Romeo is slated for a theatrical release on February 13, 2026, during Valentine’s Week. The trailer offered a gripping glimpse into a world driven by passion, power and survival, set against the shadowy underbelly of Mumbai. Inspired by true events, this Vishal Bhardwaj directorial weaves together romance, action and emotional depth with his signature storytelling style. The film has also sparked controversy, with the daughter of Hussain Ustara, Sanober Shaikh, seeking a permanent injunction against its release. She has filed a lawsuit claiming that the film is an ‘unauthorised’ biopic of her late father and that it portrays his life ‘falsely’. Shahid Kapoor’s upcoming movies Workwise, Shahid Kapoor is gearing up for Homi Adajania’s Cocktail 2 with Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon. The film is set to release in September this year. Apart from this, he has Farzi 2 in his kitty, along with a romantic drama directed by Badhaai Ho fame Anil Sharma.
07 February,2026 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTara Sutaria has been in the spotlight for her alleged relationship with Veer Pahariya. While the couple neither confirmed nor denied dating, their PDA spoke volumes about the love they had for each other. However, their romance was short-lived, and the couple parted ways earlier this year. Amid this, Tara, in an interview, spoke about protecting her peace while knowing her truth. Tara Sutaria on protecting her peace amid breakup Speaking to Elle India, Tara Sutaria shared her idea of success and said, “I’ve always believed success is internal… Peace of mind, a handful of people who love you, knowing yourself—that’s always been the goal. I’ve learned how to protect my peace.” Tara explained that being in the spotlight from a young age taught her how to stay calm and centred over time. While actors are often misunderstood by the public, Tara no longer feels the need to correct people. “As long as I know the truth, and the people closest to me do, that’s enough,” the actress said. More about Tara and Veer Tara and Veer reportedly began dating in early 2025 and made their relationship public around mid-2025. The two were often seen together at various events and holidays and also shared affectionate posts for one another on social media. Veer was also seen accompanying Tara during her intimate yet exciting birthday bash in November last year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA💫 (@tarasutaria) However, rumours of trouble in their relationship began when a clip from A. P. Dhillon’s concert went viral, allegedly showing the singer kissing Tara Sutaria. The next few shots in the clip showed the actress’ boyfriend, Veer Pahariya, feeling uncomfortable with the proximity. Soon after the incident, a report by Filmfate stated that they had “quietly ended” their relationship. Tara Sutaria upcoming movies On the work front, she will be seen in Yash’s Toxic. The makers have now introduced her first look as Rebecca from the action entertainer. The poster features a beautifully dangerous Tara posing in a stunning black off-shoulder dress. The long black gloves and short hair shell out a perfect retro vibe. Pointing a gun towards someone, Tara looks fierce with an intense look in her eyes. Toxic also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, and Huma Qureshi alongside Yash. The film is slated to be out on 19th March 2026, coinciding with Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa.
07 February,2026 05:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
