The premiere of Sriram Raghavan’s war drama, Ikkis, was held in Mumbai on Monday, 29 December, and saw many celebrities from Bollywood in attendance. Among them was veteran actor Rekha, who arrived on the red carpet embodying elegance in a golden saree. But more than her appearance, what caught everyone's attention was how affectionate she was towards the film’s lead, Agastya Nanda. The 25-year-old is the grandson of Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Rekha at Ikkis premiere In this video shot by paparazzi, Rekha is captured in an emotional moment. She is first seen pausing on the red carpet to gaze at a poster of the late superstar Dharmendra, standing in quiet reverence for a few moments and paying tribute with folded hands and a bowed head. After this, she moves on to Agastya Nanda's photo on the poster, places her hand on his face adoringly, and then blows a flying kiss as a blessing. A moment filled with warmth and affection as Rekha blesses her most beloved Agastya Nanda at the special screening of Ikkis. Rekha wore dark glasses to quietly veil her emotions — a rare sight at such events, as she usually keeps her expressive eyes uncovered.#yogenshah pic.twitter.com/L21xIxoidi — yogen shah (@yogenshahyogen) December 29, 2025 Amitabh Bachchan on Ikkis Big B, who recently attended a screening of the upcoming war biopic, took to his blog and penned a heartfelt note. He began his note by revisiting some precious memories from the time when Agastya was born to watching him on the big screen. Amitabh Bachchan wrote, "Emotions flow.. As do they tonight when you witness the grandson excel in IKKIS .. the time when his Mother, Shweta is being rushed to Breach Candy Hospital as she encounters final labour pains .. his birth .. holding him barely a few hours later, and discussing whether his eyes were blue .. to the time when he grew a bit and holding him in my arms, and he fiddles with my beard .. to his growth .. to the final personal decision of his to be an actor, and tonight to see him in frame, unable to take my eyes off each time he fills the frames of the film." Hailing Agastya's performance in the film, Big B described how he showcased an "unfiltered honesty" while portraying Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. "When he is in the frame you only watch him .. and this is not a grandfather speaking, this is a hardened viewer of cinema.. And the film flawless in its presentation.. its writing.. its Direction..And when it ends .. the eyes filled with tears of joy and pride.. unable to speak out.. In silence. The silence that belongs to me.. my understanding.. no other," he concluded.
30 December,2025 12:45 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe demise of veteran superstar Dharmendra is still being processed by the Deol family. They got back together at the viewing of Ikkis, his last movie, despite their pain. Sunny Deol was seen posing next to his father's poster at the event, clearly showing signs of sadness. Sunny Deol's emotional moment as he poses with his father's poster Sunny Deol stopped to pose with his father Dharmendra's poster for the photographers on Monday when he arrived for the Ikkis screening. Before the pictures were shot, the actor was spotted looking at the poster with fondness. His eyes seemed sad, indicating an emotional moment, even though he grinned for the cameras. Bobby Deol, his son Aryaman Deol, and his wife Tanya also showed up for the screening. Cousin Abhay Deol joined him, and the family took a group photo next to Dharmendra's poster. Salman Khan's appearance, where he was spotted admiring Dharmendra's poster before posing with it, was another highlight of the evening. In addition to the film's cast and crew, other celebrities that attended the screening were Tabu, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Rekha, Lulia Vantur, Manish Malhotra, Genelia, and Riteish Deshmukh. All about Dharmendra's last film Ikkis The 1971 India-Pakistan War's Battle of Basantar is the focal point of Sriram Raghavan's biographical war drama Ikkis, which is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal. Agastya Nanda, son of Shweta Bachchan and grandson of Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, makes his theatrical debut in the movie. Jaideep Ahlawat, Dharmendra, Sikander Kher, Vivaan Shah, and Simar Bhatia play significant parts in the film, which is produced by Dinesh Vijan and Binny Padda. Simar Bhatia, Akshay Kumar's niece, also makes her Bollywood debut in the movie. On January 1, Ikkis is set to open in theaters. All about Sunny Deol's upcoming film Border 2 In addition, Sunny Deol is waiting for his eagerly awaited movie Border 2 to be released. In addition to Varun Dhawan, Diljit Dosanjh, Sonam Bajwa, Ahan Shetty, Mona Singh, and Anya Singh, the film is directed by Anurag Singh. On January 23, 2026, it will be released in theaters.
30 December,2025 12:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Hrithik Roshan recently found himself revisiting pages he had underlined nearly 25 years ago, and this time, he shared that they hit differently. The actor said that what once felt like an interesting theory has now finally come together in his head, almost effortlessly. Taking to Instagram, Hrithik Roshan offered a glimpse into a quiet day at his Khandala home, sharing a set of pictures that captured moments of ease and togetherness with his sons, Hrehaan and Hridaan. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hrithik Roshan (@hrithikroshan) The images showed the actor immersed in Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, whose work on flow has shaped thinking across art, sport and performance, while his boys enjoyed time in the pool. Another frame featured Hrithik working out on the lawn, soaking in the calm of his surroundings. “Re- reading pages I underlined 25years ago. I think it's all finally coming together in my head now. What fun. Finding flow states. That's everything. Thank you Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi for this one FLOW,” Hrithik wrote as the caption, as he underlined how clarity often arrives not through urgency, but through time and lived experience. On the work front, Hrithik is now making his debut on the OTT space as a producer with Storm. Hrithik is joining hands with Prime Video for the thriller, which is set in Mumbai. Production is scheduled to begin imminently, reports Variety.com. Storm has been created and directed by Ajitpal Singh, the acclaimed filmmaker, who helmed the series Tabbar and the Sundance selection Fire in the Mountains, reports variety.com. In April 2025, it was announced that Hrithik is all set to make his directorial debut with Krrish 4 as he passed the baton of a franchise that he shaped and nurtured in the past 22 years. The film is being produced by Yash Raj Films in association with Rakesh Roshan. The Indian superstar Hrithik Roshan will be swinging between the two departments of direction and acting for the film as he essays the titular superhero in the franchise. The shooting for the film is set to begin early next year. 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
30 December,2025 12:18 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs 2025 is set to end in two days, actress Rasha Thadani looked back at the year as she made her debut with Azaad and said the song Birangay from the period drama is her “favourite”. The actress took to Instagram, where she shared a video compiling clips from the shoot of the song, which was sung by Amit Trivedi, Amitabh Bhattacharya, and Meenal Jain. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rasha Thadani (@rashathadani) The daughter of actress Raveena Tandon wrote as the caption: “BIRANGAY- the first song I ever shot, my favourite song. The most special time, with the most special people. In my heart forever.” Azaad is directed by Abhishek Kapoor. The film stars Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty alongside debutants Aaman Devgan and Rasha Thadani. The film was set in 1920s India, where a young stable boy bonds with a spirited horse. Amid rebellion and tyranny, his quest to ride the majestic animal becomes a journey of courage, awakening him to the country's fight for freedom. Rasha is set to showcase her acting prowess in Tollywood with her next film with filmmaker Ajay Bhupathi. The project has been tentatively titled AB4. The announcement, which was made on November 17, featured a poster showing Rasha in a black sleeveless top and blue denim. The actress was posing against a motorcycle as she looked straight into the camera with a penetrating gaze. Presented by Ashwin Dutt, AB4 has been backed by Gemini Kiran under the banner of Chandamama Kathalu Pictures. Spilling her excitement on her new cinematic journey, Rasha wrote on her Instagram: "New beginnings, endless gratitude! Mee andariki prema tho, I’m stepping into Telugu cinema. Thank you ajaybhupathi sir for this opportunity. Chala excited to start this journey! (Dizzy emoji) AB4 TeluguDebut Presented by AshwinDutt Produced by geminikiran_official , under the ckpicturesoffl banner. vyjayanthimovies swapnacinema anandiartcreations (sic)." Further details regarding the upcoming project have been kept under wraps for now. She is also gearing up for the release of the romantic entertainer Laikey Laikaa, where she will be sharing the screen with Abhay Verma. The project, which promises a mix of fun, romance, and adventure, is likely to be out in the cinema halls by 2026. However, the exact release date has not been unveiled till now. 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
30 December,2025 11:10 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs 2025 nears its end, actress Sonam Khan decided to take a trip down memory lane and relive some cherished memories from her son Rolly's first birthday, which she celebrated with her parents and her cousin sister, Uzma. A stylish Sonam was seen posing in a floral sleeveless top with white shorts as she held her son in her arms. In other pictures from the post, the little one can be seen posing with his grandparents and aunt. Dropping the last throwback of the year 2025, Sonam wrote on her Instagram handle, "Years change. Motherhood stays constant. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sonam Khan (@sonamkhan_72) Here Sharing images of me as a 21 year old mother with my son Rolly, on his first birthday, along with my parents & my cousin sister Uzma. Last throwback of 2025. (sic)" Sonam keeps on sharing such fond memories with the netizens through her posts. Recently, she shared a heartwarming behind-the-scenes story from the sets of her 1990 film Ajooba. Sonam revealed that Shashi Kapoor had come to her rescue during a chaotic dance shoot in the drama. He had asked the choreographer to give her easier steps for the song Main Matti Ka Gudda. Sonam also talked about the overwhelming experience of shooting the song in Jaipur, where more than 400 people would gather to watch the shoot. “This song meinmattikagudda from ajoobamovie was shot in Jaipur. Before we could say ‘Jack Robinson,’ a crowd of 400 plus people were watching us! There was no internet or social media then, so sighting actors were a rare occurrence. As a result, I literally had to be whisked away by police to my hotel after pack-up every day. It was overwhelming, surrounded by the crowds and police all over the place. As a result, I kept forgetting my steps because I was getting super distracted by nonstop cat calls, looking at the situation the great," Sonam recalled. She added, “shashikapoor sir stepped in. He told the choreographer to give me easier steps. When the choreographer asked, ‘Why is she an actress if she can’t dance?’ Shashi sir replied, ‘Take it easy, she is just a kid.’ That shut everyone up. I ran and hugged him immediately". 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
30 December,2025 10:56 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Bhumika Chawla took a moment to look back on a year filled with cherished memories as she shared glimpses from her Switzerland vacation on social media. The trip, which she enjoyed with her little one, also gave her the chance to reunite with close friends, making it even more special. On Monday, the actress took to her Instagram handle and posted a video of her where she is seen enjoying the vacation with her family. In the caption, she wrote, “Memories … as this year comes to an end … and another year passes by … leaving memories behind . Switzerland this year - end of May and June first week. A trip with my little one to meet my friend. aspicelady and family thank you for making it so special switzerland aesch grindelwald basel.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bhumika Chawla (@bhumika_chawla_t) The video captures Bhumika Chawla’s cherished moments with her husband, Bharat Thakur, and their son, Yash. The Tere Naam actress is seen exploring popular tourist destinations in Switzerland, soaking in the scenic beauty, and posing happily with her son. The heartwarming clip offered a glimpse into her memorable family getaway. On the professional front, Bhumika is gearing up for the release of her upcoming Telugu film Euphoria. The upcoming film, which is said to revolve around crimes against women, marks the reunion of Bhumika and director Gunasekhar after nearly two decades. Along with Bhumika, the project boasts a strong ensemble cast featuring Sara Arjun, Nassar, Rohith, Vignesh Gavireddy, Likhita Yalamanchali, Addala Prudhviraj, Kalpa Latha, Sai Srinika Reddy, Ashrita Vemuganti, Mathew Varghese, Aadarsh Balakrishna, Ravi Prakash, Naveena Reddy, and Likith Naidu, among others. In addition to this, Bhumika Chawla will also be seen sharing screen space with Arbaaz Khan in Kesar Singh, an inspiring and emotionally driven slice-of-life drama. Talking about the film, Chawla had earlier said, “This film came to me like a blessing. Kesar’s journey is emotional, inspiring, and beautifully human. Working with Arbaaz has been wonderful, and being part of such a meaningful story feels truly special. Cannot wait for the audiences to witness Kesar Singh’s journey on screen.” 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
30 December,2025 10:48 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSAs the New Year is just around the corner, people across the globe are busy making plans to welcome 2026. Some are planning trips, while others are getting ready to party with friends and family. However, actor Huma Qureshi appears to be taking a very different approach to welcoming the New Year this time. While speaking to ANI, the Gangs of Wasseypur actor shared that after a long and tiring year, she is not in the mood for celebrations or travel and only wants to rest and spend quiet time for herself. Talking about her New Year plans, Huma mentioned that she wants to "sleep", enjoy "me time," and stay away from parties at least for the first three days. Adding how busy the year has been for her and how she wants to spend the first few days of the New Year, Huma said she just wants to "relax" without any pressure. "I want to sleep for three days on New Year's because I've had such a busy year. I'm also going to be working on a film. So I just want three days to relax and not do anything. I'm not really a holiday person, a resolution person, or a party person. I just want to get some 'me time.' I just want to relax," Huma told ANI. On the work front, Huma Qureshi will be seen next in the upcoming film Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups. The action-thriller stars Yash in the lead role, with Huma playing a character named Elizabeth. The film is written by Yash and Geetu Mohandas. It is produced by Venkat K. Narayana and Yash under KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations. The technical team includes Rajeev Ravi as cinematographer, Ravi Basrur as music composer, and Ujwal Kulkarni as editor. Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups is scheduled to release in theatres on March 19, 2026, during the festive weekend of Eid, Ugadi, and Gudi Padwa. 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
30 December,2025 10:35 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIAs Anshula Kapoor turned a year older on Monday, her actor brother Arjun Kapoor penned a heartfelt wish for his kid sister on social media. He expressed his gratitude to Anshula for being with him through every phase of his life and also for having his back through it all. Uploading a video compilation of some memories of the sibling duo, from their childhood to the present, the 2 States actor penned on his IG, "Happy birthday to the person who’s been through my thick and thin (quite literally). Thank you for having my back, always anshulakapoor (red heart emoji) Here’s to another trip around the sun with my partner in crime forever! (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Arjun Kapoor (@arjunkapoor) Anshula reacted to the post with a, "Love you to infinity (hugs emojis) always and forever (evil eye emoji)". Actress Khushi Kapoor also penned a lovely birthday wish for the 'best human'. Taking to the Stories section of her Insta, Khushi dropped a picture of herself lovingly hugging Anshula in what seemed to be a party. Picture Courtesy/Khushi Kapoor's Instagram account "Happy birthday to the best human anshulaKapoor," Khushi wished Anshula on her special day. For the unversed, Arjun and Anshula are producer Boney Kapoor's kids from his first wife, Mona Shourie, whereas Janhvi and Khushi are his daughters from his second marriage to the late actress Sridevi. Anshula is set to tie the knot with Rohan Thakkar soon. After the recently held Gol Dhana ceremony, an emotional Arjun penned a nostalgic note, admitting that "I miss Mom even more now". The Ishaqzaade actor wrote on social media, "I guess it’s time I start accepting that you’ll be leaving me and going your own way soon… it’s gonna break me a little, but I also know you’re going to be with someone who can make you smile…even if not quite as much as me…but he’ll still do a great job!". "I miss Mom even more now… but I know she’s watching over you, helping you find Rohan, and guiding you with her divine touch. Trust in her watchful eye and be happy," added Arjun. 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
30 December,2025 10:27 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSNew year, new beginning Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan are reuniting six years after their collaboration on Mission Mangal (2019), and this time, they’re ready to tickle some funny bones. The duo will headline a comedy directed by Anees Bazmee. Inspired by the Telugu hit Sankranthiki Vasthunam, the film is expected to roll on January 19, 2026, with Mumbai likely being the first shooting location. The original, released earlier this year during Sankranti, starred Venkatesh, Aishwarya Rajesh and Meenakshi Chaudhary, and turned into a massive crowd-puller thanks to its humour and wholesome family appeal. With Akshay’s comic timing and Vidya’s infectious charm — this reunion already feels like cinematic comfort food. Big reveal Prabhas and Triptii Dimri The first look of Spirit is set to drop on January 1, 2026, and the announcement alone has fans buzzing. Directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, the film marks his first collaboration with Prabhas — and expectations are sky-high. Prabhas reportedly plays a stark, stripped-down character, rumoured to be a police officer grappling with his moral grey zones. Meanwhile, Triptii Dimri continues her dream run as she reunites with Vanga after Animal (2023). Backed by T-Series and Bhadrakali Pictures, Spirit has remained tightly under wraps so far. But with the New Year reveal around the corner, fans are ready to dissect every frame.
30 December,2025 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamWith Chiranjeevi Hanuman — The Eternal hurtling towards a theatrical release next year, director Rajesh Mapuskar is navigating both deadlines and debate. The AI-powered film has drawn sharp criticism from filmmakers Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane, but Mapuskar insists the conversation around artificial intelligence in cinema needs nuance — not fear. “There’s pressure of releasing the film next year, and resistance towards AI from the fraternity,” Mapuskar admits. “But there’s also excitement of using a new medium to tell a story.” Rishab Shetty in ‘Jai Hanuman’ He is quick to clarify that his film was never envisioned as a tech experiment. “It’s not because of the tech that we are doing this. I come from a school of filmmaking where I think about human emotion first,” he says. Inspired by Valmiki’s Ramayana, the film reimagines Lord Hanuman as a self-doubting figure discovering his strength. “My Hanumanji is not somebody who will fly from the word go. He will be reminded of his powers.” Responding to Kashyap and Motwane’s concerns that AI could threaten artistes’ livelihoods, Mapuskar disagrees. Rajesh Mapsukar “I don’t think actors will get replaced by AI. It’s my personal opinion,” he says, pointing out that cinema thrives on lived human connection. “I want to know my actor — where he or she lives, the language they speak. That connection is beyond the film.” He adds that AI is simply another tool in the filmmaking process. “Like animation, there’s one more thing that has come. I feel this resistance within the industry is slightly ahead of its time.” “I have a director of photography, production designer, costume designer — everyone on board. It’s the execution part where I’m using AI.” For Mapuskar, the approach is pragmatic: “Either AI eats you up, or you make it your buddy and move ahead.”
30 December,2025 08:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAs Palkon Pe continues its shoot in Bhopal, one character emerges as the emotional fulcrum of the story — a father torn between conditioning, family, and the law. Rahul Mittra, who essays the role, calls it the most challenging part of his career so far. The movie, written and directed by filmmaker Niddhish Puuzhakkal, of The Undertaker fame, is known for bringing a psychologist’s insight to visual storytelling in his projects. Palkon Pe is a social commentary on divorce, gender equality, sexuality, and mental health. Mittra says the makers were clear about the film’s relevance. “Producers Rahul Gandhi and Saleem Javed thought it is a relevant film to release in today’s times. It is a beautiful story centred around Shweta [Tripathi Sharma]. It’s not a thriller but a social commentary and courtroom drama, as divorce is intrinsic to it,” he says. Explaining why he signed on immediately, Mittra adds, “I am choosy about my roles. This is a primary character and the biggest role of my life so far.” Playing a father shaped by patriarchal values, Mittra says the role carries deep internal conflict and a “beautiful arc”, making it a challenging character to portray.
30 December,2025 07:47 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRADVERTISEMENT
