Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has announced the final wrap of his upcoming movie 'Bhooth Bangla'. It is directed by Priyadarshan. Priyadarshan's Bhooth Bangla is one of the most awaited horror comedies of Indian cinema. The film marks the reunion of Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar for a movie on the big screens after 15 years. Akshay shared a behind-the-scenes video from the sets featuring the actor and actress Wamiqa Gabbi to announce the final wrap of the movie. The 'Housefull' actor took to his Instagram handle to share a video with a waterfall in the background. Akshay is seen dancing to the song while dressed in joggers and a green shirt. While sharing the video, the actor wrote, "And that's a wrap on #BhoothBangla! My seventh madcap adventure with the ever-inventive Priyan sir, my second outing with the unstoppable Ekta, and my first but hopefully not the last, magical journey with the ever-surprising Wamiqa. Grateful for the madness, the magic, and the memories." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Apart from Akshay Kumar, thefilm also stars Tabu, Paresh Rawal, Rajpal Yadav, Jisshu Sengupta, Asrani, and Wamiqa Gabbi. As per the press note by the makers, the film has been shot in Rajasthan, Jaipur and Hyderabad. Bhooth Bangla is produced by Shobha Kapoor and Ektaa R Kapoor's Balaji Telefilms and Akshay Kumar's production house, Cape of Good Films. The film is co-produced by Faara Sheikh and Vedant Baali. The story is written by Akash A Kaushik and the screenplay is by Rohan Shankar, Abilash Nair and Priyadarshan. The dialogues are by Rohan Shankar. Bhooth Bangla is slated for its theatrical release on 2nd April 2026. 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
18 May,2025 10:40 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIActress Avneet Kaur received a lovely compliment from gentleman Tom Cruise as she attended the premiere of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" in London. In a video dropped by Avneet on her IG, she was seen asking the Hollywood heartthrob, "How are you? Cruise said, "Great! Very nice to see you." Admiring the actress's look, he added, "So elegant, so elegant." Avneet also congratulated Cruise on the premiere of "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning". "Congratulations on the amazing premiere, well deserved," she said. Cruise replied to this with a "Thank you... thank you". View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avneet Kaur (@avneetkaur_13) Previously, Cruise agreed to take Avneet if he makes a Bollywood kind of film. Avneet dropped a video on social media in which Cruise is seen talking about his love for India, and Bollywood. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Avneet Kaur (@avneetkaur_13) He was heard saying, “I love Bollywood films, you know, when you're seeing the skill that it takes to do what you all do, that you naturally do. I love that you're in this drama or comedy and suddenly it breaks out in song. I love it.” “It's something that, you know, I grew up with and I love musicals, I love dramas. Your culture in that way is something that I would like to be able to do. It's on my list of kinds of films to make,” Cruise said. “And I would love to be a part of it,” Avneet responded. Giving a nod, Cruise said, “Yeah, good. Yeah, it's good. That would be awesome. That would be amazing.” Furthermore, Avneet shared a post of her and Cruise greeting one another with a graceful Namaste. “Namaste mere aur Mr Cruise ki taraf se poore India ko. Great to see you again @tomcruise @missionimpossible," she penned the caption. ‘Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning’ was released in cinema halls on May 17, releasing first in India. 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
18 May,2025 10:33 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSDirector Subhash Ghai revealed that Sanjay Dutt was supposed to be a part of his 1995 film, "Trimurti". However, later he had to opt out of the drama as he got into trouble with the law. Dutt's arrest led to Anil Kapoor’s gain as he replaced him in the movie. Ghai revealed that they had even shot the first schedule with Dutt before he got arrested. The 'Taal' maker dropped a throwback picture of himself posing with Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan, and Jackie Shroff. "HOW FATE TURNS IN THIS SHOWBOZ ...The most expensive film From MUKTA ARTS was TRIMURTI (1993) directed by Mukul Anand started with SANJAY DUTT n shot its first schedule with him but film was ended with ANIL KAPOOR as sanjay dutt got into a worst grip of law immediately after KHALNAYAK release - a craze all over world," Ghai wrote. He further added "Now sanjoo is back into stardom on big screen unstoppable...Our blessings are always with him with love." For the unversed, Dutt was arrested for illegal possession of arms and ammunition like 9mm pistol and an AK-56 assault rifle used in the 1993 Bombay Terror Attacks. After years of being in and out of the jail, Dutt was finally released from Pune’s Yerawada Jail on August 26, 2015 after completing his prison term for his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. Helmed by Mukul Anand and written by Karan Razdan, the project saw Jackie Shroff, Anil Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Anjali Jathar, and Priya Tendulkar in pivotal roles. It was Anand's last completed film as he passed away while shooting "Dus" in 1997. "Trimurti" was released in the cinema halls on 22 December 1995, and took the box office by storm, becoming the first film to record a ₹1 crore opening day." 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
18 May,2025 10:23 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress Rasha Thadani performed for the first time at an award function after the release of her debut film Azaad earlier this year. The actress was praised for her screen presence and natural charm. She is also the daughter of Raveena Tandon, who shone brightly with her performances in the 1990s and 2000s. Rasha Thadani performs to Tip Tip Barsa Paani At the recent award ceremony, Rasha performed to the iconic track Tip Tip Barsa Paani from the 1994 film Mohra. The song was a massive hit and continues to be a favorite among Bollywood fans. Dressed in a yellow saree, Rasha set the stage on fire with her swift and graceful moves. She had already showcased her dancing talent in her debut film, particularly in the song Uyi Amma. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Manav Manglani (@manav.manglani) Netizens react to Rasha's performance Netizens were thoroughly impressed with Rasha’s dance skills and expressive performance, as seen in the now-viral video from the award ceremony. "Apni Maa ko ditto copy yeh Ladki aage lafi dhamal karegi next super star hogi InshaAllah," mentioned a comment. Another comment read, "She is very promising". "A year back, bollywood's future was at risk. seeing this girl with the talent, energy and confidence she carries herself with, that too so early in her career, with god knows how many films are going to line up her way. people might find this bs if this is her after just one film, imagine her when she gets more. she proves that there is no risk, and that, she IS the FUTURE OF BOLLYWOOD. mark my words," mentioned a fan in another comment. Another user wrote, "So good. She reminds me of all 90s actresses I grew up watching... expressive, beautiful dancers and original." Rasha Thadani on nepotism Raveena Tandon and distributor Anil Thadani's daughter Rasha had a good start in the industry and knows she has big shoes to fill. “I take a lot of pride in the work mom has done,” she told Mid-day earlier this year. At the same time, Rasha will be scrutinised intensely amid the ongoing nepotism discourse. “The audience is king. No matter where you come from, if you don’t perform, you are out. There is no saving you from that. The biggest stars right now, whether it’s Ranbir Kapoor or Alia Bhatt, are talented.”
18 May,2025 06:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn a bold move reflecting growing geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has declared a complete boycott of Indian film shoots in Turkey and Azerbaijan. The directive, which applies to all members of the Indian film industry, aims to halt all professional collaboration with these countries. This comes after the two countries expressed support to Pakistan amid tension with India. 'Turkey was hot location for Indian films' Speaking exclusively to Mid-day, FWICE Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit elaborated on the impact of the decision, especially on Turkey, which had become a hotspot for Indian film shoots. “We have issued clear instructions to the entire industry — producers, associations, everyone — that no shooting will take place in Turkey or Azerbaijan,” said Pandit. “No technicians will go, no directors will go, no actors can go. We will also ask producers to formally notify their peers not to engage with these locations.” According to Pandit, Turkey was once considered a second home for Bollywood productions. “It was a very hot location. Just like people regularly shoot in Kashmir, Turkey and Azerbaijan had become regular destinations. Major films were shot there. The locations were dramatic, fresh, and visually stunning — and not overused like others.” Ashoke Pandit 'Will result in loss for Turkey' He emphasized that Indian film crews brought substantial financial benefits to Turkey. “A major chunk of our film budgets would go to shooting in Turkey. The support from their government was strong, facilities were excellent, and it suited everyone. For filmmakers, it was almost like shooting in Mumbai, in terms of convenience.” “Turkey will now suffer a major loss,” Pandit added. “They didn’t offer subsidies, but they earned heavily through our presence. We promoted their tourism, both financially and through global exposure. Because of us, more Indian tourists discovered Turkey.” He also praised Turkey’s streamlined processes for international shoots. “It was a very industry-friendly country — one-window permissions, good government support, great infrastructure. But now that access is closed.” With this boycott in effect, the Indian film industry is expected to turn its focus to alternate international locations, while also exploring domestic scenic spots to fill the void left by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
18 May,2025 05:23 PM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarOn Friday, it was reported that actor Paresh Rawal who essayed the memorable role of Baburao Ganpatrao Apte has walked out of Hera Pheri 3. The actor also confirmed the latest development. Now, the actor took to social media to address rumours surrounding the reason for his departure from the eagerly awaited comedy sequel directed by Priyadarshan. Paresh Rawal on exiting from Hera Pheri 3 Speculation had been rife that Rawal’s exit was due to creative disagreements with the film’s director, Priyadarshan. However, the actor was quick to dispel these rumours, putting the record straight. In a message on X, Paresh posted, “I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I reiterate that there are no creative disagreements with the filmmaker. I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director.” I wish to put it on record that my decision to step away from Hera Pheri 3 was not due to creative differences. I REITERATE THAT THERE ARE NO CREATIVE DISAGREEMENT WITH THE FILM MAKER . I hold immense love, respect, and faith in Mr. Priyadarshan the film director. — Paresh Rawal (@SirPareshRawal) May 18, 2025 While Paresh Rawal did not specify the exact reasons behind his decision to leave the film, industry insiders suggest it could be due to scheduling conflicts or other professional commitments. About Hera Pheri 3 'Hera Pheri 3' is the third installment in the popular 'Hera Pheri' franchise. Paresh Rawal portrayed the unforgettable Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the Hera Pheri series, a character that became hugely popular. Meanwhile, the film is set to be directed by Priyadarshan who is currently shooting his film Bhoot Bangla that also stars Paresh and Akshay Kumar. The team has already filmed the muhurat shot of the film with the OG cast, which is Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal. About Hera Pheri franchise The original film, released in 2000 and directed by Priyadarshan, featured a stellar cast including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, and Paresh Rawal. The plot centers around three struggling men who accidentally become involved in a kidnapping scheme. The follow-up film, ‘Phir Hera Pheri,’ was released in 2006 and was directed by Neeraj Vora. The third installment will star Akshay Kumar and Suniel Shetty reprising their roles. Meanwhile, Paresh Rawal is set to collaborate once again with director Priyadarshan in the upcoming film “Bhooth Bangla.” This horror-comedy will mark his reunion with Akshay Kumar, alongside co-star Tabu. The movie is slated for a theatrical release in 2026. Additionally, Paresh has another project titled “Welcome to the Jungle” in the works. (with inputs from IANS)
18 May,2025 02:09 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAnupam Kher's directorial 'Tanvi The Great' is all set for its grand premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and the team is already turning heads. Ahead of their red carpet appearance at the prestigious film festival, veteran actor Anupam Kher shared a dapper video on his Instagram account with co-stars Boman Irani, Karan Tacker, Pallavi Joshi, and Shubhangi Dutt. In the slow-motion video, the actors are seen walking together, all suited and booted, looking ready for the big day. Along with the video, Kher added a caption that read, "We MISS the rest of the gang of #TanviTheGreat at #CannesFilmFestival! But we also know you are WITH us! We will see them soon on screen at the #WorldPremiere Jai Ho!" Take a look: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anupam Kher (@anupampkher) Jackie Shroff and Arvind Swami play crucial roles, and Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen is also featuring in the film.Tanvi The Great features sound design by Resul Pookutty, the Academy Award-winning sound designer known for Slumdog Millionaire.It is produced by Anupam Kher Studios in collaboration with NFDC. The release date for Tanvi The Great has yet to be announced. Apart from 'Tanvi The Great', another Indian film, 'Homebound', which stars actors Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa, and Janhvi Kapoor, will also premiere at Cannes on May 21. The film is produced by Karan Johar, Adar Poonawalla, Apoorva Mehta, and Somen Mishra, with co-producers Marijke de Souza and Melita Toscan Du Plantier. 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
18 May,2025 09:09 AM IST | Mumbai | ANINew mom Athiya Shetty seems to be soaking in the joys of motherhood as she gave fans a glimpse of her "life lately." The actor, who welcomed her first child with cricketer KL Rahul in March this year, shared a warm glimpse into this new chapter of her life through a series of photos on Instagram. In the first picture, Athiya shared an adorable selfie of herself. Another picture included a black-and-white shot of her baby's tiny feet with KL Rahul's hands gently placed on them. A third picture showed two cute little combs with their daughter's name, Evaarah, beautifully engraved on them. Another was a video featuring a one-month birthday cake, marking an early celebration for the newest member of their family. Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Athiya Shetty (@athiyashetty) The couple, in April, had revealed the name of their daughter along with a picture of themselves with the little one. "Our baby girl, our everything. Evaarah/Ivaaraa \~ Gift of God," read the caption of their post. The couple welcomed their baby girl in March this year. They had announced their pregnancy in November last year with a sweet message that said, "Our beautiful blessing is coming soon. 2025," accompanied by baby feet emojis. 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
18 May,2025 09:02 AM IST | Mumbai | ANILegendary actor Dharmendra's Instagram feed is flooded with priceless images from yesteryear cinema. On Saturday, he once again treated fans to a vintage picture from past. Dharmendra shared a beautiful snap in which he could be seen receiving autograph from late actor Ashok Kumar, who was fondly called 'Dada Moni' by his loved ones. We can also spot late filmmaker Asit Sen and comedian Mohan Choti in the image. "Friends, an autograph from Dada Muni on hundred rupees note . lovely memories. Director Asht sen and Mohan choti are watching thirdly," Dharmendra captioned the post. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dharmendra Deol (@aapkadharam) In no time, netizens chimed in the comment section and flooded comment section with heartfelt reactions. Dharmendra's son and actor Bobby Deol dropped a string of heart emojis. "Golden era," a fan commented. Meanwhile, on the work front, Dharmendra was last seen in the movie 'Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya', alongside Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon. Looking ahead, the actor has a number of exciting projects lined up. Dharmendra will next star in the war drama 'Ikkis', which is based on the life of Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, who was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra for his bravery.The film will see Dharmendra share the screen with Agastya Nanda, the grandson of megastar Amitabh Bachchan. 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
18 May,2025 08:56 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIDays after his emotional breakdown video went viral, actor Babil on Saturday evening shared an update about his collaboration with Telugu director Sai Rajesh. In an Instagram post, he hinted at his exit from Sai Rajesh's directorial. Without dilvulging much information, Babil simply wrote, "With a lot of grit, passion, and mutual respect, Sai Rajesh sir and I both got along on this journey of creating magic together. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, things didn't go ahead as everyone had planned." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sai Rajesh (@sairazesh) He also shared that he will be taking some time off from work. Wishing best to Sai Rajesh and his team, Babil added, "I know there is immense love between us, and we will meet soon in the future and create magic together." Sai Rajesh, too, posted an update regarding the project on Instagram. However, it's not clear whether Babil has actually parted ways with Sai Rajesh professionally or he has just taken a break. In a heartfelt note, Sai Rajesh conveyed his admiration for the young actor's talent. He wrote, "Babil is one of the most talented and hardworking actors I have met in my life. However, I have to accept this unfortunate reality of the situation. After spending time with Babil while prepping, I was very happy to be working with such a talented actor... I will still always cherish the experience of seeing him perform in front of me... I will miss my Hero! "I respect his decision of self-care first, and wish him all the best and send him all the love in the future! I know we both will create that magic together for sure Sai Rajesh." When ANI reached out to the director to get some clarity on the matter, he responed, "We both wanted to work together...he wanted to take a break." For those unaware, recently, Babil posted and then deleted videos on Instagram where he appeared emotional and voiced concerns about the Bollywood industry and some of its stars. Later, the actor clarified the context of his videos, stating that his comments were misinterpreted. After Babil's video went viral, Sai Rajesh reportedly called out the actor's team. In note that he eventually deleted, he wrote, "To Babil Khan's team. Do you really think we're that naive to just walk away silently? What kind of attitude are we being subjected to? It feels like only those whose names were mentioned in his video deserve respect -- and the rest of us are just fools for standing by him all this while." Sai Rajesh's comment did not go down well with Babil. Babil in one of the comment sections said that he endured personal suffering for his role in Sai Rajesh's film. He commented, "Not to mention, the pain and the suffering I put in my soul, lived in filth just to make sure sir @sairazesh is happy with the character. It's okay now. I'll let my work speak. Goodbye. Man, I had bugs in my beard because he needed that in the character. I gave him my laughter while I held back my tears. I slit my f****** wrist for him." 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
18 May,2025 08:52 AM IST | Mumbai | ANIBhai to play Jawan Salman Khan has locked in his next biggie with director Apoorva Lakhia (Bhai at the Border, May 2). Word on the street is that the film is an army-laced action thriller, inspired by the novel India’s Most Fearless 3, and set against the high-stakes backdrop of the 2020 Galwan Valley Conflict. This marks Salman’s first full-blown avatar as an army officer — uniform, grit, and all. Cameras are set to roll in July, with a packed 70-day shoot schedule spanning the rugged terrains of Ladakh and the hustle of Mumbai. Once that wraps, there’s chatter that Salman may reunite with Kabir Khan for an original drama — rumoured to be the much-hyped second instalment of Bajrangi Bhaijaan. But as always in Bollywood, nothing is official until it’s official. Diljit exits No Entry? Not quite Diljit Dosanjh and Boney Kapoor After weeks of musical chairs and murmurs, the “Will he, won’t he?” saga around Diljit Dosanjh’s role in the No Entry sequel finally has a beat. Producer Boney Kapoor has quashed the buzz that Diljit has exited the project. The whispers pointed to “creative differences”, but Boney’s set the record straight: it’s all about “scheduling conflicts”. Titled No Entry Mein Entry, the film also stars Varun Dhawan and Arjun Kapoor, and was slated to kick off in early 2026. The holdup? Diljit’s got a concert tour lined up from August through December. Will he stay or will he go? We’ll know more come June.
18 May,2025 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamADVERTISEMENT
