Bollywood hunk Akshay Kumar recalled his mother-in-law Dimple Kapadia's helpful warning for him as he was getting married to Twinkle Khanna. In his latest social media post, Akshay revealed that back in 2001, when he and Twinkle were getting married, Dimple told Akshay to be ready to laugh at the most weird situations, as it is something Twinkle does not shy away from doing. Now, after 25 years of being married to the Jodi No 1 actress, Akshay can say with some certainty that his mother-in-law does not lie. Claiming that Twinkle is someone who prefers to dance through life, Akshay penned on his official Instagram handle, "When we got married this day in 2001, her mother had said “Beta, get ready to burst out laughing in the most weird situations because she’ll do exactly that.” 25 years and I know ki meri mother-in-law kabhi jhooth nahi bolti hai…her daughter refuses to even walk straight… she prefers to dance through life instead (sic)." "From day one to year twenty five, cheers to my lady who keeps me laughing, guessing and slightly anxious at times! Happy anniversary to us, Tina. 25 years of madness that we both love", the Airlift actor added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) Proving his point, Akshay also published a video of Twinkle running in slow motion with goofy expressions on her face. He also added the track, Ramba Ho-Ho-Ho Samba Ho-Ho-Ho by Usha Uthup in the backdrop. Akshay and Twinkle were reportedly introduced to each other at a common friend's party. Later, during the shooting of their film, International Khiladi, the two fell for one another. After being in a relationship for some time, Akshay and Twinkle got married on January 17, 2001. Their wedding was an intimate affair attended by close friends and family. The couple is now parents to two kids - son Aarav and daughter Nitara. 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
17 January,2026 04:38 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSThe latest Hindi comedy film Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos from Aamir Khan Productions was among the most anticipated films of 2026. Touted as a quirky spy comedy, the film stars Vir Das, Mona Singh, and Mithila Palkar in the lead roles and also marks Vir Das’ debut as a director. After months of buzz around its trailer and songs, the film finally hit theatres yesterday to a largely positive response. Happy Patel box office The box office numbers back that excitement, with the film opening to a solid Rs 1.25 crore nett on day 1. Reviews have been pouring in, calling it a fun, crowd-pleasing entertainer. The film showed a strong upward trend through the day, with word of mouth picking up steadily and evening and night shows seeing good momentum. With the weekend ahead, Happy Patel: Khatarnak Jasoos is expected to grow further at the box office. How Aamir Khan came on board Happy Patel Vir Das recently opened up about how he managed to convince Aamir Khan to produce Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos. He revealed details about his meeting with Aamir Khan for his upcoming directorial debut film. He shared how a superstar backs a project when he truly believes in it. Recalling the moment, Vir revealed that Aamir had been placed on such a high pedestal that approaching him felt slightly daunting. Vir said, “He is on such a high pedestal that you don’t really communicate much with him. I hadn’t spoken to Aamir sir for almost 10 years. Then I messaged him saying, ‘Aamir sir, can I call you?’ He replied, ‘Yes, call now.’ And when he picked up, it felt like we speak every week.” Vir went on to reveal how candidly he pitched his film to Aamir Khan, “So I told him, ‘Sir, I have a film with me and I want you to make it. If you don’t make it, no one else will.’ He said, ‘Okay, come next week and give me the narration.’ I have never seen a superstar who is so accessible and gives you a meeting so quickly. I gave him the narration, and after that, there were nine more narrations. His main concern is always the script. After nine narrations, he said, ‘Take some money and shoot five scenes.’ I did the test shoot, and then he said, ‘Go on floors.” Produced under the banner of Aamir Khan Productions, Happy Patel is directed by Vir Das and released in theatres on 16th January 2026.
17 January,2026 04:28 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe makers of the fourth installment of Dhamaal on Saturday announced that the upcoming film is all set to hit the silver screen on June 12 later this year. The film was initially slated to hit the theatres on 19 March; however, it has now been postponed to 12 June and will no longer clash with Dhurandhar 2. The official Instagram handle of T-Series Films shared a picture imitating a newspaper, with the headline stating: “Dhamaal 4 In Cinemas 12th June 2026. Ab Dhamaal bola hai toh karna hi padega. Stay Tuned.” The caption of the post read: “Jaldi bata rahein hain, phir Dhamaal machane bhi toh jaana hai. Stay Tuned!” View this post on Instagram A post shared by tseriesfilms (@tseriesfilms) The film was initially set to release on 19 March 2026, coinciding with the festival of Eid. Previously, Ajay Devgn, who stars in the film along with Riteish Deshmukh and Arshad Warsi, had the update with on social media a fun caption: "Aaj ki taaza khabar, brought to you by the gang, jo ab jald hi lootne aa rahe hain aapka dil...aur dimaag! Dhamaal4 arrives in cinemas on Eid 2026." Although no official reason has been revealed yet, it is being speculated that the makers want to avoid a box-office clash with Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2, which is releasing on the same day. Dhurandhar 1 has cemented its place in Bollywood history by becoming the highest-grossing Hindi film domestically, and earning a spot among the top-5 highest-grossing Indian movies internationally. The film also features an ensemble cast comprising Sanjay Mishra and Jaaved Jaaferi, joined by Esha Gupta, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Anjali Anand, Upendra Limaye, Vijay Patkar and Ravi Kishan. Together, the cast promises a laugh riot like never before. Gulshan Kumar and T-Series present, in association with Devgn Films, a T-Series Films, Maruti International, Panorama Studios production. Dhamaal 4 is directed by Indra Kumar and produced by Ajay Devgn, Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Ashok Thakeria, Indra Kumar, Anand Pandit, and Kumar Mangat Pathak. The film is all set to bring laughter to theatres from June 12, 2026. The first installment, titled Dhamaal, was released in 2007. The film stars Sanjay Dutt, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi, Aashish Chaudhary, Javed Jaffrey, Asrani, Sanjay Mishra, Murli Sharma, Vijay Raaz, Manoj Pahwa, Tiku Talsania and Prem Chopra. Inspired by Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), it is the first installment of the Dhamaal film series. In 2011, the film spawned a sequel titled Double Dhamaal. A third reboot sequel, under the name Total Dhamaal, was released in 2019. The storyline of Total Dhamaal is loosely based on the 2015 film Vacation, with some scenes borrowed from the 2014 film Blended. 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
17 January,2026 04:09 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSOscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman has elicited different responses after he spoke about his recent experiences in the Hindi film industry. He said that work for him has slaowed down in the past eight years, attributing it to changing power dynamics over the past few years and hinting at a possible “communal thing”. However, veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar has firmly ruled out any such angle. Javed Akhtar on Rahman's communal bias comment Sharing his perspective, Akhtar said he has never experienced this sentiment in Mumbai and stressed that Rahman continues to command immense respect across the industry. “I have never felt this way. I meet people here in Mumbai. They have great respect for him,” Akhtar told IANS. He added that many may assume the composer is largely unavailable due to his packed international schedule and large-scale shows, which demand significant time and commitment. “People may think that he has become very busy in the West. They may think that his shows are very big. He spends a lot of time in those shows. So, he may not be available for us.” Akhtar also pointed out that Rahman’s stature is so towering that even small producers often hesitate to approach him. He said, “Rahman is such a big man. Even a small producer is afraid to go to him.” Dismissing the idea of any communal element, Akhtar said that Rahman remains approachable and assured that if reached out to, the composer would certainly respond. “But I don't think there is any communal element in this. Why don't you see him? He will definitely come,” he said. What did AR Rahman say? The music composer AR Rahman in an interview to BBC Asian Network, had said the reasons often reach him indirectly and tagged it as “Chinese whispers". He went on to say in the interview: "People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face.” “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."
17 January,2026 04:00 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRasha Thadani is feeling nostalgic as her film Azaad has completed one year since its release. Marking the milestone, the actress shared a heartfelt note reflecting on the memories, friendships, and experiences she gained during the film's journey. Rasha took to Instagram to share a series of behind-the-scenes pictures from the sets of Azaad, where she is seen dressed as her character, Janaki. “1 year of Azaad heart so full, memories can never forget, friends made for life pragyakapoor mohitmalik1113. Through the magic and the madness, partner in crime aamandevgan (sic),” she wrote as the caption. The actress added: “Forever grateful for everything and more gattukapoor, you are the coolest person we all know. Thankyou all for the support and kindness. Love, Janaki (sic).” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rasha Thadani (@rashathadani) Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, the period drama stars Ajay Devgn and Diana Penty alongside debutants Aaman Devgan and Rasha. The film is set in 1920s India, where a young stable boy forms a bond 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. She will next be seen in the Bollywood romantic drama Laikey Laikaa. The film also stars Abhay Verma of Munjya fame. The poster of the film was unveiled on the occasion of Makar Sankranti with the tagline "Love. Pain. Trust." Talking about Abhay, he will also be seen in Siddharth Anand's highly anticipated King starring Shah Rukh Khan, Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Jaideep Ahlawat and Anil Kapoor. The 26-year-old actor first gained recognition for his supporting role on the second season of the thriller series The Family Man and had his first lead role in the independent film Safed. He had his breakthrough with the comedy horror film Munjya in 2024. 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
17 January,2026 01:44 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActor Chunky Panday has completed another year of marital bliss with his better half Bhavana Pandey on Saturday. Commemorating the special day, Chunky penned a lovely anniversary wish for Bhavana on social media, claiming "Love you forever". The Housefull actor took to his official Instagram handle and uploaded a string of unseen photos of Chunky and Bhavana, along with the caption, "Happy Happy Anniversary bhavanapandey (red heart emoji) Love You Forever and ever again (Kiss emoji) (sic)." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chunky Panday (@chunkypanday) Talking about their love story, Chunky and Bhavana first met in a nightclub in Delhi back in 1996. Bhavana, who was studying for her final exams at the time, was introduced to Chunky by a friend, and the two connected immediately. After going through the hardships of a long-distance relationship, the lovebirds finally tied the knot in January 1998. They are blessed with two daughters, Ananya Panday, who is an actress, and Rysa. Work-wise, Chunky's latest outing, Rahu Ketu, co-starring Pulkit Samrat and Varun Sharma, finally reached the cinema halls on Friday. Chunky, who is seen as Mordecai in the film, treated the netizens with a couple of pictures of his character on social media, piquing the interest of movie buffs. The De Dana Dan actor took to his official Instagram account and shared some snaps flaunting his long white hair and a beard, shelling out some intense vibes. The carousel included a close-up shot of Chunky, along with pictures of the actor with co-stars Pulkit and Varun. The actor was also seen posing in front of the stunning backdrops, greenery, and cloudy mountains in the post captioned, "Israeli Dhurandhar. Had the best time playing Mordecaei while filming RahuKetu. I am sure you will enjoy the movie. Releasing today worldwide." Directed by Vipul Vig and backed by Zee Studios, Rahu Ketu also stars Shalini Pandey, Piyush Mishra, Amit Sial, and Manurishi Chaddha in key roles, along with others.
17 January,2026 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSRani Mukerji recently clocked 30 years in the Indian film industry. She celebrated the milestone by unveiling the trailer and preponing the release of Mardaani 3. While the trailer has enticed everyone, the details about CBFC certification are now out. Mardaani 3 is touted to be the longest film in the franchise with a runtime of over 2 hours. About Mardaani 3 CBFC The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has passed Mardaani 3 with a U/A 16+ certificate. A source told Bollywood Hungama, “The film’s approved runtime is 2 hours, 10 minutes, and 36 seconds. The first half is a bit longer at 1 hour, 6 minutes, and 30 seconds. The length of the second half, meanwhile, is 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 6 seconds.” This makes Mardaani 3 the longest film of the series and the first one to have a runtime of more than 2 hours. Mardaani, which was released in 2014, was 113 minutes long. Mardaani 2 (2019) had a length of 103 minutes and was the shortest film of the franchise. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yash Raj Films (@yrf) More about Mardaani 3 In its third installment, Mardaani 3 sees Rani Mukerji reprise her iconic role as the fearless and uncompromising cop Shivani Shivaji Roy, who is in a race against time to rescue scores of unaccounted-for missing girls in India. This time, Shivani will take on a merciless, evil, and powerful woman as the antagonist in a violent and brutal fight for justice for innocent lives. The role is being played by the supremely acclaimed actor Mallika Prasad. Janaki Bodiwala of Shaitaan fame also enters the Mardaani franchise in a pivotal role. Calling the role emotionally challenging, the actress told mid-day, “To think of the missing girls and what their families go through is traumatising. I had to detach myself from these emotions because if I get too emotional, I may not be able to portray the part well. When I pick up subjects like Mardaani, I’m trying to shake people up and tell them, ‘Look, this is happening around us.’” Directed by Abhiraj Minawala and produced by Aditya Chopra, Mardaani 3 continues the franchise’s tradition of socially relevant cinema. The film is scheduled to release in theatres worldwide on January 30, 2026.
17 January,2026 01:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker and actor Pooja Bhatt looked back with gratitude as her 2003 film Jism completed 23 years since its release in Hindi cinema, calling it a work that mirrored its time and quietly reshaped the conversation around desire, vulnerability and music in Hindi cinema. Pooja took to Instagram, where she shared two pictures of actor John Abraham, who starred in the erotic thriller along with Bipasha Basu. The filmmaker, who had produced the hit movie, wrote in the caption section: "Jism (2003) A film that changed the times (sic). A hero that represented the times. A song & album that endures through time. Released on January 17,2003. 23 years ago. Gratitude.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Pooja B (@poojab1972) Jism was inspired by Body Heat by Lawrence Kasdan, which was based on Billy Wilder's 1944 film Double Indemnity, an adaptation of James M. Cain's novel of the same name. The film follows Kabir, an alcoholic lawyer whose lonely life changes when he meets Sonia, a stunning and mysterious woman married to a rich businessman, Rohit. As Kabir falls deeply in love with her, he is pulled into a dangerous relationship driven by desire and obsession. Slowly, Sonia pushes him towards a plan to kill her husband and claim his wealth. But as events spiral out of control, Kabir begins to see her true intentions. What follows is a dark and gripping tale of passion, betrayal, and the heavy price of bad choices. The second installment was directed by Pooja, and it hit the big screens in 2012. The film marks the Bollywood acting debut of Sunny Leone. Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh co-star alongside her. The film followed Izna, an adult film star, who is hired by an intelligence agency to entrap Kabir, a dreaded assassin who used to be her lover. Things get complicated when Officer Aayan Thakur falls in love with her.
17 January,2026 12:36 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSPunjabi singer B Praak has reportedly received a death threat after his close friend and fellow singer Dilnoor approached the Mohali police with a complaint. Dilnoor alleged that he received a ransom call demanding Rs 10 crore for B Praak, with threats of severe consequences if the demand was not met within a week. B Praak receives death threat Punjabi singer Dilnoor has filed a complaint with the Mohali police, alleging that he received a threat call asking him to inform his friend, the Bollywood and Punjabi singer B Praak, to pay a ransom of Rs 10 crore, failing which there would be dire consequences within a week. According to Dilnoor's complaint, he received two missed phone calls from an overseas number on January 5, which he did not answer. On January 6, Dilnoor said that he received another call from a different overseas number, which he answered but soon disconnected as the conversation seemed suspicious. He later received an audio message. View this post on Instagram A post shared by B PRAAK (@bpraak) In the audio message, the caller identified himself as Arju Bishnoi and demanded Rs 10 crore for B Praak. “Pass this message to B Praak that we want 10 crore. You have one week’s time. Go to any country you want, but if anyone associated with him is found nearby, we will cause damage,” the caller said. He added that if the demand was not met, they would “reduce him to dust.” Dilnoor lodged a written complaint with the SSP, Mohali, on January 6. Police have initiated an investigation into the matter. The threat comes amid a series of recent extortion and firing incidents linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. More about B Praak B Praak is a well-known Indian singer, music director, composer, and music producer associated with both the Punjabi and Hindi music industries.He began his career as a music producer and earned widespread recognition for composing several hit Punjabi tracks. Some of his popular works include Teri Mitti from Kesari, Filhall, Pachtaoge, Ranjha from Shershaah, Maana Dil, and Kesariyo Rang. On the personal front, the singer embraced fatherhood for the second time in December 2025. He was blessed with a baby boy and shared the news on Instagram, revealing his name. He wrote, “DVIIJ BACHAN. Twice Born – A Spiritual Rebirth. By the divine grace of RadheShyam. The sun rises again, bringing light, hope, and new beginnings into our lives.”
17 January,2026 12:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRenowned playback singer Shaan has dismissed any notion of a “communal or minority” bias in A.R. Rahman’s recent remarks about his work in the Hindi film industry slowing down. Rahman, in an interview with BBC Asian Network, had said the reasons often reach him indirectly and tagged it as “Chinese whispers". He went on to say in the interview: "People who are not creative have the power now to decide things, and this might have been a communal thing also, but not in my face.” “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." Asked his reactions over the comments made by the Oscar-winning music composer, Shaan told IANS: “I am standing in front of you, and I am not getting much work.” “I have been singing for so many years, and I am also not getting much work. But I don't go into it much because I feel it is a personal thing. Everyone has their own thoughts and likes. And how much work we should get is not in our hands.” He added, “Whatever work you get, do it well. Whatever work Mr. Rahman gets, it is his signature style. It is amazing that he is a composer, and his fans have not decreased; they are increasing. So if there was any such thing,” Shaan asserted that there is no “communal angle” to it. "I don't think there is any communal minority angle. Whatever you are saying, it doesn't happen in music. If there was such a thing, then all our three superstars, who have been in the minority for 30 years, but their fans are less than anyone else, are increasing. So it doesn't happen. Do good work, do good music and don't think about all this.” 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
17 January,2026 12:08 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSDisha Patani is rumoured to be dating singer Talwiinder. The rumours started swirling when the two were spotted holding hands at Nupur Sanon–Stebin Ben’s wedding. Amid their spotting, model Sony Kaur shared a cryptic note, which raised eyebrows about her being his ex. Now, she has shared a note clarifying that her statement was not directed at Talwiinder. Sony Kaur denies dating Talwiinder Taking to Instagram, Sony wrote, “My post was not directed at anyone. It was a general reflection on today’s culture, where intimacy is often treated casually rather than with respect. I do not know these individuals personally. I only ever had a brief, casual conversation in a social setting. Making this public is unethical and has resulted in unwanted attention, which I do not appreciate (sic).” She further mentioned, “I have worked as a model for over 15 years and value my professional reputation. I do not wish to have my name linked to anyone’s past or present relationships. I do not seek publicity through controversy. Please stop associating my name with Talwiinder. I do not know him beyond that brief interaction (sic).” When the rumours of Talwiinder and Disha’s relationship started doing the rounds, Sony, on her Instagram story, had shared, “It’s not only HIV and STIs; people are also carrying curses and bad luck. Be careful who you sleep with (sic).” About Disha and Talwiinder During Nupur Sanon’s Udaipur wedding, a viral video surfaced, which sparked 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. 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.
17 January,2026 11:35 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1768646732979_d.png?tr=w-436,h-271 "Picture Courtesy/Akshay Kumar's Instagram account")
