RRR actor Ram Charan and his wife Upasana welcomed twin babies this year. While the actor is a strict dad, his wife is the nurturing pole. In a recent interview, Ram opened up about fatherhood and how it has transformed his priorities, both personally and professionally. He also explained what he has learnt from observing his parents. Ram Charan on fatherhood Speaking to Esquire, Ram Charan revealed whether he is a strict or fun dad. He said, “I’m the rough kind of dad. The one who lets them jump, play dirty, climb, and take risks. Their mother is the nurturing pole; I’m the one they come to when they want courage.” He also spoke about the kind of father he hopes to be while balancing the demands of his career. He said, “The biggest lesson we learn is from observing our parents. And I want to be a very, very present person first. And I want to be a present father. My pets and my core family… they’re my unit. I try to keep my world a little small, contained.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Chiranjeevi Konidela (@chiranjeevikonidela) Opening up about how fatherhood has reshaped his priorities, Ram Charan shared, “I didn’t have three kids before. I didn’t have other responsibilities. It used to be my work hours and my shoot, and now everything has to have meaning. My shoot should be meaningful. I have to give my hundred percent. The minute I come home, I should not act lazy. My daughter’s jumping, my wife needs something, there are family issues we have to address, there are fans’ issues we have to address too. So I have to not be foggy and be hundred percent present every day.” About Ram Charan’s kids Ram Charan and Upasana got engaged in 2011 in Hyderabad and tied the knot in 2012. The couple welcomed their first child, Klin Kaara, in 2023. In January 2026, the family grew further as Upasana gave birth to twins—a boy and a girl. In February, Chiranjeevi announced their names, writing, “With boundless joy and divine grace, we are delighted to announce the beautiful names of our two little blessings: Shiva Ram Konidela & Anveera Devi Konidela.” On the work front, Ram Charan is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film Peddi. The sports action drama is directed by Buchi Babu Sana and features Janhvi Kapoor, Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu, and Divyenndu in key roles.
14 April,2026 10:53 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe South Indian Film Editors Association president, Gopi, along with the Film Employees Federation of South India (FEFSI) president, RK Selvamani, spoke to the press on Monday to address allegations regarding the leak of Vijay's film, Jana Nayagan. At the conference held at FEFSI headquarters in Chennai, they denied the involvement of the film's editor. Pradeep E. Raghav, in the leak. They claimed that an internal inquiry has cleared him and other editors. Editor's body denies editor's involvement According to news agency ANI, Gopi, during the conference, strongly denied any editor’s involvement in the leak of Vijay's Jana Nayagan. The association's president stated that the ‘editors will never do this kind of work’ while clarifying that ‘an internal inquiry had already been conducted by their team’ in the matter. Adding that six unnamed individuals have already been arrested in the case and a report has already been filed, he noted that ‘the main accused behind the alleged leak will be arrested soon.’ At the conference, Gopi also addressed how people are pointing fingers at Pradeep, the editor of Jana Nayagan, after the videos that leaked online showed it was an edit copy. He clearly stated that Pradeep should not be accused without proof in the matter, as the investigation is still going on. Editors’ Association slams rumours Notably, after the editor's body issued the statement, several reports emerged that they had named a different production house, which was handling additional CGI for the film, pointing fingers at them for the leak. However, Gopikrishna, President, Southern India Film Editors Association, slammed those rumours as "baseless." He stated that the association never mentioned a “specific post-production” facility, since several individuals, agencies, and organisations were involved in the film. In a statement shared on X, he said, “Southern India Film Editors Association is strongly clarifying that no specific post facilities have been mentioned in our press meet regarding the leak. Numerous persons and facilities were involved and investigations are ongoing to find the culprits. So Please do not believe baseless rumors!”
14 April,2026 10:44 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSuperstar Rajinikanth's upcoming film Thalaivar 173, produced by Kamal Haasan, has been creating quite the buzz ever since it was announced. Among the most-awaited Tamil films, it is expected to release next year during Pongal. However, recent reports suggest that the film's release may be delayed. Director Cibi Chakravarthi has allegedly exited the project midway, leaving the team of Thalaivar 173 to search for a new director. For the unversed, this is not the first instance of the film undergoing a change of director. Earlier, Sundar C was supposed to direct the film, but he too stepped away from the project. Why did Cibi Chakravarthi quit Thalaivar 173? Pre-production for Thalaivar 173 had been moving ahead steadily, and shooting was to begin by late April. The team was preparing to proceed under Chakravarthi’s direction. However, he has reportedly exited the project. While no official statement has been issued yet by Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International, a report by Times Now claims that the filmmaker's decision was made due to a legal dispute involving his exit from a Nani film. Reportedly, Cibi had initially agreed to direct a film starring Nani but later exited due to creative differences. By then, the producer had already spent a few crores on pre-production. Now, the producer was reportedly seeking a partnership in Thalaivar 173. Another rumour suggests that Rajinikanth requested a change in the script. He was unhappy with the light tone of the film and wanted it to be more serious. As he is reportedly playing a spy, he is said to have asked for a darker, intense approach similar to Dhurandhar. However, Chakravarthi allegedly declined to make the changes. Who will replace Cibi Chakravarthi? As reported by Times Now, filmmaker Ashwath Marimuthu is in talks with the makers of Thalaivar 173 to take over Chakravarthi's role. Ashwath Marimuthu is best known for directing Lucky Man and Dragon. He is reportedly the new choice for the Rajinikanth-starrer. Although an official update is awaited, there is strong buzz that he has already been roped in for the film. As fans once again wait to find out who will direct the film, mixed reactions to the frequent crew changes have also surfaced online, with many people disappointed with Chakravarthi's exit. Further details are awaited.
14 April,2026 10:12 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentPiracy has become a persistent issue in Indian cinema. Vijay-starrer Jana Nayagan, which has been awaiting clearance from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) since December 2025, became the latest victim when the action drama was leaked last week. Disturbed by the episode, the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to take action against the menace. H Vinoth In its letter dated April 11, the organisation has not only highlighted the need for stringent measures against those aiding piracy, but also indicated how a delay in the certification process makes films vulnerable to online leaks. In 2025, Salman Khan’s ‘Sikandar’ fell prey to piracy before its release When mid-day reached out to Anil Nagrath, Secretary, IMPPA, he noted that the industry has been spotlighting this issue for years. He said, “Platforms like Telegram, torrent websites, and illegal portals like Tamilrockers are still operating. If the government has banned 36 porn sites and other digital platforms, why doesn’t it ensure the entire apparatus of piracy is taken down too?” Nagrath pointed out that the H Vinoth-directed Tamil film couldn’t meet its January 9 release date since it was stuck at the certification stage. “The CBFC referred it to the Revising Committee. Earlier, producers could go to the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal [FCAT], but the government shut it down. The fate of Jana Nayagan has been hanging, while scenes from the film, which has been in CBFC’s possession, have leaked online. While I’m not making a direct allegation [against the CBFC], it amounts to this only. We’re unable to tackle the problem of piracy. Producers are significant contributors to the PM’s Make in India initiative. Why not help us too? The government should find the culprits and put them in jail.” 300+Links taken down that were hosting the leaked content
14 April,2026 09:51 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRTamil superstar Trisha Krishnan reportedly received a bomb threat at her residence in Chennai’s Teynampet area, which led to swift action from local authorities. Soon after getting the alert, police officials, along with the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS), reached the scene and conducted a thorough inspection of the property. Bomb threat at Trisha's Chennai residence As reported by the Times of India, the police revealed that the city control room had received an email claiming that explosives had been planted at Trisha's residence. Acting on the information, a team consisting of Teynampet police officers, BDDS officials, and sniffer dogs rushed to the location and conducted an extensive search operation across the premises. Fortunately, officials later confirmed that the threat was a hoax as no explosives or suspicious objects were discovered during the investigation. This is not the first time such an incident has been reported. The actress had received a similar hoax bomb threat in October 2025. That month, Tamil Nadu witnessed a spate of bomb hoaxes, creating widespread alarm. Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had also received similar threats. Money Control reported that since this is the second case of this nature in six months, the Chennai Police's Cyber Crime Wing has begun an immediate investigation into the threatening email to find its source. They are attempting to trace the IPs used in the mailing of the email through coordination with service providers A case has already been registered by the police under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including charges of criminal intimidation and making a false statement to a public official. Trisha’s upcoming movies Meanwhile, actress Trisha has a number of films lined up for release. She will be seen in the fantasy entertainer Vishwambhara and in Karuppu, directed by R. J. Balaji. Vishwambhara, produced by Vikram, Vamsi, and Pramod under the UV Creations banner, blends mythology with emotion and promises to be a cinematic spectacle. The film is set to release in the summer of 2026. While announcing the release, Chiranjeevi described Vishwambhara as a wonderful story akin to Chandamama, saying it would appeal both to children and to the child in every grown-up individual. Karuppu is an action entertainer in which actor Suriya plays a lawyer named Saravanan. The film also features Malayalam actors Indrans, Sshivada, Swasika, and Tamil actors Yogi Babu and Natty in pivotal roles. It will have music by young composer Sai Abhyankkar and cinematography by GK Vishnu.
14 April,2026 09:42 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhat will be the international audience’s verdict? That’s what many were wondering as filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari readied to take Ramayana: Part One to CinemaCon 2026. With the latest edition of CinemaCon kicking off yesterday, it turns out the Ranbir Kapoor and Yash-led magnum opus isn’t the only Indian film on the slate. Yash has gone to the Las Vegas exhibition with another of his ambitious movies — Toxic: A Fairy-tale for Grown-ups. CinemaCon is among the biggest international film exhibitions known for connecting filmmakers and distributors from around the world. Taking director Geetu Mohandas’s movie to the event shows the actor’s ambition for the project. A source shared, “Yash flew out over the weekend and will be in the US for a week, starting the first round of promotions for Toxic.” The ‘Ramayana’ teaser ended with a backshot of Yash’s Ravana The teams of both movies plan to unveil early footage and promotional material. The source added, “Both Toxic and Ramayana are mounted on a large scale, and CinemaCon provides the right stage to position them internationally.” Other biggies at the festival . ‘The Odyssey’ . ‘Dune 3’ . ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
14 April,2026 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuLeaked footage from Jana Nayagan was reportedly broadcast on a local cable channel, prompting supporters of Vijay to take legal action. The actor’s upcoming film had already surfaced online last week ahead of its theatrical release. While the makers initiated legal proceedings to trace those behind the leak, a cable operator in Coimbatore allegedly aired portions of the film. Upset by this, Vijay’s supporters in the region lodged a complaint against the operator for illegally telecasting unreleased content. Jana Nayagan aired on TV A group of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) supporters from Karumathampatti approached the police, urging a detailed probe and strict action against those responsible. Reportedly, the complainant said that the footage was aired on a local channel called ‘Rasi Prime Movie’ on the night of April 11, 2026. The telecast reportedly ran for around 21 minutes after the interval. This has intensified concerns around piracy and unauthorised distribution. According to a report in Money Control, TVK functionary Mohanapriya, one of the complainants, stated that they reached out to the police around 11 p.m. after discovering the incident. “We presented evidence and filed a formal complaint. Initially, we were told an FIR would be registered the next morning. However, on Sunday, the police informed us that a separate unit is already handling the leak. They also declined to issue a CSR despite the incident taking place in Karumathampatti,” she said. Expressing disappointment over the response, she added that the group is ready to escalate the issue if needed. “If local authorities fail to act, we will approach senior officials and the District Collector". She said that they avoided protests due to the ongoing election period and instead chose a legal course following party guidance. Police make arrests Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime wing has arrested six individuals in connection with the leak. The film’s legal team, represented by Vijayan Subhramanium, confirmed the development on X, warning that anyone involved in sharing or circulating the leaked content will face strict legal consequences. Authorities have also taken down more than 300 links hosting pirated clips as part of efforts to contain the spread online. The complaint was officially filed by R. Udayakumar, Production Controller at KVN Productions, who sought immediate action against those behind the leak. He alleged that multiple individuals illegally accessed, copied, and distributed scenes from the film, causing significant losses. The complaint names 21 individuals suspected of being part of the piracy network.
13 April,2026 07:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor and politician Vijay recently filed an appeal before a Division Bench of the Madras High Court against a single judge's recent ruling, which upheld a Rs 1.5 crore income tax penalty imposed on him. Vijay appeals against Madras HC's ruling Vijay filed the appeal before a Division Bench after single-judge Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy earlier dismissed Vijay’s petition, maintaining that the penalty order by the Income Tax Department was within the prescribed limitation period under the Income Tax Act. Before the High Court's single-judge, Vijay had confined his challenge exclusively to limitation. The TVK chief argued that the penalty order dated June 30, 2022, was time-barred under Section 275(1)(c). This prescribes a shorter six-month limitation period for “any other case.” The single judge had rejected Vijay’s contention and upheld the penalty order. The Court noted that the ITAT order was issued on December 22, 2021, and thus, the six-month period expired on June 30, 2022, the very date on which the penalty order was passed. It further concluded that the order was within limitation and found no infirmity warranting interference. Vijay has now challenged the single judge's decision before the Division Bench. Although the appeal was filed in March 2026, it has yet to be processed for listing. About the case The case arises from Vijay’s assessment for the financial year 2015–16 (assessment year 2016–17), which came after a search conducted by the Income Tax Department on September 30, 2015. During the search, Vijay admitted in a sworn statement that he received Rs 15 crore in cash as remuneration, in addition to Rs 16 crore through banking channels. This undisclosed income was subsequently included in his return. The assessment proceedings also reviewed an expenditure head titled “Release and Rasigar Mandram Expenses,” under which Vijay claimed Rs 2.92 crore. According to his representative, Rs 2 crore was paid directly by the film’s producer to fan club members across Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while Rs 92.44 lakh was paid in cash by Vijay. The Assessing Officer did not allow the Rs 2 crore component for lack of proof and allowed only part of the cash expenditure. Upon appeal, the Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeals) granted the actor partial relief, while the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal ultimately allowed 50% of the total expenditure. Additionally, penalty proceedings were separately initiated under Section 271AAB, which deals with penalties in search cases. The department also imposed a penalty of Rs 1.5 crore, which accounts for 10 per cent of the admitted undisclosed income of Rs 15 crore.
13 April,2026 05:42 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe internet is ablaze with rumours of an exciting new casting. Reports suggest that Shahid Kapoor might essay the role of the antagonist in Jr NTR’s upcoming film, tentatively titled Dragon. Dragon is being directed by KFG and Salaar filmmaker Prashanth Neel. While there has been no official confirmation yet, the speculation has caused massive excitement among Shahid's fans as this will mark the actor's debut in the South film industry. Shahid Kapoor to play antagonist in Dragon? An article by Pinkvilla quoted a Telugu Chitraalu report that stated that Shahid Kapoor is currently in talks with the makers of NTRNeel to join the film Dragon. Reportedly, he is being considered for the film after actor Tovino Thomas exited the project. However, an official confirmation is still awaited. The news of Shahid's casting has surfaced after Tovino Thomas announced that he has quit the film. While promoting his Malayalam film Pallichattambi in Hyderabad, Tovino addressed speculation about his involvement in Dragon and clarified his decision to step away from the film. “It is really hard to allocate dates, so I am not doing it," he said. He further explained the scheduling challenges that influenced his choice, highlighting differences in working styles across industries. “I don’t do multiple films at once. In Malayalam, we finish a film in one schedule. But in Telugu, a single project takes almost a year. I can give 3 months, not an entire year," he said. About Dragon Rukmini Vasanth is playing the female lead. The film reportedly also features Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor and Biju Menon in key roles. As per a synopsis, the film is an “action saga” with “emotionally charged incidents that take place over a periodic timeline. It takes place in "1969, in the area where the borders of China, Bhutan, and India's Golden Triangle meet.” As per reports, the next shoot schedule for Dragon is expected to begin soon. Other details about the film are still under wraps. Earlier today, Jr. NTR took to Instagram to share a shirtless picture of himself. In the image, the actor’s back is towards the camera. He is shown flaunting his chiselled back and beefed-up biceps as he posed for a picture at the gym. For the caption, he simply wrote: “Built. Not bought. NTRNeel kumarmannava ntrneelfilm.”
13 April,2026 05:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDays after Thalapathy Vijay's highly-awaited film Jana Nayagan was leaked online, actress-politician Kasthuri Shankar has admitted to watching leaked clips from the film. The leak has caused a furore amongst the industry, especially ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections, as Vijay is set to make his political debut through his newly-formed party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Actress Kasthuri Shankar admits she watched Jana Nayagan Actress Kasthuri Shankar admitted to watching leaked clips of Jana Nayagan and described the film as a "three-hour propaganda piece" for Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). In a Cinema Express report, she was quoted as saying, "I have seen bits and pieces of the movie that people have forwarded to me through WhatsApp and other means. It's the talk of the town right now. I have also been learning new information about the movie, and I can tell you that if it is seen by the public, it is beneficial to the TVK, not BJP or the DMK. The parties that Vijay is blaming." She further questioned how the Central Board of Film Certification, the Information & Broadcasting Ministry, and other agencies could allow the highest quality and uncensored version to be leaked. "I hear the film is in perfect quality and the entirety of the movie is available without any censored clips or modifications." Kasthuri Shankar accuses DMK of preventing the film's release Kasthuri also accused Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK government of deliberately preventing the film's release as the movie focuses on Tamil Nadu politics, contrasting it with the release of a DMK-aligned film - TN 2026 - on the same day. "It is clear that whoever leaked the movie wanted every word of their propaganda to get to the people. I accuse the state government to be behind the non-release of the film because they are directly affected. This movie is about Tamil Nadu politics and not about central leaders. Hence, the ruling party is stopping the movie from being seen by the public, especially on the day when their own propaganda movie got released." Moreover, Kasthuri said the film might be leaked by someone who is "sympathetic to Vijay's cause". "If this movie is seen by people, it will influence them and will in turn benefit TVK. Anything else that actor Vijay or his second-rung leaders come out and say is purely optics. They are just trying to distract people from the actual perpetrators," she said.
13 April,2026 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTelugu superstar Allu Arjun's father, producer Allu Aravind, attended a promotional event of Mrunal Thakur and Adivi Sesh-starrer Dacoit held in Hyderabad. At the event, he expressed his desire for Mrunal to marry someone from the Telugu film industry. Allu Aravind asks Mrunal Thakur to marry a Telugu actor Speaking on the stage, Allu Aravind addressed Mrunal and said, 'I wish you should find a good boy here (Telugu film industry) and get married and settle down here. That is the only way we can tie you here. We want you here." Laughing, he continued, "I had blessed an actress like this before. That actress has now become a Telugu daughter-in-law." Allu Aravind says Mrunal Thakur should marry someone TFI and settleby u/Entire-Gain-6561 in tollywood An embarrassed and flustered Mrunal was seen covering her face with a dupatta, while her co-star Adivi Sesh was seen clapping. The actress he was referring to was Lavanya Tripathi, who is now happily married to Telugu actor Varun Tej. Nag Ashwin compares Mrunal Thakur to Madhubala The event was attended by several well-known people from the industry, including Kalki 2898 AD director Nag Ashwin. He bestowed the highest compliment on the actress, comparing her to legendary yesteryear actresses Madhubala and Smita Patil. The director also urged Mrunal to be cautious and choose better scripts following the success of Dacoit. Kalki director Nag Ashwin has an interesting advise for Mrunal Thakurby u/Glad-Ad5911 in BollyBlindsNGossip After praising her performance in Dacoit, Nag Ashwin said, "Mrunal, I think you are amazing. I am generally very protective of the stuff that you pick. Whenever you do something that's not great, I am like why is she doing that? She deserves to do much better stuff. And whenever there's a character that has that depth or sorrow or pain, I think you are like that era of Madhubala and Smita Patil, there are not many people like this. So please don't do random stuff and do good stuff." Visibly overwhelmed after hearing such praise, Mrunal mouthed "Thank you," bowed her head and folded her hands in gratitude.
13 April,2026 02:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
