Attention all units: prepare for clearance. Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, produced by Friday Storytellers, created by Neeraj Pandey and directed by Raghav Jairath, touches down on Netflix January 14, 2026. Intelligence input: This is a fictional edge-of-your-seat crime entertainer that opens the gates to a world where every suitcase could hide a secret and every passenger could be a suspect. At the heart of this operation is Superintendent Arjun Meena (Emraan Hashmi), a razor-sharp, calm, and calculating officer. With his team, he cracks down on airport smuggling — from luxury goods hidden in plain sight to organised international syndicates. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix India (@netflix_in) Taskaree marks Neeraj Pandey’s first collaboration with Emraan Hashmi, a combination promising precision, pace, and high-stakes thrills. Pandey delivers his signature blend of sharp storytelling, grounded humour, and globe-trotting tension, while Hashmi steps into a refreshing new avatar: a leader whose instinct and intelligence are as lethal as the mission itself. Also involved in the mission are Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, Nandish Singh Sandhu, Anurag Sinha and Zoya Afroz, who bring grit, intensity, and anticipation to a world where tension never clocks out. Neeraj Pandey on Taskaree Neeraj Pandey says, “Airports are familiar to all of us, yet what unfolds behind the scenes is rarely seen. The world of customs is not something that has been explored on screen, and that was part of the appeal in our endeavour to introduce our audiences to a new, unexplored world which is quiet, disciplined, and high-pressure. With Taskaree, we bring together an ensemble that could reflect the complexity with depth and conviction. And as always, Netflix continues to be a strong partner in supporting stories that are rooted, authentic, and built for scale.” Emraan Hashmi on Taskaree Reflecting on his role, Emraan Hashmi says, "Taskaree was exciting for me on many levels. It’s my first time working with Neeraj Pandey and stepping into his world. Playing a customs officer is new territory for me, and Arjun Meena isn’t loud or flashy; he’s calm, observant, and always thinking two steps ahead. I enjoyed stepping into that space. I’m really looking forward to audiences seeing me in this new role. Partnering with Netflix and Neeraj sir makes it even more special, it’s makers that encourage stories like this to be told at scale." Unit Directive: Viewers are cleared to follow Superintendent Meena and his squad into a globe-spanning world of smuggling, strategy, and sky-high stakes. Mission Debrief Question: Will Meena outsmart the smugglers, or will the syndicate always stay one step ahead? Customs Advisory: Exposure may result in binge-watching and extreme excitement. Handle with care. Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web - premieres on January 14 on Netflix.
17 December,2025 01:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe makers have finally released the trailer of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 after dropping the four episodes from the current season. Volume 2 will consist of the three episodes dropping on December 25, and the finale will be released on New Year's Eve, in addition to playing in theatres. The entire main cast of Stranger Things returned for the fifth and final season, in which the residents of Hawkins go to war against Vecna and his army of Demogorgons from the Upside Down. They include Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer, Jamie Campbell Bower and more. New cast members for Season 5 include Nell Fisher, Linda Hamilton, Alex Breaux and Jake Connelly. The new trailer offers a glimpse at the endgame between the Hawkins residents and Vecna, who strives to change the order of the world. The all-out battle is expected to take place between them, which could be seen in the finale episode. Netflix shared the trailer of the series on Monday. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix) In the Volume 1 episodes, fans reunite with the Hawkins residents, who are living in lockdown as the military investigates the Upside Down rift and hunts for Eleven. Demogorgons begin crossing over into the real world and attack Mike and Nancy's parents. While Vecna searches for new victims and abducts Mike and Nancy's sister, Holly Wheeler, she runs into Max, who's somehow survived being in a coma since the Season 4 finale. The two realise they're trapped in Vecna's memories. As Demogorgons wreak havoc on the military base and nearly devour everyone, Will finally believes in himself and summons his hidden power to control the monsters and save the day. However, Vecna has emerged from the Upside Down and survived a military assault without taking a scratch, and while he's walked away from the battle for now, he's ready to take over Hawkins and the world, reported Variety. 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 December,2025 10:34 AM IST | Washington DC | ANIFor Aisha Ahmed, Single Papa was lucrative as it gave her the opportunity to work with Kunal Kemmu and filmmaker Shashank Khaitan. That, and because she realised that the Netflix comedy was exactly the kind of series that she would watch. Even as she enthusiastically said yes to the project, she recalls that she was nervous to share screen space with Kemmu on her first day of the shoot. “The moment I reached the set, I told Shashank and Kunal, ‘Guys, I am super nervous. Now that I have said this, I am ready to go ahead with it.’ Shashank gave me a warm hug, and Kunal said, ‘Ho jayega.’ That eased me into the scene,” says Ahmed, who plays a doctor in the series. Jamming with Kemmu on scenes was another highlight for the actor. She says she made mental notes about his approach to sequences. “He is such a prepared actor, and yet, when he performs the scenes, he is effortless. That’s something I learnt from him. You must prepare to the T, but when you are on camera, you improvise, go with the flow, and feed off the co-actor’s energy.”
17 December,2025 07:46 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaUorfi Javed, who recently won the reality show The Traitors and was also seen on the reality series Follow Karlo Yaar, is once again in the spotlight. The actor and social media sensation has often grabbed attention beyond fashion, making headlines for her fearless opinions and candid views. Known for being real, unapologetic, and unfiltered, Uorfi has never shied away from speaking about uncomfortable truths, whether it is online trolling, body shaming, or the double standards faced by women in the entertainment industry. In an age where reality is often carefully curated, she has consistently chosen honesty over pretence. Staying true to that image, Uorfi recently opened up in a candid confession, revealing her real age and addressing the industry’s long-standing obsession with age. Uorfi Javed admits lying about her age In the video, Uorfi addressed a long-standing misconception about her age , something she admits had been weighing heavily on her mind for a long time. Age has always been a sensitive topic in the entertainment industry, especially for women. Many feel pressured to fit into a certain bracket to remain “relevant,” and Uorfi openly acknowledged that she, too, once felt that pressure. However, instead of letting the truth surface through speculation or rumours, she chose to own it herself. Uorfi Javed makes a shocking revelation As she posted a video on her Instagram, Uorfi says, “This is like a confession video. I’ve been wanting to say this for a really long time. Keeping it inside was driving me crazy. I was so confused about who to tell and what to say that I ended up stressing myself out. If you’ve seen my interviews, you’ll know that everywhere I’ve said I was born in 1997. But that’s not the truth. I wasn’t born in 1997 I was born in 1995, and I’m actually 30 years old. You know how it is when you enter the industry people tend to hide their age. I thought, “What difference will two years make?” So I went along with it. But whenever someone asked me directly, I’d still say, “Oh, I’m 30,” because I’ve just turned 30. Somewhere in my head, I always knew the truth would come out someday. So I thought, why not say it myself? Yes, I’m 30. I’m officially that age. And please, if anyone plans on inviting me out clubbing after 10 p.m., just know this I’m too old for that, guys.” The video quickly struck a chord with fans, many of whom praised Uorfi for normalising age and calling out the unrealistic expectations placed on women in showbiz. Her candid confession once again proves why she continues to stand out, not just as a fashion rebel, but as a voice of honesty in an industry that often prefers filters over facts.
16 December,2025 06:21 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThamma, Maddock Films' new horror comedy, is finally available for streaming. The box office triumph, starring Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, will be available on Amazon Prime Video, the streaming service announced on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Prime Video announced Thamma's global streaming release date of December 16. The film is currently available via the platform. Thamma is part of the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU), which also features the Stree flicks, Munjya, and Bhediya. Thamma is a supernatural horror comedy set in a fictional universe. The film follows Alok (Ayushmann), humanity's last chance, and Tadaka (Rashmika), a supernatural being traversing a land ravaged by darkness, while Yakshasan (Nawazuddin), a strong lord of darkness, threatens to bring the world to ruin. Despite mixed to good reviews, the film was a box office triumph, earning ₹135 crore net in India and ₹187 crore globally. About Thamma Thamma, produced by Dinesh Vijan under the banners of Maddock Films and Amar Kaushik, is directed by Aditya Sarpotdar and written by Niren Bhatt, Arun Fulara, and Suresh Mathew. Aside from Ayushmann, Rashmika, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, the film also stars Paresh Rawal and Faisal Malik, with appearances by Varun Dhawan, Abhishek Banerjee, Nora Fatehi, and Malaika Arora. Ayushmann and Rashmika share their thoughts Ayushmann Khurana and Rashmika Mandanna got candid about the film. Ayushmann mentioned, “Thamma is unlike any other supernatural or horror movie, perfectly combining supernatural and horror elements with humour, romance, drama, and a heartfelt love story—something you don’t often see. That’s what excited me the most about doing it. I hunt for freshness and newness in cinema and storytelling, and I loved the script when I heard it. After all the love we’ve received, I’m glad that this unique film is now coming to Prime Video, where it can entertain not just audiences in India but viewers around the world who enjoy unconventional narratives.” While, Rashmika added, “Working on a supernatural comedy like Thamma was a first for me, and it was truly an amazing experience. The storyline, my character, the scale—everything about it felt just right, making it an entertaining film not only for audiences but also for me. I am thrilled that the film will now reach even more people around the world when it streams on Prime Video.”
16 December,2025 02:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe chilling tale from the first season of It: Welcome to Derry has finally come to an end, with the town enduring one last massacre at the hands of Pennywise the Clown. Titled Winter Fire, the episode was set in an icy, cold surrounding after the military successfully took down one of the supernatural monster's shelters. It is then that Pennywise starts targeting the rest of the kids. While Lily, Marge, and Ronnie set off to bring Pennywise's menace to a stop, following the trail of blood he left behind, the adults are also shown hatching their own plans to defeat the monstrous force. What ensues over the course of the finale episode is a massive showdown that producer-director Andy Muschietti described as "haunting and magical and spectacular," as per Deadline. Speaking on the same, series creators Muschietti and Barbara emphasised how the climax's liminal environment was not an intentional nod to Stephen King, but an overlap in the universe referring to words like The Shining and The Shawshank Redemption, stated Variety. Notably, the overlapping timelines were evident in the finale's post-credit scenes, which flash-forward to 1988. It also shows Beverly Marsh (Sophia Lillis) briefly before the events of the first film. The scene also features an elderly version of Madeleine Stowe as Ingrid Kersh. "Our first pitch to Stephen King was to tell the story backwards. I can't say too much about the logic behind it, because I don't want to spoil it, but it has to do with how Pennywise experiences time in a non-linear way. We sort of hinted at it at the end of the season," Andy Muschietti told Variety. Amid the heightened anticipation about the finale, it is worth mentioning that Pennywise's story is not over yet. A prequel to their 2017 and 2018 It films, Welcome to Derry is likely to come with a second season, with the events set in 1935 during Pennywise's awakening in the town. 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
16 December,2025 12:36 PM IST | Los Angeles | ANIRemember the kid who gripped you with his earnest performance in Zakhm (1998) and his intense act as a heartbroken lover sporting long hair, that later became a trend in Kalyug (2005)? From his early days as a child actor to evolving into a writer and director with Madgaon Express (2024), Kunal Kemmu has consistently shown he’s an artiste of many talents. His recent viral acapella only reaffirms it. He is currently seen in the Netflix outing, Single Papa. In conversation with mid-day, Kemmu reflects on fatherhood, creative exploration, and why acting remains his first love. Excerpts from the interview: As a storyteller, do you find hard-hitting movies work better, or does humour make hard subjects more effective?It depends. I think it’s more palatable if it’s in the way of humour. Studies are also like that, when you try to learn it as a lesson, your mind wavers, but I feel we retain more when it’s told with humour. In Single Papa, we use humour with the family around it. It’s not preachy at all. But at the same time, it’ll definitely start a conversation. I feel with this it will reach wider [audience]. It’ll make you aware of things that I wasn’t aware of. But I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way [to tell a story]. A still from ‘Single Papa’ You’ve begun singing publicly — from acapella pieces to the title track of Single Papa. When did this musical side emerge? I think it has always been there. I’ve loved to write my own songs, compose music, and sing. I wasn’t confident or comfortable enough to bring it out to the world because I wasn’t sure. At some point I was like, ab nahi toh kab. So, I decided to put it out. I’m very happy that it’s getting love. So I’m just going to keep doing it. Did your experience of fatherhood influence the emotions you played on set, especially around your daughter Inaaya Naumi’s birth?It’s pretty much the same thing. I think as actors, we borrow or we create. We borrow from observing mostly. Sometimes we unknowingly create a bank of emotions that we’ve lived, whether it’s happiness, sadness, shock or whatever. It’s been a mix of all of those things. I won’t say that I was in the exact same situations with my daughter like I am in this show. But it is such a basic emotion. We just have to do it even if it’s not real. There were times when baby Amul was not in front of me and I had to emote looking at nothing. But that’s where acting comes in. I would be lying if I tried to draw a comparison saying that this is exactly how it happened. It’s not. But it is because of the experiences that I’ve had that I was able to recreate it. Director Shashank Khaitan said you were the only choice for the role. Why do you think he felt that way?I have no idea. You’ll have to ask him. I think he’s been fond of me as an actor for a long time. We’ve been discussing that we needed to find something together. I’m happy that he thought that I would be the ideal Single Papa. When I read it, I instinctively felt that I would be able to play this role and have a lot of fun doing it. Which role gives you the deepest creative satisfaction — acting, writing or direction?Writing [gives you the] creative freedom to do whatever you want to do, which then starts to kind of bottle down. Because the director has to deal with [a lot of things]. So, the freest form of doing it is writing. But my first love always has been acting. I don’t want to become a slave of my own trade. I don’t want to keep doing that same thing every single time. I feel that I’ve really liberated myself by being a writer and director. I’m thrilled that I’ve got opportunities to unleash all of these talents and find an audience out there it all. You’ve had multiple highs and lows since childhood. At those low points, did you ever sucumb to the pressure?Everything is in hindsight. I’ve realised you’ve got to just do what you’re doing and not take success very seriously and not break your heart because of failure. It’ll all change. What’s next? Kunal Kemmu shares that he is waiting for March next year to announce something new. ‘We’ll talk about it then,” he says.
16 December,2025 07:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Letty Mariam AbrahamIt’s not every day in Hindi cinema that one sees a story about a Muslim family, devoid of the community’s stereotypical representation. The Great Shamsuddin Family is a welcome exception in that regard. When we spoke with Kritika Kamra, she credited director Anusha Rizvi for showing a Muslim family through a new lens. “I agree that the film breaks the typecast of Muslim representation on screen. I’ve been part of projects where there is a certain lens of looking at the community. Although those stories are important, you also need stories like The Great Shamsuddin Family,” said Kamra, emphasising that the JioHotstar movie shows that people are more similar than different, irrespective of their backgrounds. “We have much more in common with each other than not, but somehow we tend to focus on the differences. Stories like this tell you how similar we all are eventually.” To Kamra, the dramedy — also starring Shreya Dhanwanthary and Juhi Babbar — felt so universal that the characters’ religious identity didn’t even register initially. “When I read it the first time, I didn’t even focus on the fact that it was a Muslim family.” When asked if telling such a story was courageous in today’s India, she replied, “I know that it shouldn’t be.”
16 December,2025 06:48 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaChitrangda Singh doesn’t pick projects for noise. She picks them for the feeling they leave behind. And that’s exactly why Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders became an immediate yes. With Raat Akeli Hai 2, she saw a role that isn’t loud, but potent. A story that lingers. And an emotional world she couldn’t resist stepping into Chitrangada Singh opens up about signing Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders “I’m drawn to stories that leave a trace on you long after you’ve walked away. Raat Akeli Hai 2 had that quiet tension and emotional weight that I find irresistible. The character lives in these grey, unsettling spaces, and exploring that was both challenging and deeply fulfilling. It’s the kind of part that changes you a little, and those are the roles I say yes to,” Chitrangda says. For her, the world of this film sits in that sweet spot she gravitates toward: human psychology, buried secrets, moral ambiguity. Stories that don’t end when the credits roll, but stay with you, tugging at some corner of your mind. RAH 2 offered her a character built with shadows, contradictions, and emotional residue. The kind of material she loves peeling back layer by layer. She’s been consciously leaning into work that expands her creative vocabulary. This year alone, she’s swung from broad comedy to a brooding crime thriller, and now has a big canvas drama like Battle of Galwan on the way. Even her upcoming podcast is rooted in deeper, more reflective conversations. It’s a phase where she’s choosing longevity and substance over scale, shaping a filmography that feels intentional and textured. More about Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, the film boasts a powerful ensemble featuring Radhika Apte, Deepti Naval, Rajat Kapoor, Revathy, Ila Arun, Sanjay Kapoor, and Akhilendra Mishra, each adding layers of intrigue and emotional depth to the narrative. Set in Kanpur, the story begins when the affluent and well-known Bansal family from the heart of Uttar Pradesh is found brutally murdered in their mansion. Jatil Yadav (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is drawn into a web of power, deception, blind faith, and long-buried secrets, where every suspect hides a motive and every revelation peels back another layer of darkness. Director Honey Trehan, reflecting on the sequel, said, “With Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders, we’ve gone deeper into the world we built with Raat Akeli Hai. This film explores the price of truth and the corruption of conscience, with the stakes higher than ever as Jatil now has to unravel a mass murder. Working with Netflix again allowed us to tell this story with complete honesty and scale, delivering a thriller that grips you emotionally as much as it shocks you.”
15 December,2025 01:38 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFrom the gothic vibe of Underworld: Evolution (2006) to the industrial thrum of Live Free or Die Hard (2007), high-octane sounds have dominated Hollywood composer Ceiri Torjussen’s career. The recently released third season of Delhi Crime was new terrain for him. “This season deals with a sex-trafficking gang. So, I had to figure out a sound that encapsulated the horror they wrought,” he reflects. The Welsh-born, Los Angeles-based composer returned to the Netflix series after scoring for the second season. But the Shefali Shah and Huma Qureshi-led third edition demanded a different soundscape. The result is a synth-driven, bass-heavy motif — built around the show’s antagonist Badi Didi, played by Qureshi — that depicts her power and cruelty. The music for the young girls, on the other hand, required a different emotional register. Torjussen explains, “Their sound needed to be sad, tragic, and unsettling.” (L-R) Sayani Gupta and Huma Qureshi in ‘Delhi Crime 3’ Torjussen and showrunner Tanuj Chopra began discussing the score, in early 2024, long before the composer saw any footage. Through those conversations, it became clear that Chopra wanted a balance through the score — the classic grit of Delhi Crime with its urban tension, and the devastating core of the sex-trafficking narrative. “Tanuj and the team were open-minded about how I should score the new season, but we did have conversations about themes. I wrote a bunch of music having just read the scripts, based on my own, visceral reactions to the story.” As he composed over 14 months, the challenge was musical restraint. He needed to articulate grief without slipping into melodrama. “I needed to keep the synth-based sound alive while addressing the tragic human consequences. It was hard being emotionally impactful without going over the top. Delhi Crime’s score shows that the scariest things are rarely the loudest.” For this season, the composer decided to use more traditional Indian sounds. He elaborates, “I focused on instruments like the sarod, santoor, and bansuri. I also included vocals. The latter two elements were recorded by Sheela Bringi. She recorded a few songs that I wrote as ‘wild-tracks’. I was then able to use her performances not only as the basis of certain cues, but also use isolated elements of the recordings. These sounds gave a much more human approach to my score, which was useful for the world of the young girls’ storylines.” Spot him if you can Way before finding success as a composer, Ceiri Torjussen oddly found himself in front of the camera. He spent a day as a background artiste in the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘English Babu Desi Mem’ (1995). “I’m not sure I ever made the final cut, but I definitely spent a day with Mr Khan,” he laughs. International films on his résumé ‘Live Free or Die Hard’ ‘Underworld: Evolution’ ‘Tom Daley 1.6 Seconds’ ‘Nightwatch Demons Are Forever’
15 December,2025 07:53 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuDivyenndu has firmly established himself in the OTT world with offerings ranging from Mirzapur to The Railway Men (2023) and Agni (2024). But in the past few years, he has also noticed a change in its ecosystem. The actor, whose Saali Mohabbat premièred on Zee5 over the weekend, says that the web world once promised creative freedom, but is now increasingly practising self-censorship. He shares, “Whatever you’re writing, producing, or making, there’s always a legal team with whom you’re constantly cross-checking. Obviously, to be on the safer side, they’re always saying, ‘Cut this, remove that.’ At some point, you start questioning why this is happening.” The actor rues that the industry has forgotten how to take creative risks. Urging filmmakers and artistes to be more fearless, he says, “Even today, the majority of our films don’t work at the box office. So, just be more fearless, more open [to new ideas].” According to Divyenndu, that fearlessness is reflected by Mirzapur’s makers, who decided to take the popular series to the big screen with Mirzapur: The Film. Not just that, they did so without chasing star power, instead retaining the original cast that comprises Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Rasika Dugal, Shweta Tripathi, and him, among others. “It [translating series into films] has been done before in the West. For a series like Mirzapur, the kind of scale we have, the world we’ve created, it justifies landing on the big screen. There is already a certain fan base, and the canvas is big enough. If this works, a lot of people will want to translate series into films,” he reflects.
15 December,2025 07:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
