Netflix dropped its latest outing, Taskaree: The Smuggler's Web, starring Emraan Hashmi and Amruta Khanvilkar, among others, which has become an audience favourite, courtesy of its binge-worthy narrative. In an exclusive interaction with mid-day, Amruta, who plays a Customs Officer and a single mother in the series, shares her inspiration for the character, trusting director Neeraj Pandey for a spectacular arc, and more. Amruta Khanvilkar on choosing projects For Amruta, trusting the makers makes a huge difference when working on a project. “Today, every director and writer has their own signature, as to how they want to write a script, their story, how they want to tell it. That is very important for me. Will this story move forward if my character is absent? If it does, then my character is not important. That’s a basic rule. I need to add value to the script,” she asserts. Amruta adds that as an actor, she falls in a tricky zone where she could be cast as a nobody or as someone important. “I cannot trust anybody; it’s a little gamble you play with yourself. But when makers like Neeraj Pandey etch out characters and do justice to them, it is amazing. He doesn’t add characters just for the heck of it,” the actor maintains. Amruta Khanvilkar on playing a single mom Amruta plays a feisty single mom who doesn’t need saving. She is seen doing hand-to-hand combat with goons all by herself while co-star Emraan Hashmi is on standby. When asked who inspired her to emote, she states, “Of course, my mom is not someone who will kick somebody’s a**. But just the way she’s lived her life like an iron woman.” About Taskaree: The Smugglers Web Spanning key smuggling corridors across Al-Dera, Addis Ababa, Milan, and Bangkok, Taskaree opens up the complex machinery of the international smuggling world- a web built on coded routes, false manifests, and calculated misdirection. At its centre is a specialised customs task force at one of the busiest airports in the country, Mumbai International Airport, led by an uncompromisingly honest team of officers. Taskaree also stars Nandish Singh Sandhu, Zoya Afroz, Anurag Sinha, and Sharad Kelkar. It is currently streaming on Netflix.
16 January,2026 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Oshin FernandesPrime Video has announced January 30 as the worldwide premiere date of its Hindi crime thriller series Daldal with a gripping, grisly teaser. Based on Vish Dhamija’s bestselling book Bhendi Bazaar, Daldal, an Abundantia Entertainment production, is created for a series by Suresh Triveni and produced by Vikram Malhotra and Triveni. Set against the backdrop of Mumbai, the series follows Rita Ferreira, Mumbai Crime Branch’s DCP, played by Bhumi Pednekkar, as she finds herself facing a cold-blooded killer in a high-stakes game of survival. Daldal will premiere exclusively on Prime Video across India and in over 240 countries and territories worldwide on January 30. Daldal teaser Daldal centers on newly appointed DCP Rita Ferreira, a cop driven by justice yet haunted by guilt and the demons of her past, as she is drawn into a chilling pursuit of a cold-blooded killer. The teaser plunges audiences into a world where violence and psychological dread don’t just shock, they linger. The atmospheric teaser reveals victims brutally murdered – wrists slashed; mouths grotesquely stuffed with raw pieces of meat, mobile phones, and other objects; each crime exposing a deeply twisted psyche. As the investigation deepens, Rita finds herself caught between the savagery of the case and her own inner turmoil, while also confronting biases within the force. Unflinching in its portrayal of brutality, the teaser makes it clear that this series is not for the fainthearted. View this post on Instagram A post shared by prime video IN (@primevideoin) At its core, Daldal is not just a crime suspense story, but a powerful exploration of trauma and morality - driven not by the question of who committed the crime, but by the far more haunting question of why. Alongside Pednekkar, the series also stars Samara Tijori and Aditya Rawal in lead roles. It is directed by Amrit Raj Gupta, and written by Triveni alongside Sreekanth Agneeaswaran, Rohan D’Souza, Priya Saggi and Hussain Haidry. 'Story about guilt, identity, and unresolved wounds' What compelled me most about Daldal was its exploration of morality and the often-overlooked emotional and psychological origins behind violence, rather than just the act itself. This is a story about guilt, identity, and unresolved wounds, told through the lens of a crime investigation that feels deeply unsettling yet personal," said Suresh Triveni, creator and producer of Daldal. "It was important for us to create a thriller that feels almost like horror in the way the dread builds quietly, tension simmers beneath the surface, and every character carries their own scars. In a genre often dominated by external action, we wanted to turn the lens inward, examining how trauma shapes behaviour and how the past refuses to stay buried, which could only be achieved by a stellar writing team of Sreekanth, Rohan, Priya and Hussain. Bhumi delivers a career-defining performance as Rita, embodying vulnerability and strength in equal measure, along with an ensemble of equally terrific actors, while Amrit's direction creates an atmosphere of unrelenting tension that keeps you on edge. I believe Daldal will resonate with audiences who are looking for crime stories that are as introspective and emotionally layered as they are. Gripping stories that don't just ask 'who did it,' but 'what made them who they are’.” Daldal kicks off a thrilling season of crime on Prime, alongside the highly anticipated return of Aldis Hodge in season two of Cross, Guy Ritchie’s reimagining and origin story of the beloved detective Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock, the gripping and sophisticated forensic mystery Scarpetta starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis, and addictive new thriller series 56 Days starring Dove Cameron based on the best-selling novel by Catherine Ryan Howard and Shobhita Dhulipala starrer Telugu movie Cheekatilo — all launching exclusively on Prime Video this spring.
16 January,2026 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmazon MX Player dropped the trailer of the highly anticipated Bindiya Ke Bahubali Season 2, offering a glimpse into the shifting power dynamics and growing unrest within the dysfunctional Davan family. Set against the fictional town of Bindya, the new chapter picks up where Season 1 left off, with jailed patriarch Bada Davan trying to break peace with rivals, only for his son Chhote Davan to choose war instead. What follows is a spiral of power plays, betrayals, and family implosion, pulling viewers back into a world where family, politics, and ambition are deeply entangled, and where control is never guaranteed. Bindiya Ke Bahubali 2 trailer Bindiya Ke Bahubali Season 2 brings back the beloved ensemble cast, including Saurabh Shukla, Ranvir Shorey, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Seema Biswas, Sushant Singh, Sheeba Chaddha, Sai Tamhankar, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Vineet Kumar, and Aakash Dahiya in key roles. The trailer wastes no time in raising the tension in Bindiya, hinting at a change in equations within the Davan household. With Bada Davan (Saurabh Shukla) out of the driver’s seat, Chhote Davan tries to run the empire his way, with a very different idea of leadership, and the result is chaos that spreads from the family to the streets. The trailer teases action-packed confrontations, shifting loyalties, and a town inching toward all-out war, as the Davans realise the biggest threat may not be the enemy outside, but the ambition within. Speaking about the return of the series, Amogh Dusad, Director & Head of Content, Amazon MX Player, shared, “At Amazon MX Player, we strive to tell stories that feel rooted and relatable while still being thoroughly entertaining. Bindiya Ke Bahubali is an unique series that combines crime with family conflict in a very organic way. Season 2 takes this world forward, with new challenges and shifting relationships. It stays true to the show’s mix of humour, quirky characters, and small-town swagger, but the stakes feel higher this time around. We’re excited to bring this next chapter to audiences.” Talking about the new season, Raj Amit Kumar, the director of Bindiya Ke Bahubali, shared, "Season 1 was comedy, but in the second season, comedy turns into tragedy. If the previous season was a set up, this one is about payoff. If Season 1 was the salt, Season 2 is the tequila shot. The conflicts are far more dangerous emotionally and morally. The power struggle within the family is no longer just political, it's intimate, volatile, and deeply human. I wanted Bindiya to feel like a pressure cooker where every “Bahubali” character is pushed to their breaking point, and the cooker explodes with irreversible consequences." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Amazon MX Player (@amazonmxplayer) Saurabh and Ranvir on Bindiya Ke Bahubali 2 Talking about reprising the role of Bada Davan, Saurabh Shukla said, “What makes this show a fan favourite is the emotional honesty beneath the chaos. These characters are flawed, powerful, and deeply human. Season 2 raises the stakes within the family, bringing in new conflicts, humour, and unexpected turns that push everyone to their limits.” Sharing his thoughts on stepping back into Chhote Davan’s shoes, Ranvir Shorey added, “What makes Bindiya Ke Bahubali interesting is the balance between chaos and comedy. Chhote believes power will finally earn him respect. What he doesn’t see is that every step he takes strips something away from him. Season 2 explores how ambition, when left unchecked, slowly turns into something monstrous. The trailer captures that mood well, and I think audiences will enjoy watching how the family dynamics evolve this season.”
16 January,2026 01:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor and comedian Sunil Grover has won hearts on social media, this time not because of his fine humour or acting, but by showcasing his grounded nature. The actor recently shared a video on his social media account, where he was seen sitting on the floor and making rotis (Indian flatbread) on a traditional ‘chulha’ (wood-fired stove or clay stove) like a pro. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sunil Grover (@whosunilgrover) In the video, Sunil Grover is seen kneading the dough, shaping it into perfectly round rotis, and roasting them directly over the open flame of the chulha like a boss. A lot of fans in the comments section mentioned how Sunil aced making rotis, that too on a traditional chulha like a pro. Sharing the video, Sunil Grover wrote, “Friends Roti kha lo …” The actor who is known for his fine acting and mimicry talent, has an impeccable sense of humour, something that his social media posts screams loud of. For example, Sunil had wished Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on his 61st birthday with a humourous caption. He wrote, “Thanks for your wishes everyone. Today it’s not 30-30. It’s only 60. Cheers!” marking his trademark wit. Another funny caption read, “Remember you are never alone, there is always a videographer.” Another post carried the line, “Jab munna India main sota hai, Tab America main din hota hai” Sunil wrote it alongside a picture of himself while in the US. On the work front, Sunil Grover is currently seen in The Great Indian Kapil Show, which streams on Netflix. The actor has reunited with Kapil Sharma after several years. 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 January,2026 12:05 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSFor Raghav M Jairath, directing Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web, a thriller set in the world of customs officers, was not about sensationalising crime. Neither was it about simplifying smuggling into a binary of good versus evil. “It’s a collision of both crime and systemic failure. Crime exploits gaps, but those gaps exist because systems are stretched. Many honest officers aren’t just fighting criminals; they are fighting fatigue, bureaucracy, pressure, and isolation. That became a part of the storytelling,” says Jairath, who has co-directed the Emraan Hashmi and Sharad Kelkar-starrer with creator Neeraj Pandey. The Netflix series is Jairath’s latest collaboration with Pandey over their 10-year association. He admits that working with the filmmaker has influenced his directorial instincts. He recalls a particular instance. “I once pushed for more exposition in a scene, and Neeraj pushed for silence. That guidance taught me the power of what’s left unsaid.” As he aimed to build a realistic world for Taskaree, Jairath was certain that exaggerated performances had no place in his storytelling, making Hashmi the perfect fit. He adds, “Emraan is deeply prepared but instinctive. He comes in knowing the spine of a scene, and then stays open to the moment.” Neeraj Pandey and Raghav M Jairath’s collaborations:. ‘Baby’ . ‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ . ‘Toilet: Ek Prem Katha’ . ‘Special Ops’. ‘Special Ops 1.5’ . ‘Secrets of The Buddha Relics’
16 January,2026 06:36 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIdris Elba shared that he "wasn't sure" if the magic of Hijack season 1 could be recreated. Elba spoke about the next instalment in the series and revealed he had a few reservations about continuing past the self-contained first season, which unfolded in real time, as reported by People. "It's a complex show to make," the Luther actor tells People magazine. "It was really good, and people really loved it. And can we do it again? I wasn't sure. As much as I loved the character, sometimes you've just got to move on, but I was really sort of compelled to see how we could do it and see if we can do it again, do it well, keep what the audience loved of the first season alive," People reported. Season 1 of Hijack, which earned Elba an Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nomination at the 2024 Emmys, followed Sam Nelson (Elba), a corporate negotiator, as he found himself on a hijacked plane. The second season finds Sam in the middle of an equally dangerous and unpredictable predicament, but this time he's aboard an underground train full of passengers in Berlin. Elba said that as an actor, he faced a similar challenge filming season 2 as he did in season 1. He opened up about "the challenge is really trying to make an eight-hour flight or a six-hour train journey or whatever it is, keep that alive over six months." "That's challenging for many reasons," he continued. "Six months is a long amount of time to be in one moment or the moment of several hours. And so that was challenging, just trying to stay in that tension mode for so long," as quoted by People. Elba adds that it was equally important for him to keep "a through line of why" his character makes the choices he makes as the season unfolds. "What he's going through, where was he, who is he, what is he doing, all those things," he said. "But the truth is the script had all those answers. And as an actor, I would just plug into that." "But oftentimes I had to ask myself or ask the director, 'What's just happened? Where are we? Who are we?' he continues. "And I think that's the main challenge, just making sure that there's a golden thread for the performance that makes sense." "As an actor, from a performance perspective, there's a lot there to chew on and get involved with, which I really enjoy doing," he added.. Elba shared, "But I really want the audience in the second season to, you know, naturally go in with scrutiny and be like, 'What? Hijack 2? That can't possibly happen again to this man, but here we are,'" as quoted by People. Hijack premieres with two episodes on Wednesday, January 14, on Apple TV. New episodes will debut on Wednesdays until the finale on March 4. 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
15 January,2026 12:32 PM IST | Washington DC | ANIAmruta Khanvilkar has started 2026 on a strong note. It has only been a day since Taskaree: The Smuggler’s Web dropped on Netflix, and the actor is already gearing up for Space Gen: Chandrayaan. Even as she moves from one series to another, her manifestation for 2026 is clear — to be a part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s universe. She reveals that she had a conversation with the filmmaker after the release of her Marathi movie, Chandramukhi (2022). “Sanjay Leela Bhansali sir really liked the film and my songs in it. This is what I’m manifesting in 2026 — to get an opportunity to work with him and be in a frame that he has directed,” she says. As she sends the wish out into the universe, Khanvilkar is equally pleased with what the present is offering her, especially in terms of the varied roles. If in Taskaree, she plays a feisty customs officer, the upcoming JioHotstar series features her as a homemaker. She notes that even though her character is mellowed down, the makers gave her enough to chew on. “I have to credit the writers [Arunabh Kumar, Shubham Sharma, and Nitin Tiwari], because when the role is written beautifully, an actor just has to go and do her job. When a writer crafts a good scene, they give an actor that space to perform.” The actor’s latest offering: ‘Taskaree’
15 January,2026 11:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaA billion dreams fell silent the night Chandrayaan-2 lost contact just 2.1 km from the moon’s surface. As the world watched, India was written off in an instant. The failure was public. The blame was loud. Today, JioHotstar launches the trailer of Space Gen: Chandrayaan, a powerful, deeply human series inspired by real events that tells the untold story behind one of India’s greatest scientific comebacks, where failure became fuel, and resilience rewrote history. The five-episode series will release on JioHotstar on January 23, 2026. Space Gen Chandryayaan trailer The trailer takes viewers inside that moment of reckoning, rooms filled with silence, careers hanging in the balance, and belief tested under the harshest spotlight. When the newly appointed ISRO chief makes the bold decision to trust the same team once again, the journey toward redemption begins. What follows is not just a return to the launchpad, but a deeply emotional, scientific, and national comeback that leads India to a historic first landing on the lunar South Pole. View this post on Instagram A post shared by JioHotstar (@jiohotstar) Produced by The Viral Fever (TVF) and directed by Anant Singh, Space Gen: Chandrayaan is a restrained, character-driven drama that shifts the lens from spectacle to the people behind the mission, their relentless passion, personal sacrifices, and unwavering belief in starting again. The series stars Nakuul Mehta, Shriya Saran, Danish Sait, Prakash Belawadi, and Gopal Datt, bringing authenticity and emotional depth to a story that celebrates second chances and the courage to rise when the world doubts you. As trust is rebuilt and redemption is earned, Space Gen: Chandrayaan reminds us that progress is not shaped by perfection but by the courage to learn from failure and begin again. The cast speaks about the project Nakuul Mehta, who leads the series, said, “Space Gen: Chandrayaan changed the way I look at success and failure. This story isn’t about the moment the signal drops, it’s about what happens the morning after, when you still have to show up, take responsibility, and start again. Playing someone who carries both the weight of a mistake and the courage to fix it was deeply grounding for me as an actor & a human. It’s a privilege to be part of a series that celebrates resilience in its quietest, most human form." Shriya Saran said, “This role required a different kind of strength, quiet, composed, and deeply internal. Portraying someone at the heart of such a high-stakes mission made me reflect on the emotional cost of ambition and the sacrifices that often go unseen. Space Gen: Chandrayaan isn’t just about reaching the moon; it’s about the people who carry that dream within them every day. It celebrates the power of coming together and the resilience required to achieve something extraordinary for our nation. I hope audiences connect with the heart of this story as much as we loved bringing it to life.” Prakash Belawadi added, “What drew me to this series was its honesty. It doesn’t romanticise success or shy away from failure. It shows the weight of leadership, accountability, and belief at moments when doubt is overwhelming. These are stories we rarely get to see, and Space Gen: Chandrayaan tells them with sincerity and restraint. I’m proud to be part of something so rooted and real.” Failure watched them fall. History watched them rise. Watch Space Gen: Chandrayaan streaming from January 23, 2026, only on JioHotstar.
14 January,2026 01:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActors Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia and Mouni Roy have wrapped up the shoot for their upcoming thriller series Hisaab, the makers announced on Tuesday. The project, which will stream on Amazon MX Player, recently concluded filming after two elaborate schedules and has now entered post-production, a source close to production said. "The camaraderie between Nimrit and Mouni wasn't just off camera; it strengthened their performances. Their comfort with each other added layers to the narrative, making their on-screen dynamic one of the most compelling aspects of the series," the insider said. Described Hisaab as a gripping murder mystery, the series will also feature Shaheer Shaikh, Sanjay Kapoor, Avinash Mishra and Harman Singha. Ahluwalia is best known for appearing in reality shows such as Bigg Boss 16 and Khatron Ke Khiladi 14. She was most recently seen in Shaunki Sardar, which marked her debut in Punjabi cinema. Roy last featured in the action espionage thriller series Salakar, alongside Naveen Kasturia and Mukesh Rishi. 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
14 January,2026 10:50 AM IST | Mumbai | PTIThe beginning of 2026 has brought the end of a chapter for Shweta Tripathi. On January 10, the actor wrapped up the shoot of Mirzapur: The Film in Mumbai. Looking back on the months-long shoot that saw original cast members Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Rasika Dugal, Divyenndu and Harshita Gaur reprise their roles from the Prime Video crime drama series, Shweta says the experience felt less like returning to a franchise and more like catching up with family. “People keep calling it a film version, but for us, it didn’t feel like a format shift. It felt like a natural extension of the story we’ve been living with for so long. The scale and the grammar change, but the emotional spine remains the same,” she said. Originally created by Karan Anshuman and Puneet Krishna, Mirzapur gave Shweta one of the biggest web series of her career. But there’s something bigger that the series and now the film, directed by Gurmmeet Singh, have given her. “This show gave me my creative family. We’ve grown up together in this industry. We’ve failed, succeeded, and questioned ourselves; this film carries all of that history. Wrapping up the film feels emotional. When we wrapped the final schedule, there was a strange silence on set. No one wanted to say goodbye.”
14 January,2026 10:04 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIn the second season of Freedom at Midnight that is filled with earnest performances, Abhishek Banerjee’s cameo comes as a surprise. The actor plays a rioter, fuelled by revenge after having lost his pregnant wife to communal conflict, who eventually surrenders himself to Gandhi in showrunner and director Nikkhil Advani’s series. Anyone watching the sequence will be reminded of Om Puri’s character in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982), in which the late actor played a rioter, Nahari, who tells Gandhi to end his hunger strike. Interestingly, talking to mid-day, Banerjee revealed that stepping into the role was his way of paying homage to Puri. Abhishek Banerjee in the second season of ‘Freedom at Midnight’ “Playing this cameo in Freedom at Midnight 2 was never about the size of the role for me. It was about what it stood for. Om Puri saab is someone I have admired immensely — for his craft, fearlessness, and the dignity he brought to every character. Stepping into a space that echoes a role he once played felt like a quiet tribute to his legacy,” shared the actor. Admitting that he has a long journey before he can match Puri’s craft, he added, “This remains my heartfelt tribute to him.” Om Puri in ‘Gandhi’ Banerjee, who appears in the third episode, shot for the portion with co-star Chirag Vohra in August 2024. Even when he was approached by Advani for the brief role, the actor understood that it came with immense responsibility since the character was associated with Puri in public memory. But it wasn’t a pressure he carried to the set. Banerjee added, “There can never be a replacement for Om Puri saab, and I’d never see it that way. For me, it was about approaching the role with sincerity and restraint, qualities he embodied so effortlessly. Even though it’s a cameo, there is an emotional weight attached to it, and I wanted to honour that with honesty.” ThirdThe episode in which Abhishek Banerjee’s character appears amid the Calcutta riots Did you know? ‘Gandhi’ (1982), led by Ben Kingsley, won eight Academy Awards out of its 11 nominations
14 January,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
