Rajeev Siddhartha on his relationship with Kirti Kulhari: "We bonded over acting and spirituality"
10:20 AM
Neha Maheshwri (BOMBAY TIMES; August 27, 2026)
Rajeev Siddhartha and Kirti Kulhari may have occasionally shared glimpses of each other on social media, but they have largely kept their relationship away from public conversations. In an exclusive chat with us, Rajeev confirms that they have been together for around a year and a half.
Rajeev, who was recently seen in Musafir Cafe, shares, “We were introduced on the sets of Four More Shots Please! in 2017, and it’s quite funny that we hardly spoke to each other then. Perhaps it was because I’m an introvert and she tends to keep to herself as well. It was only during the last leg of the final season that we discovered each other. Perhaps we had to go through our individual journeys before we could meet at the right time. Maybe our frequencies match now. We like to keep our private lives private, but we don’t censor ourselves either. If we feel like sharing something, we do. Ultimately, we just want to live a normal life.”
Their shared interests have become an important part of their bond, particularly their love for acting and spirituality.
He says, “People may think they understand what an actor’s life is like, but only an actor truly knows how uncertain, exciting and, at times, difficult it can be. Kirti and I understand each other because we are in this field for the right reasons. We bonded over acting and spirituality, and both remain a big part of our conversations. We talk about performances and films because we genuinely enjoy them; for us, it isn’t just work. We both love the craft, and everything else that comes with it is secondary to us.”
Their shared profession, however, has not made their approaches to acting alike. “We have different perspectives and approaches to acting, and we respect each other’s space. If I ask her for advice, she gives it to me, and vice versa. Because of my theatre background, I enjoy rehearsing my lines irrespective of the project, even when I’m driving, walking or at the market. She sometimes tells me to relax, and I take that advice too,” he says with a smile, adding, “Kirti has just completed her first production, and we are both acting in it. She had her process and I had mine, but when we came together for our scenes, the result was beautiful. As long as the final performance is truthful, there is no need to interfere with each other’s process.”
For Rajeev, a relationship is also about retaining a sense of self while being present for the other person through life’s highs and lows.
He shares, “You can’t look for completeness in another person. You have to be complete within yourself, and perhaps only then can you find someone who is right for you. Both of us have learnt that life is not always a bed of roses. There will be ups and downs, and it is important not to become too elated when things are going well or too despondent when they are not. When one of us has a difficult moment, we are there for each other, offering support and perspective.”
I don’t like this fast food wala concept where love is treated like a hot meal-Kashmera Shah
10:13 AM
Tanvi Trivedi (BOMBAY TIMES; August 26, 2026)
Kashmera Shah recently shared her thoughts on social media about marriages breaking down and young people losing faith in the institution. Coincidentally, this post came at a time when there have been reports of trouble in Govinda and Sunita Ahuja’s marriage. When we asked Kashmera if her post was in reference to the couple, she said, “No, it was not connected with them at all.”
Elaborating on what prompted her post, she said, “I just felt that in today’s world of social media with apps that allow you to fall in love or date people, the idea of love has just faded out.” The biggest change is the growing impatience around love, pointed out Kashmera. “I don’t like this fast food wala concept where love is treated like a hot meal,” she added.
The actress also recalled a recent moment during her trip to the US that touched her. “We were by the pool and saw somebody taking the effort to make a heart in the sky. It was so endearing. Such gestures stand out because they represent the effort and romance that are increasingly missing from modern relationships. Every day, whenever I open any social media platform, I hear about somebody breaking up. It’s disheartening to see youngsters today not believe in the institution of marriage or even in the institution of chasing or wooing someone,” she said.
‘We do not feel the need to share every aspect of our lives online’
Talking about social media, the actress said that she and husband Krushna Abhishek prefer to keep their relationship private. “We do not feel the need to share every aspect of our lives online. We both were in America recently, but did not post a single picture,” she said, adding, “We click pictures for ourselves. We don’t click it for our fans or other people. We feel it’s not important for people to know our every move because it’s our life and our business. We don’t need constant validation from the virtual world.”
The difference between the enemy and you is that you are dignified, you are graceful-dil Hussain
9:56 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; August 25, 2026)
When the Golden Arrows Squadron of the Indian Air Force pulled off what became the world’s highest-altitude air operation, they changed the course of the Kargil War. Air Marshal Vinod Patney (retd), who served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Air Command during the 1999 war, was awarded the Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal (SYSM) for his leadership. In the series Operation Safed Sagar, Adil Hussain plays the officer – delivering a performance marked by a commanding ease.
In a conversation with us, Adil spoke about the series, what it took to step into the role, and how he found the human being behind a senior officer’s uniform.
‘I said I would read the entire script and decide whether to be part of it or not’
Before Adil agreed to play Air Marshal Patney, he had a few questions. “‘Is it a hyper-jingoistic thing? There would be a bit of jingoism or violence because it’s a war story. But are we glorifying it? Or are we showing it so that people do not get inspired to become violent?’ These were the questions I had,” he says. “I said I would read the entire script and decide whether to be part of it or not,” he tells us, adding, “And after reading two or three episodes, I realized it was very different. So I was very sure about Operation Safed Sagar from the beginning.”
‘60% of the success of this series is because the creator is a former Air Force officer’
Adil credits much of the show’s realistic portrayal to the Air Force consultants. “Of course it makes a huge difference,” he explains, “The nuances, the details of their lives, the technicalities, the way they behave, look, think about their relationship between them and their aircraft, the way someone cleans the aircraft – all these things, when you see them by yourself, make a huge difference. When you have access to the actual people, actual aircraft, actual machinery, the person who comes and cleans the hangar, the person who works in the canteen, how the senior airmen behave, how they have fun and how they carry themselves in every aspect of their airfield – it’s a huge advantage.”
Besides, it traces back to one person: co-creator Kushal Srivastava, who served in the Air Force himself before becoming a creator. “I would say almost 50%, or maybe 60%, of the success of this particular series is because Kushal Srivastava is from the Air Force,” he emphasizes.
‘I had the advantage of playing the role, not the character’
Air Marshal Patney’s Sarvottam Yudh Seva Medal makes him a decorated figure within the Air Force, but he is not a face familiar to the public. An actor playing him cannot draw on decades of footage and public memory. “I had the advantage of playing the role, not the character. There is a difference. Characters are defined by the characteristics of the person. The role is defined by what role this person has played in the entire thing,” shares Adil.
He elaborates, “He has this no-nonsense attitude, an absolutely dedicated person. I did not imitate him. I didn’t have to look like him, I didn’t have to walk like him. But the inner attitude – his sincerity, dedication and absolute masterful understanding of strategic warfare – these are universal qualities of any great leader. I embodied that.”
He reaches for a comparison outside military drama: Invictus (2009), in which Morgan Freeman played Nelson Mandela. For Adil, Freeman’s performance offered a useful lesson in approaching a real-life figure without becoming an imitation of them.
“Morgan Freeman never wanted to look like Nelson Mandela. He played the role, and I think it’s one of the best depictions of Nelson Mandela, in spite of him not looking like or behaving like him or sounding like him. So I took a similar artistic decision. I’m not going to imitate him. I will play the role – a person who embodies all these great qualities of a leader, which is called the archetype,” Adil tells us.
‘The Air Force personnel gave me access to sit in the pilot seat & look at the console'
Filming at Air Force stations came with its own discipline. He recalls, “I shoot in Mumbai all the time, and suddenly I get to know that there’s an Air Force Station in Madh Island. And then you’re there and everything is confiscated at the gate. There are strictly enforced rules that no photography is allowed. In hindsight, we were really happy to be in each other’s company. We could dedicate our time to preparing for the scenes that were coming up.”
The warmth, he says, went both ways. “The kind of warmth that all the Air Force personnel had, whether at Madh Island or Chandigarh Air Force Station, was wonderful. They had all seen my films, so they were very sweet. They came to take photos and sometimes gave me access to sit in the pilot seat and look at the console. That was amazing.”
The officers, watching a shoot unfold for the first time, came away with new respect. “They were also realizing how hard it is to make a series. They were telling us, ‘Oh my God, we didn’t know it was so hard. You stand in the sun for hours and take one shot’. I was like – yes, it is,” he laughs.
‘Dignity, grace are disappearing... It is important to inspire that’
If there’s a word viewers and Adil return to more than any other in explaining why the portrayal landed, it’s dignity. Adil explains, “The difference between the enemy and you is that you are dignified, you are graceful. You do not behave the way your enemy would. That is the difference: you do not fall from your grace, and yet you protect your country with utmost dedication. That is one of the strengths of this series.”
He extends the thought well past the show itself. “Dignity and grace have been lost, or are slowly disappearing from human society in every part of the world. So it is important to bring about, or inspire, or fill in the aspiration of people to walk towards a higher quality of human beings – dignity, grace, compassion, dedication, honesty, serving with absolute sincerity, whatever you do, whether you are an actor, a farmer, an airman, a military person, a doctor or a teacher.”
When Imtiaz Ali told his father he didn’t want to do UPSC
9:45 AM
Kimberly Colaco (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 26, 2026)
That Goa trip with friends — the one you keep talking about and social media never seems to stop talking about — has become almost a tradition. Even filmmaker Imtiaz Ali has a memorable Goa trip of his own, which he recently shared at the launch of the state’s first community radio station in Panaji on Saturday.
Imtiaz’s first trip to Goa was in 1993, after he and his friends earned some money by staging a play. With their first earnings in hand, they decided to head to Goa. “That was our first earning. I hired a bike and went to all kinds of places. That was the craze of being in Goa,” the Main Vaapas Aaunga director recalled.
‘You choose the line of your choice but do the best in it’
But the trip also coincided with a significant moment in his life. While his father believed he was studying in Delhi, Imtiaz was beginning to question the conventional career path he was expected to follow. Around the same time, he had told his father that he did not want to pursue the UPSC examination or become an IAS officer.
“My father had no clue about this trip, as I was supposed to be studying in Delhi for UPSC. But at the same time, I had told my father that I didn’t want to do UPSC and be an IAS officer,” he said.
Instead of discouraging him, his father gave him the freedom to choose his own path. “My father became a very important person to me. He was the one who supported me and said, ‘You choose the line of your choice but do the best in it,’" Imtiaz recalled.
Imtiaz was speaking at the launch of Goa’s first community radio station in Panaji, where he was joined by actor Rahul Bose and actress Bhumi Pednekkar.
I don’t want to be tied to one show like a bandhua mazdoor-Rakesh Bedi
9:39 AM
Neha Maheshwri (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 25, 2026)
With Jameel Jamali in Dhurandhar adding another memorable character to his repertoire, Rakesh Bedi is enjoying a phase where he can move freely between films, OTT and theatre. While the veteran actor continues to make occasional appearances in Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah and also in the recently concluded Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!, he has little inclination to return to the 25-day-a-month grind of a daily soap.
He says, “I make appearances in Taarak Mehta mainly because I also want to remain relevant to today’s generation. But I can’t commit 25 days a month to one show anymore. Main bandhua mazdoor nahi banna chahta. Why should I give 25 days to one thing when I can do 20 other things? I do theatre, write plays, direct, travel, do films and OTT projects, and also take lectures on acting. Everything would have to be put on hold if I were stuck with one project indefinitely.”
The financial security and visibility that television offers are not priorities for Bedi. He adds, “I just want to satisfy my hunger as an actor. Money is not everything. Maybe I am earning less than what others are earning, but I don’t mind that.”
His 48-year association with theatre has shaped his approach to acting and continues to inform the way he builds his characters.
He recalls, “For my show, Shrimaan Shrimati, the note sent by the director and writer was simply that he was a henpecked husband. But taking it beyond that and making the character memorable is an actor’s job. What comes into play in all these things is my theatre background of 48 years, without a single gap in any month. Meri life mein koi aisa mahina nahi hai jab maine manch par kadam nahi rakha, except during COVID. Theatre allows you to experiment a lot.”
(Crisp) Movie Review: BETHLEHEM KUDUMBA UNIT by FENIL SETA
9:33 AM
Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is a recently-released Malayalam film which is making waves for its content and box office. The film is directed by Girish A D of Premalu fame and is yet another light-hearted, sweet, family entertainer. Its biggest strength is its simplicity. The characters are extremely relatable and the humour quotient is strong. A few scenes would raise lots of laughs. Meanwhile, the love story is beautifully executed. The conflict that occurs, however, is not fully captivating. But the finale makes up for it. Nivin Pauly is excellent in the lead. He brings out the alpha-male side of his character very well, in a way that feels different from the loud, testosterone-heavy heroes we often see in films nowadays. Mamitha Baiju, as always, delivers a very impressive performance. Sangeeth Prathap (Joel) rocks the show. Shyam Mohan (Hari) is over the top but his special appearance works. Suresh Krishna (Baiju), Vinay Forrt (Alex), Bindu Panicker (Sister Cicily) and Parvathy Ayyappadas (Sayooja) leave a huge mark. All in all, Bethlehem Kudumba Unit is one of the best films of the year and shouldn't be missed.
My rating - **** out of 5!
My rating - **** out of 5!
Tamil film producers put releases on hold over 'streaming' row
11:03 AM
To halt new releases from Sept; producers & exhibitors disagree on 8-week theatrical time
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; August 27, 2026)
Theatrical window—the period for which a film is exhibited in a theatre before its release on streaming platforms—has once again emerged as a point of friction between exhibitors and producers.
In Tamil Nadu, in the past few days, producers and exhibitors are on opposite sides about increasing the theatrical window of Tamil films to eight weeks from four. Consequently, producers have said that no new Tamil film will be released in theatres in Tamil Nadu from September 1. They also said film shootings and post-production works for existing films will stop from September 1.
But film trade analysts and industry veterans in the state are hopeful that an amicable solution is likely to emerge in the next week.
A consensus is steadily developing within the state that producers and exhibitors may agree for an eight-week theatrical window for new Tamil films that have not locked streaming deals, Chennai-based film trade analysts and industry veterans said.
"I am hopeful that this issue will be resolved. There are more than 30,000 daily film workers working in the state. So, there is a labour issue also. I am hoping that both parties agree to an eight-week window for fresh films which have not locked OTT deals," said Ramesh Bala, a Chennai-based entertainment sector analyst.
According to box office research firm Ormax Media, between January and July 2026, Tamil films contributed 13% to India’s box office collection.
In the past five years, southern film industries have been following a four-week theatrical window. In contrast with this, the theatrical window in the Hindi film industry has been eight weeks.
Of late, exhibitors in Tamil Nadu have been demanding assurance from producers to increase their theatrical window to eight weeks from four. They argued that their business was being impacted on two counts. One is a lower theatrical window reduces the business potential of a film to only four weeks. And the other is the pre-release streaming platforms deals of producers. Since audiences know before a film’s theatrical release its streaming release, they postpone their visit to theatres, exhibitors said.
But producers pointed out that increasing theatrical window impacts prices at which they sell digital rights to streamers. ‘A long theatrical window means streamers pay lower prices for films and producers lose money in the bargain," said film producer S R Prabhu. Producers have been recovering either full or a large part of their investments from the sale of digital rights of their films to streamers.
Producers also said exhibitors cannot guarantee them a full eight week run for films in theatres if their films do not perform well.
The discrepancy in the practice of theatrical window for southern and Hindi films has been another concern for producers who make pan-India films.
"The wider issue is that holdback periods are not uniform across languages. A pan-India film can end up with two different holdback windows. One is around 28 days for the original southern language. And the other is 56 days for the dubbed Hindi version under the understanding between the multiplex association and Hindi producer bodies," pointed out Anushree Rauta, equity partner, head, media & entertainment practice, at law firm ANM Global.
To deal with this challenge, producers skip the Hindi theatrical release entirely. So, they give up box office revenue to protect a streaming platform deal.
An industry veteran shared that in a meeting with exhibitors a proposal was made for making the eight-week rule effective from January 1, 2027, for films that begin production after that date. But the suggestion was rejected.
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 949
11:27 PM
TOXIC HAS A RECORD FIRST DAY; WILL IT HOLD OVER THE WEEKEND?
The much-awaited film, Toxic, finally released on Wednesday, August 26, and opened with a bang. The Hindi version was expected to open in the range of Rs. 40 crores. Trade and industry had ruled out that the Hindi version would cross the day 1 of KGF - Chapter 2’s Hindi version, which was Rs. 52.50 crores. However, Toxic’s Hindi version did the unthinkable. It managed to earn Rs. 53.50 crores. The support from the mass centres has been extraordinary, leading to such a huge number. The collections in the original Kannada version were record-breaking. The all-India gross from all languages was around Rs. 115-120 crores.
Thursday, August 27 was a working day. As a result, a drop was expected. But the film dropped more than expected. In Hindi, the collections came down by more than 50% as it collected around Rs. 23-25 crores. The drop was even more for all-India and all-languages, around 70%.
A big reason for this drop is said to be word of mouth. Most viewers have criticized the film’s content, especially the climax. Yet, such a big drop was expected on Monday, not on the second day.
The Hindi version is holding up the best. Tomorrow is a partial holiday due to Raksha Bandhan. That may help in some way, and the weekend, too, would prove beneficial. However, the Thursday trend suggests that another shot at Rs. 50 crore in a day won’t be possible. On its fourth day, KGF - Chapter 2’s Hindi version had earned around Rs. 50 crores, as the reports were encouraging. That sadly is not the case here.
All eyes are now on Monday. That would be the real test and would indicate what the film’s lifetime would be.
The much-awaited film, Toxic, finally released on Wednesday, August 26, and opened with a bang. The Hindi version was expected to open in the range of Rs. 40 crores. Trade and industry had ruled out that the Hindi version would cross the day 1 of KGF - Chapter 2’s Hindi version, which was Rs. 52.50 crores. However, Toxic’s Hindi version did the unthinkable. It managed to earn Rs. 53.50 crores. The support from the mass centres has been extraordinary, leading to such a huge number. The collections in the original Kannada version were record-breaking. The all-India gross from all languages was around Rs. 115-120 crores.
Thursday, August 27 was a working day. As a result, a drop was expected. But the film dropped more than expected. In Hindi, the collections came down by more than 50% as it collected around Rs. 23-25 crores. The drop was even more for all-India and all-languages, around 70%.
A big reason for this drop is said to be word of mouth. Most viewers have criticized the film’s content, especially the climax. Yet, such a big drop was expected on Monday, not on the second day.
The Hindi version is holding up the best. Tomorrow is a partial holiday due to Raksha Bandhan. That may help in some way, and the weekend, too, would prove beneficial. However, the Thursday trend suggests that another shot at Rs. 50 crore in a day won’t be possible. On its fourth day, KGF - Chapter 2’s Hindi version had earned around Rs. 50 crores, as the reports were encouraging. That sadly is not the case here.
All eyes are now on Monday. That would be the real test and would indicate what the film’s lifetime would be.
Toxic collects 53.50 cr on Day 1 in Hindi
3:19 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
TOXIC (Hindi) has recorded an outstanding first day of around 53.50 crore nett which is far higher than expectation not only pre release but what it looked like coming out yesterday as the collections coming from mass circuits are simply outstanding. Shockingly, Bihar has set an all time record beating the phenomenal record of PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE. The single screen figures in the circuit are at a level which is unthinkable though Eid has helped. CP Berar is closing on in 4 crore and here there has been a limited Eid affect. Both single screen dominated circuits are out of the roof.
The collections has edged past KGF - CHAPTER 2 but that is down to the figures in South as the Hindi version here has put up almost 1 crore nett more than what the 2022 Yash starrer did in South and that is basically the difference between the two films. It sits as the highest non sequel film from the South by a distance as it doubles up the SAAHO figures.
If we take the all time list for Hindi films, then TOXIC will be the fifth highest opening ever after PATHAAN, JAWAN, PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE and DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE. The hero of the film, Yash, has managed to create a very strong market in the Hindi belts with the KGF films and the opening here proves that. Its not the sequel factor here like it was KGF - CHAPTER 2 and PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE. When the mass pockets get these results, it means stardom is there. The reports are not like KGF - CHAPTER 2 and PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE and yet, this opening has come.
There is an advantage of not coming from the Telugu film industry as it will enable the films when made at these costs to keep away from a South feel which is tougher for the Telugu lot of stars. This makes a big difference in terms of initial when its not a sequel. The reports of the film are not so great but momentum is there for the film and if the fall today is around 40% it would mean another very good day.
As the Hindi version has gone over 50 crore nett, the 100 crore nett all India figure is back in play but that will be known later. All in all, this is an outstanding result on the first day with the Hindi version being a stand out and that's what's needed with a budget like this.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day's near 500 cr lifetime may mean no King this Christmas
3:05 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is closing in on the 500 crore nett mark as it hits 475 crore nett plus in three weeks. Like AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER fell a little short of 400 crore nett, this film may fall a little short of 500 crore nett. But these are just pointless benchmarks for the media today as it hardly matters if its 490 or 500 crore.
The biggest takeaway from this will be is it will make it difficult for a big Hindi film to release this Christmas as AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY is a bigger film than SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY. KING is due for release for Christmas and obviously huge numbers will be expected. But its pretty much impossible to have any chance to meet those expectations if you release with AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY looking at the figures of SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY and where it has accumulated these collections from.
AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY will also be affected but there the studio will hardly care and India is not so important in the bigger scenario. The problem will be that the best markets of KING, be it South and the bigger centres will be the best markets for DOOMSDAY as well. If the Hindi film was for Gujarat, CI Rajasthan or even Punjab, then it would be lesser of an issue but its not the case here as these will be the under performers for KING and AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY.
At the moment, KING is set to arrive on Christmas but logically it looks pretty much impossible unless you take the call that AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY will fall flat but no one can do that. There is also DUNE: PART THREE on the same day and again its best markets will be same as KING and AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. A smaller Hindi film with lesser expectations targeting the Hindi mass belts can come but not a big budget film like KING. Basically KING should not come but they way this industry is functioning today, it does make some very bad decisions.
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