(Crisp) Movie Review: BHAI TERA STAR HAI by FENIL SETA
2:18 PM
Bhai Tera Star Hai is about madness that unfolds in the course of one night in London. All the takes in the film are 5 or 10 minutes long. For sometime, one does get impressed that the makers managed to pack so much action into scenes filmed in a single take. However, this good impression soon vanishes. There are barely any funny moments in the film. Hence, it becomes a task to sit through the film, even though it's just 105 minutes long. The goings-on get bizarre as it progresses and the film ends rather abruptly. Believe it or not, there are 3 end-credit songs played back-to-back! Raghav Juyal is amusing in a few scenes, but overall, his performance is too loud, possibly due to the script's requirement. Niharika NM (Roshni) and Tina Desai (Chandani) deliver effective performances. Sanjay Kapoor is aptly cast and tries his best to enhance the entertainment quotient. Barkha Singh (Laila), Parvathy Omanakuttan (Natasha) and Vivan Bhatena (Sid) are sincere. Vikalp Mehta (JD) is let down by his character. Niki Walia and Dev Agarwal (Jackie; younger brother) are just okay, while an actor like Chandan Roy Sanyal (Officer Hamid) fails to entice. All in all, Bhai Tera Star Hai is highly avoidable.
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
My rating - * ½ out of 5!
(Crisp) Movie Review: SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY by FENIL SETA
9:30 AM
Spider-Man: Brand New Day is different from the rest of the Spider-Man films and one can feel the difference from the very beginning. A fatigue had set in regarding action scenes in superhero films. In that regard, the film is quite fresh as the fight scenes are quite captivating. The cinematography is stunning; the close-up scenes of the superhero flying across New York make for a great watch. The emotional moments stand out, particularly in the first half. However, the interest level drops in the second half. A few plots are left underdeveloped. At times, the focus seems more on setting up the base for future MCU films than concentrating on the plot and conflict at hand. The previous Spider-Man films achieved a better balance. The entire track involving the Damage Control building is weak and unconvincing. Also, Spider-Man films are usually light-hearted, but this one is comparatively dark. An earlier Spider-Man film featuring a different actor had also ventured into this territory. However, even that film did not alter the tone quite so substantially. Speaking of performances, Tom Holland delivers his best Spider-Man act to date. One is moved by his plight and wants him to emerge victorious. Zendaya is adorable as MJ and shines in some key scenes. Jacob Batalon (Ned) is extremely likeable and one wishes he had more to do. Jon Bernthal (Punisher) delivers an entertaining performance. Mark Ruffalo is dependable as always. Liza Colón-Zayas (Jean DeWolff; detective) leaves a mark. Tramell Tillman (Bill Metzger) is okay and is let down by the script. The cameos are superb. All in all, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is not as fantastic as the previous 3 films of the superhero but it is nevertheless worth watching for its emotional and nail-biting moments, fresh action choreography and terrific performance by Tom Holland.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 945
10:41 AM
WILL SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY BREAK AVENGERS: ENDGAME’S LONG-STANDING DAY 1 RECORD?
Tomorrow, July 30, will see the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the excitement surrounding it is historic, to say the least. It has been a long time since a Hollywood film generated such widespread craze in India. The recently-released The Odyssey also witnessed a tremendous rush, but its demand was largely concentrated in urban centres. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, meanwhile, is attracting phenomenal interest across North, South, East and West India, and in urban centres and mass pockets alike.
The advance booking opened way back on June 17. In just 24 hours, 45,000 tickets for the film were sold, which proved that there was a huge demand to see the superhero flick. The expectation was that the film would open at around Rs. 40-45 crores. However, the demand kept on increasing as the release date neared. As a result, the film can now have an astonishing opening of more than Rs. 50 crores.
The trade and industry are now excited to see if it can beat the long-standing record of Avengers: Endgame. That film opened at Rs. 53.50 crores and since more than 7 years, it holds the record of the highest Hollywood opener of India. The craze for Avengers: Endgame was unbelievable and seems like Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also in the same boat.
It was said that there’s superhero fatigue, and it is indeed true. At the same time, Spider-Man stands out. He’s the most popular superhero in India, as every film of the series with different actors have worked big time. The films of Spider-Man are easy to understand and the character itself is youthful and entertaining, which is why he has an insane following.
The last Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, opened at Rs. 32.75 crores in lockdown time when cinemas operated at 50% occupancy. Hence, now that the situation is normal, it was a given that Spider-Man: Brand New Day would open with a bang. That it would challenge the numbers of Avengers: Endgame was not expected.
At present, Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third-biggest Hollywood opener in India, while the second spot is occupied by Avatar: The Way Of Water, which opened at Rs. 40 crores. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is certain to surpass this figure. The fourth and fifth positions are occupied by Avengers: Infinity War, which opened at Rs. 31.25 crores, and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, which collected Rs. 28.75 crores on its opening day, respectively. In short, four of the five films on the list belong to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Considering the craze for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, one can only imagine the kind of opening that Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18, could register. The MCU appears to be back in form, at least for now. If the studio plays its cards well, the subsequent films could also benefit from this renewed momentum and avoid the struggle to attract audiences that the franchise experienced over the last few years.
The top 5 biggest openers of Hollywood films in India
1. Avengers: Endgame - 53,50,00,000
2. Avatar: The Way Of Water - 40,00,00,000
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home - 32,75,00,000
4. Avengers: Infinity War - 31,25,00,000
5. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - 28,75,00,000
Tomorrow, July 30, will see the release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the excitement surrounding it is historic, to say the least. It has been a long time since a Hollywood film generated such widespread craze in India. The recently-released The Odyssey also witnessed a tremendous rush, but its demand was largely concentrated in urban centres. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, meanwhile, is attracting phenomenal interest across North, South, East and West India, and in urban centres and mass pockets alike.
The advance booking opened way back on June 17. In just 24 hours, 45,000 tickets for the film were sold, which proved that there was a huge demand to see the superhero flick. The expectation was that the film would open at around Rs. 40-45 crores. However, the demand kept on increasing as the release date neared. As a result, the film can now have an astonishing opening of more than Rs. 50 crores.
The trade and industry are now excited to see if it can beat the long-standing record of Avengers: Endgame. That film opened at Rs. 53.50 crores and since more than 7 years, it holds the record of the highest Hollywood opener of India. The craze for Avengers: Endgame was unbelievable and seems like Spider-Man: Brand New Day is also in the same boat.
It was said that there’s superhero fatigue, and it is indeed true. At the same time, Spider-Man stands out. He’s the most popular superhero in India, as every film of the series with different actors have worked big time. The films of Spider-Man are easy to understand and the character itself is youthful and entertaining, which is why he has an insane following.
The last Spider-Man film, Spider-Man: No Way Home, opened at Rs. 32.75 crores in lockdown time when cinemas operated at 50% occupancy. Hence, now that the situation is normal, it was a given that Spider-Man: Brand New Day would open with a bang. That it would challenge the numbers of Avengers: Endgame was not expected.
At present, Spider-Man: No Way Home is the third-biggest Hollywood opener in India, while the second spot is occupied by Avatar: The Way Of Water, which opened at Rs. 40 crores. Spider-Man: Brand New Day is certain to surpass this figure. The fourth and fifth positions are occupied by Avengers: Infinity War, which opened at Rs. 31.25 crores, and Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness, which collected Rs. 28.75 crores on its opening day, respectively. In short, four of the five films on the list belong to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).
Considering the craze for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, one can only imagine the kind of opening that Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for release on December 18, could register. The MCU appears to be back in form, at least for now. If the studio plays its cards well, the subsequent films could also benefit from this renewed momentum and avoid the struggle to attract audiences that the franchise experienced over the last few years.
The top 5 biggest openers of Hollywood films in India
1. Avengers: Endgame - 53,50,00,000
2. Avatar: The Way Of Water - 40,00,00,000
3. Spider-Man: No Way Home - 32,75,00,000
4. Avengers: Infinity War - 31,25,00,000
5. Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness - 28,75,00,000
Dhamaal 4 collects 145.54 cr in 17 days
9:29 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
DHAMAAL 4 continues to do well in its third weekend as it collects 12.50 crore nett with excellent growth on Saturday and Sunday. The film showed growth on its third Friday and then saw collections more than double on Saturday and followed with another near 30% jump on Sunday which is excellent.
The film now stands at over 145 crore nett and will be around 150 crore nett by the end of the week before SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY arrives. After a long time a Hollywood film is coming which can really put collections in the Hindi film circuits which will allow it have the one of the biggest openings ever for a Hollywood film. It could even challenge the biggest opening ever for a Hollywood film in India.
DHAMAAL 4 is probably looking at lifetime of 160-165 crore nett and whether its towards the lower end of this range or higher end will be determined where it stands when SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY arrives.
DHAMAAL 4 has got the second half of the year to a good start though overseas could have been better as it will beat in India but remain well short of TOTAL DHAMAAL in foreign markets. But that's where maybe the bigger cast of the TOTAL DHAMAAL came into play.
The collections of DHAMAAL 4 till date are as follows.
Week One - 94,91,00,000
Week Two - 38,13,00,000
Friday - 2,25,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 4,50,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 5,75,00,000 apprx
Third week - 12,50,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 1,45,54,00,000 apprx
Honey Trehan reveals why Diljit Dosanjh can't play Shiv Kumar Batalvi in biopic: "I can’t get him to smoke cigarettes"
9:22 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 28, 2026)
Even as Satluj, based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, remains banned, director Honey Trehan has turned his attention to his next passion project. The filmmaker has spent the past few years developing a biopic on legendary Punjabi poet and writer, Shiv Kumar Batalvi, and hopes to take the film on floors by the year-end. The big question then is: who will play the late poet?
As much as he would want his Satluj leading man Diljit Dosanjh to portray the role, that won’t be a possibility. “I really wish Diljit could play Shiv, but there is a technical problem. Shiv was a chain-smoker, and I can’t get Diljit to smoke cigarettes,” shared the director.
That said, the actor and musician will be part of the biopic in some capacity or the other. Trehan added, “Diljit will do something in the film, I don’t know what yet. He is such a pure soul. I want to have him [on the project] just for the right vibe.”
To develop the screenplay, the director travelled extensively across Punjab and met people who knew Batalvi personally. The result — he has created an intimate portrait of the poet, who was known for his poems on love, separation, and longing.
“I met such great people who are in their 90s; someone has an oxygen mask, someone is bedridden. But when you speak to them about Shiv, they get teary-eyed. They take pride that they were so close to Shiv, and that finally somebody is making [a film] on him.”
Salman Khan steps up to aid Assam flood victims with relief drive
9:21 AM
As Assam battles one of its worst floods, Salman Khan teams up with his fan club in the state to distribute food; Bhumi Pednekkar provides ration and hygiene kits
Upala KBR, Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 28, 2026)
Devastation and destruction have gripped Assam over the past 10 days, as the state has been battling one of its worst floods in recent years. In the wake of the floods, members of the Hindi film industry have begun mobilising relief efforts on the ground. mid-day has learnt that Salman Khan, who has been shooting Vamshi Paidipally’s yet-untitled next in Mumbai, has been coordinating with his fan club in Assam to distribute food and essential supplies to the state’s worst-hit areas.
A source close to the actor told mid-day, “He connected with the Salman Khan Fan Club [SKFC] Assam and planned a phased process to aid the affected.”
In the first phase of the initiative, Khan’s NGO Being Human has joined forces with the SKFC Assam to distribute ready-to-eat food packets in Sivasagar, from Guwahati.
“Each packet consists of biscuits, jaggery, poha, puffed rice, bread, cheese, and jam. Salman’s priority is to make sure families have enough food to last for at least three days until the situation improves,” added the source.
They are also distributing sanitary pads, mosquito coils, drinking water, and water purification tablets.
The second phase, to be started next week, will focus on distribution of ration kits and medicines. In the final phase, Being Human will undertake the responsibility of reconstructing schools and hospitals in severely affected areas.
Actor Bhumi Pednekkar has also extended support by partnering with Bharat Disaster Relief Foundation (BDRF), which is currently providing ration kits, hygiene kits, drinking water, and other essential supplies to families in Sivasagar.
A source said, “When Bhumi found out that BDRF was driving relief efforts in Assam, she partnered with the non-profit organization.”
Akshay Oberoi opens up on being the only male Bollywood actor in Yash's Toxic
9:19 AM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; July 28, 2026)
Having Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups, one of the biggest releases of the year, in his kitty is a matter of pride for Akshay Oberoi. The actor also finds himself in a rare position with the Yash-starrer — Oberoi is the only male Bollywood actor in the ensemble that boasts prominent female actors from Hindi and South cinema.
Counting himself lucky to be part of a cast that has Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Kiara Advani, Tara Sutaria, and Rukmini Vasanth, the actor said, “It’s not every day that you walk into a film where you’re the only male Bollywood actor surrounded by such extraordinary women. It’s an honour to share the screen with performers who have built such incredible careers.”
According to Oberoi, Geetu Mohandas’s directorial venture is a reflection of the industry’s changing dynamics. “Language, region, and industry labels don’t matter anymore. Toxic has artistes from every corner of the country,” he added.
Delhi High Court directs removal of Kala Hiran teaser after Salman Khan’s plea
9:17 AM
Niharika Lal (BOMBAY TIMES; July 28, 2026)
The Delhi High Court has directed the takedown of the teaser of the proposed movie Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy.’ The court told producer Amit Jani, “You can’t do this even to a common man. It cannot get worse than this even for a common man.”
The court added, “Either take them (the promotional material) off yourself, or I am going to direct you to do that with strong objections. Every minute it (the teaser) is in the public domain, it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff here. I was mild with you, but you are incorrigible.”
The film reportedly depicts Salman Khan and also portrays the 1998 alleged Black Buck poaching case pending against him.
Setting a 24-hour deadline, Justice Jyoti Singh stated she would order the removal of social media links to the teaser, along with interviews given by the producer regarding Khan and the film. She made it clear that if the producer fails to take down the material, the court will instruct major platforms, including YouTube and X, to step in and remove it.
The court was hearing a plea filed by Khan seeking the protection of his personality rights. The counsel for Jani argued that he had never claimed Khan acted in the film and had merely responded to questions during interviews. Jani maintained that the teaser neither names Khan nor uses deepfake or AI technology. He contended that there is no exclusive protection against depicting public events.
“This is only a teaser, how is his personality getting infringed by this?” he submitted. The court disagreed with the stand taken by the producer and said that this must stop. Justice Jyoti Singh said, “Reputation once lost is lost. You’re linking him (Salman Khan) with LB (Lawrence Bishnoi). I don’t want to name him.”
Chandrima Mitra and Parag Khandhar from Khan’s legal team tells us, “(An) order is awaited. The court said on Monday morning that the interviews given by Amit Jani, regarding this film and Salman Khan, and the teaser released as of now, which are available on various social media platforms, should be taken down within 24 hours.”
Khan’s lawyers argued, “There was nothing left to imagination. This movie is completely about me.” They told the court that Khan had been acquitted in three of the four cases and that the sentence in the remaining case had been suspended.
You can’t do this even to a common man: Delhi HC backs Salman
Justice Jyoti Singh told the lawyer representing the producer, “You seem to get emboldened by the fact that no order was passed last time. Your client thinks he is above the law. He is getting worse day by day... Every minute it is in the public domain, it is harming the reputation of the plaintiff (Salman Khan) here. I was mild with you, but you are incorrigible... You can’t do this even to a common man. It cannot get worse than this even for a common man.”
--------------------------------------
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 28, 2026)
On Monday, the Delhi High Court, directed the removal of links related to the teaser of Kala Hiran: The Battle For Legacy, allegedly inspired by Salman Khan’s 1998 blackbuck poaching case. Justice Jyoti Singh also said she would order the removal of interviews by producer Amit Jani.
Salman Khan’s lawyer, advocate Parag Khandhar, says, “The Delhi HC directed Amit Jani to remove Kala Hiran movie teaser appearing on various social media platforms and certain interviews, the links of which are provided by Salman Khan in his application.”
The court has given the producer 24 hours to take down the content, failing which platforms like YouTube would have to act.
In his application filed in June, Salman alleged that the film’s promotional material infringes his personality rights, citing references to him, including a lookalike wearing his signature turquoise bracelet.
Responding to the legal notice, producer Amit Jani rejected the allegations, asserting that the film is based on material already available in the public domain and centres on the Bishnoi community’s efforts to protect wildlife.
Dhanush on National Award backlash: "There were better films"
9:15 AM
HINDUSTAN TIMES (July 28, 2026)
Actor Dhanush has finally addressed the criticism surrounding his recent National Film Awards wins. While he received the Special Mention for Captain Miller, it was Raayan (both 2024) winning the Best Tamil Film that sparked widespread debate online.
Speaking at an event on Sunday, the actor admitted that there were stronger Tamil films released that year, but urged people not to overlook the effort he put into making the film. He said, “That year, there were definitely better films than that one (Raayan). The fans of those films expressed their love, and I fully respect them.”
He also recalled missing out on National Awards for acclaimed performances in Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam (2005), Pudhupettai (2006), 3 (2012), Mayakkam Enna (2011), Vada Chennai (2018), Karnan (2021), and Raanjhanaa (2013). “You all told me I’d win again, but I didn’t,” he said.
Requesting people to celebrate his latest recognition, Dhanush added, “Some things simply fall into place on their own, no matter how hard you try; that is exactly how it happened for me. I got the opportunity. Regardless of how the film itself turned out, the effort I put into it was genuine. As a Tamilian, I have received two more National Awards; don’t brush this aside, celebrate it.”
He also quoted actor Ajith Kumar while encouraging his supporters to stay positive: “Just like our Thala Ajith Sir said, no one can defeat you until you admit defeat yourself. What do you say, baby? If you’re bad, I’m your dad.”
For 6 years I had no name for what I was going through-Sana Saeed
9:14 AM
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; July 28, 2026)
Actor Sana Saeed recently opened up about her battle with bulimia, an eating disorder (ED) in which a person repeatedly eats too much and then forces themselves to vomit. She shared her journey on Instagram to help anyone suffering silently “feel less alone in their story”, she tells us, adding that growing up , she had never heard the terms ED or bulimia.
The actor, who made her debut as a child actor with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998), says, “I carried so much shame, thinking I was the only one dealing with this,” adding, “For six years, I had no name for what I was going through. Eventually I came across a book that gave me the language for it. That’s when the healing began, and it took four years to recover.”
The pressure of losing weight, she says, began back in college: “That was the era of size zero, when skinny was in. My world complimented weight loss and nothing else, not how you felt, not whether you’d gone hungry all day.”
This also translated when she made her way back to the screen in Student Of The Year (2012). “Being on camera, being commented on, having your appearance be part of the job description... It can turn a normal relationship with your body into a much more complicated one if you’re not careful.”
But the turning point for her came when the reason for healing got bigger than herself. “I remember telling myself that if I got married, I’d never actually enjoy a date with my husband if I was busy worrying about food. If I had children, I never wanted to pass this on. I had to heal.”
Now, she’s permanently settled in Los Angeles, running her own production house with husband Csaba Wagner. “Starting over somewhere nobody knows your history is humbling, but it also cleared space for me to decide who I actually wanted to be,” she says.
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