CHAND MERA DIL has seen a decent hold on Monday as it collects around the 2 crore nett mark. The hold has come with the Buy One Get One Free offer while day one had a discounted ticket offer. This makes it harder to judge exactly what is the trend of the film and its about where the film is standing when its left to itself.

The main thing about these type of films is the trend as the business is never going to be much over the first 3-4 days. Its the same thing here as there is only 12.50 crore nett on the board till date and its about where it goes form here. The film should do well enough on Tuesday and Wednesday as its discounted rates on Tuesday and Eid on Wednesday.

The second week will be important for the film as the flow of releases will start from week three onward. So, the bulk of the business of this film will be coming two weeks. The better performance is in the NCR area and Mysore.

The collections of CHAND MERA DIL are as follows.

Friday - 2,75,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 3,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 4,15,00,000 apprx

Monday - 2,00,00,000 apprx

DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE continues to collect even in its tenth week as the week stands at around 1 crore nett with three days to go. The total of the film in ten weeks looks to be heading for 1006 crore nett as it stands at 1005.50 crore at the moment. At this stage of its run, the film is doing better than DHURANDHAR part one which did not collect 1 crore nett in week ten. But these collections so long after release are dependent on the competition around.

The film has hit so many benchmarks with big ones being 1000 crore nett and 4 crore footfalls. The film has also made Aditya Dhar the biggest director in the country with the only competition being the director of Animal Sandeep Vanga. So the wait is for next year for SPIRIT's release to see how this equation plays out.

Another huge record is West Bengal circuit as the first DHURANDHAR was an under performer in this circuit. It is understandable when its a Hindi belt outperformer like GADAR 2, PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE or KGF - CHAPTER 2 but DHURANDHAR, driven by big plex heavy circuits, should have had higher figures in West Bengal. An All Time Record here was a task but eventually DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE got there. West Bengal was also a circuit where either DHURANDHAR's first part or PUSHPA 2 - THE RULE did not hold the record. Here it was the 2023 blockbuster, JAWAN.

The collections of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE (Hindi) are as follows.

Week One - 5,90,36,00,000

Week Two - 2,28,97,00,000

Week Three - 95,45,00,000

Week Four - 49,33,00,000

Week Five - 18,32,00,000

Week Six - 11,37,00,000

Week Seven - 5,35,00,000 

Week Eight - 3,45,00,000

Week Nine - 1,97,00,000

Week Ten - 1,00,00,000 apprx (4 days)

What will be the fate of Ranveer Singh’s movies in the pipeline? That was the big question in the Hindi film industry after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), on May 25, announced a non-cooperation directive against the actor in relation to producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani’s complaint that he had abruptly exited Don 3 and allegedly caused significant financial losses to the project. The directive is likely to affect Singh’s slate, which has the ambitious zombie thriller Pralay and Aditya Dhar’s next on Chandragupta Maurya.

Pralay, directed by Jai Mehta, is slated to roll in August. Trade insiders say that the film — produced by Singh’s Maa Kasam Films, Hansal Mehta’s True Story Films, and Birla Studios — will involve nearly 500 technicians and workers across departments including action, lighting, costumes, make-up, art direction, and spot staff. Considering 34 vendor associations fall under the FWICE, the non-cooperation directive threatens to disrupt the film’s schedules. mid-day contacted Hansal and Jai for a comment on the film’s probable delay, but they didn’t respond till press time.

A source from the production, however, told mid-day that the directive would do more harm than good. “In the Hindi film industry, where over 70 per cent of the daily wage earners are already out of work because not many films are being made, shouldn’t the FWICE allow them to work instead of taking opportunities away with this directive? As for Pralay, in the worst-case scenario, Ranveer can take the cast and crew, and shoot the movie anywhere in India. While the FWICE’s stand applies to all of its members, it cannot legally stop non-members from working. If Pralay is shot outside Mumbai, the makers may bypass the FWICE-affiliated workers by hiring local crew members belonging to other unions,” said the source.

Ashoke Pandit, chief advisor, FWICE, is confident that the directive issued is the right approach in light of the situation. That said, the cine body is open to a resolution between Singh and Don 3 makers. When mid-day reached out to him, Pandit said, “The FWICE directive is effective because our federation has 34 vendor associations under it. If they don’t have vendors, workers, and technicians, who will they shoot with? People underestimate the strength of the federation. The situation can only be resolved if everybody sits together and sorts it out amicably.”

Sources indicate that producers of Singh’s upcoming projects may approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) against the FWICE’s directive. In a 2017 case filed by filmmaker Vipul A Shah, the CCI held that practices such as issuing non-cooperation directives, preventing producers from hiring non-members, stalling shoots, and restricting the supply of services amounted to anti-competitive conduct under the Competition Act. A producer associated with one of Singh’s upcoming films said, on condition of anonymity, “If this situation escalates further, producers may collectively approach the commission for intervention.”

Chandragupta Maurya project, to be directed by Aditya Dhar and backed by Jio Studios. He is said to be in talks with YRF head honcho Aditya Chopra for a film

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The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has issued a Non-Cooperation Directive (NCD) against actor Ranveer Singh following his alleged last-minute exit from Don 3. The move comes after filmmaker Farhan Akhtar (director and producer of Don 3, alongside producer Ritesh Sidhwani) approached the Indian Film & Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) on April 2, after which the matter was referred to FWICE for intervention. The federation said it had taken serious cognizance of the matter while remaining open to an amicable resolution.

Addressing the media at a press conference on Monday, attended by President Birendra Nath Tiwari, Chief Advisor Ashoke Pandit, Honorary General Secretary Ashok Dubey and Treasurer Gangeshwarlal Shrivastav, the federation announced that none of its members or allied unions would work with the actor until the matter is resolved.

Detailing the sequence of events, Ashoke Pandit said, “As the head of IFTDA, I referred the matter to FWICE because it is a serious issue and involves significant financial stakes. We wanted all technician bodies/allied unions and associations to be involved because when a project stops, everyone is affected. The reason for Ranveer Singh’s exit was not disclosed, and we did not inquire into it because our primary concern was the timing of the withdrawal.”

Ashoke further revealed that the producers had already incurred substantial costs towards pre-production. “The production house has spent around Rs. 45 crore on pre-production. Ranveer signed a three-film deal with the producers and the entire recce of Don 3 was conducted in his presence. He was actively involved in script discussions, creative decisions, costume planning and other aspects of the project. He even shot the promo and remained part of discussions regarding the film after the release of Dhurandhar Part 1. Leaving a film three weeks before the shoot cannot be justified, irrespective of the reason.”

He continued, “Kal ko koi bada director film chhod de toh? That is the issue we want to address. It is not a question of a signing amount because paisa isne ek bhi nahi liya hai.”

According to Ashoke, the federation made multiple attempts to reach out to Ranveer before taking a decision.

He said, “As per protocol, we invited Ranveer three times to present his side, but did not receive any response. After we announced the press conference, we received a mail stating that the federation does not fall within the jurisdiction of this issue. Later, we received another email from his team expressing willingness to discuss the matter. We are open to discussions, but we want to meet him directly just as we met Farhan and Ritesh.”

On the producers’ demand, he added, “The aggrieved party is seeking compensation for the approximately Rs. 45 crore spent on pre-production. Their position is that it is okay if Ranveer is not doing the film, but the expenditure incurred on the project should be returned.”

Explaining the federation’s stand, Birendra Nath Tiwari said, “We have issued a non-cooperation directive against Ranveer. Ek message jaana chahiye industry ko ki agar koi superstar bhi hai woh kisi niyam se bada nahi hai. No member or federation associated with us will work with him until the matter is resolved. We are not saying he cannot work; we are only saying our members will not work with him for now. His team wrote to us stating that the federation does not have jurisdiction in the matter. Unko pata nahi federation bhi koi cheez hai. We are open to meeting Ranveer directly and not through any representative. Aap bhi hamaari industry ka hissa hain, aasmaan se nahi aaye hain. No superstar is above the rules of the industry.”

The directive extends to future projects as well. “We have discussed the matter with allied unions and taken a united stand. Spot boy se lekar bouncers tak kaam nahi karenge unke saath. Aaj jo Farhan ke saath hua hai woh kisi aur ke saath bhi ho sakta hai. We would react in a similar manner if a producer were to remove an actor or technician at the last minute. Once locations and production logistics are locked, one cannot step away from a project at the last minute. Responsibility is expected at every level,” he added.

Ashoke added, “The federation has no personal enmity against anyone. However, in the interest of the industry, we will not accept or overlook such disruptions. We stand committed to protecting those who keep the industry running and ensuring sustained job opportunities for technicians, workers and all crafts associated with filmmaking. The industry can only function collectively; it cannot be sustained individually. We must sit together and find solutions. We have celebrated Ranveer’s stardom, but accountability is equally important.”

Filmmaker Sanjay Gupta, however, criticized the move on X, writing, “When an A-list hero shoots, there are more than 300 workers working on sets. Ban him, and you are not stopping him, but depriving the workers of their livelihood. What sense does it even make (sic)???”

After signing for Don 3, Ranveer abruptly walked out in December 2025, only three weeks before the scheduled shooting of the film, leading to audited losses of approximately Rs. 45 crore for Excel Entertainment. The producers demanded reimbursement for these pre-production expenses. Following a failed mediation attempt, the dispute was elevated to the FWICE. Ranveer reportedly didn’t respond to three formal notices from the federation, with his team arguing that FWICE lacked jurisdiction over his contractual matters. Later, Ranveer’s team agreed to discuss the matter with the film body.

Soon after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) issued a Non-Cooperation Directive (NCD) against Ranveer Singh, the actor’s team issued a statement

“Ranveer Singh holds the highest regard for the film fraternity and for everyone associated with the Don franchise. Throughout the recent developments surrounding Don 3, he has consciously chosen to maintain silence, believing that professional discussions and personal equations are best handled with dignity, maturity and mutual respect. While several narratives and speculations have surfaced over time, Ranveer has never considered it necessary to respond publicly or contribute to conjecture. His focus remains firmly on his work and the commitments ahead.”

The statement further added, “He continues to hold deep respect and goodwill for all those involved and sincerely wishes the franchise continued success. Choosing restraint and grace in moments like these has always been a conscious decision on his part, and he will continue to maintain the same stance.”

After the web series Mirzapur was adapted into a feature film, set for a theatrical release later this year, buzz has been growing around more popular Indian shows making the jump to the big screen. Now, HT City has exclusively learnt that Inspector Avinash, headlined by Randeep Hooda, is next in line for a theatrical adaptation. The development comes close on the heels of the show’s second season releasing earlier this month.

Series writer-director Neerraj Pathak confirms, “Yes, we have decided to make it into a film. Real-life cop Avinash Mishra ki kahani bhi badi hai aur humara hero (Randeep) bhi bahut bada hai!”

He reveals that work on the script has already begun. “Avinash ji has been part of several Special Task Force (STF) and Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) operations. So there are many stories that can be told, like the encounter with (gangster) Sri Prakash Shukla,” he says, adding, “We are working on three scripts in parallel and will zero in on which one can go first within a fortnight.”

The 54-year-old shares that the idea of turning the series into a film has been discussed since its inception, and season two even hints at it. In one episode, Randeep, who is also the show’s narrator, says, “Ispe toh puri film banni chahiye.”

Neerraj adds that while discussions around a film had been ongoing, now feels like the “right time” to take the story to theatres. “A film was in consideration earlier too, but the canvas of the story and its characters, along with a big STF team, family, politicians and criminals, was so vast that we decided to make a season-based series. Now, it’s the right time for a film.”

Besides Randeep, Inspector Avinash also stars Urvashi Rautela, Amit Sial, Abhimanyu Singh, Rajniesh Duggal, Freddy Daruwala and Adhyayan Suman. Neerraj further hinted that new faces and characters could also be introduced in the film adaptation.

Akshara Singh is thrilled about stepping into mainstream Bollywood with Ghis Ghis Ghis from the upcoming movie Welcome To The Jungle alongside Akshay Kumar. Calling it one of the biggest opportunities of her career, the Bhojpuri star says she grew up dancing to Akshay’s songs and never imagined she would one day share screen space with him.

What impressed her most, however, was Akshay’s sincerity: “He kept asking me how to pronounce every line correctly and understand the tone and meaning behind the lyrics.”

Akshara also recalls being moved when Akshay stepped in after she was asked to wear a stereotypical ghaghra-choli look for a shot: “He told the team to let me wear what I was comfortable in. That touched me deeply.”

The actor was equally overwhelmed by the respect she received on set, especially from choreographer Ganesh Acharya. “People often have preconceived notions about Bhojpuri artistes, but Ganesh sir told his assistants, ‘Usko chhod do, wo faadu artiste hai’,” she says.

Akshara adds, “Abhi tak jitne gaane aaye, wo sab Bhojpuri touch ke Hindi gaane the. Iss baar pehli baar, Akshay sir ne pura Bhojpuri gaana, Bhojpuri bhaasha mein kiya, so ye aur badi baat ho gayi.”

L-R: Sarita Patil, Dikssha Jyote Routray, Sriram Raghavan, Leena Dhankhar

The shocking murder of seven year-old Prince, found with his throat slit inside the bathroom of an elite Gurugram school on September 8, 2017, had sent shockwaves across the country, triggering outrage and a nationwide debate over the safety of children inside India’s most prestigious institutions. Nearly a decade later, the haunting case is set to inspire a screen adaptation.

Mumbai-based production house Matchbox Shots, mentored by filmmaker Sriram Raghavan and known for critically-acclaimed projects including Andhadhun, Scoop, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Khauf, has acquired the screen rights to The Gurugram School Murder, written by crime journalist Leena Dhankhar.

The book, which will serve as the inspiration for the screen project, traces the disturbing twists and turns of one of India’s most high-profile murder investigations, from the hurried framing of an innocent school bus conductor by local police to the CBI’s eventual arrest of a student from the same school, who was accused of committing the murder allegedly to get an examination postponed.

“What happened in this case is every parent’s worst nightmare,” says Dikssha Jyote Routray of Matchbox Shots, who is helming the project and has followed the case for years. “Our commitment is to tell this story with the carefully researched nuance it deserves.”

The adaptation inspired by the book is a chance to bring the human cost of the tragedy before a larger audience. Sarita Patil of Matchbox Shots adds, “This is not just a crime story, but the story of a family’s pain and years of struggle for justice.”

The project also carries the support of Prince’s father, who has spent years fighting for justice for his son. “Our fight for justice has been painfully long and will continue until the guilty receive the harshest punishment,” he shares.

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Nearly eight years after the murder of a seven-year-old student inside an elite Gurugram school shocked the country and sparked nationwide outrage over child safety, the case is now headed for a screen adaptation.

Mumbai-based production house Matchbox Shots, known for titles such as Andhadhun (2018), Monica, O My Darling (2022), Three Of Us (2022), Scoop, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack and Khauf, has acquired the screen rights to The Gurugram School Murder by senior Hindustan Times editor and crime journalist Leena Dhankhar.

Published in 2024, the book revisits the events of September 8, 2017, when seven-year-old Prince — a pseudonym used under juvenile protection laws — was found murdered in his school bathroom in Gurugram. The case initially saw the arrest of a school bus conductor before the CBI later arrested a student from the same school, alleging the murder was committed to postpone exams and cancel a parent-teacher meeting.

The case triggered national debate around school safety, investigative lapses, media scrutiny and the psychological pressures faced by children in highly competitive urban environments. According to the makers, the adaptation will draw from Dhankhar’s years of reporting and investigation into the case.

“What happened in this case is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said Dikssha Jyote Routray of Matchbox Shots, who is helming the project. “It is a tragedy that also reveals uncomfortable truths about the pressures shaping young children in contemporary urban India.”

For Dhankhar, the adaptation is a chance to bring wider attention to a story that continues to resonate beyond the courtroom. “This is not merely a crime story. It is the story of a family’s unimaginable loss and their long struggle for justice,” she said.

The project also has the support of the victim’s father, who said, “There has not been a single day when we have not remembered or missed him. Our fight has been painfully long, but we will continue until justice is delivered.”

CHAND MERA DIL had a dull first weekend of around 10.50 crore nett as the film failed to do much on Saturday and Sunday after a poor collections on the first day. The first day got some benefit of lower rates but not to the level it should have. The 2.75 crore nett was pretty much how much it was expected to open to if all things were normal.

The film is now on a buy one get one free deal on Monday which may allow it to hold a little better than it would have otherwise. The offer will benefit on Monday and then Tuesday there will be discounted rates followed by a holiday on Wednesday for Eid. These factors will not change the fate of the film but will basically maybe boost the film for a crore or two over the weekdays.

This film was a love story and not a rom com which today holds more appeal with youth. But that love story not coming out properly in trailers and the music not being as strong as it should be has probably held the film back and its tough recovering from a dull start.

The collections of CHAND MERA DIL are as follows.

Friday - 2,75,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 3,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 4,15,00,000 apprx

There are two regional films which have done very well this weekend - the Marathi film DEOOL BAND 2 and Malayalam film DRISHYAM 3. The former collected 15 crore nett and is set for a strong run looking at the trend of the film. Monday could be as good or even better than the first day. It was a four day weekend for the film.

DRISHYAM 3 collected almost 50 crore nett in its first weekend and is also supported a by a huge overseas collection which should be around $8 million with Gulf alone being over $4 million. It was a four day weekend here as well for the film. The last film of this franchise went straight to television around the pandemic time and did not get a big screen release.

There is also the Tamil film KARUPPU also which collected 105 crore nett in its first week and has added 31-32 crore nett in its second weekend taking the overall total to 136-137 crore nett.

The struggle at present is for the Telugu industry with independent exhibitors in dire straits due to lack of content as the bigger films go for that so called Pan India success which is mostly a myth as you cant plan it but it could happen here and there. This was an industry which was to takeover the Hindi film industry as the biggest in India a few years back. It was media built dream probably coming from the Hyderabad media as it just cant happen.

The collections of Malayalam film DRISHYAM 3 are as follows.

Thursday - 14,50,00,000 apprx

Friday - 10,00,00,000 apprx

Saturday - 12,50,00,000 apprx

Sunday - 12,75,00,000 apprx

In an alleged data theft that has raised concerns over digital security in the entertainment industry, 66 hard disks containing film-production material, edited footage, advertisement projects and unreleased content allegedly went missing from the Bandra office of filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s production house Tiger Baby Digital LLP.

Based on a complaint filed by the company’s executive assistant and HR administrator Mehjabeen Mushtaq Shaikh, Bandra police registered an FIR against Mohammad Shahid Azim Khan and Borivali resident Ritesh Suresh Shah (44). Police said both accused have been arrested and remanded to police custody till May 29.

According to investigators, Shah had allegedly purchased 24 of the stolen hard disks from Khan for Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each. Police suspect some of the hard disks may have been sold in the grey market.

The theft came to light on May 21 after staff members were unable to locate certain hard disks required for ongoing work. A subsequent inspection of storage cabinets allegedly revealed several empty and damaged hard-disk boxes inside the office premises.

Investigators said the company maintained an inventory of 119 hard disks, of which 66 were allegedly missing. The drives, ranging from 16TB to 72TB in storage capacity, reportedly contained raw shooting footage, edited scenes, post-production material, advertisement films, archival content, backups and completed movie data linked to film and OTT productions.

Sources said some of the missing drives allegedly contained unreleased and work-in-progress content, raising concerns over possible leaks and unauthorized circulation.

During internal questioning, Khan allegedly admitted to stealing 24 hard disks over the past five months, police said. However, investigators are yet to trace the remaining missing drives.

Police are also examining whether any data was copied, transferred or leaked before the hard disks disappeared. Cyber experts may be consulted to determine whether the material was accessed externally or circulated online.

Investigators said the allegedly stolen data included footage, rough edits, scene cuts and project files linked to productions such as Made In Heaven and Ghost Stories, along with advertisement campaigns associated with beauty and digital-content companies.

Police are also probing the possible role of another office employee after suspicions were raised internally regarding access to some of the missing drives. However, officials said no conclusions have yet been reached regarding his involvement.

When contacted, complainant Mehjabeen Shaikh declined to comment on the matter.

DCP Mohit Garg confirmed the arrests. Bandra police are now trying to recover the missing hard disks and determine whether the data was duplicated, misused or circulated through any organised network.

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Mumbai: Two men were arrested on Monday over the alleged theft of 66 hard disks worth Rs 13 lakh from the Bandra office of Bollywood filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti.

Police said one of them, Mohammad Shahid Khan, had worked at the filmmakers’ office as a support staffer for the past seven years, while the other, Ritesh, purchased the stolen property from him.

Police registered an FIR on Sunday based on a statement by an executive assistant working at Akhtar and Kagti’s production house, Tiger Baby Digital LLP. There are 11 employees, four of whom are support staffers.

According to the FIR, the production house stores data of shoots from films and commercials in hard disks that are kept at the Bandra office. The complainant said she had placed all the hard disks in proper order in the office cupboard in Nov 2025. Thereafter, whenever hard disks were required, Khan was asked to fetch them.

On May 21, other employees at the production house asked Khan to fetch a particular hard disk, which he couldn’t get, according to the FIR. The complainant then checked the cupboard and discovered that some of the boxes in which hard disks had been kept were partially burnt. But neither were there hard disks in them nor was there any burn mark on the cupboard.

The other employees then performed an audit and discovered that 66 hard disks were missing, some of which contained data from films, OTT shows and commercials shot by the production house. The filmmakers were informed and the support staff was quizzed.

According to the FIR, Khan admitted to stealing 24 hard disks over the past five months and selling them to Ritesh, who is based out of Borivali. He did not admit to stealing the rest. Bandra police were then informed.

BNS charges of theft by servant of property in possession of employer and retaining or receiving stolen property have been invoked against Khan and Ritesh.

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The Bandra police arrested two men in connection with the theft of film shoot hard disks worth around Rs 13 lakh from Tiger Baby Digital LLP, the production house owned by filmmaker-producer Zoya Akhtar and screenwriter Reema Kagti.

The complainant, Mehjabeen Mushtaq Sheikh, 36, works as an executive assistant and HR admin at the company. Important film, advertisement, and shoot-related data were stored in the hard disks kept at the Bandra West office.

According to the police, on May 21, 2026, around 4.30 pm, a hard disk required for work could not be found. A check of the office cupboard revealed several hard disks were missing, while only a few burnt cardboard boxes were found inside. During verification, police discovered that 66 out of 119 hard disks were missing from the office.

Suspicion fell on two members of the company’s support staff, who were questioned by police. During interrogation, one employee allegedly confessed to stealing 25 hard disks over the past five months.

Police said the accused sold the hard disks to a Borivali resident for Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each. CCTV footage from the company office has also been seized for investigation.

The arrested accused have been identified as Mohammad Shahid Azim Khan, an employee at the production house, and Ritesh Shah, 44, a Borivali resident who allegedly purchased the hard disks.

Senior Inspector Ravindra Salunkhe of Bandra police station said, “We have arrested both accused, including the employee who stole the hard disks from the company. Further investigation is underway.”