Fenil's Bollywood Talk # 932
11:16 PM
TRADE, INDUSTRY AND VIEWERS GEAR UP FOR A HEAVILY CROWDED WEEKEND
It’s an extremely heavily crowded week as a significant film is releasing in nearly every film industry of the country. Hence, it became a challenge for the exhibitors to program and schedule releases.
The biggest film in the Northern market is Raja Shivaji. It stars Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; he's also the director and one of the producers. The other actors in the film are Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, Bhagyashree, Sachin Khedekar, Amole Gupte, Mahesh Manjrekar and others. It’ll have a release in both Hindi and Marathi.
The Marathi version is all set for a flying start in Maharashtra. It’ll be the biggest opener in the home state and could go beyond Rs. 10 crores if all goes well. However, in Hindi, the excitement is limited and hence, it’ll open at around Rs. 5 crores. Hence, the total opening in both languages will be very high.
Ek Din stars Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi and is produced by Aamir Khan. The songs of the film have caught attention, while the trailer promises a sweet love story.
However, the buzz is very limited. Viewers will mostly opt for wait-and-watch, that is, they’ll wait for initial response to trickle in and then decide on whether they’d want to watch it. Also, it appeals to audiences in metros and this segment is more keen on watching The Devil Wears Prada 2. Ek Din will open around Rs. 50-75 lakhs, with an outside chance of hitting Rs. 1 crore mark. Ideally, Ek Din should have been released last week, when the competition was limited.
As for The Devil Wears Prada 2, it has sprung a surprise. The first part was released 20 years ago, but it seems like not just the OG fans but even the younger population has consumed and loved it. The Devil Wears Prada 2 had paid previews from 7:00 pm on April 30, and the response has been superb. At the rate at which its going, the paid previews and first day collection would be around Rs. 7 crores.
The other major releases this week are Patriot in Malayalam and KD - The Devil in Kannada.
Meanwhile, Michael continues to remain strong while Bhooth Bangla also did great in its first two weeks, earning around Rs. 117 crores. Both these films will have to make do with fewer shows. However, they’ll surely find some audience and it would further add to their earnings.
It’s an extremely heavily crowded week as a significant film is releasing in nearly every film industry of the country. Hence, it became a challenge for the exhibitors to program and schedule releases.
The biggest film in the Northern market is Raja Shivaji. It stars Riteish Deshmukh as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; he's also the director and one of the producers. The other actors in the film are Genelia Deshmukh, Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, Fardeen Khan, Bhagyashree, Sachin Khedekar, Amole Gupte, Mahesh Manjrekar and others. It’ll have a release in both Hindi and Marathi.
The Marathi version is all set for a flying start in Maharashtra. It’ll be the biggest opener in the home state and could go beyond Rs. 10 crores if all goes well. However, in Hindi, the excitement is limited and hence, it’ll open at around Rs. 5 crores. Hence, the total opening in both languages will be very high.
Ek Din stars Junaid Khan and Sai Pallavi and is produced by Aamir Khan. The songs of the film have caught attention, while the trailer promises a sweet love story.
However, the buzz is very limited. Viewers will mostly opt for wait-and-watch, that is, they’ll wait for initial response to trickle in and then decide on whether they’d want to watch it. Also, it appeals to audiences in metros and this segment is more keen on watching The Devil Wears Prada 2. Ek Din will open around Rs. 50-75 lakhs, with an outside chance of hitting Rs. 1 crore mark. Ideally, Ek Din should have been released last week, when the competition was limited.
As for The Devil Wears Prada 2, it has sprung a surprise. The first part was released 20 years ago, but it seems like not just the OG fans but even the younger population has consumed and loved it. The Devil Wears Prada 2 had paid previews from 7:00 pm on April 30, and the response has been superb. At the rate at which its going, the paid previews and first day collection would be around Rs. 7 crores.
The other major releases this week are Patriot in Malayalam and KD - The Devil in Kannada.
Meanwhile, Michael continues to remain strong while Bhooth Bangla also did great in its first two weeks, earning around Rs. 117 crores. Both these films will have to make do with fewer shows. However, they’ll surely find some audience and it would further add to their earnings.
(Crisp) Movie Review: THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA 2 by FENIL SETA
10:51 PM
The Devil Wears Prada 2 organically takes the story forward 20 years after the events of the first part. After a lovely introduction, the interest dips a bit in the middle of the first half. One wonders where the film is heading and whether it’ll be a worthy sequel. Also, things happen rather conveniently in the third act. On the positive side, this is a film of today and one will be able to relate to the goings-on, especially the sharp take on the present-day realities of journalism. The humour and ode to fashion are on point while this time, a couple of scenes will make viewers teary-eyed too. Meryl Streep is outstanding, as expected. This time, her devilish behaviour has slightly changed, an aspect the seasoned performer beautifully brings to the fore. Anne Hathaway's presence and performance are arresting and she proves yet again why she's one of the finest actresses we have today. Emily Blunt displays the required bossy attitude with panache. Stanley Tucci is adorable. Lucy Liu (Sasha Barnes), Justin Theroux (Benji Barnes), Patrick Brammall (Peter, Andy’s love interest), Tibor Feldman (Irv Ritviz) and Tracie Thoms (Lily, Andy’s friend) do well in supporting parts. B J Novak (Jay Ravitz) is okay and is let down a bit by the writing. All in all, The Devil Wears Prada 2 is a justified sequel and worth watching, especially for the fans of the first part.
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
My rating - *** ½ out of 5!
Ali Fazal in talks for a large-scale action film
4:32 PM
Neha Maheshwri (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 26, 2026)
After making an impact with his gritty turn as Guddu Pandit in Mirzapur, Ali Fazal may be gearing up to step into a bigger action arena. There are indications that the actor is in talks for a large-scale project with a leading action star. While there has been no official confirmation, discussions are said to be at an early stage.
Ali’s association with action is not entirely new. His portrayal of Guddu Pandit introduced him to audiences in a physically demanding role, while his appearance in Kandahar alongside Gerard Butler marked his presence in international action cinema. If the development materialises, it could signal a shift in the kind of roles he takes on, with a stronger focus on action-driven narratives.
A source close to the development shared, “Ali has the physicality required for action. With Mirzapur establishing him in that space, there are conversations about casting him in a larger, action-led film. If things move forward, it could be a significant collaboration.”
Ali did not respond to our message.
The actor will also be seen in Lust Stories 3. Speaking about the project, Ali, in a previous chat, had shared, “Lust Stories 3 came to me at a time when I was looking for something emotionally honest and personal. There’s something freeing about playing a lover boy again, but in today’s contest flawed, sensitive and emotionally aware. I think audiences will see a very different, softer side of me, and that’s what excites me the most about Lust Stories 3.”
On collaborating with Shakun Batra, he had added, “Shakun has such a rare way of observing human behaviour. He doesn’t direct scenes; he lets them breathe. Working with him was incredibly fulfilling because he pushes you to be truthful rather than dramatic. This story explores love, desire and vulnerability in a very real way, and I genuinely enjoyed slipping back into a romantic space after a long time.”
Shaan remembers Asha Bhosle: "Her aashirwaad was my greatest achievement"
4:29 PM
Debarati S Sen (MUMBAI MIRROR; April 14, 2026)
The passing of legendary playback singer Asha Bhosle on April 12 at the age of 92 marks the end of an era in Indian music. Tributes have poured in from across the industry, but among the most heartfelt is that of singer Shaan, who shared intimate memories of his conversations and bond with the icon.
LATE-NIGHT CALLS AND LIFELONG MEMORIES
For Shaan, his connection with Asha Bhosle was not defined merely by professional admiration, but by personal warmth and unexpected moments. He has been a part of multiple shows and performed with her on stage for decades.
“I've had the privilege and the good fortune of having a lot of conversations with Asha ji on the phone,” he recalled. “Mostly I would never know how to reach out to her. So she would call… whenever she would call, we would get to speak.”
One such memory remains etched vividly in his mind, a late-night call that came without warning. “It was quite late that night, around 11 or 11:30, and suddenly I see her name flashing on my phone,” he said.
True to her personality, Asha Ji skipped pleasantries. “She was always very straight to the point… she said, ‘Accha sun, Tera beta gaane laga hai main sunn rahi hoon. Log keh rahe hain ki theek thaak hi gaata hai woah. Yaad hai, humne jab show kiya tha tab tere god mein tha woh.’ So, I told her that was my older boy. That show was in 2004 when we had performed in London together. Soham was crying and she said, ‘Isko godi mein le le’ and I held him up. And that time she announced on stage, ‘Yeh jo baccha dekh rahe ho aap, iske Dadaji, (my father) ke saath maine perform kiya tha. Aaj bete ke saath perform kar rahi hoon aur jab yeh baccha bada ho jayega, main iske saath bhi perform karoongi!’”
And that is what she reminded me again. “She said, ‘Ab toh tera beta bada ho gaya hai, bula usko ghar pe, kuch gaana kartein hain uske saath!’ I was absolutely stunned. The fact that she remembered all this and actually said that about my son. I told my son Mahi. And he was absolutely elated. He took her blessings.”
A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, A LASTING REGRET
Despite the emotional weight of that invitation, Shaan admits he never followed up. “I didn’t know how to really go about doing that,” he said. “Whenever she would call, we would speak… but I rarely reached out to her. I guess its my personality that I never reached out to her.” That hesitation now lingers as a quiet regret. “And now, I guess I never will,” he said.
‘HER BLESSINGS WERE MY GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT’
Beyond memories, Shaan emphasized the profound influence Asha Bhosle had on his life and career. “I have always mentioned this-Asha ji’s aashirwaad and fondness for my voice will remain my greatest take back from my singing career,” he said. “No other achievement or compliment can match up.” He described her as a towering inspiration. “She is my greatest inspiration to work hard and focus on what is in one’s control.”
AN UNMATCHED MUSICAL LEGACY
As the industry reflects on her unparalleled contribution, Shaan echoed a sentiment shared by many: that Asha Bhosle’s legacy is simply beyond comparison. “Her body of work is unparalleled… she has set the bar so high that it’s impossible for anyone to match up,” he said. Yet, even in her absence, her influence remains indelible. “She will continue to inspire and give us hope that if we work hard, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”
Michael collects 16 cr in 3 days
3:07 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
There was a Hollywood film released this week, MICHAEL, which has done well with business of around 5 crore nett including screenings on Thursday. The film was released in English language only.
Its a solid number for a film of this type of film but Michael Jackson was a big name in India in places like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai and the film has scored here especially the southern cities. The disappointment is Kolkata as Michael Jackson was most popular here outside South India but collections are so so here.
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The main competition for DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE was Hollywood release MICHAELbased on the legendary American singer/dancer Michael Jackson. In Indian metros, he was very famous for his dancing and wherever this popularity was, the film has done very well.
South India is excellent and Mumbai is good while Kolkata could have been better. The collections of the film will be around 16 crore nett plus for the weekend. It will probably drop on Monday as the film was driven by advances and fans over the weekend. Nevertheless, the job is done with this weekend which are good results for India for this type of film.
Dhurandhar The Revenge collects 991.93 cr in 39 days
3:05 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE had an excellent sixth weekend as it held up better than last week which had the release of BHOOTH BANGLA. This week was pretty much an open week as far as Hindi films go. The film dropped around 36% from the last weekend as compared to a 60% drop when BHOOTH BANGLA released.
This sixth weekend did business of around 7.25 crore nett plus and a double digit week is locked for the film. The total collections of the film are 992 crore nett after its sixth weekend as the film looks to finish over the 1000 crore nett mark. It is a huge run all over as some circuits stand at record totals while others are very close to record figures. The dubbed version will finish at around 61-62 crore nett which will mean a 1065 crore nett finish on all versions.
The collections of DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE (Hindi) are as follows.
Week One - 5,90,36,00,000
Week Two - 2,28,97,00,000
Third Week - 98,25,00,000 apprx
Fourth Week - 49,00,00,000 apprx
Friday - 2,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 4,25,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 4,75,00,000 apprx
Monday - 1,50,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 2,00,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 1,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 1,50,00,000 apprx
Fifth Week - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Friday - 1,35,00,000
Saturday - 2,75,00,000
Sunday - 3,25,00,000
Sixth Week - 7,35,00,000 apprx (3 days)
TOTAL - 9,91,93,00,000 apprx
Bhooth Bangla collects 111 cr in 12 days
3:01 PM
Box Office India Trade Network
BHOOTH BANGLA showed excellent growth on Saturday as the film practically doubled up on the collections of Friday. All circuits showed this huge growth. The film collected almost 10 crore nett on its second Saturday which compares well with the first Saturday as its only 40% down.
If the film can jump another 20-30% on Sunday, it would be a great result especially considering this Saturday growth and although this looks possible at present, there are the evening and night shows to come which will be weaker. Also after such a huge Saturday growth, the Sunday bigger jump is tougher. Either way the film is heading for a solid second weekend and it will cross the 100 crore nett mark by the end of business on Sunday. The total so far after nine days is 93 crore nett.
Overall, wherever it finishes now, its a very good result for the industry and Akshay Kumar. For the industry because it needed this type of film with a relatively low production budget to put up collections just to improve sentiment and confidence and this film will do the trick. A film like DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE does not change sentiment as its seen as something maybe one or two directors can only do. Hence, it changes nothing for the vast majority.
For Akshay Kumar, its a positive result, as he is having many releases in the year and if they keep on doing 100-150 crore nett, then he is in a great position. This figure was higher pre pandemic but now 100-150 each with four releases is probably a bigger achievement than 150-200 crore nett each before the pandemic. This is because of the shift of business to the bigger scale and budget film.
There was dodgy period but that looks like past now with the results of the last four films, KESARI CHAPTER 2, HOUSEFULL 5, JOLLY LLB 3 and now BHOOTH BANGLA which will be a bigger in terms of success than the other three and on top, there is no sequel tag like the others.
The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Week One - 78,40,00,000 apprx
Friday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 9,75,00,000 apprx
Second Week - 14,75,00,000 apprx (2 days)
TOTAL - 93,15,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA had a good second weekend as it collected 25 crore nett. The first weekend was 51 crore nett, not including the paid previews, which is a drop of a little over 50%. The growth was excellent on Saturday and it consolidated well on Sunday. The total collections of the film now stand at 103.50 crore nett and it will comfortably cross the figures of JOLLY LLB 3; it may do so by the end of the week.
The second week trend is strong and if this continues this way, it will emerge a HIT. The film has is now doing well in most places outside the Eastern side and this should help its cause further. Now it becomes about where the third Friday lands and if the drop is again around 50% mark, then the film will be a bonafide HIT.
The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Week One - 78,40,00,000 apprx
Friday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 9,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 11,25,00,000 apprx
Second Week - 25,00,00,000 apprx (3 days)
TOTAL - 1,03,40,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA saw a drop in collections on Monday as it collected 3 crore nett apprx. It is a little bit on the higher side but there is the discounted ticket offer on Tuesday which makes this happen on Mondays though there is no rule as sometimes, it holds better, be it new release or holdover. The film will cover on Tuesday as collections will jump.
Also with these discounted Tuesdays, its the Wednesday which puts the weekday business into perspective and if BHOOTH BANGLA can average out close to 3 crore nett for the weekdays it will be a good result. The film stands 106 crore nett and it reach the mark of JOLLY LLB 3 by the end of the week which did 115 crore nett. JOLLY LLB 3 was an AVERAGE fare and BHOOTH BANGLA is going one notch up on that for sure but remains to be seen if it can go two notches better and emerge a HIT. The film remains best in Mumbai with North India lesser but still steady.
The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows.
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Week One - 78,40,00,000 apprx
Friday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 9,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 11,25,00,000 apprx
Monday - 3,00,00,000 apprx
Second Week - 28,00,00,000 apprx (4 days)
TOTAL - 1,06,40,00,000 apprx
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BHOOTH BANGLA had the discounted tickets jump on Tuesday as it collected 3.50 crore nett which takes the film to 111 crore nett and by the end of the week it would have crossed the figures of JOLLY LLB 3. The film will see some minor competition this week with EK DIN, though there is a big film releasing in Maharashtra.
This is likely to affect collections in Mumbai, Thane and Pune. But the rest of Maharashtra is at lower levels now and hence, here it will not matter much. The film will be standing above 37 crore nett in Mumbai circuit before the release of the Marathi film and Gujarat. JOLLY LLB 3 had done business of 30 crore nett in the circuit. In Delhi/UP, its a bit different and the film may not be able to reach the mark of JOLLY LLB 3.
The collections of BHOOTH BANGLA till date are as follows..
Paid Previews - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Friday - 11,50,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 18,00,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 21,50,00,000 apprx
Monday - 6,15,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 7,25,00,000 apprx
Wednesday - 5,50,00,000 apprx
Thursday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Week One - 78,40,00,000 apprx
Friday - 5,00,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 9,75,00,000 apprx
Sunday - 11,25,00,000 apprx
Monday - 3,00,00,000 apprx
Tuesday - 3,50,00,000 apprx
Second Week - 32,50,00,000 apprx (5 days)
TOTAL - 1,11,00,00,000 apprx
Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan team up for two new films
2:49 PM
Natasha Coutinho (HINDUSTAN TIMES; April 28, 2026)
After the super success of Bhooth Bangla, which marked their reunion after 14 years, actor Akshay Kumar and filmmaker Priyadarshan have added two more films to their slate, continuing a long creative partnership that dates back to the 2000s. Both projects will be produced by Ramesh Taurani.
A source close to the development shares, “The first film, a comedy, will go on floors in January 2027. Akshay has also come on board as the leading man for Bhoot Police 2, also being directed by Priyadarshan. The team is on the lookout for the second male lead, who will join Akshay in it. Talks for both films had been on for the past two months and it’s only recently that all details have been finalized.”
When contacted, Taurani confirmed the news, saying, “Yes, we are producing both the films with Akshay and Priyadarshan.”
Interestingly, Taurani is the only common link between the original Bhoot Police and its sequel. The 2021 film starred Saif Ali Khan, Arjun Kapoor, Jacqueline Fernandez, Yami Gautam, and Jaaved Jaaferi, and was directed by Pavan Kirpalani, with Taurani and Akshai Puri as producers.
Apart from these projects, Akshay Kumar and Priyadarshan are also working on Haiwaan and Hera Pheri 3, although the status of the latter remains unclear. The duo have previously collaborated on several films, including Hera Pheri (2000), Bhagam Bhag (2006), and Bhool Bhulaiyaa (2007), among others.
Ram Charan's Peddi dance clip leaked hours after shoot; makers remove 400 links
2:47 PM
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; April 29, 2026)
What began as a regular shoot day for Ram Charan and the team of Peddi spiralled into a hectic night of damage control. Nearly 53 seconds of footage from a special dance number of Peddi made its way online in the late hours of April 27. What was shocking was that the song shoot, featuring the South star and Shruti Haasan, had begun only earlier that day on a specially erected set in Janwada near Hyderabad.
Sources told mid-day that director Buchi Babu Sana and the team were stunned when they saw the clip being circulated across fan pages, Telegram groups, and X. A source said, “Usually, makers are worried about leaks during post-production, but here the footage seems to have gone out straight from the set. The unit was caught off guard.”
Murmurs are that the leak may have originated from either an on-set monitor recording or an internally circulated preview cut. The source added, “It was not a polished teaser. It looked like someone recorded the monitor playback on the phone.”
Since then, the makers have roped in anti-piracy experts, who are trying to contain the spread. An insider said, “More than 400 links across platforms have been removed. The legal and digital teams have been working continuously.”
Boman Irani puts up gala to celebrate screenwriters; Aamir Khan, Karan Johar to attend the event
2:46 PM
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; April 30, 2026)
During the 2020 lockdown, actor and director Boman Irani began Spiral Bound, an initiative that trained aspiring screenwriters. Six years on, it has grown into a nurturing hub for writers. The actor, who had announced a writing competition after conducting 870 sessions, is set to felicitate the winners at a special gala in Bandra on April 30.
Irani told mid-day that the idea of the competition was to instill confidence in the writers. He explained, “Many of them are afraid to share their work. They are unsure whether the writing is good or bad. So, I told them to just write, send it ahead, and come for the gala.”
Noted writer and lyricist Javed Akhtar will felicitate the winners. Other attendees include Aamir Khan, Anil Kapoor, Karan Johar, Sooraj Barjatya, and Anupam Kher.
Irani added, “I told the students that so many people are turning up to support writers. If we don’t support writers, we can’t complain that we are not getting [good] stories.” We got to support the writers, pay them well and give them a place on that stage. They set the ball rolling, and if you don't respect and encourage that, we have no right to complain,” he said
Top 10 among the applicants will be announced at the event, while the best three will be rewarded with a trip to Moscow.
Irani shared. “The Russian Film Confederation is sponsoring them a trip to Moscow. The trip will take place in June. And it’s not just about the trip, what matters is that they can turn around and say that their writing got them there, something that everyone say has no money and gratification. But there is a prize, a victory and gratification. And that’s what I'm proud of, because what it's doing is waking up people. Finally you get messages from people, saying, ‘I'm so glad you did this. Finally I'm not afraid to put pen on paper’,” he said, adding that Spiral Bound precisely aims to make writers more confident about their skills.
“No one is ever scolded or reprimanded in the class, even if they ask stupid questions. Ask the questions. Clarify your doubts. There's so much of learning. It's not just a community. It's not a support group. It's where serious, hardcore, high-level learning happens. I've been trained by Oscar-winning writer Alexander Dinelaris Jr, whose next is with Tom Cruise. He teaches me, I share. It’s as simple as that,” Irani said.
Apart from teaching, Irani also makes sure he helps students earn opportunities by recommending them to the right people in the industry.
“It has to be done, right? Otherwise what’s the point of all of this? We had a girl in our class in 2020. I have her a prompt to write a scene. She wrote the scene and it had four-five lines in it. But I told her to apply what we teach. Today, she is writing multiple web series. I'm not trying to be ‘Mr Nice Guy’. I have a great love for cinema and I'm looking forward to good movies. So, this is out of a very selfish reason.”
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