For years, Kapil Sharma has been the face of laughter in Indian homes – a comedian who turned everyday observation into prime-time television. In one of his most candid conversations yet, Kapil opens up about family, loss, fatherhood, depression, and the quiet need to do work that will one day make his children proud. He also puts an end to the rumours of a biopic on him.

While reports suggested that a biopic is being made on Kapil’s life, the comedian refutes the speculations. “Those people are actually our friends, the producers. They wanted to make it. But I feel I’ve just begun to understand life properly. What biopic will they make right now? So no, I don’t think so – not at this point. Maybe someday in the future,” he clarifies.

He is equally unguarded about what such a film would or wouldn’t hide. “Once you become a public figure, whatever happens in your life reaches people anyway. Everything in my life has reached people – the good and the bad,” he adds.

Looking back, Kapil sees his life not as a rise-and-fall graph, but as a series of phases, each with its own meaning. “Every phase had its own charm. Childhood was different. When my father was there, that phase was different. After he passed away in 2004, life went completely off track. Then I got another chance on TV and came back on track. At 36, depression hit me hard and I went completely down. People started saying, ‘He’s finished.’ Then I got married. Then the show came back. Then I did 300+ episodes again,” he recalls.

Perspective, he says, came with time. “I think the only certainty in life is uncertainty. You just keep working with good intentions, and good things keep happening,” he explains.

Talking about his father, Kapil gets emotional. “The past never changes. Those who have gone won’t come back. When I won the trophy (The Great Indian Laughter Challenge Season 3) and got a cheque of Rs. 10 lakh, I cried thinking… If my father were here today,” he says.

He remembers a quiet moment soon after his show (The Kapil Sharma Show) became a nightly ritual. “When my show started, I remember standing quietly outside my house at 9 pm. In every house in the society, TVs were on, and I could hear people’s laughter. I thought to myself, if papa were alive, how happy he’d be. I miss him every day, but some moments hit harder,” he shares.

Kapil’s career, he says, was never mapped out in straight lines. “I came here to become a singer. Then somewhere along the way, I thought, let’s become an actor. I did serious roles, then came into comedy almost by accident. An actor always has that hunger – that another side of him should also come out. But our industry, or maybe human nature is such that people see you doing one thing and assume that’s all you can do. Comedy is acting, and honestly, comedy is more difficult,” he says.

Ask him about what lies ahead and he says, “Life has been long, difficult, fun, messy. Work-wise, I feel blessed. My hobby became my profession. What bigger gift from God can there be? I’m excited about what lies ahead.”

Fatherhood, Kapil admits, has changed how he makes his choices. “Sometimes I think that I want to do a certain kind of work so that when my children grow up, they can see that I didn’t just do light or superficial things all my life. Like the film, Zwigato (2022), that I did with Nandita Das, it made my heart feel good. I knew commercially it wouldn’t do anything. But it was a good subject, and I did it because tomorrow when my kids grow up, they shouldn’t feel that their father spent his entire life doing meaningless things – he also did work of substance,” he says.​

Javed Ali has been constantly travelling for his concerts in the last couple of weeks. But there’s a sense of calm and focus when he meets us for a chat. The singer slips between anecdotes and musings, occasionally humming a phrase to make a point, as he talks to us about making choices and how to keep things interesting for himself and the listeners.

​The first listen matters more than the banner or the buzz around a film for Javed. “This instinct has kept me anchored,” he says. From the soft romance of Jashn-e-Bahaara, Tum Tak and Saudebaazi, to the playful energy of Tinku Jiya, Nagaada Nagaada, Kajra Re, and the spiritual depth of Arziyaan and Kun Faya Kun, the singer’s discography is varied. “I don’t belong to a particular genre. For me it’s all about versatility,” he adds.

​The conversation inevitably turns to the current playback landscape and the singers defining it. When Arijit Singh’s name comes up, Javed speaks with both admiration and caution about the singer’s decision to step back from playback singing.

“I am sure Arijit must have made this decision after giving it good thought. I don’t think this is something he decided on a whim, especially at the peak of his career.”

The Kun Faya Kun singer adds, “I don’t really think he should have done this. He is a brilliant singer and one of my favourites. I’m sure his fans everywhere must be disappointed.”

​Bringing up the song Aashiqon Ki Colony from the upcoming O'Romeo as an example of how songs travel today, Javed shares, “The song has gone viral. At the same time, I feel that the virality is not just about the audio. One of the big reasons that song has become so popular is Shahid Kapoor’s hook step.” 

The visual, he acknowledges, can push a song into people’s feeds, and from there into their playlists.  “There are benefits to songs trending on Instagram because they reach more people,” he says. But he draws a line at letting it define creativity. “I don’t think artists should take a lot of pressure for that, though. A song has to work beyond a 30-second reel,” he adds.

​Javed says that technology, if wielded appropriately, isn’t a threat, but an advantage. For him, AI in music is a new space to explore. “When AI is used properly, like the way Sonu Nigam did by bringing Rafi sahab’s voice alive for a duet recently, it can be a great tool for music. I will probably do something like that too,” he says.

Reports of Sunita Ahuja’s film debut have been doing the rounds lately. Things have been kept under wraps, but a source spotted her shooting at a temple in Bhopal for the said film. The movie marks Sunita’s full-fledged Bollywood debut and not just a special appearance. An industry insider revealed that she will star alongside her son, Yashvardhan, in it.

The source shares, “The film is a horror-comedy helmed by Sajid Khan, who returns to direction after many years and is produced by Ekta Kapoor. It is being shot in Mumbai currently and stars Sunita in a pivotal role. She will be seen replicating her real-life role as Yash’s mother on screen as well. Dono maa-beta will share the screen for the first time.”

The film stars Yashvardhan with Laapataa Ladies’ Nitanshi Goel and Gadar 2’s Simrat Kaur Randhawa in leading roles.

Mumbai: Ten days after gunshots were fired outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty's residence in Juhu, actor Ranveer Singh was learnt to have received a threat accompanied by a demand for several crores.

Sources said the threat was sent as a WhatsApp voice note from an unidentified number to Singh's secretary. The sender claimed to be speaking on behalf of the Bishnoi gang.

Security around Singh's residence was increased after the voice note, said police sources.

In a related development, the managing committee of the Beau Monde residential tower in Prabhadevi approached the Dadar police station about the deployment of six armed private security guards without the permission of the society at the flat occupied by Singh and his actor wife Deepika Padukone. In a written communication, the society said suddenly now a uniformed police official was also seen stationed with the actors.

Though senior police officials remained tight-lipped on the extortion matter, sources said Singh was not an isolated target. Over the past 15 days, about a dozen Bollywood personalities are said to have received threatening calls from people who identified themselves as members of the Bishnoi gang. No complaint or FIR has been registered so far by any of the threatened celebrities.

The latest threat comes even as the crime branch is struggling to nab the unidentified shooter who fired five rounds outside Shetty's home last month.

On Feb 5, TOI was the first to report the surge in threat calls undert the headline ‘5 More Bollywood celebrities targeted by Lonkar: Cops'.

Investigators said that soon after the firing at Shetty's house, several Bollywood figures began receiving extortion calls. Most of them reportedly blocked unknown numbers or stopped answering unfamiliar calls altogether.

Even Singh's secretary is believed to have blocked unknown callers, which may have prompted the extortionist to send a voice note directly to the assistant's phone.

The growing menace of the Bishnoi gang — particularly after the firing outside Salman Khan's residence, the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddique last year, and the attack on Shetty's house — has gripped Mumbai's film fraternity with fear, evoking memories of the 1990s and early 2000s when underworld influence, shootouts and threat calls were rampant.

At least nine teams of the crime branch are camping in Lucknow and adjoining towns in Uttar Pradesh to track down the shooter involved in the Shetty firing case. A police official told TOI that the shooter had been identified and digitally tracked to Lucknow, and efforts are underway to arrest him at the earliest.

Security was stepped up at Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh’s Prabhadevi residence, with one armed police personnel and six private security guards deployed at his Beau Monde apartment, prompting the society to seek clarification from police.

In a letter dated February 10, 2026, the Beau Monde ‘B’ Tower Co-operative Housing Society said its managing committee had raised concerns over the presence of multiple armed private guards and a uniformed police officer stationed at the flat where Singh lives with his wife, actor Deepika Padukone.

The society said the six private guards, allegedly carrying firearms, were frequently seen moving through common areas like the lobby, gymnasium and children’s play area. Residents expressed concern over weapons in shared spaces and sought clarification on whether the guards were authorized to carry licensed arms and whether police permission had been granted for the deployment.

The society also sought details of the police personnel stationed at the actor’s residence, including the department responsible for the deployment and the nature of protection provided.

Police sources said an officer from Dadar Police Station visited the premises and verified the security arrangements following the society’s representation. When contacted, the society office declined comment. Mumbai Police, however, denied receiving any formal threat complaint related to Singh. “There is no official threat complaint at present,” a senior officer said.

Police said individuals often engage private security based on personal assessment, subject to verification and compliance with licensing and legal norms.

The development comes amid concern within the film industry following a firing incident outside filmmaker Rohit Shetty’s residence and reports of alleged threat messages to Singh. Mumbai Police, however, dismissed claims of any organized or widespread threat to Bollywood, stating that the firing was a targeted incident linked to specific criminal investigations and not indicative of a broader conspiracy. Officers said preventive security and surveillance have been stepped up, but there is no intelligence suggesting a systematic threat to the film fraternity.

If Chhaava (2025) was any indication, Vicky Kaushal slips effortlessly into larger-than-life characters. Now, another ambitious role is waiting for him. We’ve heard that Mahavatar — which will see the actor play Chiranjeevi Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu — will go on floors in October. That’s eight months away, and for good reason. The actor needs to build a bulky physique for the mythological epic that will be directed by Amar Kaushik of Stree fame.

Considering the epic is mounted on a grand scale, its pre-production has already begun. But it will be a while before Kaushal immerses himself in its world.

A source told mid-day, “The actor cannot begin his physical prep as he is currently shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War, in which he sports an athletic look. For Mahavatar, he will need to build a heavy frame like that of a wrestler, complete with a rugged look and long, matted hair. After Love & War reaches the finish line in April, the actor will adopt a new diet plan and workout regime to attain the required look.”

Given his distinct look for the epic, it’s unlikely that Kaushal will sign any new projects while filming it.

Producer Dinesh Vijan and the director are using this time to build the mythological drama’s world. The source added, “The DoP [Director of Photography], art, production, and costume design teams have begun soft prep. The hunt for the leading lady, who will play Dharini, is underway. The rumour of Deepika Padukone being the female lead was baseless.”

Sanjay Leela Bhansali builds his on-screen world perfectly and patiently. Love & War is no exception. Word in the industry is that the Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal-starrer, which went on floors in November 2024, still has 70 days of filming left.

The love triangle is currently being shot at Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai. A source close to the production told mid-day, “We have over two months of shoot remaining, with six songs yet to be filmed. Nearly 35 days have been blocked only for the songs. As with any Bhansali film, these aren’t quick tracks; they have been envisioned as elaborate sequences mounted on a grand canvas. These period-specific songs will need a lot of prep before being filmed.”

Naturally, the delay in completion has impacted its release plans. Love & War was earlier targeting an Independence Day release. However, Aamir Khan recently announced that his production, Lahore 1947, will arrive in cinemas on August 13.

“Independence Day was an attractive window, but Love & War’s team would have to race against time to meet that deadline. Plus, with Lahore 1947 booking the date, it didn’t make sense to crowd the space. Bhansali would prefer a clear run for his love story,” added the source.

The movie’s new release date is yet to be finalized.

Where was Maddy? That was the question buzzing on social media when Rang De Basanti marked 20 years with a special screening on February 6. As director Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra reunited with cast members Aamir Khan, Soha Ali Khan, Siddharth, Sharman Joshi and Kunal Kapoor, among others, fans quickly noticed one familiar face missing from the frame.

Actor R Madhavan, who played the Air Force pilot in the film, cleared the air soon after, explaining that work commitments kept him away. He shares, “I was at a shoot abroad when the event took place, and couldn’t fly back in time. I really missed it and I wish I could have been there with all of them to celebrate this iconic film.”

The 55-year-old also reveals that the reunion was originally planned for January but had to be postponed following a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra on Jan 28, which killed all aboard, including then Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. “We didn’t want to celebrate at that time, naturally. It was a very very tragic, heartbreaking event,” he says.

Meanwhile, the film’s team arrived wearing hoodies featuring the film’s title, posing outside the theatre before heading in for the screening.

Suvinder Vicky may have lost out on the second season of Kohrra, but he has gained a highly anticipated series. The actor is currently shooting for Storm, which marks Hrithik Roshan’s production debut in the OTT world. If Vicky was impressed by the Prime Video series’ script, he was bowled over by the first-time producer.

The actor, who recently met Roshan, said, “He is really the Greek God that people call him. He has that aura. He gave me so much respect.”

Vicky was a Punjabi cinema regular before breaking out in Hindi entertainment with Kohrra. He admitted to being overwhelmed with the admiration that the Hindi film industry artistes have shown him since. 

“Whether it’s Amit ji [Amitabh Bachchan], Hrithik, or any actor, the more people become successful, the humbler they get here. They touch your feet and you feel embarrassed.”

Senior actor Rajpal Yadav has been going through a tough time amid legal and financial trouble, and he recently surrendered before the Tihar Jail authorities in a cheque-bounce case. Reportedly, before surrendering to the authorities, the actor broke down and said, “Sir, kya karoon? Mere paas paise nahin hain. Aur koi upaay nahin dikhta.”

When asked if he had considered seeking help from colleagues or industry friends, Yadav replied, “Sir, yahan hum sab akele hain. There are no friends. I have to deal with this crisis on my own.”

Rajpal Yadav surrendered to the police after the Delhi High Court directed him to do so in connection with multiple cheque bounce cases. The actor, who had taken a loan for his directorial, Ata Pata Laapata, in 2010, was unable to repay the loan. In 2018, a magisterial court sentenced him to a six-month jail term. In 2019, a sessions court upheld the verdict.

When the actor and his wife approached the Delhi High Court in 2024 for relief, the court temporarily suspended the sentence, taking into consideration the fact that the actor and his wife were not habitual offenders. It allowed time for resettlement. However, the actor was unable to repay the debt. The Delhi High Court, on Wednesday, rejected Bollywood actor Rajpal Yadav’s plea seeking an extension of time to surrender before jail authorities.

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Actor Sonu Sood took to social media on Tuesday to share that Rajpal Yadav will be part of his upcoming film, adding that the actor would be given a “small signing amount, adjustable against future work”. The announcement comes just days after Rajpal surrendered at Delhi’s Tihar Jail on Feb 5 in connection with a cheque bounce case.

Speaking to us, Sonu says, “Helping him is our responsibility as colleagues, and I hope we can make this happen. It’s a little too early to talk about the film as it is in the final writing stages.”

The 52-year-old, who previously worked with Rajpal in Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004), adds, “A lot of people in our industry have worked with Rajpal bhai. He will be a part of my film, and I request all producers to do the same so that he can come out of the tough phase he is facing.”

The cheque bounce case stems from a Rs. 5 crore loan Rajpal took in 2010 to fund his directorial debut, Ata Pata Laapata (2012). The amount later reportedly swelled to nearly Rs. 9 crore, which he was unable to repay, following which he surrendered last Thursday.