Pati Patni Aur Woh Do collects 8.90 cr in 2 days; Aakhri Sawal collects 85 lakhs
10:03 AM
Box Office India Trade Network
PATI PATNI AUR WOH DO collected 5.25 crore nett on its second day which is a jump of around 45% from Friday and is just not good enough. Basically the film needed to be in double digits or close on Sunday but that is impossible now. It needed to double up on Saturday at the very least due to the dull start on Friday.
The game today is about being on the desired figure by Sunday irrespective of the opening if you want to stay in the race. A start hugely helps the cause but if you have the content, then Saturday and Sunday will gain momentum but that has not happened with this film. Obviously, there is the Sunday to come but the growth here will be less on Sunday and on a best case scenario as much as Saturday which is also not enough.
PATI PATNI AUR WOH DO has around 9 crore nett up on the board and it will probably be a 15 crore nett plus total for the weekend.
The collections for PATI PATNI AUR WOH DO are as follows.
Friday - 3,65,00,000
Saturday - 5,25,00,000
TOTAL - 8,90,00,000
The other release of the week, AAKHRI SAWAL, collected around 50 lakh on day two making it 80 lakhs nett over the two days. The growth is 80% with PVR Inox showing 100% growth but it hardly matters with these collections.
The collections for AAKHRI SAWAL are as follows.
Friday - 30,00,000 apprx
Saturday - 55,00,000 apprx
TOTAL - 85,00,000 apprx
Anubhav Sinha, Ajay Devgn to reunite for an action film
9:58 AM
Ajay Devgn and filmmaker Anubhav Sinha, who weren’t on talking terms after their 2007 outing ‘Cash’, likely to reunite for an action flick
Upala KBR (MID-DAY; May 18, 2026)
In a 2025 interview, filmmaker Anubhav Sinha had revealed that Ajay Devgn had not spoken to him in the 18 years since their film, Cash (2007), had a poor run at the box office. Well, the good news is that creative differences, if any, between the two are a thing of the past. mid-day has exclusively learnt that the superstar and the director are in talks to reunite for a movie.
Since 2017, Sinha has gravitated towards social dramas, churning out Mulk (2017), Thappad (2020), and the recent Assi, among others. But he is changing gears for his next with Devgn.
A source revealed, “It will be the kind of larger-than-life entertainers that Anubhav used to make before — think Dus [2005] or Ra.One [2011]. Now, the director wants to try his hand again at an ambitious action movie.”
Who better than Devgn to headline an action film? From what we’ve heard, it was Devgn’s manager and producer Kumar Mangat Pathak who arranged the meeting between Sinha and the actor at the latter’s office.
The source elaborated, “After Cash, even though the duo did not speak, there wasn’t ever a direct disagreement. Anubhav had clarified that the disagreement was between the film’s producers and financiers. A few months ago, Kumar Mangat brought them together, and Anubhav pitched one of his three scripts to Ajay. The superstar, Mangat, as well as producer Bhushan Kumar instantly liked it, and the latter may come on board. Ajay asked Anubhav to make the scale bigger.”
True to Sinha’s style, the action-heavy film will have strong elements of realism. If all goes well, it may roll by 2026-end.
I love seeing female energy in films, they bring a certain depth that even men enjoy-Kiara Advani
9:57 AM
Madhureeta Mukherjee (BOMBAY TIMES; May 18, 2026)
From winning hearts in love stories to carving her space in some of contemporary cinema’s most anticipated films, Kiara Advani has built a career that blends relatability with undeniable star power. Audiences have connected with her warmth and emotional honesty in films like Kabir Singh, Satyaprem Ki Katha and Jugjugg Jeeyo, but her journey has never been confined to romance alone.With films like War 2 and now the much-anticipated Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups, she is stepping into a larger cinematic canvas.
On Rustomjee presents the Bombay Times Lounge, Kiara joins us at a defining moment in her life — balancing the demands of stardom with the emotions of new motherhood, and reflecting on the choices, risks and relationships that have shaped her journey so far. Here’s a sneak peek into an intimate conversation with the actress.
On making bold choices early in her career
The actress says some of the biggest turning points in her career came from instinctive choices rather than calculated decisions. Looking back, Lust Stories proved to be one such moment. "When I did the anthology, Lust Stories (2018), I shocked myself. At that point, I didn’t look at it through the lens of women empowerment, or taking a step towards breaking certain stereotypes. For me it was like…I want to work with Karan Johar and I’m getting this fantastic platform, so why not? But today when I look back, I realize it was a bold choice as that film spoke of so many more things and there was a larger story there. That one short film gave me the kind of validation that you are really looking for in your early days," Kiara shares.
On constantly evolving as an actor she says, "Today when I look back at some of my work, I feel like the actor in me has evolved. I see the difference. I hope and I’m assuming the audience also sees that. Of course, I would hate to think that I’ve arrived. I would hate to think that I know it all. I still feel like I’m learning."
Kiara on being drawn to romantic roles
The actress explains, "I’d like to believe that my EQ is quite high, so I guess when filmmakers meet me that influences the kind of parts they visualize me in. Any genre of film could be popular, but romantic films will never go out of fashion. We will always need that in our life. When I watch a film, I want to see the female lead. I love seeing the macho guys on screen, but I don’t want to see just them. I love female energy in a film, because they come with a certain EQ which only they can bring. They bring a certain depth and gravitas which even the men enjoy, right?"
'I think reaching your goal is not the hardest part'
The actress admits that reaching the top is only one part of the journey — staying relevant and meeting expectations is a different challenge altogether. Kiara says, "I think reaching your goal is not the hardest part. When you’ve reached, what do you do with it — is what is harder. How do you sustain it? You’re also then at a position where people are looking up to you, and asking…what next? I see it with my fans, they’re like, ‘Okay, we supported you till here, now what are you giving us? We want to see something new, we want to see something different’."
On making her pregnancy part of her Met Gala moment
For Kiara, her Met Gala appearance became more than a red carpet milestone — it turned into a deeply personal memory connected to motherhood. She says, "I wanted my pregnancy story to be a part of this moment (Met Gala) and we did it. Saraayah was such a good baby throughout. I was at that stage of my pregnancy where I was feeling kicks inside me like a football and that night, she just made it so easy for me. She was so calm. It was a very personal moment for me. I can’t wait to share it with her when she grows up and tell her that we were right there and doing all of this together."
'I think Toxic will completely change the way you see the man-woman dynamic'
Kiara says her upcoming film challenged the way she views conventional ideas of love, freedom and relationships. She says, "I think Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-Ups will completely change the way you see the man-woman dynamic. In fact, when Geetu Mohandas (director) narrated the script to me, it took a while for me to understand that, okay, aisa bhi ho sakta hai. It may be grey, but not in your conventional way, and there’s a certain liberation in that love that is portrayed. When I heard Nadia’s part, I thought…I wish I was so liberated in my own thoughts."
On marriage, independence and embracing motherhood
Kiara Advani shares how she embraced independence in the new phase of her life with actor, husband Sidharth Malhotra.
She says, "Sidharth has always been independent as he lived alone for so long. So, when we got married, he taught me so many little things about living independently and running my own home. Moving out of my parents’ home and starting my family was an interesting transition for me. Now as a mom, it’s a whole new ballgame. I feel time is so precious right now."
Watch the full episode of the Bombay Times Lounge with Kiara Advani, coming soon on the Bombay Times YouTube channel
Title Sponsor: Rustomjee: Shot at Parishram by Rustomjee, Pali Hill, Bandra, Mumbai
I was constantly seen as that piano playing singer-Adnan Sami
9:54 AM
Revealing that he felt trapped creatively in the past few years, Adnan Sami discusses stepping away from film music and finding a new sonic direction with ‘Lipstick’
Komal RJ Panchal (MID-DAY; May 18, 2026)
Unexpected and unfamiliar is the road Adnan Sami has taken with his latest single, Lipstick. Visually, the singer has embraced a quirky avatar, complete with kohled eyes, tattoos, and heavy jewellery. He has turned in a different direction sonically as well, blending his songs with spiritual and Sufi-inspired elements. In a candid conversation with mid-day, Sami reflects on his new chapter, where he feels ready to showcase his artistic evolution through his music.
Excerpts from the interview.
Your new video, Lipstick, has a distinct look. Was that a conscious departure from your image?
Absolutely! It would have been easy for me to simply play myself sitting behind a piano, but that felt expected. I wanted to do something rooted and playful. The song has upbeat energy, but I’ve blended it with traditional elements — Rajasthani vocals, folk textures, and Sufi touches. I wanted the visuals to reflect that too. Dressing up as a slightly eccentric, Sufi-like character with rings, surma, and tattoos was great fun.
Why centre the song on lipstick and superstitions?
I realized lipsticks cut across class, culture, and age. Whether you’re rich or poor, young or old, there’s something about putting on lipstick that gives you confidence. Even my daughter loves experimenting with it, and so do grandmothers. Then came the superstition angle. We’ve all grown up with strange beliefs — don’t cut nails at night, black cat crossing your path [is a bad omen]. These things exist in every culture. We’re not mocking these beliefs. We’re holding up a mirror and saying, ‘This is who we are.’
Why have you stayed away from film music in the last few years?
I’ve been evolving both personally and musically. For a long time, I wanted to express that evolution, but I wasn’t able to because people want to slot you into one image. I was constantly seen as that piano-playing singer; there’s more to me than that. I didn’t want to remain trapped creatively. I consciously stepped away — now there’s a spiritual and Sufi-inspired direction in my music, and I finally feel ready to express it. I’m working on a series of songs that sound different from anything I’ve done before.
Do you think Bollywood music has changed?
Completely. Earlier, films had five or eight lip-sync songs. Cinema today has become more realistic, so songs are often part of the background score. At the same time, independent music is making a comeback because of streaming platforms. Earlier, every singer wanted to become a playback singer. Today, that concept is changing. You can build your own audience independently.
Is this a better era for singers and musicians?
In many ways, yes. Everybody has a fair shot now. Earlier, access was controlled by a handful of gatekeepers. Today, anyone can upload music and reach audiences directly.
About the music video
In the video, Adnan Sami wanted to depict the earthy and vibrant nature of India’s small towns. He explained, “It would’ve been easy to make a flashy urban video with luxury cars, glamorous styling, and tiny outfits. But that’s not the majority of India. I wanted something proudly desi.”
When I did a Malayalam movie, I saw how they care for their writers-Abhimanyu Singh
9:52 AM
Noting that Malayalam cinema prioritizes its writers, ‘Inspector Avinash 2’ actor Abhimanyu Singh slams Hindi showbiz’s treatment of them
Priyanka Sharma (MID-DAY; May 18, 2026)
A year has passed since actor Abhimanyu Singh made his Malayalam debut with Mohanlal-led L2 Empuraan (2025), but one thing about that experience has remained unforgettable — the value given to writing. It’s stayed with him because he doesn’t find the same culture in Bollywood. Thankfully, his latest work, Inspector Avinash, has been an exception.
The actor shared, “We [the Hindi entertainment industry] don’t care for writers. When I did a Malayalam movie, I saw how they care for their writers, and how much importance writers are given by the directors and producers. That’s why their content is so good. We don’t trust or back our writers.”
The actor is pleased that the JioHotstar series, led by Randeep Hooda and created by Neerraj Pathak, places importance on its writing. As the second season dropped over the weekend, Singh revealed that he had shot it along with the opening edition three years ago.
“When the first season released [in 2023], I was not even aware about it as hardly any publicity was done. But the season did well without any PR. [Recently] when Neerraj sir told me to dub a few lines, I learnt that the second season was finally coming. Then, I was relieved,” he recalled.
Shweta Tripathi to reunite with husband Chaitanya Sharma onstage after 13 years
9:50 AM
Vishakha Pandit (HINDUSTAN TIMES; May 18, 2026)
Nearly 13 years after theatre brought them together, actor-producer Shweta Tripathi (40) and husband, actor-rapper Chaitanya Sharma aka Slow Cheetah (35), are returning to the stage as co-actors. The couple first met and fell in love while practising theatre in 2013, and will now be seen together in the play External Affairs.
And it is a full-circle moment for Shweta. She recalls, “When we met, there was an instant connection. We were on a flight back from Delhi after our first show together, and by the end of that flight, I knew I wanted this person in my life.”
In the play, the two portray a couple navigating the early stages of a relationship, taking them back to the emotions of their own dating days.
“Our love today is another level of soulmate love; we don’t remember our own first date anymore,” says Shweta, adding rehearsals are helping them “tap back into that energy”.
Sharing the rehearsal room with Chaitanya, she says, has been creatively rewarding: “We are each other’s biggest cheerleaders and fans. He’s one of the hardest-working and disciplined people I know.”
For Shweta, who will next be seen in Mirzapur: The Movie, theatre is irreplaceable: “Live performances are special because the audience is breathing with you.”
Telangana theatre dispute exposes stress in single-screen economics
9:49 AM
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; May 18, 2026)
Mumbai: A dispute between single-screen theatre owners and producers in Telangana over revenue sharing has exposed the growing financial stress in India’s theatrical business, with exhibitors saying weak box-office collections and rising operating costs have made the current fixed-rental model unsustainable.
The Telangana Exhibitors Association has instead proposed a percentage-based revenue-sharing model, which has received support from some producers while others have yet to formally communicate their acceptance.
“It is an existential crisis for single-screen theatre owners,” said Vishek Chauhan, CEO of Roopbani Cinema, a single-screen theatre in Bihar. “On the one hand, they pay a fixed fee to distributors irrespective of the performance of films. On the other hand, they do not have a say in the choice of films they want to showcase or even in the number of shows,” he explained.
“Exhibitors that are part of national chains have more favourable terms, as they follow the percentage model to the hilt,” Chauhan added.
India has close to 5,000 single screens, of which 70% are in South India, according to trade analysts. Telangana accounts for 10-11% of the single-screen capacity in South India.
In a fixed-fee business model, a single-screen theatre owner must pay a fixed amount to distributors irrespective of a film’s performance. Given the high fixed costs of running theatres and the uneven box-office performance of films, theatre owners are facing significant losses.
Trade analysts said the Telangana Exhibitors Association has proposed a staggered revenue-sharing model, offering distributors 60% of the box-office collections in the first week, 50% in the second and 40% in the third week of a film’s run.
In 2025, the Indian film industry shut 124 screens, mostly single screens, even as 225 screens were added mostly in multiplexes, according to the Ficci-EY 2026 Media and Entertainment report. “Industry discussions indicate that in Hindi-speaking states, some towns now open screens only for a few days a week or when there are major film releases,” it noted.
Meanwhile, producers are also under pressure from soaring star remunerations and fewer releases from top actors due to pan-India ambitions, industry analysts said.
“A key reason for weak box-office revenues in the Telugu and Kannada markets is the pan-India ambitions of stars and filmmakers in these industries,” said Ramesh Bala, a movie trade analyst based in Chennai. “As a result, stars have not only reduced the number of films they release each year but have also increased their fees. These developments have put producers in a vulnerable position.”
The FICCI-EY report noted that pan-India films will increase pressure on regional content to scale up in both narrative and production values. “Large-scale, multilingual releases are increasingly dominating screens, often compressing theatrical windows for mid-budget and regional-language films,” it said.
The gross box office of southern films fell to Rs. 6,000 crore in 2025 from Rs. 7,000 crore in 2024, according to the report.
Analysts said even though single-screen theatre owners have promised not to raise ticket prices, they are threatening to shut down if their proposal is not considered seriously.
Producers have also pointed to the timing of the proposal, which coincides with the release of the big-budget pan-India Telugu film Peddi early next month.
Jio Studios to line up Rs 5,000 cr over 3 yrs for content push despite BO slowdown
9:48 AM
Rajesh N Naidu (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; May 18, 2026)
Mumbai: Jio Studios plans to invest Rs. 4,000-Rs. 5,000 crore in films and non-film content over the next three years, 30-40% more than in the previous three years, chief executive Jyoti Deshpande said, even as a prolonged box-office slowdown prompts several established and family-owned studios to scale back.
In an interview with ET, after the success of the Dhurandhar franchise films co-produced by the Reliance Industries unit, Deshpande said 98% of the company's content is released on "other" platforms (like Netflix and Amazon Prime).
Under Deshpande, Jio Studios has built a balanced portfolio of films. On the one hand, it has backed four blockbusters grossing more than Rs. 500 crore each: Stree 2, Chhaava and the two Dhurandhar franchise films. On the other, it has also supported films that deserve expression and space, such as Laapataa Ladies, Baramulla and Mrs.
Deshpande said her mantra has been: "Build scale, keep an eye on the bottom line and reach as many Indians as possible." She added: "I am more focused on looking into the eyes of a filmmaker and gauging his or her conviction. This is vital for me in backing a film. Then the other variables follow."
In a thin attention-span economy, Deshpande remains a staunch champion of long-form storytelling, especially theatrical films.
"Audiences have become accustomed to long-form and immersive storytelling thanks to streamers," she said. "Against this backdrop, I was confident that the Dhurandhar franchise films would work. The films broke conventional storytelling forms through their chaptered, episodic and immersive structure. They showed that content, not length, is what works.
Trade analysts said the Dhurandhar franchise films have grossed more than Rs. 3,000 crore worldwide on a budget of less than Rs. 500 crore.
Deshpande is unperturbed by streamers functioning as studios and releasing films theatrically. "I think consolidation is good. It will expand the market," she said.
People can never tell when I’m joking or being serious-Orry
2:40 PM
Hasti Doshi (BOMBAY TIMES; May 16, 2026)
Orhan Awatramani, aka Orry, joining Khatron Ke Khiladi may sound unexpected, but according to him, there wasn’t much thought behind it. “I’m in this phase of my life where I’m just saying yes to everything,” he says. “Do you want to eat sausages for breakfast? Yes. Do you want to do Khatron Ke Khiladi? Yes. Do you want to jump off a cliff? Yes. I’m just going to say yes to everything!”
While social media sees him as chaotic and funny, Orry says people often misunderstand the line between his jokes and serious thoughts. “Because I’m so funny and giggly and sunshine all the time, when I do say something serious, people sit down to listen. Sometimes my delivery of even serious matters comes across as comical, so people can never tell when I’m joking or being serious,” he says.
That confusion extends to his career choices, too. Asked if he wants to become an actor, his answer is both yes and no. “If you ask me to do something, I’m going to say yes. But do I want to? No. So if someone asks me to act, I will do it, but I don’t want to be an actor.”
When asked how he deals with trolls on social media, he says, “People write about me, they post about me and form their opinions. This is the price you pay for being a forever-relevant person. Some people are famous, but they’re not actively relevant all the time. I am actively relevant every day.”
According to him, that level of attention comes with losing control over your own image. “You lose not only the power of privacy, but you lose the right to define yourself. You’re constantly being defined by other people.”
Orry says opportunities somehow keep finding him. “I don’t really look forward to anything. Things just happen in my life. God has blessed me with a life with so many opportunities, and that’s the biggest luxury of them all. So, I grab every opportunity that comes my way, and I dominate it,” he says.
Arjun Rampal breaks silence on viral DJ controversy: "I’ve been spinning since I was 17"
2:38 PM
Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; May 13, 2026)
In a society still shaped by conventional ideas of marriage and family, Arjun Rampal and Gabriella Demetriades have quietly built a relationship on their own terms. Together since 2018 and parents to two sons, Arik and Ariv, the couple have come to represent a modern blended family — grounded in companionship, commitment and co-parenting, without feeling bound by traditional timelines.
In December 2025, Arjun surprised many when he casually revealed on a podcast that the couple was officially engaged. Asked about the development, the actor smiled and said, “One step at a time.”
Arjun recently also found himself at the centre of a viral social media moment after videos of him playing DJ at a Gurugram nightclub surfaced online. While many praised his effortless stage presence and passion for music, others questioned whether he was genuinely trained as a DJ or if it was simply a publicity-driven appearance.
‘An entire community that follows electronic music started showing up and supporting me’
Clearing the air, Arjun said, “Oh Lord! I’ve actually been spinning music since the age of 17, so this is definitely not something new for me. Music, especially electronic music, has always been a huge passion in my life. I’ve had my own decks at home for years and I genuinely enjoy the whole culture around it. In fact, I even had a nightclub at one point that was dedicated entirely to that kind of music. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of close DJ friends, and I’ve learned so much from them. What started as something I enjoyed privately slowly became more public, because people who had heard me play began inviting me to perform at places. From there, it all just grew organically.”
He added, “There’s this entire community and cult following around electronic music, and people who connect with that vibe started showing up and supporting me. It just snowballed from there. Honestly, I really enjoy doing it. Right now, I’m trying to do as many gigs as I can because once I get fully back into my film commitments, I won’t really have the time to perform as a DJ.”
‘Filmmaking is collaborative; it is never about one person’
On the work front, Arjun has been receiving considerable attention following the success of Dhurandhar. Ask him whether the reaction to film has altered the way he now approaches scripts and projects, and the actor insists success alone cannot dictate creative decisions.
He said, “When we were making Dhurandhar, none of us knew what the outcome was going to be. All you can do as an actor is give absolutely everything you have to a film and hope that you’re surrounded by a team that shares the same passion and commitment.”
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