Months after winning praise for Made in India: A Titan Story, director Robbie Grewal is turning to Billionaire, a web series he announced in March. If Made In India: A Titan Story was an exploration of an institution and a country coming into its own, Arjun Rampal-led Billionaire will take a perceptive look at a controversial man, through the rise and fall of a business tycoon.

“It’s a story that people know of, but don’t know the intricate details. What’s similar [between the two shows] is that it is still a human story,” said Grewal. 

In April, mid-day reported that Rampal’s character is modelled on UB Group’s disgraced former head honcho Vijay Mallya (First baddie, now King of good times, Apr 17). While remaining tight-lipped about it, Grewal said he wants to dig deeper into his flawed protagonist.

“I’m not trying to balance out the good and the bad for the sake of balancing them. I’m saying it as is, while going into the human mind. I am trying to understand what made him become who he became.”

That philosophy extends to Rampal’s preparation for the role. For both the actor and Grewal, playing a real-life person is not about becoming a physical replica of him, but about capturing his spirit.

The director elaborated, “The idea of telling the story of a real-life person is never to impersonate him. Be the person in your head, not in the physicality of it. I’m not a fan of actors trying to match the look. Many times, the actor might look like the person, but their performance goes down by 10 or 20 per cent, because they can’t move their facial muscles in order to embody the performance.”

Bhumi Satish Pednekkar has come on board the cast of The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The actress will portray Belawadi Mallamma, the warrior queen of Karnataka, in the historical drama headlined by Rishab Shetty, who essays the role of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Bhumi says, “I’m honoured to be part of a film on the life and legacy of the great Maratha warrior-king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. It’s a privilege for me to play Karnataka’s brave warrior queen, Belawadi Mallamma, and bring her to life on screen. I am a huge Kantara fan, and Rishab Shetty’s stunning performance blew me away. So, the moment Sandeep narrated the film, the actor in me instantly said yes. This is unlike anything I’ve done before, and I’m grateful to the makers for seeing me in a completely new light.”

Directed and produced by Sandeep Singh, The Pride Of Bharat - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a two-part saga. The film also stars Arjun Rampal and Vivek Oberoi and is set to go on floors later this year.

As reported by us earlier, following Pritam’s decision to take a break from mainstream music, the makers roped in Amit Trivedi to compose the music for the historical drama.

A source had shared with us, “The team believes Amit Trivedi’s ability to blend powerful orchestration with deeply rooted Indian melodies makes him an ideal fit for the film’s vision. The music has to capture Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s courage, vision, legacy and the emotional heartbeat of the story. The makers were looking for a composer who could balance scale with emotion, and they are confident Amit’s music will elevate the film’s narrative while staying true to its historical essence.”

Three years after Gadar 2, director Anil Sharma has officially begun work on his next action entertainer, Arjun Naga. The film went on floors on Sunday (May 17) with its cast and crew attending the special event. According to a source close to the production, the team moved into its first major schedule soon after the launch.

“The mahurat happened on Sunday at Royal Palms with the entire core team present. A few scenes were also shot on the first day itself. From Monday (May 18) onwards, the unit has started filming an elaborate song sequence choreographed by Ganesh Acharya,” the insider revealed.

The song, mounted on a grand scale, is currently being shot in Goregaon and is said to be among the film’s first big set-pieces. The film stars Utkarsh Sharma in the lead, while Arjun Rampal has been cast as the primary antagonist. However, the actor was not part of the mahurat schedule and is expected to join the shoot shortly.

There is also industry chatter around the The Rajasaab fame, Nidhhi Agerwal being cast as the female lead, though the makers are yet to officially confirm her involvement.

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.

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.”

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.”

Following up a blockbuster like Dhurandhar: The Revenge is no easy feat. As we wondered what Arjun Rampal, who played the antagonist in Aditya Dhar’s action drama, would do next, the actor announced Amazon MX Player’s Billionaire, in late March.

Now, mid-day has dug out more details on the series to be directed by Hansal Mehta and Robbie Grewal. It turns out Rampal will play a powerful business magnate, apparently modelled on the UB Group former head honcho Vijay Mallya, no less.

Think an ambitious man rising to become a prominent businessman, who redefines power, wealth, and style in India. But the very ambition that boosted his growth leads to his downfall. Billionaire, we’ve heard, explores such a journey.

A source revealed, “It’s the first project that Arjun signed after Dhurandhar’s success. It was an immediate yes after he heard the script. While speculation suggests that his character is inspired by multiple personalities, the fictional drama borrows from the life of tycoon Vijay Mallya. Arjun’s character has not been named after any real-life persona, but people will be able to connect the dots after watching the show. The actor will put on weight for the role and sport a beard. A flamboyant and stylish look is what the makers are aiming for.”

Rampal will begin prepping from May, dedicating three months to it before the directors call action in August. The source added, “The character has grey shades; he rewrites the business rules to suit his requirements. Eventually that leads to his downfall. The actor will undergo workshops before entering the world of business and boardroom conflicts.”

Relentless action fuels the almost four-hour saga that is Dhurandhar The Revenge. To bring his story from paper to screen, filmmaker Aditya Dhar roped in action directors Oh Sea Young, Yannick Ben, Aejaz Gulab, and Ramazan Bulut. According to Young, the film has shaped up as a stylised action fare for two reasons — Dhar’s vision and leading man Ranveer Singh’s “obsession”.

“Ranveer is a beast — pure energy,” Young told mid-day. Even as the South Korean stunt director has worked with several action heroes in Bollywood, he noted that Singh’s dedication to perfect the scenes is almost unmatched.

“He is the first actor I know who takes notes on fights and choreography. He’d ask things like, ‘If I’m throwing a right hook, where is my left hand?’ He would write everything down. He even asked for demos right before the camera rolled. I was shocked he hadn’t done a pure action film before. Ranveer can master it in a short time through sheer obsession.”

From Singh’s bathroom fight sequence to the last train scene with Arjun Rampal, Young shared that every set-piece has turned out sharp because of Dhar. Apparently the director had a four-step process. 

He noted, “First we’d build mock sets in the studio to design the choreography, film our test version, and then refine it with the director. Then came the actor training, followed by final rehearsals on the shoot day. The director explained action the way he does emotions, detailing the vibe and the grit he wants.”

Oh Sea Young and Aejaz Gulab choreographed the final fight sequence between Ranveer Singh and Arjun Rampal that begins in a mosque, shifts to the fields and the container yard, and ends in a train. “It was the most challenging scene to shoot. We spent more than 20 sessions on that climax alone,” exclaimed Young.

Less than two months away from the release of Dhurandhar 2, reportedly titled Dhurandhar The Revenge, filmmaker Aditya Dhar is giving finishing touches to the action thriller led by Ranveer Singh. We’ve heard that on January 25, the unit kicked off a three-day patch shoot at the Golden Tobacco compound in Vile Parle, Mumbai. The focus is on Arjun Rampal’s character Major Iqbal, who is shown as the mastermind behind major terror attacks in India.

According to sources, a warehouse section of the property has been redesigned to resemble a safehouse.

A unit member revealed to mid-day, “Dhurandhar shows Major Iqbal as a ruthless character. In the second part, the director wanted to give context to who he is when he’s not in the field. These portions will establish his personal stake in the events and bridge his decisions later in the story. Around 50 background artistes were present for the shoot.”

The second instalment will also see R Madhavan and Sanjay Dutt reprise their roles. The movie is simultaneously in post-production.

What’s not to love about styling five of Bollywood’s most good-looking men — Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt? But with Dhurandhar, costume designer Smriti Chauhan had a bigger responsibility — to stay true to the world of Lyari, in which director Aditya Dhar’s spy actioner is set. The costume designer says that rigorous research by Dhar and Ojas Gautam, director’s assistant, preceded the styling.

“Aditya and his team couldn’t conduct field research because the world they created was Pakistan,” she begins. So, they settled for the next best thing. “They did deep research — mostly online, and referred to many books. For the underground parties of the Karachi underworld shown in the film, [we referred to the] raid videos online. Many are available on YouTube. YouTube and Getty videos were circulated among teams so that all departments could get as much information possible,” Chauhan recalls.

The director was certain of a few things that had to be depicted through outfits. Chauhan cites an example, “Lyari’s love for football had to be shown. So, Mukka, one of the gang members, is seen in football jerseys quite a few times.”

With the story set in Lyari, Chauhan says Pathanis dominated the style palette. “But each Pathani has different shoulder pleats, bottom cuts, and fits. Pairing them with waistcoats, jackets, shawls also helped in differentiating them.”

Hamza is spontaneous. So, I depicted that spontaneity in his silhouettes, like a sharply tailored kurta layered under a distressed jacket. The raw detailing reflects his volatile energy.

His character is inspired by Ajit Doval. Since Doval is usually seen in suits, we gave Madhavan variations of suits with breakdowns over time — broader cuts in the ’90s, then slimmer cuts.

We stayed true to the real-life figure’s white Pathani, unbuttoned cuffs, and gruff texture. His hair and beard styling reflect this as well.

His character is rugged and grunge, yet an ISI Army General. To reflect that, we fused military design with coarse, rugged fabrics, switching between safari suits and Pathanis, based on the scene in question.

Rahman is calm on the surface, but with depth like a still pond. I gave him darker colours like black and navy. They reflect his character’s gravitas.

Once the quintessential Bollywood hero, Arjun Rampal has evolved into an actor who thrives in the grey zone. From cold-blooded villains to conflicted anti-heroes, his attempt is to infuse a human touch to every villainous role. In a conversation with us, Arjun reflects on embracing intensity, finding balance, and staying grounded through the highs and lows of the industry.

Ask him what draws him to such dark and intense roles, and Arjun explains that it’s the way directors perceive him. “I think the filmmakers see me in a certain light. I suppose they think I make the bad look good, so they cast me in those roles. When you play a baddie on screen, you’re operating in a grey area where you need to enhance certain traits. But the driving force has to come from a humane place. I try to find something humane even in the villain. I look for his foundation and belief system, where he’s come from. I always trace it back to what could’ve shaped him into who he is. That touch is what makes the villain believable. Honestly, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t,” he shares.

Many believe playing intense roles takes a toll on actors emotionally, but Arjun finds the process healing.

The actor, who was seen playing villainous roles in films like Dhaakad and Crakk, and the recent web show Rana Naidu S2, says, “Doing intense roles can be therapeutic, because you’re out there doing something crazy. You might have a lot of pent-up energy that you can channel into such a role. By the time you are done, you’re as calm as you can be. It also depends on what phase of life you’re in. I think every character leaves something with you, and in the process, you evolve a little as a person too.”

Reflecting on his journey, Arjun, who has been in the industry for over two decades, acknowledges the emotional impact criticism has on actors.

He explains, “I remember some of my films being panned; it made me feel like I was the worst actor. But years later, people still come up to me and talk about films like Dil Ka Rishta or Dil Hai Tumhaara — they say nice things about those films. If someone had told me back then that this would happen, I would have felt differently. Maybe I wouldn’t have gone through certain lows or made some of the decisions I did. That’s why you need to cut out the noise. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are. Be your own judge and don’t judge others either. Only you can make things right for yourself; no one else can. That’s what I did. I pushed through. I think I was like a bull — you need to grow a bit of thick skin in the industry. Those going through something tough should know that it’s not the end of the world.”

Following the positive response to his portrayal of Himel Majumder in Khakee: The Bengal Chapter, Mimoh Chakraborty is eager to explore more versatile and meaningful characters. However, his journey in showbiz has been far from easy. Soon after his debut with Jimmy (2008), he was written off by many. What kept him going was the unrelenting spirit he witnessed at home, that of his father, the legendary Mithun Chakraborty.

Mimoh shares, “My father’s legacy speaks volumes that words can barely do justice to. However, there’s one thing he told me that has stayed with me. He said, ‘Mimoh, you know my struggles. If I didn’t give up in those conditions back then, what right do you have to give up now?’ His struggles were far worse than mine. He had nothing, sometimes not even one proper meal a day. He would have lunch but wouldn’t know where dinner was coming from. Still, he never gave up.”

Recalling one such story, the actor adds, “He told me how he used to walk three to four kilometres every morning to Talwalkar’s gym in Pali Hill. He didn’t have money or a membership, so he struck a deal with the watchman. He would clean the bathrooms in exchange for a chance to work out. That’s how determined he was to build a physique good enough to become a villain in Bollywood, but destiny had other plans for him, and he became a hero.”

The actor also credits Salman Khan for being a constant source of encouragement. He says, “Bhai has always been close to our family and has helped me with many projects, even though some didn’t take off. He is always just one phone call away. Even Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, and Arjun Rampal have given me great advice and supported me in their own way. These are acts of kindness I will never forget.”

Arjun Rampal is a father to four children across two generations – daughters Mahikaa (23) and Myra (20) with his ex-wife, Mehr Jesia, and sons Arik (6) and Ariv (2) with his partner, Gabriella Demetriades. As he’s enjoying fatherhood in his early 50s, Arjun reflects on how parenting, and he himself, have evolved over time. With honesty, he opens up about the lessons learned from his own childhood, the challenges of raising children in a changing world, and the deep bonds he shares with each of his kids.

Ask him how fatherhood felt back then, vis-à-vis 20 years later, and Arjun says, “The birth of every child felt like a miracle. When Mahikaa was born, I didn’t know how much effort goes into being a parent. Back then, I was busy trying to provide them a good life, so I couldn’t be around as much as I would have wanted to. But when Arik was born, I really enjoyed it, and I told myself that I would spend more time with my kids and be more hands-on.”

He laughs and adds, “I think daughters are very sweet. Sons are badmaash. They have too much energy, whereas daughters are like angels. But all of them are just nautankis. It’s fun to observe how each child is drastically different from the other.”

Has he evolved as a father through his journey as a parent to four children? “Definitely. Your children teach you a lot. My daughters are now teaching me a lot. It’s a different generation and the world has changed so rapidly around them, and you have to grow with it — you listen more, become more sensitive, more patient. Now they are both independent and on their path. I think parenting has evolved so much from the time my parents raised us to how we are raising our children. Scolding and raising your voice are things that don’t work, because when you do that, they start imitating you,” Arjun says.

Ask him about his equation with his father while growing up, and the Rock On actor reveals. “I loved my dad, but unfortunately, at some point, he became addicted to alcohol. My initial years with him were great, then in the middle, due to the addiction, there wasn’t any communication between us. I distanced myself, and the relationship got strained. Towards the end, in the later stage of his life, I started helping him. I took him to rehab and got him connected back with his family. I had not spoken with him for years. We started writing letters to each other, and that’s when we revived our relationship. But then, he got really ill, suffered a heart attack and passed away. I wish he could have spent more time with us. My dad left, then my mom passed away, and that’s when they sent me my baby boy to fill that void,” he says.

Did his experiences with his father shape the way he views fatherhood? “I don’t think any parent wants to let their children down. I don’t think that was my father’s intention. Addiction of any kind comes from a lot of pain or trauma, which that person must have gone through in their past. I wonder what it was that took him down that route. Sadly, I could never get down to the root of that. I openly talk to my kids about it, as I don’t want them to ever fall into addiction,” he shares.

Arjun stepped into a new phase of fatherhood in his late 40s. However, he believes age is just a number. “Ariv was born when I was 50, and 50 is the new 30 (laughs). But really, it’s just a number. What I do is take good care of my health, as I want to stay really fit and be there for them,” the actor says.

Talking about watching his children fly the nest, Arjun says, “You can’t keep protecting them and letting go is one hard thing you have to do as a parent. When Mahikaa had to go to London to study, I couldn’t take it. I made sure all my shoots were in London so I could spend more time with her. Now Myra’s gone to study, and I’m happy to see how responsible she’s become. A lot of that credit goes to Mehr. She’s been amazing with them.”

Each child holds a unique place in his heart. He shares, “Both the girls have had a rough time because their parents are not together. In that situation, to grow so maturely and embrace my life so beautifully… I’m very fortunate to see the way they’ve embraced Gabriella, too. They’re like her best friends. Mahikaa, being the firstborn, knows there’s always that tenderness I have towards her. Myra has me wrapped around her finger. She’ll be aloof and then come back and get everything she wants from me. Right now, the closest to me is Arik, because he’s at that stage where he is clingy and really wants to hang out with me. Ariv is a baby, and he’s really at that cute and cuddly stage.”

Gabriella and he make quite a modern family. Ask if they want to take it a step ahead and tie the knot, and he smiles and replies, “Well, think there are some surprises on the way and let’s leave it at that.”

Filmmaker Prakash Jha’s Raajneeti (2010) earned cult status due to the storyline, a huge star cast and a successful soundtrack. The film, which clocks 15 years today, was believed to be a modern adaptation of the Mahabharata, starring Ranbir Kapoor (Arjun), Ajay Devgn (Karna), Nana Patekar (Krishna), Katrina Kaif (Draupadi), Arjun Rampal (Bhima), Manoj Bajpayee (Duryodhana), Sarah Thompson (Subhadra) and Naseeruddin Shah (God).

Speaking to us as the film achieves the 15-year milestone, Prakash confirms that a sequel to Raajneeti is in the works. “Raajneeti (politics) ki yatra toh anvarat (constant) hai, chalti hi rehti hai! There’s always been a plan for Raajneeti 2. While there is nothing concrete in terms of casting and shooting yet, I am currently working on it,” says the director.

The film’s pre-production went on for a year. “We cast 8,000 actors for an authentic crowd scene, which was quite a task,” says Prakash.

Sharing how he managed to put such a big star cast together, he adds, “The good thing about casting was that whoever we approached, liked the script and came on board. They felt challenged to perform well. People say it was a commercial success. For me, Damul (1984), Mritudand (1997), Gangajal (2003), Apaharan (2005) or Satyagraha (2013) are just films. But, it feels nice when people talk about them.”

The movie had a hit soundtrack, featuring four composers — late Aadesh Shrivastava, Pritam, Shantanu Moitra and Wayne Sharpe, with lyrics penned by Gulzar, Irshad Kamil, Sameer and Swanand Kirkire. Prakash shares that Aadesh came up with the song Mora Piya Mose Bolat Naahin “much earlier” during a creative sitting and it perfectly fit the situation in the film. He adds, “He sang it beautifully, too.” 

Singer Kavita Seth, who also sang the song, says, “I took extra time to prepare the song, as the situation was intense. It is one of my biggest hits till date. It’s a part of my set list at all the concerts.”

The film’s assistant director Ritam Srivastava tells us, “Ranbir Kapoor was very excited when he shared the screen with Manoj Bajpayee. It was also the first time that Ranbir used a pistol in a scene.”

Manoj’s chase sequence was shot over three days at multiple locations in Bhopal. Ritam shares: “While doing the chase, Ajay Devgn jokingly said: ‘Teen din ho gaye seene mein goli lagey, ab to marr jaao’.”

Costume designer Priyanka Mundada used 40,000 metres to dress 8,000 cast members. Tea was used to age the dresses. To accommodate them, hotels, guest houses and lodges were booked in Bhopal. Extra bathrooms were constructed for junior artistes. Caterers were called from Mumbai.

Separate helicopters were needed for different characters. So, to save the cost, one helicopter was painted in two colours on either sides. It was shot from different angles for different scenes.

Cross-country collaboration was done to create “international, yet Indian music”. New York-based musician Wayne Sharpe, who also composed the score of the film, created western melodies and then recorded with Indian sounds. He recorded melodies in his studio in the US, the orchestra was recorded in Prague, Czech Republic, while the Indian instruments were recorded in Mumbai.

For authenticity, Prakash Jha refused “good quality” flags for the shoot just a day before filming. So, 12,000 party flags were printed with cheap material, shabby printing and cheap technology, and were aged.

Katrina Kaif, Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal became friends during the film’s shoot. They would often be seen together playing cricket and savouring delicacies together. They named the trio BhoPALS.

Katrina, who was seen in a saree in most parts of the film, was apparently not sure about her look. Ritam says, “She would ask the Director of Photography Sachin Krishn, ‘Will I look beautiful?’. He would say, ‘You would look real’.”

Supermodel of the 90s, Arjun Rampal, made a successful transition into movies. He gives us a glimpse into the modelling scene back then and talks about designer Rohit Bal’s influence on his career...

I moved to Mumbai in 1993, and the following year, Bombay Times was launched. One of its standout features was Page 3, which quickly became a sought-after space. It offered a fresh perspective on urban India, showcasing a side of the city that had never been highlighted before. Being featured on Page 3 felt like a significant accomplishment. Meanwhile, Bombay Times itself evolved rapidly, just like my own journey began after moving from Delhi.

Back in the 90s, modelling wasn’t seen as a serious career. Even I didn’t know where it would take me. I was doing it because I enjoyed it. I had the privilege of meeting incredibly creative individuals like Gudda (Rohit Bal), Bharat Sikka, Prabuddha Dasgupta, Rafique Sayed, Shahab Durazi and Tarun Tahiliani. Slowly, respect for the profession grew, and a fan following began to form. People started attending fashion shows not just for the designers, but to see the models. This was when fashion truly came into the spotlight, with designers establishing themselves and the supermodel culture emerging from the West. It was a golden era for fashion editorials. Even legends (American photographers) like Bruce Weber, Herb Ritts, Richard Avedon and Steven Meisel were pushing boundaries.

One of the most influential people in my modelling career was Gudda. Without his support, I’m not sure I would have made it to where I am today. He recognized something in me and made me his muse for a long time. Oddly enough, my mother and his sister-in-law had gone to school together, which added another layer of comfort to our collaboration. The three of us — Gudda, Bharat (Sikka) and I — created some of the most talked-about fashion shoots of that time. Gudda not only taught me about grooming and styling but also about how to stand in front of the camera with confidence. Coming from a small town, I had no knowledge of the industry, but his mentorship was invaluable. Gudda remained a constant presence in both Bombay Times and Delhi Times. It’s sad that he’s no longer with us.

The era was also significant for me personally, as I made the transition from modelling to acting. I was shooting a commercial with Shekhar Kapur when he suggested that I consider acting. He told me that my modelling career had reached its peak and that it might be time to train as an actor. Making the transition into acting wasn’t easy. In the 90s, there was a significant stigma that models can’t act. The pressure was immense. However, one film led to another and then, there was no looking back.

Hari, an AI-created protagonist, believes he is the reincarnation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh

If veteran actor Ranjeet had his way, he would have launched his son Jeeva in Bollywood with the screen adaptation of the 2014 book, Maharaja In Denims. We’re told by young author Khushwant Singh that his book had even caught the attention of actor Arjun Rampal, who wanted to acquire its rights. But someone else entirely was destined to be this film’s hero—an AI-generated leading man.

At a time when technology is improving by leaps and bounds, the Chandigarh-based author has decided to make what he believes will be India’s first AI-generated feature film. The idea, Singh admits, didn’t come to him organically. After penning the novel, he was thrilled when Ranjeet, Rampal and producer Guneet Monga Kapoor approached him for the adaptation rights. It was his cousin Gurdeep Pall—a former corporate vice-president at Microsoft, playing a pivotal role in shaping the tech giant’s products, services, and AI technologies—who sowed the idea.

Singh recalls, “In March last year, Gurdeep told me not to renew [adaptation contracts of] Maharaja In Denims with anyone. Seeing how the technology was developing, he said we would be able to make a full-AI movie within the next two years.” Thus, in 2023, was born their company Intelliflicks Studios, and with it, the ambition of bringing this film to life.

They released the movie’s first trailer earlier this year; the two-minute video has not only AI-created figures, but also the backdrops and background score developed by different tools. “The first six months went in experimenting,” says Pall, adding that it took two months to get the trailer ready. Behind this is a core team that includes Singh, Pall, creative director Revant Bogra, and former journalist Palpreet Singh as the screenplay writer.

“Palpreet completed the screenplay a month ago and now sits with the team at every stage. Lyrics will be written by a human. We’ve already commissioned the songs [to a composer]. We may train a voice for the songs and get someone to record it, but the symphony will be AI-generated,” explains Singh. Pall says that the background music is already generated by AI.

That brings us to the hard part, of actually executing the movie that tells the story of Hari, who believes he is the reincarnation of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, commonly known as the Lion of Punjab. What makes it harder is that the novel is set in three different eras, aside from the present day—Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s reign from 1801 to 1839, India’s Partition in 1947, and the anti-Sikh riots in 1984. Singh breaks it down for us, explaining that a team of five to six prompt engineers, under Pall and Bogra’s supervision, started creating the world from March 2023, using their patented software as well as those from different companies, including  Runway, Midjourney and Stability AI.

“We do a lot of discussion because each character has to be rendered. It could take two minutes or four hours. We keep making, adding, cutting, rendering, and adjusting the colour tones. We’ve passed the early stage. With tech advancement, we are now working on bringing emotions to the face, we’re able to turn their head, make them sway and do the kathak,” says Singh.

Pall adds that they’ve sourced tech from different companies for various needs. “Some specialize in voices, others in still images, and some others in creating expressions.”

“Everyone said that a movie, which depicts three eras, will require [a budget of] about Rs 80-Rs 100 crore. If I had gone with that, I would have been stuck with [production studios] taking time. Plus, 70 per cent of the movie cost would have been the actor’s fee. Imagine if that is eliminated, we can make so many movies!”

That is all in good time. For now, as Maharaja In Denims is about 25 per cent complete, the author-filmmaker emphasizes that the movie is a means to showcase new ways of filmmaking.

“You have to look at it like the first movie ever made. You cannot compare it to contemporary movies. It will have its limitations. But if the technology picks up, there will be a phase when we might even create AI superheroes!”   

Maharaja In Denims is an AI-generated film, adapted from Khushwant Singh’s book of the same name. Set to release in June 2025, the author believes it will be India’s first AI feature film.

Creative director Revant Bogra and his team of six prompt engineers create scene after scene, using their patented software as well as those like Runway and Midjourney, as per the narrative. Each scene is created by AI after picking up relevant data that is available online, and then matching it to the current need.

Singh argues that making a period film like Maharaja in Denims, which depicts three eras, would have easily cost Rs 80-Rs 100 crore. In contrast, employing AI is cost- and time-effective. He also states that the bigger benefit is that it democratizes creativity.

The film spans three eras—Ranjit Singh’s reign in 1839, India’s Partition in 1947, and the anti-Sikh riots in 1984

The more, the merrier has been a long-standing mantra in the world of Housefull. Now, it looks like Housefull 5 will be a crowded affair. While Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan and Riteish Deshmukh lead the comedy, sources tell us that producer Sajid Nadiadwala and director Tarun Mansukhani are planning to rope in cast members from the past instalments. Apparently, the idea is to bring all the franchise players together, thus enhancing the Housefull universe.

A source reveals, “Talks are on with Arjun Rampal, John Abraham and Bobby Deol, who starred in the first, second and fourth edition respectively. The makers are envisioning it as a clash of the protagonists and antagonists. Discussions are underway with Chunky Panday, who will have a double role. From its many leading ladies over the years, Lara Dutta, Nargis Fakhri and Jacqueline Fernandez may join the latest offering. While some actors will have cameos, others will be seen in crucial roles.”

The upcoming laugh riot is set aboard a luxury cruise liner. The film will roll in London in August, after which the cast and crew will move to a cruise liner for a 45-day schedule.

The source adds, “The cruise begins in Newcastle in England, then heads to Scotland, Ireland, France and Spain. Tarun wants to ensure everything is planned in advance, leaving no room for delays as a huge star cast will be onboard.”

The director wants to wrap up the shoot by October.

Arjun Rampal is a happy man and what adds most to his happiness are his children — daughters Mahikaa, 22, and Myra, 19, and sons Arik and Aarid. While this is his first Father's Day with Aarid, who was born in July last year, the actor shares several cherished memories with his other children.

Stating that the beauty of fatherhood is “difficult to put in words”, the actor beautifully sums up his joy by calling his four children different from each other yet much alike. “It’s been wonderful navigating through life, with all the different emotions,” says Rampal.

As someone who has been a part of the film industry for over two decades, he hopes to some day get to work with his children. “Any one would love if their kids get into the same profession, be it acting or anything else. So, it would be fantastic if I get to work with any of my kids in future. I’m sure I will. If there is a right film for me and either of them in it, then why not,” says the 51-year-old.

Asked how different it has been raising his daughters in the early 2000s compared to raising his sons now — with social media, pap culture and nepotism debate at its peak — and the actor admits time has only made him wiser.

“As a father, I’ve changed a lot. How I approached things back then with was very different compared to who I am today as an individual. There is are a lot more experiences that also expose you to so many different ways of educating your child in today’s times,” he says.

The actor, however, is relieved that both his daughters are around their younger brothers for good. “Arik and Aarid are blessed to have older siblings, who understand their generation much better than I can ever could. I encourage them to hang out together as much as they can to create that special bond,” he concludes.

April brought Arjun Rampal the kind of joy that only the best of his films have. For most part of the month, the actor—an ambassador for Child Rights and You (CRY) —was in the US, serving as the guest of honour for the not-for-profit organisation’s galas. Now, it has emerged that he raised 1.5 million dollars through the fundraisers, becoming the first Indian actor to do so for CRY America in a month.

Rampal, who has been associated with the NGO for the past 10 years, was the guest of honour at five events, beginning with New York, followed by galas at Houston, San Diego, Seattle, and Bay Area in San Francisco. Shefali Sunderlal, President, CRY America, believes the star’s presence drew high net-worth individuals, comprising mostly NRIs, who donated generously to the cause of children’s health and education.

Sunderlal said, “Arjun’s perseverance and charisma played a pivotal role in raising a whopping $1.5 million for children’s rights. He will be remembered as a beloved child rights champion by our donors, volunteers, staff and the thousands of children that will benefit from his support.”

The proceeds will be directed to local NGOs in north and east India, where it will be used to meet the health and educational needs of thousands of children. Rampal thanked the foundation’s supporters for “touching the lives of nearly 8,00,000 underprivileged children.”

Filmmaker Sangeeth Sivan passed away on May 8 due to a heart attack. Known for hits like Vyooham (1990), Yoddha (1992) and Gandharvam (1993) in the Malayalam film industry, the director had helmed comic capers Kya Kool Hain Hum (2005) and Apna Sapna Money Money (2006), among others, in Bollywood.

Few know that he had recently completed Blind Game, starring Arjun Rampal, Priyamani and Rohit Chandel. The crime thriller, revolving around a cop on a mission, was being readied for release in the next few months.

Blind Game producer Deepak Mukut remembers Sivan as a humble, soft-spoken person and a fantastic director. “Sangeeth was a gem of a person, and it had been a great experience working with him. He was an actor’s director, who gave his artistes the freedom to act the way they interpreted their roles. He was a fast director who shot quickly. His passing came as a big shock to us all,” he says.

Mukut says he learnt about Sivan’s ill-health only a few days ago. “We were in touch with Sangeeth’s family.”

Sivan had taken the crime thriller on floors in December 2022, shooting it across Mumbai and Manali. Mukut is heartbroken that the director is no more.

“Blind Game, which is a suspense thriller, was his last film and we were gearing up for its release in the next couple of months. The film is complete, including the post-production. Sangeeth and I had a meeting only last week in Mumbai, and we saw the film together. We discussed the promotional strategies too. It is sad to continue without him. We will dedicate Blind Game to Sangeeth.”

Arjun Rampal, Priyamani and Deepak Mukut

Vidyut Jammwal’s sports action film, Crakk: Jeetegaa Toh Jiyegaa, tanked at the box office when it was released in theatres in February this year. Now that the film has dropped on OTT, viewers have noticed something very unusual. The makers changed the climax scene of the film for the web release. 

An entire 15-minute chunk, including an unforeseen twist, has been chopped off. This has led to not only a reduced runtime but also a change in the film’s ending from the theatrical version.

Director Aditya Datt asserts that the team collectively made the call to chop the climax, considering the Crakk’s poor box office performance. “We all sat together and re-analyzed the film’s performance to make it sharper. It doesn’t happen with all films, but you can narrate movies in different formats across platforms,” explains Datt.

In fact, Abbas Sayyed, co-producer of the film, says he was never in favour of the longer version, and it was a “creative call” to tweak the ending for digital release.

“[Now] the film ends when Vidyut and (actor) Arjun Rampal’s fight finishes. Even in the theatrical version, we didn’t want the additional parts of Vidyut jumping from the flight and the song. The audience doesn’t want extra masala for no reason.”

Ask if the runtime of the film was a major point of discussion during the second edit, and Datt says it didn’t matter because no set formula can justify a film’s runtime. “We often see that a 1.5-hour film doesn’t work, while a three-hour-long movie clicks with the audience, like Animal (2023) did. The idea behind sharpening Crakk was purely to address the response from viewers that the film was slow. And when the audience doesn’t connect, you do feel disappointed. You want to re-analyze so you do better next time,” he states.

Actor Arjun Rampal, who was recently seen in Crakk, opens up about his intentional distance from the constant limelight, prioritizing his family and cherishing a life beyond the glamorous facade of showbiz. In a recent chat with us, Rampal talks about the importance of maintaining a low profile, especially when it comes to his children and family.

“My kids and family are my priority. I like living away in a place where people don’t treat me like a celeb,” shares the father of four.

The actor, known for his charismatic presence on-screen, values the benefits of being “out of sight”, stating, “I have a life beyond films. Constantly being there for me is overexposure. When you’re a star, you can’t be available 24x7. I want to maintain that intrigue around me just as it was with stars of yesteryears.”

“Living a simple life holds great significance” for Rampal. He enjoys “connecting with regular people”. Sharing a recent encounter where a resident brought him fresh fish as a gesture of warmth, he says, “Just the other day when I was coming out of gym and I met this regular guy living around and he came up to and said, ‘bhai aapke liye kuch laya hu...’ and gave me some fresh fish adding ‘yeh lo aapka lunch’.” These moments, he says, keep him “close to reality”.

Rampal, who is set to grace the screen in Aparna Sen’s film The Rapist and another project titled Punjab 95, further adds that he handles his social media accounts personally: “I don’t have a team for that. I handle my social media myself, maybe that’s the reason my game is so bad, (laughs).”