April brought us the first look of Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama in Ramayana: Part One. Since then, fans have been waiting eagerly for Yash’s avatar as Ravana in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari’s magnum opus. On his part, the Kannada star has doubled down on his commitment to what could be one of his most complex roles. We’ve heard that since early April, Yash has been shooting for a performance-heavy stretch of Ramayana: Part Two, focusing on the portions that take us into Ravana’s internal world.

Through these portions, the makers apparently intend to depict Ravana as a fully formed character, not a one-note villain.

A source shared, “These aren’t typical villain scenes. They are written as extended monologues, almost like Ravana is reasoning with himself. The idea is to let the audience understand how he sees the world before they judge his actions.” 

The past three weeks’ shoot at the elaborate set in Film City, Goregaon, has been centred on Yash. He took a brief break in the second week of April to fly to the US for CinemaCon 2026, where he presented glimpses of Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-ups and Ramayana. Understanding the importance of these sequences, the director has been taking his time with them.

The source added, “If the audience doesn’t connect with Ravana here, the impact of everything that follows gets diluted. The writing doesn’t try to soften him, but it presents his point of view.”

In June, Kapoor and Sunny Deol are expected to join the schedule as the production moves to confrontation sequences.

Remember Paresh Rawal screaming ‘Teja main hoon, mark idhar hai’ in Andaz Apna Apna (1994)? Saket Patel, one of the junior artistes in Ramayana: Part 1, went through something similar, telling the internet, “Yeh character main hoon, turban idhar hai.”

In a sequence from Ramayana’s teaser that shows Ranbir Kapoor flanked by large crowds, eagle-eyed fans spotted that a character’s turban changed colour from blue to purple as the shot transitioned from wide to close-up. That was enough for the internet to declare that the crowd was AI-generated.

“There is no need for AI to create a crowd,” Patel told mid-day over a call. He also viewed the incident as an opportunity to own the narrative. “When the shot was in the teaser, I was happy. But when everybody started talking about the colour change in the turban, I thought, ‘Let me just go out and tell people that I exist,’” he said.

Patel recalled that filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari shot the sequence two years ago at Film City. “I got to know that the makers were looking for people for a crowd sequence and went in as an extra,” he said, adding that the scene featured around 500 artistes.

“The shoot went on for a half a day. Ranbir remained in character. So, he was not interacting with anybody other than the director and the team. It was a large set. It’s not a green screen, as people are claiming it is.”

Saket Patel (encircled) in the contentious scene. Pics/YouTube

Before wrapping up its shoot in January, the cast and crew of Cocktail 2 shot a vibrant special number in Mumbai, featuring Shahid Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Kriti Sanon — bringing a splash of colour to an otherwise dark, edgy narrative.

“Cocktail 2 is about love, betrayal, and revenge. The two girls — Rashmika and Kriti — have more layers to them. To lighten the intensity, there are lots of peppy dance tracks,” informs a source close to the production, adding that the setting of the song revolves around an engagement ceremony.

Composed by Pritam, the track is an original, and the team built a “huge house” in Film City for the number.

The trio also shot a final club song before the schedule came to a close. “Pritam has made some great stuff for this outing, including a peppy, fun, club song which features the three leads. We shot this in Film City,” shares the source, adding that the tracks were locked and ready before Mandanna’s February wedding with Vijay Deverakonda.

Sunny Deol is in no mood to slow down after the strong start to 2026 with Border 2. In the first week of March, the senior actor kicked off his yet-untitled next, an action thriller produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani, at Film City. Sources have told us that director Balaji Ganesh has almost wrapped the first schedule of the project, which also stars Jyotika and Vijay Varma.

Designed as an out-and-out action entertainer, it sees Deol play a cop. Apparently, the actor sports a distinct look — think a moustache and beard.

A source told mid-day, “Over the past three weeks, the unit has been shooting all across Mumbai. They began with an action sequence, featuring Sunny and Vijay, in Film City, where a huge set depicting a carnival was erected. Over the past fortnight, they shot at a bungalow in Bandra, then in a college near Churchgate, followed by a stint at Marol Police Camp in Andheri East.”

As soon as the director calls it a wrap on the first leg on March 30, filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari will come calling for Ramayana: Part 2. The source added, “Sunny wants to complete his portions of Hanuman by April-end. In May, he will resume his cop role in Goa.”

The film will reach the finish line by July.

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.

The production of Dev Patel’s The Peasant, which went on floors in December 2025, is progressing swiftly. Following a month-long schedule in Madhya Pradesh, Patel — who serves as the actor, director, and co-writer on the revenge drama — is set to call action on the final schedule in Mumbai in the second week of February.

Set in the 14th century, The Peasant is said to be a revenge-fuelled action drama centred on an Indian shepherd, who kills the mercenary knights that had ransacked his village. A major set, in keeping with the period, is currently being constructed in Film City, Goregaon, for the upcoming leg. Apparently, the set-up has been designed to reflect a densely populated feudal settlement, complete with narrow alleys, market-style courtyards, and an adjoining fortress.

Large crowd scenes and combat sequences will be filmed over the six-week schedule. A unit hand tells us, “You’re looking at hundreds of performers in costume, plus stunt teams working in close quarters. The set has to facilitate that. They had earlier done a rough shoot here, but this is the major leg.” 

Handling the production logistics in the country is India Take One Productions, which had also worked on Patel’s breakout film Slumdog Millionaire (2008).

‘The Peasant’ was originally envisioned as a revenge thriller in an Italian setting. Director and co-writer Dev Patel later reimagined it against an Indian backdrop.

Where there is Sanjay Leela Bhansali, there are bound to be grand song sequences. In the last leg of Love & War, the filmmaker is gearing up to shoot two dance numbers with lead actors Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal. Sources have told mid-day that the first number, to be choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, will go on floors next week.

An insider revealed, “The song is high on energy, dramatic, and visually lavish as is expected from a Bhansali creation. The shoot will kick off on January 20 with the three leads in Film City, Goregaon.”

The second song, scheduled to be shot on February 9, is being described by unit members as one of Bhansali’s most experimental musical set-pieces to date. It will see the filmmaker collaborate with choreographer Shiamak Davar, who will bring a contemporary spin to the number.

“It is unlike anything Bhansali has attempted before. It’s experimental in form, movement, and staging, with Shiamak bringing a theatrical energy to the sequence,” added the source.

The actors are currently rehearsing for the songs before they report to the set next week.

Unstoppable action is what we got in the first look of King, which was unveiled on Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday on November 2. And there is more action coming. mid-day has learnt that the superstar, who briefly shot for Siddharth Anand’s directorial venture in early November, will resume filming on December 20, kicking off what will be the movie’s most action-driven and technically demanding portions.

A source revealed that Anand, along with international stunt directors, has chalked out several set-pieces for the leg that will be primarily conducted in Film City, Goregaon. Suhana Khan, who shares screen space with her father for the first time, will be part of this stint.

“Shah Rukh has been prepping extensively for this schedule. Stylized action blocks, intense close-combat sequences, and dramatic confrontations will be filmed,” revealed the source close to the production.

Technical teams are already working round the clock to ensure that the set-pieces are shot without hiccups. “This schedule requires tight choreography and advanced camera movement. Every action beat is being rehearsed to perfection,” added the source.

King also stars Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone, and Abhishek Bachchan.

Mumbai is hardly the place one associates with jungles. But trust director Ahmed Khan to turn parts of the city into dense forests for Welcome To The Jungle. mid-day has learnt that on December 5, the director began shooting the climax that will play out across five venues — Film City, Royal Palms, Borivali, and two locations in Aarey Colony. The production team, led by Shailesh Mahadik, has built sets depicting wilderness.

The original plan was to film the climax of the ensemble comedy — starring Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, Lara Dutta, Paresh Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, and others — in the forests of Uttar Pradesh.

A source revealed, “But the biting cold was a deterrent. Plus, the production team realised it’d be logistically impractical to shoot in the forests with a 34-member cast and 500-strong unit. Given the kind of stunts involved, Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala decided to relocate the shoot to Mumbai.”

After this leg is complete, the director will travel to North India to capture wide shots in the jungles. Khan told mid-day, “It’s wonderful that we’re shooting the climax now. Getting so many actors together was the only challenge, but once on sets, it’s a party.”

My fingers are frozen, my eyes are moist and my heart is flooded.

How does one pen an ode to the greatest hero that ever lived? How can a word count ever do justice to his 89 years? His 65-year career that spawned more hits than any superstar born. Even today. Yet he disliked the tag ‘superstar’.

“Call me actor. Brother, son, father. Those are the most important roles we play,” he stated often during our many interactions. And great actor-star he was, with a flair for comedy no star can master. And those fist fights? Phew. When his massive hand covered the face of the bad guys and that famed dialogue ‘kutte’ rang out – there was theatre frenzy unleashed.

No wonder a teenage me always wanted to be Dharmendra. Every youngster did. A soft vulnerable face that charmed every bird from every tree. A physique that every youngster wanted long before gyms were a thing. The classic soft face, a tough body. And with an endless well of emotions that never failed to overwhelm.

No wonder, when I joined the legendary magazine ‘Stardust’, I wanted to interview Garam Dharam (an epithet fondly given to him by the magazine publisher and editors past). The editor warned me. ‘He doesn’t speak easily to us. And you will have to chase him and convince him.” That very day my chase began. In an era without mobile phones, I chased him to every shooting, every mahurat, every premiere but he always gave me a fresh date.

It was six months later that I finally got an interview at Film City. Of course, I sat miles away, near the green room door to run if required. However, the man I met was the kindest, most humble, most caring star I’d always imagined. Nevertheless, after the interview the warning came; “I trust you, so write well. Don’t twist my words, otherwise you know I can get angry also.”

I never gave him that chance. It was the cover, headlined ‘50 Years and Sexy Still’. That interview made my bones as a writer as soon as the issue hit the stands. Later that night, my landline at home rang. “Dharamji baat karenge,” said the voice.

My heart skipped several beats until the star himself spoke, “You have gained my trust. I liked your article. From now my home is open to you at any hour. Just don’t break the faith.” Vindication!

After that there were several times I interviewed him, often dropping into his warm and cozy home. It was his warmth and greatness that almost made me feel like family. Always so much more than an actor or a star. That was a trait the world came to love and adore. A rare trait. He could be anyone, play any role. At Bobby’s launch in Barsaat, it was as if he was Editor, Writer, Photographer all in one. He wanted Sunny and Bobby to do a feature clad in denim. It became one of the highest sold covers. Thanks to Dharam ji’s vision. All because it came from the deep emotional heart of a doting family man.

A little-known fact about this huge talent, was and is, that he is fluent in Urdu and wrote the most beautiful shairi. During my The Times of India tenure, he asked me, “Urdu jaante ho?” Shamefacedly I couldn’t nod. “Shame on you. You should know Hindi and Urdu first. Uske baad English.” Then he recited the most beautiful poetry I’d heard. All from the pen of this multi-talented man.

Hard to imagine that this man, with the massive fan following and the toughest natural muscles in Bollywood had a soft side. A weakness. He couldn’t see suffering. Legions of people visited him daily for solace and help; even producers stuck for funds. And a superman named Dharmendra always helped them. A cameo in a film, a phone call of support and even not charging many distressed producers. Surely many must’ve taken undue advantage, but our hero didn’t care. “Be good and be humble” was his motto always. The only time he flared up was when his family or any woman were disrespected. Then God help the offender. At heart he was always the gentle giant. A good man, of the finest mettle that was ever made.

In later years, he made action movies like Hukumat, Loha and Insaniyat ke Dushman coming on the heels of an industry strike. Those movies saved the industry, blockbusters all. Though his all-time personal favourite remained the sensitive Satyakaam.

From on-screen lover boy to an action star with a flair for comedy, he could be anything he wanted at any point in his career. Cinema and the world of Bollywood adapted around him. How else can we explain the iconic Chupke Chupke? The hilarious Naukar Biwi Ka? The sensational Sholay? This legend made any genre slip into cinema as easily as he carried off the gladiator look in Dharam Veer. He also made a dance style his own, reminding people that tough guys can dance.

Tragically, every story has a cruel twist. The man with the endearing smile will smile no more. An era is past. Or is it? Does the flame of the eternal hero ever dim? 65 years of film magic will live on forever. And as millions of hearts brim over worldwide; a song haunts us in the background – Gaadi bula rahi hai, seeti baja rahi hai … from Dost - another of his beloved films. It reminds us that heroes never really go away. They live in hearts and minds forever. Dharmendra has just taken a train to Valhalla. He will be back soon – on every screen there is. And I will watch and clap like that teenager of our first meeting.

After all, yeh dosti hum nahin todenge…

(L-R) Suniel Shetty and Roopesh Shetty in ‘Jai’; (right) Ahmed Khan directing Shetty (holding drums) and Tusshar Kapoor in ‘Welcome To The Jungle’

He is suave, eccentric, unpredictable, and violent in nature. That is Yeda Anna — Suniel Shetty’s iconic character from the hit 2005 film Awara Paagal Deewana — in a nutshell. Now, he is gearing up to bring this crazy persona back to the screen with Ahmed Khan’s Welcome To The Jungle. So, if you suddenly hear the actor saying, “Yeda hoon par tera baap nahin hoon!”, don’t be too surprised. This week, Shetty wrapped up a schedule of the ensemble comedy in Film City, Mumbai.

He is suave, eccentric, unpredictable, and violent in nature. That is Yeda Anna — Suniel Shetty’s iconic character from the hit 2005 film Awara Pagal Deewana — in a nutshell. Now, he is gearing up to bring this crazy persona back to the screen with Ahmed Khan’s Welcome To The Jungle. So, if you suddenly hear the actor saying, “Yeda hoon par tera baap nahin hoon!”, don’t be too surprised.

This week, Shetty wrapped up a schedule of the ensemble comedy in Film City, Mumbai. “All of us are in every scene, so the humour is for each and every fan of all the stars.”

Welcome To The Jungle features Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Raveena Tandon, Mithun Chakraborty, Disha Patani, Kiran Kumar, Farida Jalal, Arshad Warsi, Lever, Rawal, Tusshar Kapoor, Krushna Abhishek, and Shreyas Talpade, among others.

There is another reason why Shetty is on a high — for being called the complete man in a recent clothing brand’s ad and his debut in the Tulu film industry with Jai, which has “opened on an excellent note”. Doing the film — which is also released in Kannada — is his way of giving back to his Tulu roots, he says. “I did this film because it’s a small film industry, it needed the recognition. I didn’t take a single rupee for it because I wanted to give back [to my community],” says the actor, adding that ultimately only content can elevate a film. With the barrier between regions diminishing, good content will always thrive, irrespective of its language, he shares.

After shooting across the UAE, Welcome To The Jungle has returned to India for its finishing touches — the final 20-day schedule of the ensemble comedy. In 2023, Akshay Kumar launched the franchise with a musical teaser before filming pivotal scenes in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Ras Al-Khaimah. Now, director Ahmed Khan’s venture is wrapping up its Mumbai schedule, which began on November 6.

“A few setbacks have happened, but the shooting has always been on track,” shares a source from the unit. “Ahmed shot two romantic songs in Dubai with Akshay and Disha [Patani] at the end of October. He returned on November 5 and resumed shooting the next day. Ahmed and producer Firoz A Nadiadwala are leaving no stone unturned to make the film look grand and larger-than-life with its 34-member star cast,” the source adds.

To shoot the scenes, Khan wanted specific plants and trees in the frame to enhance the film’s aesthetic. The source reveals that production designer Shailesh Mahadik created an expansive jungle in Film City, Goregaon, where “action and comic scenes are being shot. The area is so big that actors and units are using choppers to travel from one area to another.”

The director confirms, “Post [the shoot in Mumbai], we will head for a 20-day climax schedule featuring all the actors together followed by a song sequence.”

Khan is scouting for forest areas in North India for the last leg of the shoot, where action master Abbas Mogul will choreograph the sequences, including “chase sequences, gun fights, blasts, and a sequence with 300 horses in the climax.” Source adds, “The last schedule will begin from the first week of December, after which an introduction song with the entire cast will be shot in Dubai.”

Dec 2023 - Filming began.

Early 2024 - Delays due to scheduling conflicts.

August 2024 - Set of a Kashmir town was destroyed due to heavy rains and had to be rebuilt.

Mid-June 2025 - Kashmir schedule deferred due to unrest following the Pahalgam attack.

October 2025 - Production activity resumed in phases.

In September, mid-day had reported that Dev Patel would be India-bound for his second directorial venture, tentatively titled The  Peasant (Destination India for Dev, Sep 15). Sure enough, his December has been earmarked for Mumbai. Sources tell us that the actor and director will fly down to Maximum City to kick off the film’s first schedule, a 22-day stint.

Revenge and action dominated Patel’s maiden directorial offering, the acclaimed Monkey Man (2024), and they continue in his next as well. With The Peasant, he is creating a revenge-fuelled action thriller set in India of the 14th century and centred on a shepherd, who rises against mercenary knights.

Patel was in Delhi a few weeks ago for the final set of meetings, and filming will begin on December 1. A source close to the project revealed, “Since it is set in the 14th century, elaborate period-themed sets are being constructed in a studio at Film City, Goregaon. The team will begin with world-building and crowd sequences on December 1, and Dev will film his portions between December 15 and 20.”

The unit will take a Christmas and New Year break before regrouping for a marathon shoot that will begin on January 6 and go on till March-end.

Vampires, in director Aditya Sarpotdar’s mind, were an out-and-out Western concept. Think biting cold, dark nights, Gothic architecture, all lending mood to the legend. But he was in for a surprise. “When we were researching, we realised that the idea of betaals preceded the concept of vampires. There are several articles referencing how the Western vampire might have been an offshoot of the betaal idea from the Indian subcontinent,” he shares. That seeded the idea of his vampire dramedy, Thamma.

The Ayushmann Khurrana, Rashmika Mandanna, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer is the latest addition to the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe (MHCU). As he set out to create an Indian world of vampires, Sarpotdar took inspiration from the classic Hindi TV serial, Vikram Aur Betaal.

“Betaal there was quirky, smart, and cunning. He used to pose riddles to Vikram, then let out a distinct laugh and disappear. Nawaz’s character is, in many ways, modelled on that version. He is mischievous, unpredictable, and a bit mad,” he says.

With creator Amar Kaushik and writer Niren Bhatt, Sarpotdar — who previously made the horror comedy, Munjya (2024) — slowly crafted Thamma’s world. The director remembers the first moment he felt this “madness” truly come alive on set. It was during a night shoot at Film City in Goregaon.

Sarpotdar says, “We were shooting in our massive Betaal World set at Film City. When the actors put on their fangs and began performing the physicality of betaals, it felt crazy. After a few nights, it felt like that was where we belonged.”

When it came to casting, the first betaal Sarpotdar finalized was Mandanna. She cracked the first look test, he remembers. “In the look test, when she came out in costume and we gave her the fangs, the first pose she struck was perfect — this without even a brief. There was a certain dread and coldness, yet so much likeability. The way she has used her eyes and body to express that raw, jungle-like quality was exactly what the character needed.”

As much as fans loved the new characters in the MHCU, they equally loved seeing an old resident of the cinematic universe — Varun Dhawan aka Bhediya. A crossover between the MHCU films is a given. In Thamma, it materialised as a crucial Khurrana-versus-Dhawan fight sequence. The director breaks it down saying,

“In the script, we always had the Bhediya versus Thamma face-off planned. Varun does action very well, and Ayushmann has a high-energy style. They had to go at each other at a Batman-Superman level. Varun’s Bhediya is extremely loved, so his entry had to be kickass — that whistle-worthy slow-motion reveal. Then there’s the werewolf’s reveal. Both are designed as big moments.”

With the MHCU being populated by Stree and her rival Sarkata, werewolves, and now vampires, where is this world headed next?

The director smiles, “A lot of people feel there is huge potential for this universe to unfold further. After Stree, Bhediya, and now Thamma, we’re holding on to one wild card — a massive betaal versus werewolf showdown. The animosity between the two has been set up, and when they finally go at each other, it’s going to be a battle of two big superheroes. We want it to unfold in the most fun and mightiest way possible.”

What if we told you that ‘Thamma’ creator Amar Kaushik, writer Niren Bhatt, and director Aditya Sarpotdar go regularly to online forums and glean fan theories? “All three of us love reading fan theories,” laughs Sarpotdar, before adding that the practice inspires them to make the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe richer.

“We go on forums anonymously, read discussions about our films, and bring those ideas back to the drawing board. We all share this mindset of creating something crazier, something that nobody has ever seen before.”

Missing the testosterone-driven Hindi films of the 1990s? Ahmed Khan’s got you covered. His production Baap — which brings together the biggest action heroes of the 1980s and ’90s, Sunny Deol, Sanjay Dutt, Mithun Chakraborty, and Jackie Shroff — is finally complete and readying for a 2026 release. mid-day has learnt that the action drama, which went on floors in June 2022, was recently wrapped up with the completion of two songs.

Directed by Vivek Chauhan, Baap’s talkie portions were completed in April this year. Next on the plan were two songs — a peppy number featuring the four actors, and another track celebrating the protagonists’ camaraderie. Both songs have been choreographed by Khan.

A source revealed, “Earlier, the brotherhood song was to be shot on a set depicting an under-construction building, as the four actors play labourers working at a construction site. But the makers did a rethink and it was filmed earlier this year in the jungles of Mizoram, followed by a portion on a set constructed in Film City. It has been treated like Chappa Chappa Charkha Chale in Maachis [1996]. The peppy track will be used as a background number when the four actors appear together, and will enhance the mood.”

Now, the makers are focusing on the post-production and VFX. The source added, “It’s a VFX-heavy movie. All actors have begun dubbing, and the film should be ready by the year-end, after which producers Zee Studios and Ahmed will decide the release date.”

The film is said to be designed as an action extravaganza, complete with helicopter chase sequences, explosions, and hand-to-hand combat choreographed by action directors Parvez Shaikh and Ravi Varma.

For Khan, who is currently supervising the post-production process, it has been a matter of pride and joy to back Baap.

When mid-day reached out to him, the elated producer said, “The shooting of Baap is complete and right now, it’s in the final stages of post-production. It’s any producer’s dream to get these superstars together for one frame, and we have them in a full movie!”

Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal are back in the Love & War universe as Sanjay Leela Bhansali resumed its shoot at Prime Focus Studio in Film City, Goregaon, earlier this week. We’ve heard that a set of a hospital has been built for the first few days of the shoot. According to a source close to the production, the schedule kicked off amid tight security.

“A hospital set has been constructed on one of the larger floors at Film City. Bhansali sir, who is known to be hands-on when it comes to his film’s visual aesthetics, was personally involved in the set’s detailing. About 20 additional actors have been brought in for the indoor sequences,” the insider revealed.

A period romance set against the backdrop of war, Love & War reunites Bhansali with Bhatt after Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) and with Kapoor after Saawariya (2007). It marks the filmmaker’s first collaboration with Kaushal. The source added, “All three leads are required for this 20-day leg. On Friday, Ranbir had an early call time and was ready for his shot by 11 am.”

After the ongoing leg is wrapped up by early August, the cast and crew will be Rome-bound.

A massive fire broke out early Monday morning on the set of the popular TV show Anupamaa, located in Goregaon’s Film City. While the exact cause of the fire remains unknown, sources say that it was quickly brought under control. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries have been reported.

The makers, Shahi Production, in a statement said, “An unfortunate incident occurred early this morning on the sets of Anupamaa. A fire broke out, but by God’s grace, there were no casualties. There was no shoot on Sunday, and Monday’s call time was scheduled for later in the day. At the time of the incident, no unit members were present — only security personnel and set staff, all of whom are safe. No animals were harmed, and proper precautions were taken to ensure their safety. The fire department and relevant authorities are currently investigating the cause, especially since the set was not in use and the main power lights were turned off.”

It further stated, “We have also been made aware of individuals spreading false and misleading information. We sincerely request everyone to refrain from believing or circulating any unverified news. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the senior associations, industry peers, and well-wishers who have reached out with their support and concern. We are also grateful to the channel for standing by us — and above all, to the Almighty for keeping everyone safe.”

Birendra Nath Tiwari, President of the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE), told us, “The fire broke out around 5 am. It was a massive fire that caused significant damage.” He went on to highlight that a fire safety audit had recently been conducted on the Anupamaa set.

He said, “The production had undergone a thorough fire audit and was found to be fully compliant with all mandatory safety norms. Unfortunately, despite these precautions, the fire broke out — most likely due to a short circuit or electrical fault.”

Stressing on the need for stricter safety measures across the industry, B N Tiwari said, “All sets should go through proper fire and structural audits, especially since many older structures are still in use and pose serious risks. Clear and accessible exit routes, along with functional firefighting equipment, are critical. We urge producers to ensure comprehensive audits across departments and to maintain proper insurance coverage.”

J D Majethia, Chairman (TV & Web Series), Indian Film and Television Producers Council (IFTPC), added, “Thankfully, there were no casualties. Our biggest fear is the loss of lives. Unlike private premises, Film City spans 420 sets, making fire control far more challenging. Located in an open, uncontrolled area, it is crucial that we have full government support to ensure safety. Apart from individual producers being more vigilant and taking extra care and precautions, we urgently need to reassess Film City’s infrastructure and enhance security by developing more guarded and secure studios. Continuous and well-coordinated vigilance is essential. A centralized CCTV system should monitor every corner of each set, enabling immediate response to any fire outbreak. We plan to submit a formal request to the Chief Minister to address these concerns on the industry level in Mumbai and Maharashtra.”

1. Tenali Rama (Film City): In March this year, a fire erupted on the set due to an electrical generator issue; no casualties were reported.

2. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin (Film City): A massive blaze caused by a short circuit broke out in March 2023. While the set was destroyed, there were no casualties.

3. Pandya Store (Film City): A fire broke out on the show’s set in February 2021, damaging costumes and materials. No lives were lost.

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On Monday morning, a massive fire broke out on the sets of the Rupali Ganguly-led TV show Anupamaa at Film City, Goregaon, Mumbai. The fire started at around 5am.

According to initial reports, the blaze caused significant damage, two hours before the shoot was to begin, but no casualties or injuries were reported.

Producer Rajan Shahi, in a statement, said that there was no shoot scheduled on Sunday and no unit members were present on set at the time of the incident. “The fire department and all concerned authorities are currently investigating the reason, especially since there was no shooting on the set and the main power lights were turned off,” he added.

Meanwhile, All India Cine Workers Association (AICWA) condemned the negligence on set and called for an investigation into the fire’s cause in a statement posted on X. AICWA has also called for an FIR to be filed against the producers, the production house, and the television channel, as well as the Film City Managing Director and Labour Commissioner.

AICWA president Suresh Shyamlal Gupta also urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to initiate a statewide fire safety audit of all film sets and studios. He further demanded that any producer or production house found violating fire safety norms be blacklisted.

Rumours have been rife that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love & War may not be able to meet its March 2026 deadline and is eyeing a later release. Amid the speculation, sources from the set tell us that the current schedule with Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt is progressing as expected. We’ve heard that the leads have been shooting nights at Joker Maidaan in Film City, Goregaon.

Bhansali, whose movies are as much about the mood as about storytelling, is capturing the love story’s key emotional sequences in the ongoing stint.

“Ranbir and Alia have been shooting from 6 pm until sunrise over the past few days. The actors have tackled some lengthy monologues. For Sanjay sir, every frame has to be almost poetic, and he wanted these scenes—given their heartbreaking quality—to play out against the dark of the night,” reveals a source.

Although there is chatter that the romantic saga, also starring Vicky Kaushal, is delayed, insiders maintain that it is currently on schedule for March release.

A production hand shares, “An elaborate action set-piece has to be shot. If that is filmed by August, the movie will be able to hit the theatres in March. Otherwise, it may be pushed to a mid-2026 release. Right now, we are on track.” The night schedule is expected to be wrapped up by the weekend after which the unit will shoot indoor sequences.

Action comes easy to Sanjay Dutt, even in his 60s. His last few films, be it KGF: Chapter 2 (2022) or Leo (2023), are proof of that. It stands equally true for his upcoming horror comedy, The Bhootnii. Director Sidhaant Sachdev marvels that the senior actor, 65, performed the movie’s five action blocks without the aid of a body double, including a dangerous fight sequence that sees him jumping off a 40-foot wall.

Sachdev recalls shooting the portion in Film City, Goregaon, over three days in February 2024. “Sanju sir was lifted to the top of the 40-foot wall with cranes and cables. The sequence required him to stand atop it alone, and jump when there is a blast behind him. We did multiple rehearsals, and used all safety precautions, including crash mats, cables and cranes. He had safety harnesses and two cables attached to him, and then he jumped as fire raged behind him. I was scared while shooting this block and was saying my prayers quietly, even as my eyes were glued to him. [Within moments of jumping], Sanju sir gave us a thumbs up and the unit broke into applause,” shares the director.

He adds that during the shoot, many stunt directors turned up to meet the leading man. “Almost 50 action directors like Javed bhai [Karim] and Aejaz bhai [Gulab] dropped in on our set to meet him because they love him so much. For them, Sanju sir doing action again was a sight [to behold].”

Also starring Mouni Roy, Sunny Singh and Palak Tiwari, The Bhootnii is centred on a tree that houses an evil spirit. Dutt plays a ghostbuster roped in to rid the tree of the spirit. Even though it’s a horror comedy, Sachdev says he fused action into the storytelling as it has long been Dutt’s forte. Action coordinator Real Satish designed set-pieces that played to the leading man’s strength.

The director adds, “Real Satish knows what Sanjay Dutt’s fans would want to see. I told Baba [Dutt] that we could [employ VFX] for certain sequences, but he was firm that he would do them for his fans. He reasoned that his fans go to the theatres to watch him, so he wanted to do everything by himself.”