Currently riding high on the success of Operation Safed Sagar, actor Abhay Verma is looking to end his year on a professional high with the release of Shah Rukh Khan-starrer King, and he feels there couldn’t have been a bigger milestone. “I've got to work with Shah Rukh sir, Abhishek (Bachchan) sir, Rani (Mukerji) ma’am and all these personalities I have idolized. There's a temple in my heart and all these people reside in it,” he says.

Crediting Khan for being his source of inspiration, the actor says, “I saw dreams because of him. So, to come on the same screen with him was more than a dream. I didn't know it would come true so early, but just to be on the screen and make my work reach to Shah sir, it meant more than anything to me.”

Recalling a piece of advice that Shah Rukh Khan gave him, Abhay Verma shares, “Every word that comes off the legend's mouth just becomes legendary. I had asked him how did you choose your early films, to which he said, ‘Although the times were different, just work with people who love you and who you love’.”

The actor adds that it also complements his own philosophy as an actor. “I have taken my acting as democracy: to the people, by the people, for the people,” he says.

Reflecting on Khan’s approach on sets, Verma shares, “He just takes a chair, sits in the corner without disturbing anyone and sees how things are happening, how cinema is taking place. Even despite his injuries, or if he's feeling unwell, how he just gives everything, there's lots of learning from it.”

The actor also remembers a kind gesture by Bachchan during the shoot: “One day he was getting ready, and I told him that my family is in my van, so whenever he had two minutes, if he could let me know, I'll just bring them to him. He just stood up and walked to my van. He met my mom and said, ‘Hi, my name is Abhishek Bachchan and I'm working with your son in King’.”

Apart from King, Verma also has Laikey Laikaa and a film with Shanaya Kapoor in the pipeline, and with all his work, he hopes to break his ‘chocolate boy’ image.

“My biggest success would be that I break my image with every character that I play. I want my characters to live longer than me. I really don't want any image associated with me,” he ends.

SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY is closing in on the 500 crore nett mark as it hits 475 crore nett plus in three weeks. Like AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER fell a little short of 400 crore nett, this film may fall a little short of 500 crore nett. But these are just pointless benchmarks for the media today as it hardly matters if its 490 or 500 crore.

The biggest takeaway from this will be is it will make it difficult for a big Hindi film to release this Christmas as AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY is a bigger film than SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY. KING is due for release for Christmas and obviously huge numbers will be expected. But its pretty much impossible to have any chance to meet those expectations if you release with AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY looking at the figures of SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY and where it has accumulated these collections from.

AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY will also be affected but there the studio will hardly care and India is not so important in the bigger scenario. The problem will be that the best markets of KING, be it South and the bigger centres will be the best markets for DOOMSDAY as well. If the Hindi film was for Gujarat, CI Rajasthan or even Punjab, then it would be lesser of an issue but its not the case here as these will be the under performers for KING and AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY.

At the moment, KING is set to arrive on Christmas but logically it looks pretty much impossible unless you take the call that AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY will fall flat but no one can do that. There is also DUNE: PART THREE on the same day and again its best markets will be same as KING and AVENGERS: DOOMSDAY. A smaller Hindi film with lesser expectations targeting the Hindi mass belts can come but not a big budget film like KING. Basically KING should not come but they way this industry is functioning today, it does make some very bad decisions.

With five months to go for its release, is Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’ done with its globe-trotting shoots? Well, almost. Sources have told mid-day that discussions are underway for the action thriller’s last overseas shoot that will be held in August. The destination? Either the US or South America.

From what we’ve heard, a team is currently conducting a recce to finalise the locations for the last leg of director Siddharth Anand’s action extravaganza.

A source shared, “Only an international schedule is remaining. Nothing has been officially locked yet, but a team is currently in the US, scouting locations and working out the logistics. They will head to certain countries in South America before zeroing in on the locations. If all goes according to the plan, the unit will head there next month before calling it a wrap.”

The bulk of the film — which marks Suhana Khan’s first big-screen offering — is already complete. The proposed shoot is for a key sequence. The source added, “Shah Rukh and Siddharth wanted an untapped location for the sequence in question.”

Sixteen years ago, Raghav Juyal was a background dancer trying to make ends meet. Today, he is promoting his first outing as a leading man, Bhai Tera Star Hai, after the success of Kill (2024) and Netflix’s The Ba***ds Of Bollywood (2025). What’s ahead for him? The actor has a clear picture of what his future should look like.

“I want one of my films to do Rs 500-600 crore business. One day, when the credits roll, it should read, ‘Raghav Juyal — Superstar.’ That’s the dream,” he said.

It may be a hard road ahead, but that doesn’t worry him. The road up to here wasn’t easy. “When you’re a background dancer, you’re just trying to survive. I didn’t know whether this industry would accept me. Every small opportunity mattered. So, when I look at where life has brought me today, I don’t take it for granted.”

That hunger explains why Bhai Tera Star Hai, also featuring Sanjay Kapoor, feels important. Vivek B Agrawal’s directorial venture is a comedy, but Juyal insists it isn’t built on familiar tropes.

He elaborated, “It’s got the innocence of Govinda’s films and the madness of Priyadarshan films. I’d say it’s like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro [1983] meets Welcome [2007].”

Juyal’s character in the movie is driven by delusion. Strangely, he believes that’s also an actor’s greatest asset. “In acting, delusion is probably the most important quality. This industry is full of sharks. If you start believing what everyone tells you, that you can’t do this or you’re not enough, you won’t survive. You have to wake up every day believing impossible things. Sometimes I tell myself, ‘I have slayed dragons’. It sounds crazy, but it keeps you going.”

Later this year, Raghav Juyal will also be seen in Shah Rukh Khan’s Christmas release ‘King’. About working in another Khan production after ‘The Ba***ds Of Bollywood’ (2025), the actor said, “I am grateful to be in this phase. These are opportunities every actor dreams of.”

It may have dropped months ago, but the buzz around ‘The Ba***ds Of Bollywood’ is far from over. The irreverent industry satire is quietly gearing up for its next act. Sources tell mid-day that work on the Lakshya-led second season is already underway, with the writing process expected to continue till the end of the year.

The Netflix series, which marked Aryan Khan’s debut as a creator and director, is taking a measured approach to its sophomore outing. The makers are focusing on crafting a fresh narrative instead of simply repeating themselves to strike a chord with the audiences.

“Everyone is aware that the second season comes with greater expectations. The effort right now is to make sure the writing feels fresh and original, rather than simply repeating what worked the first time. Bilal Siddiqi, who was a key creative force behind the first season, is actively working on the scripts,” an insider reveals.

If development progresses as planned, the next season is expected to move into production next year. “If all goes as planned, the show will go on floors by the first quarter of 2027. Shoot-related decisions will take place after Shah Rukh Khan’s King releases in December,” confirms another source.

- The second season may feature a plotline where Aasmaan (Lakshya) stars in a biopic about the underworld don, Gafoor.

- It could explore a narrative where the world discovers Aasmaan is Ajay Talwar’s (Bobby Deol) son, potentially making him a nepobaby.

- Netflix is reportedly trying to leverage its global network to lock in a massive Hollywood star or an acclaimed international director for a cameo.

What do established filmmakers and production houses fear the most? Financial losses? Bad publicity? Ballooning budgets? Not quite. A footage leak, perhaps. But what the makers of Shah Rukh Khan’s King certainly didn’t see coming was an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated mini version of their film going viral online, stitched together from leaked visuals, paparazzi clips, and stills, just days after footage from the climax shoot surfaced on the internet. Now that’s the kind of nightmare no one in the industry was prepared for.

The 15-minute fan-made video used AI tools to recreate transitions and claimed to offer audiences a “mini version” of director Siddharth Anand’s film before its release. According to insiders, both fans and the production team rapidly mass-reported the footage, leading to its removal from several platforms.

A source close to the production told mid-day, “The team was already upset after stills from the climax leaked. Before that, sequences from the Cape Town schedule went viral where Deepika and SRK shot a song. The line production team was extremely careful but when someone like SRK shoots in public, it’s impossible to trace the source of the leak. But the AI edit crossed a line because it attempted to recreate the narrative of the film.”

The insider added that security around the current schedule near Ghodbunder Road, on the outskirts of Mumbai, has now tightened significantly. “This set in Mumbai is a busy area, so removing phone access won’t help much. But movement in the action portions and crucial scenes has become extremely restricted.”

King is now nearing completion, with “nearly two months of shoot pending”. “King is in its final leg. A lot of patchwork, action inserts, and another schedule remains to be done, with VFX work going on simultaneously. The film is looking to wrap by July-end,” the source revealed. 

“Please do not post or circulate any leaked multimedia from the sets of ‘King’. The team is working around the clock to ensure the best cinematic experience for everyone. Let us wait for the surprise on the big screen.”

Composer Anirudh Ravichander has been a part of the south music industry for over a decade, but he entered the Hindi music space only recently. “I was always waiting for a banger debut in Hindi. Obviously, in the south, we’re doing a lot of films,” he says.

That moment arrived with Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan. “It’s always a dream for any musician to work with him. That’s something on our bucket list. And I was glad that it happened. My Bollywood debut could be nothing bigger than Sir’s film,” he says.

What followed was not just a successful collaboration but a relationship that continues to shape his journey in Hindi cinema. “The rapport that we built, and the kind of sessions that we had with respect to jamming, was really very special. And he took me into his fold. So, I became part of the family now. Sir’s been one of the kindest and sweetest people. And he’s almost a godfather to me here,” he shares.

Since then, Anirudh has also composed for Shah Rukh's son Aryan Khan’s directorial debut The Ba***ds Of Bollywood (TBOB) and is currently working on the actor's upcoming action film King.

With King already shaping up to be one of next year’s most anticipated releases, expectations around its music are naturally high — especially following the success of Jawan and The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. 

Addressing the pressure, Anirudh clarifies, “Sir makes sure that you don’t feel that (pressure). We just want to celebrate him. We just want to make sure that he gets the best. Sid (Sidharth Anand, director) and him have worked a lot on the film because they took some time, right, to start the film. They worked a lot on the film to make sure that it’s a banger. So, with respect to the music as well, we are giving our best. So hopefully, whenever it’s out next year, it’s another memorable time in our life.”

Talking about King’s music, there has been speculation around international singer Ed Sheeran making his Bollywood debut with the album. Ask Anirudh about it, and he says, “That was just an idea. It hasn’t been executed yet, so we can’t say that it’s going to be out. That hasn’t been finally done where… it was an idea where we should do something like that, but it’s not been done yet. But it will happen. I think it should. Either that or something big is on the cards.”

Soon after announcing her second pregnancy on April 19, it has been work as usual for Deepika Padukone. 

mid-day has learnt that the actor returned to the set of King on April 21, kicking off a two-day shoot of an action set-piece alongside leading man Shah Rukh Khan.

Sources revealed that true to his style, filmmaker Siddharth Anand envisioned a hyper-stylised fight sequence that sees the two superstars in combat with eight fighters.

An insider shared, “Shah Rukh and Deepika filmed the scene on April 21 and 22, with the latter dressed in an all-white outfit. A special set was constructed at Golden Tobacco Studio in Vile Parle. The combat choreography is in line with the film’s larger-than-life treatment.”

More adrenaline rush seems to be in store for Padukone, as far as King’s shoot is concerned. The source added, “Siddharth has planned another elaborate set-piece against a sandy backdrop. It will be shot in a Mira Road studio.”

Padukone, who welcomed her first child Dua with actor and her husband Ranveer Singh in September 2024, also has Allu Arjun-starrer Raaka on her plate.

There appears to be a last-minute location shift for King, starring Shah Rukh Khan and his daughter Suhana. The unit was scheduled to shoot a large-scale desert action sequence, featuring Anil Kapoor and Suhana, in Dubai. However, the ongoing conflict in West Asia has prompted filmmaker Siddharth Anand to call off the international leg and reimagine it in Mumbai.

According to a source close to the production, the Dubai schedule was locked months in advance. “The team had procured the necessary permissions to shoot in the emirate. It was supposed to be a week-long schedule from April 9. But given the dynamic situation in the region, the makers decided not to take any risk with the cast and crew’s safety.”

Instead, the sequence will now be filmed in a Vile Parle studio, where the production design team has recreated a desert landscape.

“They’ve gone all out to match the scale that Siddharth envisioned for the set-piece. In fact, this gives them more control over action beats and lighting. The sequence begins with a chase, resulting in an intense combat.”

There’s more action coming Shah Rukh Khan’s way as he gears up for the next leg of ‘King’. mid-day has learnt that filmmaker Siddharth Anand has flown in 10 Russian fighters for a key action set-piece that will be filmed at Golden Tobacco Studios in Vile Parle, Mumbai, next week.

According to sources close to the production, an elaborate set depicting an old and long abandoned mill has been constructed at the venue. Beginning March 23, it will be a week-long shoot of fight sequences featuring Khan. “It’s one of the most elaborate action stretches planned for the film. The stunts designed are gritty and realistic, and the stunt artistes have been prepping for the past few weeks.”

It’s not all kicks and punches though. The director will also film a special dance sequence, which insiders are touting to be a special highlight, next month.

The source added, “It’s designed as a big moment in the film — visually striking and mounted on a scale that complements the larger-than-life tone of ‘King’.” 

The movie also stars Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, and Suhana Khan.

In the last few years, the actor in Saurabh Shukla had taken a backseat as he helmed his Pankaj Kapur and Dimple Kapadia-starrer Jab Khuli Kitaab, and then worked towards its release. Slowly but surely, acting called out to him.

Shukla, who shot Subedaar earlier, is now gearing up to resume the shoot of Shah Rukh Khan’s King, which also features the superstar’s daughter Suhana Khan. “I shot for it [last year], and I will shoot the remaining portions [soon],” he says.

Taking a break from acting to shape his directorial venture meant letting go of the financial security that acting projects offer. But Shukla believes the pay-off is richer. He shares, “From an actor’s perspective, [taking a break] is difficult, it’s also stupid at times. But when I was living it, it was easy. Physically, I cannot be present at two places.”

Last week, he had two releases — while Anil Kapoor’s Subedaar dropped on Prime Video, Jab Khuli Kitaab began streaming on Zee5 — each showing a different facet of his art. Acting, directing, and writing can be too much to handle, but Shukla has too many dreams to fulfil in this lifetime.

“I’m a firm believer that there is only one life. So, I have no plans of saying, ‘I will act in this life, and direct in the next,’” he smiles, adding that writing hones one’s acting. “I always say, ‘If you want to be an actor, please write. Look at paintings, sing, pursue music because it gives you a sense of rhythm. Everything is interrelated.”

Going by the first look and date announcement video of ‘King’, the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer promises to be an action spectacle. The superstar and his daughter Suhana Khan recently wrapped up an eight-day action schedule of filmmaker Siddharth Anand’s thriller at Ellora Studios in Bhayandar.

Sources told mid-day that the sequence plays out against the backdrop of Vijayadashami celebrations, and an elaborate set was designed for it.

A source close to the production revealed, “The team recreated the scale and energy of a Vijayadashami procession with drums, colours, and the frenzy that is seen on the immersion day. Shah Rukh and Suhana shot with a huge crowd, consisting of hundreds of background performers, across eight nights. Suhana also performed several stunts.”

When you get an offer to feature alongside Shah Rukh Khan, you don’t say no. So, when Akshay Oberoi was presented with the opportunity to fulfil one of his childhood dreams — featuring in King — the answer was obvious. With the much-awaited film nearing completion, Oberoi is over the moon.

“I’ve grown up watching his films, admiring his journey, and being inspired by his incredible body of work. Shah Rukh Khan is not just a superstar; he is an institution in himself. His discipline, humility, and professionalism are unmatched, and it’s unbelievable how grounded he remains even after decades of ruling hearts across the globe. Being associated with one of his projects is incredibly special,” smiles Oberoi, who plays a pivotal role in the Suhana Khan, Deepika Padukone, and Abhishek Bachchan-starrer.

Oberoi admits that working side by side with Shah Rukh has been a “huge learning experience”. “His contribution to cinema over the past several decades is phenomenal. Being connected to that legacy, even in a small way, feels extremely rewarding,” says the actor.

Mumbai: Bollywood's getting ready for a blockbuster year. Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgn, Sunny Deol, Ranbir Kapoor all have releases lined up, in what's going to be the most superstar-heavy lineup of films since before the pandemic. A broad range of big-budget Hindi titles are scheduled to hit theatres, complemented by a strong slate of regional movies and Hollywood offerings.

Down south, Rajnikanth, Vijay, Yash, Prabhas, and Kamal Haasan have movies coming up, apart from which Mammootty and Mohanlal will be seen together in a movie (Patriot) for the first time in 17 years.

Producers, distributors, and trade analysts are predicting a record haul, extending the buoyant momentum after a reassuring 2025. Net box office receipts may surge 25-30%, reaching Rs. 14,052 crore to Rs. 14,614 crore in 2026, from Rs. 11,242 crore last year, going by some of the more conservative estimates.

"2026 could be the year of highest box office collection for the Indian film industry," said Vikram Malhotra, founder and CEO, Abundantia Entertainment. "Beyond the conventional big-star films, 2026 will be about films which will connect deeply with audiences. I see sleeper hits become monsters at the box office. In addition, genre experiments will find takers."

A key reason for the industry optimism is the wide array of movies lined up this year. These include Ramayana, Love & War, Lahore 1947, King, Battle Of Galwan, Drishyam 3, Dhurandhar 2 and Border 2. Highly anticipated regional films include Jailer 2, Jana Nayagan, Toxic. Hollywood films such as The Odyssey, Dune: Part Three, Moana, Avengers: Doomsday, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are also expected to boost box office receipts.

"Even by conservative estimates, the Indian box office collection may grow at least in the range of 25-30% in 2026 compared to 2025 because of diverse offerings across Hindi, regional and Hollywood," said Girish Johar, film producer and industry expert.

The number of superstar releases is another reason for the optimism. "2026 is indeed a big year," said Navin Shah, joint MD, EMC Solutions Worldwide, a leading company in branded entertainment. "It is important to note that most superstars such as Ranbir Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, and Sunny Deol have either one or two releases in a single year. This is happening after a long time."

Trade analysts predict the share of Hindi films in net box office collection to climb to 45-50% this year, from a historical average of 35-40%. Premium ticket pricing will also drive growth.

"There is at least one notable film which is either VFX-driven spectacle or has a big superstar in every quarter of 2026," said Shaaminder Malik, film distributor and trade analyst. "This provides room for premium ticket pricing, especially for formats such as IMAX and 4DX, thereby boosting total box office collection."

Growing Gen Z attendance at movie theatres is also boosting industry confidence, said producers. "Apart from a fantastic lineup, a big positive for the industry is the theatre attendance of Gen Z audience, which increased by 25% in 2025. This trend is likely to continue in 2026," said Sunir Kheterpal, producer, Athena E&M.

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.

When King Khan turns 60, a celebration is certainly in order. Expectedly, the weekend was all about celebrating the icon that is Shah Rukh Khan — the superstar hosted an intimate party on Saturday night at his Alibaug property to bring in his birthday, followed by a special fan meet on November 2 evening, and a quiet night with close friends. But it looks like he isn’t taking too long a breather after the birthday madness. Sources have told mid-day that the actor will jump back into King’s shoot at Yash Raj Studios in Andheri on November 5.

Director Siddharth Anand already gave fans a peek into the action-driven world of King on November 2 as he unveiled the first look of the Shah Rukh, Suhana Khan, and Abhishek Bachchan-starrer. Action will be the keyword in the upcoming 15-20 day schedule as well. An insider reveals that the stunt unit has been rehearsing for nearly three weeks for this leg that will focus on a high-complexity action block.

“It’s a hybrid chase-combat sequence that begins with hand-to-hand combat stitched with tactical gun choreography. The set-piece will also have wire-assist jumps and close-quarter grappling. The team is working with a custom-designed stunt rig and Shah Rukh will perform several key beats himself,” says the source.

King, which marks the superstar’s first on-screen collaboration with daughter Suhana and sees him as an assassin of sorts, went on floors in June 2025. By the year-end, Anand — who is reuniting with Shah Rukh after their blockbuster Pathaan (2023) — intends to wrap up most of the film’s dramatic portions. “After that, some primary action sequences as well as songs will be left,” adds the source.

In September, US President Donald Trump reiterated his plan to impose a 100 per cent tariff on all films made outside the US. Even as details about when the tariff will come into effect and how it will impact other film industries remain unclear, Akshay Oberoi — who grew up in the US before moving to India in 2008 to pursue acting — believes there may be a silver lining to it. “It will definitely take a toll, but it may also make us focus on satisfying our own audience instead of chasing global validation,” he says.

The actor, recently seen in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, has two projects lined up in Yash’s Toxic: A Fairytale for Grown-ups and Shah Rukh Khan’s King.

Point out that the tariffs may affect the global audience for such big films, and Oberoi analyses, “In Hindi cinema, I think we started losing our core audience. Hindi films were trying too hard to be Hollywood. Characters started feeling like they’d landed from New York instead of being desi. Maybe now we’ll return to entertaining the common man. Trump’s policies are unpredictable, but I’m trying to find a silver lining. Maybe this will push us to create stronger films for our audience.”

Oberoi will soon resume shooting for King. The actor says that director Siddharth Anand was his primary reason to say yes to the action thriller.

“Sid and his team have my loyalty. I didn’t ask any questions, I just showed up. They’ve not only helped my career with Fighter [2024], but are the nicest people in the business.”

Actor Raghav Juyal has emerged as a breakout performer from Aryan Khan’s The Ba***ds Of Bollywood. Crediting their collaboration, he says, “Mera aur Aryan ka combination bahut deadly hai. Our thought process is similar in comedy. We created a lot of my scenes on the spot.”

Raghav will be seen in Shah Rukh Khan-starrer King, which also features his daughter Suhana. With Ba***ds and the upcoming film, Raghav has effectively become the first person to work with SRK’s entire family on screen.

“Abhi wo mujhe adopt karne wale hain bas,” he quips, adding, “I have a lot of injuries. So one day, he was asking me about my health. And I told him, ‘Sir, meri saari chotein aapki wali hain, bas aapke jaisa paisa aa jaye aur’, and he started laughing.”

Raghav admits that he is getting recognized as an actor now thanks to Kill (2023). “After Kill, I got 400 scripts. My team got tired going through them, but all I was looking at was the writing and the director. I’ve decided not to take up any work jiska koi kaam na ho,” he says, adding, “I want to be the biggest superstar of the country. I was the side dancer in Varun Dhawan and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer ABCD 2 (2015). My dream now is to be the lead in ABCD 3.”

One of the most viral clips from The Ba***ds Of Bollywood is Raghav serenading actor Emraan Hashmi (playing himself) with Kaho Naa Kaho (Murder, 2004).

“It’s a crazy one. Ab wo gaana mera ban gaya hai,” Raghav shares, adding, “Aryan and I had planned this before, but didn’t rehearse or enact with Emraan sir. He is a serious and committed actor who didn’t break character even when everyone in the crew was laughing. Even Aryan was covering his mouth and laughing throughout the scene.”

‘We killed it!’ That, Raghav Juyal tells us, is the gist of the countless messages director Aryan Khan and he have been exchanging since The Ba***ds Of Bollywood dropped on Netflix a fortnight ago. “We tell each other, ‘Bhai, yeh toh hona hi tha’. I don’t know about others, but Aryan and I were confident that the show would be well-received,” says Juyal of Khan’s directorial debut.

The Bobby Deol, Mona Singh, Lakshya, and Sahher Bambba-starrer has many things going for it — its tongue-in-cheek humour, sincere performances by the leads, and star-studded cameos. Juyal’s act as Parvaiz, part problem-fixer and part troublemaker, stands out with its hilarity. Yet, he reveals that many advised him against portraying the role after Kill (2023), which saw him as a ruthless antagonist. 

“Everyone asked me, ‘Why are you playing the hero’s best friend?’ I told them that I would handle it. It’s the actor’s job to make the character his own. I created a lot of things on the spot, [aspects] that weren’t in the script, and Aryan would say, ‘Keep it coming. It’s good.’ When we sat to make a scene, we’d go in so many directions that producers would have to put a stop to it,” he laughs.

The duo’s creativity was most evident in the viral sequence with Emraan Hashmi. In the scene, Juyal’s Parvaiz, a Hashmi fan, breaks into the Arabic bit of the star’s popular song, Kaho Na Kaho. The actor, Hashmi’s admirer in real life, grins, “Humara toh school, college, sab usne banaya hai. I did that scene with all my heart. In my first take, I cried. Everyone [on the set] started laughing, wondering why I was crying while singing. But I did that moment with a lot of feelings. Yet, I had to make it look funny.” 

On screen, Juyal has a meaty part. But at the script level, things were very different. “My role wasn’t sketched out. Other characters had backstories, mine didn’t. So, I was a little sceptical initially. Then Aryan called me and said, ‘I have full faith in you. We’ll shape the character on set.’ I listened to him, and here we are,” he smiles.

Raghav Juyal couldn’t have asked for a better follow-up to ‘The Ba***ds Of Bollywood’. After Aryan Khan’s directorial debut, the actor is starring in Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘King’. While he doesn’t name the film, Juyal says, “The biggest support has come from Shah Rukh sir; because of this project, he offered me another. That’s a very big thing for me.”

Reports doing the rounds over the past few days suggested that Deepika Padukone’s role in filmmaker Atlee’s next with Allu Arjun, the working title of which is AA22xA6, has been trimmed. However, contrary to rumours, sources close to Atlee’s sci-fi action movie have told mid-day that her role remains unchanged. According to two unit insiders, the actor will join the project in late October, after completing her ongoing shoot for Shah Rukh Khan’s King.

An insider from the film’s team revealed, “There is no truth to rumours that Deepika’s screen time has been reduced. Her role has not changed from what she was offered when she came onboard in June. She has a fierce part, which is essential to the first and second acts of the narrative.”

From what we’ve heard, Padukone has allotted her dates from late October to December-end to the project. Apparently, the first schedule will focus on portions that establish her character, while November is earmarked for large-scale action set-pieces, which will include a chase sequence that Atlee is designing with his stunt team from South Korea, and a dialogue-heavy confrontation.

The insider added, “In December, the unit will move to the UAE where Allu Arjun and Deepika will film a crucial mid-film twist and emotional scenes.”

The sci-fi action film, which explores themes of time travel, reportedly sees Arjun play multiple roles and has at least four heroines — Padukone, Rashmika Mandanna, Janhvi Kapoor, and Mrunal Thakur. The presence of so many leading ladies has led to chatter that Padukone’s role is a cameo.

The source, however, clarified, “It’s not a cameo at all. Her character drives the story in a way. Every actor has a clearly etched out part.”