With the success of Maa Inti Bangaaram and motherhood on the horizon, actor Samantha says she is stepping into her maternity break with a sense of fulfilment rather than urgency: “I am taking my maternity break on a professional high. It’s time to soak it all in and I’ll be back when I’m back. I want my return to be with something big.”

The actor, who is expecting her first child with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, adds that she has no fixed timeline for returning to work. “I’m not putting that pressure on myself. I’m not running any race or pressed for time. I’ll see how it goes.”

The success of her latest female-led commercial action entertainer has also brought her a newfound calm. “I hadn’t had a theatrical release in three years, so there was naturally pressure. But now I feel much calmer. I’ve realized I don’t need to keep delivering films back-to-back. Whenever I do release a film, I just want it to be worthwhile.”

Working with husband Raj, who served as the film’s creator and stunt director, also helped her push herself as an action star. “He knows my strengths and weaknesses because he introduced me to action with The Family Man 2. The biggest challenge this time was handling guns and doing action in sarees, which gave it a fresh flavour.”

One reaction, she admits, surprised her the most: “I assumed older women would talk about the family drama or comedy. Instead, women in sarees came up to me saying they loved the action. That was a really special feeling.”

Despite the film finding audiences beyond Telugu-speaking regions, Samantha insists it was never conceived as a pan-India project. She says, “We wanted to make a good Telugu film first. It’s rooted in Telugu nostalgia and history, so it didn’t feel right to force it on a wider audience... Now that we know we’ve struck a chord, maybe the next project can be more ambitious and travel pan-India.”

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu is expecting her first child with filmmaker-husband Raj Nidimoru. The news comes a little over six months after the pair tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Coimbatore.

An insider source tells HT City, “Yes, it is true. The couple is truly delighted about this new beginning, and they will make an announcement in some time.”

The buzz began Saturday evening after videos from the success celebrations of Samantha’s latest film, Maa Inti Bangaaram, surfaced on social media. Dressed in a fitted T-shirt and denims (see right), the actor sparked pregnancy speculation, prompting us to reach out to sources, who confirmed the news.

Both Samantha and Raj were previously married before tying the knot in December 2025. Samantha was earlier married to actor Naga Chaitanya, while Raj was married to Shhyamali De.

Samantha and Raj got married on December 1, 2025, at the Linga Bhairavi temple within the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore. The private ceremony was attended by close family members and friends, with the couple choosing to keep celebrations low-key. Pictures from the wedding were later shared online, confirming months of speculation about their relationship.

The couple first collaborated professionally while working on projects such as The Family Man and later Citadel: Honey Bunny. Over time, reports of a growing bond between the actor and filmmaker surfaced, though both remained guarded.

The pregnancy news arrives during a busy phase in Samantha's career. Her latest, Maa Inti Bangaaram has opened to good reviews.

All eyes are on Dil Raju’s upcoming production that is rumoured to star Salman Khan. Even as reports suggest that the yet-untitled film may see Khan sharing screen space with Nayanthara for the first time, we might see the superstar in another fresh pairing, courtesy filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, better known as Raj-DK.

Last week, mid-day reported that the actor is in early discussions with Raj-DK for a superhero film (A retiring superhero, March 6). Now, sources have revealed that Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who featured in the filmmaker duo’s second season of ‘The Family Man’, is the frontrunner for the movie.

“Samantha is very much in the conversation. She shares a strong creative equation with the makers, and they feel she fits the part,” said the source. The producers are aiming to take the project on floors by August. 

Before facing the camera with Prabhu, Khan will kick off Raju’s production that is being helmed by Telugu film director Vamshi Paidipally. Another source shared, “Nayanthara has emerged as the frontrunner for the female lead, though talks are ongoing. It will be a pan-India action entertainer, and should roll by April.”

On Monday, actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu put all speculation about her relationship to rest by sharing her wedding photos with filmmaker Raj Nidimoru, one half of the acclaimed director duo Raj & DK, confirming their intimate ceremony at the Ling Bhairavi Temple inside the Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore.

The actor posted a series of images on Instagram in the afternoon, offering the first official glimpse of the wedding that took place earlier that morning. In the photos, Samantha is seen wearing a red Banarasi saree by designer Arpita Mehta, while Raj opted for a kurta pyjama with jacket by Tarun Tahiliani.

Sources tell HT City that the ceremony was “attended by around 30 close friends and family members,” in keeping with the spiritual, low-key setting of the venue. The source also adds that the actor “has been staying at Isha Foundation for three days”.

The announcement comes after a night of intense online buzz, fuelled partly by a cryptic Instagram Story shared by Raj’s ex-wife, Sshyamali De, who wrote, “Desperate people do desperate things.” The timing sent rumours spiralling, especially since the couple had maintained silence.

Speculation about Samantha and Raj’s relationship had been building through 2024, strengthened by their work together on projects under the Raj & DK banner and the actor’s increasingly candid social-media posts with him. Neither had publicly acknowledged the relationship until Monday’s announcement.

This marks Samantha’s second marriage; she previously wed actor Naga Chaitanya in 2017 before their separation in 2021. Raj reportedly finalised his divorce in 2022. HTC

Abhilasha Bhandari of Abhilasha Pret Jewellery decodes: “Samantha wore a beautiful diamond ring featuring the rare and exquisite portrait cut — a very thin, flat diamond with a large top surface and almost no depth. This historic cut was originally used in Mughal-era jewellery to cover miniature paintings and royal portraits, which is how it earned the name portrait cut.” Interestingly, she has been wearing the ring since February!

When The Family Man premiered in 2019, it changed things for Priya Mani Raj. The National Award-winning actress, already a familiar name in South Indian cinema, found herself connecting with a whole new audience across India.

“Definitely, 200%,” she laughs when asked how much of a gamechanger it was. “I’m so happy, so fortunate that I got to be part of such a wonderful series,” says Priya Mani, who will soon be seen in season 3 of the web series featuring Manoj Bajpayee and created by Raj & DK.

In an industry where auditions were the norm, the opportunity to work on the show came to Priya Mani in the most unexpected manner. “It all began when Mukesh Chhabra (casting director) called me and said there’s a project he wanted to talk about,” she recalls.

“The next day, I met Raj and DK and they narrated the story to me for about half an hour. At that point, I wasn’t even sure if I was part of it. That’s because in Mumbai, the norm is that you have to audition and I was ready for that. After the narration, my husband said, ‘You idiot, they’ve spent 45 minutes explaining the whole thing to you — that means you’re doing it!’” she laughs. “And that’s how it happened.”

Talking about the audition process, Priya Mani points out that this culture didn’t exist in the South earlier. “Of late, they’ve started auditions, but not to the level of what happens here,” she explains. “Casting directors and agencies are just coming into the picture now. Until about five years ago, I don’t think there was anything like that in the South.”

She sees it as a positive change. “There’s nothing wrong in auditioning and proving your mettle. Sometimes people might know of you but not really know what you can do. It’s just showing them, ‘Look, I can also do this.’ There’s absolutely nothing wrong in that,” the actress adds.

Despite her long career, though, Priya Mani reveals that she has barely auditioned. “I have never really been called for any auditions. I went for an audition once for a John Abraham film, but I don’t know what happened to that. Maybe it didn’t work out and that’s okay. It’s a part and parcel of life. You can’t expect everything to click. I was just glad I went and gave it a shot.”

Fielding multiple offers and shooting for back-to-back projects can be gratifying. But it also can be exhausting. Ask Manoj Bajpayee, who has worked at a break-neck pace all through 2025, shooting for The Family Man 3, Police Station Mein Bhoot, Inspector Zende, and a yet-untitled film with Divya Dutta. Now that his last offering of the year, The Family Man 3, is ready for release, the actor is looking forward to taking a well-deserved break.

A three-month break, Bajpayee told us, as we got on a call when he was returning from a long day of shoot. “I have completed almost all my shoots, and now I will start promoting The Family Man. After that, I have taken three-four months off work as I was working round-the-clock. I completed four-five projects in the past one year. I don’t like to be this busy, but I never complain. Since the past three years, good work has been [coming my way], so why let it go? My funda is to keep on working as long as there is good work,” he said.

Even as he terms it a break, Bajpayee can’t really stay away from films for too long. The actor admitted, “During the break, I will read scripts, take meetings, and wrap up other professional commitments.”

But for now, it’s all about The Family Man 3. The Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK-created series has given the actor arguably one of his most popular characters — the sharp but unassuming intelligence officer Srikant Tiwari. Anticipation is already building around the spy thriller’s third edition that also stars Jaideep Ahlawat and Nimrat Kaur, alongside series regulars Sharib Hashmi and Priyamani.

What can we expect this time around? “While the first and second seasons were intense, this season has a lot of family sequences — interactions, conflicts, and organic humour stemming from their lives. It’s grittier, far more thrilling, and humorous,” he said.

Characters’ evolution is a given in long-format storytelling. Will the audience see some changes in Srikant Tiwari? He reflected, “Characters mature in creative works of art, and you can expect that from directors like Raj-DK and an actor like me. They are so good at storytelling and digging into every character’s nuances.”

In February, mid-day had reported that Rakt Bramhand’s shoot had hit a roadblock, with creators Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK hitting pause on one of its schedules (Hold the bugle call, Feb 15). Since then, there has been ambiguity about the Netflix series’ status, with rumours suggesting it has been delayed, and shelved even. As we recently caught up with Ali Fazal, who plays one of the leads alongside Aditya Roy Kapur and Samantha Ruth Prabhu, we asked him what’s happening on the series.

“I honestly don’t know what’s happening on that one. I wish I knew,” he said.

All eyes have been on Rakt Bramhand since it rolled in August 2024 as it is among the most ambitious Indian originals from the streaming giant. Directed by Rahi Anil Barve, the fantasy drama reportedly revolves around warring kingdoms.

Fazal added, “I know the show was on hold. Adi [Aditya] and I were doing it together. We met now again during Metro...In Dino’s promotions. It has been a couple of months since I last shot for it. Then I had to cut my hair because I had to shoot for something else.”

Fazal is currently filming his next series, titled Ranga Billa, co-starring Sonali Bendre.

Four successful web series in six years is an impressive track record. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, better known as Raj-DK, have been among the busiest creators in the Hindi entertainment industry since the OTT boom, churning out The Family Man, Farzi (2023), Guns & Gulaabs (2023) and Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024). Now, mid-day has learnt that even as the second season of Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi’s Farzi will go on floors by 2025-end, the filmmaker duo will simultaneously develop their theatrical slate as they are eager to return to the big screen after a seven-year break.

Raj-DK have their plate full in 2025 with their web offerings. A source breaks down their calendar, saying, “They are neck-deep in three series at the moment — preparing for Farzi 2’s shoot, and juggling Rakt Bramhand and the post-production of The Family Man 3. While work on these three shows is progressing briskly, they have also begun shaping up their theatrical slate. After wrapping up the Shahid and Vijay-led crime thriller by mid-2026, Raj-DK intend to take their first theatrical venture in seven years on floors.” Their last big-screen outing was the breakout horror comedy Stree (2018), on which they served as writers and producers.

Their big-screen history has been something of a hit-and-miss. While their filmography includes much-loved and ingenious movies like Go Goa Gone (2013) and Stree, they have also delivered underwhelming outings in Happy Ending (2014) and A Gentleman (2017). For their next, the filmmakers have apparently zeroed in on two scripts.

An insider reveals, “They will helm one, while the other will have another director. Raj-DK have regularly roped in different voices —  be it Stree that launched Amar Kaushik as a director, or Suparn Varma who took charge of certain episodes in The Family Man 2. Their Telugu production, Cinema Bandi [2021], too kickstarted Praveen Kandregula’s directorial career. If things go as planned, one of the movies will roll in the second half of 2026.”

The insider adds that Raj-DK’s focus on theatrical ventures does not imply that they will hit the brakes on their streaming work.

Filmmakers Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK raised eyebrows after a series of cryptic post on their joint X account on Wednesday afternoon.

The creators of shows such as The Family Man and Farzi, among others, wrote that they were “putting their heads down” after being “thrown under the bus” but did not specify what they were referring to. However, Raj and DK’s post comes a day after a Bollywood Hungama report claimed that streaming platform Prime Video was shelving their new show, Gulkanda Tales after their next film, Rakt Brahmand was beset by financial difficulties.

According to Peeping Moon, a Rakt Bramhand executive producer is facing accusations of financial theft on set, after an undisclosed amount (thought to be approximately Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore) was allegedly stolen from the production.

Raj and DK shared several pictures of them on various sets, accompanied by a long note. They wrote, “Every now and then something happens to shake things up. And you have a choice on how to react. For us that choice of reaction has always been clear — to just put our heads down and continue doing what we have been doing. Work harder. Do better. It is also a reminder to take stock of where we are at (sic).”

The duo also seemed to take a dig at unknown individuals. “S**t will keep happening… someone will steal, someone will throw you under the bus… To break new ground and keep coming to you with new, original stories. That’s been the promise,” they said.

The note ended with the duo addressing cancellation rumours: “Next up: Rakt Brahmand on Netflix; and Gulkanda Tales and The Family Man 3 on Prime.”

On Tuesday, Bollywood Hungama reported that Amazon Prime Video had shelved Gulkanda Tales, the duo’s ambitious upcoming show. Peeping Moon had reported separately that the executive producer of their other show - Rakt Brahmand - is now facing accusations of financial theft on set, with an undisclosed amount ranging from Rs. 2–3 crore allegedly stolen from the production.

Last week, news emerged that Ali Fazal and director Prosit Roy are set to team up for an action thriller series for Prime Video. Now, mid-day has learnt that the series will go on floors as early as April. Reason? Fazal’s date diary has opened up after the shoot of his other project, Raj-DK’s Rakt Bramhand, has been put on hold. So, the actor and Roy will hit the accelerator on their modern-day crime story, kicking off the shoot in Delhi in April.

Last week, news emerged that Ali Fazal and director Prosit Roy are set to team up for an action thriller series for Prime Video. Now, mid-day has learnt that the series will go on floors as early as April. Reason? Fazal’s date diary has opened up after the shoot of his other project, Raj-DK’s Rakt Bramhand, has been put on hold. So, the actor and Roy will hit the accelerator on their modern-day crime story, kicking off the shoot in Delhi in April.

Also starring Sonali Bendre, the series will be filmed in Delhi, followed by a stint in Mumbai. Fazal is expected to start his prep this week.

The source adds, “Since it’s based on real-life events, the team is finalising real locations across Delhi. Prosit, who previously co-directed the first season of Paatal Lok, wants to keep the visuals raw and immersive. The series will also see Ali perform elaborate action sequences. After the Delhi schedule wraps up by May, the unit will move to Mumbai, where the climax will be filmed. The second leg may overlap with Rakt Bramhand, but Ali will juggle the two projects.”

Director duo Raj-DK’s ambitious fantasy actioner Rakt Bramhand—The Bloody Kingdom has apparently hit a roadblock, forcing the makers to delay its upcoming schedule. Word is that Raj-DK, along with co-director Rahi Anil Barve, were to kick off the second schedule in Mumbai in February. However, the plan has been pushed by two months as the battle sequences of the Aditya Roy Kapur, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi-starrer are being reimagined.

A source close to the production reveals, “Rakt Bramhand has been mounted as a big-budget fantasy series about warring empires. Naturally, the war sequences are crucial to the story. The team wasn’t fully satisfied with how they were shaping up on paper, and is revisiting the portions.”

Rakt Bramhand is among Netflix India’s most ambitious projects. However, given the two-month delay, it was pulled down from the streamer’s 2025 slate that was recently unveiled. Another source says that the show will no longer be a 2025 offering.

“It is being designed as a spectacle, and that takes time. With the latest leg starting in April, followed by extensive VFX work in post-production, the series will release only in 2026,” adds the source.

mid-day reached out to Barve, who didn’t respond till press time.

HT City was the first to report in May last year that actor Aditya Roy Kapur is teaming up with filmmaker duo Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK for his next OTT outing. Now, we have official confirmation of the collaboration from all three!

Titled Rakt Brahmand - The Bloody Kingdom, the project is an action-fantasy series set in a fantastical kingdom. It is directed by Rahi Anil Barve, known for helming Tumbbad (2018).

Talking about their leading man, Raj and DK say, “At the heart of Rakt Brahmand is a character that demands strength, intensity, and a bit of wackiness. Aditya brings all of that. And he’s been training very hard to meet the demands... Our goal is to create a world that is both original and evokes the fantastical tales we grew up hearing.”

To prep for the role, Aditya underwent three months of rigorous training in various physical art forms including sword fighting, weaponry, horse riding, archery, martial arts, and combat. The 39-year-old shares, “The prep has been intense, but one of the most enjoyable perks of being an actor is to be able to pick up new skills. This show has me doing that in spades. But even more important than the physical work, there is a huge amount of mental preparation which I’ve been relishing.”

The team recently wrapped up the first shoot schedule in Mumbai. The second leg of shoot for the Netflix series will begin soon, and the show will be shot through the year.

It has been two weeks since Citadel: Honey Bunny dropped online. While the Varun Dhawan and Samantha Ruth Prabhu-led spy thriller has received mixed reviews, the audience largely agrees on one thing – that Saqib Saleem is impressive as the antagonist KD. “It’s a little overwhelming when you don’t think of something too much and then that starts giving you love,” starts the actor, when we sit across from him for a chat.

He continues, "This is like a proper massy binge show. Which is why we started watching OTT, right? I had the most fun with the action. The action. Because as young boys, we've all grown up wanting to be action heroes, right? So when you get to do cool stuff, you really feel cool when you come back to your vanity van after you've done a scene. You feel exhausted, of course. But also just feeling like, ‘oh, I've done something awesome’. That child in you gets very happy.”

To him, joining the Prime Video series was a no-brainer as it gave him the opportunity to team up with director duo Raj-DK, who also co-wrote it with Sita Menon.

“What I really enjoyed about them is that they're very collaborative people. They give actors the respect that, hey, we've cast you for a part. You exactly know what you're supposed to do. We've cast you because you're good. And they're not one of those directors who tell you how you should act. They just set the scene for you well. And whenever you give some feedback to them, they're not very reactive people. So when you give them feedback, it may just feel like, did I say the right thing or did I make sense at all? But when the material comes back to you, you see traces of your discussion. This is why they are people who've done so much quality work. It's very heartening to see that even after having such success, you're so collaborative and wanting to hear what the other person has to say. We were an eclectic bunch. Kay Kay Menon is a masterclass. You will read a line on script and you're like, okay, we'll do it like this. But he just finds this new, organic way to do it. And he would surprise you so much with his performance. Both me and Varun, in fact, we used to just keep looking at him. He is so much in sync with himself and his craft. The beauty of Varun is his excitement and the fact that he is still the same man. He still committed. He still wants to do one more take and do better. You enjoy when people really want to work. He feels like if you're taking one more shot, he could do better. And that attitude, I really love it. Because he's also had an interesting body of work behind him. And he's had his share of successes. But that thing hasn't diminished in him. That he really wants to give his best. Then we had Samantha. Who I've met for the first time she's a firecracker. I have so much love and respect for her. Because of course she was going through what she was otherwise. But at no point that became an excuse. It was like this big set is here to do this action piece and we'll pull it off. So I genuinely learned that about her and how to just keep going. I made good friends with Sikandar on this. To a point that I asked him to act in a film that I was producing. Everybody came in with that mindset: let's have fun, let’s do good.”

We quote to him a video that’s going viral of him and Kay Kay. “I get at least 10 tags a day on social media somewhere. But I'm very happy, yaar, this is what I hear, right? Ki agar memes banne lag jaye toh somewhere the shows hit home.”

Clearly, shooting the series was a creatively satisfying experience for Saleem. Yet, things took a different turn when it came to the show’s promotions. The actor was absent from all the events, beginning with the trailer launch to pre-release promotions. It got the internet talking about the 2020 episode when Disney+ Hotstar announced its seven-film slate, but did not invite two of the films’ leading heroes Kunal Kemmu and Vidyut Jammwal for the virtual event. At the time, the two actors had spoken about the lack of level-playing field in the industry. Evidently, things haven’t improved despite the discourse.

Saleem explains, “If you talk about my absence from the trailer launch to the premiere, I'm a very simple guy. So when you see the trailer you see that, of course, there's a certain narrative that these guys - the makers and the creators want to take. And they feel like it's in the betterment of the show. When I saw the trailer, I'm like, okay, this is the narrative you want to take. I would like to clarify it's not like I wasn't invited for the trailer launch. I decided, okay, I'll only talk when you show the impact of my character. I can only talk there. I love myself and respect myself. And I've worked really hard to be in the position that I am. So I really respect that position. So it's okay if there's a narrative you want to follow. I don't want to come walk in there and be detrimental to that narrative. I want the show to fare well. I also don't want people to ask me, what are you doing in this? So I'm like, okay, whenever the show's out, it's better to talk then. So there's no grouse or bad blood or animosity or anything of that sort. Yeah, they took a narrative that they wanted to take. And whether I agree or don't agree, it doesn't matter because the team wanted to take it. I thought, okay, let's wait this one out. I'm very sure of what the impact of my part is. Let the show come out. And today, the show's release has been two weeks and I have been on calls since 8.30 am. Usually people disappear after the release happens, right? So I just thought, okay, let's try this route. Do I blame the world for it or I crib about it and say, oh, how unfair? Not really. I don't take things like that. I've moved on. I'm starting to do my next now. I don't try and be like, oh, the industry's such a bad place. It's unfair for the outsiders. It's unfair for everybody."

We bring up the nature of the systemic disadvantage at play here. It’s widely believed that the industry has its cliques, and if you don’t belong to one of them, you get sidelined.

Saleem reflects, “It's the way things work. A lot of people think about me that he's just a lazy actor. He doesn't work a lot. But to get each opportunity, you have to work really hard. So when things don't go as per plan as you thought that they would go with this opportunity. Does it feel bad? 100%. But it's just, I feel like there are two ways to look at life. One is to keep crying about how wrong I was. Like, okay, this happened to me. I tried this and this happened. Let me prepare better or do something different so that this doesn't happen to me again. I'm okay faltering. It’s not my mistake, but being in a situation. But can I avoid this going forward? Because it's going to be difficult. It's going to be very difficult with what you want to do. You want the whole country to love you. That's what you're aiming for, right? To make that happen, you'll cross several of these speed breakers. For the sake of your mental health, you say - nothing is easy in the world and see the positive side of it and start thinking about what to do next. I feel like everybody knows what they've signed up for. With the advent of OTT at least more voices are coming to the fore. Before this, when I came to Bombay in 2011, there was - either you did TV or films. And films were only options for theatrical films. Now, as an actor who's come from the outside, he's getting a chance to show his work to people, if the industry is still not wanting to see it. Do such work that the common man is saying, it's good. And if the common man is saying it's good, then somehow that will translate for more work. That's the only way. I don't wish this journey on anyone. I came here when I was 20. Right now I'm 36. It's been 16 years since I have reached this place. It's a very difficult road. On some days you feel am I doing the right thing? Because how you see yourself, a lot of people here don't see you. People always want to try to undercut you. That is the line of work we're in. They are always figuring, if he had this much last Friday, then he's worth this much right now. After a point, talent doesn't do much. No matter how good you are, it is a numbers game. So you focus on doing your bit and hoping people find you."

And people have. The actor cites the example of director Sudhir Mishra, with whom he is collaborating on a series. “It was therapeutic to work with Sudhir Mishra. He knocks on some interesting doors inside of you as an actor. He takes you to places and gives you the confidence the industry erodes from you,” says Saleem.

He is also producing films under the banner that he has rolled out with his actor-sister Huma Qureshi. “We’ve put together a couple of films that should release next year. I’m also developing a film for myself.”

In June, mid-day had reported that Aditya Roy Kapur and Samantha Ruth Prabhu had been finalised for Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK’s next web series, and had begun their sword-fighting training (Play it again, Sam, June 28). Now, it’s time to put the hard work to the test. mid-day has learnt that the team recently took Rakt Bramhand on floors in a Borivali studio. The fantasy series will be helmed by Rahi Anil Barve of Tumbbad (2018) fame, with Raj-DK serving as creators.

That’s double duty for the creators, who are simultaneously filming the third season of The Family Man.

A source from the set revealed, “Rakt Bramhand is Raj-DK’s first action-fantasy series set in a fictitious kingdom. Even as they are shooting The Family Man, they are constantly supervising Rakt Bramhand’s progress. The sheer scale of the production is something they haven’t attempted before. We started shooting two weeks ago, and are currently canning some elaborate action sequences at Bahubali Studio in Borivali. There will be a short 10-day break soon, after which we will regroup in October. Most of the shoot will take place on this set and in other parts of the city till February 2025.”

Described as an epic tale of blood, betrayal and kingdoms, the Netflix series also stars Ali Fazal and Wamiqa Gabbi.

Popular web shows Farzi and The Family Man are both helmed by filmmakers Raj and DK. In the former’s maiden season last year, they teased a crossover between the Shahid Kapoor-led show and the Manoj Bajpayee-starrer. Now, actor Bhuvan Arora, who was seen in Farzi, almost confirms it.

Arora shares, “The shoot of The Family Man 3 is almost complete, and Raj and DK will move on to Rakht Brahmand soon. In Farzi, there was a crossover with (actor) Vijay Sethupathi sir’s character going to Tiwari’s (Bajpayee’s character) office. There will be a link between the two shows in The Family Man 3, too. But I can’t talk about it right now.”

Sharing an update on the second season of Farzi, he says, “Everyone is busy right now with their individual projects, including Raj and DK, Shahid and me. We are aiming to begin the shoot next year.”

Mention to Arora that the West churns out a new season for their shows every year while in India, there is a long gap between seasons, and he says, “That is also because both the industries function differently. Here, a new season is mostly sanctioned after the success of the previous one, whereas in the West, many studios immediately ask for three seasons upfront.”

Currently, he has three web shows in his kitty, besides his Tamil debut film. “I am excited to see myself speak Tamil on screen. I have dubbed for it,” he ends.

Is it a film? Is it a web series? That was the question Aditya Roy Kapur fans had over the past month, as word spread that the actor is teaming up with director duo Raj-DK. Now, we’ve got more updates on the front. It turns out the trio is joining forces on a web series, tentatively titled Rakhtabeej.

Sources say Samantha, who is fast becoming the director duo’s frequent collaborator after The Family Man 2 and the upcoming Citadel: Honey Bunny, has been roped in as the female lead of the  action drama.

We hear Kapur, who tasted success with his maiden web series The Night Manager last year, was in talks with Raj-DK over the past six months.

“It was only in May that he gave his nod to the project. Soon after, the makers brought Samantha on board. Since the show heavily relies on action, the two actors have begun their individual prep. They will do joint training sessions soon,” reveals a source.

The directors are currently busy with the shoot of the third edition of The Family Man. If things go as planned, they will call action on Rakhtabeej in August.

mid-day reached out to Raj Nidimoru, who did not respond till press time.

After a positive response to his OTT series debut, The Night Manager last year, actor Aditya Roy Kapur has signed his next. We have learnt that he is teaming up with director duo Raj and DK for a new project. This is the first time the 38-year-old and the director duo will collaborate.

A source reveals to us, “Aditya Roy Kapur has come onboard for Raj and DK’s next, and the prep for the project is underway. Further details of the yet-untitled project are being finalized. What’s exciting is that Aditya will be seen taking up a sport for the same.”

The source informs that the actor is gearing up to begin training for it. “Raj and DK are currently busy with the post-production of Citadel: Honey Bunny and they have just started the shoot of The Family Man 3. After wrapping up those projects, they will actively begin work on this new project with Aditya,” shares the source.

Whether the Kapur-Raj and DK project is going to be a big-screen spectacle or a web show is yet to be decided. The actor will next be seen in Metro... In Dino. We reached out to Kapur and the director duo, but they were unavailable for comment.

Patralekhaa has been a part of the industry for 10 years now and feels it’s going to be her year, as “it’s the product of seven years of hard work”. The actor is looking forward to four projects including films Phule, IC814: The Kandahar Hijack, Wild Wild Punjab and web series Gulkanda Tales. Calling it “one of the busiest phases” in her career, she adds, “I have been working hard to reach this stage. It required a lot of patience and perseverance.”

The 34-year-old, who has been a part of films like Love Games (2016), Nanu Ki Jaanu (2018) and Badnaam Gali (2019), credits OTT for getting her interesting opportunities. Web shows like Bose: Dead/Alive, Main Hero Boll Raha Hu and Aar Ya Paar got her recognition for her acting skills.

“I am glad with OTT, there’s varied content and diverse roles. When I met directors, they told me to try getting work on OTT. (Filmmakers) Raj and DK were the first ones who got me on board for Gulkanda Tales,” she says, adding, she’s been working non-stop for the last two years.

Patralekhaa admits the lack of offers used to bother her initially: “I had nobody to lean on in the film industry. But I caught up. That’s what patience and perseverance brings to the table.” Her professional life rose post her wedding to actor Rajkummar Rao. She quips, “I feel I should’ve got married much earlier.”

There was a time when female actors’ marital status dictated the number of offers they got. Patralekhaa credits a change in that to her fellow actors: “Kareena (Kapoor Khan), Deepika (Padukone) and Anushka (Sharma) have broken the norms. I don’t think marriage is seen as a hindrance anymore.”