May has been busy for Saiyaara (2025) star Aneet Padda, who was shooting the final schedule of her next, Shakti Shalini. Like all good things, this one came to an end too. On May 27, director Aditya Sarpotdar wrapped the horror comedy at Chitrarth Studio in Powai, where they filmed an elaborate sequence that sees the celebration of the protagonist’s victory over evil.

The latest chapter in the Maddock Horror Comedy Universe sees Padda in a double role — as an ordinary woman-turned-protector Shakti, and an evil spirit Shalini. The story revolves around the vengeful ghost who punishes men, as she was betrayed and killed in a brutal manner, and her eventual face-off with Shakti.

About the last day of the shoot, a source shared, “Massive sets depicting a Rajasthani village and the interiors of a house were built. The sequence shows the village people, especially women, celebrating the defeat of evil.”

Things have progressed briskly on Shakti Shalini — also starring Vishal Jethwa and Viineet Kumar Siingh — since the horror comedy rolled in March. In early May, Padda and the team headed to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.

The source elaborated, “Viineet, who portrays the antagonist, and Aneet shot the climax across Chambal, Datia, Antri, Panihar, Gwalior, and Morena in Madhya Pradesh. They filmed significant portions in Dholpur and Barkhandi in Rajasthan. Nana Patekar and Seema Biswas joined the unit in May.”

The makers of Dahaad 2 aim to scale up the Sonakshi Sinha, Viineet Kumar Siingh, and Gulshan Devaiah-led series. After wrapping up the Rajasthan schedule, director Reema Kagti and her team will now move to Mumbai for the next leg.

According to sources, the Rajasthan leg — shot across multiple small-town locations — focused on establishing the new case and its socio-cultural context. “The Rajasthan schedule was about building the world again, getting the mood, and the investigation in place,” says a source close to the production.

With that groundwork completed, the unit is gearing up for a more physically demanding schedule in Kurla. The three-week stint will feature crowd-heavy scenes alongside action set-pieces. “There are multiple action blocks lined up from chases, confrontation scenes, to some high-intensity moments involving the police unit,” shares the source.

To ensure tighter execution, the team will shoot across controlled environments as well as select real locations in and around Kurla.

The source adds, “These scenes require timing, movement, and coordination. The idea isn’t to suddenly make it larger-than-life. But as the case progresses, the stakes naturally escalate. The Mumbai schedule reflects that progression.”

What was meant to be a controlled build-up to the sequel to the cult classic, Awarapan (2007), has turned into damage control. After unauthorized images and videos from a Rajasthan shoot surfaced online, the makers have swiftly moved to restrict access and prevent further leaks.

According to sources close to the production, security has been significantly increased at filming locations in and around Sambhar, Rajasthan, after visuals revealing the lead actor’s altered look surfaced online without approval.  The movie features Emraan Hashmi returning as Shivam Pandit, alongside Disha Patani, with Shabana Azmi expected to play the villain. The images, which went viral within hours, caused concern within the unit.

“The look reveal was never meant to come out this early,” an insider tells mid-day. “After the photos were leaked, access had to be tightened. Phones are now restricted on set, and movement around the location is being closely monitored and certain areas have been cordoned off. Multiple terrace-sequence videos were leaked by locals.”

The clampdown comes at a sensitive time for the film, which is already facing online scrutiny over rumours that a Pakistani music composer is associated with the soundtrack. “The team wants the content to speak, not controversies. Music is integral to the film and Pritam had done the original score. The producers are mindful of the law of the land and are baffled by the rumours.” the source adds.

“The shoot has been fast-tracked, and the team will wrap this schedule within a week, with local police deployed for protection,” the source concludes.

mid-day contacted Kakkar for further details but he remained unavailable.

In 2016, when the Malayalam film Oppam was released, director Priyadarshan was keen to adapt it for the Hindi audience. It has taken the filmmaker almost nine years to see that dream finally materialise. Saif Ali Khan and he were in talks for almost a year before it became official. In May, mid-day had reported that the film, the rights of which were acquired by Khan, was to go on floors by year-end (Round two of blind man’s bluff, May 3). For the role opposite Khan, the director initially had three contenders — Akshay Kumar, Akshaye Khanna, and Bobby Deol. However, Kumar clinched the deal with whom Priyadarshan also has Bhooth Bangla and Hera Pheri 3.

The remake, now titled Haiwaan, is finally set to go on floors next month in Cochin. “While Saif plays a visually challenged caretaker who is an expert in Kalaripayattu, Akshay, the antagonist, will be seen as a ruthless, cold-blooded killer out to avenge his family. While distinctive, both actors will sport a moustache and stubble to give off a raw, rugged, and real vibe. [Actors for the] characters of a retired Supreme Court chief justice and his daughter are yet to be cast,” informs a source

For the unversed, Oppam follows the story of Jayaraman (played by Mohanlal), a visually impaired man with an acute sense of smell, hearing, and touch. When a retired judge is killed by a man he had once wrongfully imprisoned, Jayaraman steps up to protect the judge’s daughter from the vengeful killer.

While the Malayalam movie was written by Govind Vijayan, Priyadarshan, who had then penned the screenplay, has adapted and written the Hindi version to give it a pan-India appeal. “He started work on the script and screenplay for its adaptation last year, and it is now ready. Given the high-octane action scenes, Akshay and Saif need a lot of time to prep for their roles, including hand-to-hand combat and martial scenes,” shares the insider.

Kumar is a well-trained martial artist with a black belt in Taekwondo, and has learnt Muay Thai and Karate. To match the intensity of his opponent, Khan is training extensively in Kalaripayattu.

“The shooting will kick off with Saif on August 23 in Cochin, after which Akshay will join the Haiwaan team. After a month, they will shift to Mount Abu [Rajasthan], Vagamon [a village in Kerala], and finally wind up in Mumbai. It’s basically a cat-and-mouse chase game between Saif and Akshay,” adds the source. Interestingly, Haiwaan marks Khan and Kumar’s reunion, 17 years after their last film, Tashan (2008), and Khan’s first collaboration with the filmmaker.

The film Oppam is reportedly based on Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear (1991), which was a remake of the 1962 film, based on the 1957 novel The Executioners by John D MacDonald

Director Amol Palekar believes Paheli has aged well – not because it aligned with the norm, but because it chose not to. “The film didn’t chase trends; it carved its own path,” he says. “I’m very proud of the film.”

At the time, casting Shah Rukh Khan – the romantic hero – as a ghost was both audacious and risky. But Palekar recalls that once people read the script, “many were intrigued by the role’s poetic complexity.” Shah Rukh, he says, “embraced it wholeheartedly, lending the character both charm and melancholy.”

As Paheli completes 20 years, Amol Palekar and Sandhya Gokhale, his long-time collaborator and wife, revisit the film, which Palekar says, “feels like an early spark in the evolution of female centric and genre-bending narratives in Indian cinema.”

In the film, SRK plays a double role – of Kishanlal (Lachchi’s husband) and of a ghost (who falls in love with Lachchi). When Kishanlal goes away on business the day after his wedding, the ghost takes his place. It is based on a Rajasthani folk tale by Vijaydan Detha, titled Duvidha. However, the film’s maker changed one crucial part – the ending.

“In the original version, Lachchi returns to her husband, choosing duty over desire. She hides the fact that she had accepted the ghost as her lover despite the knowledge that he was not her husband. She chooses to live a lie and conforms to societal expectations. Sandhya thought it was dishonest. Ultimately, for us, love, honesty, and purity were the driving forces. Lachchi’s final confession (in the film) to her husband – that the ghost had given her the choice to accept or to reject him and that she chose an adulterous relationship – was quietly revolutionary. It honours the spirit of the original folk tale while speaking to modern sensibilities,” says Palekar.

Sandhya adds, “Balancing the ghost’s romantic idealism with Lachchi’s autonomy was especially delicate. We didn’t want the spirit to merely symbolize longing or escapism — he had to evolve as a character. And Lachchi had to be both rooted in her world and quietly subversive. Embedding feminism in fantasy without making it didactic was a continuous tightrope walk.”

“We had visited every corner of Rajasthan at least 3-4 times and had noted every detail such as the motifs used on the walls of the haveli, the mannerisms observed there, the props in a baniya kacheri etc. We wanted the palette of the film to give a feel of a fantasy. The locations used, such as the big well, the sand dunes of Jaisalmer etc, were not just picturesque; they were immersive. The architecture, the light, the earthy tones — they shaped the visual language of the film,” says Palekar.

The idea of casting Shah Rukh as a ghost initially raised eyebrows. Palekar says, “Shah Rukh Khan’s casting as a ghost was seen as both audacious and risky. Some wondered, ‘Will audiences accept him in such an abstract, non-human role?’ But that’s precisely what made it exciting. The ghost in Paheli isn’t scary or sinister – he’s tender, philosophical, and full of yearning. Eventually, the surprise became the selling point. In later years, many (viewers) say that it was his best performance. Shah Rukh himself was unsure about his look in the Rajasthani attire and with a mustache. I had no doubts that people would love him.”

Addressing the influence that Shah Rukh and Rani had on their characters, Sandhya says, “I had Shah Rukh and Rani in my mind when I wrote their characters. Shah Rukh has given such a superlative performance in Paheli that the ghost lingers in our mind. Rani Mukerji’s Lachchi wasn’t written for a ‘star’ — she was written as a woman caught between longing and loyalty.”

It wasn’t Ishaan Khatter and Bhumi Pednekar, the new pairing, or the curiosity surrounding royal lives that drew us to creators Rangita Pritish Nandy and Ishita Pritish Nandy’s latest show, The Royals. It was to see how yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman marks her comeback on the screen. However, when we confessed that to director Priyanka Ghose, she clarified that they had every intention for the senior actor to have more scenes.

When we said we only began rooting for Khatter and Pednekar’s love story after episode six, she said, “That was by design. I knew that by then people will want them to get back together.”

The Netflix eight-episode series follows the clash between an entitled prince and a tech startup entrepreneur amid a contemporary fairytale setting. In conversation with mid-day, she discussed the casting choices and why she had to hand over direction to Nupur Asthana later. Excerpts from the interview.

When you’re writing a script, writers shouldn’t be limited by restraints. The minute you get to execution level, you know the challenges. You’re aware that you’ll get an actor only for a limited time and shoot only so much. As a director, you have to be clear on what to cut and what to keep. We had written and wanted more of Maajisa, but by the time we cast Zeenat ma’am, we knew her health challenges. We had spoken to her and her management, and learnt that her health would permit her only a few days. So, I worked backwards. We handpicked the scenes and calculated how much screen time to give her. I knew the key scenes she had to be part of, even in the royal ensemble during the charity fashion show. Her scenes with Sakshi [Tanwar] ma’am were non-negotiable — we needed the emotional arc. In the royal gathering, there were earlier scenes for her, but since she couldn’t shoot more days, I had to remove her from them. I shot the polo scenes for three days and the fashion show for two. It was difficult to have Zeenat ma’am sit through all that. I had to finish her parts all at once. The next day, I would shoot the opposite axis to avoid her angle. The intention was more, but the reality differed. Still, we did our best to include Maajisa in the right proportions across the season.

We brought in Nupur to direct episodes four and seven, which we shot last. The schedule had shifted because when we were to shoot in the mahals, it was peak wedding season in January and February. The dates shifted, and by the time we got to episodes four and seven, I wasn’t available. Rangita and I actively went out looking for a director to take over. Nupur had little to shoot in Rajasthan because her episodes were set in Mumbai and Madurai. Even the royal ball was shot in Mumbai. It broke my heart — I had done all the homework — but I had already committed to another project.

That’s like giving away secrets [she laughs]! Across six episodes, the entire schedule was in Rajasthan, then a short one in Goa for the opening episode, and some bits in Mumbai like the Gastronomics competition. I did three rounds of location recces. I picked different palaces because one palace doesn’t offer everything. We needed a bat-pooping corner, a dancing hall, darbar hall, exteriors, a swimming pool, and a polo ground. I went out with my production designer — incidentally, my sister Payal Ghose. The challenge was to make different locations seamlessly look like one palace. Even when we got access, we were only given empty barren halls. Payal dressed them up from scratch. Yuvanath Singh’s [Milind Soman] room was a giant open hall with no artwork or bathroom. Everything was constructed on-site by Payal and her team, including painting the walls.

Each royal family from different provinces is positioned differently — financially, socially, or politically. On our recce trips, I had met some royals. Through those interactions, I realized every family’s trajectory is different. They might be holding onto a title from the past, but some of them are very affluent doing well after foraying into fashion, polo, politics and other fields. We showed different shades inspired by them.

I knew of Sakshi ma’am through casting coach Atul Mongia, who directed her in Mai [2022] and spoke highly of her. I had to convince her of Padmaja’s arc across the season. This was new to her, and she was skeptical, but that was the challenge she took as an artiste. She was also going through a personal crisis, but I saw a hungry artiste wanting to prove herself. In three days, she found her rhythm. Watching her scenes with Ishaan on camera was a joy.

Ishaan in real life is a sexy, endearing, sensitive man — that was easy to portray. I was surprised no one had tapped into that before. He made Aviraaj far more likeable than he is on paper. If you just read the script, he’s a brat who behaves badly — during the will-reading and post a one-night stand. No one would root for him. But Ishaan brought more to the table. Yes, the ‘eye-candyness’ helps. His shirtless scenes didn’t feel forced and he is comfortable in his skin. I never used an inch of body make-up on him. He carried the trauma of the crown taking his father away and ran from it. Ishaan brought those layers effortlessly.

Was it intentional to show the leading lady as a knight in shining armour instead of a damsel in distress?

Yes, that arc was always in the story — Sophia is the one pulling the royal family out of its misery. Full marks to the women creators who thought of the female character in a wholesome way.

Her impulsiveness was on paper. We leaned into it knowing Bhumi could pull it off without making it overbearing. With any other actor, I’d be skeptical. In India, we don’t easily accept authoritative women. But Bhumi has softness and vulnerability. Sophia is flawed, and only Bhumi could make her likeable. Sophia is Bhumi in real life.

Three decades ago, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Andaz Apna Apna pulled off a casting coup, bringing two of Hindi cinema’s rising stars Salman Khan and Aamir Khan in a single film. Over the years, the film has achieved cult status and is hailed as one of Indian cinema’s finest comedies. As the film celebrates its 30th anniversary, it is slated for a re-release in cinemas next year.

Veteran exhibitor Raj Bansal, who distributed Andaz Apna Apna through his now 70-year-old distribution company, says, “Whenever people talk about this film, they look at the initial numbers and declare it a flop. I distributed the film, and in my distribution territory Rajasthan, the film was a decent hit. In fact, I paid overflow to the producer – Overflow is the amount paid over the agreed amount when a film performs well. In Jaipur, the film ran for approximately eight weeks, which was huge at that time.”

Bansal explains, “When Andaz Apna Apna was released, the trend was that comedy films performed well in the southern states, Gujarat and Mumbai, while action films were doing better in Delhi and UP. Andaz Apna Apna didn’t perform as expected in UP and Delhi, but the film was never a flop. It was a decent hit at the time of its release.”

The family of the late producer Vinay Sinha says the same. Producer Priti Sinha says, “My brother Amod, who was also the AD on the film, pointed out that because it wasn’t promoted, people started believing the film didn’t perform well.”

Producer Priti Sinha shares, “It makes us really proud that even after 30 years, the film continues to resonate with movie buffs. Some years back, my sister Namrata met Salman, and he suggested re-releasing the film. The film will be re-released in a digitized, restored, and remastered 4K version. We are currently working on the sound, and once it’s complete, we’ll decide on a release date for next year.”

Rajasthan is calling Huma Qureshi back. Two months after wrapping up Jolly LLB 3’s schedule, the actor is returning to the state to begin her next, Bayaan. Shiladitya Bora, who is co-producing the police procedural drama, is thrilled that Qureshi—who was the first actor to whom director Bikas Mishra pitched the script—gave her nod to the role.

“Bikas had met Huma in Los Angeles in 2019, during the Film Independent residency. She is the first actor Bikas had pitched the story to, and we’re so excited that it worked out with her,” he says.

In the drama that rolls mid-month, Qureshi plays an investigator, who is sent to a small town in Rajasthan to lead her career’s first case. Bayaan is supported by the International Film Festival Rotterdam’s Hubert Bals Fund and was developed at LA Residency. Mishra, who previously helmed Chauranga (2014), was mentored by Craig Mazin, the creator of Chernobyl (2019) and The Last Of Us (2023), on his second feature film. If Mazin’s guidance helped him enrich the story on paper, he trusts Qureshi to elevate it on screen.

Mishra states, “Huma is a powerhouse of performance and enthusiasm. Her ability to inhabit complex characters is undeniable, and her energy will elevate Bayaan to a new level.”

The film also stars Chandrachur Singh and Sachin Khedekar. Bora reveals that he approached Singh hesitatingly. “We believe in contrarian casting. We knew that Chandrachur is known for playing the charming hero. But he is such a warm and receptive actor that he instantly agreed to this part.”

The YouTuber in the custody of the Anti-extortion Cell

A YouTuber who was arrested by the Anti-extortion Cell (AEC) for allegedly threatening Salman Khan was produced in court and was remanded to police custody till June 20.  The police informed the court that they found at least 19 different email IDs from the accused, Banwarilal Gujjar, which they suspect were created to send threatening messages to the actor through various mediums.

The AEC informed the court that the YouTube channel used to threaten Salman Khan has been taken down from the platform, and they have preserved the video. In the 1.30-minute video, Gujjar is seen standing near a highway, issuing threats to Salman Khan. He can be heard saying, “I am here, Goldy bhai is here, Rohit is here, and Salman Khan is going to pass through this place soon. He will meet his fate. He has ego issues and is not apologizing. Now, we will show him what Hindutva is.”

According to the AEC, Salman Khan’s team first saw the video, downloaded it, and contacted the police, leading to a case being registered against the YouTuber. The Crime Branch and city police were alarmed as they could not initially identify the highway location where the videos were made, suspecting it might be near the actor’s Panvel farmhouse. They searched the area and informed the local police. Upon closer inspection, officials discovered the video was shot in Rajasthan. A team was dispatched, and the accused was arrested in his village.

“What surprised us was that the person is from the Gujjar community and is using the name of Bishnoi while threatening Khan. He had also made several videos in favour of gangsters, which have been removed. We fear the gangster is expanding his reach and using young people without criminal records to issue threats to the actor. Later, they might use Bishnoi’s name to create fear among others as well,” an officer said.

The officer further added, “The 19 email IDs found from the accused are suspected to have been created to issue threats to the actor by distributing them to other individuals. We are verifying every aspect. As of now, no direct links with the gangsters have been found. We are also checking his bank account to see if he has received any suspicious amounts.”

According to the AEC, they have noticed a pattern in the recruitment by the Bishnoi gang, where mostly freshers are hired. For instance, the individuals who fired shots outside Khan’s residence had no criminal background and did not know each other. “He is playing with the authorities to keep them off guard so that his real operatives can do the job,” the officer added.

The lawyer representing Gujjar claimed that he did not mention anyone’s name in the video and should be sent to judicial custody. His uncle, Kishan Gujjar, told the press, “He made the video for entertainment and has nothing to do with any illegal act. He has been misunderstood.”

The accused, a farmer’s son from Rajasthan, has a BA degree and was pursuing a BEd, aiming to become a teacher. He told the AEC that he made the videos to gain views and earn money from YouTube. However, the police are skeptical of his explanation, particularly because he cannot explain the reason for creating 19 different email IDs. He was arrested under Sections 506(2), 504, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66(d) of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Mumbai: A 25-year-old Rajasthan man, who was arrested on charges of criminal intimidation for allegedly uploading a video threatening to eliminate Salman Khan, was brought to Mumbai on Sunday and produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till June 18.

The south cyber police registered an FIR on June 12 after Banwarilal Laturlal Gujjar allegedly uploaded the video on his YouTube channel.

Police said the video was shot on a highway. They traced the IP address to Rajasthan. “Considering the seriousness of the case, a team of the anti-extortion cell of crime branch, led by inspector Arun Thorat, was sent to Rajasthan and Gurjar was arrested from Bundi village,” said DCP Datta Nalawade.

Police said Gurjar had used a fictitious name, ‘Are choddo yaar’, and email address, but they managed to track him down from his mobile number. “We are checking if he has a criminal background. Gurjar has been charged under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 506(2) (punishment for criminal in timidation), as well as the Information Technology Act,” said a police officer.

In 2022, Khan’s security was elevated to Y-plus category — six personal security officers in three shifts 24x7 and five armed guards at his residence — following multiple threats from the Bishnoi gang due to the actor’s alleged involvement in the 1997 blackbuck killing case during the shooting of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ in Rajasthan. Blackbucks are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community.

In the wee hours of April 14, two bike-borne men, allegedly belonging to the Bishnoi gang, fired multiple rounds outside Khan’s Bandra residence. A total of seven persons were arrested in connection with the firing case. One of accused, Anuj Thapan, allegedly hanged himself in police lock-up on May 1.

Last month, Navi Mumbai police arrested five men who were allegedly planning an ambush near Khan’s Panvel farmhouse using sophisticated weapons.

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While the Mumbai Crime Branch is initiating the process of obtaining gangster Lawrence Bishnoi’s custody from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat in connection with the Salman Khan firing case, the actor has received yet another threat from a YouTuber. The YouTuber, through his channel, claimed to have the support of Bishnoi and Goldy Brar and stated that he intends to kill the actor. The Crime Branch swiftly took action and arrested the YouTuber in Rajasthan.

According to the Crime Branch, after the YouTube video was brought to their notice, the cyber cell started working on tracing the location from where the video was uploaded. They also reached out to YouTube to remove the video from their platform and registered an offence under various sections of the IPC and IT Act.

“An offence was registered at the South Cyber Police Station under sections 506(2), 504, and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 66(d) of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Considering the seriousness of the case, a police team was dispatched to Rajasthan for the investigation, and the accused was arrested and brought to Mumbai,” said DCP Datta Nalawade, Detection.

The accused arrested by the South Cyber Police was identified as Banwarilal Laturlal Gujjar, 25, from Bundi district, Rajasthan. Gujar was apprehended for allegedly discussing the Bishnoi Gang and making threats to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan in a video posted on the YouTube channel “Are Chhodo Yar.”

Officials have found that the accused shared multiple videos supporting gangsters Bishnoi and Brar. “We are verifying if he is a member of the Bishnoi gang. As of now, we haven’t found any criminal background, but this is being checked with the state concerned,” an officer said. The Crime Branch, already investigating the firing incident outside Khan’s residence on April 14 and has arrested several gang members.

Jolly LLB 3 is proving to be a reunion of the cast of the first and second films in the franchise. In the latest development, we’ve exclusively learnt that actor Amrita Rao will reprise her role from the first film. Recently, Arshad Warsi, the eponymous lead of the first film from 2013, joined the cast of the third part, which stars the leads of the second instalment, Akshay Kumar and Huma Qureshi. Actor Saurabh Shukla, who played Justice Tripathi in both films, is also returning.

“Amrita is returning as Arshad’s wife (Sandhya) in Jolly LLB 3, continuing their story from the first part. With her entry, it’s a complete unification of the franchise’s cast,” says a source. The shoot of the third instalment started in May in Rajasthan, and Rao was a part of that schedule, reveals the source.

“The location was such that everyone had to walk to reach there as no vehicle could go on those roads,” shares the insider, adding that the team is shooting in Mumbai for the next leg of the film. “The next schedule of Jolly LLB 3 will be in Delhi in June-end, with the entire team,” the source shares.

Ajay Devgn knew 2024 would be a busy year with five releases lined up. The actor wasted no time, kicking off the year with the shoot of Raid 2 in the first week of January. Now, we have heard that Raj Kumar Gupta’s directorial venture—also starring Riteish Deshmukh and Vaani Kapoor—was wrapped up last month in Delhi.

Sources tell us that the sequel to Devgn’s 2018 crime thriller reached the finish line on May 10 after an extensive shoot that took the team to Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and finally to the capital.

“The first schedule was conducted in Mumbai over a week with Ajay and Riteish. This was followed by a month-long stint in Lucknow, where they shot at Isabella Thoburn College and La Martiniere College. In the next leg in Rajasthan, they shot in the sand dunes of Khimsar, at Mehrangarh Fort and other parts of Jodhpur. Barring Mumbai, the director shot mostly in real locations,” says a source.

The post-production of Raid 2, which sees Devgn reprise his role of senior income tax officer Amay Patnaik, is underway. This time, the director has apparently turned to a real-life raid case in Uttar Pradesh for inspiration.

“The story has its roots in a case that saw a UP politician-businessman being accused of tax evasion of over Rs. 100 crore,” adds the source.

Producers Kumar Mangat, Abhishek Pathak and Bhushan Kumar are planning a November 15 release.

Imagine The Crown in an Indian setting. That would be a fascinating world. Soon, Zeenat Aman, Bhumi Pednekar and Ishaan Khatter will take us into that universe with Royals. While talk about Pednekar making her web series debut with the show hit headlines earlier this year, little was known about it. Now, mid-day has learnt that producers Rangita and Ishita Pritish Nandy wrapped up the series’ first schedule in Rajasthan in March-end and are currently shooting in Mumbai.

So, does Royals trace a particular aristocratic family? Not really. Sources tell us that the Netflix offering is a blend of fiction and facts, with some parts inspired by the different royal families of Rajasthan. Pednekar, who leads the series, apparently plays a big-league entrepreneur.

A source reveals, “The desert state has seen generations of royal families, from Jaipur to Mewar and Alsisar. Bits and pieces have been taken from the lives of these families, marrying it with a generous dose of fiction. The show will travel back and forth between two eras—the present day and the past decades. Like The Crown, it is being made on a grand scale, depicting lavish palaces, extravagant parties, and polo matches. At its core, Royals is a romantic comedy that will delve into the style, politics and fabulous lives of the aristocrats. Four More Shots Please’s success showed that the producers have a finger on the audience’s pulse, and this time, they are putting out a stylish and emotional drama.”

Pednekar, Khatter, Sakshi Tanwar, Chunky Panday and Milind Soman were a part of the first schedule that kicked off on February 10 in Rajasthan.

The source adds, “The unit shot at real locations like the City Palace and the Rambagh Palace. Simultaneously, the production design team was building huge sets reflecting the interiors of a palace, at a studio in central Mumbai. As soon as that schedule was wrapped up, the cast and crew kicked off the month-long stint in Mumbai. They will have a short schedule in Goa before wrapping up.” 

Apparently, Rangita has chosen Four More Shots Please director Nupur Asthana, and The Night Manager’s Priyanka Ghose to helm the offering.

GADAR 2 is now the top grossing film in Rajasthan and it is still going strong. There are no words to describe the business in the desert state as its all just record after record be it an A centre like Jaipur or small centres like Nagaur or Bhiwadi.

GADAR 2 took just 10 days to cover the business of the likes of PATHAAN and KGF - CHAPTER 2 even though the latter had opened higher due to it being a solo release. The iconic cinema Raj Mandir in Jaipur has probably never seen so many full houses in the first 17 days in recent times. In a B centre like Sikar, GADAR 2 had collected almost 50 lakhs in two weeks while OMG 2 was just about 4 lakhs and this is multiplex business. The crowds were such that the main multiplex could hardly give OMG 2 shows. This is the power of Hindi mass cinema and the potential to grow is huge if the content allows.

The film is still going strong and should reach the 35 crore nett mark and probably more. It is not just Rajasthan but other circuits have seen records also or eventually will see records with Delhi/UP also locked for the highest collection ever.

Below are the top ten nett grossers of all time in Rajasthan.

2. Baahubali 2: The Conclusion - 29,91,00,000

3. KGF - Chapter 2 - 25,04,50,000

4. Pathaan - 24,99,50,000

5. Dangal - 20,32,50,000

6. Tiger Zinda Hai - 19,77,00,000

7. Sultan - 18,99,50,000

8. PK - 18,70,00,000

9. Bajrangi Bhaijaan - 18,41,50,000

10.  Sanju - 17,64,00,000

In May, mid-day had reported that Shahid Kapoor and Anees Bazmee were set to collaborate on an action comedy (Main aaoonga UP, Bihar lootne, May 2). There has been brisk progress on the project since. While Rashmika Mandanna has been roped in as the leading lady, the makers have done a recce for the film, which is backed by Varisu producer Dil Raju. Now, it is learnt that Kapoor and Mandanna will kick off the shoot in the first week of August at a Mumbai studio.

In May, mid-day had reported that Shahid Kapoor and Anees Bazmee were set to collaborate on an action comedy (Main aaoonga UP, Bihar lootne, May 2). There has been brisk progress on the project since. While Rashmika Mandanna has been roped in as the leading lady, the makers have done a recce for the film, which is backed by Varisu producer Dil Raju. Now, it is learnt that Kapoor and Mandanna will kick off the shoot in the first week of August at a Mumbai studio. 

The three-week Mumbai stint will be followed by a 15-day break, after which the team will head to Rajasthan for an extensive schedule.

“Anees wants to do a start-to-finish schedule in the state from mid-September and complete a chunk of the film by October. Then comes the movie’s most crucial schedule in Mumbai, which will involve a lot of action. If things go as planned, the project will be wrapped up by the year-end.”

Bazmee remained unavailable for comment.

Actor Parineeti Chopra and politician Raghav Chadha are likely to wed in Rajasthan. The couple has started looking at venues in the state for their wedding, tentatively scheduled between September and November.

On Saturday, Parineeti looked at luxe heritage hotels in Udaipur, say sources. She took a boat ride on Lake Pichola to soak in the evening vibe of the city and even met Shikha Saxena, deputy director, Regional Tourism Office, Udaipur.

Saxena tells us, “She loved the traditional welcome at heritage hotels, with rose petals and music. It gave her a feel of how the guests will be welcomed. I suggested November, she seemed open to the idea.”

On Sunday, the couple reportedly looked at venues in Kishangarh. They also plan to explore Jaipur.

The Bandra police, while investigating a death threat to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, ended up at a jagrata in Rajasthan from where they picked up the sender last week. Dhakadram Siyag, a 21-year-old waiter, told the cops he emailed the threat letter just for fame and that he has no links with the Bishnoi gang.

Siyag had sent the email to Salman Khan Films, the actor’s production house, on March 23, posing as a member of the Bishnoi gang. The gang of Lawrence Bishnoi has been found to be behind several threats to the actor.

“Agla number tera hai tu tayyaar reh, tera haal bhi Siddhu Moose Wala jaisa hoga, tu kabhi Jodhpur aake dikha, Bishnoi gang dekhlegi tujhe... Agla number 13 hai tu Jodhpur aa,” the email reads.

After receiving a complaint, the Bandra police traced the sender and reached Rohicha Kallan village in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, on Saturday.

Because of Chaitra Navratri, villagers had gathered for a Jagrata and Siyag was one of the attendees. A police officer said, “It was difficult to arrest Siyag amid the festivity, as it would have resulted in a law and order problem. So, the cops waited the entire night and apprehended him only at 4 am on Sunday (March 26).”

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 9) Anil Paraskar said, “We informed the local Luni police station and with a joint effort, we detained Siyag early morning after the jagrata was over.”

During the probe, police also found out that he tried to search on the web for Khan’s email ID, and even followed Instagram pages in the name of the actor.

Siyag, who lives in the village with his parents and a sister, worked as a waiter in a restaurant. He was arrested twice in the past few years, once in 2021 for keeping a desi katta (gun) and another time for sending a threat email to the father of famous Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Police believe Siyag is not connected to the Bishnoi gang, but are conducting further investigation to ascertain his claim.

A court has remanded him in police custody until April 3.

Police said they have sent another team to Rajasthan to detain a suspect who had previously sent a threat email to the actor.

The much-anticipated Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani wedding at a fort hotel in Jaisalmer brought back the spotlight (yet again) on Rajasthan and showed us how the land of maharajas continues to be the favourite wedding destination for celebrity couples. From Elizabeth Hurley-Arun Nayyar and Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas to Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif, over the years there have been many celebrity couples who chose to exchange their vows in Rajasthan’s regal surroundings. Wedding planners say that ample options of forts, palaces and heritage properties and the privacy they offer are some of the reasons why most celebrities opt for Rajasthan to say ‘I do’.

While it is true that picture-perfect locations, popular heritage properties and the charm of royal weddings attract celeb couples to the desert state when it comes to tying the knot, complete privacy from paps and curious onlookers is another reason why celebs prefer Rajasthan as a wedding destination.

“I think after Priyanka Chopra-Nick Jonas and Vicky Kaushal-Katrina Kaif’s weddings, most celebs are sure that it is very difficult to breach the privacy and security at heritage properties in Rajasthan. Also, these properties are usually located at remote locations, away from the main cities, which also helps high-profile couples keep their big day a private affair. We have been in talks with a celebrity couple who is planning to get married by the end of this year, and they want the wedding at a palace in Rajasthan, which can be fully booked and blocked for outsiders for four days of wedding festivities,” says a Mumbai-based wedding planner, who organised a celeb wedding in Udaipur last year.

“Privacy and security are of high importance when planning a celebrity wedding. Also, the quality of services, hospitality and crisis management at the event is to be minutely monitored. The other reasons why Rajasthan is the most preferred wedding destination are its royal charm, rustic beauty and authentic venue options, like the spectacular forts and palaces,” says Rajat Gera, Director of Sales & Marketing of the heritage hotel that hosted Vicky-Katrina’s wedding.

In the popularity chart, Udaipur and Jodhpur are rated higher than Jaipur, and wedding planners say that this is because of the availability of better heritage, luxury properties. “Also, Jaipur is mostly overbooked in the wedding season, and celebs look for an exclusive venue that is far away from the city centre. After Sid-Kiara’s wedding, queries for Jaisalmer have increased,” says Minnat Lalpuria, founder and CEO of a company that helps clients with luxury wedding destinations.

Anchor and event organiser Nitin Arora says, “Jaisalmer is becoming popular for celeb weddings, and thanks to Sid-Kiara’s shaadi, people have started looking for offbeat havelis and luxury palaces on the outskirts of Jaisalmer,” says Arora.

Apart from Bollywood couples, there are many other celebs who had their wedding in Rajasthan – including Isha Ambani’s wedding in Udaipur. Wedding planners say that connectivity of major cities in Rajasthan with other metros is one reason why it is easier to plan a high-profile wedding there. 

“Anyone who is having guests from overseas, would want to have a palace or fort wedding in Rajasthan. Popular locations like Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Jaipur have good flight connectivity,” says Arora.

Actor Hansika Motwani, 30, is all set to get married to Mumbai-based businessman Sohael Khaturiya in December, and celebrations will begin next week.

While the couple plans to tie the knot in Jaipur on December 4, a source says the pre-wedding festivities will kick-start in Mumbai.

“The actor is planning a close-knit Mata Ki Chowki to start the wedding celebrations. While the wedding is in Jaipur, Hansika wanted to start the journey of getting married in Mumbai itself. That is why she is starting on a devotional note, by organising a Mata Ki Chowki in Mumbai next week,” says the insider.

The source also reveals that the function will be organised by Motwani’s family, after which the attention will shift to Jaipur, for the rest of the functions. While a Sufi night has been planned on December 2, the mehendi and sangeet ceremonies will be held on December 3. The haldi ceremony will take place on the morning of December 4 and on the same evening, the couple will tie the knot at the 450-year-old Mundota Fort.

The source says the wedding will be a close-knit affair, but some of the actor’s close friends from the industry have been invited. Invites crafted in silver, with a touch of Rajasthani culture, have been sent out, along with handmade chocolates and other “shagun ka samaan”. “Hansika has personally worked on the guest list and is taking a lot of interest in planning the whole wedding. It is a special phase of her life,” adds the source.

He enjoys watching mindless comedies sometimes, but making one is not his cup of tea. Instead, Neeraj Pandey likes to tell gripping thrillers when he goes behind the camera. After Special Ops 1.5: The Himmat Story (2021), the director is ready with another thriller, Khakee: The Bihar Chapter. Inspired by IPS Amit Lodha’s book Bihar Diaries: The True Story of How Bihar’s Most Dangerous Criminal Was Caught, the Netflix offering is a retelling of the conflict between the officer and Samant Pratap, one of Bihar’s most feared ganglords.

Ahead of the show’s release, creator Pandey discusses finding an unexpected hero in Lodha, and how he went beyond the book.

Edited excerpts from the interview.

The journey started with my meeting with Amit [Lodha]. He is an ex-IITian, who chose to become an IPS officer. That acted like a magnet because I had never heard of anything like that. Thereon, [my attraction to the subject] kept on building because he is from Rajasthan, and then was posted in Patna — [he was] like a fish out of water. It made for a great story.

The spirit of the story is sacrosanct. We all take creative liberties [as] the story has to entertain the audience. So, you compress time and space to make it more dynamic, and in the process, some bits are left out, or you choose another route to tell what has happened. We have taken such liberties, but nothing that tinkers with the spirit of the story.

We definitely went beyond the book because Amit could write only so much about the particular case. Bhav [Dhulia, director], and Uma [Umashankar Singh, writer] and I spent a lot of time with Amit trying to get a sense of whatever we missed out on. We came across tons of material, and used it in our narrative. [We skipped] certain characters that didn’t align with our approach to this story. We also added several things that were not mentioned in the book. Amit felt they were not necessary for the book, but we felt it was important for the [visual] medium.

I started work on it in 2017. The pandemic set us back. After the first lockdown, our crew of 180 to 200 people shot in the hinterlands of Jharkhand. It had no basic infrastructure. We had equipment coming from Delhi, Kolkata, and Mumbai, and actors flying in and out. It was a long schedule, moving from one village to the other, but we finished it in one go.

I trust my instinct and take the plunge. Sometimes, you spend a lot of time on [a subject], and then realise that it’s not working. It takes more courage to pull the plug at that point. I have pulled the plug on a lot of projects. Even if the project has not worked out, the journey has taught me more. As for the pressure [of delivering successful shows], I feel blessed and privileged to have an audience waiting in anticipation of my work. I would rather be in this position, than anywhere else.

I have been proud of his work on Special Ops. When it came to this show’s casting, we unanimously thought of casting him again because he fits the bill. Amit is exactly like him. He is an unassuming person who doesn’t look like a cop at all. If he walked into this room, you’d think he is a Netflix executive. That is what we were seeking with Karan.