Will Katrina Kaif return to the big screen with Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s ‘Spirit’? Well, the industry chatter is that the actor has been approached for a cameo in the Prabhas and Triptii Dimri-starrer. However, contrary to reports suggesting that the deal is finalized, mid-day has learnt that Kaif is keen on setting a few ground rules before saying yes.

A source indicated that the conversation between Kaif and Vanga is at an early stage. “The cameo comes at an important point in the film. She was offered the role a week ago and has not given her final answer yet,” said the source.

The role will require approximately five days of shooting. Yet, the sticking point appears to be the filmmaker’s demanding work schedule.

The source added, “As a new mother, one of her concerns is the long shifts Vanga is known for. Since it’s only a five-day commitment, there have been discussions around making the schedule more flexible, including comfortable work hours. However, nothing has been finalized.”

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

Vidya Balan-starrer Kahaani may have a new leading lady. Filmmaker Sujoy Ghosh is returning for a third instalment in the franchise, with actor Yami Gautam Dhar set to headline the film, reported Pinkvilla.

“Kahaani 3 is a new story altogether... Yami’s character has a very strong arc. The film is still in the pre-production stage, and the team is working on the timelines for the shoot,” a source told the outlet.

The source added that Ghosh “has a very clear vision for the Kahaani world. He is working closely with the team to ensure that the third film feels fresh but still carries the soul of the franchise.”

We reached out for a comment to both actors, but they remained unavailable till the time of going to press. As of now, it is unclear whether any actors from the earlier films will appear in the new project. The franchise includes Kahaani (2012) and Kahaani 2: Durga Rani Singh (2016), both starring Balan in different roles.

In October, mid-day had reported that Ranbir Kapoor is planning to revive the legacy studio, RK Films, which was founded by late filmmaker and his grandfather Raj Kapoor (Jeena yahan, marna yahan, Oct 31). Now, the chatter is that Ranbir has zeroed in on the first film under the banner. Rumours suggest that the actor will reunite with Deepika Padukone for a contemporary reimagining of ‘Chori Chori’ (1956).

Revisiting ‘Chori Chori’, one of the many iconic movies fronted by the legendary actor and filmmaker, would serve as the perfect way to restart the journey of RK Films.

An industry insider says, “There is a lot of excitement in Ranbir’s camp. He wants the RK Films’ comeback movie to feel like something his grandfather would have made, only told in today’s language.”

Ranbir has apparently given the directorial reins to his close friend Ayan Mukerji. The insider adds, “Ayan has been developing the script for months. He doesn’t want to rush it since it’s a prestige project.” 

Murmurs suggest that the love story will be mounted on a big canvas, with a chunk shot in international locations. “It’s possible that the announcement regarding the studio’s revival will be made as early as December 14, which is Raj saab’s birthday. The movie, however, has yet to take concrete shape,” adds the source.

While he is still revelling in the success of his latest release Sitaare Zameen Par, Aamir Khan is already on to his next project. The actor-producer is reportedly planning to make a film on the infamous Meghalaya murder case that shook the nation. “Aamir is closely following the updates and has tracked and discussed the Meghalaya murder case with his close circle,” a source told Zoom, adding, “There might soon be a development on the subject from his production too.”

The project will revolve around the gruesome murder that took place in May, when Raja Raghuwanshi from Indore (Madhya Pradesh) went for honeymoon with his wife, Sonam, to Shillong and went missing. His decomposed body was later found in a gorge, after which Sonam surrendered to the police. The film is reportedly in the early stage of production. It is unclear if Aamir, 60, will also act in the film besides producing it.

We reached out to Aamir for a confirmation, but there was no response till the time of going to press.

(From left) Ranveer Singh; Manushi Chhillar. Pics/Yogen Shah, Instagram

It’s definitely more the merrier when it comes to the horror comedy universe. After Rajkummar Rao led the on-screen world’s inception with Stree (2018), he has been joined by Bhediya’s (2022) Varun Dhawan, Munjya’s (2024) Abhay Verma, and Thama’s Ayushmann Khurrana. Who’s next? Ranveer Singh, we’ve heard.

Sources have told us that the superstar is in advanced talks with producer Dinesh Vijan to front a new instalment. A source close to the development revealed, “Ranveer has been in conversations with Dinesh for a while. He was at the Maddock office last week. The makers wanted a fresh energy to drive the next chapter, and Ranveer is keen to explore the genre. The paperwork is likely to be completed soon.”

It’s apparently being developed as a crossover that merges characters and storylines from Stree, Bhediya, and Thama. “The idea is to create an Avengers-style culmination down the road. They are talking dates as Ranveer will wrap up Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar soon. He has allotted some dates to Don 3 as well. This project is expected to roll in early 2026,” the source added.

The buzz is that Manushi Chhillar is the top choice for the female lead.

Bad Newwz actor-singer Ammy Virk is being considered by the makers of Border 2 as a possible replacement for Diljit Dosanjh. This development comes after the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) publicly appealed to the producers to drop Diljit from the film.

FWICE raised objections over Diljit’s involvement in Sardaar Ji 3 opposite Pakistani actress Hania Aamir, calling it “unacceptable” in light of current India-Pakistan relations. The organization urged the makers of Border 2—a patriotic war film—to replace the actor.

For the unversed, Diljit started filming the war film last week in Pune with the other cast members Sunny Deol and Ahan Shetty.

A source close to the production shares, "Diljit only shot for 3-4 scenes. Makers were contemplating replacing the actor, as right now they can easily reshoot those scenes. The makers are directly handling this matter and Ammy's name cropped in the discussion."

With the controversy intensifying, sources say Ammy Virk has emerged as a frontrunner.

Despite repeated attempts Nidhi Dutta, the producer of the movie didn't respond to our queries till the time we went to the press. Ammy and Diljit's representatives also chose to not comment.

Diljit Dosanjh landed himself in serious trouble with the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) as his upcoming Punjabi film Sardaar Ji 3 features Pakistani actress Hania Aamir. FWICE wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and key union ministers, demanding strict action — including revocation of passports and even cancellation of Indian citizenship of Diljit and the film’s team.

In a strongly worded letter, FWICE President Birendra Nath Tiwari, urged the Prime Minister of India, the Home Minister, the Minister of External Affairs, and the Minister of Information & Broadcasting to take strict and immediate action against the key people involved in the film. The letter read, "Diljit Dosanjh, Gunbir Singh Sidhu, Manmord Sidhu and Director Amar Hundal, the public personalities enjoying the privileges of Indian citizenship, have committed an unpardonable act by hiring Pakistani actress Ms. Hania Aamir in their upcoming film 'Sardaar Ji 3'. This decision is not a mere creative choice -- it is a wilful affront to the sovereignty, dignity, and security of India. Their actions clearly reveal where their loyalties lie — not with India, not with Indian cinema, and certainly not with the people of this country.”

Is it happening? Is it not? For over a year, Saif Ali Khan has been in talks with filmmaker Priyadarshan to adapt the Malayalam movie, Oppam (2016), for the Hindi audience. Now, the actor’s plan has finally materialised. Last week, the makers issued a public notice in a film trade magazine, announcing that they have acquired the adaptation rights of the Mohanlal-starrer that was helmed by Priyadarshan. With this, the actor-director duo has set the stage for their remake, which, mid-day has learnt, will go on floors by the year-end.

So, what exactly is the Malayalam action thriller all about? Produced by Antony Perumbavoor, it tells the story of Mohanlal’s Jayaraman, who is visually challenged, but has a heightened sense of smell, hearing, and touch. When a retired judge is murdered by a man he had wrongly put behind bars, Jayaraman takes it upon himself to protect the judge’s daughter. An insider shares that Khan was in talks with Priyadarshan and Oppam’s producers since 2023.

“In the months that followed, Saif began shooting for Jewel Thief: The Heist Begins, and Priyadarshan got busy with his movies. Now, the actor has not only acquired the rights, but also chalked out the shoot dates. The director has started working on the script. The shoot will begin by 2025-end after Saif completes director Rahul Dholakia’s next, and Priyadarshan wraps up Bhooth Bangla with Akshay Kumar and Tabu,” reveals the insider.

Joining Khan in the remake as the antagonist would be Bobby Deol, who is enjoying a successful second innings in Bollywood. Interestingly, Samuthirakani, who portrayed the villain in the original, is also expected to play a pivotal role.

But before the cast faces the camera, Khan will dive into intense prep. A key part of the prep would be picking up Kalaripayattu.

The source adds, “Saif will take a two-month break after Rahul’s movie, during which he will undergo workshops on playing a blind character. After that, he will head out to Kerala to train in Kalaripayattu, as his character is shown as a skilled martial artist. Saif and Bobby will also sport distinct looks in the movie.”

Shah Rukh Khan may add another name to the list of south Indian filmmakers with whom he has found favour. After successful collaborations with Mani Ratnam and Atlee, the badshah of Bollywood is said to be in discussion with Sukumar, the man behind the successful Pushpa franchise.

Rumours had previously suggested that the duo would join hands for a dark, intense, psychological thriller, but fresh buzz hints at something entirely different.

“King Khan will play an anti-hero, but this will be a rural political action drama that promises to show him in a raw, rustic, and desi avatar that blends his mass appeal with his global superstar image. It will also explore social issues like caste and class oppression,” a source tells mid-day.

However, eager fans may need to brace for a long lull before the film materializes, as both Khan and Sukumar are occupied with a slate of projects.

“While Sukumar has RC 17 with Ram Charan, Pushpa 3: The Rampage, and another romantic drama with Ram in the pipeline, SRK has King, and Pathaan 2 in his kitty. SRK has reportedly told filmmakers eager to work with him that they’ll have to wait for two years before he can consider their projects. King kicks off in May in a start-to-finish schedule.”

Even though rumours suggest that Allu Arjun will replace Salman Khan in Jawan (2023) director Atlee’s next, the filmmaker, we hear, isn’t willing to miss an opportunity to join hands with Bollywood’s bhai. Atlee will reportedly approach Khan to play the parallel lead with Arjun in the mass action entertainer. Interestingly, Salman will be seen as the hero, and Arjun, as the anti-hero.

We didn’t see this coming! The latest development in actors Vijay Varma and Tamannaah Bhatia’s relationship is surely going to leave their fans heartbroken. As per reports, the couple has decided to end their relationship and move forward as just friends.

While they are yet to comment on the rumoured split, a source confirms that the news is indeed true.

Until recently, the rumour mill had been hinting at a possible wedding, which makes news of their breakup even more shocking.

Another source had earlier told us that the former couple had been scouting for hotels for a destination wedding, but that’s no longer the case.

Vijay and Tamannaah started dating in 2023 and quickly became pap and fan favourites. They came close during the shoot of their episode of web show Lust Stories 2, and fans hailed their chemistry when they finally confirmed their relationship. “Our relationship began after Lust Stories. First, we met as co-actors, very professional, then I asked her out,” Vijay had told Mashable India in June 2023.

Over the past few days, our news feeds have been flooded with videos of Indians, in handcuffs, being deported from the US, as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. With the episode putting the spotlight on illegal immigration, it is being heard that Dunki (2023), which explored the theme, might return to theatres.

Sources reveal that discussions about a re-release are underway at Red Chillies Entertainment, which backed the Shah Rukh Khan and Taapsee Pannu-starrer. “The situation with Indian immigrants being deported in terrible conditions has reignited conversations around the themes of Dunki. Like every Rajkumar Hirani film, it was always meant to be more than just a big-ticket release; it highlighted a real struggle. Given what’s happening now, the film’s story feels urgent,” says a source. 

In Dunki, Khan played Hardy, who helps his Punjab-based friends as they take the illegal donkey route and migrate to the UK in the hope of a better life. The film depicted not only the risks involved in the donkey route, but also the hardships illegal migrants face in foreign countries.

An industry insider adds, “There is interest from distributors. The makers are looking at a potential release as early as this month.”

When mid-day texted Hirani, he said, “I’m not aware of any such plans, but I’d be happy if it re-releases. Illegal immigration has been happening for years from Punjab. It’s just that the rest of the country is becoming aware now.”

We also reached out to Red Chillies Entertainment, who didn’t respond till press time. 

Over the weekend, Ajay Devgn sent the internet into a tizzy as he announced that his next directorial venture would be fronted by Akshay Kumar. This would be the two superstars’ seventh collaboration after Suhaag (1994), Khakee (2004), Insan (2005), Simmba (2018), Sooryavanshi (2021) and Singham Again. Now, it looks like the project could get more star-studded. mid-day has learnt that the film is a two-hero action comedy, and Devgn is keen to cast Vicky Kaushal as the parallel lead.

A source tells us that the superstar has been deeply impressed by Kaushal. “Ajay likes the actor’s dedicated approach to work. Since the entertainer sees the two lead characters playing off each other, Ajay felt it would be novel to team up Akshay and Vicky. Meanwhile, Akshay loved the story, as it sees him doing not only action, but also comedy—a genre he excels at,” says the source.

Things are, however, at a nascent stage, with the first draft being ready at the moment. Devgn is planning it such that the project can roll by September-October next year. After all, Kumar and his dates are blocked until then. The source adds, “Ajay is currently shooting for Son Of Sardaar 2, after which he has De De Pyaar De 2, Ranger, and Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal 4.”

Urmila Matondkar’s fans might be in for some disappointing news. The actor has apparently filed for divorce after eight years of marriage with businessman-model Mohsin Akhtar Mir. A source from a Mumbai court, on the condition of anonymity, shared that the 50-year-old actor, who got married in 2016 to the Kashmiri entrepreneur, has filed for divorce.

The source said, “After careful consideration, Urmila has decided to call it quits on her marriage with Mohsin. She has already filed for divorce in court. While the reason behind the separation is still not known, the divorce isn’t happening on mutual terms.”

Matondkar and Mir (40) got married in 2016 in an intimate ceremony at her Mumbai residence. It was a close-knit ceremony with fashion designer Manish Malhotra as one of the few in attendance from the film industry. Her nuptials came into the limelight as the two have a 10-year age gap.

The actor entered politics in 2019 as a part of the Indian National Congress and then in 2020, she joined the Shiv Sena. On screen, Matondkar was last seen in a song Bewafa Beauty in the 2018 film Blackmail. Post that, she was also seen on TV as a judge for a kids dance reality show. Mir is into Kashmiri embroidery and kaarigari and is associated with Malhotra’s fashion label.

We reached out to Matondkar, but received no response till the time of going to press.

It appears that fans will have to wait longer for the next instalment of one of Bollywood’s beloved franchises. We have learnt exclusively that Welcome To The Jungle (WTTJ), featuring Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Jacqueliene Fernandez, Paresh Rawal and others, will not meet its scheduled release date of December 20.

A source close to the project reveals, “Welcome... has been mounted on a grand scale, with the first schedule wrapping up recently in May. It was a lengthy shoot in Aarey Colony, Mumbai, with the entire star cast present. However, this was just the first of several schedules planned. Additionally, significant VFX work will be required after principal photography concludes. Given these factors, a December 20 release seems unlikely.” This delay also means it will no longer clash with Aamir Khan’s Sitaare Zameen Par, which is also eyeing a Christmas release this year.

WTTJ marks Akshay Kumar’s return to the franchise after he was absent from Welcome Back (2015). It also reunites him on-screen with Raveena Tandon after a gap of 20 years.

Rumour has it that Sonakshi Sinha is all set to marry boyfriend Zaheer Iqbal on June 23 in Mumbai. Though they haven’t spoken about their relationship, they haven’t shied away from making public appearances together and have even featured in each other’s vacation pictures. As per reports, the wedding invites, designed like a magazine cover, have been sent out.

Both Sonakshi and Zaheer were launched in Bollywood by Salman Khan. Sonakshi made her debut with Dabangg in 2010 and Zaheer’s first film was Notebook in 2019. They shared screen space in the film Double XL (2022) and later in a music video.

While Zaheer shared a bunch of pictures on Sonakshi’s birthday on social media this year, last year, he had written a lengthy post in which he addressed their linkup rumours. He wrote, “Kuch toh log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna. You can always lean on me. You are the best. Keep “Roaring” and soaring always. May you see more of the world than anyone ever has. May you always live the mermaid life. Always be HAPPY. I love you (sic).”

In a recent interview with us, after she walked the ramp at the Bombay Times Fashion Week, Sonakshi spoke about her dream bridal wear. She said, “Whenever I get married, I would like to wear a classic red lehenga.”

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Recently, Sonakshi Sinha admitted on The Great Indian Kapil Show, “mujhe kitne zor se shaadi karni hai”. The actor’s manifestation seems to have come true, as she and actor Zaheer Iqbal are set to tie the knot this month. 

A source close to the couple confirms that Sinha and Iqbal, who “have been living together for a year now”, will get married on June 23 at the Mumbai-based restaurant, Bastian. “It’s going to be an intimate affair. Many of Sonakshi’s industry friends will also be a part of the special day too,” the insider says, while another elaborates, “There will be a celebration on June 22 at their family home in Juhu, for which only close friends and family are invited. The wedding will take place in the morning of June 23, while reception will be held in the evening.” 

The couple worked together in Double XL (2022) and met through actor Salman Khan, who gave both of them a break in Bollywood. One of the sources tells us that “the wedding planning had been on for a while”, adding, “The couple was waiting for the elections to get over as Sonakshi’s father (actor-MP) Shatrughan Sinha was busy contesting from Asansol, West Bengal for TMC party. He won, and now the wedding will be like a double celebration.”

Sonakshi Sinha’s words on The Great Indian Kapil Show, “mujhe kitne zor se shaadi karni hai” seem to have come true, as she and actor Zaheer Iqbal are set to tie the knot this month. 

According to reports, the couple’s wedding invite has been designed like a magazine cover that says “The rumours are true”.

With inputs by Akash Bhatnagar and Yashika Mathur

In the past few days, there has been a lot of chatter around trouble in cricketer Hardik Pandya and model-actress Natasa Stankovic’s marriage. Rumours of an alleged split started doing the rounds after netizens noticed that Natasa had dropped the name Pandya from her Instagram handle. It was observed that she even deleted a few pictures with Hardik and mostly retained the ones with their son Agastya in the frame.

This stirred up a storm and gave rise to a few conspiracy theories, too. Some trolled Natasha and labelled her an opportunist, while others wondered if this was a PR campaign to generate sympathy for Hardik. The cricketer’s re-entry into the Mumbai Indians squad as the skipper, replacing Rohit Sharma, got him a lot of criticism in the recently concluded IPL.

Hardik and Natasa have been tight-lipped about the rumours around their marriage. However, a source told BT, “Tension has been brewing in their marriage for the past six months. The couple is likely to head for a separation. However, the stories around the alimony percentage are speculative and exaggerated. Also, news about this being a PR campaign is untrue.” 

We reached out to both Hardik and Natasa, but they did not respond till the time of going to press.

Hardik and Natasa first met in 2018, got engaged on January 1, 2020, in Dubai, and later got married in an intimate wedding at their home during the lockdown. In July of that year, they welcomed their son Agastya. In 2023, the couple renewed their wedding vows with a gala celebration in Udaipur.

The announcement of Ahmed Khan’s Welcome To The Jungle came as a surprise to fans who were looking forward to a reunion of the ’90s stars in the comic offering. With names of actors including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Sanjay Dutt and Raveena Tandon being thrown into the mix, there was enough reason for cine-goers to train their attention to this offering. However, recent news of Dutt’s departure from the venture has paled the fever. 

Sources say that while the news of Dutt’s exit is recent, the actor had merely shot for a day before concluding that the project wasn’t for him. “He did not shoot for 15 days, as is being speculated. He left the film over two months ago, and only shot for a day during the initial leg of the shoot. The rest of the schedule was canned without him,” says the source. 

Sources close to the actor cite health-related issues as the reason for his exit, but an insider says Dutt was dissuaded by the chaos on the set. “It was expected to be tough to manage multiple actors on a set, especially in the absence of a proper script. The chaos on the set was too much for Sanjay to deal with, which is why he decided to bow out without wasting the time of the director and the production,” says a source.

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.

Actor Ranveer Singh seems to be in the busiest phase of his career. After Rohit Shetty’s Singham Again and Farhan Akhtar’s Don 3 in the pipeline, the actor is all set to collaborate with HanuMan director Prasanth Varma for his next.

A source from Varma’s team exclusively told us that Singh is “interested” in working with the filmmaker but is yet to sign on the dotted line. “Yes, it’s true that Prasanth approached Ranveer for a film in his cinematic universe. It will be his next project after Hanuman. Ranveer is interested and it is almost confirmed but nothing has been finalized yet. An official announcement will be made once it is finalized,” the insider revealed.

Hanuman, which marks the beginning of the Prasanth Varma Cinematic Universe (PVCU), was released earlier this year. Shortly after, Varma announced the second instalment — Jai Hanuman — on the occasion of the Pran Prathistha of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Varma had taken to X to share the news. “With gratitude for the immense love and support showered upon #HanuMan from audiences across the globe, I stand at the threshold of a new journey by making a promise to myself! #JaiHanuman Pre-Production Begins on the auspicious day of Ram Mandir Pran Prathistha,” he wrote. Whether Singh will be part of Jai Hanuman is not yet confirmed.

Set in the fictional village of Anjanadri, HanuMan featured actors Teja Sajja, Amritha Aiyer, Varalaxmi Sarathkumar and Vinay Rai in the lead roles. The film earned over Rs. 100 crore at the worldwide box office.

Shruti Haasan’s personal life has come under the radar as the actor-singer and her boyfriend, doodle artist and illustrator Santanu Hazarika, have unfollowed each other on Instagram, sparking break-up rumours.

Confirming the news, a source tells us, “They broke up last month. Since there were personal wavelength issues, they decided to part ways amicably.”

When we reached out to Haasan, she refused to comment and requested for privacy.

Haasan has deleted all the photos with her now ex-boyfriend from her Instagram. She also took a break from social media recently and marked her return with a cryptic post that read: “It’s been a crazy ride, learning so much about myself and about people. We should never be sorry for all the things we can be or need to be (sic).”