The uncertainty around ‘Maatrubhumi’ is beginning to frustrate exhibitors across Mumbai. According to trade insiders, the Salman Khan-starrer was expected to capitalize on the Eid holiday corridor before delays pushed its release further down the calendar.

“Everybody internally assumed Eid was the target,” says a source familiar with the discussions. “But once the film missed the window, people realized the timeline may not be straightforward anymore, given the lack of clearances.”

At Mumbai’s iconic Gaiety Galaxy, the absence has been particularly noticeable. Khan’s Eid releases have historically transformed the theatre into a carnival, with fans thronging early morning shows. “There’s a certain fanfare that only a Salman opening brings,” an insider adds.

Ironically, the immediate excitement for fans now comes from Khan’s cameo in ‘7 Dogs’. The film is set to release across Middle Eastern territories, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, on May 27, while Indian distribution talks continue. mid-day had earlier reported on Khan joining the project during a shoot in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla. (Arabian tales for Salman- Feb 20).

“People are desperate to see Salman on the big screen again, so there is genuine interest, but it might not release on Eid,” says an insider. “Early reports suggest Salman has a 21-minute role and big action sequences.”

‘7 Dogs’, directed by Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, stars Egyptian actors Karim Abdel Aziz and Ahmed Ezz alongside Monica Bellucci. Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt appear in extended special appearances.

Riteish Deshmukh is a relieved man, physically, mentally and emotionally. His latest labour of love, Raja Shivaji, has worked at the box office, especially in Maharashtra. His craft as a director, apart from acting, too has found praise. Speaking on The Right Angle show, he spills the beans on everything, from the obsession with numbers to politics and the paparazzi:

About the figures floating around regarding Raja Shivaji’s budget, only the producers know the real budget. The last thing we need to do as filmmakers is discuss a film’s budget because it doesn’t affect anything. Budget se kya lena dena hai? If someone asks me the budget, I ask them, ‘How much are you paying for a ticket to watch it?’ They say ‘Rs. 100’ or ‘Rs. 250-300’, and I reply that’s the budget, it should just be worth your time. One should stop talking about it. Let it be magical, you just go and experience the film. When I would go to watch Amitabh Bachchan ji’s films like Sholay in my childhood, I would never think, ‘Iska budget kya hai?’ I just wanted the big-screen entertainment. We would never know how much it collected. Unfortunately, that’s the game today. People wonder how much actors charge for films… it’s our mistake, we feed these numbers. Those who feel this is right, it’s okay. We have made seven Marathi films under our production house, and we have never revealed our films’ budgets. It isn’t anyone’s business.

You have so much work at hand that you don’t really get the time to be nervous. I can be nervous about a film where someone else is doing all this work. But when you are the one making it and ensuring that the film reaches people on time, so much time goes into it… you can’t even think about what people will say about it.

Genelia (Deshmukh, wife-actor) and I are a team, of course, but most of the heavy lifting was done by Genelia. This is a production-heavy film. The heavy lifting was not on my shoulders, so it became easier. As for the subject, you can make a film on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj from any angle, you just have to decide the narrative. We understand the connection he has with people. The biggest pressure, hence, is how do you write the right things when making a film on him? I would ask all such questions to myself. The prep as an actor for such a role was as long as the prep for being a director on it.

Last week, Sanjay Dutt announced that Subhash Ghai’s 1993 cult classic Khalnayak is getting a sequel, Khalnayak Returns, adding that he will produce the film and reprise his role from the original. While it has not yet been confirmed who will helm the project, Ghai, the director of the original, will serve as a mentor.

Speaking to us, the filmmaker said, “Sanju was passionate about making this sequel for years. Even during his time in jail, he had written to me saying, ‘Uncle, I want to make this film’. So, I sent him the concept and story. If you ask me, no one can make this film the way I did. However, I don’t want to remake my own film; besides, I am 80 now. I told Sanju, ‘If you are so keen, why don’t you produce it yourself, and I can be your creative producer’. I am sure he will find the right director for the film and announce it soon.”

Khalnayak was headlined by Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit and Jackie Shroff. The sequel will pick up directly from the events of the first film, beginning after Ballu Balram (Dutt) completes his sentence and is released from prison. Apart from Dutt, who will reprise his role, the rest of the cast is yet to be finalised. There has also been speculation about Tamannaah Bhatia recreating Choli Ke Peeche, but Ghai has dismissed these reports. A source close to Dutt also clarified that the claims were untrue.

Ghai confirmed that the sequel will feature his trademark cameo. “Sanju is like my son, so I will do it for him. I also did one for Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. I cherish the relationships I have built in the industry over the years. There are distributors who stood by me even when some of my films didn’t work. Other than Rishi Kapoor and Dilip Kumar, who were established names when I worked with them in Karz (1980) and Vidhaata (1982), I never worked with stars. I looked for newer talent who fit the parts, and they went on to become huge stars,” he added.

Sharing how Dutt and he go back a long way, Ghai added on an emotional note, “When I first met Sanju, he was barely 20. He was flamboyant and not particularly interested in becoming a star. He had the face, body and aura of a star, so I knew he would be a hero, but I never thought he could put in the hard work required to be an actor. When I cast him opposite Dilip Kumar in Vidhaata, which was his second film after Rocky (1981), I even told his father, Dutt sahab (Sunil Dutt), that Sanju has it in him, but usko acting mein thoda interest lena hoga. Dutt sahab always told me that Sanju mein ek bachpana hai, which I believe abhi bhi hai. But he is one of the most genuine people you will meet. There is no façade. Years later, when I saw him in films like Saajan and Sadak (both in 1991), I realized he had changed. I saw him taking acting seriously, and that’s when I cast him in Khalnayak. What he brought to the negative character was remarkable – the body language, the gaze. He worked extra hours to get things right. He doesn’t talk about his craft, but he is a solid actor.”

Ghai also attributed the making of the sequel to Dutt’s wife, Maanayata. He said, “She is the anchor in Sanju’s life and was keen that he make a sequel.”

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai, 80, has announced that Taal 2, a sequel to thew 1999 cult classic featuring Akshaye Khanna, Aishwraya Rai Bachchan and Anil Kapoor is on cards. “Uska poora script hum almost complete kar chuke hain aur abhi hum soch rahe hain yeh sahi samay hai, maybe we should make it,” he tells us.

Talking about the lasting appeal of Taal, he adds, “Uss film ki jo energy hai… aaj ke Gen-Z bhi mujhe bol rahe hain Taal banaiye.” Still, he remains cautious: “The easier the subject seems, the more difficult it is.”

Ghai also underlines that casting will be crucial, noting, “In order to make it, purity is very important,” recalling how Aishwarya and Akshaye brought freshness to the original.

At the same time, another Ghai classic is being revived with a darker twist, a sequel to Khal Nayak (1993). Titled Khalnayak Returns, actor Sanjay Dutt, 66, unveiled the film’s first look on Friday and wrote on Instagram: “Kuch kahaani khatam nahin hoti… woh dobara shuru hoti hai.”

The sequel marks a significant shift, with Ghai giving Dutt the rights to take the story forward. The actor, who has long been attached to the film, has shared that the idea of revisiting Khal Nayak first came during his time in jail, in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Reflecting on that phase, Sanjay said, “In jail, nearly 4,000 inmates said they’d watch a sequel.” He even had them write ideas: “Each gave a one-page story… it took time to read all.” Later on parole, he showed them to Ghai, who said, “It should be made.”

Asha Bhosle offers her blessings to then up and coming cricketer Mali Richards, the son of West Indies cricketing great Sir Viv Richards, at the CCI in 2005. PIC/Santosh Harhare, mid-day archives

With Dhurandhar The Revenge smashing box office records, following closely after its predecessor Dhurandhar (2025), the films have earned praise for their ensemble cast. Behind this casting is Mukesh Chhabra. The casting director of Aditya Dhar’s magnum opus gets talking on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra. Excerpts:

Initially, only Ranveer Singh was on board. From there, the cast grew, starting with Akshaye Khanna as Rahman Dakait, followed by Arjun Rampal and R Madhavan. It’s very difficult to get a big star cast to do an ensemble film today. Sanjay Dutt bhai came on board almost immediately, and so did Madhavan. And that was, honestly, my favourite moment: on the first day, within just two hours, we had locked that casting. Altogether, the casting process for both films took nearly a year and a half.

New Delhi: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to ministry of information & broadcasting, Censor Board and IT ministry over a song from “KD - The Devil”.

NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the commission has asked that the allegedly obscene lyrics should be removed and questioned how the Censor Board allowed its release. If there are any officials of Censor Board involved in this, then action should be taken against them too, he told news agency ANI.

The film features actors Nora Fatehi and Sanjay Dutt.

“We got a complaint from Gems Of Bollywood and Rashtra Jyoti organization that a song has been released on YouTube in which very obscene lyrics have been used. In this song, women are described as objects, women’s garments are discussed,” Kanoongo said.

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Director Lakshmipriya Devi’s debut film Boong has made history as the first Indian movie to win a BAFTA Award. Actor Vikram Kochhar, the only Bollywood name in the Manipuri-language film, calls the moment “extremely elating” yet bittersweet.

“It’s a proud moment for all of us, especially with Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulating the team. I’m happy my choice to back indie cinema paid off. But it’s also sad that we’re celebrating the film only after the West recognised it,” he says.

Released last year, the film struggled for screens in India. “My parents in Hyderabad and friends in Bengaluru couldn’t watch it due to no-shows. It did well at festivals and in the UK, but back home, it’s a brutal reality. We watch global content like K-dramas, yet we failed to support our own,” Vikram adds.

The 42-year-old reveals he signed the film while shooting Dunki (2023) where Lakshmipriya was assisting director Rajkumar Hirani.

He shares, “Raju sir even offered me an ad with actors Sanjay Dutt and Arshad Warsi, but I turned it down as I had committed to Boong. I believed in the film, just never imagined it would win a BAFTA.”

Gaya: In a move that reconnects Gaya with a chapter of Indian cinema and classical music history, the auditorium-cum-academic building coming up at Daulat Bagh in Gaya — the address once associated with Jaddan Bai, grandmother of film actor Sanjay Dutt — is set to be named after her.

The old-style, sprawling house at the site originally belonged to Mir Abu Barkat Ali alias Zafar Nawab of the Kada estate, the then zamindar and a patron of art and music. The palace-like, two-storeyed airy structure had been earmarked by the Nawab for Jaddan Bai, who lived there for several years before settling in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and later moving to the then Bombay (now Mumbai) to pursue a career in films. Even after leaving Gaya, she is said to have frequently visited the residence.

Originally from Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Jaddan Bai was an acclaimed exponent of thumri and other forms of Indian classical music. She is also regarded as one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. In her early years, she found patronage under the Nawab. Her daughter, Nargis — the iconic actor of ‘Mother India’ fame — and her (Nargis’) husband, actor and former Union minister Sunil Dutt, maintained their Gaya connection during the lifetime of Zafar Nawab’s son, Muzaffar Nawab.

Sanjay Dutt, during a political visit to Gaya a few years ago in connection with a Samajwadi Party meeting, had turned nostalgic and described Gaya as his ‘nanihal’ (maternal home).

According to Nawab Iqbal Sayeed Quadri alias Humayun and Nawab Fareed Quadri, surviving members of Zafar Nawab’s extended family, the Daulat Bagh premises were acquired by the govt in the 1950s.

Several years after the acquisition, the state govt constructed the District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) with an annual intake of 200 within the Daulat Bagh complex, leaving aside the building associated with the thumri exponent.

A resident of the Daulat Bagh neighbourhood expressed regret that the structure was not preserved as a heritage building, considering its architectural and historical significance.

Justifying the demolition, principal of the District Institute of Education and Training, Ajay Kumar, said the building had become thoroughly dilapidated and could have collapsed at any moment, posing danger to life and limb in the vicinity. “Reports of past casualties due to collapse of some part of the building are also there,” he said.

The DIET principal said an auditorium and academic building would be constructed at the site. There is a proposal to name the new structure after Jaddan Bai, the iconic exponent of Indian classical music.

The BMC has forfeited a security deposit of Rs 50,000 from Line Productions, Mumbai, citing alleged violations during the recent shooting of Dhurandhar 2 in the Fort area.

According to civic officials, the production house had initially applied online through the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited, seeking permission to shoot on February 7 and 8. However, following inputs from police and traffic authorities on January 29, revised permissions were granted on January 30 for filming on Modi Street and Perin Nariman Street on January 30 and February 1, respectively.

Authorities alleged that the production team breached key conditions outlined in the police no-objection certificate (NOC). The NOC explicitly prohibited the use of fireworks and any flammable materials. Officials claimed that cooking gas cylinders and other flammable materials were used on the road during the shoot in a residential area.

“Despite these restrictions, flammable materials and gas cylinders were used extensively during the shoot. On February 1, when permission was granted only for Perin Nariman Street, the production team shot on Modi Street without authorization,” Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Jaydeep More told Mirror.

More added, “Since the production house violated the key conditions, we forfeited Rs 25,000 for using a different location for the shoot and Rs 25,000 for using cooking gas cylinders at the shooting location. Thus, the Rs 50,000 deposit amount was forfeited. We have warned the production house that any future violations will result in strict action, including possible blacklisting.”

In a related communication to the Head of Business Development at Worli Engineering Complex, civic officials flagged gaps in the online permission process. They pointed out that the Maharashtra Film Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited’s portal does not have dedicated provisions for mandatory clearances from the Chief Medical Officer and the Mumbai Fire Brigade.

The BMC has urged the state government to introduce separate online tabs for these departments to ensure stricter scrutiny before granting shooting permissions. Officials also recommended reconsidering blanket permissions for the Fort area among the 18 designated shooting locations within municipal limits. Instead, they suggested limiting shoots to nonresidential and commercial zones to minimize safety risks in densely populated areas, particularly where flammable materials are involved.

The controversy escalated on February 1, when the cast and crew of Dhurandhar 2, including actor Sanjay Dutt, were present in Fort for the third day of their shooting schedule. Since January 30, portions of the heritage precinct had been transformed to resemble an old Pakistani street, with altered signboards and dressed up storefronts.

Dutt, dressed in a white pathani suit and holding what appeared to be a dummy pistol, was seen filming action sequences while a drone captured aerial shots. Officials said no permission had been granted for the use of dummy weapons, explosives, fire sequences, or drone operations in the high-security zone.

Authorities claimed that the depiction of cross-firing scenes and the use of prop firearms violated NOC conditions and raised safety concerns.

A source from the production house confirmed the forfeiture of the deposit and said Mumbai Police had seized the drone used during the shoot. “We were instructed to submit our day plan in writing regarding what we intend to shoot for the sequence, after which the NOC would be issued. We were told that after securing NOC, committing to one plan and shooting something else violates norms and conditions,” the source said.

An insider at Line Productions stated that Executive Producer Rahul Gandhi had requested a drone shot to obtain a top-angle view after the team was unable to secure access to rooftops in the area. “It was a single-take shot on February 1. The issue escalated, and an FIR was registered against our location manager,” the insider said.

The sequence, described as crucial to the film, had been pending amid the team’s busy schedule related to the release of Dhurandhar.

Sanjay Dutt and Rahul Mittra

Be it a road trip or a vacation, anything is great if you have good friends for company. For years, Sanjay Dutt has hoped to take a trip to Kathmandu to visit the Pashupatinath Temple. This time, he roped in close friend and actor Rahul Mittra for a two-day getaway, squeezed in between their busy schedules.

Their initial plan was deferred due to political unrest in Nepal since September 8, 2025. However, Mittra assures that the “situation is peaceful and everything is fine now. We are artistes and we stay away from politics”. It is a known fact that Dutt often read the Shiv Puran during his imprisonment in April 1993 for the illegal possession of arms.

“Sanju has a strong connection with Lord Shiva. Baba ka bulawa aaya hai toh jana hi hai ab. It is a well-timed visit. We have been concerned about the political unrest [in Nepal], that is the reason that we timed it for this year. My friends there tell me that the situation is much better now,” shares the Haq actor, who has worked with Dutt in Torbaaz (2020) and Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster 3 (2018).

While their primary agenda is to visit the temple, Mittra adds that during the trip they will meet Dutt’s fan clubs in the country, visit a friend’s newly opened casino, and sample local delicacies.

“It’s a short visit. We will be back by tomorrow night as we are both busy with our respective work. His fans in Nepal are excited to [meet and greet] Sanju. We are both foodies, so wherever we travelled — Arunachal Pradesh, Kyrgyzstan, or Rajasthan — we always made it a point to try out the local cuisine. We will indulge in the local Himalayan delicacies like the national dish dal bhat, dumplings, lentil patty bara, noodle soups, and mutton katiya, among other things,” smiles the actor.

Even as the fourth season of The Great Indian Kapil Show began streaming over the weekend, its third edition has landed comedian Kapil Sharma and the makers in trouble. Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) India, the country’s oldest copyright licensing organization, has moved the Bombay High Court against Sharma, the producers of the comedy reality show, and Netflix India, alleging copyright infringement through the unauthorized use of songs on the popular comedy series.

According to the commercial intellectual property suit filed on December 12, a copy of which is in mid-day’s possession, three episodes aired between June 21 and September 20 are in contention. One featured actors Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor, in which the song M Bole To from Munna Bhai MBBS (2003) was used, while another with Sanjay Dutt and Suniel Shetty played the track, Rama Re, from Kaante (2002). The final episode, featuring Akshay Kumar, used the number Subha Hone Na De from the actor’s movie Desi Boyz (2011). 

In the suit, PPL India has claimed these uses amount to “public performance/communication to the public” under the Copyright Act, 1957, requiring a licence from the rights holder. Stating that no such licence was sought or granted, it has accused K9 Films Pvt Ltd and BeingU Studios Pvt Ltd, the production houses behind the show, of copyright infringement. The suit also notes that the show is first recorded in front of a live audience, where the music is audibly performed, and only later streamed on Netflix, compounding the alleged infringement.

Before this, PPL India had issued a cease-and-desist notice to the producers on November 6. “However, only a holding reply has been received, and the defendants have not stopped playing the plaintiff’s sound recordings,” states the plaint.

The organization has now appealed to the High Court to restrain the defendants from using its copyrighted sound recordings without a licence, to order disclosure of revenues earned through the alleged illegal use, and to appoint a court receiver to seize infringing material. The matter is expected to come up at the Bombay High Court’s commercial division.

mid-day reached out to Sharma and PPL India. Both didn’t respond till press time.

What’s not to love about styling five of Bollywood’s most good-looking men — Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and Sanjay Dutt? But with Dhurandhar, costume designer Smriti Chauhan had a bigger responsibility — to stay true to the world of Lyari, in which director Aditya Dhar’s spy actioner is set. The costume designer says that rigorous research by Dhar and Ojas Gautam, director’s assistant, preceded the styling.

“Aditya and his team couldn’t conduct field research because the world they created was Pakistan,” she begins. So, they settled for the next best thing. “They did deep research — mostly online, and referred to many books. For the underground parties of the Karachi underworld shown in the film, [we referred to the] raid videos online. Many are available on YouTube. YouTube and Getty videos were circulated among teams so that all departments could get as much information possible,” Chauhan recalls.

The director was certain of a few things that had to be depicted through outfits. Chauhan cites an example, “Lyari’s love for football had to be shown. So, Mukka, one of the gang members, is seen in football jerseys quite a few times.”

With the story set in Lyari, Chauhan says Pathanis dominated the style palette. “But each Pathani has different shoulder pleats, bottom cuts, and fits. Pairing them with waistcoats, jackets, shawls also helped in differentiating them.”

Hamza is spontaneous. So, I depicted that spontaneity in his silhouettes, like a sharply tailored kurta layered under a distressed jacket. The raw detailing reflects his volatile energy.

His character is inspired by Ajit Doval. Since Doval is usually seen in suits, we gave Madhavan variations of suits with breakdowns over time — broader cuts in the ’90s, then slimmer cuts.

We stayed true to the real-life figure’s white Pathani, unbuttoned cuffs, and gruff texture. His hair and beard styling reflect this as well.

His character is rugged and grunge, yet an ISI Army General. To reflect that, we fused military design with coarse, rugged fabrics, switching between safari suits and Pathanis, based on the scene in question.

Rahman is calm on the surface, but with depth like a still pond. I gave him darker colours like black and navy. They reflect his character’s gravitas.

Reports of actor Ahan Shetty teaming up with filmmaker Shaad Ali for his next, a love story, have being doing the rounds. Now, we have learnt that actor Nitanshi Goel has come on board as leading lady.

A source connected to the film reveals, “The film is a love story based in Uttar Pradesh. Shaad completed the recce last month and has finalised his locations and other details. The film will be shot in and around Bareilly.”

As per the source, the announcement for the film will be made after the release of Border 2. “(Actor) Sanjay Dutt has also been approached for a pivotal role. Talks are on but nothing is finalized yet. Shoot is expected to start by February next year,” the source adds.

We reached out to Nitanshi, Shaad and Sanjay but they did not respond till the time of going to press.

Whether in the 1990s or today, the idea of a morally grey character whose circumstances compel him to choose the wrong path persists in Hindi cinema. That explains why Subhash Ghai’s movie Khal Nayak (1993) is relevant even 32 years after its release. Not just that, its central character Ballu — essayed by Sanjay Dutt in one of his career-defining roles — might just have a future.

mid-day has exclusively learnt that a sequel to Khal Nayak is being planned, with a top production house having acquired the exclusive derivative rights, along with the IPR and derivative rights of the new film in perpetuity for the entire film universe.

Dixit-Nene and Jackie Shroff, the 1993 blockbuster, followed two police officers in pursuit of the escaped convict Ballu, who, in the end, turned himself in. No prizes for guessing that Dutt will reprise his role in the upcoming sequel. We’re told he will be joined by new characters.

A source revealed, “The movie ended with Ballu being sentenced to life imprisonment. In the second instalment, Sanjay’s character will take the story forward with young actors. After Khal Nayak’s success, it was remade in Telugu, Tamil, and Punjabi. This time, the idea is to make the sequel in Hindi as well as other languages.”

Even as it expands to a franchise, a bigger plan is in the works. Taking a cue from Bollywood’s spy and cop universe, the makers are keen to turn Khal Nayak into a cinematic universe. “It will include stories of heroic antagonists like Ballu, who was a victim of his situation,” added the source.

When mid-day reached out to Ghai, he confirmed the development, but was tight-lipped about the studio that acquired the rights. “The studio making the sequel will make an announcement on October 21. I cannot say much about it. But yes, a sequel to Khal Nayak is being planned,” he said.

He clarified that he won’t return to the director’s chair. “I’m not directing it as I’m 80 years old. I can guide them creatively. Sanjay Dutt will act in the sequel. We have a lot of IPs, and many studios are approaching us for remakes and sequels. We decided to give the IP rights for this one.”

If Ballu will return in the second instalment, can we expect Dixit’s Ganga to make a comeback too? Ghai was cryptic about it as he said, “I cannot reveal that.”

Think ‘Khal Nayak’ and you immediately think of its chartbuster ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai’. Will the song feature in the sequel? Subhash Ghai shared, “As the rights include script, characters, plot, story, title, dialogues and music for the sequel, Khal Nayak’s songs can be used in the second part if they want.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, renowned for blockbuster hits like Munna Bhai MBBS, Lage Raho Munna Bhai, 3 Idiots, PK, and Sanju, was in Kolkata on Saturday afternoon for an event organized by Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry, where he spoke about his style of filmmaking and anecdotes from iconic scenes. Known for blending humour with meaningful social commentary, Hirani reflected on his films, cinematic philosophy, his belief in storytelling and more.

Rajkumar Hirani shared that the idea of Jadoo ki Jhappi came from his own father, who was a physically affectionate man and expressed love through simple gestures like hugs.

He said, “The idea was to capture feeling of warmth on screen, and show how a hug can have a magical, healing quality.”

“While developing the scene for Munna Bhai MBBS, Abhijat Joshi suggested adding the word jhappi, and that’s how the now-iconic phrase was born,” recalled Hirani.

Similarly, Hirani explained that the song All Izz Well from 3 Idiots was inspired by an old British practice where, during construction work at night, a security guard would periodically shout “All is well” to reassure everyone that things were under control and there was no danger.

“If you connect this idea, in life too, we often just need someone to tell us that all is well to feel calm and reassured. The phrase is a metaphor for hope – things could be going wrong but someone just saying ‘all is well’ could give you a good night’s sleep,” said the filmmaker.

When asked if the journey and the things going around him have made him cynical, Hirani reflected on how, despite exploring serious social issues in his films, the journey of filmmaking has not made him cynical.

“Cynicism is merely an escape – an easy way out that leads nowhere. Addressing these social issues through my stories is my way of staying away from cynicism; it allows me to channel my observations and concerns into something constructive and meaningful. Instead of giving in to despair or bitterness, I choose it as a tool for reflection and change,” said Hirani.

He added that to him, what truly matters, is how one chooses to respond when faced with something wrong – and through his films, he continues to respond with hope and empathy.

For Hirani, the role of cinema is not to prescribe morality but to reflect on the times we live in, offering stories that resonate with audiences while leaving judgment and lessons to society. “Every film carries its own unique flavour, and criticism is simply a part of life that should be received with optimism,” he said.

Talking about Dunki, Hirani said, “Cinema is like food. Some like the same and some enjoy variety. That is what I thought when Dunki received mixed love and reactions.”

For Hirani, while OTT provides convenience, the theatrical experience remains a communal, immersive celebration of storytelling that cannot be replicated on a screen at home. When asked about how he feels about OTT replacing theatrical releases, the filmmaker said, “With OTT, mediocre films will die, audiences will be more selective and will go to watch only blockbuster ones,” adding, “Watching in a theatre is like dancing with 500 people at a wedding, and watching on OTT is like dancing alone at home — they are not the same.”

Hirani shared how the iconic ‘Chamatkaar’ speech in 3 Idiots was crafted to satirise rote learning in the Indian education. “Omi Vaidya who had come from America was cast as Chatur, and we asked him not to study Hindi to preserve the character’s authenticity. During his audition, Omi recited lines from Lage Raho Munna Bhai without fully understanding the Hindi words, mirroring Chatur’s character’s approach to learning. His words did not match his expression & that’s what was needed for the scene,” Hirani said.

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Many were initially not convinced about Sanju – not only doubting whether Ranbir Kapoor could convincingly portray Sanjay Dutt, but also questioning why I even wanted to make a film on Sanju’s life

With censorship, new thoughts will stop. There should be a more liberal and balanced approach when it comes to film certification

After being embroiled in controversy, Paresh Rawal’s upcoming biopic on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will finally see the light of day. The Bombay High Court recently gave the green light to Ajey: The Untold Story of A Yogi, despite the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) initially denying it a certificate.

Considering the knee-jerk reactions films with sensitive subjects attract, is it difficult to make a ‘political’ film in India now? “It’s tough to make any film, aisa lag raha hai mujhe toh abhi,” the actor replies, adding, “Social media kisi ke bhi upar haawi ho jaata hai. But if your neeyat and neeti are good, and the film has been made with honesty, then you should not think about people’s opinions. I’d never be able to understand what each person [in the audience] wants, I can only make something that I like.”

Speaking about the CBFC’s objections, Paresh says, “Yogi ji jaisa character hai toh maamla critical ho jata hai, CBFC saavdhan rehti hai. During the proceedings the court asked their lawyer, ‘Have you watched the film or read the book it’s based on?’ He had not.”

There’s a common perception that biopic makers tend to whitewash their subject; bring it up with Paresh, whose film Sanju (2018) faced similar criticism and he shares, “[Sanjay Dutt] is still alive and working. And this film’s story goes up to when Yogi ji reached politics. Jo public mein hai usko aap untold nahin bol sakte. There’s nothing to whitewash here.”

Paresh’s next outing will see him reprise his role as Baburao Ganpatrao Apte in the third Hera Pheri instalment. The film has long dominated headlines, especially since the actor initially exited the project before coming back on board. Probe if there have been any developments in the film’s production and he tells us, “It’s a work in progress; the shoot was always scheduled to begin in February or March of 2026.”

The cast of Ranger — Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, and Tamannaah Bhatia — are heading to Thailand next once the first shooting schedule wraps in Mumbai.

A source tells us, “Jagan (Shakti, director) and the cast are finishing the Mumbai schedule and will soon head for the second schedule in Thailand. The shoot involves important sequences of the film.”

The film is touted as a jungle adventure drama, with Ajay playing a forest officer who stands up against poaching, while Sanjay plays the antagonist. Tamannaah is the female lead, though details about her character remain under wraps.

Recently, Ajay and Tamannaah — reuniting onscreen after 2013’s Himmatwala — also shot a song in Mumbai. “The song, choreographed by Ganesh Acharya, required Ajay to shoot while drinking alcohol, but he cheated the sequences with black coffee instead,” says the source.