Have you heard? Ramayana's title announcement gets 'U' certificate; Sidharth Malhotra’s Vvan faces production delays

(From left) Sai Pallavi and Ranbir Kapoor and on the sets of Ramayana

Ramayana for ‘U'

The buzz is that the title announcement video for Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana has been certified with a ‘U' certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The 2-minute-and-36-second video was cleared on May 5. Producer Namit Malhotra had earlier expressed his dedication, stating he's fulfilling his dream of bringing the epic of Ramayana to life "with pride and reverence." The film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Kannada star Yash as Ravana. It is scheduled to release in two parts: Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027. The title video, initially planned to be unveiled at the recently concluded World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit in Mumbai, is rumoured to be released soon.

See you next year

Sidharth Malhotra

Sidharth Malhotra's upcoming film Vvan: Force of the Forest has apparently been pushed back to 2026 due to production delays. We have learnt that the film, which explores Bihar's Chhath Puja traditions through folklore, will now start filming in June. The delay is attributed to Sidharth's prior commitments and the departure of Sara Ali Khan, who was initially set to star in the film. mid-day had earlier reported that Tamannaah Bhatia has taken over the female lead role (Tammy's on a signing spree, April 28). The film will be helmed by Arunabh Kumar and Deepak Mishra. The production team had reportedly planned a November release, but it is yet to go on floors.

No titles please

Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan has requested that fans and the public refer to him without titles, instead preferring to be called Kamal Haasan, Kamal, or KH. In a statement, shared on social media, he stated, "I am but a student of the craft, forever hoping to evolve, learn and grow." He believes an artiste should not be elevated above the art, adding, "I prefer to remain grounded... Hence, after considerable reflection, I feel compelled to respectfully decline all such titles or prefixes." He added, that this decision comes from a "place of humility."

Thalapathy for all generations

Hanumankind and Vijay

Tamil actor Vijay, who is lovingly called Thalapathy by his fans, has created quite a buzz for his upcoming film, Jana Nayagan. And now Malayalam rapper Hanumankind has added to the excitement if his fans by revealing that he has lent his voice to a song in the political action thriller, directed by H Vinoth. The film is rumoured to be a remake of Anil Ravipudi's Bhagavanth Kesari (2023). Vijay has announced that this will be his last film before he contests the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections. At a rally, he stated that his 69th film will mark the end of his acting career, addressing critics who questioned his transition. The film also stars Gautham Vasudev Menon and Varalaxmi Sarathkumar.

‘Subjected to humiliation'

Sonu Nigam

Singer Sonu Nigam has responded to controversy surrounding his recent Bengaluru concert, where he compared a fan's request to sing Kannada songs to a terror attack. A case was booked against him for "inciting language hatred." The Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has decided to cut ties with him unless he apologises publicly. The singer, in a video statement on Instagram, said, "I leave it up to the sensible people of Karnataka to decide who is at fault here." He claimed he was subjected to "humiliation" and defended his reaction, saying, "I am 51 years old... and am entitled to take offence for someone as young as my son threatening me."