Actor Sanjay Dutt took a trip down memory lane as he remembered his late mother, the legendary actress Nargis Dutt, on her death anniversary. The actor, on Saturday, took to his Instagram account to share a post, paying tribute to his mother with a touching message and a few rare black-and-white family photos. The pictures showed some special moments from Sanjay Dutt's childhood with his parents, Nargis and Sunil Dutt. In one of the photos, a young Sanjay is seen peeking into a cradle while his smiling parents look on. Another photo shows Nargis Dutt holding a book and smiling warmly, while the third captures a happy family moment with Sanjay as a toddler standing between his parents. "You may not be here, but your love never left. Miss you everyday Maa," Sanjay wrote in the caption. Take a look View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sanjay Dutt (@duttsanjay) In the early '80s, Nargis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and she died on May 3, 1981. Nargis and actor Sunil Dutt fell in love after a fire broke out on the sets of their 1957 film 'Mother India' and he reportedly rescued her. They were said to have come closer while recuperating from the injuries. The couple tied the knot on March 11, 1958. Her best-known role was that of Radha in the Academy Award-nominated Mother India (1957), a performance that won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She would appear infrequently in films during the 1960s. Some of her films of this period include the drama Raat Aur Din (1967), for which she received the inaugural National Film Award for Best Actress. Along with her husband, Nargis formed the Ajanta Arts Culture Troupe, which hired several leading actors and singers of the time and held stage shows in border areas. The award for Best Feature Film on National Integration in the Annual Film Awards ceremony is called the Nargis Dutt Award in her honour. In the early 1970s, Nargis became the first patron of The Spastic Society of India and her subsequent work with the organisation brought her recognition as a social worker and later a Rajya Sabha nomination in 1980. Nargis Dutt was the second actor, the first being Prithvi Raj Kapoor, to be nominated, and she was in Rajya Sabha for two years, 1980 and 1981. She was also awarded the Padma Shri in 1958. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 May,2025 07:22 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIVeteran actor Dharmendra met his 'lovely co-star' Jaya Prada, who came to see him along with a family friend of hers. He posted two pictures posing with Jaya Prada on his Instagram handle, and wrote, "Jaya Prada, my lovely co-star came to see me today along with a loving family friend of her. I am extremely happy to see them all." It must be noted that Dharmendra and Jaya Prada have delivered many blockbuster hits in the past. Starting with "Qayamat" in 1983, these two went on to work together in movies like "Insaaf Kaun Karega" in 1984, "Dharm Aur Qanoon" in 1984, "Ganga Tere Desh Mein" in 1988, "Mardon Wali Baat" in 1988, "Elaan-E-Jung" in 1989, "Shehzaade" in 1989, "Kanoon Ki Zanjeer" in 1990, "Farishtay" in 1991, "Kundan" in 1993, "Veer" in 1995, "Paappi Devataa" in 1995, "Maidan-E-Jung" in 1995, "Nyaydaata" in 1999, and "Loh Purush" in 1999. On another note, Dharmendra and Hema Malini completed 45 years of marital bliss on May 2. Wishing her parents on their special day, their actress daughter Esha Deol shared two pictures on her IG account. The first image showed Dharmendra and Hema from their younger days. This was followed by a family photograph featuring Dharmendra, Hema, Esha, and her sister Ahana. “Happy anniversary mamma & papa . You are my world. Love you @aapkadharam @dreamgirlhemamalini #weddingday,” Esha captioned the post. Hema and Dharmendra fell in love on the sets of their film “Tum Haseen Main Jawaan,” back in 1970. Ten years later, the lovebirds tied the knot in 1980. These two welcomed two daughters- Esha and Ahana. At the time of his wedding with Hema, Dharmendra was already a father of two sons and two daughters with his first wife Prakash Kaur - Sunny Deol, Bobby Deol, Ajeeta Deol, and Vijeita Deol. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 May,2025 07:19 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSAfter "The Bhootnii", actress Mouni Roy is all set to return to the big screen, and this time, she’s stepping into the vibrant, laugh-out-loud world of David Dhawan. Mouni has joined the ensemble cast of "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai", the latest comic caper helmed by the veteran director. Produced by Ramesh Taurani under the TIPS banner, the film that marks the reunion of Varun and his father, comprises an ensemble cast namely consisting of Mouni, and other seasoned performers like Mrunal Thakur, Chunkey Panday, Pooja Hegde, Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Shergill, Rakesh Bedi, Ali Asgar, Kubbra Sait, Rohit Saraf, Rajeev Khandelwal, Nitish Nirmal, and Sreeleela, among others. While Varun leads the charge, Mouni is expected to add her own unique charm to the film's storyline. The diva recently flew out to Glasgow to join the rest of the team for a month-long schedule and has been frequently updating her legion of followers on her serene work trip. Mouni took to her social media to post pictures with Mrunal and Varun and penned, "So glad to be on set with my beauty @mrunalthakur & the dapper @varundvn #HJTIHH" For those of you who do not know, "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" was a hit song from David Dhawan's 1999 film "Biwi No 1", featuring Salman Khan, Karisma Kapoor, and Sushmita Sen. Before Scotland, Varun and Pooja flew to Rishikesh to film a sequence for "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" Currently basking in high praise for her role as Mohabbat in her latest release 'The Bhootnii, "Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai" will see Mouni, not just in a pivotal role, but also in a never-seen-before avatar. While Mouni wraps up the shoot for her next, she also has "Salahkaar" her film with "Khuda Hafiz" director Faruk Kabir, lined up for a 2025 release. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
04 May,2025 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSA video of Babil Khan, son of Irrfan Khan, is now going viral. In the clip, he can be seen crying inconsolably as he calls Bollywood the fakest place to be. In the video, he names several actors including Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, and Siddhant Chaturvedi. While many believed that he is naming people who are a problem, contradictory to that, Babil’s team has now issued a clarification. In an official statement from Babil’s team, they clarified that the actor wasn’t in the right state of mind; meanwhile, he is now feeling better. The team wrote, “Like anyone else, Babil is allowed to have difficult days — and this was one of them. We want to reassure all his well-wishers that he is safe and will be feeling better soon.” another part of the story babil had putbyu/Anxious_Scratch2449 inBollyBlindsNGossip While addressing the video that is now widely circulating, the team wrote, “In the clip, Babil was sincerely acknowledging a few of his peers whom he believes are making meaningful contributions to the evolving landscape of Indian cinema. His mention of artists like Ananya Panday, Shanaya Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, Arjun Kapoor, and Arijit Singh came from a place of genuine admiration — for their authenticity, passion, and efforts to restore credibility and heart in the industry.” “We respectfully urge media publications and the public to consider the full context of his words rather than drawing conclusions from fragmented video clips,” the official statement concludes. Babil Khan’s video goes viral Babil Khan, in the video, can be seen looking intoxicated, saying, “What I mean to say is that I just want you guys to know that there are people like Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday, Arjun Kapoor, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Raghav Juyal, Adarsh Gourav, and Arijit Singh. There are so many more names. Bollywood is so f*****. Bollywood is so screwed.” In another clip that has emerged on Reddit, Babil is seen saying, "Bollywood is the most fakest, fakest, fakest industry that I've ever, ever been a part of. But there are a few people that want Bollywood to be better (smiles)... I got to show you so much more, so much more, so much more. I have so much more to give you..." Fans concerned for Babil’s health A section of fans raised concern for his mental health. One wrote, "Please be safe... You are an amazing actor and you are born to carry your father's legacy." Another comment reads, "This kid needs help." A third user commented, "People are just comparing him with his father and that’s not right. He is different; he has his own personality."
04 May,2025 04:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentEmmy-winning producer and ace content creator Ektaa R. Kapoor launched the revamped Madhya Pradesh 2.0 Film Policy at the prestigious WAVES Summit 2025, reinforcing the state's commitment to becoming a premier shooting destination in India. Ektaa Kapoor on Madhya Pradesh 2.0 Film Policy Speaking at the summit, Kapoor praised Madhya Pradesh’s cinematic potential, stating, "From what we could see, Madhya Pradesh is definitely the visuals, the heritage, the legacy — sorted." She highlighted the need for financial facilitation to attract large-scale productions, adding, "They've just launched a great policy. What they would need now is some kind of financial ease for the makers so they can support large-scale productions, which will not only boost the state’s economy but also make it easier for filmmakers to shoot there." Drawing parallels with international shooting hubs, Kapoor cited Spain’s dominance due to attractive rebates and ease of work. “Spain has taken over most of the shooting because of the ease to work and the rebates offered. So, these would be the two things: a one-stop-shop policy and, of course, financial help in the form of a rebate," she said. The new policies aim to position Madhya Pradesh as a hub not just for traditional filmmaking but also for emerging sectors like gaming, animation, and VFX — industries that are rapidly expanding and contributing to India's digital economy. With its architectural richness, historical significance, and now a forward-looking production policy, Madhya Pradesh 2.0 is poised to be a major player on both the Indian and global entertainment maps. About WAVES Summit WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, and seeks to present itself as a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. The summit, being held at the Jio World Convention Centre, aims to unlock a USD 50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy. About Ektaa Kapoor Ektaa Kapoor has backed films such as 'The Dirty Picture,' 'Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai,' 'Shootout at Lokhandwala,' and 'The Sabarmati Report.' The content pioneer has made serials including 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi,' 'Kasautii Zindagii Kay,' the 'Naagin' series, 'Pavitra Rishta,' and 'Yeh Hai Chahatein.'"
04 May,2025 03:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOm Raut attended a session named ‘The Changing Face of Indian Cinema' on day 2 of WAVES 2025. During the ongoing Summit, the filmmaker shared some interesting insights about the box office performance of his films and how they found a wider audience in the South markets. He began by saying, “We are a nation of over 140 crore people, we are a nation which is looked at as the biggest market in the world. Whether car brands, toothpaste, chocolates, or restaurants - all global brands that are trying to come into India and are trying to set up their shops here, are trying to sell their products in our country. That makes us the largest consumer market available to the world. We know our sentiments, our brands, our content consumption patterns better than anybody else.” He added, “It is said that think global, act local. I think this is the right time for us to do it. We have the best of the technology in the world, best brains who can operate in the world, best actors, phenomenal filmmakers, technicians and we have an audience. First, we have to be popular in our own lane. Once we’re there, then we can mount on that and reach the global audience.” Om Raut further stated, “The most successful verse that has happened to date is the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Because of Marvel, Disney at their peak time contributed to 23% of the global box office. (In other words), 23% of tickets sold were for a Marvel film or Disney film. This means that a kid in Nebraska is watching the same content as Vikrant and his team in Mumbai. Virat Kohli, similarly, is popular in all parts of India.” He continued, “Since the same kind of content is consumed globally. What if we modify our content a little bit; it will then be accessible to a global audience. After all, the hunger of an artist is to reach a greater number of people.” Stating the reason behind speaking about numbers, Om Raut added, “The reason I am quoting numbers is because it gives an idea about the number of eyeballs it has grabbed. My first film was in Marathi, titled Lokmanya: Ek Yugpurush (2015); it collected Rs.14 crores in Maharashtra. A limited number of non-Marathi-speaking people saw the film. It did some box office in Bengaluru, Indore and Delhi. I realized that there was some demand for niche cinema made in my language to reach that audience. I was happy that a kid from South Mumbai made a Marathi film and it was consumed in Bengaluru. It was very satisfying.” Speaking about Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Om Raut stated, “Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior (2020) collected Rs. 300 crores out of which it earned Rs. 14 crores from the Telugu-speaking states of Andhra Pradesh-Telangana. Hindi films normally don’t earn so much there. A Hindi film usually earns Rs. 4-5 crores there but our film collected a whopping Rs. 14 crores.” He stated, “Then I made my third film, Adipurush (2023). It was shot simultaneously in Hindi and Telugu. Before we even released the film, the Telugu market rights were sold for Rs.120 crores. This means that so many people actually saw that film. My distributor is somewhere here. Maybe, he can (correct me if I am wrong).” He added, “The need for an artist is to reach a wider audience. If we can make our local stories strong and tell them with all our heart, it’ll resonate across the world.” These impressive numbers of Om Raut’s big banner films prove that the audience resonated with his storytelling and applauded his directorial vision. Speaking about how technological advancements are opening doors of creativity, Om stated, “The integration of VFX, virtual production, and AI in filmmaking isn’t the future- it’s the present. But we must balance this with cultural depth and emotional resonance.” Om Raut, the National Film Award-winning director, is celebrated for his visually ambitious projects. After Adipurush, the audience is keen to see more of his on-screen explorations and experience one-of-a-kind filmmaking.
04 May,2025 02:20 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe King has arrived! Bollywood's biggest superstar, Shah Rukh Khan, has officially made his way to New York ahead of his debut at the Met Gala 2025. Pictures and videos of him at the NYC airport have flooded social media with excitement. Meanwhile, mum-to-be Kiara Advani has also dropped pictures to share a glimpse from her hotel room in New York, just a day before the grand fashion event. The grand Met Gala 2025 debuts The biggest fashion event in the world is going to see a sea of stars from around the globe, showcasing some amazing creations by top designers. This year is going to be extra special for India, with three big Met debuts to look forward to. While Shah Rukh Khan is reportedly all set to make a grand debut at the carpet in a custom Sabyasachi ensemble, Kiara Advani is gearing up for her dazzling debut at the Met Gala 2025, draped in a one-of-a-kind Gaurav Gupta creation. While she’s keeping it hush-hush officially, a teaser of her ensemble has already surfaced online — and it’s all kinds of divine. EXCLUSIVE: Shah Rukh Khan has arrived at the airport—ready to rule the Met Gala stage. ❤️✨SRK AT MET GALA @iamsrk #ShahRukhKhan #KingKhan #SRK #King #MetGala2025 #SRKMetGala #GlobalSuperstar pic.twitter.com/FNiajy3GGR — Shah Rukh Khan Universe Fan Club (@SRKUniverse) May 3, 2025 While there were already reports that Shah Rukh Khan and Kiara would make their grand debut at the biggest fashion event in the world, another first-timer to this list is none other than Diljit Dosanjh, who is also reportedly going to walk the carpet in a custom Gaurav Gupta creation. The news of Diljit’s Met debut has set the internet on fire. The Punjabi singer took to his Instagram last night and wrote 'First Time' with American rapper Gunna's song "Met Gala" in the background. Priyanka Chopra to return to Met Gala Meanwhile, there is chatter around Priyanka Chopra returning to the prestigious fashion event on May 5. A source informed Mid-day that Priyanka will attend the Met Gala 2025 with Olivier Rousteing of Balmain. She is expected to don a powerful couture look, styled with an exquisite piece from Bvlgari’s newest high-jewellery collection — a perfect blend of cinematic royalty and fashion authority. Met Gala 2025 theme This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrates Black identity through the lens of couture, inspired by Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity. The exhibit will feature a range of garments, paintings, photographs, and more, exploring the indelible style of Black men in the context of dandyism.
04 May,2025 08:18 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShe is back to put her charm on display and seductively woo the men in her life. The fiery femme fatale of one of Netflix’s popular thrillers isn’t done just yet. Taapsee Pannu returns for the third instalment of the Haseen Dillruba franchise. A month after the actor and the film’s writer-producer Kanika Dhillon teased the third edition in an online interaction, mid-day has learnt that work on the script is officially underway. A still from Haseen Dillruba “The prep is in full-swing. The team knew that the love story between Rani and Rishu [played by Vikrant Massey] with its pulpy narrative had scope for another part,” says a source. The romantic crime thriller originally premiered on the OTT giant in 2021, quickly earning cult status for its mix of small-town charm, seductive tension, and unexpected twists. Its sequel, Phir Aayi Haseen Dillruba, released in August 2024, continuing the twisted tale of love. Now, insiders suggest that the third part will raise the bar even further. “It is one of the most successful titles for the platform. So, the aim is to create a more fun, juicy and thrilling third part,” the source adds. Pannu has wrapped up Gandhari and is filming Mulk 2, directed by Anubhav Sinha. Despite her packed schedule, she will dive back into the world of passion and peril by end of the year. Did you know?Haseen Dillruba’s twist ending was initially even grimmer, but was tweaked to keep audiences more emotionally hooked to the couple’s twisted romance.
04 May,2025 07:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaActors are often asked, “How do you know the pulse of the people?” While few have an answer to this, R Madhavan was refreshingly candid in his take on it. “By being alone with the people,” he tells us. With more than three decades in the entertainment industry, the actor has figured out how to make his complex on-screen characters relatable and true to the context. To ensure that he interacts with people from all walks of life, Madhavan doesn’t let his entourage tag along everywhere. (From left) Fatima Sana Shaikh and R Madhavan in Aap Jaisa Koi “I walk around as alone as possible. It keeps me in touch with common people. I want to know the price of lentils and potatoes from the local vegetable vendor. I want to sit with the tech geeks and learn about the next version of the AI. If I’m behaving like a star in front of them, those doors get closed quickly,” he explains. He reveals that he learnt about black magic for Shaitaan (2024) and understood Indian aerospace scientist Nambi Narayanan for Rocketry: The Nambi Effect (2022) after a conversation with someone he met on a flight. “I never fear a good risk. Even if it goes wrong, at least you went down blazing. I’d rather go for glorious failure than compromised success any day.” Despite his many years in the film industry, Madhavan has been selective with his work. He claims he would rather be remembered for a few good films than burden himself with repetitive roles. “Early on in my career, when I heard people say that if it is an Aamir [Khan] film, the content is bound to be good — that’s something I was dying to have people say about my work. And I have tried to make those choices,” expresses the star. He shares that 3 Idiots (2009) has reformed the thought process of an entire generation of parents, not just in India. “They come and tell me how it has changed their life,” he says, adding, “I try to not get stereotyped. The only sequel I’ve ever done is Tanu Weds Manu [2011] because the script was so justifiable. I haven’t had the luxury of doing a franchise film where I’m able to repeat the same characters because they worked. I would have loved to. So easy to just sit back and do five films like that till they fail and then do something else.” No more romances for Maddy! After decades of doing romcoms, R Madhavan is now avoiding the genre because “nothing is age-appropriate”. While most romcoms these days are associated with teenagers, he believes that people between the ages of 45 and 55 are more romantic. He has wrapped up Aap Jaisa Koi, where he plays a 48-year-old unmarried man romancing Fatima Sana Shaikh’s 29-year-old character. When asked about the gossip surrounding a Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein sequel, he says, “They ask me too. I haven’t found anything concrete to either do Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein 2 or Tanu Weds Manu 3. It’s all speculation.” He also has De De Pyaar De 2, Dhurandhar, a Tamil sci-fi film Bridge and a Tamil series titled Legacy.
04 May,2025 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuAny news about King, and fans lap it up with gusto. The film not only launches Suhana Khan on the big screen after her OTT debut with The Archies, but also marks her first on-screen union with her superstar father, Shah Rukh Khan. Currently in pre-production, the Siddharth Anand directorial begins filming on May 18 at a Mumbai studio, before heading to the UAE and Europe for later schedules. The film boasts a star-studded cast, including Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan, Abhay Verma, and now, Arshad Warsi in a crucial role. Arshad Warsi Interestingly, this marks Warsi’s second outing with Shah Rukh after the latter’s cameo in Kuchh Meetha Ho Jaye (2005). A source shares, “His role is small, but pivotal. Arshad could not refuse when Shah Rukh approached him. When he personally calls someone, nobody says no. Arshad is doing the film only because he loves Shah Rukh. His role is a sweet, quirky, funny and cute one with slight grey shades; and only Arshad can play it to perfection.” Warsi, currently shooting Dhamaal 4 with Ajay Devgn, also has Jolly LLB 3, Welcome to the Jungle, and Raj Kumar Hirani’s Pritam Pedro lined up. “While Shah Rukh and Suhana begin shooting from May 18, Arshad will join them only from June-end after he wraps up Indra Kumar’s Dhamaal 4,” adds the source.
04 May,2025 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Upala KBRWho needs superstars? At the buzzing WAVES 2025 summit, veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur dropped a digital bombshell — he’s ready to ditch megastars like Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan in favour of AI-generated superstars. “Actors are going to be just actors, because AI will create stars going ahead... And I can create a star using AI and have my copyright,” Kapur declared. “I don’t need Amitabh Bachchan. I’ll create my own character. I don’t need Shah Rukh Khan, I’ll create my own character, my own star.” Bold, wild, and futuristic? You bet. According to Kapur, AI won’t just mimic humans — it’ll outshine them, pixel by pixel. India’s biggest film in the making Dinesh Vijan of Maddock Films isn’t here to play it small. Speaking at the summit, he hyped up their mega-project Mahavatar, starring Vicky Kaushal as Chiranjeevi Parashurama. “I think we’re in a very interesting space... We’re finally getting our act together. We’re understanding that stories need to be made for the common man,” he shared. Slated for a Christmas 2026 release, the film is Maddock’s most ambitious venture yet. Rooted in Indian mythology but charged with cutting-edge tech, Mahavatar aims to be a world-class blockbuster with desi soul. Meet Kiara at the MET Gala Make way, fashionistas! Kiara Advani is gearing up for her dazzling debut at the Met Gala 2025, draped in a one-of-a-kind Gaurav Gupta creation. While she’s keeping it hush-hush officially, a teaser of her ensemble has already surfaced online — and it’s all kinds of divine. This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrates Black identity through the lens of couture. Kiara’s red carpet moment promises a fabulous fusion of Indian artistry and global glam. Oh, and did we mention — she’s currently expecting her first child? Her look is set to be a bold tribute to womanhood, identity, and influence; and we can’t wait!
04 May,2025 07:15 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamADVERTISEMENT