The upcoming film ‘Mercy’, which stars Raj Vasudeva, Niharica Raizada and Adil Hussain is set to be screened at the UK Asian Film Festival in London. The film marks the directorial debut of Mitul Patel, and explores the fragile moments of parting with a loved one, and will be showcased on May 5, 2025, at Rich Mix Theatre. The film stars Niharica Raizada as Shekhar’s wife Jiya, Aparna Ghoshal as the ailing matriarch Sujata, Kunal Bhan as the emotionally conflicted brother Vihaan, and Adil Hussain, who brings depth and warmth to the role of Father Joel, the family’s spiritual guide through their most testing hours. Raj Vasudeva, who plays the protagonist Shekhar in the film, said in a statement, “‘Mercy’ is a reflection on the quiet, often unspoken emotions that surround loss. It explores the strength it takes to make peace with the inevitable, and the love that continues even in the act of letting go”. Adil Hussain said, “For me, Mercy is about that silent space where grief, love, and responsibility collide. It’s about those moments where you’re forced to make a decision not with your head, but with a heart that’s breaking”. The trailer of the film was exclusively unveiled at the Indian Pavilion during the Cannes Festival last year, offering an early glimpse into its poignant narrative and had received a very warm response. Produced under the Everclear Films banner by Raj Vasudeva and Anuradha Sachdev, Mercy follows their internationally recognized short film ‘Forbidden’, which boldly tackled honor killings and was featured at over 30 festivals across the globe. With ‘Mercy’, Everclear marks its feature film debut, staying true to its vision of telling brave, emotionally charged stories that spark reflection and empathy. 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
30 April,2025 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSActress and singer Shehnaaz Gill recently celebrated a major achievement as she purchased a luxurious Mercedes-Benz GLS, a symbol of her hard work and dedication. Shehnaaz buys luxury car The actress shared her joy with fans on social media, expressing how truly blessed she feels. Shehnaaz posted photos of herself posing next to the swanky car. In one of the pictures, she is seen breaking a coconut, a traditional gesture often associated with good luck and new beginnings. Another image shows the ‘Honsla Rakh’ actress making the swastika symbol on the car. “From dreams to driveways, my hard work now has four wheels. Feeling truly blessed! Waheguru tera shukar aa,” Shehnaaz wrote in the caption. Soon after Shehnaaz Gill shared the post, her fans flooded the comments with congratulatory messages, celebrating her success and remarkable achievements. One user wrote, “Congratulations, Queen.” Another commented, “Congratulations, girl you deserve each and every beautiful thing in this world.” The Mercedes-Benz GLS is a luxurious 7-seater full-size SUV. The price of it ranges from Rs. 1.34 Crore to Rs. 1.39 Crore. The base model starts at Rs. 1.34 crore, while the top-end variant is priced at Rs. 1.39 crore. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shehnaaz Gill (@shehnaazgill) Shehnaaz Gill’s acting journey Speaking of Shehnaaz Gill’s journey, the actress rose to prominence with her appearance on the popular reality show "Bigg Boss Season 13," where her charming personality, infectious humor, and emotional journey made her a fan favourite. Shehnaaz got her big Bollywood break with Salman Khan's "Kisika Bhai Kisiki Jaan." She played the character of Sukoon, and with that, got everyone talking. She was then seen in "Thank You For Coming," alongside Bhumi Pednekar. A feminist comedy film, the movie did make it to TIFF and, therefore, got her international acclaim. The film made its debut at the prestigious 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in 2023. She is now gearing up for "100 Percent," a film by Sajid Khan, and will co-star Riteish Deshmukh and Nora Fatehi. Gill has already worked in multiple Punjabi films, including 'Kala Shah Kala' and 'Honsla Rakh'. A multi-faceted star, she also has her own talk show, 'Desi Vibes with Shehnaaz Gill'. The likes of Shahid Kapoor, Rajkumar Rao, and Suniel Shetty, among others, have been a part of the talk show. (with inputs from IANS)
30 April,2025 04:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Sajid Nadiadwala, the man who gave Indian cinema one of its most beloved comedy franchise marks 15 glorious years of Housefull today! The 1st instalment of Housefull released on 30th April 2010 and today marks 15 years of the franchise. On this special occasion, the much-anticipated teaser of Housefull 5 has been unveiled. Housefull 5 teaser The over one-minute-long teaser introduces us to the sea of actors who are a part of this comic caper. We get a glimpse of the madness that is unfolding on the lavish cruise. However, not all is fun The film promises five times the laughter, five times the madness, and full-on family entertainment like never before. Housefull is India’s only franchise to reach its 5th installment. The teaser offers an exciting first glimpse of a truly star-studded ensemble featuring Bollywood’s biggest names: Akshay Kumar, Abhishek Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Sonam Bajwa, Nargis Fakhri, Sanjay Dutt, Jackie Shroff, Nana Patekar, Chitrangada Singh, Fardeen Khan, Chunky Pandey, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, Dino Morea, Ranjeet, Soundarya Sharma, Nikitin Dheer, and Akashdeep Sabir. Directed by Tarun Mansukhani, Housefull 5 is one of India's biggest comedy franchises, now reaching its fifth installment. The film is led by an ensemble cast of 18 actors. About Housefull 5 and the franchise Housefull 5 marks the first-ever franchise film in Indian cinema to have five instalments. The first part of Housefull was released in 2010 and starred Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, Lara Dutta, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Rampal, and Boman Irani. The film was declared a hit, followed by another successful sequel, Housefull 2, which was released in 2012 and featured a stellar cast of Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, John Abraham, Shreyas Talpade, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, and Asin. Both parts were directed by Sajid Khan. Sajid Khan was replaced by director duo Sajid Samji and Farhad Samji for the third instalment of the film, which was released in 2016. Director Farhad Samji helmed the fourth part of the franchise, which was a reincarnation comedy film. Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under his banner Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, Housefull 5 sails into cinemas worldwide on 6th June 2025. This summer, get ready to cruise along with India’s biggest comedy franchise — the Housefull madness is back and bigger than ever!
30 April,2025 03:33 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFour successful web series in six years is an impressive track record. Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK, better known as Raj-DK, have been among the busiest creators in the Hindi entertainment industry since the OTT boom, churning out The Family Man, Farzi (2023), Guns & Gulaabs (2023) and Citadel: Honey Bunny (2024). Now, mid-day has learnt that even as the second season of Shahid Kapoor and Vijay Sethupathi’s Farzi will go on floors by 2025-end, the filmmaker duo will simultaneously develop their theatrical slate as they are eager to return to the big screen after a seven-year break. Raj-DK have their plate full in 2025 with their web offerings. A source breaks down their calendar, saying, “They are neck-deep in three series at the moment — preparing for Farzi 2’s shoot, and juggling Rakt Bramhand and the post-production of The Family Man 3. While work on these three shows is progressing briskly, they have also begun shaping up their theatrical slate. After wrapping up the Shahid and Vijay-led crime thriller by mid-2026, Raj-DK intend to take their first theatrical venture in seven years on floors.” Their last big-screen outing was the breakout horror comedy Stree (2018), on which they served as writers and producers. Raj-DK have a busy 2025 with Farzi 2, Rakt Bramhand and The Family Man 3 Their big-screen history has been something of a hit-and-miss. While their filmography includes much-loved and ingenious movies like Go Goa Gone (2013) and Stree, they have also delivered underwhelming outings in Happy Ending (2014) and A Gentleman (2017). For their next, the filmmakers have apparently zeroed in on two scripts. An insider reveals, “They will helm one, while the other will have another director. Raj-DK have regularly roped in different voices — be it Stree that launched Amar Kaushik as a director, or Suparn Varma who took charge of certain episodes in The Family Man 2. Their Telugu production, Cinema Bandi [2021], too kickstarted Praveen Kandregula’s directorial career. If things go as planned, one of the movies will roll in the second half of 2026.” The insider adds that Raj-DK’s focus on theatrical ventures does not imply that they will hit the brakes on their streaming work.
30 April,2025 03:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaAs the iconic Bollywood film Main Hoon Na marks its 21st anniversary this month, fans across social media continue to celebrate its perfect blend of action, comedy, and emotion. While Shah Rukh Khan’s Major Ram remains the film’s heroic center, it was Zayed Khan’s portrayal of the rebellious Lucky that captured audiences’ hearts and launched his career in the industry. Reflecting on the film as it completes over two decades, Zayed shared how Main Hoon Na changed his life completely. Zayed Khan calls Main Hoon Na his breakthrough film “Looking back at Main Hoon Na after 21 years feels surreal,” Zayed said. He added, “Lucky was my breakthrough role — a character that changed everything for me. The way fans still come up to me and call me ‘Lucky’ or ‘Laxman,’ mimic those classic lines, or even do my signature swag move — it's incredibly humbling. Working with Shah Rukh Sir and under Farah Khan’s direction was a masterclass in filmmaking that shaped my entire career. Lucky’s rebellious spirit, his transformation, and his iconic style — especially my look, with the long hair and highlights, baggy pants, vests, and open shirts — all became a major part of pop culture.” “Two decades later, I can honestly say that no matter what roles I take on, Lucky will always hold a special place in my heart. That film wasn’t just my entry into Bollywood — it was my entry into the hearts of audiences. Twenty-one years later, I’m still grateful for all the love, and may it keep coming in leaps and bounds,” the actor concluded. The magic of Main Hoon Na Main Hoon Na’s popularity has not diminished in the slightest, even after 21 years. This is evident from its continued television reruns and streaming success, which keep introducing new generations to the magic of Farah Khan’s directorial debut. For Zayed Khan, his portrayal of Lucky remains one of his most recognized and beloved roles — proving that the right character at the right time can create a lasting legacy in Indian cinema, one that remains truly everlasting.
30 April,2025 02:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood beauty Karisma Kapoor revealed that her first official dance partner was none other than her grandfather Raj Kapoor. Commemorating International Dance Day, Karisma posted a black and white picture of dancing with the showman. The photo shows a young Karisma in the middle of a ball dance move with her grandfather. While the actress was dressed in a cute skirt and top, Raj Kapoor wore a simple pant and a shirt. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karisma Kapoor (@therealkarismakapoor) Sharing that this was her first official dance, the 'Shakti' actress wrote on her IG, "On the occasion of International Dance Day sharing my first official Dance...Couldn’t have asked for a better dance partner." It might be interesting to know that Raj Kapoor's daughter Ritu Nanda's book "Raj Kapoor: The One and Only Showman" states that when Karisma was born, the entire Kapoor clan had reached the hospital to see the newborn, except Raj Kapoor. It is said that he had put a condition before Karisma's birth that he would come to the hospital only if the baby's eyes were blue, and surprisingly Karisma's eyes were blue just like her grandfather's. When Raj Kapoor learned about Karisma's eye color, he was filled with joy. According to the book, Karisma was extremely close to her grandfather growing up and also supported her dreams. On the work front, Karisma will next be seen in the series “Brown,” where she will essay the role of a detective and recovering alcoholic investigating the murder of a young woman from a prominent family. Helmed by Abhinay Deo, the series enjoys a stellar cast, including Surya Sharma, Helen, Soni Razdan, Meghna Malik, Jisshu Sengupta, K.K. Raina, Ajinkya Deo, Aniruddh Roy, Shatrughan Kumar, and Kiara Sadh, among others. Produced by Rithika Rajachandran and Satrajit Sen, “Brown” is believed to be based on Abheek Barua's 2016 book "City of Death." Shedding light on her role, Karisma called Rita Brown a "unique and multifaceted" character. 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
30 April,2025 02:02 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSJaideep Ahlawat was possibly one of the biggest surprise elements of the recently released Netflix film Jewel Thief. The first look of the film which was unveiled earlier this year, left fans of the talented actor surprised with his all-new stylish look. Celebrity hair designer Darshan Yewalekar crafted this unique and cool look for the 'Paatal Lok' star. Talking to Mid-day, Yewalekar revealed that he was initially approached only for Saif Ali Khan's look in the film. "After seeing what I did for Saif, they asked, “Why don’t you also work on Kunaal Kapoor and Jaideep Ahlawat?” recalls Yewalekar. Jaideep Ahlawat's uber cool look "The first moodboard we created got the directors really excited," shares Yewalekar adding, "The brief for Jaideep's character was very simple: Let’s transform him. Let’s show him in a never-seen-before avatar. Also, his clothes are magical — and so is he. He just transforms — the way he stands, the way he moves. He’s such a chameleon." "It’s fantastic to work with people who give you space and contribute to your process. We also get to add to theirs. That’s why we decided to go for an uber-cool, chic hairstyle with colored hair," added the celebrity hair designer who has been a part of the film industry for over 20 years now. Evolution of hair styling Darshan began his career by styling for Salman Khan's characters in his films. Over the years, he has seen the industry's attitude and approach towards hair and styling change for the better. "Earlier, when I was styling for Salman Khan and other upcoming actors, I was really intrigued by the idea that I could add more value. So I used to ask about the character, but they would brush it off — "Tu kya karega jaan ke? Tu isko hero bana de." That was the mindset I came from." "Then I stumbled upon Ranveer Singh, and Sanjay sir made me meet him. From there, everything began to take shape. There’s now a proper structure in place — a system where you're designing for films with intention. You understand the script, the character, and what kind of hair or look the role requires. The process has really evolved over the last 15 years," he adds.
30 April,2025 12:49 PM IST | Mumbai | Athulya NambiarActor Suniel Shetty is known for playing a lot of negative roles during his tenure, and one of these characters is Raghavan from 'Main Hoon Na'. However, Shetty does not consider Ragahvan to be a negative character as he was fighting for his country, and the love of his deceased child. Suniel Shetty justifies Raghavan Speaking during the trailer launch of his next 'Kesari Veer', Shetty stated that Raghavan can never be a villain. "For me, there is nothing more important than my country, and I am not just saying it. In sports or anywhere else when it comes to my nation, then I think I am a different human being altogether. According to the script, Raghav was a negative character but when I heard the script it took me just two minutes to say yes to the film." He revealed what director Farah Khan told him while narrating "Main Hoon Na" to him, "I still remember Farah (Khan) telling me that a lot of people are scared to do this negative role, to which I said how can this be a negative role - Our enemy will always be the same, my child has been killed and I just want to bring back the mortal remains of my kid and they are not willing to do so. So, from which angle is this character negative." Shetty further recalled how his character Dev from 'Dhadkan' also met the same fate. "My character as Dev in 'Dhadkan' was also labeled as negative but when a man loves his girlfriend to that extent, how can he be negative? So, I always look at my characters that way," he said. Suniel Shetty about Kesari Veer The upcoming film Kesari Veer sees him step into the role of Vegdaji Bhil, the 14th century king. The period drama offers a retelling of how Vegdaji joined forces with Veer Hamirji Gohil, the king of Arthila in Saurashtra, to protect the Somnath Temple from the Tughlaq dynasty’s attack. To portray a brave warrior, Shetty had to learn the use of weaponry, especially a heavy double-edged axe. “I had to bulk up and train hard as the weapon itself weighed 15 kilos. I had to fight with a hammer-like axe. I had to get used to that weight and balance myself," he told Mid-day earlier this year. But understanding the character’s emotional make-up was a bigger task. Shetty says he channelled his paternal instinct to become Vegdaji for the screen. He explains, “It’s a powerful role yet an emotional one. Vegda couldn’t give his daughter anything. But when Hamir [his son-in-law] went to war, Vegda promised his daughter that he’d give his life to save her husband. I connected emotionally to this film because I have a daughter too, and I would do anything for Athiya.” (with inputs from IANS)
30 April,2025 12:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBollywood actress Rani Mukerji had a quiet and secret wedding with filmmaker Aditya Chopra in 2014. Even a decade later, no pictures from their wedding have surfaced online, nor have the couple officially shared any. Recently, ace fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee spilled some beans about their hush-hush ceremony, which took place in Italy. Sabyasachi shares details on Rani and Aditya's wedding During an interview with the YouTube channel Fashionably Pernia, Sabyasachi was asked about the most fun wedding he has ever designed bridal wear for. He replied, "You know who was fun to work with? It was actually Rani Mukerji. She never released the photos. But the fact is, it was a mad wedding, which was done between her, Adi (Aditya Chopra), Karan (Johar), and me. She was very chilled out." The designer also revealed that the wedding was a last-minute affair, and his team barely had any time to prepare the bridal outfit. In fact, they had just one week."She came over for lunch one day and said she was getting married. I asked her how much time I had, and she said one week. I had to put something together in that time. It’s fun when people enjoy their wedding — it just makes the process of designing for them so much more fun," he said. Rani and Aditya Rani Mukerji and Aditya Chopra are extremely private people who rarely speak about their personal lives. The couple welcomed their daughter Adira in 2015, and to this day, no pictures of the little one have been made public. In a recent conversation with Film Companion, Rani opened up about her relationship with Aditya Chopra. "For me, the best time Adi and I have is when we go to watch a movie together. We continue doing that every Friday at YRF (Yash Raj Films studio) in Mumbai. But when we’re outside India, we go everywhere. It’s lovely to hold hands and all — it’s quite nice. I think it’s fun, just going and standing in line, getting your ticket, getting your popcorn. Nowadays you even get pizza, which is great. So you get good food, you eat, you watch your film — it’s crazy, it’s such a good experience." Rani's work front Rani Mukerji, who became a sensation with Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in the late '90s, is one of Bollywood’s most popular and talented actresses. These days, she takes on selective projects and only picks scripts she deeply believes in. She is currently shooting for the third installment of the Mardaani franchise, in which she will reprise her role as Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy.
30 April,2025 11:20 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentFilmmaker Mahesh Bhatt recently recalled his relationship with the late actress Parveen Babi. The iconic actress’s life was a rollercoaster ride, as she battled mental health issues during the 1970s and 1980s. Babi was in a relationship with Mahesh Bhatt while he was still married to Kiran Bhatt. The filmmaker has now revealed that Parveen was also married, a fact he discovered while they were in a relationship and living together. Mahesh Bhatt talks about affair with Parveen Babi In an interview with BBC News Hindi, Mahesh said, "I found out about her marriage later, when we were already in a relationship. When her mother would visit from Junagadh, she would occasionally talk about it. By then, I was living with her. It came up in conversation that she had been married once, and then the man moved to Pakistan." Not just that, Mahesh also revealed that when he was in Pakistan for the Kara Film Festival, he was informed that a man had come to meet him — Parveen's husband. However, Bhatt could not meet him. "I was told that someone wanted to meet me, but I couldn’t. I never said I didn’t want to meet him, but somehow it just didn’t work out. I wondered why he wanted to see me. I was never someone who shut my door to anyone," he said. About Mahesh Bhatt and Parveen Babi Parveen Babi and Mahesh Bhatt met in 1977. At the time, she was at the peak of her career and one of the most popular stars in the country. They entered into a relationship even though Mahesh was still married to Kiran Bhatt. Parveen, on the other hand, had just come out of a relationship with actor Kabir Bedi. Mahesh and Parveen dated for three years before calling it quits. However, at the peak of her career, Parveen left the film industry and was later diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She lived a largely reclusive life in her later years. Parveen Babi passed away alone in her Mumbai apartment on January 20, 2005. Her death was discovered 24 hours later.
30 April,2025 07:51 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDirection is a natural progression for many screenwriters. Writer Nikhil Mehrotra, who has penned Dangal (2016), Chhichhore (2019) and Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), is now taking his place behind the camera. It has been learnt that he will make his directorial debut with a slice-of-life film led by Mona Singh. A source close to the development reveals, “Nikhil has been toying with the idea of directing for a while. After years of writing emotionally rich stories, he felt that his latest script was personal enough to take the leap.” Nikhil Mehrotra Set to go on floors in May, the film will be primarily shot in suburban Mumbai. Singh, who shone in Made in Heaven 2 (2023) and Kaala Paani (2023), was reportedly Mehrotra’s first choice. The source adds, “She instantly connected with the script and decided to kick this off after she wrapped the second season of Kohrra, and Aryan Khan’s web series.” We reached out to Mehrotra, who didn’t respond till press time.
30 April,2025 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuADVERTISEMENT
