Bollywood Roundup: Ranbir Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Sara Ali Khan, and more…
Ranbir Kapoor Buys Ayodhya Land Ahead of ‘Ramayana’ Release
MUMBAI, India — Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor has purchased a land parcel in Ayodhya as he prepares for the release of his upcoming epic film “Ramayana.”
The actor bought 2,134 square feet of land valued at about 3.31 crore rupees. The purchase comes amid rising investment interest in Ayodhya’s real estate and tourism sectors.
“I believe Ayodhya has chosen me, and I have just answered this calling. Ayodhya is deep rooted in our history and is a critical part of our cultural fabric. This land at The Sarayu became my gateway to ensuring this becomes a part of my legacy for my family,” Kapoor said in a statement.
The land is part of The Sarayu, a 75-acre plotted development on the banks of the Sarayu River. The project includes lifestyle amenities and a fully vegetarian luxury hotel.
Kapoor is set to star as Lord Rama in “Ramayana,” directed by Nitesh Tiwari. The film also features Sai Pallavi as Sita, with Yash reported to play Ravana. Sunny Deol has been associated with the role of Hanuman, while Ravi Dubey has been linked to Lakshman.
The film is planned as a multi-part adaptation of the Hindu epic and is expected to be one of India’s most ambitious big-budget productions. Its music is being composed by A.R. Rahman and Hans Zimmer, with visual effects work involving international studios.
Kapoor also has “Love & War,” co-starring Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal, in the pipeline.
Ayushmann Khurrana Releases Reprised Version of ‘Dil Waale Chor’
MUMBAI, India — Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana has released an intimate reprised version of “Dil Waale Chor” from his upcoming film “Pati Patni Aur Woh Do.”
Khurrana collaborated with composer Rochak Kohli on the new version of the romantic track, which was originally composed by Kohli and sung by Aditya Rikhari and Shreya Ghoshal.
“Music has always been a very personal space for me. The first time I heard ‘Dil Waale Chor’, it stayed with me. There was something beautifully unfiltered about the song – the emotion of the lyrics and melody. Rochak has composed it with a lot of soul, and Aditya and Shreya brought such honesty to the original version that it instantly connected with audiences,” Khurrana said.
He said the goal was not simply to recreate the song, but to reinterpret it in a more personal way.
“When Rochak and I spoke about revisiting the track, the idea was never to simply recreate it, but to reinterpret it in a way that feels intimate and personal to my journey with music. I enjoy constantly evolving creatively, whether it’s through storytelling on screen or through songs that connect on a more personal level. This collaboration with Rochak felt like the perfect blend of both worlds,” he said.
Khurrana, known for blending acting and music throughout his career, stars in “Pati Patni Aur Woh Do,” billed as a family entertainer built around humor, chaos and heart. The film is scheduled for release May 15, 2026.
Sara Ali Khan Says Online Criticism Does Affect Her
MUMBAI, India — Sara Ali Khan said online criticism and trolling do affect her, though she has learned over time to focus more on the work itself.
In an interview with IANS, the actress was asked whether comments on social media have an impact on her mental health. Khan said it would be dishonest to claim she is unaffected, because her work is ultimately meant for the audience.
“I’ll be lying if I say I don’t get affected. I do get affected because ultimately, I, you know, do what I do for my audiences, and if I disappoint them, I don’t feel good. But I think somewhere in this journey of having been here now for a while, you actually start also working for yourself. And I think I learned that late in my career,” Khan said.
She said her focus remains on viewers, but added that enjoying the process and knowing she has done her best helps reduce self-doubt.
“I think for very long the initial focus was, and it’ll always be, I said ‘Janata Janata’ and I meant that. The focus will always be the audience. But if you truly start enjoying your work, you enjoy the process, and you tell yourself, not in a lie but in a genuine way, that I have done my best. That absolves you of any sort of mental guilt and self-flagellation for no reason. Then you feel like, I did my best, I did as much as I could, and now it’s up to God. That gets easier if you put in your best, and then that’s it,” she said.
Khan will next appear in the romantic comedy “Pati Patni Aur Woh Do,” alongside Ayushmann Khurrana, Rakul Preet Singh and Wamiqa Gabbi. Directed by Mudassar Aziz, the film is scheduled to open in theaters May 15.
Mouni Roy Turns Off Comments After Announcing Divorce From Suraj Nambiar
MUMBAI, India — Mouni Roy has turned off comments on Instagram after she and Suraj Nambiar announced their divorce in a joint statement.
The couple confirmed Thursday that they have decided to part ways and asked for privacy as they handle the matter privately and amicably. Roy later disabled comments and hid existing comments on the post.
After users were unable to comment on the divorce announcement, some moved to Roy’s older posts and dragged Disha Patani into the discussion, accusing her without evidence of being involved in the split.
“We note with dismay the unnecessary and intrusive attention into our personal lives by certain quarters of the media. We would like to state that we have decided to part ways and are taking the necessary time to address matters privately and amicably,” the couple said.
They said attempts had been made to sensationalize their private lives through “fictitious narratives and blatant falsehoods.”
“After thoughtful reflection on evolving personal priorities, we have mutually chosen to move forward on separate paths with respect and understanding. At this point, we are focused on navigating this phase thoughtfully and privately. We will endeavour to cherish our friendship in times to come. We sincerely appreciate your understanding, respect for our privacy, and the continued support extended to us during this time,” they added.
Speculation about the couple’s marriage had grown in recent days after social media users noticed that Roy and Nambiar appeared to have unfollowed each other on Instagram.
Roy and Nambiar reportedly met at a New Year’s celebration in Dubai in 2018 and later maintained a long-distance relationship while he lived in Dubai and she was based in Mumbai. The couple married in Goa in 2022, holding both Malayali and Bengali wedding ceremonies.
Aamir Khan Reportedly Begins Work on ‘3 Idiots’ Sequel
MUMBAI, India — Aamir Khan has reportedly begun work on a sequel to the 2009 blockbuster “3 Idiots,” with R. Madhavan and Sharman Joshi expected to return.
According to an industry source cited by IANS, the project is in pre-production and will reunite the original trio from the Rajkumar Hirani film.
The sequel is expected to feature a major time leap, meaning the characters will be at a different stage of life than they were in the original movie. It remains unclear whether the story will take place before or after the events of “3 Idiots.”
Hirani, who directed the original film, is also reportedly returning to direct the sequel.
“3 Idiots” starred Khan as Rancho, one of Indian cinema’s most popular characters. The film also featured Kareena Kapoor Khan, Boman Irani and Mona Singh in key roles.
The movie became a major global box-office success, crossing 400 crore rupees worldwide.
Saif Ali Khan Says Shah Rukh Khan Praised ‘Kartavya’ After Watching Film
MUMBAI, India — Saif Ali Khan said Shah Rukh Khan responded warmly after watching “Kartavya,” the upcoming Netflix drama backed by Red Chillies Entertainment.
Khan, who plays a police officer in the film, told IANS that Shah Rukh Khan liked the movie after seeing the finished version and promised it would receive a strong release.
“It was a few words, but very nice words. The feedback after the film finished was that he really liked the movie,” Saif said.
Saif recalled Shah Rukh telling him, “I am going to get a great release for it. It is going to be fab.”
The film is produced by Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment. Directed by Pulkit, “Kartavya” follows Saif’s character, Pawan, a man caught between morality, duty and personal cost.
“Pawan is a man constantly negotiating with himself, between what he believes is right, what’s expected of him, and what he must protect. What drew me to Kartavya is that it doesn’t offer easy answers; it puts you in uncomfortable spaces and forces you to ask what you would do when every choice comes at a personal cost,” Saif said.
He said working with Pulkit, the cast and Red Chillies Entertainment made the project especially compelling.
The film also stars Sanjay Mishra, Zakir Hussain, Manish Chaudhari and Saurabh Dwivedi. “Kartavya” is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on May 15.
Aditi Rao Hydari Shares ‘Calm Before We Cannes’ Photos
MUMBAI, India — Aditi Rao Hydari has arrived at the French Riviera ahead of her red carpet appearance at the Cannes Film Festival.
The actress shared a series of photos from her hotel room, showing her posing, eating a meal, applying lipstick and going through last-minute outfit fittings.
“The calm before we Cannes,” she wrote in the caption.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened with the French period comedy “The Electric Kiss” and is scheduled to run through May 23. French actress Eye Haidara is hosting the opening and closing ceremonies.
Several Indian actresses, including Alia Bhatt, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Huma Qureshi and Tara Sutaria, are also expected to make appearances at the festival.
Aditi was last seen in “Gandhi Talks,” a black comedy starring Vijay Sethupathi, Arvind Swamy and Siddharth Jadhav. Her recent work also includes “Hey! Sinamika,” “Jubilee,” “Heeramandi” and “Padmaavat.” (Source: IANS)
