Mouni Roy Begins Filming Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘The Wives’ with Excitement
MUMBAI– Actress Mouni Roy has officially started shooting for The Wives, a mystery thriller directed by Madhur Bhandarkar.
Taking to Instagram, the Brahmāstra star shared a behind-the-scenes photo with Bhandarkar, both holding clapboards on set. “Day 1 on this new film I’m truly excited about,” she wrote. “Grateful to be creating with the maestro himself @imbhandarkar. Thrilled for the journey ahead. #TheWives @pranavjain27.”
Her close friend and fellow actress Disha Patani commented, “Congratulations my mon, kill it.”
A day earlier, Bhandarkar announced the film’s mahurat on Instagram, calling it his 16th film and “an original story set in the captivating world of glamour.” He added, “Finally bringing this concept-driven project to life is a dream come true.”
The Wives also stars Sonali Kulkarni, Regina Cassandra, Rahul Bhatt, Saurabh Sachdeva, Arjan Bajwa, and Freddy Daruwala. The film is co-produced by Bhandarkar Entertainment and P J Motion Pictures, marking Bhandarkar’s second collaboration with producer Pranav Jain after India Lockdown.
Akshay Kumar Moved to Tears by Anupam Kher’s ‘Tanvi The Great’
MUMBAI– Akshay Kumar shared an emotional reaction after watching Anupam Kher’s directorial Tanvi The Great, calling it a deeply moving experience.
In an Instagram Story, the Airlift actor said the film left him in tears and completely captivated. “A little late to the party, but so glad I watched this. Tanvi The Great is a moving, emotional ride that truly had me in tears and rooting with all my heart for Tanvi,” he wrote. He also wished Kher and the team all the best, praising the film’s heartfelt storytelling.
The film, which marks the acting debut of Shubhangi, also stars Jackie Shroff, Arvind Swami, Boman Irani, Pallavi Joshi, Karan Tacker, and Nasser. Kher and Game of Thrones actor Iain Glen appear in special roles. It is produced by Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar under the Excel Entertainment banner and released in theaters on July 18.
Celebrities including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Kangana Ranaut have praised the film. SRK wrote on X, “To my friend @AnupamPKher who has always taken chances… whether it’s acting, filmmaking or life!! The trailer of #TanviTheGreat is looking awesome. All the best on this journey!!”
Kher described the film as one of the most important of his career, calling it “an ode to everyone who is different but no less.” The story follows an autistic girl who dreams of joining the Indian Army. “Everyone who watches Tanvi The Great will walk away a little kinder, perhaps even changed,” Kher said.
Kajol: “I Don’t Even Try to Understand Gen Z Lingo”
MUMBAI– Bollywood star Kajol admits she doesn’t bother trying to decode Gen Z slang — and she’s fine with that.
“I don’t even try to understand Gen Z lingo,” Kajol told IANS with a laugh. “I’m satisfied with just speaking good English, good Hindi, and good Marathi.” When asked if she ever gets confused by Gen Z expressions, the actress said she simply asks for help. “If I don’t understand it, I say so. Just say it in normal language.”
Kajol, mother to 22-year-old Nysa and 15-year-old Yug, shares her children with actor Ajay Devgn. The couple began dating while filming Gundaraj in 1994 and married in 1999.
Her latest release, Maa, a mythological horror film and spinoff of Shaitaan (2024), hit theaters on June 27. It stars Kajol as a mother whose visit to her late husband’s hometown with her daughter unleashes a deadly curse.
She will next appear in Sarzameen, directed by Kayoze Irani, set to premiere on JioCinema (formerly JioHotstar) on July 25. The film also features Ibrahim Ali Khan and Prithviraj Sukumaran.
Kajol is also headlining Maharagni: Queen of Queens, an action thriller directed by Charan Tej Uppalapati. The film reunites her with Prabhu Deva nearly 30 years after Minsara Kanavu (1997) and marks his return to acting. The cast includes Naseeruddin Shah, Samyuktha, Jisshu Sengupta, and Aditya Seal.
Diljit Dosanjh Shares Behind-the-Scenes Fun from ‘Border 2’ Shoot
MUMBAI– Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh gave fans another behind-the-scenes look from the set of Border 2, as he continues filming alongside Varun Dhawan and Ahaan Shetty.
Posting a lighthearted video on Instagram captioned “Just Another Day Brother,” Diljit is seen shooting a war scene as rain pours down. Laughing it off, he says, “Tension mat lo, hum maze karenge” (“Don’t worry, we’ll enjoy ourselves”).
The clip shows Diljit joking around with co-stars Varun and Ahaan, as well as director Anurag Singh. “Our director has left the shoot and come to sit with us,” Diljit quips. “He says, finish your chatting first, we’ll shoot later.”
The video also captures a candid moment with filmmaker Anees Bazmee giving a narration while producer Boney Kapoor looks on, and features a cheerful exchange between Diljit and actress Mona Singh.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) has temporarily lifted its non-cooperation order against Diljit, allowing him to continue working on Border 2. FWICE President B.N. Tiwari explained that T-Series requested the exemption since much of the film, especially the war sequences, had already been completed with Diljit.
The ban stemmed from backlash over Diljit’s involvement in Sardaar Ji 3 with Pakistani actress Hania Aamir.
Directed by Anurag Singh and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Nidhi Dutta, Shiv Chanana, and Binoy Gandhi, Border 2 is presented by Gulshan Kumar, T-Series, and JP Dutta’s JP Films. The sequel to the 1997 classic Border is set against the backdrop of the 1999 Kargil War and will hit theaters on January 23, 2026.
Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa Announce First Pregnancy: “Baby on the Way”
MUMBAI– Bollywood couple Rajkummar Rao and Patralekhaa are expecting their first child and shared the happy news through a joint Instagram post that read, “Baby on the way – Patralekhaa & Rajkummar.”
The announcement sparked an outpouring of love and congratulations from friends and fans across social media.
Varun Dhawan commented, “Congratualtionsssssss” with heart emojis, while Farah Khan wrote, “Finally the news is out!! I was having a tough time keeping it to myself.. congratulations.” Sonam Kapoor, Pulkit Samrat, Neha Dhupia, Dia Mirza, Sonakshi Sinha, Bhumi Pednekar, and Manushi Chhillar were among the many to send warm wishes to the parents-to-be.
Rajkummar and Patralekhaa’s love story began on the set of Hansal Mehta’s CityLights (2014), after Rajkummar first saw her in an ad and hoped to meet her one day. They got engaged in October 2021 and tied the knot the following month in an intimate ceremony with family and close friends.
On the work front, Rajkummar is gearing up for the release of his gangster drama Maalik, co-starring Manushi Chhillar. Directed by Pulkit and produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the film is set to hit theaters on July 11.
Kriti Sanon Channels Her Inner ‘90s Kid’ with Throwback Tunes
MUMBAI– Actress Kriti Sanon gave fans a dose of nostalgia by embracing her ’90s roots through music in a playful Instagram video.
In a black-and-white clip, the Heropanti star is seen doing her makeup while grooving to Alisha Chinai’s iconic “Made in India.” The video, tagged “90’s baby for life,” shows Kriti jokingly asking for a more upbeat track: “Can you please change the song… Move to some peppy one… I don’t want to hear ‘boom boom.’”
The clip then transitions to her singing “Meri Neend” by A Band of Boys, followed by dancing to “Teri To, Teri Ta, Hamesha Yaad Sataave” from Rocky Handsome.
She captioned the video: “Part 3 ke liye aur 90’s ke gaane batao.. playlist update karni hai.” Singer Sophie Choudry commented, “I hope you know I sang the backing vocals on Made in India as a kid. That was my debut.”
On the work front, Kriti recently wrapped filming for Tere Ishk Mein, directed by Aanand L. Rai and co-starring Dhanush. Calling it a “roller coaster ride” of emotional and physical intensity, she thanked Rai for guiding her through the journey and praised Dhanush as “one of the finest and most intelligent actors I have worked with.”
Urvashi Rautela’s Mother Alleges Theft by Alia Bhatt’s Former Assistant Arrested for Rs 77 Lakh Fraud
MUMBAI– Actress Urvashi Rautela’s mother, Meera Rautela, has come forward with serious allegations against Vedika Shetty, Alia Bhatt’s former assistant, who was recently arrested for cheating the actress out of Rs 77 lakh.
Meera revealed that Vedika, who once served as Urvashi’s personal assistant from 2015 to 2017, was involved in multiple incidents of theft while working for their family. “She was hired to assist Urvashi after Miss Universe in Las Vegas and during the Miss Universe India crown handover in 2016. She had access to Urvashi’s wardrobe, gowns, and personal belongings,” Meera said.
She recounted two incidents during the 2016 crown handover ceremony. First, Vedika allegedly stole a large sum of money from Meera’s mother’s briefcase while she was out visiting a doctor. In another instance, Meera claimed she personally witnessed Vedika stealing from her purse during outfit fittings and confronted her, but Vedika denied the act.
Meera also accused Vedika of falsely claiming ties to actors Shilpa Shetty and Suniel Shetty and said the entire ordeal caused emotional and financial strain on the family, especially affecting Urvashi’s grandmother.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Police confirmed Vedika Shetty’s arrest by Juhu Police for defrauding Alia Bhatt of Rs 76.9 lakh. She allegedly forged the actress’s signature and misappropriated funds while managing her finances and schedule from 2021 to 2024.
Alia Bhatt’s Former Secretary Arrested for Rs 77 Lakh Fraud
MUMBAI– Vedika Shetty, former secretary to actress Alia Bhatt, has been arrested for allegedly cheating the Bollywood star out of Rs 77 lakh.
According to a statement from Mumbai Police, Shetty was arrested by Juhu Police in connection with a Rs 7.7 million financial fraud case. The complaint was filed several months ago by Alia’s mother, veteran actress Soni Razdan. After months on the run, Shetty was apprehended in Bengaluru and brought before the court on Tuesday, where she was remanded to police custody until July 10.
Shetty is accused of forging Alia’s signature and misappropriating funds between 2021 and 2024 while managing the actress’s financial documents, payments, and schedule. The case has been registered under Sections 316(4) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Alia Bhatt has yet to issue a public statement on the matter.
Meanwhile, the actress is busy filming Alpha, a spy thriller co-starring Sharvari. She also recently shared her excitement over the first look of her husband Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram in Nitesh Tiwari’s Ramayana. The teaser, released on July 3, introduced Ranbir as Ram, Sai Pallavi as Sita, and Yash as Ravana. The highly anticipated film is set to release in two parts — Diwali 2026 and Diwali 2027.
Shikhar Pahariya Speaks Out on Hindi-Marathi Language Row, Criticizes MNS Violence
MUMBAI– Shikhar Pahariya, boyfriend of actress Janhvi Kapoor, has weighed in on the growing language conflict in Maharashtra, urging for unity over division and condemning recent violence by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Posting a detailed note on Instagram, Shikhar wrote: “Asmita—a sense of self and identity—should uplift, not divide. It should give us pride, not prejudice, no matter where in India we are from or what language we speak.” He described Marathi Asmita as “real, emotional, and deeply rooted in our way of life,” but warned against turning that pride into exclusion.
The controversy stems from a recent (now-rolled-back) state decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language in schools. The move sparked backlash from pro-Marathi groups, with MNS workers resorting to threats and violence against non-Marathi speakers in Mumbai and Pune.
As a native of Solapur, Pahariya said he empathizes with both Marathi pride and the struggles of migrant workers. “Language shapes who we are… but that pride cannot come at the cost of others’ dignity—especially those making an honest, hard living,” he wrote.
He questioned the morality of punishing Hindi, Tamil, or Gujarati speakers in Maharashtra, adding, “The real tragedy is believing this is a threat to Marathi. We cannot keep a language alive through fear.”
Calling for inclusion, he concluded: “Let our Marathi Asmita shine through inclusion, not intimidation. Let us protect Marathi by celebrating it, not weaponizing it.”
In response to the public outcry, Maharashtra’s School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced Hindi would no longer be compulsory, making it optional alongside Marathi and English.
Meanwhile, the issue has taken a political turn, with estranged cousins Raj and Uddhav Thackeray briefly setting aside their rivalry to oppose Hindi imposition in the state. (Source: IANS)
