Thursday, July 02
Tony Kakkar responded to trolls criticizing his new song Candy Shop with Neha Kakkar. Addressing backlash, he said he enjoys reading comments and highlighted the business side of pop music, noting that viral hits fund deeper projects. The Kakkar duo’s K-pop-inspired track received mixed reactions for its bold visuals and double-meaning lyrics.
At the trailer launch of her upcoming film 'Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu Meri' (TMMTMTTM) in Mumbai, Ananya Panday chose a look that perfectly balanced old-school romanticism with high-street edge. Panday's Rs. 57K polka dot dress paid an ode to her on-screen character of Rumi opposite Kartik Aaryan's Ray.
Gaiety Galaxy owner Manoj Desai recounted Amitabh Bachchan's poignant remark at Rajesh Khanna's funeral, highlighting Khanna's notorious tardiness. Bachchan reportedly quipped about waiting two hours for Khanna on set, now experiencing a similar delay for his final rites. This anecdote sheds light on Khanna's legendary, albeit problematic, stardom and the eventual career decline that followed.
Director Anees Bazmee, celebrated for his iconic film 'No Entry', is teaming up once again with Akshay Kumar for a new comedy after a 15-year hiatus. Looking back on the year, Bazmee shared his appreciation for the support of fans and indicates a fresh commitment to crafting engaging stories. He also hopes to prioritize quality family moments in the future.
Vicky Kaushal praised Kalyani Priyadarshan’s performance in 'Lokah Chapter 1: Chandra', calling it a tricky role to master. He admired how she portrayed Chandra, a stoic spirit from Kerala folklore. While Vicky’s 'Chhaava' ruled the Hindi box office with ₹807 crore, 'Lokah' broke Malayalam cinema records, earning over ₹300 crore.
In the iconic 1968 film 'Ankhen', Dharmendra's portrayal of the steadfast spy Sunil set a precedent for the archetype of the patriotic Indian agent. This powerful theme of sacrificing for the nation, akin to a child's devotion to their mother, finds echoes in the high-octane narratives of today like 'Pathaan' and the much-anticipated 'Dhurandhar'.
The song 'FA9LA' from 'Dhurandhar' is a social media sensation, with Akshaye Khanna's dance moves captivating audiences. However, the film's rapper, Flipperachi, cannot watch it as 'Dhurandhar' is banned in Gulf countries, including his home in Bahrain. Despite this, Flipperachi expresses his eagerness to see the film and praises the actors involved.
Arjun Rampal praised Preity Zinta’s passion for 'Dhurandhar', saying her excitement inspired him deeply. The actor thanked her on Instagram, expressing gratitude for her constant support. Preity, after watching the film, called it “raw, real, and powerful,” hailing Aditya Dhar’s direction and the performances of Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Rampal, and others.
Indian cinema has achieved global recognition. Homebound has been shortlisted for the Oscars 2026 Best International Feature Film category. This marks a significant milestone for the film. Celebrations are underway across the industry. Actors like Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani have shared their pride. Director Neeraj Ghaywan's film explores themes of friendship, caste, and religion.
Kalki Koechlin, promoting her new film 'Her Song', believes streaming platforms have peaked, citing content overload and dwindling audience engagement. She observes a slowdown in production due to a struggling business model, but remains optimistic, anticipating a creative resurgence that will push for original storytelling and formats. The film itself explores themes of memory and cyclical history.
