Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Love & War cast gears up for grand song shoot with 200 dancers at Royal Palms

 After a short production break, filming for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's ambitious period drama Love & War is scheduled to begin on June 18. Lead actors Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, and Vicky Kaushal will reunite for one of the movie's most significant scenes in the near future.


Speculation about the project's filming timetable and release intentions has put it in the public eye in recent months. But Bhansali subsequently confirmed that the movie is still mostly on schedule, with almost 90% of the main photography now finished.



The next stage of filming will concentrate on a complex song sequence that is mounted on a large scale, according to a report from Mid-Day. Along with the main actors, the routine is anticipated to include close to 200 dancers. "It is being designed as a spectacle," a production insider told the newspaper. Originally scheduled to begin on June 8, it will now begin on June 18 at Royal Palms.


According to reports, the song would be filmed on a specially constructed set over a number of days. The choreography, costumes, and production design for the sequence have been finalized for weeks before the cameras start rolling.


"The choreography, costumes, and production design have been under preparation for weeks," the source added. Even by Bhansali's standards, the scale is massive. The shoot was postponed by two weeks because each frame was painstakingly storyboarded.



Due to the key actors' commitments to other projects, the upcoming schedule comes after a brief hiatus. As filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari advances the next installment of the legendary epic, Ranbir Kapoor has turned his focus to Ramayana: Part Two. Vicky Kaushal, who will play Lord Parashuram in Mahavatar, has been filming and getting ready for the film.


The stars' hectic schedules were reportedly causing scheduling issues for the rest of Love & War, especially the climax, earlier this year. The most recent timetable seems to signal the start of the movie's last phase.


After filming is finished, attention will turn to post-production, which is anticipated to take a lot of time considering the size and aesthetic demands of the movie. The prior release dates of Christmas 2025, Eid 2026, and August 2026 have apparently been abandoned by the creators. The choice was made to give post-production and visual effects enough time.


Ranbir Kapoor's Ramayana: Part One, which is anticipated to hit theaters in late 2026, is another element affecting the release plan. The company behind Love & War is now thought to be aiming for a theatrical release in January 2027, potentially around the Republic Day holiday, in order to prevent a conflict between two huge Ranbir Kapoor films.



Kala Hiran controversy deepens: Sonu Mishra talks about exiting the film based on Salman Khan blackbuck case; says ‘I didn’t want to be a part of such a film’

The debate over the movie *Kala Hiran: Battle of Legacy* is getting hotter.The film, made by Amit Jani, is said to be based on public information from the ongoing blackbuck case involving Salman Khan.It has been getting a lot of attention since the first poster was released.The poster made waves because actor Sonu Mishra looked very similar to Salman Khan, which raised a lot of questions.

Some have said they were confused by the producer.The latest person to share his side was Sonu Mishra, who told the media during a press conference that he had left the film.He explained that he was first approached for the movie but was never given a proper contract.Because of this, he felt unsure about the film’s portrayal of Salman Khan and decided to step back.

The controversy is spreading: Sonu Mishra talks about leaving the film because of the blackbuck case; he says, “I didn’t want to be in a film like this.”  

Photos: Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and others attending late Dharmendra’s last rites  
Photos: Salman Khan at Kalina airport  
Photos: Salman Khan at Kalina airport  
Salman Khan, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sonakshi Sinha, Zaheer & others at Vikram Phadnis Fashion Show  
Photos: Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Sushmita Sen, Riteish Deshmukh, Genelia Deshmukh and others at Vikram Phadnis' 35 Years anniversary celebration in JW Marriott, Juhu  
Photos: Salman Khan, Ridhima Pandit, Iulia Vantur, Gauahar Khan and others at Arbaaz Khan's wife Sshura Khan's baby shower ceremony in Bandra  
Battle Of Galwan  
Photos: Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and others at the inauguration of World Padel League Season 3  

Amid the legal dispute started by Salman Khan and his team, many people involved in the film have spoken about the negative story being told.
Some even claimed they were tricked by the producer.Sonu Mishra was the latest to speak out.He told the press that he was first invited for the film but never signed a proper contract.Because of this, he had doubts about how the film was showing Salman Khan and decided to leave the project.

When asked about his decision, Sonu Mishra said, “I was really excited because I was supposed to play Salman Khan.
I even started filming.But if the story is negative, as an actor, I don’t want to be part of something like this.They have their point of view, but you are showing Salman Khan in a bad way and creating a one-sided story.”  

He also said that before leaving, he asked for the script and the contract.
“I left because I hadn’t signed the agreement.We shot for two days, and I asked for the agreement and the script because they were making a one-sided story against a superstar.They realized I wasn’t going to fall for their plan.I asked for the agreement to know what it said.After a long time, they showed me the details and I realized I was supposed to speak against the star in the media.All of this went against my ethics,” he added.

This comes at a time when Salman Khan and his legal team have asked the Delhi High Court to block the film and its promotions.
They claim the movie hurts Salman Khan’s personality rights and is based on a case that is still in court.The court has taken note of the case and sent a notice to the film’s makers.The next hearing is scheduled for June 19.

With legal issues rising and key people leaving the project, the future of *Kala Hiran: Battle of Legacy* is unclear.

Everyone’s talking about Alpha and that might just be the BEST thing to happen to Bollywood

Since the teaser for Alpha, with Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, came out online, it has become one of the most talked-about Hindi movies on social media.People are having very different opinions about it.Some are praising the filmmakers for putting two women in the main roles of a high-energy action movie, while others are questioning if Bollywood is ready for such a film.But maybe that’s exactly what the film is trying to do.

OPINION: Everyone is talking about Alpha, and that might just be the BEST thing to happen to Bollywood

OPINION: Everyone is talking about Alpha, and that might just be the BEST thing to happen to Bollywood

Disha PataniDisha PataniDisha PataniDisha PataniDisha PataniDisha PataniPhotos: Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and others snapped attending late Dharmendra’s last ritesAnanya Panday

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Whether the talk around Alpha is positive or negative, it has managed to do something that many movies struggle with these days—it has made people interested.
In a time when people are more indifferent than critical, that’s already a good thing.More importantly, Alpha shows what Bollywood really needs: the bravery to try something new.

For the Hindi film industry to do well, it can’t rely on just one or two successful ideas.
Every time a certain film type works, there’s a rush to make more of the same.While that may bring in some big hits, it rarely creates a healthy cinema environment.Bollywood is a big industry, and variety is what helps it stay alive.That's why the film industry is watching Alpha closely.

At its heart, Alpha seems to be Bollywood’s way of bringing in the kind of fast-paced, exciting action films that franchises like Fast & Furious are known for—stylish action, big set pieces, thrilling moments, and pure entertainment.
But unlike those films, Alpha adds something new by putting women in the center of the story.

Will this lead to box office success?
No one knows yet.But just trying something new is something worth recognizing.

The movie industry has always done well because it gives audiences choices.
Family movies, romantic dramas, thrillers, comedies, horror films, big historical stories, action movies, and everyday life stories have all kept film theaters busy.When every Friday has something new, people keep coming back.

If all major movies start to look and feel the same, going to the movies loses its excitement.
That's why Alpha matters.

This film isn't just bringing another action movie.
It's checking if audiences are willing to enjoy a high-octane action film led by women without seeing it as a special case.Alia Bhatt plays an assassin in a made-up, exciting world.Whether the film works or not is still to be seen, but the idea feels new in mainstream Hindi cinema.And that kind of freshness is exactly what Bollywood needs.

No film is a sure hit these days.
We've seen big stars make movies that don't do well, while small films have become huge surprises.The usual rules for box office success are getting harder to predict.In that kind of environment, playing it safe isn't always the best choice.Taking smart creative risks might actually be the better business move.

Credit goes to Yash Raj Films for supporting a movie that doesn’t just repeat a proven formula.
Even if Alpha doesn’t change everything right away, it helps the industry dream bigger.Every film that breaks the usual rules makes it easier for the next filmmaker to go even further.

History has shown that what seems risky today can become normal tomorrow.

Viewers have also shown they love new ideas, as long as they’re wrapped up in good stories and entertaining films.
They don’t reject new ideas—they reject films that don’t grab their attention.Ultimately, that’s what Alpha will be judged on.The online debates will keep going.Opinions will still be divided.Social media will look at every detail.But the biggest takeaway is that Bollywood is trying something outside its usual comfort zone.That’s something the industry should never stop doing.

The real verdict will come when people go to see the movie.
We’ll know on July 3, when Alpha comes out worldwide, only in cinemas.

Monday, June 15, 2026

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai Box Office: Varun Dhawan starrer records good growth on second Saturday; eyes Rs. 60 crore-plus lifetime

 Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai is doing well at the box office during its second weekend. The movie held up reasonably well during the weekdays, but it had a big jump of about 40 to 50% on the second Saturday. This shows that people are still interested in the movie even with new movies coming out.


The film's performance in Mysore saw a strong increase of almost 80% compared to the previous day.

 Cities like Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Delhi kept contributing the most to the total earnings.


With the good performance on the second Saturday, the movie is now on track to make around Rs. 10 crore in its second weekend.

 If it continues at this rate, it might end up close to the Rs. 60 crore mark overall.


However, reaching the Rs. 70 crore target will be more challenging.

 The movie will have to keep doing well even with new big releases like Cocktail 2 and Welcome To The Jungle coming out. How it does during the next few days and the third weekend will decide if it can keep going and hit that higher goal.


So far, the strong second Saturday has given the movie a good push and showed that it's still popular with audiences in many important areas.

Cocktail 2 passed with ‘A’ certificate; marks Kriti Sanon’s FIRST adult-rated film and Rashmika Mandanna’s second after Animal

 The next two weeks are going to be really exciting for the film industry. Two highly anticipated movies are getting ready to come out — Cocktail 2 and Welcome To The Jungle. Cocktail 2, which stars Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon and Rashmika Mandanna, is set to hit the cinemas on Friday, June 19. The film has already created a lot of buzz because of its connection to the original franchise, its popular music, its fresh and youthful vibe, and its new cast.


The advance booking for Cocktail 2 started at midnight on June 14, and now it's known that the movie has received an 'A' certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

 Also, it's been reported that the film's runtime is 150 minutes, which is 2 hours and 30 minutes.


This means that Cocktail 2 is Kriti Sanon's first adult-rated film in her 12-year career.

 For Rashmika Mandanna, it's her second 'A' certificate film after Animal (2023). As for Shahid Kapoor, this is his fifth adult-rated film after Kaminey (2009), Udta Punjab (2016), Kabir Singh (2019) and O'Romeo (2026). Interestingly, O'Romeo was his last film, so this means he will have two adult-rated films in a row for the first time in his career.


The first part of Cocktail, which came out in 2012, featured Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone and Diana Penty, who was making her debut.

 Like Cocktail 2, it was directed by Homi Adajania and produced by Dinesh Vijan’s Maddock Films. However, unlike the sequel, the first film got a U/A certificate from the CBFC. It had a runtime of 146 minutes, which is four minutes shorter than Cocktail 2.

Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D scares away competition with Rs. 9.38 cr; Main Vaapas Aaunga follows at Rs. 5.63 cr. Weekend Box Office Collections

 The new movies did well during the weekend at the India box office, with "Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D" being the top performer. The horror film was number one on all three days and made a total of Rs. 9.38 crores after its first weekend.


#Main Vaapas Aaunga Weekend Box Office: "Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D" beat the competition with Rs. 9.38 crores; "Main Vaapas Aaunga" came in second with Rs. 5.63 crores.

"Haunted: Echoes of the Past 3D" started with Rs. 2.50 crores on Friday, then increased to Rs. 3.33 crores on Saturday, and further earned Rs. 3.55 crores on Sunday.

 Although the Sunday growth wasn't as big, the film had already taken the lead over the other new releases and topped the weekend chart.


"Main Vaapas Aaunga" was in second place with a total of Rs. 5.63 crores.

 It made Rs. 1.28 crores on Friday, rose to Rs. 1.85 crores on Saturday, and then reached Rs. 2.50 crores on Sunday. The film showed steady growth each day, especially on Sunday. "Bharat Bhagya Viddhata" made Rs. 4.13 crores over the weekend. The film earned Rs. 1 crore on Friday, Rs. 1.40 crores on Saturday, and Rs. 1.73 crores on Sunday. The growth was consistent throughout the weekend, but the total remained modest. "Governor" ended the weekend with Rs. 3.49 crores. It made Rs. 0.94 crores on Friday, Rs. 1.15 crores on Saturday, and Rs. 1.40 crores on Sunday. The film saw growth on both Saturday and Sunday but was the lowest among the four movies.


In total, the four new releases made around Rs. 22.63 crores during the weekend.

 The combined earnings increased from Rs. 5.72 crores on Friday to Rs. 7.73 crores on Saturday and Rs. 9.18 crores on Sunday, showing a steady rise throughout the weekend.

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Haunted, Main Vaapas Aaunga, Governor & Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Box Office: Mimoh Chakraborty defeats Diljit Dosanjh, Kangana Ranaut and Manoj Bajpayee by a huge margin

Fridays are always full of surprises, and June 12 will be remembered as the day Mimoh Chakraborty beat Diljit Dosanjh, Kangana Ranaut, and Manoj Bajpayee. His latest horror movie, Haunted 3D, has broken all box office expectations by making Rs. 2.75 crores on its first day, even though it wasn’t shown in any of the big national multiplex chains like PVRInox or Cinepolis.

Despite this, strong audience interest has forced these big chains to finally start showing the film.
 Haunted 3D made Rs. 2.75 crores from just single-screen theaters and smaller chains, which shows how much the film is being talked about and how the movie business works.

The film directed by Imtiaz Ali, Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Vedang Raina, and Shavari, did not do well and made just Rs. 1.40 crores on Friday.
 It had high production costs and is expected to be a big failure at the box office. What's even more surprising is that a film directed by Imtiaz Ali with Diljit Dosanjh opened with only half the box office earnings of a low-budget horror film directed by Vikram Bhatt, starring Mimoh Chakraborty.

Kangana Ranaut's film, Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, also failed, with a start of just Rs. 1 crore.
 The fourth release of the week, Governor, also didn't do well, starting around Rs. 1 crore. Both of these films started with about 60% less than Haunted 3D.

This has been a very surprising Friday, and the theater owners have found some support from the horror genre, along with Hollywood films like Disclosure Day, Backrooms, and of course, Obsession.