Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi misses May window; June release on the cards

Salman Khan and Apoorva Lakhia first worked together on a war drama called Battle of Galwan, based on the real-life clash between India and China in the Galwan Valley.

 But during the filming, things between the two countries changed, and the Ministry of Defence asked Salman Khan and his team to make the film more fictional. "The current officials didn’t want to affect the relationship between India and China. They asked Salman to reshoot parts of the film and add a more fictional storyline. Salman respected their request and quickly reshooted around 40% of the movie, adding more romance and background to his character. The film was sent to the board for approval after the reshoot, and it was given a new title, Maatrubhumi," said a source who shared the details with Bollywood Hungama.

However, the latest update is that even the newer version of the film is facing problems, and it won’t be released in May as previously thought.

 "As reported by source before, Salman wanted to release Maatrubhumi on May 15. But issues with the censor board and approvals have made that impossible. The war drama might now be released in June, once all the necessary approvals are received."  

At the same time, Salman Khan is starting the shoot for Dil Raju’s untitled film in mid-April, with the aim of releasing it in the first quarter of 2027.

 He is losing weight for the role and is excited to look completely different in Vamshi’s directorial. He also has Raj DK’s retired superhero film, which is set to start in August.

Salman Khan is one of the most influential stars in Indian cinema, and insiders are confident that he will find a way to release Maatrubhumi in due time.

Also Read: Maatrubhumi: Salman Khan, Chitrangda Singh song "Chand Dekh Lena" BTS video reveals hidden magic fa'.

Mukesh Chhabra ADMITS he and Aditya Dhar were initially unsure about casting Sara Arjun opposite Ranveer Singh; says, “She matched the brief exactly”

The casting of Sara Arjun opposite Ranveer Singh in Dhurandhar sparked a lot of discussion after the trailer was released, especially because of the noticeable age difference between the two actors.

 Now, casting director Mukesh Chhabra has shared that he and director Aditya Dhar were not sure about casting Sara for the role at first.

  

Speaking exclusively with  source, Chhabra said the team had always wanted to cast a completely new face for the role instead of someone who was already well-known.

 He explained, "From the start, Aditya and I were clear that we needed a face that looked like she was part of that world. There shouldn’t be any previous connections. A new face is better. If we had cast someone with two previous films, the connection wouldn’t feel right because the boy is meeting her for the first time."  

He continued, "Sara had done some films as a child actor, but as a full-fledged heroine in a Bollywood film, she had never done that before.

 The idea was to cast the character, not think of it as choosing a usual lead."  

Over 1,000 auditions were conducted before shortlisting Sara Arjun  

Chhabra revealed that the team had a long audition process that lasted almost a year before they found the right person. "

We were clear that if we were going into that world, the audience should be surprised about who the girl is. We did more than 1,200 to 1,300 auditions. It was clear that we wanted a new face and we were really looking for a new face."  

He also mentioned that the brief required someone who looked natural in the film's setting and could speak both Hindi and Urdu fluently, while also showing innocence and simplicity on screen. "

My brief was very clear. She should look like she fits there. The language had to be correct. Her Hindi and Urdu both had to be very clear. There had to be innocence and simplicity on her face because Ranveer’s character is drawn to that girl."  

According to Chhabra, the shortlist kept getting smaller from hundreds to just a few people before Sara stood out in a key audition scene. "

We came down to 100, then 50, then 30, then 20, and finally 10. After auditioning the final 10, there were three or four very good actors, but Sara was closest to what we needed. There were two or three others who were also close, but she matched it exactly."  

Makers initially felt she looked too young  

Chhabra admitted that both he and Aditya Dhar were unsure if Sara Arjun looked too young for the role.

 They decided to do another look test before making the final decision. "Initially, we felt she looked a little young. We thought maybe we should do one more look test and change the makeup slightly so she doesn’t appear too young. That doubt was there in the beginning."  

After the additional look test, the team became confident in their casting choice and decided to cast her. "

We did another look test here with a different makeup approach, and then it worked. It is a very tough job."

Akshay Kumar’s comments on Rajpal Yadav bring the house down at Bhooth Bangla trailer launch: “Look at his face. Isko dekhke hasee aati hai…yeh aise baat karta hai jaise kavi sammelan mein aaya ho!

Akshay Kumar, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Mithila Palkar, Rajpal Yadav, Paresh Rawal, Rajesh Sharma, director Priyadarshan and producer Ekta Kapoor were all present at the launch of their movie Bhooth Bangla. This movie brings Akshay and Rajpal Yadav back together after a long time. Akshay spoke about this and made everyone laugh.

Akshay Kumar's comments on Rajpal Yadav made everyone laugh at the Bhooth Bangla trailer launch.

 He said, "Look at his face. When you see it, you can't help but laugh. He talks like he has come to a poet's gathering!"

Akshay Kumar's comments on Rajpal Yadav made everyone laugh at the Bhooth Bangla trailer launch.

 He said, "Look at his face. When you see it, you can't help but laugh. He talks like he has come to a poet's gathering!"

Disha Patani, Disha Patani, Disha Patani, Disha Patani, Disha Patani, Disha Patani, Photos: Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan and others were snapped attending late Dharmendra's last rites.

 Ananya Panday.

Akshay Kumar said, "Look at his face.

 He's full of fun. Every time I see him, I can't help but laugh! The audience also laughs."

He continued, "When Paresh Rawal says something serious, it's really funny.

 I can't say the same for Tabu, because she's a very serious actor. Even when she says a comedy line, it feels serious (laughs)."

He further said, "We had a lot of fun and ate great food while making the movie.

 We had a very memorable outdoor shoot in Rajasthan."

Rajpal Yadav took the microphone and shared, "The first instruction Priyan sir gives is 'don't act.'

 Since the time of Hungama (2003), I have been learning from you. I'm sometimes even scared. Priyan is a master of his craft. When the jockey is powerful, the horse also runs faster!"

As the audience clapped, he added, "Comedy is a serious business.

 And Akshay paaji is also very serious. He wakes up at 4 am or 5 am and reaches the set at 7 am. That's a big achievement for an actor who is about to complete 40 years in the industry. When I started working with him on Bhooth Bangla, I saw the same Akshay Kumar with whom I had worked in Phir Hera Pheri (2006) and Bhagam Bhag (2006). This is the magic of Priyan sir."

Akshay Kumar interrupted to add to the fun, "Tell me one thing.

 When you talk, why does it seem like you've come to a poet's gathering? (laughs)"

Bhooth Bangla will be released in cinemas on April 17 and will have paid previews starting at 9:00 pm on April 16.

Third weekend truth bomb: Dhurandhar 2 won the opening war, but Dhurandhar is winning the legs debate

At first, it might seem like comparing Dhurandhar and Dhurandhar 2 is not necessary. The sequel has already made a lot of money and has numbers that very few Hindi films can match. But looking at box office performance isn't only about who is making more money overall. It's also about how a film is doing week by week, where its popularity is coming from, and what that shows about how long it will stay popular. That's why comparing the two films during their third weekend is so important.

The main point from the current numbers is clear: Dhurandhar 2 is definitely bigger, but Dhurandhar was more consistent.

 Let's look at the numbers. Dhurandhar made:

Friday: Rs. 23.70 crore  

Saturday: Rs. 35.70 crore  

Sunday: Rs. 40.30 crore  

That totals to Rs. 99.70 crore for the third weekend.

Dhurandhar 2's numbers are:

Friday: Rs. 21 crore  

Saturday: Rs. 25 crore  

Sunday: Rs. 28 crore  

That totals Rs. 74 crore for the third weekend.

The difference is big.

 Even though Dhurandhar 2 started with a much bigger opening, it made Rs. 29.70 crore less than Dhurandhar in its third weekend. That means it is running about 25 percent behind the original at this point. That's not a small difference. It shows a real trend.

This is even more interesting when you consider the context.

 A sequel that starts very strong is usually expected to do better than the original for a longer time, especially through the weekends. That's because sequels have more recognition, more people know about them, and they start with more buzz. But when a sequel falls behind the original by the third weekend, it signals that the film’s popularity dropped quickly, which is not the same as the original.

This is also clear in how the numbers change each weekend.

 Dhurandhar made Rs. 146.60 crore in its second weekend and then dropped to Rs. 99.70 crore in the third. That's a 32 percent drop, which is normal for a film of that size and shows that the audience kept coming back. Dhurandhar 2, on the other hand, made Rs. 164 crore in the second weekend and dropped to Rs. 74 crore in the third. That's a bigger drop of about 54 percent.

This is where the real story is.

 Dhurandhar 2 is still doing very well and is one of the top-grossing Hindi films right now. But the way it's doing is different from the first film. Dhurandhar built trust and kept growing in popularity each week. Dhurandhar 2, on the other hand, exploded quickly at the start, made a lot of money early, and is now dropping faster.

That’s not a bad thing.

 In today’s movie market, a lot of big films are made to do exactly that. They start with a lot of buzz, make big money quickly, and then drop faster. In fact, you could say that Dhurandhar 2 has adapted better to the current market. Big openings usually mean faster drops.

The film is still going to make a huge total, but compared to Dhurandhar, the final total might not be as high as people expected.

 So, even though Dhurandhar 2 has bigger numbers, Dhurandhar still has more staying power.

That’s why this comparison is so interesting.

 It’s not about which film is more successful. The sequel has already set a record. The real point is about how each film is performing at the box office. Dhurandhar had a longer, more steady run. Dhurandhar 2 was more like a powerful blast that quickly starts to slow down.

In the end, that's how the franchise is today.

 Dhurandhar built a strong base of trust. Dhurandhar 2 used that trust on a much bigger scale. By the third weekend, the original film still looks like the more lasting one.

For the trade, that's not a bad thing about the sequel. It's just the most accurate way to look at the numbers. And as usual with box office numbers, being right is more important than being exciting.

Experienced trade analyst Taran Adarsh doesn't think the third weekend numbers for Dhurandhar 2 are a problem.

 He explained, "I don't think the fact that the third weekend numbers of Dhurandhar 2 are lower than Dhurandhar Part 1 should be a worry. If you look at the trend of Dhurandhar 1, in the first few days, it didn't really take off the way it should. Yes, Saturday was good, Sunday was better. But from Monday and Tuesday onwards, it really started to gain speed and strength."

He went on, "But with Dhurandhar 2, the groundwork was already done.

 It started with the paid previews, which gave it a huge beginning. What you saw was a storm, a big wave, whatever you call it, which wasn't the case with Dhurandhar 1. That film kept getting stronger each week."

Adarsh also mentioned that the third weekend number for Dhurandhar 2, which is 74 crores, is still really big. "

Yes, it's less than the first film, but again, Dhurandhar wasn't as big as Dhurandhar 2. Now, what's happened is the second week was bigger. But if you look at the daily performance of the first week, it was different."

He also pointed out that we can't ignore the milestones Dhurandhar 2 has achieved. "

It's a film that's about to hit 1000 crores, which is something never seen before in Hindi films, even in the domestic market," he said. "What's best is, it's all part of the same family. Dhurandhar 1 and Dhurandhar 2 are connected. And at the same time, I feel both of them set new standards. If you look at the international numbers for Dhurandhar 2, they're also historic."

Adarsh also mentioned the top list of the highest-grossing Hindi films ever. "

Number one is Dhurandhar 2, number two is Dhurandhar. So, the first two spots are taken by Dhurandhar. Number three is Pushpa 2 Hindi."

The trade expert also said that the success of the Dhurandhar franchise has silenced those who said Bollywood was dying a few years ago. "

Those who said, 'Oh, Bollywood is gone, and oh, Bollywood isn't as talented anymore,' Dhurandhar has proven them wrong. It's shown that good content is back. It's good to see Bollywood making those numbers. That also shows the power of real theater. Dhurandhar truly has strong content. It's a heroic run. It's a superstar film. Films come and go. People will always compare other films with Dhurandhar in the future," he concluded.

“Hrithik Roshan refused to take picture”: Fan claims paying Rs 1.2 lakh for VIP meet-and-greet in Dallas

 Actor Hrithik Roshan's recent fan meet-and-greet in Dallas, Texas, has caused a lot of talk after a fan who paid Rs 1.2 lakh for VIP access was not allowed to take a photo with him. The event was part of Hrithik's ongoing tour in the US and was supposed to give fans a close-up experience with the actor. However, the way things went down left many fans upset. Here's what happened at the event that's now getting a lot of attention.

One fan claims that Hrithik Roshan refused to take a picture.

 The fan said they paid Rs 1.2 lakh for a VIP meet-and-greet in Dallas.

Dallas Meet-and-Greet Turns Sour for Hrithik Roshan Fans  

Hrithik Roshan attended a fan event in Dallas hosted by Sophie Choudry on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

 Although the actor entertained the crowd with his usual energy, the mood changed when fans who paid a lot of money for a VIP meet-and-greet were not given a chance to take photos. One upset fan shared their experience on social media, saying, "I spent $1500 plus tickets to meet Hrithik Roshan and didn't even get a picture. I waited 2 hours in line just to be refused."

Hrithik Roshan's US Tour: High Hopes, Big Disappointment  

This event is part of Hrithik's current US tour, which also includes stops in New Jersey (April 10), Chicago (April 12), and the Bay Area (April 13).

 A viral post on Reddit from an unhappy fan has sparked a lot of discussion online. The post read, "We spent so much money and were refused to take pictures with half the meet-and-greet line." The meet-and-greet was marketed as a rare opportunity to meet Bollywood's star. Hrithik has not publicly responded to the controversy.

This isn't the first time Hrithik's fan interactions have been in the news, but it is a rare mistake for an actor who is often admired for his humility.

 On the professional front, his next movie is War 2, starring Jr. NTR and Kiara Advani, set for August 2025. He will also be making his directorial debut with Krrish 4.

Bhooth Bangla trailer sneak peek: The return of Akshay Kumar, Priyadarshan and the comedy OGs promises loads of entertainment; Tabu emerges as the surprise package

 Last night, Bollywood Hungama got a first look at the trailer for the highly anticipated movie of the month, Bhooth Bangla, over 12 hours before its official release today (April 6). The film has already been making a lot of noise because of its mix of horror and comedy, the cast, and more. The trailer is expected to increase the excitement even more.

The trailer is about 2 minutes and 58 seconds long and gives a clearer idea of the story.

 The main focus is on the humor. As expected, Akshay Kumar steals the show. There's no one like him when it comes to comedy, and he proves it once again. He is backed by a great cast including Rajpal Yadav, Paresh Rawal, and the late Asrani. Just seeing all of them together, especially in a Priyadarshan film, is bound to make fans nostalgic and excited. To add to the nostalgia, the makers have used two famous lines from Priyadarshan’s past hit comedies, which are sure to be well received.

Wamiqa Gabbi and Mithila Palkar have limited screen time, but it's clear they play important roles in the story.

 However, the biggest surprise in the trailer is Tabu. She seems to be the hidden gem, and the makers have kept her character a secret. In fact, it's clear that a big part of the plot, especially the horror bits, is still hidden. So, expect a mix of horror, comedy, and suspense when the trailer drops at 9:00 pm on April 16.

The film was postponed by a week, which disappointed fans.

 But the delay might be good for the movie, as Dhurandhar The Revenge would have finished its run by then. A strong opening seems likely. Also, with no big competition until May 1, Bhooth Bangla will have a clean two-week window to make an impact at the box office, provided the audience enjoys it.

Ranbir Kapoor opens up on playing both Lord Rama and Parashurama in Ramayana: “It was fantastic”

The anticipation surrounding Ramayana continues to grow, especially after the teaser featuring Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Ram was unveiled in the United States earlier this week.

 During the event, the actor interacted with the media and offered insights into one of the most intriguing aspects of the film—his dual role as both Lord Rama and Lord Parashurama in Nitesh Tiwari’s ambitious magnum opus.

While Ranbir Kapoor is primarily expected to portray Lord Rama, reports suggest that he will also be seen as Lord Parashurama in a brief yet significant appearance.

 The actor spoke about the mythological connection between the two characters, both of whom are considered incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

"Lord Vishnu had different avatars.

 Lord Rama was an avatar, and Lord Parshurama was an avatar before Lord Rama." Sharing his excitement about getting the opportunity to portray both roles, Ranbir highlighted how rare and creatively fulfilling the experience has been for him as an actor. “Just to get the opportunity, you know, how I got to play Lord Rama, to also play Lord Parshurama was fantastic. I think as an actor, apart from body language, I think if you deeply understand the spirituality and the emotionality of the characters, I think everything starts from there. I think that’s what I did the year leading up to the shoot of Ramayana, to understand who these people and characters are, what they stand for and what their motives are."  

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, Ramayana is being mounted on a grand scale and is widely regarded as one of the most ambitious adaptations of the ancient Indian epic.

 The film aims to bring the timeless story of Lord Rama—his journey, ideals, and battle against evil—to a global audience with cutting-edge visuals and a large ensemble cast.

The inclusion of Parashurama, an earlier avatar of Vishnu known for his fierce temperament and warrior spirit, adds an additional mythological layer to the narrative.

 Though expected to appear briefly, the character holds symbolic importance within the larger context of the epic.

Ranbir Kapoor’s preparation for the role has reportedly involved extensive physical training as well as a deep dive into the philosophical and emotional underpinnings of the characters.

 His emphasis on understanding spirituality reflects the film’s attempt to go beyond spectacle and present a more nuanced portrayal of these revered figures.

As excitement builds around the project, Ramayana continues to remain one of the most closely watched films in development, with audiences eager to see how this iconic tale is reimagined for the big screen.