Shraddha Kapoor’s Eetha sparks title row: NCP and Vithabai Narayangaonkar’s family seek title change

 Shraddha Kapoor's upcoming movie Eetha has caused a lot of discussion even before it's released in theaters.The recently released teaser got positive feedback for Shraddha's transformation into Vithabai Narayangaonkar, a famous Lavani and Tamasha artist.However, the movie's title has now become a point of debate.

After the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) raised questions about why the biographical film wasn't named after Vithabai Narayangaonkar, members of the late folk artist's family have also asked the filmmakers to reconsider the title and rename the movie in her honor.

NCP questions the choice of title

According to a report by TV9 Marathi, the NCP's Film and Cultural Department has objected to the title Eetha.

They say a film based on Vithabai's life should carry her name.The party suggests names like Vitha or Vithabai would be better and would show respect for her work in Maharashtra's Lavani and Tamasha traditions.

Babasaheb Patil, the Maharashtra State President of the NCP's Film and Cultural Department, said the organization feels responsible for preserving and honoring Vithabai's legacy.

He questioned why the filmmakers chose not to name the biopic after the celebrated artist despite her lasting influence on Maharashtra's folk art.

Vithabai Narayangaonkar's family supports the demand

The demand for a title change has also gained support from Vithabai's family.

As per the report, her sons Kailash and Rajesh Narayangaonkar, along with her grandson Mohit Narayangaonkar, have expressed disappointment with the title and asked the makers to change it.

For the family, the issue goes beyond the film's name.

They believe a movie that celebrates Vithabai's life and achievements should be named after her so that future generations remember the woman who played a major role in shaping Maharashtra's Lavani and Tamasha heritage.

So far, director Laxman Utekar and production house Maddock Films have not made any statements about the controversy or the request to rename the film.

Eetha teaser showcases Shraddha Kapoor in a powerful new role

The teaser for Eetha gives a glimpse of one of Shraddha Kapoor's most emotionally intense performances so far.

It starts with a lively Lavani performance as the crowd eagerly waits for Eetha to go on stage.

Backstage, Shraddha's character is shown preparing for her performance though she is heavily pregnant.

Soon after, she goes into labor and is seen in severe pain.Even when a voice warns that performing could cost her life, she refuses to leave the stage.Moments after giving birth, she returns to finish her performance, showing her character's strong dedication to her art.

Dharna Durga opens up on working in Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari: “Varun Dhawan lights up the entire set; Janhvi Kapoor is GENUINELY very kind, welcoming”

 The funny entertainer Maa Behen came out on Netflix three weeks ago, and as expected, Madhuri Dixit, Triptii Dimri, and Ravi Kishan all gave great performances.But the biggest surprise of the movie is Dharna Durga, who plays Rekha, Madhuri Dixit's younger daughter, and Jaya, Triptii Dimri's sister, named Sushma.Before Maa Behen, Dharna Durga was in the 2025 romantic comedy Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.In that movie, she played Dharna, the best friend and close friend of Tulsi, played by Janhvi Kapoor, who helped her when she had a bad breakup.Dharna Durga's role was less than ten minutes long, but she still made people laugh and left a lasting impression.In an exclusive interview, Dharna Durga talked about working on Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari.

Dharna Durga said that working with Varun Dhawan and Janhvi Kapoor was a great experience.

She said, "It was a lot of fun.I had met both of them before, and they've always been very warm, sweet, and down-to-earth." 

Dharna Durga continued, "Varun has this amazing energy that makes the whole set feel lively, and Janhvi is really kind and welcoming.

They both made everyone feel at ease, and it was nice to spend time and work with them.I came back with a lot of happy memories from that experience."

In the same interview, she also praised her co-star in Maa Behen, saying, "I met Madhuri ma'am and suddenly all my preparation went away.

I became a child.I’ve grown up watching her films.She's one of those people who feels bigger than life.I got emotional and she was incredibly sweet about it.Instead of making it awkward, she comforted me and spoke to me so warmly.Within minutes, she made me feel like I belonged there.That's something very few stars have."

Main Vaapas Aaunga pulls off a stunning box office twist; third Saturday beats Cocktail 2’s second Saturday

In what could be one of the most interesting box office trends of the season, Main Vaapas Aaunga has managed to do something rare.The film's third Saturday collections have gone higher than the second Saturday collections of Cocktail 2.

Main Vaapas Aaunga collected Rs.

4.07 crores on Day 16, which is its third Saturday.On the other hand, Cocktail 2 collected Rs.3.97 crores on Day 9, its second Saturday, till 8 PM.The difference may seem small in absolute terms (around Rs.10 lakhs) but the trend is significant.It means that Main Vaapas Aaunga's third Saturday is approximately 2.5% higher than Cocktail 2's second Saturday at the same stage of reporting.

This becomes even more noteworthy when you look at the opening day gap between the two films.

Cocktail 2 had opened at Rs.13.10 crores, while Main Vaapas Aaunga had started with just Rs.1.28 crores.In other words, Cocktail 2’s opening day was more than 10 times bigger than that of Main Vaapas Aaunga.Yet, two weeks later, MVA has managed to deliver a third Saturday that is ahead of Cocktail 2’s second Saturday.

To be clear, Cocktail 2 is far ahead in total collections.

The film had collected Rs.67.81 crores in its first week and, with Day 8 and Day 9 added till 8 PM, its total stands at around Rs.75.36 crores.Main Vaapas Aaunga, on the other hand, had collected Rs.12.46 crores in Week 1, followed by a strong Rs.22.50 crores in Week 2.With Day 15 and Day 16 added, its total stands at around Rs.41.83 crores till 8 PM on the third Saturday.

Hence, this is not a comparison of total box office size.

Cocktail 2 remains the bigger grosser by a clear margin.But what makes the Main Vaapas Aaunga trend fascinating is the momentum.While Cocktail 2 is moving on a more conventional trajectory after a strong start, Main Vaapas Aaunga has taken the opposite route.It started small, grew in Week 2 and is now continuing to surprise even in Week 3.

This clearly indicates that Main Vaapas Aaunga is enjoying strong audience traction at a stage when most films begin to slow down.

Its Day 16 number is not just higher than its third Friday; it is also more than three times its opening-day collection of Rs.1.28 crores.That is a rare box office curve and points towards sustained word of mouth.

For the trade, the takeaway is simple.

Cocktail 2 has the advantage of scale, opening and cumulative business.But Main Vaapas Aaunga has the advantage of trend.The film is behaving like a genuine word-of-mouth success story, where the audience response seems to be pushing the film upwards instead of allowing it to fade after the first week.

In today’s theatrical market, where films often open big and then drop sharply, Main Vaapas Aaunga has become an exception.

Its third Saturday beating Cocktail 2’s second Saturday may not change the overall ranking between the two films, but it does underline one important fact that Main Vaapas Aaunga’s box office journey has become one of the most surprising and discussion-worthy stories of the season.

Welcome To The Jungle Box Office Estimate Day 2: Akshay Kumar starrer clocks 35% growth over Day 1; heads for Rs. 20 cr. Saturday

After having a good start on Friday, "Welcome To The Jungle" has continued to perform well on its second day at the box office.The movie, starring Akshay Kumar, made Rs.14.80 cr.nett on its first day.It did better on Saturday and is expected to finish the day with a total close to Rs.20 cr.nett.This shows a 35% increase compared to the first day, which is a good sign for the film.

The movie started with a few paid previews on Thursday, making Rs.

3.93 cr.nett.Then it opened fully on Friday with Rs.14.80 cr.nett.The Saturday numbers indicate that the film is gaining more popularity with the audience, especially during the evening and night shows.

One reason for the film's success is its position as a big family comedy with a star-studded cast.

These kinds of movies usually do well during the weekend, especially when families start coming to watch them on Saturday.The jump in numbers on Saturday suggests the film is benefiting from the weekend effect.Although the growth isn't huge, the Rs.20 cr.on Saturday after a Rs.14.80 cr.on Friday keeps the film in a good position.

If the movie makes around Rs.

20 cr.on Saturday, its total for the first two days, excluding previews, will be about Rs.34.80 cr.nett.Adding the Thursday previews of Rs.3.93 cr.nett, the overall total will be approximately Rs.38.73 cr.nett.

Now, the focus is on Sunday.

The third day is important for the film as another good performance could help it have a strong opening weekend.Based on the current trend, if the Sunday family audience shows up in good numbers, the film has a chance to build on its Saturday momentum and aim for a solid weekend.

Raveena Tandon calls Welcome to the Jungle a ‘blockbuster’, praises Akshay Kumar’s dedication and reveals why husband Anil Thadani’s opinion matters the most

Welcome to the Jungle opened in theaters on June 26, and veteran actress Raveena Tandon is really happy with how the movie has been received.The film is a big comedy with 32 actors, including Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Arshad Warsi, Jacqueline Fernandez, Disha Patani, and others.It's been a big talk because so many famous people are in one movie.

Speaking to ANI after the film came out, Raveena said she's very happy with how the audience has reacted.

She also shared that June 26 is a lucky day for her.She explained, "Yes, that's true.June 26 is a lucky number for me.I was born on October 26, so I think 26 is lucky.The film is getting great reviews, and I think it's amazing that in a comedy where everyone is having fun, people are also noticing the performances, which I think are really good.Plus, it's my son's graduation, and he will become an undergraduate after this.He's finishing his 12th grade, yes."

Raveena also talked about working with her long-time friends again, calling the experience special because of the good bond they have off-screen.

She said, "I think it's really good for me because I was thinking that a fun comedy should be made, and Welcome to the Jungle came my way.It was a lot of fun.The best part was that we all have known each other for many years.Arshad, Sunil, Akshay, Farida ji, Kiran Kumar ji played my uncle in my first film.Farida ji also played my mother in Ziddi and Salaakhen and other movies.Paresh has played the villain in many of my films.So, the camaraderie was great.And the girls, Jacqueline and Disha, are really lovely.It was a lot of fun working with them.Ahmed Khan has a big role in this film.He's not just an old friend, but he gives respect to every artist.It's hard to have so many artists in a film and keep everyone happy and focused.I think Ahmu did it really well."

When asked about working with such a big group, Raveena said that although they laughed a lot between takes, everyone stayed professional during the actual filming.

She explained, "No, no, everyone became serious when the camera was rolling.Ahmed had to shout a few times.We would improvise and laugh.It was a hard task for him, but there was no distraction.Because we are all old friends, we knew that when the director said 'action,' it was time to work."

The film also marks Raveena's reunion with Akshay Kumar after a long time.

She had nothing but good things to say about him.She said, "I think it was great working with him after so many years.Nothing has changed about him.He is hardworking and dedicated.He is so involved that you can see the hard work.He deserves all the success he gets because he really works hard.No one would be as dedicated on set as he was."

When asked if she still gets nervous before a film release, she said she checks the audience reactions and also made a joke about criticism.

She added, "Yes, we check the feedback.But as I wrote on my Instagram, Woke's not invited.The critics of Woke wanted realism in the comedy, but that doesn't work.But I think overall, the film has been appreciated by everyone.No one has messaged me or called me to congratulate me.So, I think this is a moment where we should all enjoy the success of Welcome to the Jungle."

Raveena also shared who she trusts the most for her opinion after every film.

She said, "My husband.You can't be a better judge of a film than Anil Thadani.He is always right.He thinks nothing can stop this film.He thinks it's positive and a blockbuster."

Looking back on her career choices, Raveena said she consciously started experimenting with different roles more than two decades ago.

She explained, "It happened in the year 2000.That's when I changed my approach to doing different kinds of films.The last time you saw me was in Patna Shukla, where I played a lawyer.Before that, you saw me in Aranyak as an inspector.Then in Karma Calling, I played a glamorous role.In KGF 2, I played a prime minister.Now, in Welcome to the Jungle, I'm in a comedy.How can it get boring for me?And from 2002, it was a conscious decision."

Welcome To The Jungle Opening Day Box Office Estimate: Akshay Kumar starrer collects Rs 17.50 crore on Day 1

Akshay Kumar's comedy film, Welcome To The Jungle, directed by Ahmed Khan, has started strong at the box office in India.The movie collected Rs.3.93 crores from paid previews on Thursday and opened above expectations on Friday.Early estimates show the film has made between Rs.17 crore and Rs.18 crore on its first day, which is more than what industry experts had predicted.

The audience was looking for a comedy that doesn't hold back, and Welcome To The Jungle has delivered exactly that.

The total for the first day, including paid previews, is around Rs.21 crores.The film is expected to make close to Rs.60 crores over the weekend.

The movie has done well in national chains, but the main success came from mass centres.

National chains made around Rs.7 crores on Friday, accounting for about 45 per cent of the total earnings.

There's also a benefit from the Muharrum festival, but Akshay Kumar has always been a popular choice for walk-in audiences, and they have again given better-than-expected results.

Now, everyone is watching how the film performs on Saturday.If it does well, it is likely to have a steady run in the coming weeks.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas calls out gender stereotypes around household chores: “Don’t confuse gender with laziness”

Actor Priyanka Chopra has talked about how traditional ideas about gender and household tasks can be unfair.She said that things like cooking and cleaning shouldn't be seen as jobs only for women.Instead, she believes these are important life skills that everyone, no matter their gender, should learn.

During her time at Cannes Lions, Priyanka shared her thoughts on how often people think that domestic work is mostly a woman's job.

She explained that in many homes, tasks like cooking, cleaning, and taking care of daily chores are usually given to women.She said, “Cleaning and cooking aren’t women’s work.They’re basic adulting.Don’t confuse gender with laziness.”

She also talked about how filmmaking and storytelling have changed over time.

Priyanka mentioned that in the past, getting into the film industry was tough.People had to choose a specific department and work their way in.But now, with new technology, it's easier for people to create their own stories and share them with the world.

She said, “If you wanted to get into filmmaking, you used to have to figure out what department you wanted to be in.

It was really hard to get into the industry.” She added that digital platforms have made it possible for anyone with an idea to create content and reach a big audience.She joked that if someone makes a short video and puts it on YouTube, it could become a big movie like *Obsession*.

Priyanka is also getting ready to make a comeback to Indian cinema after a break of eight years.

She will star in the film *Varanasi*, directed by S.S.Rajamouli and co-starring Mahesh Babu and Prithviraj Sukumaran.The movie is a massive project with a budget of Rs 1,000 crores, making it one of the most expensive films in Indian cinema.It is set to release in April 2027.

She also mentioned that she is working with Angelina Jolie on a new project.

While confirming the collaboration, she didn’t say much else about what the project will be.It could be a movie, a brand partnership, or something related to social causes.The news has excited fans and people in the industry, but the details remain a mystery for now.