JioStar breaks silence on Queen 2 lawsuit, says Kangana Ranaut film is ‘an original, independent story’

 JioStar has responded to a lawsuit filed by Phantom Studios over the film Queen 2, which claims the movie infringes on the intellectual property rights of the 2014 film Queen.JioStar denies these allegations and says that Queen 2 is an original project with no creative link to the original film.

The statement came after Phantom Studios went to the Bombay High Court, saying that JioStar used the Queen intellectual property without permission.

Phantom Studios claims they own 50% of the original Queen's intellectual property rights and said they didn't allow any sequel or derivative work.

JioStar says Queen 2 is an original film In a statement published by Mid-Day, JioStar rejected these claims and clarified that their work with Kangana Ranaut is not connected to the original Queen.

"StarStudio18 is currently working with Ms.Kangana Ranaut on a fresh production that is an original, independent story.It has no connection to any prior work, and is neither a sequel nor a prequel to any existing title," the company said.

The production house also dismissed the idea that using the word "Queen" in the title was copyright infringement.

'Queen' is a common noun, says production house When responding to Phantom Studios' concerns, JioStar argued that the title "Queen" cannot be owned by anyone.

"The word 'Queen' is part of the English language.No one can claim exclusive ownership of a common noun, and such a claim has no legal basis.JioStar is aware of the legal case and will fight for its position through the proper legal process.We are confident in the strength of our case," the statement said.

The company said it plans to take the case to court. Queen was released in 2014 and received a lot of praise, winning two National Film Awards, including Best Actress for Kangana Ranaut.

The film was jointly produced by Viacom18 Motion Pictures and Phantom Films, which was started by Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Madhu Mantena and Vikas Bahl.Although Phantom Films was closed in 2018, it was restarted as Phantom Studios in 2021.

Interestingly, Queen 2 brings back Kangana Ranaut and director Vikas Bahl, who also directed the original film. The project started filming earlier this year and is now in the post-production phase.

Ramayana distribution rights sold to Karan Johar for Rs. 350 crores – Biggest of all time, defeating King

Ranbir Kapoor, Sai Pallavi, Yash, and Sunny Deol are leading the film Ramayana, which is produced by Namit Malhotra.This movie is one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year.The first part of this epic story is being made with a budget of 1500 crores.It is set for a theatrical release this Diwali.However, everyone is trying to get attention by sharing all the latest news about the film.

Earlier in the day, it was announced that Dharma Productions has bought the all-India distribution rights of Ramayana for 250 crores.

But it turns out the amount is even higher.Reliable sources say that Karan Johar has bought the Hindi distribution rights for 350 crores."This is the biggest theatrical distribution deal ever.The 350 crores earned by Namit Malhotra's Ramayana is more than the previous record holder, King, by 100 crores.Everyone in the film industry is excited about the future of this film," said a source from Bollywood Hungama.

The same source also said that Dharma Productions is planning a wide release for this epic film that celebrates the victory of good over evil.

"There are big plans for the theatrical release of Ramayana.It is definitely the most awaited film in India, with a huge star cast that includes Ranbir Kapoor and Yash, along with Sai Pallavi and Sunny Deol.There are many inquiries from all over the country, and the film is expected to set new box office records in India.Namit Malhotra has been personally involved in the post-production to make sure the visuals represent India on a global platform.He has created something special, and people are really impressed with the epic vision."

The work on the theatrical trailer is in full motion.

Ramayana is set for a global release on October 30, 2026.

I&B Ministry alleges Satluj was released on ZEE5 without completing certification: Report

The controversy around Diljit Dosanjh's film *Satluj* has gotten new attention after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B) said the movie was released on ZEE5 without getting the needed certification.The film, directed by Honey Trehan, first came out on the streaming platform on July 3, but was taken off from India just two days later.

The I&B Ministry claims that the filmmakers released *Satluj* on OTT instead of following the proper certification steps, especially after facing problems with getting theatrical clearance.

According to a report from ANI, an official from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the film did not have the required certification for a theatrical release before it appeared on the streaming platform.

"The film did not have the required certification for a theatrical release.

Instead of following the certification process, the makers changed the title of the film and released it on an OTT platform on Friday," the official stated.

The ministry also said the release broke the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

However, they did not say which rule was specifically broken.

They also mentioned that no one from the filmmakers had approached them for approval or reconsideration before releasing the film online.

*Satluj* was originally called *Panjab 95* and is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who looked into reported illegal disappearances and mass cremations during Punjab's militant period.

The project was sent to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) in 2022.

Reports say the board first suggested 27 cuts and a title change.The filmmakers challenged this decision in court, and after that, a revision committee suggested around 120 cuts.

After years of legal battles, the film was finally released on ZEE5 under the new title *Satluj*.

It came out in its original form without making the suggested cuts.

On July 5, ZEE5 confirmed that *Satluj* was removed from streaming in India.

They said, "In light of current developments, *Satluj* will be unavailable in India until further notice.We remain committed to exploring every appropriate avenue through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity."

ZEE5 did not explain what caused the removal, only citing "current developments."

*Satluj* is directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP Movies and MacGuffin Pictures.

Alongside Diljit Dosanjh, the film also stars Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky, and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan in important roles.

Since the movie was taken down, it has received support from several public figures, with many calling for it to be available to Indian audiences again as the legal and regulatory issues continue.

Alpha’s box office run stands out as it attempts to overcome social media negativity and stay on course for a successful theatrical outcome

In a time when social media can quickly change how people think about a movie, Alpha is showing that how people react at the ticket counter is still one of the best ways to know if a film is doing well.

Even though the film faced a lot of online criticism from some viewers, and some people in the industry think there might have been organized negative comments, Alpha has kept going strong in theaters.

The movie did well on a Monday, making around Rs.4 crore, as shared by Yash Raj Films.This shows that people are still interested in the film beyond the first weekend.

With two female stars at the heart of an action movie, Alpha has kept drawing people to the cinemas.

Its showing suggests that good word-of-mouth from moviegoers can sometimes beat the bad talk online.Some people in the industry also say there might have been coordinated trolling, but this hasn’t been proven.

Alpha has been doing well around the world, crossing Rs.

63 crore in the first four days and keeping a steady growth after the weekend.These numbers show that people are still watching the film beyond its first release, which helps it build up more over the coming days.

People in the industry think Alpha’s performance teaches an important lesson: while online trends can shape conversations and opinions, they don’t always mean people will go watch the movie.

People choose to go to the cinema based on their own feelings, and true appreciation from the audience is key to a film’s future.

If Alpha becomes a box office success, it could be seen as a great example of how the box office can be very different from what’s being said online.

It would also show that the movie-going experience can still create its own excitement.

Although Alpha started as an underdog in the weeks before its release, it’s still trying to win at the box office.

The final result is still unknown, but the film has stayed in the race despite the bad comments it’s getting on social media.

As the movie continues its run in theaters, its performance might become a key example for the industry about whether real audience support can overcome negative online opinions, whether those opinions are natural or not.

Welcome To The Jungle Day 11 Morning Box Office Update: Akshay Kumar starrer collects Rs. 55 lakhs by 11 AM on second Monday

 The movie "Welcome To The Jungle," starring Akshay Kumar, started its second Monday at the India box office with a quiet performance.After doing well during the second weekend, the comedy film saw a normal drop in the number of people watching it on the first day of the workweek.

On the 11th day, by 11 AM, the film collected around Rs.55 lakhs on its second Monday.The morning shows had about 6% of the seats filled, and the numbers only slightly improved in the early afternoon, reaching around 7%.

In terms of states and regions, Maharashtra, National Capital Region (NCR), and Uttar Pradesh were the top areas for collections.

However, all three areas had less than 10% occupancy during the morning and early afternoon screenings.

Looking at cities, Delhi performed best with more than 10% occupancy.

Mumbai and Pune were next, but the overall response was still low during the first half of the day.

Theaters like PVRInox and Cinepolis together brought in about Rs.25 lakhs, making up around 45% of the film’s total earnings across the country.

As of 11 AM, "Welcome To The Jungle" had earned around Rs.55 lakhs after 11 days.To have a decent total for the day, the film will need to see better numbers during the evening and night showtimes.

ALPHA collects 1.65 mil. USD [Rs. 15.84 cr.] in its opening weekend in overseas

ALPHA has collected approximately 1.65 mil. USD [Rs. 15.84 cr.] in its opening weekend in overseas.

United States of America

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross ($) Screens Total Gross ($) Total Gross (INR)

14 Alpha 1 3,63,549 340 3,63,549 3.47 crores

15 Rao Bahadur (Telugu) 1 2,81,557 200 2,81,557 2.69 crores

27 Welcome To The Jungle 2 99,520 0 6,96,252 6.64 crores

28 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 3 89,882 0 19,26,232 18.37 crores

32 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 1,06,787 164 1,06,787 1.02 crores

40 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 32,668 0 5,11,202 4.88 crores

43 Gatta Kusthi 2 (Tamil) 1 29,132 35 29,132 27.78 lacs

45 Cocktail 2 3 23,164 0 8,70,549 8.31 crores

48 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 20,951 0 1,78,102 1.7 crores

102 Baby Do Die Do 1 2,758 0 2,758 2.63 lacs

142 Balan (Malayalam) 3 1,704 0 79,207 75.53 lacs

Canada

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (US$) Screens Total Gross (US$) Total Gross (INR)

8 Alpha 1 2,09,740 480 2,09,740 2 crores

11 Welcome To The Jungle 2 86,756 0 3,98,156 3.8 crores

12 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 76,300 0 6,70,962 6.4 crores

18 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 54,197 0 8,52,281 8.13 crores

23 Cocktail 2 3 21,285 0 5,65,349 5.4 crores

24 Rao Bahadur (Telugu) 1 13,814 200 13,814 13.18 lacs

25 Gatta Kusthi 2 (Tamil) 1 13,632 35 13,632 13 lacs

44 Balan (Malayalam) 3 4,808 0 1,14,896 1.1 crores

52 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 3,063 164 3,063 2.93 lacs

62 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 3 1,657 0 90,137 85.95 lacs

93 Oye Bhole Oye 2 (Punjabi) 4 544 0 2,50,632 2.39 crores

102 Baby Do Die Do 1 451 0 451 43001/-

143 Engal Thangam (Tamil) 3 72 0 3,148 3.01 lacs

148 Ananthan Kaadu (Tamil) 2 45 0 2,844 2.72 lacs

 

United Kingdom and Ireland

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (£) Screens Total Gross (£) Total Gross (INR)

9 Alpha 1 1,60,762 239 1,60,762 2.05 crores

13 Welcome To The Jungle 2 47,055 53 2,47,174 3.15 crores

16 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 32,299 37 1,76,247 2.25 crores

21 Gatta Kusthi 2 (Tamil) 1 18,640 29 18,640 23.72 lacs

22 Cocktail 2 3 17,432 41 3,87,752 4.94 crores

25 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 15,433 28 1,84,129 2.35 crores

31 Rao Bahadur (Telugu) 1 13,667 29 18,960 24.13 lacs

35 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 9,829 53 20,048 25.51 lacs

41 Balan (Malayalam) 3 4,212 22 1,16,158 1.48 crores

89 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 3 1,188 3 1,14,755 1.47 crores

97 Duju Rabb (Punjabi) 1 935 9 935 1.19 lacs

 

Australia

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (A$) Screens Total Gross (A$) Total Gross (INR)

11 Alpha 1 2,16,203 94 2,16,203 1.43 crores

14 Welcome To The Jungle 2 1,11,467 66 4,30,071 2.85 crores

20 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 53,390 75 3,68,100 2.44 crores

24 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 35,146 12 3,05,275 2.02 crores

29 Rao Bahadur (Telugu) 1 20,933 13 20,933 13.84 lacs

33 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 13,400 27 13,400 8.86 lacs

35 Gatta Kusthi 2 (Tamil) 1 10,401 5 10,401 6.88 lacs

44 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 8 7,093 7 2,06,934 1.37 crores

60 Balan (Malayalam) 3 3,727 3 78,910 52.16 lacs

117 Cocktail 2 3 916 32 4,47,038 2.96 crores

 

New Zealand

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (NZ$) Screens Total Gross (NZ$) Total Gross (INR)

7 Welcome To The Jungle 2 89,549 12 2,82,524 1.54 crores

9 Alpha 1 56,709 39 56,709 30.82 lacs

26 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 5,154 33 56,802 30.87 lacs

31 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 2,437 2 35,091 19.07 lacs

32 Cocktail 2 3 2,232 7 1,12,214 60.98 lacs

44 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 768 19 768 41736/-

77 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 3 145 1 12,343 6.71 lacs

 

Malaysia

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (NZ$) Screens Total Gross (NZ$) Total Gross (INR)

7 Welcome To The Jungle 2 89,549 12 2,82,524 1.54 crores

9 Alpha 1 56,709 39 56,709 30.82 lacs

26 Carry On Jatta 4 (Punjabi) 2 5,154 33 56,802 30.87 lacs

31 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 2,437 2 35,091 19.07 lacs

32 Cocktail 2 3 2,232 7 1,12,214 60.98 lacs

44 Nagabandham (Telugu) 1 768 19 768 41736/-

77 Maa Inti Bangaaram (Telugu) 3 145 1 12,343 6.71 lacs

 

Germany

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (€) Screens Total Gross (€) Total Gross (INR)

32 Alpha 1 14,146 41 14,146 15.43 lacs

73 Welcome To The Jungle 2 2,818 10 18,551 20.23 lacs

173 Main Vaapas Aaunga 4 723 1 12,594 13.74 lacs

204 Balan (Malayalam) 3 504 2 10,307 11.24 lacs

 

Singapore

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (S$) Screens Total Gross (S$) Total Gross (INR)

12 Alpha 1 10,012 4 10,012 7.38 lacs

 

Hong Kong

Rank Movie Weekend Weekend Gross (HK$) Screens Total Gross (S$) Total Gross (INR)

19 Alpha 1 42,034 1 42,034 5.12 lacs

 

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha to romance on screen for the first time in Shashie Vermaa directorial; film set for April 2027 release

Ali Fazal and Richa Chadha are going to act together in a new comedy film for the first time as a couple on screen.The movie is directed by Shashie Vermaa and is not yet named.Although they have worked together before in the popular Fukrey series, this will be their first time playing a romantic role together in a leading position.

The film, backed by Scenework Productions and Giriraj Productions, will also feature Kumud Mishra in a significant role.

The story takes place in Delhi, a vibrant and busy city, and will offer a mix of humor, emotions, and social messages.

Shashie Vermaa, who has worked as an actor in films like Bala, Gunjan Saxena, and Kathal, and has also directed and written projects such as AK47 and Murga Trophy, is set to direct this new project.

Filming is planned for the second half of 2026, with a release date set for April 2027.

Ali Fazal shared his feelings about the project, saying, "I believe the best comedies come from real characters and situations.

When I read the script, I knew it was special.It's exciting to explore a new dynamic with Richa on screen, and I’m looking forward to what we'll create together.I've followed Shashie's work and wanted to work with him, which is a big reason for me joining this project."

Richa Chadha said, "What attracted me was the authenticity of the writing.

It's funny, emotional, and rooted in everyday life with a strong social message.Ali and I have shared the screen before, but never like this.I'm really excited for audiences to see us in a new space.The story reminded me of my school days in Delhi, and I'm thrilled to be working with Ali.We've never had the chance to work together in this capacity before; we were adversaries in Fukrey."

Shashie Vermaa described the film as a comedy centered around characters and everyday life.

"This is a story that celebrates people, relationships, and the impact of small moments in someone's life.Delhi itself is almost a character in the film.Having Ali, Richa, and Kumud brings depth, spontaneity, and heart to the story, and I can't wait to start filming."

Mukesh Giri of Giriraj Productions said, "From the start, this story stood out because of its honesty, humor, and universal appeal.

Bringing together Ali and Richa in a new pairing, along with Kumud Mishra and under Shashie Vermaa's direction, makes this an exciting project for all of us.We look forward to showing this film to audiences in 2027."

The announcement comes after Scenework Productions and Giriraj Productions completed their children's sports film Murga Trophy, as both production houses continue to work on various projects across different genres.