Ekta Kapoor vs Raaj Shaandilyaa legal fight halts shoot of Akshay Kumar’s Bhagam Bhag 2; March schedule shelved

Akshay Kumar, Manoj Bajpayee and Paresh Rawal were all ready to start shooting for the much-anticipated Bhagam Bhag sequel from March 2, 2026.

 The plan included a schedule in India and Lucknow. However, Bollywood Hungama has learned exclusively that the shoot for Bhagam Bhag 2 has been canceled due to a legal dispute between Ekta Kapoor and Raaj Shaandilyaa.

A source told , “Ekta Kapoor has filed a legal case against Raaj Shaandilyaa for breaking his contract.

 Raaj had agreed to make three films with Ekta, but he has now made two films outside her company. This has upset Ekta, as he didn’t get her permission and didn’t return the advance money for the third project under her banner.”

A legal notice was sent to Raaj, as well as producers Ashwin Varde and Cape of Good Films, to stop the shoot.

 “Because of the complicated situation, the producers have decided to cancel the schedule until the legal issues are cleared. The film is now on hold and might be taken up again with a new director in the future. Right now, all the people involved are trying to sort things out.”

All three actors – Akshay, Manoj and Paresh – have had their dates released.

 “They had a 25-day schedule in March, and all their dates are now confirmed. There is a real worry about the future of Bhagam Bhag 2, as a long delay might cause the project to be delayed even more. All the actors have already committed to several other films starting in June. Akshay was not aware of the legal problems just days before the shoot was supposed to start.”

Subedaar Movie

Subedaar Cast & Crew

Banner

Anil Kapoor Films Company

Abundantia Entertainment

Opening Image Films LLP

Communication Network

Language

Hindi

Release Date

05 March 2026

Genre

Action

Drama

Director

Suresh Triveni

Producer

Anil Kapoor

Vikram Malhotra

Suresh Triveni

Star Cast

Anil Kapoor ... Subedaar Arjun Maurya

Radhikka Madan ... Shyama

Khushboo ...

Saurabh Shukla ...

Aditya Rawal ...

Mona Singh ...

Faisal Malik ...

Amit Jha ...

Vikram Pratap ...

Writer

Suresh Triveni

Prajwal Chandrashekar

Background Music

Rohan Vinayak

Costume Designer

Kshitij Kankaria

Shyamli Arora

Co-Producer

Ravi Tiwari

Eesha Danait

Music Director

IP Singh

Rohan Vinayak

Rutvik Talashilkar

Shubham Shirule

Akshay Raheja

Ana Rehman

Agram

Lyricist

IP Singh

Shubham Shirule

Pankaj Sinha

Youngveer

Amir Khusrau

Rishi Upadhyay

Editor

Shivkumar V. Panicker

Cinematographer

Ayan Saxena

Screenplay

Suresh Triveni

Prajwal Chandrashekar

Dialogue

Suresh Triveni

Prajwal Chandrashekar

Saurabh Dwivedi

Shooting Location(City & Country)

India

Streaming Partners

Amazon Prime Video

Sound

Anthony B Jayaruban

Music Company

T-Series

Production Designer

Ajay Chodankar

Vipin Kumar

Casting Director

Anmol Ahuja

Action Director

Vikram Dahiya

Art Director

Pradip Vanaliya

Executive Producer

Debodeep Chakraborty

Playback Singers

Shreya Ghoshal

Vishal Dadlani

IP Singh

Vinayak Salvi

Rohan Utpat

Shubham Shirule

Mukund Suryawanshi

Akashdeep Sengupta

GD Kaur

Censor Details:

Censor Dates

2025/11/17

Censor Certificate No

DIL/3/48/2025-MUM

Runtime

2h 25min

Certification

A

PIL targets The Kerala Story 2, seeks removal of ‘Kerala’ from title amid communal concerns

 The Kerala High Court has received a fresh Public Interest Litigation (PIL) contesting the title and distribution of the newly released movie The Kerala Story 2. A retired social science teacher and a practicing lawyer filed the petition on March 3, requesting that the word "Kerala" be removed from the movie's title on the grounds that it unjustly links the State with delicate and divisive subjects.

The petitioners claim in the plea that the film's title and subject matter run the risk of depicting Kerala negatively. They claim that the story portrays the State as a hub for coerced religious conversions, which they feel could harm the State's reputation in society and culture.

The continuing legal battle between the filmmakers is also mentioned in the petition. It states that a recent interim ruling made by a Single Bench that had temporarily halted the film's release has been challenged by the producers to a Division Bench of the High Court. The appeal notes that the stay was granted at a time when the movie was purportedly not yet uploaded or shown in public.

The petitioners have highlighted the possible societal ramifications of the movie's content in addition to worries about the State's reputation. According to the information that is currently accessible, they argue that the story could incite animosity among Keralan Muslims. According to the plea, such a portrayal would exacerbate already-existing sensitivities and undermine communal cohesion.

The petitioners have asked for judicial intervention in addition to revisions to the title so that, should the movie be produced, a clear disclaimer noting that the plot is wholly imaginary is included. In order to stop viewers from taking the story as reality, they have asked the court to order the Central Government and the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to require such a disclaimer.

Additionally, the PIL demands more extensive regulatory changes. In particular, it asks the Center and the CBFC to establish thorough rules governing movie names and taglines. The argument is that these standards should guarantee that no film uses its branding or promotional materials to disparage or defame any State, region, caste, or religion.

The case is anticipated to be heard by the High Court in the next few days, contributing to the continuing discussion over censorship, artistic freedom, and filmmakers' obligations when dealing with delicate sociopolitical subjects.

Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups POSTPONED to June 4 due to rising tension in the Middle East; Dhurandhar: The Revenge to arrive SOLO on March 19

 It was revealed some time ago that the eagerly anticipated movie Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups had been rescheduled for June 4. As a result, Dhurandhar: The Revenge will now be released on its own on March 19.

"KVN Productions and Monster Mind Creations today announced a strategic rescheduling of the global theatrical premiere for the highly anticipated action-drama, Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups," the producers' official statement read. Due to the continuous unpredictable escalation and regional instability in the Middle East, the film's original March 19, 2026, global premiere date has been rescheduled to June 4, 2026.

The statement went on, "The decision to reschedule the release was made in response to escalating tensions and the resulting disruptions to cinema operations across the Gulf region, a key market for the film's multi-language global rollout, as advised by one of their major distribution partner Phars Films." With extreme caution, the producers have been keeping a close eye on the quickly changing regional developments. The announcement was made while the producers were preparing for a big trailer debut in Bengaluru on March 8th, which would draw reporters from all over the nation. The film's final promotional program was already planned by the producers in advance of its earlier March 19, 2026, release date. 

The film's first single, "Tabaahi," was prepared for its planned release on March 2nd, but the producers decided to postpone the music video and temporarily halt the promotional push, which was locked and would be unlocked in a day or two.

Additionally, it stated, "Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups is a film we conceptualized with the ambition to produce cinema for a global audience." It was created with the goal of connecting with audiences both domestically and internationally, and it was filmed in both Kannada and English. We were thrilled to present our video to you all on March 19 after years of hard work. But the current state of unpredictability, particularly in the Middle East, has made it more difficult for us to connect and reach as many people as we can. Therefore, we have made the tough but thoughtful choice to reschedule our release in the best interests of our partners and our audience. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we hope you will continue to love and support us.

The Factor of the Middle East

"No one knows when the tensions in the Middle East will end," said a trade source.  Additionally, Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups could make as much as Rs. 40–50 crore from the UAE-GCC area. Therefore, it seems sense to postpone the movie and release it later, ideally when things would be more normal.

"The exhibitors were anxious about the clash of Dhurandhar and Toxic," the person continued. However, they may now relax.

The Grahan effect: The real reason why Dhurandhar: The Revenge’s trailer not release on March 3

On Sunday, March 1, source shared that the trailer for Dhurandhar: The Revenge would be released online on Tuesday, March 3. But by Monday, it was clear that Jio Studios was no longer going ahead with the planned release on that date. Source contacted trusted sources to find out why the last-minute change happened.

  

A source told  “The reports about the trailer being released on March 3 weren’t just rumors.

 The team really wanted to launch it on that day. But they were told that March 3 is a Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse), which is seen as an unlucky time to start something new. The inauspicious time is said to be from 9:39 am to 6:46 pm. Trailers are usually released around noon, which falls within this period. So the team decided to delay the release.”

In February 2026, source had reported that the trailer of Dhurandhar: The Revenge would be launched on March 5 at Mumbai’s iconic Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC).

 That plan was later changed, and the digital launch was moved to March 3. But now it looks like the makers might release the trailer on March 5 or March 6 online, without holding an event. The exact date is still not clear.

The Dhurandhar series features Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, Sanjay Dutt, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sara Arjun and Rakesh Bedi.

 The first part was about an Indian spy who goes into Pakistan’s criminal and political world and causes chaos.

Interestingly, Dhurandhar: The Revenge will face a big competition at the box office with Toxic: A Fairy Tale For Grown-Ups.

 Directed by Geetu Mohandas, it brings back Yash, known from KGF, and also stars Kiara Advani, Nayanthara, Huma Qureshi, Akshay Oberoi and others. The trailer for this popular film will be shown on March 8 in Bengaluru at a big event.

Madras High Court restrains illegal broadcast of The Kerala Story 2 until March 23

The Madras High Court has issued a temporary order stopping internet service providers and cable TV companies from wrongly broadcasting the movie "The Kerala Story 2: Goes Beyond," which was shown in theaters on February 28.

This order was made on March 3 by Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy, following two petitions filed by Sunshine Pictures Limited, the makers of the film.

 The company had asked the court to stop unauthorized sharing of the film around the time it was released in theaters, fearing that someone might copy it without permission.

While looking at the case, the court said the producer had given the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) certificate to prove they owned the film's copyright.

 The certificate named them as the producer, and the court accepted this as the first sign of ownership at this stage.

The judge pointed out that when there's a claim of illegal broadcasting, quick action is often needed.

 "In such cases, damage can be done if the illegal showing is not stopped early. However, there may also be a risk that the business interests of some of the people involved might be harmed because the relief asked for is very broad. Therefore, the person bringing the case should cover any possible loss," the court stated.

So, the High Court gave an interim order stopping the unauthorized showing of the film until March 23, 2026.

 The order said: "As long as this condition is met, the injunctions asked for in these two cases are granted until 23.03.2026. Send notice to the respondents for a hearing on 23.03.2026. Private notice is also allowed. The applicant must follow Order XXXIX Rule 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure."

The case is set for another hearing on March 23.

Deepti Naval on teen run-in with police, opens up about depression and personal loss

Veteran actor Deepti Naval has shared candid insights into challenging moments in her life, including a rebellious teenage phase, struggles with depression and dealing with the loss of her fiancé.

 These revelations offer a rare glimpse into the woman behind her on-screen persona.

In a recent conversation, Naval recounted how, as a teenager, she attempted to flee her home with aspirations of traveling to Kashmir, only to be intercepted by the police and returned.

 She described this incident as a reflection of her early restlessness and yearning for freedom — themes she later explored in her memoir, *A Country Called Childhood*. She also revisited a difficult period in her professional life following her marriage to filmmaker Prakash Jha.

Naval has previously mentioned that her career opportunities significantly declined after marriage.

 "It felt as if my talent had been completely washed out," she once said at a public event, noting that the sudden slowdown contributed to a depressive phase. With a background in psychology, she admitted that recognizing the signs of her mental state was helpful, though seeking support was not an easy process at the time.

The actress, who rose to prominence in the 1980s through films like *Chashme Buddoor* and *Saath Saath*, later diversified her career across film, television and theatre.

 She has also made a mark as a poet, photographer and painter.

Naval also shared her relationship with Vinod Pandit, the nephew of classical vocalist Pandit Jasraj.

 The two were engaged before Pandit passed away from cancer. She described him as a strong supporter of her artistic endeavors and someone who helped her regain confidence in her creativity.

Today, Deepti Naval continues to act selectively while being an advocate for mental health awareness and speaking openly about the emotional challenges of the film industry.

 Her reflections not only highlight personal sorrow but also highlight her resilience, which has been a defining aspect of her life and career.