Sameer reveals, “Nadeem Saifi heard Zamaana Deewana’s script and told Ramesh Sippy, ‘Aisi WAHIYAAD kahani maine nahin suni’!”

Lyricist Sameer had a chat with Komal Nahta, and during their conversation, he reflected on his past and shared many stories about famous movies and stars.He also talked about the role of music in films.

Sameer said, "A movie can be a hit even if it doesn't have songs.

For example, Kanoon (1960) was successful.But people only watch such movies once.The repeat value of a film comes from its songs.Once you know the story, why would you watch it again?During Aashiqui (1990), I saw people going into theaters just to watch the songs.After one song ended, they would go out, have tea, and come back to watch the next one.They even calculated the time between songs and came back just in time!Imagine how important music was.Also, in the 90s, we gave the biggest hits to new actors.Phool Aur Kaante (1991) was Ajay Devgn's first film.What was the music like in that movie?"

He then talked about music director Nadeem Saifi of Nadeem-Shravan fame, "Nadeem saw Ajay Devgn and told director Kuku Kohli, 'Don't take him.

It will depress me.How will we get inspiration to write songs?You gave me just one actor.' But when he saw Ajay in the film, he congratulated him.He admitted he was wrong.I don't know if Kuku ever told Ajay about this story!"

Sameer continued, "That's how Nadeem is.

He speaks his mind.Ramesh Sippy offered us a film, Zamaana Deewana (1995; starring Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon).We made the film eventually.Ramesh ji told us the story for 2 and a half hours and then asked, 'Nadeem bhai, kaisa laga?' Any other person would hesitate, especially when sitting in front of such a big director.But Nadeem replied, 'Aisi wahiyaad kahani maine nahin suni!' (laughs)!"

Nikkhil Advani reveals many Gen Z viewers want a Chandni Chowk To China sequel: “They saw Akshay Kumar fighting a giant potato and somehow it worked for them”

Nikkhil Advani started his career as an assistant director and then made his first big directorial move with the film *Kal Ho Naa Ho* in 2003, which was a huge success.He went on to direct many important movies and later focused on creating content for OTT platforms.Some of his popular shows include *Mumbai Diaries*, *Freedom at Midnight*, and *The Revolutionaries*.He has also produced shows like *The Empire*, *Rocket Boys*, and *Adhura*, as well as movies such as *Airlift* (2016) and *Mrs Chatterjee vs Norway* (2023), which have been well received.

In a recent interview, Nikkhil shared personal stories about his family moving from Sindh to Mumbai during the Partition and talked about how younger generations are responding to his films.

Nikkhil Advani said that many Gen Z viewers want a sequel to *Chandni Chowk To China*: "They saw Akshay Kumar fighting a giant potato and somehow it worked for them."

After *Kal Ho Naa Ho*, Nikkhil directed *Salaam-E-Ishq* in 2007, followed by *Chandni Chowk To China* in 2009, which starred Akshay Kumar and Deepika Padukone.

The film didn't get much praise at first, but Nikkhil noted that younger viewers have come to appreciate it, with many asking for a sequel.

He told *Mumbai Mirror*, "The people asking me for a *Chandni Chowk* sequel today were four years old when it was released (laughs).

They didn't care about the story structure; they just saw Akshay Kumar [who plays a chef in the film] fighting a giant potato and somehow it worked for them."

In the same interview, Nikkhil shared that in the summer of 1947, just before the Partition, his great-grandfather moved his whole family from Sindh to Mumbai, before Sindh became part of Pakistan.

He also mentioned that during the journey, his grandfather carried a heavy money belt around his waist.

The money wasn't his own.According to the article, "He worked for Habib Bank, which was moving its headquarters to Karachi at Muhammad Ali Jinnah's request." So he was given the task of delivering the cash to its Bombay branch, and his grandfather "handed over every rupee."

Isha Malviya makes Bollywood debut alongside Gurmeet Choudhary in Tum Mere Ho; arrives in cinemas on October 23

Love gets really deep as Gurmeet Choudhary and Isha Malviya start working together in *Tum Mere Ho*, a movie that mixes romance with action and adventure.This is Isha’s first time in Bollywood, and the film will be released in theaters on October 23.The makers have shared the first posters, giving a look at the passionate world of Gurmeet and Isha, where love, feelings, and the difficulties they face are the main focus.

With Gurmeet and Isha in the lead, *Tum Mere Ho* is not just a regular love story.

It combines strong romance, action, and adventure in a story filled with deep emotions.The posters show a relationship that is full of strong feelings and goes through tough times.

Speaking about the film and his work with Gurmeet Choudhary and Isha Malviya, director Aashish Panda said, “It feels amazing to bring the powerful emotions of love through *Tum Mere Ho* on the big screen.

This is a story where love isn’t just about nice moments, but about the emotions, challenges, and situations that test two people.We wanted to make an intense love story that also has the excitement of action and adventure, so it feels bigger and more exciting on screen.”

He also said, “As an actor and producer, working with Gurmeet Choudhary was easy.

It felt like we were working on something from our hearts.Gurmeet brought the intensity and belief that the character needed, and he really got into the role.”

Talking about Isha Malviya, Panda added, “Isha brought a soft and emotional side to the character, but also had the strength the story needed.

She fit the role perfectly, so we didn’t have to look anywhere else.This being her Bollywood debut makes it even more special.I hope audiences connect with the heart of *Tum Mere Ho* and feel the intensity, action, and adventure we have brought to the big screen.”

* Tum Mere Ho* is directed by Aashish Panda and produced by Reva Creative House and DebGuru Films.

The music is composed by Saregama, and the film is distributed by PVR Pictures.It is produced by Aarti S and Debina Bonnerjee.The story is written by Niranjan Iyengar and Purva Naresh.The film features songs by Mithoon, Sanju Rathod, Vivek Verma, Krish, and Uddipan Sharma.

*Tum Mere Ho* is set to be shown in theaters on October 23.

Netflix unveils first look of Freida Pinto and Siddharth starrer Unaccustomed Earth, to release on December 17

Netflix has shared the first look of its new family drama series called *Unaccustomed Earth*.The show stars Freida Pinto and Siddharth in the main roles.It is based on Jhumpa Lahiri's famous short story collection of the same name and is set to come out on December 17, 2026.

The series is adapted by Madhuri Shekar, who also acts as the showrunner and writer.

It follows an Indian American community as they deal with relationships, family pressures, loss, and questions about where they belong across different generations.

Freida Pinto plays Parul Chaudhury, a wife and mother whose life changes when she is diagnosed with cancer.

She had made big personal sacrifices, including giving up her college love to respect her father's wishes.

After her diagnosis, Parul moves with her family from India to Cambridge, Massachusetts, a place where she once felt a strong sense of belonging.

This move makes her rethink her life choices and encourages her to explore opportunities she had left behind.

Her decisions affect not just her family but also the wider immigrant community around her.

Siddharth plays Amit.

The series also includes Indraneil Sengupta as Jai, Parveen Kaur as Nina, Sarayu Blue as Ruma, Justin Bartha as Adam, Adi Roy as Kaushik, Iyla Sundarsingh Mckaig as Hema, and Jayant Kripalani as Pranab.

A post shared by Netflix US (@netflix)

*Unaccustomed Earth* is inspired by Jhumpa Lahiri's short story collection, which looks at the experiences of Indian American families and their connections to identity, culture, family, and home.

The Netflix series is set in Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, and focuses on multiple generations within the Indian American community.

It explores themes like love, personal decisions, family bonds, and the experience of living between cultures.

The show is directed by Ritesh Batra for the first two episodes.

It is produced by Warner Bros.Television and will be available only on Netflix starting December 17, 2026.

Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe says, “Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff not shielded by celebrity status in Vimal ad case”

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said that the fame of Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff does not stop the FDA from taking action against them for their involvement in a Vimal Elaichi advertisement.The three actors received show-cause notices from the Maharashtra FDA after the authority claimed the ad acted as surrogate promotion for Vimal Pan Masala, a product banned in the state.

Speaking to NDTV, Mundhe shared that the FDA has already started legal proceedings against one of the actors who did not respond to the notice within the given time.

He said, “Even though they might be stars, to me they are just advertisers in this case.

So I am treating them as lawbreakers, and the law will take its own course.That’s why we have started taking action.”

The Maharashtra FDA gave notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, and Tiger Shroff on August 11, giving them 15 days to respond.

According to Mundhe, two of the three responded, while the third did not.He did not say which actor failed to respond.“We have taken this action as per the law,” Mundhe said.

He added that proceedings have begun in the case where the actor did not submit a response.

“In one case where they have not responded, we are starting the adjudicating and prosecution proceedings,” he said.

When asked whether Shah Rukh Khan’s team had responded to the notice, Mundhe said, “Most likely he has not responded, but I’m not too sure about it.”

The two actors who responded argued that the responsibility should be on the manufacturer, according to Mundhe.

He said their responses will be considered during the hearing process.“We are giving them a hearing.My officer, the assistant commissioner who issued the notices, will be giving the hearing,” he said.

Mundhe rejected the claim that celebrities have no responsibility when the manufacturer is at fault.

He said, “There are clear advertising rules under the Food Safety Act.

These rules specify who the advertiser is and place a clear responsibility on that person or institution.It is wrong to say that they are not responsible.This is not just a moral issue, but a legal one.I am here as a regulator.”

The FDA’s action is based on the belief that the Vimal Elaichi advertisement was a form of surrogate promotion for Vimal Pan Masala.

Surrogate advertising refers to promoting a restricted or prohibited product through another product or brand connected to it.

Vibe Movie Review: VIBE works due to Kunal Kemmu’s strong command over humour

Vibe Review {3.0/5} & Review Rating  

Star Cast: Kunal Kemmu, Preity G Zinta, Sparsh Srivastava, Vanshika Dhir  

Director: Kunal Kemmu  

Vibe Movie Review Synopsis:  

VIBE is the story of two friends who land in serious trouble.

Bhagirath, also known as Bugs (Sparsh Srivastava), works as a software developer at a company called Next Phase Technologies in Mumbai.His best friend, Hardik Sharma (Kunal Kemmu), is very smart but has just finished a drug rehab program.Bugs asks his boss to hire Hardik, and Hardik joins the company’s marketing department.There, he meets Kareena (Vanshika Dhir), and things start to get interesting between them.Everything seems to be going well until one day, a big problem happens.A tough national security agent, Madam H (Preity G Zinta), and her team kidnap the two friends and make them work on a secret mission.They can’t back out because it’s about national security.The rest of the film shows what happens next.

Vibe Movie Story Review:  

Kunal Kemmu’s story is a bit cliché but works well within the film’s context.

His screenplay is simple and full of funny lines and moments that keep the audience interested.However, the writing becomes less interesting when the film gets serious.His dialogues are a highlight.The one-liners work well and a few of them will be greatly appreciated by viewers.Some of these one-liners are adult in nature, which explains the film’s 'A' rating.

Kunal Kemmu’s direction is functional.

He proves his skills for making films funny, especially in MADGAON EXPRESS [2024].The film shares some similarities with GO GOA GONE [2013] and a few Hollywood movies where two simple-minded characters are forced to fight the bad guys.Since it’s set in Mumbai and involves a terrorism act, it resonates well with Indian audiences.The way Hardik and Bugs meet Madam H is funny and pretty unexpected.The dinner scene with Kareena and her father (Mark Bennington) is also very funny, while the intermission scene is equally shocking.

On the flipside, the film struggles in the second half when the humor takes a backseat.

The twist involving the villain is just okay and makes VIBE feel a bit ordinary.The makers raise some interesting questions about how a suspicious person could change their identity and get into a major tech company, whether there was an insider involved, and if there is a leak within the team.However, the film conveniently leaves these questions unanswered, making one wonder why they were even introduced.The film’s title and tone are such that it’s likely to appeal mainly to urban audiences.

Vibe Movie Review Performances:  

Kunal Kemmu is great not just as a writer and director but also as an actor.

He seems to naturally take on goofy roles, and he does it convincingly in VIBE.Many scenes are funnier than what was written because of his performance.Preity G Zinta looks beautiful and performs well.Her action scene is memorable.Sparsh Srivastava shines and doesn’t get overshadowed by Kunal and Preity.He uses his acting and humor skills well and makes good use of them.Vanshika Dhir is not just pretty to look at; she has a crucial role.Her performance is satisfactory.

Dinesh Lal Yadav, also known as Nirahua (Bansi), and Yashpal Sharma (Rawal) give very good and fun performances.

Salem Kali (Abid) is just okay, but Mark Bennington makes a strong impression.Rajesh Krishnan, who plays Bug's Boss, is funny.Uorfi Javed, as Chanchal Screwvala, and Aaditya Kulshreshth, known as Kullu, who plays Hardik's colleague, do well in their small roles.

Music and other technical parts of the film:

Amit Trivedi's music is just okay.

The song 'Raaton Mein Aana' stands out because of its whistle melody and the way it's shown on screen.Other songs like 'Aisi Meri Vibe', 'Rafta Rafta', and 'Sipahi Ek' are also good.John Stewart Eduri's background score fits well with what happens in the movie.

Kaushal Shah's cinematography is clean and nice to watch.

Prachi Deshpande's set designs are stylish, and Rick Roy's costume designs are glamorous.Parvez Shaikh's action scenes and Brahm Chab's stunt work are entertaining and not too bloody, but they could have been better.Anand Subaya and Sanjay Shrirang Ingle's editing is okay and gets the job done.

Final Thoughts on VIBE:

Overall, VIBE works thanks to Kunal Kemmu's strong sense of humor, some funny one-liners, and the enjoyable performances.

However, the movie starts to slow down in the second half, and the villain's story feels a bit ordinary.Despite this, it has enough wild and funny moments to keep people entertained.At the box office, its appeal to city audiences and humor that young people will like should help it reach the right viewers.

Rajat Kapoor joins Akshay Kumar’s Samuk; actor to play a pivotal role

 Akshay Kumar and Vipul Amrutlal Shah are continuing to build a diverse cast for their sci-fi action thriller Samuk, and Rajat Kapoor has joined the team.Kapoor is set to play an important role in the film.

According to reports, Kapoor will be part of Kanishk Varma's movie, which is being produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah under Sunshine Pictures and co-produced by Aashin A Shah.

The film is currently being shot in the UK and is being made as a big-budget theatrical project that mixes science fiction, action, and survival elements.

Kapoor is known for delivering confident and intelligent performances.

He has worked in a variety of films, from character-driven stories to mainstream Bollywood, including Monsoon Wedding (2001), Bheja Fry (2007), Kapoor & Sons (2016), Mulk (2018), Drishyam (2015), Drishyam 2 (2022), Gehraiyaan (2022), and more.He has also appeared in Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders (2025) and Imtiaz Ali's Main Vaapas Aaunga (2026).

Kapoor's inclusion adds a fresh dynamic to the cast.

His performance is expected to add depth to the story, and the filmmakers believe he is the perfect fit for the role.

This casting brings more variety to the ensemble around Akshay Kumar.

Samuk also marks the return of Akshay Kumar and producer Vipul Amrutlal Shah after 13 years.

The project has been in the works for over two years and is being made on a large scale for theatrical release.