Vijay Varma’s Brij Bhatti walks out of Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast in new Matka King promo

Vijay Varma as Brij Bhatti, the original entrepreneur, the Matka King, walks into Ranveer Allahbadia’s podcast with a matka, a deck of cards, and the confident walk of the 1960s.

 In Prime Video’s most exciting video so far, Ranveer is really curious, and Brij Bhatti answers with the confidence of a man who built a huge business using Matka. The energy is amazing, the talk gets more intense, and just when things get really heated, Ranveer asks one question that makes the Matka King leave.

In the biggest moment of the promo, Brij Bhatti looks directly into Ranveer’s eyes and says, “I’ll give you real Matka water,” and walks out.

 What question did Ranveer ask that made the Matka King leave? Watch the video now and find out!

Matka King is created and written by Abhay Koranne and created, written, and directed by Nagraj Popatrao Manjule.

 The series stars Vijay Varma, Kritika Kamra, Sai Tamhankar, Siddharth Jadhav, Bhupendra Jadawat, and Gulshan Grover in leading roles. Other important cast members include Vineet Kumar Singh, Bharat Jadhav, Girish Kulkarni, Jamie Lever, Kishor Kadam, Cyrus Sahukar, Arpita Sethia, Sambhaji Tangade, Ishtiyak Khan, Sanjivv Jotangia, and Simran Ashwini. The series is produced by Siddharth Roy Kapur, Nagraj Popatrao Manjule, Gargi Kulkarni, Ashwini Sidwani, and Ashish Aryan, under the banners of Roy Kapur Films, Aatpat, and SMR Entertainment. It will premiere exclusively on Prime Video in India and 240 countries and territories around the world on April 17.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Movie Review: EVERYBODY LOVES SOHRAB HANDA is a decent whodunit.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Review {3.0/5} & Review Rating  

Star Cast: Vinay Pathak, Koel Purie, Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, Palomi Ghosh, Neil Bhoopalam  

Movie Review: EVERYBODY LOVES SOHRAB HANDA is a decent whodunit that stands out from other films in this genre.

Director: Rajat Kapoor  

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Movie Review Synopsis:  

EVERYBODY LOVES SOHRAB HANDA is a whodunit.

 Raman (Neil Bhoopalam) and Jayanti (Palomi Ghosh) decide to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary with their friends. They book a bungalow in the hills where they are joined by Raman’s friend and business partner Sohrab Handa (Vinay Pathak), Sohrab’s wife Isha (Koel Purie), Sohrab’s father (M K Raina), Sohrab’s brother Arun (Chandrachoor Rai), Jayanti’s sister Suman (Sadiya Siddiqui), Suman’s husband Sandeep (Sharat Katariya), Suman’s son Rohan (Elgin Dsouza), Madhavan (Ranvir Shorey), Madhavan’s love interest Nazia (Kankana Chakraborty), Kumar (Danish Hussain), Kumar’s wife Naina (Waluscha De Sousa), Raman’s psychologist friend Chandra (Rajat Kapoor), and Vidya (Mallika Singh), a nurse for Sohrab’s father. Sohrab is known for being very rude and starts arguing with everyone. At night, a murder happens and everyone becomes a suspect. Inspector Afzal Qureshi (Saurabh Shukla) arrives to investigate. What happens next is the rest of the movie.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Movie Story Review:  

Rajat Kapoor's story is quite good and has the feel of classic murder mysteries.

 His screenplay is engaging and easy to follow. However, it falls apart in the third act. His dialogues are great, especially those spoken by Vinay Pathak.

Rajat Kapoor’s direction is simple but effective.

 Making a mystery film is challenging, especially with recent films like KNIVES OUT still fresh in the minds of viewers. But Rajat’s writing and execution are strong. First, Sohrab Handa’s personality makes people want to get rid of him. Second, the psychological elements help set the film apart from others in the genre. One memorable scene is when Chandra figures out a hidden equation just by watching the guests. The first half has a lot of funny moments, while the middle part has a powerful and surprising moment.

On the other hand, the second half is weaker.

 The characters’ backstories could have been developed more. Some parts, like the nurse checking herself in the mirror or a character who sleepwalks, don’t make sense and seem unnecessary. Also, not all plot threads are tied up properly. The biggest issue is that the suspense isn’t entirely surprising, and the culprit is caught too easily.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Movie Review Performances:  

Speaking of performances, EVERYBODY LOVES SOHRAB HANDA belongs to Vinay Pathak.

 He dominates the show and outperforms all other actors. He has given several great performances, but this one is possibly his second best after BHEJA FRY [2007]. Koel Purie has a strong impression, especially in scenes where she refuses to accept reality. Neil Bhoopalam is reliable as always. Palomi Ghosh is excellent and it’s hoped she stars in more films. Sharat Katariya (director of DUM LAGA KE HAISHA and SUI DHAAGA) is an actor to watch. Rajat Kapoor is very likeable. Chandrachoor Rai and M K Raina portray difficult characters with ease. Ranvir Shorey, Danish Hussain, and Waluscha De Sousa are decent. Kankana Chakraborty is okay, while Saurabh Shukla makes an impact. Saurabh Nayyar (Satya; caretaker) and Mallika Singh are just okay.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa movie music and other technical aspects:  

Sagar Desai's music is forced.

 The only song was unnecessary. The background score is better, especially in the beginning. Rafey Mehmood’s cinematography is clean and helps with the drama. Meenal Agarwal’s production design is appropriate. Darshan Jalan and Manish Tiwari’s costumes feel realistic. Suresh Pai’s editing is smooth.

Everybody Loves Sohrab Handa Movie Review Conclusion:  

Overall, EVERYBODY LOVES SOHRAB HANDA is a decent whodunit that stands out in this genre because of its writing, drama, and Vinay Pathak’s excellent performance.

 However, the weak ending brings it down. The film was released with little promotion, but it should still find an audience because of its cast and murder mystery theme.

Asha Bhosle, 92, hospitalised after suffering cardiac arrest: Report

Veteran playback singer Asha Bhosle was taken to Breach Candy Hospital on Saturday after she had a cardiac arrest.

 The 92-year-old singer is being treated in the hospital's Emergency Medical Services unit.  

According to reports from hospital staff and news agency IANS, the singer had the cardiac episode earlier in the day and was then taken to the south Mumbai hospital for urgent medical care.

 Doctor Pratit Samdani said she is getting treatment in the emergency unit.

So far, no detailed information about her health has been officially released, and the hospital has not yet provided a full health update.

Asha Bhosle is considered one of India's most famous playback singers.

 She has worked for many years and has recorded thousands of songs in different languages and music styles. Her work in Indian cinema and music has made her well-known both in India and around the world.

Information about her condition is still pending as doctors keep monitoring her health.

Salman Khan’s Maatrubhumi undergoes major sanitising; no China mention in new version

The suspense around Salman Khan and Chitrangda Singh's upcoming movie, Maatrubhumi, is still going on. The film was originally called Battle Of Galwan but was renamed to Maatrubhumi earlier this year. It's based on the 2020 conflict between India and China. Since the relationship between the two countries has improved recently, the Ministry of Defence had some concerns about the film's content. Now, a reliable source says that because of a directive from the Ministry, the film may not mention China at all.

A source told , "Earlier, the film was based on a real event.

 But because of the Ministry of Defence's request, Salman Khan and director Apoorva Lakhia reshooted parts of the film and added a fictional story. As a result, they reshot nearly 40% of the film, including adding some romantic scenes and backstory. The makers sent the new version hoping to get approval. But the Ministry is still worried."

The source added, "One of the requests to Salman Khan was that China shouldn't be mentioned in the film.

 This was told to the makers before. The version of Maatrubhumi submitted earlier this month has no mention of China." However, only the core team of Maatrubhumi knows how the neighboring country is depicted or mentioned without naming it.

It's still unclear how this issue will be resolved and when the film can be released in theaters.

Source had reported earlier that Maatrubhumi might come out on May 15. But due to the current situation, that doesn't seem likely.

Meanwhile, Salman Khan is expected to start shooting for Dil Raju's next project.

 It stars Nayanthara and is directed by Vamshi Paidipally. Salman also has a superhero film in the works with Raj-DK.

Makers of Varun Dhawan-starrer Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai plan to prepone release from June 12 to May 22

Varun Dhawan started the year 2026 on a positive note because of the success of his film Border 2. Now, he is getting ready for the release of Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, which is in the same fun and exciting style that he is known for. This film also brings him back together with his father, David Dhawan, for the third time.

Source has found out that fans of Varun are in for a special treat as the makers are planning to move up the release date of the film.

A source told , “The makers are seriously thinking about bringing the film out on May 22 instead of June 12.

 They realized they could move the date up by three weeks as the film is nearly finished. There is also less competition in the second half of May, and the summer vacation will be happening. This would be a great time to draw in both young people and family audiences.”

The source added, “A final decision will be made soon.

 If the new date is decided, the makers plan to make the official announcement in a few days.”

Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai also stars Pooja Hegde and Mrunal Thakur.

 The film is produced by Ramesh Taurani of Tips. A few days ago, it was announced that Tips will return to the distribution business with this film.

Interestingly, Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai was earlier scheduled for June 5.

 After Toxic was moved to June 4, its date was changed to June 12. So this will be the second time that the release date of a David Dhawan-directed film has been changed.

If Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai releases on May 22, it will avoid a clash with Imtiaz Ali’s Main Vaapas Aaunga, starring Diljit Dosanjh, Sharvari and Vedang Raina.

 However, by coming out on the fourth Friday of May, it will clash with Karan Johar’s intense romantic drama Chand Mera Dil, starring Lakshya and Ananya Panday, Anurag Kashyap’s Bobby Deol-starrer Bandar, and Milap Zaveri’s Tera Yaar Hoon Main.

Harman Baweja on the response to Kaptaan, “At Baweja Studios, success has never been just about numbers, it’s about resonance”

Producer, writer, and actor Harman Baweja is currently enjoying the positive reaction to his show Kaptaan, which has quickly become popular with viewers. The show has been trending since it came out just a few days ago, showing how much people are liking it in the digital world.

When asked about the response to Kaptaan, Baweja said, "At Baweja Studios, success isn't just about numbers.

 It's about how much people connect with the story."

He shared, "The response to Kaptaan has been very humbling.

 The show is trending and has already made it into the Ormax Top 10 within three days of its release. While it's great to see such traction, what really matters is how people are relating to the story and the characters."

For Baweja, success is more about making a connection with the audience than just hitting numbers.

 Through Baweja Studios, he has always focused on creating content that builds long-lasting relationships with viewers. "At Baweja Studios, success has never been just about numbers. It's about resonance. On this platform, we've seen that connection and success grow over time with shows like Bhaukaal, Chidiya Udd, and now Kaptaan. It reminds us that when stories touch people, they go far," he added.

Baweja believes a big part of Kaptaan's impact comes from the performances.

 "Saqib Saleem, Siddharth Nigam, and the whole cast have brought a lot of dedication and authenticity to their roles, which clearly shows on screen," Baweja said, giving credit to the actors for adding depth and believability to the story.

Known for supporting socially relevant and women-led stories like Haq and Mrs., Baweja says his approach to storytelling remains flexible and driven by the script.

 "We have consciously supported stories that are strong and relevant, often led by powerful female perspectives. But we don't approach storytelling through a fixed lens. It always starts with the script," he explained.

At its heart, Kaptaan explores the challenges of leadership and the price of power.

 "It's about what leadership requires, what it costs, and how power changes people. It's a high-energy, emotionally rich story that looks at ambition, control, and conflict in a way that feels real and human," he concluded.

Harman Baweja also has an exciting list of projects coming up this year.

 Some have already been announced, while others are set to be shared soon. His upcoming projects include Dil Ka Darwaza Kholo Darling, Boy from Andaman, Captain India, Ikhwan: from Militant to Soldier, and System.

Dacoit Movie Review: DACOIT manages to hold interest due to its massy moments.

Dacoit Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating  

Star Cast: Adivi Sesh, Mrunal Thakur, Anurag Kashyap  

Director: Shaneil Deo  

Dacoit Movie Review Synopsis:  

DACOIT is the tale of a man who is running away.

 The story starts in 2005. Haridas, also known as Hari (Adivi Sesh), meets Saraswati (Mrunal Thakur) in the village of Hindupuram, and they fall in love. They spend a couple of years together. Hari is from a lower caste and is an orphan, whereas Saraswati comes from a wealthy upper-caste family. Saraswati wants Hari to become financially stable, believing that only then can he ask for her hand in marriage. But things take a turn when Hari and Saraswati are caught together by her family. A series of events follow, and because of Saraswati, Hari ends up in jail. Thirteen years pass. Now it is 2021, during the time of the coronavirus, and Hari is in Kadapa Central Prison. His old friend, Ishaq Bhai (Atul Kulkarni), visits him. Hari tells him about how he was wrongly treated by Saraswati and expresses his wish to escape from jail. Ishaq helps him plan an escape. He also arranges a way for Hari to leave the country on a ship that is set to go from Mumbai soon. Hari needs 70 lakhs to escape, so he decides to steal the money. Before doing this, he watches Saraswati and finds out she also needs money badly. So, he asks her for help in carrying out the plan. Saraswati agrees because Hari promises to steal a large sum that can solve both their problems. However, Hari has a hidden agenda. The rest of the film follows what happens next.

Dacoit Movie Story Review:  

The story by Adivi Sesh and Shaneil Deo is complicated but has potential.

 The screenplay, also written by Kaarthikeya Kalakota, is interesting but has a few issues. The Hindi dialogues by Yash Eshwari are a mix of good and bad parts. Some one-liners add drama, but many are weak and poorly worded.

Shaneil Deo's direction is not the best.

 But he made the film look big and cinematic. Some scenes are fun, like Hari escaping from jail, getting an idea to steal from the hospital, and the intermission. One of his special techniques is using multiple scenes at the same time, instead of just switching between two things. This works well, especially in the scene where Hari tells Ishaq about his wrongs, and the visuals jump between different parts of his prison life with strong music. The makers also add some twists that can surprise the audience.

On the other hand, the flashbacks are messy.

 The makers wanted to hide some important details, but the way it's done is not effective. There are too many changes to the story, and the biggest one is revealed before the big twist. Even though the twist gives a quick surprise, it raises questions about how such a weak script got approval.

Dacoit Movie Review Performances:  

Adivi Sesh delivers a subtle and massy performance.

 He handles both aspects well and gives a good show. Mrunal Thakur gets a role backed by an author and she does it with conviction. After SITA RAMAM [2022] and THE FAMILY STAR [2024], she again proves she can carry leading roles in Telugu cinema easily. Anurag Kashyap (D Rambabu) plays a different kind of character this time and he is reliable. Prakash Raj (Karuna Hospital founder) starts off like the villain from GABBAR IS BACK [2015], but his character changes later. He adds his own style to it. Atul Kulkarni supports well. Sunil (Prasad; cop) makes an impression, while Zayn Marie Khan does a decent job but isn’t given much to work with. The same goes for Kamakshi Bhaskarla (Malli). Her character is important but she isn’t given enough credit. Vaibhav Tatwawadi (Bhaskar) is okay.

Dacoit Movie Music and Other Technical Aspects:  

Bheems Ceciroleo’s music is forgettable.

 None of the songs – 'Tu Jahaan', 'Rubaroo', or 'Touch Buddy' – will be remembered. Gyaani’s background score, with additional work by S Anant Srikar, has a massy feel.

Datta Pawar, Shashank Singh, and Rahul Bandi’s cinematography adds to the film’s grand scale.

 Rekha Boggarapu’s costumes and Sri Nagendra Tangala’s production design look real. The action by A Vijay, Maibam Nabakanta, Rabin Subbu, King Solomon, Jeevan Botimala, and Naba is entertaining and not overly violent. Kodati Pavan Kalyan’s editing is okay but a bit messy in the flashbacks at the start.

Dacoit Movie Review Conclusion:  

Overall, DACOIT holds interest thanks to its massy moments, action, and performances.

 However, the story is let down by poor execution, weak points, and a confusing twist. At the box office, the Telugu version is expected to do well on its opening day, while the Hindi version is likely to start off slowly. If it gains popularity among Hindi-speaking audiences, it might benefit from its clear week in the market.