Chhaava writer Rishi Virmani DEFENDS the film’s impact months after AR Rahman called it divisive: “Hard to change a mindset…”

More than a month after composer A. R. Rahman called Chhaava "divisive," writer Rishi Virmani has replied to the criticism. He said that the epic historical drama has actually created a strong connection with its audience.

In a Zoom interview, Virmani said it's not easy to believe that a film can change people's social or political views in just a few hours.

 "It's hard to believe that an entire mindset can be changed in just a couple of hours of screen time," he said. He also mentioned that he hasn't seen such a strong audience connection with a film in a long time.

Chhaava, directed by Laxman Utekar, is based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha Empire.

 The film is adapted from the Marathi novel with the same name by Shivaji Sawant. The screenplay and story were written by Utekar and Virmani along with Kaustubh Savarkar, Unman Bankar, and Omkar Mahajan. Virmani also wrote the dialogues for the film.

When talking about the bigger discussion, Virmani said that audiences are able to make their own decisions, which sometimes go against what the industry expects.

 He also pointed out that box office numbers and public responses often don't match what filmmakers or critics predict.

He also said that Sambhaji's story needed to be shown on screen a long time ago.

 "I hope and pray that Chhaava and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj make it to everyone's hearts, both nationally and internationally," he added.

Rahman, who made the music for the film, previously told BBC Asian Network that while the film was fun and focused on bravery, it also "exploited divisiveness."

 He questioned if audiences are easily affected by movies, saying that viewers have an "internal conscience" that helps them tell the difference between truth and manipulation.

Vishal Bhardwaj DEFENDS violence in cinema, says ‘we are born out of Mahabharata’

Filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj has spoken about the increasing use of explicit violence in modern movies. He said he doesn't have a problem with it as long as it's shown in a stylish and meaningful way that reflects real-life situations.

In an interview with ANI, he talked about how graphic violence in films is becoming more common.

 He said, "I feel that violence has become too explicit, which is okay for me personally." He compared this to the violence in the Mahabharata, saying it's part of our cultural DNA.

In recent years, many popular films like *Animal*, *Marco*, and *Dhurandhar* have included a lot of intense violence, leading to discussions about what audiences can handle and how responsible filmmakers should be.

 Bhardwaj believes the key is how violence is presented. He mentioned the idea of "poetic violence," pointing to filmmakers like Wong Kar-wai and Quentin Tarantino, who show violence in a visually striking way.

He said, "Poetic violence is a thing.

 Tarantino shows it in his own unique way, and that is also poetic violence." He added that even in violent stories, the visuals and style are very important. When talking about his new film *O' Romeo*, he explained that the characters are gangsters, so violence is a natural part of their world.

He said, "If you're not using the current language of filmmaking, you start to feel outdated.

 But you also need to have good aesthetics." 

Bhardwaj also mentioned that movies often reflect the real world. "

Since there's a lot of violence in our society today, it's not wrong to show it on screen," he said, adding that *O' Romeo* is an adult film.

The movie *O' Romeo*, which came out during Valentine's Week, stars Shahid Kapoor and Triptii Dimri in the lead roles.

After years of delay, Anurag Kashyap opens up about Kennedy

Why did Kennedy take so long to be released?

It took time because the management at Zee Studios changed.

 Then I wanted the film to come out without an interval, which wasn't a good idea for theatres and distributors. That made things even slower. Finally, I decided to release it online because that's where I feel most of my audience is.

The international press wasn't very impressed when Kennedy was shown at Cannes?

Yes, we realized that international viewers didn't fully understand the context of the pandemic and what happened in Mumbai.

 So, they saw it as a film trying to be like John Wick. I'm used to negative reviews and to my films being understood over time, except for a few.

Where do you place Kennedy in your filmography?

Kennedy is very personal.

 It helped me come out of a very dark phase. I don’t have a perspective on my own body of work that only an outsider can judge. But Kennedy is deeply personal to me.

Rahul Bhat is outstanding in Kennedy.

 Was he the first and only choice to play the haunted assassin?

Rahul wasn't the first choice.

 It was the Tamil star Vikram. But I never really saw Rahul in the role until I actually saw him in the look. I tend to be blind sometimes to people around me when casting.

And Sunny Leone?

Sunny was always the only choice.

If you had to make Kennedy again, what would you change?

I would never make it again.

 It's done. And I wouldn't change anything. This is one of those rare films with the least improvisation, and it is the closest to the script.

Aapke bolne ki aukaat honi chahiye”: Shahid Kapoor on dealing with online trolling

Actor Shahid Kapoor talked openly about how online trolling is becoming more common and how public figures have to deal with constant attention. He was on The Right Angle with Sonal Kalra Season 3 and shared his thoughts on staying emotionally balanced while being open to public opinions.

He said, “Aapke bolne ki aukaat honi chahiye,” which means you should have the courage to speak.

 Shahid discussed how dealing with online trolling is tough for actors. He explained that they often walk a tightrope between being vulnerable and protecting themselves. He said, “It’s a difficult journey because you have to open up, but also be careful about what and how much you let into your mind.” He questioned the pressure to always please everyone, asking, “Do you want to wake up every day to make everyone happy or yourself happy?” He stressed that true satisfaction should come from within, not from what people say online. He suggested that people should ask themselves, “Did I enjoy it? Did it help me grow? Was it a real reflection of my creativity?” He said self-evaluation is more important than what's trending.

He also talked about anonymous criticism and said social media has made it easy for people to cross lines.

 He shared, “Aapke bolne ki aukaat honi chahiye, tabhi mooh kholna chahiye… pehle aap dekho ki aap kitne paani mein ho, phir baat karo,” meaning one should check their own situation before speaking about others. At the same time, he admitted that constructive feedback is important but urged staying grounded and positive.

On the work front, Shahid recently appeared in Vishal Bhardwaj’s O’ Romeo with Triptii Dimri, Tamannaah Bhatia, and Avinash Tiwary.

 He is set to appear in Homi Adajania’s Cocktail 2 with Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon later this year.

“I was so surprised by Akshay Kumar’s reaction to Chumbak,” reveals Swanand Kirkire

Swanand Kirkire is making a big impression with his new role in the Amazon Prime Video show Bandwaale, where he plays a brass singer. Besides being a lyricist, singer, and screenwriter, he has also acted in several projects and has been recognized for his performances.

One of his memorable performances was in Sandeep Modi’s Marathi film Chumbak (2018), where he played an Autistic man.

 In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, Kirkire discussed Bandwaale and reflected on how the film left a strong impression on Akshay Kumar, who decided on the spot to present the movie.

Kirkire shared his first conversation with Akshay, saying, “He was really happy with the film,” said Kirkire.

 “I was really surprised. He pulled me aside and said, ‘What a performance you have given!’ He said he didn’t feel like he was watching a character; he felt like it was a real person in front of him. He immediately decided to present the film. It’s not easy. That was a great thing that happened with us.”

Kirkire, however, admitted he was initially unsure about taking on the role.

 “When the makers offered me this character, I got scared. I said, ‘This is such a big role.’ At that time, I hadn’t done many acting projects. Today, I have done a lot, so I get less scared. We did a lot of research. There is someone in Sandeep’s family who is Autistic. We met that person and tried to understand their lives. That’s how we created the character.”

Kirkire explained that there are different levels of Autism in people.

 “We decided on the level and took guidance from doctors,” he said. “The most important part of those people is that they don’t have a hidden meaning. For example, if a person says, ‘I like you,’ it might mean they need that person for something. That’s the hidden meaning. But Autistic people don’t have that hidden meaning. If they like or dislike someone, they will say it directly.”

In Chumbak, Kirkire played Prasanna, and the film also featured Sahil Jadhav in a key role.

Bobby Deol and Anurag Kashyap’s Bandar locks theatrical release on May 22, 2026

 The film features Bobby Deol in the leading role and is directed by Anurag Kashyap, with Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee as the writers.

  

Bobby Deol, who has delivered strong performances in recent years, is once again in the lead of this intense drama.

 The film is produced by Nikhil Dwivedi and supported by Zee Studios.

Anurag Kashyap, known for his bold and fearless storytelling, is at the helm.

 His past works like Gangs of Wasseypur and Black Friday show his unique style of filmmaking.

The script is written by Sudip Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, who have worked on popular projects like Pataal Lok, Kohrra, and Udta Punjab.

 Sudip Sharma also directed Kohrra 2, which was well received by audiences.

Bandar has already generated a lot of attention internationally after its premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival 2025 in the Special Presentation category.

 Critics praised it as “hard-hitting, unflinching, and deeply impactful,” making it one of the most talked about and impressive films at the festival.

The film features a strong cast including Sanya Malhotra, Raj B Shetty, Jitendra Joshi, Sapna Pabbi, Indrajith Sukumaran, Riddhi Sen, and Nagesh Bhosle in important roles.

With a talented team behind it and a powerful cast, Bandar is one of the major films expected to be released in 2026.

Do Deewane Seher Mein Movie Review: Despite minimal buzz DO DEEWANE SEHER MEIN is like a breath of fresh air

Do Deewane Seher Mein Review {2.5/5} & Review Rating  

Star Cast: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Mrunal Thakur  

Director: Ravi Udyawar  

Do Deewane Seher Mein Movie Review Synopsis:  

DO DEEWANE SEHER MEIN is about two people from different backgrounds who fall in love.

 Shashank Sharma (Siddhant Chaturvedi) is from Patna but lives in Mumbai and works at a marketing company. He has a speech problem—he says “S” instead of “Sh”—which makes him avoid speaking in meetings. His parents come to Mumbai and start looking for a partner for him. He meets Roshni Shrivastav (Mrunal Thakur), who works for a magazine. Even though she told her parents she doesn’t want to get married, they arrange a meeting. They get along, but she rejects him without giving a reason. Shashank feels it’s because of his lisp and gets upset. He tries to reconnect with her. Meanwhile, Roshni is going through her own personal issues. What happens next is the rest of the story.

Do Deewane Seher Mein Movie Story Review:  

The story by Abhiruchi Chand is easy to relate to.

 The screenplay is slow, with moments that make you laugh and cry. But the writing isn’t perfect. The dialogues sound natural and realistic.

Ravi Udyawar’s direction is nice.

 He has made other films like MOM [2017], which was about revenge, and YUDHRA [2024], which was an action film. DO DEEWANE SEHER MEIN is very different from both. There is no violence, and the male lead is respectful and clean-cut, which feels refreshing. The way the story is told reminds you of K-Dramas. The depiction of Mumbai feels familiar, like the film SAATHIYA [2002], except now people use the Metro instead of local trains. Both Shashank and Roshni are insecure, and how their lives unfold makes for a dramatic watch. The main strength of the film is that people can relate to the characters and their problems. Many people will recognize someone like Shashank or Roshni, or even Naina (Sandeepa Dhar), or they may see themselves in these characters.

However, the story sometimes moves too fast.

 For example, Shashank’s boss, Shekhar Kaushik (Naveen Kaushik), scolds him suddenly, making it feel like a scene was cut. Shashank going away to the mountains to deal with his heartbreak feels forced. Some characters, like Shashank’s cousin Nikita and Naina’s husband Arjun, are mentioned but never shown. The film sometimes drags, and none of the songs work well. The buzz about the film is also low.

Do Deewane Seher Mein Movie Review Performances:  

Siddhant Chaturvedi fully embodies Shashank.

 He is lovable and makes the character easy to like. He is somewhat like Neelesh from DHADAK 2 [2025], but his portrayal is different. Mrunal Thakur is stunning and gives a great performance, once again proving her talent. Sandeepa Dhar makes a strong impact even in a small role. Her emotional breakdown in the second half is unforgettable. Naveen Kaushik, who appeared in DHURANDHAR [2025], gives good support. Viraj Ghelani (Anil) brings humor. Ila Arun (Ila Rastogi), Ayesha Raza (Kusum Shrivastav), Joy Sengupta (Adarsh Shrivastav), and Mona Ambegaonkar (Sudha Sharma) do well in their supporting roles. Deepraj Rana (Deepak Sharma) is not very engaging. Inesh Kotian (Bittu) has an interesting role but doesn’t get much to do. Achint Kaur (Mandy) is cool and performs well. Mark Parekh (Dheeraj) stands out.

Do Deewane Seher Mein movie music and other technical aspects:  

A love story usually has songs that grab attention.

 But none of the songs in this film—like the title track, ‘Tera Mera Saath’, and ‘Aasma Aasma’—catch the attention. Anurag Saikia’s background music is unique.

Kaushal Shah’s cinematography beautifully captures Mumbai and its monsoon mood.

 Karan Gupta’s production design is stylish, while Divya Gambhir and Nidhhi Gambhir’s costumes are suitable for each character. Monisha Baldawa’s editing is okay but could have been more polished.

Do Deewane Seher Mein Movie Review Conclusion:  

Overall, DO DEEWANE SEHER MEIN is a refreshing change.

 However, due to limited awareness and an unmemorable soundtrack, it hasn’t generated much interest. As a result, despite being a well-made film, it may not do well at the box office.