Priyadarshan says “Hera Pheri 3 will be dead” days after exiting Akshay Kumar-starrer; alleges repeated insults by Firoz Nadiadwala

After making sure he is no longer part of Hera Pheri 3, filmmaker Priyadarshan has shared more about why he decided to leave the long-awaited comedy series.He claims that repeated disrespect from producer Firoz Nadiadwala and a long copyright fight over the franchise made him think the film might never happen.

Priyadarshan said, "Hera Pheri 3 will be dead," just days after leaving the Akshay Kumar project.

He also accused Firoz of insulting him many times.He said Firoz told Akshay, "You can make Hera Pheri 3, but never with Priyadarshan.That's my only request." Priyadarshan said Firoz criticized his version of Hera Pheri [2000], saying it looked like a poor man's version and that he had to edit his five-hour film.He initially agreed to direct Hera Pheri 3 with Akshay because he thought it could become one of the biggest franchises in the country.Akshay, Suniel, and Paresh all wanted him to make the third part.When he told them the story, they were all excited.

Priyadarshan said the issues with the project started much earlier.

In 2025, he got a call from Seven Arts Films' GP Vijayakumar warning him that making the film could lead to legal problems.He said, "When Hera Pheri 3 was announced, I got a call from Seven Arts Films' GP Vijayakumar that if we ever do the film, it will be a violation.I didn't know what to do.This is why I said that Hera Pheri 3 may never see the screens with the same characters.You will never see them again as it has too many legal issues.According to me, Hera Pheri [2000] was born, Hera Pheri 2 [2006] became sick, and Hera Pheri 3 will be dead."

Despite leaving Hera Pheri 3, Priyadarshan's work with Akshay Kumar continues.

Days after confirming he was no longer directing the franchise, he also confirmed his ninth film with the actor.Readers may remember that Bollywood Hungama first reported that Priyadarshan and Akshay Kumar were working on another project.In April, a source told the publication, "Priyadarshan is putting together an exciting film and has signed Akshay Kumar for it.It'll be a typical Priyan entertainer that'll appeal to the youth and families alike." The source also said the film will be produced by Tips Films, marking the banner's first collaboration with Priyadarshan and the second film together for Akshay Kumar and Tips after Entertainment (2014).

The confirmation came ahead of the release of their eighth collaboration, Haiwaan, which is set for release on September 11, 2026.

The film also stars Saif Ali Khan in a key role.

Satluj Movie Review: SATLUJ brings a deeply disturbing true story to the screen.

 Director: Honey Trehan

Satluj Movie Review Synopsis:

SATLUJ is about a remarkable man who stands up against a strong and cruel system.

The story takes place in 1995.Jaswant Singh (Diljit Dosanjh), a bank manager, lives in Amritsar with his wife, Parminder or Pammi (Geetika Vidya Ohlyan), and their kids.One day, he finds out that Bibi Gurpej Kaur Bannowal (Jyoti Dogra), the mother of his late friend Kirpal (Bhupender Singh), has gone missing.Jaswant asks for help from his police friend, Senior Constable Satnam Singh (Saurabh Sachdeva), but Satnam refuses to help and tells him to forget about it.Jaswant doesn't give up.He starts looking into the case and finds out that Gurpej was declared an unclaimed body and was cremated without her family being informed.As he checks crematorium records and talks to the workers, he finds out a terrible pattern—the Punjab Police is suspected of killing innocent people for no good reason and then cremating their bodies as unidentified corpses while their families are still waiting for them.Jaswant checks three crematoriums in Patti, Durgiana, and Tarn Taran and finds records of over 2,000 such bodies.Determined to tell the truth, he goes to court and reveals the police's wrongdoings to the public.At first, the authorities ignore him, hoping the problem will go away on its own.But when Jaswant won't stay quiet and the issue gains more attention, the police take drastic steps.What follows is the rest of the movie.

Satluj Movie Story Review:

Honey Trehan's story is based on real events and is very shocking.

The screenplay by Niren Bhatt, Utsav Maitra, and Honey Trehan is fully engaging.However, the pace sometimes slows down.The dialogues by Niren Bhatt and Honey Trehan are clever and even hard-hitting in some scenes.Fortunately, all the shocking lines and references are left in and not cut.

Honey Trehan's direction is very good and straightforward.

He makes the story easy to follow while making sure that the serious and sensitive nature of the topic is never lost.In a few scenes, the characters repeat the number of unclaimed bodies that were cremated in the state.Though it feels a bit repetitive, it shows how big and brutal the crime was.Several scenes stand out, especially when SSP Surjit Singh Sugga (Suvinder Vicky) arrives at Satnam's house and when Jaswant confronts DGP Bitta (Kanwaljit Singh) in a public debate.The way the police and government try to justify these illegal killings creates a disturbing sense of familiarity in today's world.Because of this, SATLUJ feels very relevant, even though it's based on events that happened 31 years ago.The investigation parts are very gripping, but Honey saves the most disturbing and powerful moment for the climax.The credits at the end add to the overall shocking effect.

Movie Review: SATLUJ brings a deeply disturbing true story with Diljit Dosanjh’s amazing performance

On the other hand, the film runs for 163 minutes and could have been shorter by at least 10 to 15 minutes.

It also leaves some important questions unanswered.We don't find out how Jaswant and Pammi supported their movement financially, or whether Jaswant quit his job to focus on the cause or continued working while being involved in activism.Also, the title doesn't fully capture the film's subject and impact.Lastly, choosing to release such an important film directly on an OTT platform without proper promotion or awareness feels unfair.

Satluj Movie Review Performances:

Diljit Dosanjh gives his all to the role.

Aware of the deep respect the real Jaswant Singh has, the actor delivers a heartfelt performance that truly represents Jaswant Singh's life, bravery, and struggle.Suvinder Vicky, who has been doing well this year after DHURANDHAR THE REVENGE and the web series GLORY, delivers another strong performance.The mood becomes tense the moment he appears on screen.Arjun Rampal makes a late appearance but makes the most of his limited screen time with a powerful performance.Kanwaljit Singh, known for his lighter roles, makes a remarkable change and becomes one of the film's biggest surprises.Geetika Vidya Ohlyan supports well, while Saurabh Sachdeva shines despite his small role.Jyoti Dogra, Vansh Bhardwaj (Inspector Shivender Singh who is about to get married), Jagjeet Singh (SPO Kuljit Singh), Amardeep Jha (Satnam's mother), and Geeta Agarwal (Dr Geeta Basra) all leave a big mark in their supporting roles.Others who do well are Varun Badola (Advocate Jais), S M Zaheer (CM Anant Singh), Anil Mange (Sanjiv Singh; eyewitness), Nasser (DGP S V Varma), and Amit Dhawan (DSP Jagpal Singh).

Satluj Movie Music and Other Technical Aspects:

The song 'Shabad' at the end is well integrated.

Alok Punjiani's background music is intense and the theme during scenes with Sugga is very scary.

K U Mohanan's cinematography is good.

Rohit Chaturvedi's costumes and Garima Mathur's production design are reminiscent of an older time.Harpal Singh Pali and Vikram Dahiya's action is minimal but very realistic.A Sreekar Prasad's editing is sharp but could have been more refined in some scenes.

Satluj Movie Review Conclusion:

Overall, SATLUJ brings a deeply disturbing true story to the screen with great sensitivity and is powered by amazing performances from Diljit Dosanjh, Arjun Rampal, and Suvinder Vicky.

Its sudden release on an OTT platform without much awareness might affect initial viewership.However, strong word of mouth is likely to spark interest and help the film find its audience.If SATLUJ had a theatrical release, it had the potential to be a major hit, particularly in Punjab and North America.

Alpha Opening Day Box Office Estimate: Alia Bhatt & Sharvari starrer opens at Rs. 9 crores

Alpha, led by Alia Bhatt and Sharvari, has started well at the box office in India.Early estimates show the YRF Spy Universe film made between Rs.8.75 crore and Rs.9.50 crore on Friday, which is more than what was expected before the release.

The movie earned Rs.5 crore nett from the top three national chains—PVRInox and Cinepolis—accounting for 60% of the total earnings.This strong opening was made possible by YRF's aggressive distribution plan and the popular weekend pricing strategy.Even though the reviews were mixed, the distribution team managed to get a big release for a film like Alpha, which had faced a lot of doubts and skepticism from exhibitors before it launched.The large scale of the release surprised the trade and helped the film open strong.

Now, everyone is watching to see if the business picks up over the weekend.

The reviews aren't great, and the costs are on the higher side.The film needs to keep showing strong numbers for the next two days and then maintain that momentum during the weekdays to have a decent overall performance.

The start is good, and what happens on Saturday will give a better idea of where the film is headed.

Alpha Movie Review

ALPHA is mounted on a grand scale but suffers due to a weak script

Rating : 2.0  

Star Cast: Alia Bhatt, Sharvari, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol  

Director: Shiv Rawail  

Alpha Movie Review Synopsis:  

ALPHA is the story of a menacing killing machine.

Away from the eyes of the world, Lt Col Fateh Singh Lakhawat (Bobby Deol) is training a girl named Sita (Alia Bhatt).She's no ordinary human being.Her blood flows with the 'Alpha' serum.As a result, she has superhuman abilities and the potential to emerge as India's greatest soldier.However, due to circumstances, she goes rogue and is now after RAW chief Vikrant Kaul (Anil Kapoor).While monitoring his movements, she realises that he frequently goes to Valladolid, Spain, to meet Durga (Sharvari).Sita is intrigued by Vikrant's connection with Durga.Soon, she realizes that she also has a bond with both of them.What happens next forms the rest of the film.

Alpha Movie Story Review:  

Uday Chopra's story shows promise but then gets weak later on.

Soumil Shukla and Shridhar Raghavan's screenplay is peppered with several action and thrilling moments.Yet, it doesn't give a high as it gives a been-there-done-that feeling.Moreover, logic takes a massive backseat.Ishita Moitra's dialogues are fine and tries to enhance the impact of some scenes.

Shiv Rawail's direction is not up to the mark.

To give credit where it's due, he mounts the film on a grand scale.Moreover, the first 20 minutes are exceptional and remind one of Salim-Javed and Manmohan Desai films.There are too many twists and a few of them do catch viewers unawares.Technically, the film is top-class, without a shred of doubt.

However, once the characters are introduced and the focus shifts to the present-day, the film falls like a pack of cards.

Several developments are bewildering.For instance, Sita claiming that she came to meet Vikrant and Durga to have a conversation will lead to unintentional laughter, as just a few minutes before, we see her attacking them as if she wants to finish them off.The cinematic liberties continue in the second half, and it goes to another level.Another major issue is that in the very beginning, we see Sita killing people who are considered national assets.After that sequence, it becomes difficult to accept her as a heroic character.The makers have added a patriotism angle and yet, it doesn’t work as intended.The twist in the Fateh Singh Lakhawat track is unpredictable.However, it may lead to backlash.

Alpha Movie Review Performances:  

Alia Bhatt rises above the weak script and delivers a performance which is authentic and effortless.

Watch out for her in scenes where she sees Durga and realizes what all she has missed in life.She conveys a lot without speaking, and this shows her worth as an actor.Sharvari plays a far more likeable character.She has an arresting screen presence and looks great in action scenes.Anil Kapoor, as always, is quite dependable.Bobby Deol is menacing as the villain and is the apt choice.Dibyendu Bhattacharya (Dr Verghese) lends able support.Dia Mirza (Janki) is lovely.Hrithik Roshan (Kabir) is dashing, but his cameo fails to entice.

Alpha movie music and other technical aspects:  

Rohansh and Abeer's music is disappointing, which is shocking, considering that all films of the YRF Spy Universe have had at least one hit song.

But one song that stands out is 'Vaar Vaar'.'Bam Bam', 'Haniya Ve', 'Champagne' etc fail to impress.'Massacre' is played in the end credits.It is visually striking but also seems out of place.Sanchit Balhara and Ankit Balhara's background score is in sync with the film’s mood.

Rubais' cinematography is spectacular.

Subrata Chakraborty and Amit Ray's production design is top-class.Craig Macrae and Sunil Rodrigues' action is entertaining and a bit gory.Aki Narula, Natasha Vohra, Deepali Singh Raseen and Gunpreet Kaur Mann's costumes are glamorous while yFX's VFX is first-rate.Aarif Sheikh's editing is fine.

Alpha Movie Review Conclusion:  

On the whole, ALPHA is mounted on a grand scale and boasts spectacular action sequences and fine performances by its lead actors.

However, the film suffers considerably due to a weak script and lacklustre direction.After WAR 2 [2025], it is yet another underwhelming offering from the YRF Spy Universe.At the box office, the film will register a respectable opening, but its long-term prospects appear dim.

After Lagaan, Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowarikar’s next is titled Lalkaar

 Twenty-five years after Lagaan, Aamir Khan and Ashutosh Gowarikar are coming back together for another sports drama.The movie is set to start filming in October 2026.It's based on the life of Lala Amarnath and takes place during the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.

Right now, the team is busy preparing for the film. Source has learned from industry insiders that the project has a title, and it's expected to impress audiences a lot.A source shared that the duo has chosen the name Lalkaar."After Lagaan, it's time for Lalkaar.The title brings back memories of their popular film and also promises something fresh.Just like Lagaan, this story is also an emotional journey set around cricket," the source said.

Besides Aamir Khan, the team is looking for another actor for the second lead, and they will announce that soon.

The movie is written by Rajkumar Hirani and Abhijat Joshi, and it's being produced by Excel Entertainment.

Shah Rukh Khan inaugurates Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles as venue hosts first Major League Cricket match

Shah Rukh Khan and the Knight Riders Group have celebrated a big moment in world cricket with the opening of the Knight Riders Cricket Ground in Los Angeles.The ground officially played its first Major League Cricket (MLC) match, where the Los Angeles Knight Riders faced the Washington Freedom.This event marks a key step in growing cricket in the US.

The new stadium is the first international cricket venue built by a global cricket team, showing the Knight Riders Group’s long-term plan to grow the sport through great infrastructure.

Built to international standards, the Knight Riders Cricket Ground has eight playing areas on the main square, ICC-sized fields and six floodlights that are 120 feet high.

More than 32,000 metric tonnes of earth were moved during construction to build a top-level cricketing place.

Speaking about this achievement, Shah Rukh Khan, who is part of the Knight Riders Group, said, "What began as a dream has now become a reality.

Bringing cricket, the second most-watched sport in the world, to Los Angeles is a big moment for all of us.Through this long-term partnership with Fairplex and Knight Riders, we are doing more than just building a cricket ground.We are creating a space that brings together community, togetherness, energy and entertainment.

"It's a place for sport, for families, and for memories that will last a lifetime.

We hope this becomes a home for cricket in Los Angeles and inspires future fans and players.This is for Los Angeles, for cricket fans around the world, and for the Knight Riders family.Believe in Purple and Gold," he added.

Venky Mysore, CEO of Knight Riders Sports, also spoke highly of the project, saying, "The Knight Riders Cricket Ground, LA is more than just a stadium; it is a sign of where cricket is heading.

Becoming the first global cricket brand to open an international cricket stadium is a proud moment for Knight Riders and shows we believe in growing the game with top-quality facilities.We wanted to create a place that players would love playing at, fans would love visiting, and the community could be proud to call their cricket home."  

The celebrations were added to by NBA champion Ron Artest, known as Metta World Peace, who bowled the ceremonial first ball at the opening MLC match.

His involvement showed the growing link between cricket and American sports, and highlighted the Knight Riders Group's efforts to make cricket a part of LA's sporting scene.

The Knight Riders Cricket Ground will host Major League Cricket matches from July 1 to July 5, supporting cricket's growing presence in the US and helping the Knight Riders Group achieve their goal of making the sport more available to new audiences worldwide.

YRF secures a wide release for Alia Bhatt and Sharvari’s Alpha; 9000 shows across 2750 screens

Distribution plays a key role in the film industry, and Yash Raj Films is known for having the best distribution network.As Alpha is being released this week, Yash Raj Films has arranged for a wide release for this Spy Thriller starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari.

According to the latest data from Bollywood Hungama, Alpha is set to be shown on 2750 screens across the country, which is one of the widest releases ever for a film led by a female actor in India.

Moreover, the film is being shown in over 9000 showtimes nationwide, which is more than several big films that released in the past year.

YRF has given the film a release that matches its potential, and with enough screens, it has the chance to make a big impact on the weekend if the reports are positive.

"In a time when many films are having trouble getting a proper release in a busy market, YRF has managed to get a strong release for Alpha, which shows their strong support and influence.It's a busy time with films like Welcome to the Jungle, Cocktail 2, and Main Vaapas Aaunga, but Alpha has managed to hold its own thanks to YRF's strong distribution system," said a trade source.

Earlier reports from source mentioned that Alpha is expected to sell about 35,000 tickets through the national chains and is targeting an opening day collection of Rs.

7 crore.