Riteish Deshmukh starrer Raja Shivaji heading for Rs. 110-115 cr. lifetime; Hindi version expected to close around Rs. 30-34 cr.

Riteish Deshmukh's film Raja Shivaji has finished its first week at the box office, and the numbers show that it's on track to make a good total over its lifetime. The historical movie made Rs. 57.70 crores nett across all languages in its first week, and if it continues to do well in the second week, it could end up making between Rs. 110 to 115 crores nett.

The movie opened with Rs. 12.40 crores on Friday, Rs. 11.50 crores on Saturday, and Rs. 13.10 crores on Sunday, which added up to Rs. 37 crores for the opening weekend.

 While this wasn't a huge jump, it was strong enough to show the movie is getting good reactions from its audience. The real test came during the weekdays. On Monday, it made Rs. 6.20 crores, followed by Rs. 5.40 crores on Tuesday, Rs. 4.70 crores on Wednesday, and Rs. 4.40 crores on Thursday.

The Thursday number is especially important because it gives a good idea of how long the movie will keep drawing people.

 Making Rs. 4.40 crores on Thursday, which is about 71% of what it made on Monday, is a decent sign for a movie that has already crossed Rs. 50 crores in the first week.

If the second weekend shows a good jump, Raja Shivaji could make another Rs. 30 to 35 crores.

 After that, it should keep making smaller but steady amounts over the coming weeks. That would bring the total to around Rs. 110 to 115 crores nett across all languages.

The Hindi version of the movie also played a big part in the total.

 Out of the Rs. 57.70 crores made in the first week, the Hindi version brought in about Rs. 15.02 crores nett. Its daily earnings were Rs. 3 crores on Friday, Rs. 3 crores on Saturday, Rs. 4 crores on Sunday, Rs. 1.30 crores on Monday, Rs. 1.30 crores on Tuesday, Rs. 1.25 crores on Wednesday, and Rs. 1.17 crores on Thursday.

The Hindi version made about 26% of the total from all languages in the first week.

 That's good for a movie that mainly appeals to regional audiences. The Hindi version is expected to make between Rs. 30 to 34 crores nett, and maybe even reach Rs. 36 to 38 crores if the second week is strong.

The final total for the movie will now depend heavily on how well it does in the second weekend.

 If Raja Shivaji makes a big jump on Saturday and Sunday, it could reach the higher end of the expected range, which is Rs. 120 crores. However, if the drop on the second Friday is worse than expected, the total might settle around Rs. 105 to 110 crores.

For now, the box office results show that Raja Shivaji has done well in its first week and is likely to be a successful film in the theaters.

Shahid Kapoor teams up with Amit Sharma for romantic comedy; Kiara Advani and Janhvi Kapoor in talks: Report

Shahid Kapoor is set to star in another unusual romantic comedy, this time working with filmmaker Amit Sharma on a soul-swapping comedy-drama. According to an exclusive report by Variety India, the film will follow a married couple whose souls unexpectedly swap, leading to a mix of funny and emotional moments as they try to understand each other better.

This film is Shahid's latest attempt in the rom-com genre after the success of *Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya*, which told a futuristic story about love between a human and a robot.

 Interestingly, this new project comes just as a sequel to *Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya* is being developed by Maddock Films.

Amit Sharma, who has directed films like *Badhaai Ho* and *Maidaan*, is set to direct this film.

 The story will focus on a husband and wife who suddenly find themselves in each other’s bodies. This will make them face unfamiliar daily tasks, responsibilities, and feelings, leading to both humorous and heartfelt moments.

The unusual idea is supposed to create a lot of funny scenes while also exploring deeper themes like empathy, marriage, and identity.

 The film is being developed as a heartwarming family entertainer with a strong emotional aspect.

Shahid Kapoor has officially joined the project, but the female lead is still being finalized.

 Reports say that talks are happening with Kiara Advani and Janhvi Kapoor for the role. If Janhvi signs on, it will be her first on-screen project with Shahid. A return with Kiara would also be exciting for fans, especially after the huge success of *Kabir Singh*.

The film is expected to begin filming in the second half of 2026 and is aiming for a theatrical release in the middle of 2027.

In the meantime, Shahid is working on the second season of *Farzi*, directed by Raj & DK for Prime Video India.

 The season will feature Vijay Sethupathi, Kay Kay Menon, Raashii Khanna, and Bhuvan Arora along with him.

Shahid is also set to appear in *Cocktail 2*, directed by Homi Adajania.

 The film also stars Rashmika Mandanna and Kriti Sanon, and it’s scheduled to release in cinemas on June 21, 2026.

Yash begins shooting Ravana’s Swayamvar sequence for Ramayana in Mumbai: Report

Ramayana, directed by Nitesh Tiwari, is still one of the most watched projects in Indian cinema. It's a big production, with plans to make it a two-part film. The budget is over 1,600 crores, and the film has been getting a lot of attention because of its grand design and strong cast.

The latest news says Yash is currently shooting some key scenes as Ravana at Film City in Goregaon, Mumbai.

 The set for the kingdom of Mithila is huge, with palace courtyards, royal balconies, flower patterns on the floor, and lots of traditional details. A lot of junior artists have been brought in to help with the big scale of the scenes.

The current filming is focused on a major scene from the epic where Ravana goes to Sita's swayamvar and tries to lift the Shiva Dhanush.

 This moment is important because it introduces Ravana's powerful presence early on.

A report from Mid-Day quoted a source close to the production, saying, "The current scene shows Ravana arriving at the swayamvar and the tension around lifting the bow.

 Yash has a strong entrance in this part. The crowd's energy changes the moment Ravana enters the court. A lot of work has gone into making this scene look amazing."

The report also said Sai Pallavi, who plays Sita, is expected to join the shoot later.

 Although the makers haven't shared many details, the ongoing updates from the set have kept fans excited.

Besides Yash and Sai Pallavi, the film has a cast of big names from different industries, making it one of the most ambitious pan-Indian films in the works.

 The scale of the production, along with the popularity of the original story, has made Ramayana one of the most highly anticipated movies in recent times.

Raja Shivaji Box Office: Hits a HALF CENTURY in just 6 days, will have a SOLID Week One

 It's a 50 crore mark for Raja Shivaji! The film has reached half a billion rupees in just six days and is also the fastest Marathi film to do so. Of course, the numbers include the Hindi dubbed version too, but regardless, these are great figures for a film that mainly appeals to a local audience. Unlike Tanhaji and Chhaava, which were mostly Hindi films led by big stars with a wide national reach, Raja Shivaji stayed true to its local audience, and the all-India attention was just an extra bonus.

That being said, it's worth noting that Riteish Deshmukh and Jio Studios cleverly combined Bollywood and Marathi stars in the film to make sure neither the local nor the national audience felt left out.

 On one side, there were big names like Sanjay Dutt, Abhishek Bachchan, Vidya Balan, and Genelia Deshmukh, while on the other, there were popular Marathi faces like Amol Gupte, Jitendra Joshi, and Mahesh Manjrekar.

In terms of collections, Wednesday added Rs. 4.70 crores to the total, which is a slight drop from Tuesday's Rs. 5.40 crores.

 As a result, the film now stands at Rs. 53.30 crores, which is an excellent number with just one more day left in the first week. There are no major releases this weekend, so Raja Shivaji is expected to keep drawing good crowds.

Sudhanshu Saria reveals he’s producing Pech and Silverfish to back fresh voices; says “filmmakers today feel disillusioned due to fewer opportunities…want my directors to feel safe and protected”

 After making big hits like Loev, Big Girls Don't Cry and Ulajh, Sudhanshu Saria, a filmmaker who has won National Film Awards, is now ready to produce two new films with fresh stories. Under his company, Four Line Films, he is producing Kumar Chheda's Pech, which deals with class and how people are treated unfairly in Mumbai. Another film, Silverfish, is directed by Krishna and written by Sudhanshu. It's about a strange creature that appears in Silicon Valley. In an exclusive interview with source Sudhanshu talked about becoming a producer and more.

Does his experience as a director help him as a producer?

 Sudhanshu answered, "Yes, definitely. I have a lot of experience and can predict things before they happen. Every film is different, but I know the process well. Sometimes I might be very careful, almost too much, because I know how things work. If done right, this can be helpful. But if not, it can be frustrating. So, like anything, there are good and bad sides. I want to use the good sides and help my filmmakers make great first films in a way that feels safe and lets them be creative."

It's harder to make films these days, especially with a certain budget.

 Sudhanshu sees this differently. "Every industry is facing challenges now. People have less money and more unemployment, so budgets are lower. I don't complain about that. I'd rather have a time when many films are made with very low budgets. I think when there is waste, it can hurt creativity. My instincts as a producer start when we pick a subject. After making many films, you get a sense of what kind of budget a film needs. With a first-time filmmaker, you also know how much money the market can risk, what kind of actors can be cast, and who the audience might be. So, that math starts when we pick a subject. If it doesn't add up, then I'm not doing my job as a producer."

Sudhanshu's past films have been shown at film festivals.

 Will Pech and Silverfish be shown there too? He explained, "Showing a film at a festival is one of the best parts. It gives you live reactions from people of different cultures. But each film decides its own plan. Both these films have content that is easy for audiences to like. I picked these stories to make people go to the cinema and watch them. That's the main purpose. As we try to grow our business, now is the time to focus on films that bring people out of their homes. Festivals play a big role, but I have to do what's best for the films and make sure they reach their audience. If that means holding back the film from festivals to build up excitement in the cinema, that's fine. If it means giving people a taste of the film early to create buzz, that's also fine. I'm grateful for the support I've received from festivals."

Will he direct these films or focus only on producing them?

 Sudhanshu said, "I keep saying I'll do both, but so far, that hasn't been true. I feel I should focus more on these films than on my own directing. I want to protect these filmmakers, so I need to do my job well in the pre-production stage. If I do that, the team can take over during production. I'd really like not to direct anything during the shoot. But if that happens, we'll handle it then."

Kartavya trailer launch: Saif Ali Khan opens up on working with Shah Rukh Khan’s production house: “I have had a lovely and a long association with him. I look up to him in many, many ways”

Shah Rukh Khan and Saif Ali Khan made a big impression with their friendship in the movie *Kal Ho Naa Ho* from 2003. A few years after that, they hosted the Filmfare Awards, and the jokes and funny moments from that event are still talked about today. Nearly 23 years later, they have worked together again. Saif Ali Khan is starring in a new film called *Kartavya*, which is produced by Shah Rukh Khan's company, Red Chillies Entertainment. The trailer for the movie was released on May 7, and during the launch, Saif talked about how he got involved with Shah Rukh and his connection to the production house.

Saif said, "I had a short conversation with Shah Rukh Khan.

 I have had a lovely and long association with him. I look up to him in many ways. So it was a short chat. He told me, 'There's a lovely script. I'd like you to hear it and do the film.' I did, met the director and came on board."

He added, "Once the film was complete, he said, 'It has come out as a lovely movie.'

 He was very happy. So that was pretty much it."

Saif also explained, "He never came on set because I believe some very good producers believe in letting the director work freely and make the film he wants.

 Also, the presence of some producers can sometimes be overwhelming on set. That way, he gave a lot of room to make this film."

Saif further said, "I felt I was working for his production with his kind of sensibilities.

 But for that, an everyday kind of contact was not really needed."

*Kartavya* also stars Rasika Dugal, Sanjay Mishra, Zakir Hussain, and others.

 The film is directed by Pulkit and will be released on Netflix on May 15.

Does Bollywood really need 3 Idiots 2, or should Rancho, Farhan and Raju be left in peace?

Aamir Khan has confirmed that Rajkumar Hirani is working on 3 Idiots 2, and the sequel is set years after the original. It aims to keep the same kind of humor that made the 2009 film so popular.

A sequel to 3 Idiots is something people in Bollywood seem to love.

 But it's also something people are very attached to.

Rajkumar Hirani's longtime friend, Taran Adarsh, remembers watching the first film almost ten days before it came out.

 He said he was invited to a screening for the main crew and was the only outsider there. After the movie ended, he stood up and gave it a round of applause. He even posted his review on source before it was released.

For many people, 3 Idiots was more than just a movie.

 It became part of everyday life. When students felt stressed, they had a film to relate to. When parents felt the pressure of exams and expectations, they had a story that showed what it was like. 3 Idiots made failure and rebellion seem normal. It made phrases like "Aal izz well" more than just a line—it became a form of comfort.

The sequel, 3 Idiots 2, is exciting because the characters like Rancho, Farhan, Raju, Virus, and Chatur are part of popular culture.

 People still talk about them, watch them on TV, and remember them through memes and family viewings. Aamir Khan's involvement naturally builds excitement. But with that excitement comes a kind of fear.

What if the sequel doesn't match the original's magic?

 3 Idiots ended with closure, humor, and emotional satisfaction. It left people feeling good, not frustrated. That's a hard place to build a sequel from. If a film already said everything it needed to, a sequel can feel like an explanation no one asked for.

Nostalgia is a big part of Bollywood's business.

 People enjoy seeing old favorites because they know what to expect. But there's also a danger in using nostalgia too much. Sometimes, reviving a classic just for its name can feel like marketing rather than a new story.

For 3 Idiots 2, the main challenge isn't just humor—it's relevance.

 The issue that the first film touched on—pressure from school and exams—has changed. Now students face entrance exams, social media, AI, and career uncertainty. If the sequel is brave enough to talk about these new challenges, it can become meaningful. But if it tries to repeat the old jokes, it might fall short.

The first film worked because it mixed humor and teaching in a way that didn't feel like a lecture.

 It made people laugh and then made them think. That balance is hard to replicate.

Hu Hirani brings a rare understanding of both emotions and humor, but even he knows that 3 Idiots 2 has a lot to live up to.

 The film is not just another sequel—it's a sequel to a film many people are very attached to.

Aamir Khan is returning to Rancho, and that brings new expectations.

 Rancho can't just get older; he needs to evolve. A sequel years later will have to answer questions about what happened to the idealist. Did he change? Did he compromise? Has he made a difference? These are questions that could make the sequel interesting.

But there is a bigger question: does every classic film need a sequel?

 People often want them, but they also remember the originals very well. Comparing a sequel to the original is like comparing it to a part of a person's life. That's a tough bar to clear.

Taran Adarsh believes in this team.

 He said Rajkumar Hirani isn't someone who just uses a brand name. He believes the idea for 3 Idiots 2 sounds interesting, but he also knows how hard it is to match the success of the first part.

He said, "If the script is strong and the story feels like a natural continuation, I will be excited to see it."

 He hopes that the sequel comes not just for the sake of a sequel, but because it needs to be told. And if it does, then it will be a film worth waiting for.

Rajkumar Hirani knows the hearts of middle-class Indians, Aamir Khan perfectly captures the spirit of Rancho, and the audience still deeply cares about that world. But *3 Idiots 2* can't just rely on old memories, repeated scenes, and a few nice moments to please people. It needs to explain why Rancho is relevant today, not just why he was loved back in 2009. The sequel must prove its worth not by just recalling the past, but by offering something meaningful. This time, the audience isn't going to be forgiving. They're coming in with excitement, strong feelings, and they'll be watching closely. If the movie works, everyone will happily say, "Jahapanah tussi great ho." But if it feels like a forced continuation of a perfect memory, even Rancho might have to sit through one last exam—and this time, it won't just be Virus asking tough questions.