Ramayana faces fresh controversy as Shri Ramlila Mahasangh seeks preview screening, warns of protests over alleged inaccuracies

Even before its release, Nitesh Tiwari's highly anticipated mythological film Ramayana has once again become a topic of discussion.

Shri Ramlila Mahasangh President Arjun Kumar has reportedly asked for a special screening of the film, expressing worries about how it portrays the Indian epic and asking the makers to make sure the story is true to the original.

At a recent press conference, Kumar said he had written a formal letter to the filmmakers asking for an early screening.

He said the reason is that some parts of the film might hurt the religious feelings of Hindus in India and abroad.

Speaking to PTI, Kumar said the Mahasangh supports the film but wants it to be respectful of the story.

He said, "We welcome this film and want millions of people to watch it.We will even organize free showings for members of the Ramleela Committee.However, the trailer upset us as it didn’t show the proper feelings.The costumes looked strange, so we asked the producers and directors to show the film to the Ramleela Committee before it is released."  

He continued, "If we find any problems, we can give our feedback and we will accept the film.

But if it is released without such a screening, like 'Adipurush,' and it hurts religious feelings, we will not allow the film to be shown.We have made this decision in consultation with the Ramleela Mahasangh and Delhi's Ramlila committees, and we want to make sure our religious feelings are not harmed."  

He also mentioned that the backlash against Adipurush was because of inaccuracies in its adaptation.

One major issue was showing Lanka as black instead of the traditional golden kingdom, among other changes that many believed were not true to the original story.Kumar suggested that such changes may have led to the film's poor box office performance.

In addition to concerns from the trailer, Kumar said the organisation had received information that certain parts of Ramayana could upset audiences, though he didn’t specify which scenes.

"According to information received by the Mahasangh, Ramayana may also contain scenes that could hurt the sentiments of Hindus living in India and abroad.Because of this, the organisation has asked for a special preview screening to make sure any potentially problematic scenes or lines are identified and removed before the film is released."  

The Shri Ramlila Mahasangh President has also reportedly warned that if the filmmakers refuse their request for a preview screening, and if the film is found to have mistakes, the organisation will hold protests and demonstrations at cinemas in various cities during its release.

Meanwhile, Ramayana continues to be one of the most expected Indian films in recent times.

Directed by Nitesh Tiwari, the film stars Ranbir Kapoor as Lord Rama, Sai Pallavi as Sita Maa, Ravie Dubey as Lakshman, Sunny Deol as Lord Hanuman, Rakul Preet Singh as Surpanakha, Lara Dutta as Kaikeyi, while producer Yash also plays the role of Ravana.

The big project is planned to come out in two parts, with the first part going on in cinemas during Diwali this year, and the second part around the same festive time next year.

As anticipation grows, it remains to be seen whether the makers will agree to the Mahasangh’s request for a special screening before the film is released.

No change in King’s release date; Shah Rukh Khan ALL SET to take on Avengers: Doomsday, Jumanji: Open World and Dune: Part Three this December

After being away from the big screen for three years, superstar Shah Rukh Khan is coming back this year with the highly awaited action movie, King.A special promo was shown in January, which confirmed that the movie will be released in cinemas on December 24.However, there were recent talks that King might not be able to come out on that date and could instead be pushed to 2027.But now, Bollywood Hungama has found out that there are no plans to delay the film, and King is still set to come out on December 24, 2026.

King is coming out at the same time as three big Hollywood movies.

On December 18, Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three will both be in theaters.Avengers: Doomsday is expected to be a huge hit, especially since the box office success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day showed how much Indian audiences like Marvel films.

Dune: Part Three, on the other hand, might not appeal to as many people, but the Rs.

27.86 crore that Dune: Part Two made in India shows that there is still a strong fan base for the franchise.Also, the fact that it will be shown in IMAX could help it do well at the box office.

Jumanji: Open World is part of a series that has been popular with many people.

The first two parts did more than Rs.50 crores each in India, so expectations are high for this new one.It stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.

A trade source said, “In India, King will have an edge as it is a Hindi movie with Shah Rukh Khan and other big stars.

Among the Hollywood movies, Avengers: Doomsday will be the biggest competition.But internationally, all three Hollywood movies are major releases with big potential.This is where King might face some issues in getting enough screens.”  

The same trade source added, “But only a movie like King can take on such big Hollywood films.

Shah Rukh Khan is the top Indian star in the world.Also, Yash Raj Films is handling the international release of King.They will use their experience and good relationships to get the best screens and show times.”  

An industry insider mentioned, “Many people thought King would come out in 2027.

But that would mean waiting until after April or May.Love & War is coming out on January 21, and the holy month of Ramzan will start in the first week of February.Then there will be other big releases, like Spirit on March 5 and Varanasi on April 7.Coming out during Christmas might mean some screen-sharing challenges at first.But on the positive side, King won’t face any new competition until Republic Day.If the word of mouth is as strong as people expect, the movie could really do well.”  

One part of the cinema industry that is worried is the single-screen theaters.

A theater owner, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “It will definitely be a good time for the box office.We just hope that distributors and studios don’t force us to screen just one movie.”

Kajol marks friendship day with a heartfelt message on self-love; watch

 Friendship Day is usually a time when people show thanks to their close friends, but actor Kajol decided to celebrate it in a unique way.Instead of focusing on others, she used the day to think about the importance of loving herself.She reminded her fans that the strongest friendship is the one we have with ourselves.

On Friendship Day, celebrated on August 2, Kajol shared a collection of old photos on Instagram along with a touching message.

She called her "best friend" the person who has been with her since birth.She said it took her a long time to realize how important that person was and how much they had done for her, even when she didn’t notice.Now, she feels she truly understands and loves this person, and she promises to always support and love them.

In her post, she wrote, "Happy Friendship Day to the one who has been with me since I was born and before...

it took so long for me to realize how precious she was and how much she fought for me even when I didn’t see it...I see her now...and I know her and love her so much more...and last of all I promise to love her and fight for her as well forever."

Her post resonated with many people on social media, who praised her message and added heart emojis and kind words.

Many fans agreed with her idea that learning to love yourself is the first step in building meaningful friendships.

Kajol has always used Friendship Day to honor the people who have made a big difference in her life.

In the past, she has shared warm memories with her close friends, including film industry colleagues like Shah Rukh Khan and Karan Johar.Both have shared professional and personal connections with her over the years.

She has also been playful on such occasions before.

Last year on National Best Friend Day, she jokingly introduced her "best friends" to her fans, saying they were her coffee, her crochet, and her books.She explained she didn’t have pictures with them because she was spending time with them, and they didn’t like taking photos.She said, "I couldn’t get any pictures coz I was spending time with my best friends, and they really don’t get social media...my coffee, my crochet, and my books."

With this year’s Friendship Day post, Kajol once again gave a meaningful message, encouraging her followers to value themselves as much as they value the people around them.

Raj Thackeray takes swipe at Vivek Oberoi, R Madhavan over living in Dubai despite praising India: “Why live in Dubai if you love India?”

Raj Thackeray, the leader of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, questioned actors Vivek Oberoi and R.Madhavan about their choice to live in Dubai, even though they have publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the progress happening in India.He made these comments during an event organized by the student group of MNS in Mumbai on Saturday.Thackeray criticized the trend of many famous people and business leaders moving abroad.

He asked, “Why live in Dubai if you love India?” Thackeray specifically mentioned Vivek Oberoi, who played Modi in a 2019 film about the Prime Minister.

He said, “Vivek Oberoi, who has made a film on Modi and played Modi's role, has also gone to live in Dubai.” He also questioned R.Madhavan, who has praised Modi, and asked, “Where does he live?He lives in Dubai.So if you love India so much, if you love Modi, if you believe Modi is developing India, then why are you living in a foreign land?Why are you living in Dubai with your family?”

Thackeray claimed that these people work on government-funded projects like "Dhurandhar" and then return to Dubai.

Madhavan said he moved to Dubai during the pandemic to support his son's swimming career, and Vivek Oberoi said he went there to expand his business.

Thackeray also talked about the language used against Modi during the Cockroach Janta Party protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

He agreed with Modi’s statement that such "misguided children" should be forgiven but added, “He should tell people from his own party.” He accused BJP troll groups of targeting public figures, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and members of the Thackeray family.He said many actors are now afraid to speak out publicly because of online attacks.Thackeray said abusive language should not be used against anyone and remarked, “Even they (BJP supporters) should be asked to stop (from using derogatory language).BJP troll teams started this.As you sow, so shall you reap.”

He also mentioned that the NEET paper leak controversy might have led to the CJP protests, but the large turnout showed long-standing social issues that have built up over time.

No change in King’s release date; Shah Rukh Khan ALL SET to take on Avengers: Doomsday, Jumanji: Open World and Dune: Part Three this December

After three years away from the big screen, superstar Shah Rukh Khan is coming back this year with the much-anticipated action movie, King.A special promo was shared in January, confirming the film will show in cinemas on December 24.However, recently, there were a lot of rumors saying that King might not release on that date and could be pushed to 2027.But now, source has learned that there are no plans to delay the film, and King is still set to come out on December 24, 2026.

King will be coming out at the same time as three major Hollywood films.

On December 18, there will be a big showdown between Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three.Avengers: Doomsday is expected to be a huge hit, especially after the amazing success of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which showed how much Indian audiences love Marvel movies.

Dune: Part Three is likely to be more popular with a smaller group of fans, but the Rs.

27.86 crore earned by Dune: Part Two (2024) shows the franchise has a strong fan base in India.Also, the film is expected to be shown in IMAX, which could help its box office performance.

Jumanji: Open World is part of a series that has big mass appeal.

The first two films made over Rs.50 crores each at the Indian box office, so people are looking forward to this new one, which stars Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan.

A trade source said, “In India, King will have an advantage because it's a Hindi film starring Shah Rukh Khan and other big names.

Among the Hollywood films, Avengers: Doomsday will be the strongest competitor, as the franchise is now one of the biggest in India.Internationally, though, all three Hollywood films are big releases with blockbuster potential.That’s where King might face some challenges in getting enough screens.”

The trade source added, “But only a film like King can take on such big Hollywood movies.

Shah Rukh Khan is the biggest Indian star in the world.Plus, Yash Raj Films is distributing King internationally.They will use their experience and good reputation to get the best screens and showtimes.”

An industry insider said, “Many people hoped King would come out in 2027, but that would mean waiting until after April or May.

Love & War is scheduled to release on January 21, and the holy month of Ramzan starts in the first week of February.Then there will be big films like Spirit on March 5 and Varanasi on April 7.By coming out during Christmas, King might start with some screen-sharing issues.On the bright side, it won’t face any new competition until Republic Day.If the film gets good reviews, it could do really well.”

One part of the movie theater industry that is worried is the single-screen theaters.

A theater owner, who asked not to be named, said, “It will definitely be a good time for the box office.We hope that distributors and studios don’t pressure us to only screen one film.”

Sonu Nigam opens up on his failed acting career: “If I had found the right ‘mali’, this seed could have become something else”

Sonu Nigam shared his thoughts on his career, the challenges he faced, and many more things during a conversation on the YouTube show 'Game Changers with Komal Nahta'.He started his journey as a singer and in the early 2000s, he also acted in movies like Jaani Dushman - Ek Anokhi Kahani (2002), Kash Aap Hamare Hote (2003), and Love In Nepal (2004).Looking back, Sonu opened up in a way he never has before.

He started by saying, "It has been 24 years since that happened.

24 years ago, I was a kid who had just experienced fame as a singer.Every artist is a beej (seed).That beej needs a mali (gardener), soil, sunlight etc.If the seed doesn't get these requirements, it won't grow, even if it's a banyan tree's seed.When it comes to singing, I got sunlight, favourable weather and nourishing soil.By that time, I would have got these nutrients for my acting career, maine acting chod diya (smiles).I didn't get the chance."

He remarked, "If I had access to the correct mali for my acting, toh yeh beej kuch aur hota.

Gaane mein bhi agar mujhe mali acche nahin milte, toh main kahin nahin hota.I was surrounded by mali who helped me grow.Not just me, even Lata Mangeshkar ji stated that she learned from Anil Biswas ji, Mohammed Rafi ji etc.We are all beej, be it Amitabh Bachchan, Sachin Tendulkar, A R Rahman."

Sonu Nigam said he doesn't regret his acting career not working out.

He said, "It was a very good experience.After that, I focused completely on singing.Had my attention been divided, I would not have been satisfied or happy with myself.If you are pulling one rope, you'll be able to take it to a certain point.Now imagine pulling two ropes at the same time.You'll cover only a short distance and won't go very far, as your energies will be divided.Hence, had I juggled acting and singing, I would not have reached this stage in either craft."

He ended his answer by saying, "Whatever the universe is doing is for our best, and there's no reason for us to complain."

Nushrratt Bharuccha and Pashmina Roshan join Tiger Shroff, Abhishek Banerjee, Elvish Yadav in Remo D’Souza’s untitled action film

The cast of Remo D'Souza's upcoming unnamed action movie is getting more exciting.It has been reported that Nushrratt Bharuccha and Pashmina Roshan have joined the project, adding to the group that already includes Tiger Shroff, Abhishek Banerjee, and Elvish Yadav.

Nushrratt Bharuccha and Pashmina Roshan are set to appear together in this film for the first time, and both will be working with Tiger Shroff for the first time in their careers.

This also marks the first time Tiger Shroff, Abhishek Banerjee, and Elvish Yadav are working together, combining talents from different areas of the entertainment industry.

The film is being co-produced by Neeraj Tiwari and Viccky Jain, and it is expected to start filming on August 1.

While the full cast hasn't been officially announced, the project is planned as a high-energy action movie with many new collaborations.

One of the main attractions of the film is the new mix of actors.

Nushrratt and Pashmina will be sharing screen time for the first time, and both will be working with Tiger Shroff for the first time.This also brings together Tiger Shroff, Abhishek Banerjee, and Elvish Yadav for the first time, creating an interesting and unique group of talents.

The movie is designed to mix stylish action with mainstream entertainment, which is something Remo D'Souza has done in past films.

Although the plot is not yet revealed, the film has already gained attention because of its fresh and unusual cast.

For Viccky Jain, this is his first time as a film producer, under his new production company, VJ Frames.

He is known for his role on Bigg Boss and for being married to Ankita Lokhande.He recently launched his production house, and this film is the first project under it.

This project adds another action movie to Tiger Shroff's schedule.

Abhishek Banerjee continues to explore a mix of commercial and content-driven films.For Elvish Yadav, this is an important step in his acting career, as he shares the screen with established Bollywood stars.

Filming has now begun, and the cast includes Tiger Shroff, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Pashmina Roshan, Abhishek Banerjee, and Elvish Yadav.

This unnamed action entertainer is becoming one of the notable films currently in production.More information about the title, storyline, and release date is expected to be shared soon.