Alia Bhatt will serve as a presenter at the 79th edition of the BAFTA Film Awards, the British Academy confirmed on Tuesday. The ceremony, formally known as the EE BAFTA Film Awards, will take place on 22 February at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

Bhatt shared the announcement on Instagram, reposting the official BAFTA update and writing: “100 points if you can spot me.” The actor joins a slate of international presenters spanning film and television.

This year’s presenter line-up includes Cillian Murphy, Kate Hudson, Alicia Vikander, Bryan Cranston, Sadie Sink, Patrick Dempsey, Delroy Lindo, Emily Watson, Ethan Hawke, Gillian Anderson, Glenn Close, Hannah Waddingham, Monica Bellucci, Regé-Jean Page, Riz Ahmed and Stellan Skarsgård.

Alia Bhatt to Present at The BAFTAs 2026 in London

The sequel to the 2017 Tamil fantasy comedy hit 

 was formally launched in Chennai on Monday (February 17), with the team commencing production after a traditional pooja ceremony. Titled 

, the film brings back much of the original cast and crew, including Aadhi Pinisetty, Nikkii Galrani, Munishkanth, Anandaraj and director ARK Saravan.

The launch event was attended by actors Karthi and Arya, along with filmmaker Venkat Prabhu, who were present to extend their support to the team. Karthi sounded the ceremonial clapboard, while Arya and Venkat Prabhu announced the rolling of the camera, marking the official start of principal photography. Several prominent filmmakers associated with Axess Film Factory also attended the ceremony.

In addition to the returning cast, the sequel will feature Priya Bhavani Shankar, Sathyaraj, Arunraja Kamaraj, Danie and Muruganandam in pivotal roles. The makers have yet to reveal plot details, but the film is expected to build on the fantasy-adventure template that made the original a box-office success.

 revolved around two small-time smugglers who embark on a mission to retrieve a powerful emerald medallion for a ruthless gang leader. Their seemingly straightforward task spirals into chaos when they discover that the medallion is cursed, unleashing a series of supernatural events. Blending horror elements with situational comedy, the film struck a chord with audiences and gained popularity for its quirky tone and performances, as well as the hit song “Nee Kavithaigala.”

The sequel will feature music composed by Dhibu Ninan Thomas, with cinematography by PV Shankar and editing by Thirumalai Rajan R. The project is produced by Sudhan Sundaram, Manish Singhal, Durgaram Choudhary, Dev and KV Durai under the banners of Passion Studios, Dangal TV, RDC Media, Axess Film Factory and Good Show.

With the core team reuniting and new additions joining the ensemble, 

 is positioned as one of the notable Tamil releases currently in production.

‘Maragadha Naanayam 2’: Aadhi, Nikkii Galrani and Priya Bhavani Shankar’s Sequel Launched

Indian screenwriters are sending out an increasingly urgent distress signal, yet again. An industry research report, based on a nationwide survey of writers across films, 

, television, advertising, documentaries and gaming, has revealed that the structural fault lines still haven’t healed, even as the industry prides itself on championing storytelling. 

Conducted by talent agency Tulsea and Ormax Media, the second edition of The Right Draft: 2026—where 254 writers participated in the survey—highlights how Indian screenwriters see pay and credit gaps persisting, even as AI begins reshaping writing workflows.

The money problem is getting worse, not better

Three out of four writers—74 per cent—now say they are not paid fairly, a steep climb from 63 per cent in the previous edition. More than half report delayed payments (up from 40 per cent), and nearly 78 per cent say they are forced to repeatedly chase dues.

Placed against the backdrop of India’s content ecosystem—rising platform investments, pan-India theatrical bets, and the explosion of micro-form storytelling—the numbers point to a paradox. While scale has grown in some sense, the writer’s share of the value chain hasn’t kept pace.

Credit remains a negotiation, not a right

More than half the respondents do not believe they receive fair credit, while 64 per cent say there is no standardised credit protocol across producers and platforms.

had previously reported on how the battle for fair credits remains a priority for several screenwriters, as many had alleged being denied that by directors and producers under the garb of "collaborative art".

The star system is still the main character

In theatrical films, the hierarchy is sharp: only six per cent of writers believe scripts are valued over stars, while 83 per cent say star power dominates decision-making. Even OTT—once positioned as the writer’s medium—shows a perceptible shift. The proportion of writers who feel scripts are prioritised or treated at par has dropped from 76 per cent in 2023 to 62 per cent.

The change coincides with the streaming reset, with tighter budgets, performance-driven commissioning, and a renewed emphasis on attaching popular actors and directors early in development.

The vanishing ladder: mentorship and development

If the current generation of writers feels stuck, the pipeline behind them looks even more fragile. Only 19 per cent said they have access to meaningful mentorship, which is down from 30 per cent in 2023. A staggering 76 per cent say there is no adequate infrastructure to develop their craft, and only 38 per cent feel they have access to effective grievance redressal.

AI: Adopted in practice, weaponised in negotiation

Nearly 41 per cent of writers are already using AI tools "at least sometimes", and almost half say they don’t see the technology itself as a threat. But the economic perception around it is shifting fast. Nearly 68 per cent feel AI reduces the value of human creativity in producers’ eyes, and 50 per cent say producers now expect faster turnarounds because of the assumption that AI is being used.

Tulsea co-founder Chaitanya Hegde calls the findings a shift from “perception to process”.  Hegde said the aim with the report was to deepen the industry’s understanding of what writers’ experience on the ground - across pay, credit, feedback, nurturing structures, and now AI. 

"The data points to some shifts and some stubborn constants. Our hope is that the report helps move conversations from perception to process, and toward more consistent, fair, and creator-friendly systems," Hegde added.

Describing these as “structural rather than episodic” friction points, Shailesh Kapoor, Founder-CEO of Ormax Media, said, "Writers sit at the core of the storytelling ecosystem, yet too many friction points remain structural rather than episodic. By measuring writer sentiment across key dimensions, The Right Draft is intended to be a practical input into how the industry can build stronger alignment, accountability, and creative ownership."

Indian Screenwriters Sound a Distress Call as New Report Reveals Worsening Pay, Credit Chaos and AI Pressure

Renowned screenwriter Salim Khan, was hospitalised in Mumbai on Tuesday morning, according to news agency PTI, and is currently in the intensive care unit (ICU). The news has caused concern among fans, as well as those in the film fraternity. His son, Salman Khan, was seen visiting the hospital earlier today. The reason for the hospitalisation remains undisclosed, and the family is yet to address the media.

Salim's daughter, Alvira Khan Agnihotri, and his son-in-law and actor Aayush Sharma were also seen arriving at the hospital.

Salim Khan, who celebrated his 90th birthday this past November, has co-written some of Indian cinema’s most legendary films alongside Javed Akhtar. The duo, known commonly as Salim-Javed, have written classics like

 (widely considered as their magnum opus), as well as 

. Their dialogues and stories remain etched in our collective memory, shaping the evolution of mainstream Hindi cinema. 

Alongside Akhtar, Salim Khan has been credited for creating the “angry young man” archetype in Hindi cinema, challenging the injustices faced by the masses in India. This era cemented Amitabh Bachchan's position as an undeniable figure in Hindi cinema, and he is now known as the "angry young man" himself. Although Salim first began his career as an actor in the 1960s, the impact of these films has been felt across generations, and continues to inspire writers, even today.

The writer was last seen in the Amazon Prime Video miniseries, 

, which explores the lives and work of Salim-Javed. Directed by Namrata Rao and conceptualised by Zoya Akhtar, the three-part series is an ode to the writer duo’s creative partnership, and the indelible mark they have left on Indian cinema.

Veteran Screenwriter Salim Khan, Father of Salman Khan, Hospitalised in Mumbai

The Delhi High Court has reportedly restrained veteran music composer Ilaiyaraaja from using 

sound recordings and musical works whose rights lie with the music company Saregama, according to 

The injunction would apply to music from as many as 134 films, the report suggested. “Defendant [Ilaiyaraaja], its partners or proprietors, licensees, assigns, officers, servants, agents, representatives, contractors, sister concerns and any other person working for and on behalf of the defendant are restrained from exploiting/ using/ issuing licenses for the plaintiff’s Copyrighted Works i.e. the sound recordings and literary and musical works forming a part of the said Cinematograph Films enlisted in Annexure A appended to this Order or making any claim of ownership to the third parties or issuing any license for exploitation in relation to the plaintiff’s Copyrighted Works,” the Court reportedly ordered. 

According to the report and the lawsuit, Ilaiyaraaja not only uploaded many of the musical works on streaming platforms, such as JioSaavn, iTunes, and Amazon Music, but also asserted ownership over these works and authorised their use. Saregama also mentioned a legal notice issued by the composer in January, where he claimed rights over his compositions for many different films, which also include some that pertain to the current dispute as well.

The composer has meanwhile fought various legal battles for the unpermitted usage of his songs. In December last year, 

the composer settled a copyright dispute with 

, ending a months-long legal battle over the unauthorised use of several of his songs in two Tamil films. The production house, behind 

, has agreed to pay the composer ₹50 lakh, according to a joint memo submitted to the Madras High Court on 3 December.

The dispute stemmed from the use of five tracks from the composer’s extensive catalogue—three incorporated into 

and two featured in Pradeep Ranganathan’s 

—without prior clearance. The memo notes that the Hyderabad-based company transferred the settlement amount to Ilaiyaraaja through RTGS after deducting statutory tax.

Delhi High Court Restrains Ilaiyaraaja From Using Certain Saregama Songs: Report

Media professional Kaveri Baruah has withdrawn her statements regarding the “dos and don’ts” of meeting Telugu star Allu Arjun and issued a public apology. A clip from a recent podcast appearance by Baruah had been widely circulated on social media. In the clip, Baruah claimed she was given a note of 42 dos and donts when meeting the star, including "don’t look into sir’s eyes," and "don’t shake his hands." An unverified list detailing the alleged points later went viral, prompting a denial from Allu Arjun's team. 

Now, in a statement released days after the clip went viral, Baruah said that during the course of the conversation, she had made certain remarks about a meeting with the actor. “Upon reflection, I wish to clarify that these statements were incorrect and were not based on any verified document or factual material,” she said.

Baruah further clarified: “To be clear, no document containing ‘42 dos and don’ts’ was issued to me by Mr. Allu Arjun or by anyone acting on his behalf. My remarks were made in the flow of conversation and should not have been presented as factual assertions."

She stated that she regrets making those statements and thereby causing any 'misunderstanding or reputational harm', adding that she is withdrawing 'the remarks in their entirety'.

Baruah concluded by stating that she has “the utmost respect for Mr. Allu Arjun and his body of work,” and expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.

Sweekriti Talks Podcast, the platform that interviewed Baruah, also issued a clarification after the clip blew up on social media. The podcasters said they deleted the interview after the clip was taken out of context, leading to public misunderstanding.

In an earlier statement, Allu Arjun's team had denied the claims as 'baseless' and said they are initiating legal proceedings against 'those responsible'.

 “Certain recent comments made about Mr. Allu Arjun are completely baseless and untrue. He has always conducted himself with the utmost dignity and honour. We take these false allegations seriously. Our legal team is initiating defamation proceedings against those responsible. We request everyone to refrain from spreading unverified information," a statement from Allu Arjun's team read. 

One of the biggest Telugu stars, Allu Arjun, was last seen in 

. He has a string of high-profile projects lined up. Tamil filmmaker Lokesh Kanagaraj will direct the Telugu star's next film. He is also working on an epic sci-fi adventure, tentatively titled and directed by Atlee. Further, he will be seen in

 alongside a rumoured mythological film with Trivikram. 

Brand Manager Withdraws Remarks On ‘Dos And Don’ts’ Linked To Allu Arjun, Issues Public Apology

s delightfully meta teaser, Sivakarthikeyan paid homage to 

, Kamal Haasan's cult action drama from 2004. The teaser, which was released to mark Sivakarthikeyan's birthday on February 17, features the actor as Lord Viruman, a performer of God. Sivakarthikeyan released the teaser on his birthday with a caption thanking his fans. "

For those who admire me, For those who love me, For those who think more of me than I do, For my fans, For my brothers and sisters."

The video begins with a scuffle that breaks out at a Virumandi temple in Tamil Nadu. As the police begin to get to the bottom of the problem, we're shown glimpses of Sivakarthikeyan taking on the form of Lord Viruman. When someone asks who he is, we're told, "He's the one who channels God."

The production banner officially announced the project on social media and revealed the first look on February 16, 2026. The dramatic first look of the film features actor Sivakarthikeyan holding on to a sword, as he stares angrily towards the viewer. He is also surrounded by as many as seven to eight peacocks, evoking the image of Lord Murugan.

marks the second collaboration between Kamal Haasan’s production house Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) and Sivakarthikeyan, after the successful 

(2024), which went on to collect over ₹300 crore. The film co-starred Sai Pallavi and had music composed by GV Prakash Kumar.

The new film will be directed by Sivakumar Murugesan, who has also written the screenplay. The music of the upcoming film is composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Vivek Vijayakumar is the director of photography, San Lokesh is the editor, and RK Nagu is the art director. Meanwhile, Sivakarthikeyan's Pongal release, 

, a period drama directed by Sudha Kongara and set in the 1960s, had its OTT release last week.

'Seyon' Teaser: Sivakarthikeyan Takes The Form Of Lord Viruman In The Kamal Haasan Production

is already making noise, despite being a month away from its official release. According to reports, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials flagged "repeated violations" of safety terms and conditions on the film set, following which it has blacklisted Dhar's production house, B62 Studios, from seeking permission to shoot in Mumbai.

the sequel to the 2025 blockbuster Dhurandhar is being headlined by actor Ranveer Singh. According to an Indian Express report, the BMC's A ward office also called for a penalty of ₹ 1 lakh for filming on the terrace of a building and for using two generator vans without adequate permissions.

The report claimed that the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC) Zone I cleared permissions sought by the civic body to "permanently blacklist B62 Studios" and two of its other applicants from submitting applications for filming permissions.

"Having received the clearances, the three applicants – Komal Pokhriyal, Nasir Khan and B62 production house – can no longer apply for shoot permissions with the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development CL website. On Tuesday, we will also be issuing notices to this three applicants informing of the action, and a copy of the notice will also be shared with the Maharashtra film cell and BMC’s Business Cell head,” a BMC official told the publication..

The makers had sought permission to shoot portions of 

on February 7 and 8 on Modi Street and Perin Nariman Street. Officials claimed that the film set "completely violated" the police department’s terms and conditions, which prohibited the use of crackers and flammable materials, the report stated.

The officials forfeited the deposits and issued a warning of blacklisting. When fresh applications were placed to shoot between 12.30 am and 4 am on February 14, officials said the applicant assured that no flammable materials would be used during the shooting, following which permissions were granted.

Thereafter, officials said the Maharashtra Film, Stage and Cultural Development Corporation Limited received yet another application from one Komal Pokhriyal for filming between February 13 and February 14. Despite the assurance, the Mumbai police received complaints of the use of flammable materials like lit torches around 12.45 am during the course of the shooting. When the cops arrived at the location, they seized the five torches.

'Dhurandhar: The Revenge': BMC Blacklists Aditya Dhar's Production House Due To Repeated Violations on Set

Acclaimed director Thiagarajan Kumararaja's upcoming film, 

, will mark his reunion with Vijay Sethupathi since 

, for which Sethupathi won the National Award for Best Supporting Actor. Their upcoming film features a power-packed cast, with Malavika Mohanan, Raj B Shetty, as well as Kishore in key roles.

 has begun, details regarding the story and the release date remain under wraps. Taking to social media, the makers unveiled a poster for the film, with a simple caption: ‘Shoot Begins!’ This, alone, was enough to send fans into a frenzy, who observed that the poster was reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s signature style.

The film will be scored by none other than veteran composer Ilaiyaraaja, who will be reuniting with  Kumararaja after their collaboration on 

, where the composer worked on the director's episode, 

. Nirav Shah, who will be the cinematographer on 

, has also collaborated with the director on 

. The screenplay has been written by Andrew Louis, and the lyrics have been written by Yugabharathi.

is being produced along with SD Ezhilmathy under the Tyler Durden and Kino Fist banner. Ezhilmathy will also be the costume designer for the film. Sathyaraj Natarajan is serving as an executive producer, while also joining the technical crew as an editor.

, since fans have waited seven years for  Kumararaja's next project. The film also boasts a powerhouse cast and technical crew. Despite no information on the film’s plotline, Thiagarajan  Kumararaja's reunion with Sethupathi, its strong ensemble cast and music from the legendary Ilaiyaraaja have generated significant buzz. 

 is poised to be one of the most highly anticipated Tamil releases of this year.

Thiagarajan Kumararaja Announces Third Feature Directorial ‘Pocket Novel’, Vijay Sethupathi to Star

On Saturday, February 14, Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium witnessed one of the biggest concerts ever held on its soil. As tens of thousands flocked to the stadium to watch their favourite son perform, not many would have expected the night to be this emotional. AR Rahman’s Wonderment Tour’s Chennai leg hit every emotional chord one could experience, having grown up a fan of the Mozart of Madras. As Rahman paused on stage to prepare for the audience, before taking us on a time machine. He asked, “Love 

?”, asking his listeners to choose between the two extremes of the same emotion. 

He gave us ‘Ennavale Adi Ennavale’ from 

about the peak of romantic bliss and mixed it up with the ‘Rasathi En Usuru’ from 

rendered heartbreakingly well by comedian Alex. These emotions found new colours when they moved on to pathos with ‘Manipaaya’ from 

, the album that started it all. He gave us anthems like ‘Maa Tujhe Salaam’ and the divine with ‘Kun Faya Kun’, rage with ‘Sadda Haq’ and the calm with ‘Tere Bina’ from 

But he also mixed these heavy-duty numbers and chose to also let loose and have fun with ‘Fanaa’ from 

 and the recent hit ‘Yennai Izhukkuthadi’ from 

. Even singers, both senior and new, showed immense range as they took us through this musical journey. 

Chinmayi reinforced her position as one of our most precious when she tore listeners apart from 

’s ‘Muththa Mazhai’. Srinivas surprised everyone, changing the mood of the entire stadium as he rendered ‘Minsara Kanna’ from 

, a film still super fresh in all our hearts thanks to its most recent re-release. Rahman also sprung another surprise as he brought back vocalisr 

 on stage to sing ‘Chandralekha’, again from 

, bringing back all the glory of a song that’s 32 years old today. 

His tiny bits of trivia, between song recitals, further added the feeling of “you just had to be there”, creating a personal connection between listeners as though we were all simultaneously being ushered into a moment in history. He broke down the genesis of ‘Oruvan Oruvan Muthalali’ from 

, his album with Superstar Rajinikanth and then surprised us all by inviting Dhanush on stage to sing ‘Usure Neethaane’ with him from his movie 

But apart from the songs we live for, he also showcased all the other reasons we admire the man, beyond his music. For being the absolute superstar of his era, he showed unimaginable grace in sharing the stage and the spotlight with talents we may never have discovered if not for him. One witnessed Columbian percussionist Evelyn Soto break down into proud, happy tears as Rahman urged young Thavil prodigy Amirthavarshini MS to take over the stage and own her moment in the sun. Violinist Rangi too got her moment as the bow of her violin swayed the mood of the entire stadium.

Naturally, his set of singers was just as adept at taking us all along with them. This includes youngsters such as Nisa Shetty, Nitesh Aher, Amrutha Suresh, Aditya RK, Rakshita Suresh, Nakul Abhayankar and AR Ameen. As Rahman concluded the concert, he reiterated his message of love and that all-welcoming spirit that made Chennai a home to everyone who stepped foot here. In times of divisiveness, Rahman chose the only path he has ever followed, that of love over hate, and we were just happy to follow in wonderment. 

Spending an Unforgettable Valentine's Day with A.R. Rahman in Chennai 

The renowned composer Anirudh Ravichander has unveiled his own label, Albuquerque Records. Known for his indelible impact on the Indian music industry in the last decade alone, he has been behind some of the most memorable soundtracks, pan-India. 

The name of the label comes from his studio, which is also named after the American town in New Mexico, Albuquerque. It is most famously known as the setting for the cult series, 

In a press release on social media, Anirudh shared that "This is an important step for me, both creatively and strategically,” adding that the label will house both his film and non-film projects going forward. 

As a label, he says, they aim to “build a strong catalogue, introduce original voices, and fuel a brand that pushes the regional non-film culture forward.” 

This marks a milestone in his career, as well as the Indian music industry as a collective. Through Albuquerque Records, Anirudh seeks to offer the much-needed support systems to emerging talent in India, particularly those operating in the independent scene, allowing them to build sustainable careers in an otherwise volatile industry.

In a move that has been encouraging for artists across the country, Anirudh also urged musicians to send their fully finished demos to the label.

The label, he shares, will be led by Mr. B Kaushik as Label Head and COO. Kaushik formerly led the pop division at Sony Music India (South), and has been a part of Anirudh’s career since the start. The two have been professionally associated since Anirudh’s viral sensation in 2011, 

Albuquerque Records is set to release original soundtracks from some of the most highly anticipated powerhouse Indian films this year. In 2026, Anirudh's upcoming projects include

Anirudh Ravichander Launches Music Label 'Albuquerque Records', Moves Beyond Film Music

, a Telugu-language fantasy entertainer headlined by Fahadh Faasil. 

 debuts an exclusive from the film’s Hyderabad set, featuring Sachdeva alongside Faasil and director Shashank Yeleti. 

The upcoming film is mounted as a fantasy adventure and is backed by producer S. S. Karthikeya under the banner of filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli. Faasil, the preeminent Malayalam star, last entertained Telugu audiences in 

, playing the villainous, vindictive Bhanwar Singh Shekhawat. Incidentally, Sachdeva was also a part of the 

Fahadh Faasil’s presence in Hyderabad for the shoot of 

 has generated excitement among his fans. He will also be seen in another Telugu project titled 

. Both films are backed by Rajamouli's son SS Karthikeya.

Sachdeva, a veteran acting coach and performer, was recently seen in the Malayalam film 

, making his debut in the industry. With 

, the actor continues to make his mark across multiple regional industries. He is also set to make his Punjabi film debut with 

, which stars Shehnaaz Gill and Jayy Randhawa. The cross-border romantic drama is expected to release in July this year. In Hindi cinema, Sachdeva was last seen in Shazia Iqbal’s 

, a violent action thriller with Tiger Shroff, Sonam Bajwa and Sanjay Dutt.

Meanwhile, Fahadh Faasil recently joined the cast of 

, the upcoming Tamil romantic drama directed by Aakash Baskaran. The makers shared a brief on-set video featuring Faasil interacting with the crew. The film stars Atharvaa Murali in the lead role, alongside Preity Mukhundhan and Kayadu Lohar. It is billed as a romantic drama centred on the theme of one-sided love.

Saurabh Sachdeva Shoots For Fahadh Faasil’s ‘Don’t Trouble The Trouble’

 was working on what he hoped would be his magnum opus—

— until it was cancelled, seemingly out of the blue. In a conversation with 

 Kashyap reveals how this loss shattered him, pushing him into a period of distress that resulted in his upcoming project, 

, the series had been in development since 2009. “I have been attached to 

The project finally found a home at Netflix in 2019, but momentum stalled. “It was greenlit by Netflix. I told them, 'Please read the book'. Nobody except one person on the team read the book,” he shares. After the initial agreement, there came a prolonged stretch of uncertainty. He reveals that although the team found an issue within the first 15 pages of the book, there was no direct communication that the project would be shelved, and he continued to write for over a year. “There was silence for one-and-half years, and no one came and told me ‘it’s not happening.’ That was even more triggering.”

What was truly heartbreaking for Kashyap was the amount of labour he put into the project. “I handwrite,” he says simply, sharing that in total, he filled 900 pages completing the script.

, because the amount of investment in that was so much,” he says, candidly.

The lack of closure affected him more than the eventual decision. When it did end, he shares that the conversation itself was straightforward. “I had a very simple, nice conversation with the head of Netflix India. She was very graceful, she understood the pain, and everything,” Kashyap shares, adding that they parted on good terms.

“I was grieving over it, which I did not know, until I went to therapy,” Kashyap says. “When you invest so much time [with something], it becomes your baby.”

He describes the loss rather bluntly: “It was a miscarriage.”

The grief of losing a project so close to his heart continued to rear its head, with severe impacts on his physical and mental well-being. 

“In that grieving, I had a heart attack. I was on blood thinners, a vaccine reacted [badly], I got asthma, so I was on steroids.” The medication and health issues left him unsettled. “My mind was buzzing."

In the aftermath of it all, Kashyap reveals that he began drinking heavily to cope. “I started drinking, and ordering from Zomato all the time. My drinking got very bad.”

Kashyap eventually checked himself into rehab, with the support of his daughter. “I went to rehab, to fix myself—and I fixed myself.” However, around the same time, he injured his leg and was bedridden for months—surgery wasn’t an option, he says, because of the blood thinners.

Despite this, work slowly—and unexpectedly—re-entered his life. “Luckily, Zoya Akhtar called me. She said, ‘Will you play yourself in 

?’,” he shares. Initially, he declined. “I said, ‘I’m lying in bed, my leg is gone, I’m in a wheelchair’,” to which Akhtar responded: “We’ll put the wheelchair in the scene.” 

“That’s how I came out of my room,” he smiles.

Soon after, Vishal Bhardwaj invited him to act in a short film. “Because of that, I started going out,” he says. 

As he continued to gather momentum, Kashyap would have to face yet another “bomb”, he says, as his daughter moved out of his home to start a life with her partner.

“I was alone in the house, everyday, playing Tchaikovsky, drinking whiskey,” he laughs, describing his new daily routine. During this period, he shares, the blank sheets of paper he kept on his desk continued to beckon him. That’s when 

 was born, which helped him finally emerge from his grief. 

“It took me time to come out of [mourning],” he shares. “I came out of it, writing 

. That happened overnight," he says, adding that he wrote a 55-page script in one night, and sent it out to his friends seeking their feedback. Unlike the decade-long project that was 

 seemingly came out of nowhere. In Kashyap's own words: "I did not plan to write 

 first premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, after which it was released digitally on Letterboxd Video Store on 10 December 2025. The film is now set to release on ZEE5 on 20 February 2026.

Watch the full conversation with the filmmaker-actor on The Hollywood Reporter India's YouTube channel, dropping later today.

Anurag Kashyap on the Collapse of 'Maximum City': ‘In That Grieving, I Had A Heart Attack'

In a surprise announcement, Kamal Haasan’s Raaj Kamal Films International (RKFI) will be working again with Sivakarthikeyan in what is the star’s 26th project. The film has been titled 

 and it is being co-produced by R Mahendran of Turmeric Media. The production banner officially announced the project on social media revealed the first look would be released on February 16, 2026.

The dramatic first look of the film features actor Sivakarthikeyan holding on to a sword, as he stares angrily towards the viewer. He is also surrounded by as many as seven to eight peacocks, evoking the image of Lord Murugan. 

The new film will be directed by Sivakumar Murugesan, who has also written the screenplay. The music is composed by Santhosh Narayanan. Vivek Vijayakumar is the director of photography, San Lokesh is the editor and RK Nagu is the art director. 

Sivakarthikeyan made news last week when he visited superstar Ajith Kumar on race day. Weeks after hit music composer Anirudh visited Ajith Kumar at one of his races, the 

actor posted a series of photos along with the racer-superstar from the sidelines of a race. Sivakarthikeyan had visited him at Yas Circuit in Abu Dhabi. Sivakarthikeyan also posted the note from their meeting, writing, “Pure passion, commitment, dedication and resilience—experienced it live, felt the adrenaline rush. An inspiring day spent with an inspiring person. Always look up to you, my dear #AK sir.”

Meanwhile, Sivakarthikeyan's Pongal release, 

, a period drama directed by Sudha Kongara and set in the 1960s, had its OTT release last week. 

'Seyon': Sivakarthikeyan Re-Teams With Kamal Haasan After 'Amaran'

As films across the country come up with new release dates after struggling to complete the film on time, Naslen’s upcoming film, 

, has advanced its release to May 14. The film is being directed by Abhinav Sundar Nayak, who had earlier made the hit dark comedy 

 in 2022. In a promo video released on Valentine’s Day, the makers marked the new release date, apart from making subtle hints of the film’s theme and Naslen’s character in the film. 

He will play an aspiring filmmaker named Vineeth Madhavan, an 11th-standard school student smitten by cinema. The promo too has been conceptualised to look like a love letter, only to deceptively take the form of a letter of self-love. It ends with the line, “Self-love is the best love,” as this student from the small town of Kuttikanam dreams of winning an Oscar for his film. 

The film is scripted by Ramu Sunil, who previously co-wrote Asif Ali-starrer 

has cinematography by Viswajith Odukkathil and music by Jakes Bejoy. It is edited by Nidhin Raj Arol and director Abhinav Sundar Nayak. Naslen will next be seen in a film with Suriya. As reported earlier, Tamil superstar Suriya’s 47th film will be directed by Jithu Madhavan, the director of two Malayalam blockbusters 

. Apart from Suriya, the film will also star Nazriya Nazim and Naslen. 

, a film that will be directed by Chidambaram, who made 

, directed by RJ Balaji, expected to release in April next year. The Pooja ceremony of the new film took place in Chennai over the weekend. As for Naslen, this film is his first Tamil project. His film 

, became the biggest ever hit in Malayalam last year. 

The Release Of Naslen’s 'Mollywood Times' Advanced 

Tamil production house Thenandal Films, which had produced superhit Vijay films such as 

with Atlee as director, is said to have sent a legal notice to actor Dhanush, reports stated. 

This legal notice was in connection with a film Dhanush was supposed to do with Thenandal Films which was announced in 2016. This project did not materialise that the production company has sent a legal notice claiming a demand for ₹20 crore due to the failure to complete the project. This amount is said to be the figure that was spent in pre-production work of the proposed film. The production is said to have given Dhanush a week to respond in this matter.

, was also supposed to be directed by Dhanush apart from acting in it as the lead star. He had exited the project and had promised to work on another film with the same banner, which too hasn’t yet materialised. Apart from him, SJ Suryah and Nagarjuna were expected to be a part of this film and the production company is said to have paid advances to both of them too. The notice went on to ask Dhanush for a confirmation in a week about fulfilling this commitment by scheduling fresh dates before the end of 2026. Should the actor not respond, the producer would seek repayment of what it spent on the shelved film, apart from an additional one crore in damages, these reports added. 

Last week, we had reported that Malayalam superstar Mammootty will be part of Dhanush's upcoming film with Rajkumar Periasamy. Wunderbar Films made the announcement on X. 

"When the Big M chooses a story, it becomes history Super excited to welcome Megastar @mammukka onboard #D55! We are honoured! Thank you #Mammootty sir," the post read.  It was recently announced that Sai Pallavi and Sreeleela will be joining the star cast. 

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