has finally begun filming, at least six months after undergoing several changes and revisions. Directed by 

, the action spectacle kicked off on Thursday at Mumbai's Mehboob Studios.

 boasts a star-studded ensemble, led by Shah Rukh as a vengeful assassin, alongside Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. The cast is further strengthened by Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Abhay Varma, with a special appearance by Rani Mukerji.

'King': Shah Rukh Khan, Siddharth Anand's Action Spectacle Begins Filming; Eyes Last Quarter of 2026 Release

 in conversation with Anushka Shah, founder of Civic Studios, for an evening that traced the emotional and cultural threads running through Chadha’s body of work. Speaking to a packed room, the 

. She reflected on how diasporic memory, identity, and the feeling of “carrying your parents with you” continue to shape her filmmaking. Chadha also revealed that her film’s contemporary Scrooge is inspired by a close friend from Uganda who arrived in the UK as a refugee — a reminder, she noted, of the lived histories that underlie her stories.

From there, the conversation broadened into the ways Civic Studios is supporting the film’s release in India, and how Chadha and Shah remain deeply connected to the creative circuits linking London and Mumbai.

What followed — as with so many gatherings at the club — was a natural extension of Soho House Mumbai’s commitment to nurturing a vibrant, collaborative film culture for its members.

At Soho House Mumbai, the members-only film programme is built on breadth, access, and thoughtful curation. Each month, members can explore around 30 distinctive titles across genres and formats — from the latest theatrical releases to world cinema, regional-language gems, documentaries, shorts, and festival favourites. Sundays bring family-friendly screenings, widening the circle of cinephiles who feel at home there.

A cornerstone of the programming is the monthly Film Club, which champions independent Indian cinema. Since launching in 2021, Film Club has brought pan-Indian indies to the fore, each screening followed by in-depth Q&As with filmmakers and crew — often flown in from across the country. Over the years, the club has featured titles such as 

 by Natesh Hegde (curated by Smriti Kiran for her Lightbox series), 

Located in the heart of Juhu, the House is naturally entwined with Bollywood’s creative community. Intimate conversations and surprise visits from industry names are woven into the fabric of the programme: Zoya Akhtar (

, Taapsee Pannu and Anubhav Sinha (for a preview of 

 in collaboration with member Ankur Pathak’s AK Talkies), and Vishal Bhardwaj (

) have all been part of the calendar. For the club’s fifth anniversary, a special series — 

 — culminated in a conversation with Anurag Kashyap and Kiran Rao, moderated by Rajeev Masand.

As a private members’ club, the screening room is free from the censorship restrictions that govern public cinemas, opening the door for exclusive access to unreleased and pre-release titles. Recent previews this year have included 

Television also plays a significant role in the programme. Members enjoy early access to series premieres, often followed by conversations with the creators. Highlights include 

Collaboration remains central to the spirit of the House. Member-led film properties frequently come to life through the programming: ALP — a celebration of short-form video spanning ads, shorts, music videos, and new media — was conceptualised by member Reema Maya and developed with the Soho House team. During Pride Month, 

, curated with Gaysi founder Sakshi Juneja, honours queer cinema. Documentary programming is strengthened through a partnership with Kriti Film Club. Additionally, the monthly “Member’s Pick” series invites a member to select and introduce a film that continues to inspire them.

All of this unfolds within a state-of-the-art screening room that rivals the best multiplexes in Mumbai. It’s a space designed for discovery especially for independent films that deserve the spotlight, and for a community that values thoughtful curation and shared experience.

At Soho House Mumbai, film is not just programming. It’s a culture built by its members.

Gurinder Chadha on Diaspora and 'Christmas Karma' — and the Film Culture That Soho House Is Building in Mumbai

Nearly a week after the verdict in the Kerala actor assault case, the actor at the centre of the proceedings has issued her first public statement, sharply criticising the conduct of the trial court and saying she had lost confidence in the process years before the judgment was delivered.

In a social media post, she said the verdict did not come as a surprise to her, describing it instead as the outcome of “years of pain, tears and emotional struggle”. “Not every citizen in this country is treated equally before the law,” she wrote, calling it a deeply painful realisation.

On December 8, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Ernakulam convicted six people for abducting and sexually assaulting the actor, while acquitting actor Dileep, who had been charged as the eighth accused and alleged to have masterminded the crime. The verdict was delivered by judge Honey M Varghese.

“This verdict may surprise many people, but it did not surprise me,” the actor wrote. She said she began to feel as early as 2020 that something was not right with the way the case was being handled. According to her, even the prosecution had flagged changes in the court’s approach, particularly in relation to one accused.

Although the case had initially been assigned to the current judge following a request for a woman judge, the years that followed, she said, were marked by what she described as hostility from the court towards both the prosecution and herself.

In a statement issued on December 14, she listed six reasons for losing faith in the trial court. Chief among them was the handling of key evidence. She said her fundamental rights were not protected, pointing to the memory card — described as the most crucial piece of evidence — being illegally accessed three times while it was in court custody. She also referred to the resignation of two public prosecutors from the case, both of whom, she said, cited a hostile court environment and concerns about bias. According to her, the prosecutors personally warned her not to expect justice from the court.

The actor said she repeatedly sought a proper investigation into the alleged tampering of the memory card but was not provided the investigation report until she pressed for it repeatedly. She added that her concerns deepened when the accused filed a petition requesting that the same judge continue to hear the case. She said she wrote to the President and the Prime Minister of India, outlining her concerns and seeking intervention. A request to conduct proceedings in open court, allowing the public and media to observe the hearings, was also denied, she said.

“Over the years, I approached the High Court and the Supreme Court multiple times, clearly stating that I did not trust this court,” she wrote. Every request to have the case moved away from the same judge was dismissed, she added.

Reflecting on the outcome, she said the verdict had reinforced her understanding of how strongly human judgement could shape decisions. At the same time, she noted that she did not believe all courts functioned in the same way.

She also used the statement to address what she described as false narratives circulating online about one of the convicted accused, clarifying that he was neither her employee nor someone she knew personally, and that she had met him only briefly years earlier during a film shoot. The statement concluded with a note of gratitude to those who stood by her, alongside a sharp response to continued online abuse, which she described as driven by paid narratives.

Kerala Actor’s First Post After Assault Case Verdict Questions Trial Court Process

After a list of superstar cameos and appearances, 

 is reportedly the latest to join the sets of 

, Balan is said to have been impressed with the script narrated to her. She is also said to be playing a character that is bold and charismatic. She was last seen in Ajith’s 

(2019) in Tamil. In Hindi, her last film was 

After initially announcing a release in June next year, the film appears to have pushed its new release date to August 14 of 2026, coinciding with the Independence Day Holiday weekend. Actors Mohanlal and Vinayakan are both said to appear in 

 is expected to join the film’s sets in Goa after December 20, in what is reportedly a short three-day stint. He played the role of Rajinikanth’s friend, a gangster named Mathew, in the film’s first part.

Similarly, actor Vinayakan, who played the dreaded bad guy Varman in the first film, said during a recent press event that he would feature in 

. It is unclear at the moment if he will be reprising the same character, in what perhaps might be a flashback portion (Varman dies during the climax of the first film).

 also featured much-hyped cameos by actors such as Shiva Rajkumar from Kannada cinema, Jackie Shroff from Hindi and Sunil from Telugu cinema. Meanwhile, 

has been re-released in theatres in a newly remastered 4K version, to mark the star's 

 and his 50 years in cinema. The film opened brightly across Tamil Nadu theatres, especially Chennai, where fans thronged to the screen to celebrate the Superstar's birthday. Wishing the actor on his 75th birthday, Sun Pictures recently released a video from the sets of 

Vidya Balan Joins Rajinikanth's 'Jailer 2': Reports

, as the Ranveer Singh-led film broke all existing records for a Hindi feature in its second weekend. The spy actioner faced capacity issues on Saturday and Sunday, when the film hit it out of the park with its sensational collections.

has grossed over ₹550 crores so far, while the film's India net collections are over ₹360 crore, according to the official collections.

put up historic figures in the second weekend, which saw the movie record huge jumps on its second Friday, Saturday and Sunday, where it netted ₹34 crore, ₹53 crore and nearly ₹58 crore, respectively.

which had netted ₹54 crore on its second Sunday in Hindi. According to 

clocked over ₹140 crore in its second weekend, higher than 

throughout the second weekend and is expected to record better trending throughout the week as well.

With its global gross, as well as domestic run in 10 days, 

has beaten one of the biggest Bollywood hits of the year,

which had minted ₹329 nett in India and over ₹560 crore worldwide.

, the historical drama ended its theatrical run with ₹601 crore India nett and a global gross of over ₹800 crore.

The film also stars Akshaye Khanna, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi, and Sara Arjun, among others. The sequel to 

 is set to release on March 19 and will see a box-office clash with 

'Dhurandhar' Box-Office: Ranveer Singh's Film Grosses Over ₹550 Crore Globally, Breaks Record Set By 'Pushpa 2'

 will finally release in theatres after a Division Bench of the Kerala High Court dismissed appeals filed by the Catholic Congress and the Union government. The appeals challenged a single judge’s decision to set aside the A certification issued by the Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC) to the Shane Nigam film. The film's now reportedly set for a December release.

, the Catholic Congress contested that Haal had scenes showing forceful religious conversion. It also misrepresented interfaith relationships and portrayed the Thamarassery bishop as a supporter of such marriages, although his known stance is otherwise. An earlier report in The News Minute, the makers of the film had agreed to remove a scene involving characters eating a plate of beef biryani. The Kerala High Court on November 14 directed the makers to also approach the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) again to decide on the next steps for the film’s release. This report adds that the CBFC had originally mandated six cuts in the film while also restricting Haal to an Adults-only (A) certificate.

The film’s release has already been pushed twice, first to September 19 and then later to October 10. Among the scenes that were asked to be removed is one in which the characters of the film are said to be consuming beef biryani. The film, directed by Veera, also stars Sakshi Vaidya. 

, led by Shane Nigam, is said to be an interfaith love story between a Muslim boy and a Christian girl. The film’s producers approached the Kerala High Court against the CBFC. Apart from the scene involving beef, the CBFC objected to other scenes, including one in which a character wears a purdah to hide identity, a shot of characters wearing a rakhi, a scene where a character says ‘Dhwaja Pranamam’ (a greeting associated with the RSS), and a reference to ‘Ganapathi Vattam’.

Malayalam Film ‘Haal’ Gets Clean Chit To Release

In a statement protesting the verdict issued by the trial court last week, 

 posted a note on her social media handles, calling the judgment “incomplete”. Manju Warrier’s name was among the first that had been taken by actor Dileep after he was acquitted in the sensational assault case.

In this note, she writes, “I have utmost respect for the honourable court. But in this case, justice for the survivor is still incomplete. Only those who committed the crime have been punished. The mind that planned and enabled this heinous act, whoever that is, still walks free, and that is terrifying. Justice will be complete only when everyone behind this crime is held accountable. This is not just for one survivor. This is for every girl, every woman, every human being who deserves to walk with courage, heads held high, without fear in their workplaces, on the streets, and in life. With her. Then, now, and always,” she wrote.

Speaking to the media right after being acquitted in court, Dileep singled out his ex-wife and co-actor Manju Warrier, and said, “Truth has won. This case against me began with Manju (Warrier) saying that there was a criminal conspiracy behind the assault. But the real criminal conspiracy was the one that unfolded against me. A senior police officer, along with a team of 'criminal' officers, cooked up this case against me. The same officers used the prime accused and his other jail inmates to concoct a fake story against me. Then they started to take the help of certain corrupt media to spread these fake stories about me. This was done to destroy my career and my image in public.”

In the wide media coverage that followed, including drone cameras, there was footage from actor Dileep’s house, where one witnessed signs of a celebration at his home. The charges in this case included gang rape, conspiracy, outraging the modesty of a woman, wrongful confinement, use of criminal force, destruction of evidence, taking and distributing obscene images under Indian Penal Code Sections 120 A, 120 B, 109, 376, 342, 204, and 201.

Manju Warrier On Kerala Actor’s Assault Case: 'Justice Incomplete'

 has seen enough cycles in the industry to recognise when something fundamental is shifting. To him, the turbulence the industry is experiencing isn’t surprising, rather it was long overdue. “Whatever phenomenon is happening as far as our industry goes, whatever setback, whatever is moving forward, whatever is going back... it was bound to happen. Everybody could see it coming.”

What he finds interesting is not the disruption itself, but the scale of the change it might trigger. “It is going to create a seismic shift in how the audiences watch what they watch. What makers would want to make,” he says. Then he offers an image that captures exactly where he believes we are right now. “This is like a lull before the storm. We haven’t hit the storm yet. The storm could be good, it could be bad. But it will definitely change. It will definitely metamorphosise into something better. And I am hopeful of that. And it has always happened. If you look at the past, it has always happened like that,” he adds.

is looking inward. The actor, who has been receiving steady attention for 

, is quick to clarify that the show may feel like a debut to viewers, but it isn’t one for him. “People think that it is my first performance. Technically yes, you can call it a streaming series debut but it is my fifth piece of work.” 

But the sudden recognition comes with its own anxieties. “What am I scared of? Being a one-hit wonder. Being only good for this. How can I illustrate that I can do something radically different?” he admits.  Still, he feels something has shifted. “There has been a palpable change. I am still getting somewhat recognised randomly,” he says.

Amit Sial on the Industry Standing at the Brink: 'This is Like a Lull Before the Storm — We Haven’t Hit the Storm Yet'

, the worst advice came from several well-wishers at once. “Around 2019, so many people told me... don’t do OTT because people will think you don’t have a film. I just want to say, look where we are,” she says with a laugh. She says it with the insight of someone who has seen the industry rewrite its own rules in real time.

 agrees instantly. “That’s the one we’ve all heard,” he says, before unpacking the much spoken idea of overexposure. “I’ve never understood what overexposure is. What is the right level of exposure? Nobody knows. If you’re in every second film and they’re good films, that’s not overexposure. If they don’t work, that’s still not overexposure. It’s all subjective.”

For Qureshi, none of this caution aligned with her own career graph, especially because the role that truly changed her life arrived quite unexpectedly. “

 was the turning point,” she says. She remembers shooting it like a group of kids on an adventure, too naive to grasp the size of what they were making. “I still remember seeing a hoarding and thinking, really? I’m the lead of this film?” She didn’t even call her parents to watch the film. “I was in just 20 minutes of both films. I thought, whatever, it’s an ensemble,” she says. 

carved out a space she has spent the last decade expanding, most recently with 

, a show whose impact she believes is still underestimated. Season 4 is on its way to 10 million views, making it Sony LIV’s biggest show of the year, yet early on, she remembers it being dismissed. “When season one came out, we were ignored. It was heartbreaking. Maybe we weren’t considered cool enough. Maybe it felt too vernacular,” she says. 

The audience, however, answered differently. Each year, 

 has grown, deepened, and allowed her to evolve a character who speaks to the country in a language it understands. “I’m just grateful. Grateful I get to play someone who refuses to be boxed in. That’s every actor’s biggest fear,” she says.

Huma Qureshi on Advice She’s Glad She Ignored : 'So Many People Told Me Don’t Do OTT... Because Everyone Will Think You Don’t Have a Film'

, the first thing he stresses on is how different this world felt from every spy he has grown up watching. “It has been an extremely enriching journey for myself to explore a spy’s world from a different gaze altogether. And not spies like the movies,” he says. 

For Gandhi, the defining idea was invisibility. “The spies are not supposed to evidently be there. They are supposed to be the most common guy that you see anywhere,” he says. It’s the antithesis of the genre’s traditional imagery which usually consists of slow-mo swagger shots and gun drawn silhouettes. Here, it was just someone who could blend into a crowd without ever catching your eye. “It’s also a desk job. All the wars are not fought on the front. Most of them are fought from the office through the mind because data analysis actually is their job,” he adds.

The pivot was clear right from his first meeting with director Sumit Purohit. “He said we are not making those six pack heroes, those who can draw gun anytime, slo-mo walks and can jump from anywhere to anywhere,” Gandhi recalls. 

One particular line from those early discussions still stays with him, even though it didn’t make the final cut, “The gun is the most useless thing to be given to a spy. Because the moment he or she has to take out the gun, that means the mission has already failed.”

In a landscape saturated with hyper-stylised espionage, he feels this grounded approach stood apart. “It became a clutter breaker in the cluttering world of spies that has been created in the last few years,” he says. 

Ultimately, it all boiled down to one idea. “The job itself is so heroic, you don’t have to put heroism in your performance,” he says. 

Pratik Gandhi on Playing a Spy Without the Glamour: 'The Gun is the Most Useless Thing to be Given to a Spy'

Hindi film actor Vidyut Jammwal, who will be making his Hollywood debut with the upcoming action film 

got a suave introduction. Jammwal, who sports a bald look with war paint on his face, will be playing Dhalsim in the action film.

Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, the film also co-stars A

 series, as Ken Masters, Jason Momoa as the electrifying green creature-human hybrid Blanka, and Callina Liang as the spin-kicking Chun-Li. The film also features WWE superstars Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and 

Stretch beyond your limits. VIDYUT JAMMWAL is DHALSIM. 

 hits theatres everywhere October 16, 2026," Jammwal's poster read. The makers of the film had also released a brief teaser with glimpses of their key characters.

 Paramount Pictures and Legendary Pictures unveiled the video.

) and written by Dalan Musson. According to 

it is set in the year 1993 and follows the lives of Ryu (Andrew Koji) and Ken Masters (Noah Centineo), "two Street Fighters who are drawn back into battle when the mysterious Chun-Li (Callina Liang) recruits them for the upcoming World Warrior Tournament. Beneath the facade of this fierce and deadly battle royale lies a conspiracy that forces them to confront their past demons and ultimately face each other."

, a Tamil action drama alongside Sivakarthikeyan and Rukmini Vasanth. "

On one hand, you have a supervillain named Chirag (Shabeer) who has a titanium-plated left arm. And on the other hand, we get Vidyut Jammwal playing Virat, a mega-villain who is less human, more fidget spinner. But the result is enjoyable, with kickass action blocks making way for highly entertaining dramatic sequences," read 

'Street Fighter': Vidyut Jammwal's Look as Dhalsim From His Hollywood Debut Revealed 

HYBE Entertainment is bringing a historic moment to Indian ARMY (fandom name for the 

 BTS, standing for 'Adorable Representative MC for Youth').

For the first time ever, the global label has chosen India as a stop for a solo BTS exhibition — GOLDEN: The Moments, a dedicated showcase celebrating 

’s record-breaking debut album Golden. Opening to the public at Mehboob Studio, Bandra, the month-long installation runs from December 12, 2025 to January 11, 2026.

Brought to Indian shores through a partnership between BookMyShow Live, the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow, and HYBE, the global entertainment lifestyle platform behind BTS, the exhibition invites fans to step directly into Jung Kook’s “golden universe,” a glimpse into his storied life.

"Following the establishment of HYBE INDIA, our goal is to build meaningful cultural bridges that connect our global artists with Indian fans, where voices from India can become global stories," said a representative from HYBE, in a statement.

At the exclusive preview, guests journeyed through a series of immersive rooms mapping Jung Kook’s evolution — from the early BTS years to the record-breaking Golden era. The experience opens with GOLDEN: JOURNEY, tracing his path from debut to solo artist, highlighting the discipline and ambition behind his global rise. All of the pop-star's awards, from his Billboard Hot 100 plaque to 2023 MAMA awards and MTV Video Music Awards trophies, are displayed in the first room.

Naman Pugalia, Chief Business Officer - Live Events, BookMyShow, added, 

Our partnership with HYBE marks an exciting new chapter in BookMyShow Live’s vision to bring transformative global experiences to India. The exclusive preview day of ‘GOLDEN: The Moments’ offered fans an early immersive look into Jung Kook’s creative world before the main exhibit opens."

GOLDEN: MOMENTS celebrates milestones from the album cycle, contextualising his achievements — including becoming the first and only K-pop soloist with more than 13 songs surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

As one moves forward, GOLDEN: SHINE, which introduces the album’s three versions — Shine, Solid and Substance — through light, sound, remixes, concept imagery and performance clips. Iconic stage outfits and music-video screening zones bring the spectacle up close.

Fans then move through SOLID and SUBSTANCE, exploring Jung Kook’s artistic development, personal inspirations and everyday life. The STEM station offers a rare technical deep-dive into tracks like “Hate You,” isolating drums, bass, instruments and vocals. Spaces dedicated to “Standing Next to You,” “Seven,” “3D” and other major hits anchor the exhibition’s audiovisual segments, while costume-lined hallways recreate standout GOLDEN-era promotions.

The journey concludes in the SUBSTANCE Room, where fans can leave messages for the artist, echoing his sentiment: “My golden moments are when I become one with ARMY at concerts.”

Official merchandise — including photo cards, posters, apparel, accessories and more — is available onsite. Tickets are live now on BookMyShow.

Jung Kook’s ‘GOLDEN: The Moments’ Exhibition Makes India Debut at Mehboob Studio in Mumbai

has confirmed that he will be meeting soccer star Lionel Messi in Kolkata on December 13. Khan will join the Argentine football legend for a special star-studded event in Salt Lake Stadium. The actor took to X and confirmed the meeting, which is touted as a grand reception with thousands of Messi fans in attendance to catch a glimpse. 

According to reports, the football icon will participate in a series of high-profile events across the city, in the presence of celebrities and politicians, and will also interact with local soccer teams.

"This time round not planning my Knight in Kolkata…. and hoping the day Ride is completely ‘Messi’. See you guys on the 13th at the Salt Lake Stadium," Khan tweeted.

 report, Messi is set to be honoured at several functions during his stay in the city, which also includes the unveiling of a 70-foot statue. The soccer star will inaugurate what organisers have described as the "world's largest statue of himself," created using specialised fibre technology by artist Monty Pal and a team of thirty artists.

"The statue is anticipated to become a major landmark, symbolising Messi's global influence and the city's admiration for the footballer," the report stated, adding that  along with Khan, other notable figures expected to attend the events include Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool All India General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, former cricketer Sourav Ganguly, and tennis player Leander Paes. 

On the work front, Khan is currently shooting for his next feature film, 

. Directed by Siddharth Anand—who helmed Khan’s 2023 blockbuster 

stars Khan as a vengeful assassin and an internationally wanted criminal. 

The film boasts a star-studded ensemble including Deepika Padukone, Suhana Khan (Khan’s daughter), Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff. Arshad Warsi, Jaideep Ahlawat, and Abhay Varma are also in the cast, while Rani Mukerji, one of Khan’s oldest co-stars, will be seen in a special appearance.

Shah Rukh Khan To Meet Lionel Messi in Kolkata

 turned 75 on December 12 (Friday), with actors and politicians from across the country wishing the legendary actor. 

Rajinikanth, who celebrated 50 years of acting

 in the industry this year as well, was wished by 

, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, directors like 

 team also posted a special video from the sets of their upcoming film.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, “Greetings to Thiru Rajinikanth Ji on the special occasion of his 75th birthday. His performances have captivated generations and have earned extensive admiration. His body of work spans diverse roles and genres, consistently setting benchmarks. This year has been notable because he completed 50 years in the world of films. Praying for his long and healthy life."

Kamal Haasan shared a photo with Rajinikanth and wrote, “75 years of a remarkable life. 50 years of legendary cinema. Happy birthday, my friend."

Actor Kushboo Sundar shared some throwback photos of herself with Rajinikanth, and posted, “Happiest birthday to Padma Vibhushan, the one & only Superstar of Indian cinema, Thiru @rajinikanth avl. You have been an institution & inspiration of dedication, hard work, perseverance, humility, down-to-earth attitude, simplicity, and forever positivity, Sir."

Karthik Subbaraj posted on social media, "Happy 75 Thalaivaaa. Wishing you good Health and lots n lots of Happiness.... Keep inspiring and Entertaining us for many many more years to come.... Thanks for making our life beautiful. Love you Forever!!"

Meanwhile, Rajinikanth’s 1999 blockbuster 

newly remastered 4K version, to mark the star's 75th birthday and his 50 years in cinema. The film opened brightly across Tamil Nadu theatres, especially Chennai, where fans thronged to the screen to celebrate the Superstar's birthday. This was aided by the fact that Tamil titles such as 

, which were scheduled for release today, were postponed due to various circumstances.

Rajinikanth Turns 75: Kamal Haasan, PM Modi Wish Superstar, 'Padayappa' Re-Release Gets Massive Opening

 will wrap up filming by January, the makers announced in a press note recently. While there were speculations regarding a delay in its release, the team assured audiences that the film would be released on March 27, as announced.

 is being produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru under the banner of Vriddhi Cinemas and is proudly presented by 

 in association with Sukumar Writings. According to the note, the film commences a new shooting schedule from December 12 in Hyderabad. This schedule will feature several pivotal sequences, some of which will be canned in Delhi. Filming will continue until the end of January, by which time the entire talkie part of the movie is expected to be wrapped up. "As planned, all aspects of production are progressing smoothly, with post-production work moving ahead at a good pace," the note read.

Directed by Buchi Babu Sana, the film also co-stars Janhvi Kapoor, Kannada superstar Shiva Rajkumar, Jagapathi Babu and Divyendu Sharma in significant supporting roles. On the technical front, Peddi boasts a powerhouse crew: Oscar-winning maestro AR Rahman scoring the music, acclaimed cinematographer R Rathnavelu crafting the visuals, National Award–winning editor Navin Nooli shaping the narrative flow, and Avinash Kolla enriching the film's production design.

Ram Charan was last seen in Shankar's political drama 

(2025), alongside Kiara Advani and SJ Suryah. Kapoor, on the other hand, was last seen in 

, the film, which was set against the extravagant backdrop of a big fat Indian wedding, also featured Sanya Malhotra, Rohit Saraf, Akshay Oberoi, and Maniesh Paul. This was the third theatrical outing for Kapoor, who was also seen in 

Ram Charan's 'Peddi' To Be Wrapped Up By January; No Delay In Release

on X, calling out the growing practice of paying for “marketing” that’s just manufactured positivity, and the accompanying threat of sustained negativity if one doesn’t comply, labelling it as “extortion.” While her tweet found instant resonance as it highlighted a problem that has long been crippling the Hindi film industry, trade insiders pointed to another rot spreading through the system, which needs urgent dismantling: box office tampering.

Post-pandemic, some producers and actors have indulged in buying large chunks of their own films’ tickets to manufacture the impression of a blockbuster. It is a desperate act, often stemming from a space of insecurity, which the trade says is done to break certain box office records or to drum up perceptions.

earlier this year, reported that the scale of the “feeding” often involves buying “lakhs of tickets”.

The tactics usually differ. Often, stars request brands they endorse to buy large volumes of tickets through their corporate networks, in exchange of their fee. "For example, if a star charges ₹1 crore for a brand, they ask to be paid ₹50 lakhs and ask the brand to invest the remaining ₹50 lakhs in buying tickets," explains a trade source.

Some producers, insiders claim, buy tickets in bulk and then distribute them to fan clubs—scattered across the weekend to create the illusion of sustained demand—or hand out free tickets to housing societies, schools, corporations and other groups to ensure seats aren’t visibly empty. This is loosely called 'corporate booking'. 

"This is a very formal arrangement where agents are involved," trade critic Komal Nahta had explained the modus operandi to 

earlier this year, adding that the makers sanction an agency to book and distribute "bulk tickets" on a commission basis. 

"Logistically, it's impossible to distribute the tickets, which you have block-booked. So then you need agents and hence it's a racket," Nahta explained.

A trade source explains that if a film, which has come under scanner for “inorganic” collections, has its opening day figure as ₹50 crore, the audience is likely to have paid only ₹40 crore, with the remaining ₹10 being “pumped" in by the producer.

“Half of that returns to them as distributor share, while the other half stays with the cinemas. So, they will get ₹5 crore back and the other half will be accounted in the books as ‘marketing’ expense," the source explains.

The easiest hack is to check an online ticketing platform. If, for example, the 8:00 AM show is nearly full, but the 8:30 AM show in the same theatre is empty, it’s a clear sign of block booking.

, “We now have local representatives—‘cinema inspectors’—who verify whether shows marked house-full on ticketing platforms are actually full. For midnight screenings, especially, they often find auditoriums nearly empty. They record the footage and send it to us!”

The exhibitor said they can spot rigging when there’s an “abnormal surge” in advance sales. “We usually know how a film is tracking before release, so any sudden, disproportionate jump is an immediate red flag. Another tell is when a major, high-footfall cinema shows weak bookings while a smaller, less popular one is inexplicably packed.”

Once a producer indulges in rigging the collections, they have to continue "feeding the box-office" for at least a week to maintain the film's momentum to make it look "organic," explained the source. "Sometimes, a good film picks up on its own after the initial push and then the feeding considerably goes down during the weekdays, and if it is a bad film, then the feeding usually stops after the first weekend itself," they added.

The primary benefit is perception. Media reports the inflated numbers, as it is coming as “official” figures, which creates a public perception that the film is a hit, and the star, director, or producer walks away with an artificially enhanced image and a renewed demand for a fatter pay cheque.

“It serves ego more than business,” Nahta had earlier said. “Inflating the box-office is a very disgusting trend that needs to be condemned by every person who loves the trade and the film industry. It is a self-defeating exercise. These producers or stars who are resorting to this practice are only selfishly thinking of themselves and their films. Nobody's thinking of the industry. This practice is going to cost the industry and it already has because the star prices are going to go up. Every star is going to demand more than he deserves because you helped them achieve that fake status," he added.

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